Photo of the Day (3/5/08)

by Jamie Rhein on

There’s beauty in things that change over time. This bridge that is no longer in use reminds me of old lace. Although the era has passed for this bridge, it remains as evidence of people and goods passing through. Where did they go? Who once stood by this track, looking up, watching the trains go by? Are there any coins flattened on the rail in a child’s experiment? expixero who posted this shot said this was taken by the Old Port in Montreal.

What evidence have you found in your travels of people who once passed through? Share with us at Gadling’s Flickr photo pool.

Air Transat makes emergency landing for sick passengers

by Anna Brones on

A plane flying from the Dominican Republic to Canada made an emergency landing Tuesday night in Florida when several of the passengers became ill. When the Air Transat Flight 477 landed at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport, eight passengers were wheeled off to the hospital as a precaution.

The Center for Disease Control stated that they were not sure what caused the illness but that it appeared to be something the passengers ate or drank. I was tempted to make a comment about the state of airplane food, but it turns out they were all family members who had eaten together before boarding the plane.

Oscar nominated shorts: A world tour

by Jamie Rhein on

Every year as a member of the Columbus Academy Motion Picture Pickers (CAMPP) I embark on a movie going frenzy to see all the movies nominated in every major category. Not on the list of my obligatory must-sees were the films nominated for Short Features and Short Animation, but I saw them anyway and highly recommend them as a way to enjoy the scope of humanity and art.

For the past three years I’ve seen the nominated movies in both categories all in a row, one after another–10 in all. This is one way to travel from country to country, from sensibility to sensibility in a few hours. What strikes me is that, although there are often cultural influences and differences particular to each country from which the movies hail, there are many thematic similarities among them. What this shows to me is through the diversity, we can always relate. Terrific stories are terrific in any language.

These movies are making the rounds. Check out film festivals or independent cinemas to see if you can catch them. Here’s the list of the films and which country they are from:

Short Film (Live Action)

Short Film (Animated)

For clips of the animated shorts, head to BuzzSugar.

Do chocolate spa treatments leave you sticky?

by Jamie Rhein on

After writing about the chocolate hotel room fantasy weekend and the chocolate spa treatments at the Hotel Hershey, I wondered about others. The idea of a chocolate treatment makes me feel sticky. I have had massages with oil. Those left me feeling slick. Jeannette of Intelligent Traveler who wrote the original post about the Godiva/Hotel Bryant fantasy weekend left a comment on my post that she has had a chocolate wrap and there is a temptation to lick oneself. I can see that.

I have never felt tempted to lick myself after a massage that involves regular massage oil. This chocolate beauty treatment has me curious about its merits. These treatments have been around awhile. In this 2005 article posted at FoxNews.com, Samantha Jonas-Hain writes about her chocolate body tour that took in Hershey, Pennsylvania as well as Ajune Spa (see Godiva Chocolate Body Wrap) and Charm Beauty Salon in Manhattan.

Jonas-Hain interviewed people who attested to the benefits of doing more than eating chocolate. For example, one person said that caffeine stimulates the circulatory system and tightens the skin. One benefit, another said, is that if you use chocolate as a beauty treatment, the smell alone can satisfy your cravings for the good stuff. You might not eat it which can help keep the weight off. So you see, don’t eat the Godiva chocolate you received for Valentine’s Day. Melt it and use it as a facial.

Here are some other places for chocolate spa treatments I came across.

The Spa at Norwich Inn – Norwich, Connecticut. Three chocolate inspired treatments from which to choose.

Four Seasons Hotel George V – Paris. Check out the chocolate body scrub or the chocolate body wrap.

Relâche, the Spa at Gaylord Opryland® Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee has a chocolate spa treatment in February only. Hurry.

Poets Cove Resort and Spa— Pender Island, British Columbia – For treatments with yummy sounding names.

Be part of Improv Everywhere

by Jamie Rhein on

If you thought, “How cool is that?” when reading Jerry’s post on stopping time in Grand Central Station and wish you had been involved, it is possible to get in on some improv action yourself. Improv Everywhere, the New York City-based group that pulls off these clever pranks has spin-off groups in other cities.

Global Improv Everywhere is found across the United States, as well as, Vancouver, Toronto, London and the Netherlands with membership in each chapter ranging from 50+ to over 100. Anyone can join in the creating public “joy” and “chaos” efforts–the aim of Improv Everywhere missions. Currently there is a plan to do a nationwide freeze on February 23. Check out the Web site for details and also to find out how to join up with a chapter in your city if there is one or start one yourself. You can also hook up with the New York City version by registering online. You can also get an Improv Everwhere T-shirt with this logo on it..

Being in an Improve Everywhere stunt seems a bit less intimidating than being in a Spencer Tunick nude photo shoot.