Photo of the Day (9.7.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on
If you’re back to the grind and Labor Day is feeling too far away already, then take a moment to check out this beautiful photo series by Italian photographer, il lele.

The set spans a road trip from Chicago to Vegas on two-lane highways, capturing some classic American portraits & scenery with a distinct vintage tone. It’s always great to see photos of America from a non-American perspective, and il lele has certainly captured some great moments, like this beautiful ‘room with a view’ in Monument Valley.

Do you have a series of photos that tell a unique story? Share them with us! Upload them to our Gadling Flickr Pool and we might just choose one as our next Photo of the Day.

Ayn Rand fanatic travels to send GPS message

by Tom Johansmeyer on

In today’s politically polarized climate, die-hards will do anything to get a leg up in the battle for communication. Larger crowds are sought, along with bigger signs, louder voices and greater media play. The days of slapping bumper stickers on random cars are giving way to more sophisticated stunts, and Nick Newcomen just set the bar higher with an unusual road trip.

Newcomen put 12,328 miles on his car while crossing through 30 states to write “Read Ayn Rand” on Google Earth with his GPS device. Mashable writes:

Newcomen – who explained to Wired that he undertook this mission simply because he is a Rand fan – took more than 30 days to execute this task, using a GPS logger (Qstarz BT-Q1000X) to create the letters. He started in Marshall, Texas, where he began writing out “Rand,” and then drove on (turning off the GPS whilst not writing) until the entire, “Reading Is Fundamental” sentiment was complete.

Ayn Rand’s (rather anemic) philosophy puts forth the primacy of the individual over the group and believes that merit should be the sole arbiter of success. She was also a big fan of keeping the government out of just about everything, which is why many are using her words and works as a rallying cry against the current administration in Washington.

Of course, I’ve always wondered how Rand herself would have felt about the cult of personality that has evolved around her work. She had no shortage of lackeys while she was alive – including Nathaniel Branden and Alan Greenspan – and she seemed to be pretty happy to be lauded. On the other hand, a fairly strict interpretation of her philosophy would result in the criticism of efforts such as Newcomers, as it would encourage people to go accomplish stuff on their own and give up the fanboy fawning.

One final criticism: if he were a real fan, he would have ended his trip to Colorado with a bracelet made from Rearden Metal on his wrist.

[photo via World’s Biggest Writing]

The story of a great American road trip

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Have you ever fantasized about an epic cross-country road trip? Of jumping in a car, getting off the boring Interstates and discovering long-lost pockets of roadside Americana and one-of-a-kind natural wonders? This Summer, Nick Carr, writer of the wonderful blog Scouting NY, has done just that. Earlier this Summer, Carr set out with his girlfriend on an epic cross-country road trip. He’s been chronicling the adventure since early July.

For most of the year, Carr works as a New York City film scout, sharing his amazing explorations of New York’s lesser-known sights with readers. He’s taken his passion for those lesser-known places out on the road. Rather than take the most direct route for his cross-country sojourn, Nick planned his route along the historic Route 50, one America’s first transcontinental roadways, making himself a promise to avoid America’s Interstates.

During his journey, he’s shared his amazing photos of Wild-West nostalgia in Dodge City, KS, forgotten pleasure palaces in Utah and glimpses of rural small town Illinois. Carr brings a true explorer’s eye to his trip, unearthing buildings, people and places that have long since vanished from the average traveler’s radar.

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking a Great American road trip, or want to relive your own fantastic voyage from years-gone-by, check out Nick’s blog. You can read the full journey starting out East, through Indiana and Ohio, into Illinois, Missouri, Kansas City, Dodge City and Pike’s Peak, CO, Colorado Gold Mines, Utah, Salt Lake City and Nevada and most recently, the Hoover Dam.

[Photo by Flickr user are you my rik?]

Four tips for traveling with dogs – Road trip tips

by Gadling Staff on

Traveling with your beloved pooch often takes the same careful planning as hitting the road with young children. Utilize these tips to ensure a smooth ride:

  • Give your pup a thorough brushing before loading him into the car, greatly reducing the amount of flying fur.
  • Pack travel necessities for your road trip like water and a bowl, treats, paper towels, and cleanup bags.
  • Unless your dog requires specialty food, don’t try to squeeze a bag of food into your already packed car: stop and purchase a bag once you arrive.
  • Identify places to stop prior to leaving to assure your doggie can relieve himself and strech every few hours.

Bon voyage!

[Photo: Flickr | emdot]

Use an expandable file to plan your trip – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

In preparation for a recent trip, we compiled 10 day’s worth of information on accommodations and attractions, maps, directions, and other paperwork.

I purchased a plastic, expandable folder with 10 slots, then labeled each with one day/date of the trip. Into each day’s section went everything we needed: maps, directions, confirmation numbers, hours and costs of museums and attractions, etc.

If we ran into a delay or found ourselves a day ahead of schedule, it was easy to move the pile to a new slot.

Bonus: Receipts and souvenirs readily replace used maps and directions, ready to remember a great trip!

[Photo: Flickr | BLW Photography]