2010 January | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

Monthly Archives: January 2010

Why I (Probably) Won’t Buy an Apple iPad

Published January 30, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Apple’s new iPad because I was absolutely convinced it would be a “must have” product for me. As I watched the Keynote event where Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad this past Wednesday, I was initially very impressed.

iPad's 9.56 inch high by 7.47 inch wide touch screen can be used in portrait or landscape orientation

The sleek design and giant touchpad screen had me salivating. Since I’m an avid reader, I’d intended to buy a Kindle before leaving on my next extended trip, which would eliminate the need to carry heavy books. With the iPad’s new iBook reader and built-in iBookshelf store I no longer need to buy a Kindle. I also appreciated the full size digital keyboard on the touchscreen, as well as the portable keyboard and docking station that makes data entry a breeze. As I would have expected of an Apple product, the iPad features total integration and syncing between iMail, iCalendar, iPhoto, Address Book, iTunes, and Notes, as well as supporting web browsing, video, YouTube, Google Maps, and Multimedia content such as full-length movies.

Docking station (right) and docking station with external keyboard (left)

One of the most impressive features of the iPad is its 3G connectivity. Apple has partnered with AT&T to provide 250 Mb of data transfer for $19.99 per month, or unlimited data for $29.99 per month. Best of all, this will NOT require a contract and users can cancel the 3G service at any time. Since I currently pay $60 per month for an Air Card, the iPad would save me $30 per month. I could also turn off the 3G Continue reading →

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Posted in Travel Technology |

Tagged Apple, backpacking, cons, iPad, iPhone, laptop, Macbook, pros, tablet, Technology, Travel |

43 Comments

Two Tips for Safe Driving in Bad Weather

Published January 28, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

Since we’re all driving more and flying less, I want to pass along two very interesting safe driving tips that were emailed to me yesterday.

WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES WHEN DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN:
During a heavy downpour, visibility is bad, even with the wipers on high. Wearing your sunglasses will vastly improve visibility, even at night. The drops on the windshield will still be visible, but not the sheet of falling rain. It also helps to eliminate the “blindness” from the spray of passing semi’s, and the “kick up” if you are following a semi or car in the rain.

NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY:
Snow, ice, slush, or even rain can cause wheel-spin and hydroplaning. If the cruise control is on when the tires lose contact with the pavement, the car accelerates to a higher rate of speed and takes off like an airplane. Although cruise control can be disengaged by tapping the brake pedal, the extra reaction time Continue reading →

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Posted in Travel tips |

Tagged automobiles, cars, cruise control, driving, rain, safety, sunglasses, tips, Travel |

26 Comments

Drive Cross Country in Someone Else’s Car for Free

Published January 27, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

Don’t look now but the open road is calling. Faced with onerous security regulations, endless add-on fees, and uncomfortable planes that squeeze customers in like sardines, more and more travelers are opting for the highways rather than the skyways. Americans are rediscovering the joy of driving cross-country with the wind in their hair, the music cranked, and the freedom to check out quirky attractions that would forever have been overlooked from 30,000 feet in the air.

Hitting the road in someone else's car - for free

Traveling cross-country in someone eles's car - for free

This resurgent love affair is also revitalizing driveaway companies, services that match drivers with customers who want their cars delivered to distant destinations. Vehicles need to be moved for a variety of reasons, including corporate relocations, military transfers, and quite often in the case of snowbirds who want to have use of their own car at their winter home but don’t want to do the driving. Car owners pay Continue reading →

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Posted in Travel tips |

Tagged budget, car delivery, car rental, corporate relocations, cross country, driveaway, drivers, free, military transfers, snowbirds, Travel |

210 Comments

Morton Arboretum – 1,700 Acres of Winter Wonderland

Published January 26, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

After a few housebound weeks in Illinois’ sub-freezing winter weather, a thirty-six degree day felt positively balmy. Although the weatherman called for yet another dreary, overcast day, no snow or freezing rain was forecast, so I seized the opportunity to visit the Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre park in the Chicago’s western suburbs.

