Laptops Will Link Global Learners
The real star at an Oct. 19 lecture by Nicholas Negroponte was not the Media Lab co-founder and computer-aided design pioneer himself but what he brought to the Department of Architecture classroom at MIT--a model from his One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. After Negroponte finished outlining plans for creating and distributing the inexpensive computer to children in developing nations, the audience crowded the podium to examine the cheerful green-and-white 2B1 model. While Negroponte apologized for bringing a model, not a prototype, his audience still wanted a closer look. They turned and twisted the screen and the wi-fi antennas. They pressed fingers to the kid-size keypad. They weighed it in their hands........
Travel news blog From worldvacation
“I Bought It On eBay”- Strategies For The New and Experienced eBay User
You can find almost anything on eBay.
Anything from obscure motorcycle and boat parts, to cars, real estate, and businesses.
That goes tor travel related items too.
In fact, you can find many travel accessories there.
It helps if you know exactly...
Pilot Paul's Travel Accessories and Travel News Blog
Silent Eco-friendly Plane
MIT and Cambridge University researchers will unveil the conceptual style for a silent, environmentally friendly passenger plane at a press conference Monday, Nov. six, at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London. "Public worry about noise is a significant constraint on expansion of aircraft operations. The 'silent aircraft' can assist deal with this concern and therefore help in meeting the increasing passenger need for air transport," explained Edward M. Greitzer, the H.N. Slater Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT........
Travel news weblog From worldvacation
Study Italian at Sorrento Lingue
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Reforest Central America
5 million trees will be planted in Central America on June 25th, in a campaign called Reforestando Centroamerica – Reforest Central America – organized by the youth of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama. They will be not only plant trees, but they will also monitor their growth! In this country, 5000 trees are to be planted in the mangrove areas, on the coasts and in some towns.
It is hoped that the youth of these nations will get to meet and find a common ground as regard protecting the environment. It is receiving the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, who launched the campaign on April 6th.
More than 30 youths organizations are joining their efforts in this event that was actually born in Guatemala thanks to the initiative of the Youth Movement Tzuk Aj. This movement just celebrated its 3rd birthday this year. In Costa Rica, the Federation of the students of the University of Costa Rica (FEUCR) has already started working on the project, and 150 trees have just been planted by volunteers in the private property of one of the professor of the University. Native species only have been chosen; this is to create an eco symbiotic axis to replicate what nature intends to do, that is to recreate an eco system, rather than just planting trees. The students of the National University of Costa Rica are also going to take part in the project.
This ecological and environmental integration is of highest importance at this day and age. Costa Rica may be more advanced as regard eco-tourism and protection of the environment than its neighbours, but Central America as a whole is loosing its incredible bio diversity at high speed; excessive deforestation is the main problem and that goes beyond borders. Education will hopefully help bring awareness and make a difference. Deforestation to converse in agricultural land for instance or unsustainable timber harvesting for development, often illegal, has to be controlled and stopped. The consequences of such actions are maybe not clear enough to those responsible for them: Central America cuts 390,000 per year, and if this is the official number, it can only mean that in reality the number is a lot higher than this! This represents up to 20% of the global emission of gases that cause the greenhouse effect.
Recently the General Assembly of the United Nations declared the year 2011 the International Year of the Forests. Planting trees must become a habit. It is only fair to fix what we destroyed; it does not take that much time or effort, yet, the results would be fantastic!
March 2011 Issue – Vicenza, Rome, Montepulciano
The March 2011 issue of Dream of Italy is hot off the presses. Our paid subscribers (who can log-in here) will be reading about Palladio's Vicenza, three Rome hotels and Montepulciano's wine cathedral. If you're NOT a subscriber, become one today and save $ 15 on our regular subscription rates!
Visiting Palladio's Vicenza
When it comes to the development of Palladio as an architect, there is no better place to explore his modern interpretation of classical design than the city of Vicenza, 40 miles from Venice, and the surrounding province of the same name.
Palladio's Vicenza: What to See, Where to Eat and Stay, A Great Tour Guide
A cheat sheet to the important Palladio buildings to see in Vicenza, a great guide to take you around and where to eat and stay in this charming northern Italian city.
Three Rome Hotels
This month we're back with more Rome hotel reviews including a hideaway on the Spanish Steps, an affordable 4-star with a fascinating history and a blow-the-budget option on the Via Veneto.
Montepulciano's Wine Cathedral
Talk about creating great expectations. If your guide starts a tour by saying, "You are about to visit the most beautiful wine cellar in the world," well, she'd better deliver.
