Photo of the Day (2-20-08)

by Jamie Rhein on

A couple days ago, Catherine snagged one of Larixk’s photos for a Photo of the Day selection. Now, I’ve picked this one, but it’s just by chance. The message on this building captures the mood I’m in. Time, for me, comes in fits and starts. Rarely is there a smooth transition from the beginning of the day until the end. Right now, I’m wondering how long I have to finish this sentence before I have to pick my son up from the school bus. The answer? Two seconds.

How long from the time I left to pick him up and come back? 15 minutes. On a larger thematic scale, this shot has a mysterious quality. This is in Berlin, but where? What are those white tents? How long will they stay up?

If you have a shot that evokes questions about the meaning of life send it along at Gadling’s Flickr photo pool. We love to ponder.

America’s most wired cities

by Iva Skoch on

Admit it, you were guessing San Francisco. So was I. Every time I go to San Francisco, it seems that everyone–at home, in parks or cafes–is always online.

Wrong. According to the Forbes.com list, the most wired city in the US is Atlanta, GA. Their rankings factored in the percentage of Internet users with high-speed access, the range of service providers within a city and the availability of public wireless hot spots. Atlanta ranked highest in broadband access options, third in Wi-Fi access points and ninth in broadband adoption: In June, more than 80% of the city’s home Internet users accessed the Web via a high-speed connection.

  1. Atlanta
  2. Orlando
  3. Seattle
  4. San Francisco
  5. Raleigh
  6. Miami
  7. Tampa (tie)
  8. San Diego (tie)
  9. Phoenix (tie)
  10. Charlotte

There you have it. New York is not even on the list.

Kosovo: The world’s newest country?

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Those of us who like to show off at parties with our knowledge of world capitals apparently have another city to commit to memory: Pristina, Kosovo.

Today, the speaker of Kosovo’s Parliament declared that “Kosovo is a republic– an independent, democratic, and sovereign state,” in a statement to a Parliament chamber that erupted in applause. According to an AP story, the sovereignty declaration provoked celebration throughout the capital: “[R]evelers danced in the streets, fired guns into the air and waved red and black Albanian flags in jubilation at the birth of the world’s newest country.”

The move is supported by the US and other Western powers, but vehemently opposed by Russia and Serbia, who lost control of Kosovo to the UN in 1999 after a civil war that killed more than 10,000 people.

About 90% of the 2 million people living in Kosovo are ethnic Albanians, and most are secular Muslims who are pro-Western, according to the LA Times. “Pristina has a main boulevard named for former President Clinton, who is revered here because he ordered the NATO airstrikes that drove out Serbian forces,” the story says.

So, congrats to Kosovo on its newly-declared independence. Now what was its capital again?

More here and here.

Photo of the Day 2-17-2008

by Catherine Bodry on


The way the angle captures these ruins makes them remind me of those space invaders on “War of the Worlds” with their long, spindly legs. I sort of expect the ruin to start walking, destroying everything in its path — which seems like it could be a good metaphor for the Roman Empire. Here, the grandeur of Rome’s glory days seems emphasized by these stout and strong pillars. Thanks to Larixk for capturing this twilighty scene.

Have some travel photos you think might remind readers of space invaders, or simply invoke one of the most powerful empires of the Western world? Upload them to Gadling’s Flickr pool and we’ll consider them for our Photo of the Day feature.

10 best foodie trips

by Iva Skoch on

Reading this article before breakfast today made my mouth water.

The Guardian has selected Top 10 foodie destinations in the world for the following culinary delights:

  1. The best sushi in Tokyo
  2. The best pizza in Naples
  3. The best burger in New York
  4. Best steak frîtes in Paris
  5. The best seafood in Sydney
  6. The best pho in Vietnam
  7. The best oysters in Ireland
  8. The best juice in Rio
  9. The best dumplings in Eastern Europe
  10. The best tandoori in Delhi

Read their recommendations here.

I know what you are thinking. The Brits are telling us about good food? Don’t be skeptical. They will be the first to say that in order to eat well, a Brit must leave the UK.