Bonus daily gear deal: $20 contract free CLEAR 4G Wireless iSpot for iPod, iPhone or iPad

by Scott Carmichael on

If you are regularly on the road within the coverage area of the CLEAR 4G WiMax network, then this deal may be a fantastic way to save on expensive 3G subscriptions or paid Wi-Fi access.

Today only – CLEAR is selling their iSpot Wi-Fi hotspot adapter for $20. The iSpot (officially) only works on the iPad, iPhone and iPod – offering Wi-Fi access to the CLEAR 4G network.

Normally, the adapter sells for $80. But the best part of the iSpot is that it does not require a contract, and you can access the service month by month. Access to unlimited data is just $25/month – making it the cheapest broadband option on the market.

Do make sure you are covered by their network, but order before CLEAR runs out of these, because they are bound to sell out very quickly today. Click here for the promotion page and more on what CLEAR can offer you.

When it comes to cruise ships, size matters

by Chris Owen on

Royal Caribbean just keeps on making big news with big ships in a big way. The line released video this week of new Allure of the Seas meeting up with nearly-twin ship Oasis of the Seas for a late night rendezvous.

In a ceremonious way, the ships sailed side by side and small crafts were launched from each to meet between the two. An exchange of gifts ceremony of sorts was conducted including posters signed by the officers of both ships, delivered by Adam Goldstein, Royal Caribbean’s President and CEO.

Both Oasis-class ships are rated as the same size, a whopping 220,000 tons carrying 5,400 guests at double occupancy. Allure has some cosmetic differences and is a wee bit longer. Her captain knows it and takes full advantage of his bragging rights.

Just five centimeters difference in length is all but Captain Zini of Allure did not hesitate to send along an over-sized measuring tape when company officials met mid-ocean. So yes, when it comes to cruise ships, size definitely matters.

One has to wonder how this exchange would have played out had the new ships been commanded by women captains.

Daily gear deals: $59 digital camera, 50% off Lemur Vehicle Monitors and more

by Scott Carmichael on

Here are the hottest daily gear deals for today, Friday December 17, 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today’s first deal is for a fantastic bargain on the Magellan RoadMate 5045. This unit normally sells for $129 – but you can get one for $109.99 – with lifetime free traffic and lifetime free maps. To make the deal even hotter – if you order before the end of today (the 17th) and apply promo code 48HRSGPS, you’ll knock an additional 10% off the price. Click here for this deal.

Looking for an affordable MP3 player? The Archos Vision 4GB features an FM radio, voice recorder and support for most music formats. On sale for $29.99. Click here for this deal.

Next up is a great stocking stuffer tip – Lemur Vehicle Monitors can help maximize fuel economy, or track driving safety. These monitors are normally quite affordable, starting at just $24.95, but if you order and apply promo code LEMURSANTA, you’ll save 50% – and get free next day shipping. Order before December 22nd for guaranteed Christmas delivery. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today’s lineup – treat someone to a digital camera, without spending more than $60. The Fujifilm FinePix J40 shoots photos in 12 megapixels. Features a 3x optical zoom, and comes with a 2GB memory card. On sale for $59. Click here for this deal.

The 10 snowiest cities in America … bundle up!

by Tom Johansmeyer on

I spend all summer fantasizing about winter. From the end of May to the beginning of October, I wind up drenched in sweat, wishing I could peel off my own skin and running from one air conditioned environment to another. It’s miserable. When the biting cold of the winter season hits, I embrace it, finally able to be somewhat comfortable when I’m outside. Add a bit of snow to the equation, and the result is positively heavenly.

So, when I saw The Weather Channel’s list of snowiest cities in the United States, my mind immediately wandered to chilly places where I could hop on a sled (which I prefer to skis or snowboards), pour a big, steaming mug of hot chocolate and hurl snowballs at random passers by.

Are you into that sort of thing? Well, you’ll probably want to dash off to one of the 10 snowiest cities in the country! In case you’re wondering, here they are:

%Gallery-108139%1. Valdez, Alaska: The Weather Channel reports that this city gets 297.7 inches of snow a year, with 180 of them coming in only one month. If you go to the second snowiest city in the country, the annual average is six feet lower than it is in Valdez. Slackers.

2. Boonville, New York: Boonville just sounds like a snowy place. With 220.5 inches a year, this town in the foothills of the Adirondacks calls itself the “Snow Capital of the East” and has the powder to back up that claim.

3. Hancock, Michigan: In December, 56 inches of snow are dumped on Hancock, with another 68 inches following in January. The city averages 218 inches a year and once boasted of two feet of wet snow on June 2. This is my kind of place!

4. Crested Butte, Colorado: From November through March, you can expect at least 30 inches of snow to fall every month, with an annual average of 217.7 inches. If you like snow to shroud your Labor Day barbecue, this is the place to be – you can also find snow falling as late as the end of June.

5. Truckee, California: In the late 1800s, one storm pummeled Truckee with 10 feet of snow over two days. Since then, the elements have been merciful, if you call an annual average snowfall of 198.3 inches merciful. Do the math on this one.

6. Lead, South Dakota: Storms dropping more than 10 inches of snow hit at least three times a year in this city, which averages 187 inches of snow a year.

7. Steamboat Springs, Colorado: For 97 days a year, you can expect this mile-high city to have at least 10 inches of snow on the ground. The annual average snowfall of 175.5 inches is nothing to sneeze at.

8. Red Lodge, Montana: There have been years where snow didn’t fall in only two months – that’s what it takes to score an annual average of 173.9 inches. And, the snow lingers: there’s at least an inch on the ground 127 days a year.

9. Tahoe City, California: The snow doesn’t start to fall until November, but when it does, it comes plentifully. Tahoe City averages 170.8 inches a year.

10. Ironwood, Michigan: This city has a slightly pornographic name and a hell of a lot of snow. Ironwood averages 164.6 inches of snow a year and is a hot spot for winter sports, according to The Weather Channel.

[photo by bsabarnowl via Flickr]

Permits now required on Yosemite’s Half Dome everyday of the week

by Kraig Becker on

The National Park Service has announced that permits will now be required everyday of the week for the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite National Park during the 2011 summer season. The move is designed to prevent overcrowding on the trail that leads to the summit and is expected to make the steep hike safer for all involved.

Earlier this year, the park service announced that permits would be required on the weekends, but they found that that simply moved more of the crowd to weekdays. On average, about 400 people hike the trail on those weekdays, as opposed to about 800 on the weekends. With that in mind, the NPS capped the number of available permits to 400 per day.

To add another level of planning to the process, permits can not be obtained on site at the park. Instead, they’ll need to be purchased up to four months in advance through the National Parks Reservation System. The price of the permit is a mere $1.50, but you’ll now need to know exactly when you plan to make the hike and order your permit accordingly.

The “trail” to the summit of Half Dome can barely be called that. A set of cables run up the side of the rock face, which give hikers something to hold on to as they pull themselves up the granite slab, which has wooden beams spaced out along the way. On busy days, the lines can be slow and if someone slips, it is easy to take down others with them. The new permitting system will hopefully take away some of the crowding, and make the entire experience a safer and more rewarding one for all involved.

If you’re planning a trip to Yosemite in 2011, you’ll definitely want to ensure that you get your hands on a permit for Half Dome plenty early. It is one of the most popular things to do in the park, and definitely worth the trip.It would be a shame to go and not be allowed on the hike.

[Photo credit: Sjoplin via WikiMedia]