Walking along the shores of a frozen lake at the Morton Arboretum

The Arboretum was established in 1922 by Joy Morton, who is best known as founder of the Morton Salt Company. Although Morton’s head was in the salt business, thanks to his father, J. Sterling Morton, who founded Arbor Day and served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland, the younger Morton’s heart belonged to trees. “Plant Trees” was the Morton’s family motto. And plant they did, over many years creating a horticultural showcase on their private estate. At the age of 65, Morton began developing the property into an Arboretum, with the mission to “collect and study trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world, to display them across naturally beautiful landscapes for people to study and enjoy, and to learn how to grow them in ways that enhance our environment.” Continue reading →

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Posted in Midwest US travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, blooming flowers, Chicago, Illinois, Lisle, Morton Arboretum, park, snow, squirrels, trails, USA, walking, winter |

5 Comments

Time for Blogging Boomers Carnival #146

Published January 25, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

car ni val (kar nuh vuhl)
noun

a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent
an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading
an instance of riotous excess
a traveling enterprise offering amusement
an organized program of entertainment or exhibition, as in a festival, traveling amusement show, rides, a program of sports, any merrymaking or revelry, etc.

How appropriate. I’m hosting this week’s Blogging Boomers Carnival and that got me wondering about the word “carnival” and how it related to what we do each week. Now, our group of Blogging Boomers aren’t known for riotous excess or masquerading (at least I don’t think so), but we are an enterprise that offers entertainment and amusement, not to mention worthwhile information. So, without further ado, let me preview what our boomers are talking about this week. My summaries are meant to whet your appetite – to read the full versions, click the links and visit each of the individual sites. Happy browsing!

In the U.S., 83,000 people wait on the official kidney-transplant list. But SoBabyBoomer tells us that just 16,500 people received a kidney transplant in 2008, while almost 5,000 died waiting for one.

“It’s Complicated” is an understatement when it comes to Sex with the Ex, here’s the Midlife Crisis Queen’s assessment of the new film and sex with the ex!

Almost every English-speaking person of a certain age has read or heard of “Love Story.” Erich Segal, the author of the blockbuster 1970 novel, died this week. Learn more at The Boomer Chronicles.

From It’s All About Aging: Everyone always gives lip service to how much they love their family, but if you don’t have a will, it’s just empty talk.

Do you want to live to 100? Find out what it takes over at Contemporary Retirement.

Do full lips make you look younger? A new study says so, but the Glam Gals don’t totally agree. Check out what they have to say at Fabulous after 40.

Ever wonder why you can’t understand what kids are saying these days? Check out Dude. I’m Just Sayin’ at the Writing Without Periods blog. Jenny’s talking about the changes that have taken place in slang since the good ol’ days.

If you are a Los Angeles parent with college-age kids, you’ll want to read about this particular casting call posted on Gen Plus. And you might make a few dollars, to boot!

Vaboomer.com co-founder Virginia Cornue returned from a trip to Haiti only days before the earthquake. Here is report of the calmness and compassion of Haitians coping with the disaster:

And last but certainly NOT least, according to Life Two, there may be no more perfect book for fixing your life than Gretchen Rubin’s new book “The Happiness Project.” Rubin spent a year as a one person focus group testing every possible way to increase personal happiness resulting in a fun, conversational tome that inspires, educates, and entertains. A more perfect post for a carnival would be hard to imagine.

Photo courtesy of JSmith Photo

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Posted in Carnivals |

Tagged Baby Boomers, blogging boomers carnival, hole in the donut, holeinthedonut, midlife |

8 Comments

Dumbest Moments In Travel for 2009

Published January 23, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

Travel Insights 100, a panel of travel experts selected by UpTake.com (the travel search engine that helps travelers decide where to go, where to stay, or what to do) were recently asked to name the dumbest moments in travel during 2009.

The experts ranked the airlines as the dumbest industry, citing events such as ramping-up of all kinds of airline fees, the NWA Flight 188 pilots who overshot the Minneapolis airport during a landing approach because they weren’t paying attention, the ‘United breaks Guitars‘ fiasco, and TSA threatening travel bloggers. However airlines weren’t the only ones on the dumbness radar, as the following presentation shows:

Travel Insights 100 2009 Dumb Travel Moments

View more presentations from TravelInsights100.

Disclosure: Barbara Weibel is a member of Travel Insights 100