Go to Orlando, but don’t pay for it

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The “Bundles of Free Smiles” gig is exactly what you need in this dismal economy. Instead of settling for a disappointing “staycation” (oh, how we all loathe that expression) or digging deep into your pockets for regrettable recreation, the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau is giving you six months to pack your bags and get out of town.

From now until the end of June, you can check out bundlesoffreesmiles.com to get some pretty amazing deals on hotels, theme parks, flights and just about everything else you might want to do in Orlando. Highlights include:

  • Orlando World Center Marriott – Book 4 nights and get the 4th free or book 5 nights and get the 5th night free
  • SeaWorld Orlando – Adults at kids prices
  • Walt Disney World Resort – Buy a 4 night vacation package and get 3 nights free including theme park tickets
  • Southwest Airlines – Book a flight + hotel Southwest Airlines Vacations package of 3 nights or longer to Orlando and save $100

So, instead of burning vacation time in your living room, kick around a short jaunt to Florida. A short flight can have you by the pool or hangin’ with Mickey in no time!

Jauntsetter – Travel deals for New Yorkers

by Annie Scott on

New York, New York. You wanna be a part of it … but sometimes you need to get the heck out of it.

Good news! There’s a website called Jauntsetter that has travel deals specifically for New Yorkers. They know we’re too busy to find them ourselves, and that if no one hands us a deal we might just not go anywhere. I mean, we can get any food you can imagine, and there’s always some part of the city to explore. We can convince ourselves that this is all we need.

But it’s not! New York City is not the whole world, and those of us with the means to see the world should do it! It’s important to the international perception of America, important to our appreciation of our own country, and to each and every one of our personal growth. The more America knows about the rest of the world, the stronger America is in so many ways.

So, if you live in New York, check out the weekly updates on Jauntsetter.com. This week, for example, they have great international deals, as well as $200 flights to LA and New Orleans and great Sundance accomodations. Our pick of this week? San Juan, Puerto Rico for just $189!

Bookmarked. Thanks, Brian O’Neal, for the tip!

Subway map for interplanetary travel

by Annie Scott on


Traveling the galaxy? This handy map simplifies the solar system for you.

Well, sort of. You have to know some things about the universe. More than I know. Actually, it makes me want to learn more. How come I don’t know what Norma and Cygnus are, and that there’s an express line that runs between them?

Here’s something else I didn’t know: The first subway map of this style was London’s Tube Map and it was designed by Harry Beck, who, according to Wikipedia, “believed that passengers riding the trains weren’t too bothered about the geographical accuracy.” He was so right.

So, Mr. Arbesman’s map may not be geographically accurate, but that would be pretty tricky to represent on paper anyway, what with the whole 3-D aspect of the galaxy.

There are also now London-style maps to illustrate music (we love that the first comment on this project is “Why did you do this?” — that’s hysterical, Richard), web trends (why’s AOL so small? You made us the same size as WordPress. I mean, seriously), and my personal favorite, a subway map of all the world’s subways, overlaid on a world map.

Thanks, Brian O’Neal, for the tip about Samuel Arbesman’s killer Milky Way Transit Authority Map!

Look good in your swimming suit photos

by Annie Scott on

It’s happened to all of us. You’re lounging at the beach or by the pool, feeling all warm and glamorous. You want to remember that feeling forever, so you have a picture taken. Then, you look at the picture and realize you hate yourself.

Carson Kressley, who I had the privilege of interviewing over on StyleList, has put together the above video to help you look good in your swimming suit photos. No more “Oh my God, you have to delete that” out of you!

Even a size 2 can look fat in their bathing suit. Remember the Jennifer Love Hewitt scandal? The video includes tips such as:

  • Use a prop, like a beach ball, to hide problem areas.
  • How to do the Hollywood leg pose (for ladies).
  • Men, twist your torso.
  • Don’t be looking into the sun, you’ll squint.

See more of Nikon’s Look Good in Pictures series with Carson Kressley here at LookGoodinPictures.com.

New site looks into the Earth’s watery, icy past

by Aaron Hotfelder on

A recent post on the Mental Floss blog— read it if you aren’t already– about how Australia was first populated links to a fascinating new interactive website developed by Australia’s Monash University. The site shows the variations in the Earth’s sea level over the last 100,000 years, and allows you to adjust the timeline manually to discover how Earth’s coastlines have waxed and waned over the last thousand centuries.

The tool also allows you to see just how much of North America and Northern Europe were covered by ice (hint: it was a lot) as recently as 10,000 years ago. Well, not that recently. Also be sure to zoom in on Australia and adjust the timeline to see how it might have first been populated.

A great time-waster (as if the internet needed another one) but can it predict when my land-locked city of St. Louis, Missouri, will finally be oceanside?