Palladio in America: The Architect on Tour
In our March 2011 situation, Julie Maris/Semel wrote about the city of Vicenza and why it is a need to-check out if you are interested in architecture and the legacy of the great 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio. UNESCO has even named Palladio's buildings in Vicenza and villas in the surrounding countryside as a Planet Heritage Website.
If you cannot make it to Vicenza correct absent, you can understand about Palladio right right here at residence. Following all, on December 6, 2010, the Congress of the United States of The us adopted a resolution - by unanimous vote - recognizing Andrea Palladio as the "father of American architecture."
In New York Metropolis, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Public Library on Fifth Avenue, Town Hall as nicely as United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. are studies in Palladio's bilateral symmetry. The Rotunda at Thomas Jefferson's University of Virginia is encircled by pairs of columns with capitals that attribute the composite purchase of Palladio. Pattern books that American architects and builders used in the 17th and 18th centuries had been very influenced by Palladio.
The exhibition "Palladio and His Legacy: A Transatlantic Journey" organized by the Royal Institute of British Architects commemorates the 500th anniversary of Palladio's birth and his affect from Italy to The us. By now viewed in New York and Washington, D.C., the exhibition moves on to the Snite Museum at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana from June five to July 31, 2011 and at the Carnegie Museum of Artwork in Pittsburgh from September 24 to December 31, 2011.
Photo of Palladio's statue in Vicenza by Julie Maris/Semel
In Between Coffees.
“This is best weather” stated Mercedes Oller about the sunny, however windy, day when I met her for this interview.
The 24-yr-aged had not too long ago arrived from the US, wherever she’d been touring for the past month with her band Las Robertas. This all-girl (and guy in drag) band, arrived in the songs scene significantly less than two a long time ago and has reached the sort of success you see about in sepia-toned independent documentaries.
After enjoying in modest venues all around their property nation, they exploded in the indie blogosphere, with a fuzzy melancholy that has made them 1 of those rare bands whose audio breaks your heart whilst generating you shake your hips.
Meche, as she’s known as by her close friends, is your normal youthful woman, or perhaps not so significantly. A latest university graduate in interior design and style, her down-to-earth vibe and passion for nearly anything that has to do with the arts is as infectious as Las Robertas’ tunes. Keeping up with all the references she makes will take a slight work, but she does this unintentionally, in a totally innocent way. You know how there are so a lot of artists out there who bask in their information and talk like Tarantino characters nicely Mercedes is just not like that and her humbleness makes her a sort of rock band oxymoron.
Coming from a really musical household (her brother plays in 424, but we’ll get to that later…) as a kid she studied ballet and learned to play the guitar. She’s been in other Costa Rican bands but as she’ll tell you, the finest audio in the region is typically obscured by the larger bands that have been taking part in the identical issue for decades and have designed a kind of blind allegiance that encourages compelled traditionalism more than friendly coexistence.
More than getting a profitable musician, Mercedes is also a “hardcore Josefina”, who loves her hometown so considerably, that any afternoon with her can turn into a personalized guide of “dos and don’ts” in the Costa Rican funds. She drives, but feels just at home in the city’s public transportation exactly where she generally pops out because of her easy but stylish style.
Sitting down for coffee, I inquire her why is it that visitors have no notion that Costa Rica has these kinds of a wealthy cultural surroundings and specifically why is it that visitors have no idea about what San José is all about. The funds generally serves as a hub for the thousands of foreign visitors who keep in San José overnight just before leaving for the volcanoes and seashores.
If you inquire any of them why they do not keep in San José extended, or really basically not depart it at all, they will inform you it’s due to the fact there is nothing at all to do in city.
Mercedes might be the particular person to prove them wrong. As a musician, she knows all the best evening spots exactly where you might be astonished by a neo jazz quartet or a moody punk band. As a designer, she can position out all the architectural riches and galleries that generally get lost amid the serial-made structures in town.
With this in mind, I asked her to support me occur up with some lists of music and areas that you can’t skip in San José.
Top five Bands
If you inquire everyone what they know about Costa Rican new music, they’ll probably occur up with some standard instrumental tunes or one thing like Malpais. When I asked Mercedes she selected this,
Zopilot
”They have great power!” she says of the band in which her fellow Las Robertas’ drummer Franco Valenciano, serves as percussionist. Mercedes thinks their “spontaneous rock captivates the audience and makes them dance”.
Niño Koi
”Their songs is so emotional, it is a total psychological trip” but really don't assume them to be all mellow and boring, Meche adds that Koi is aware “how to place on an brilliant live show!”
The Great Wilderness
Las Robertas’ Monserrat Vargas is also a member of this band, which Meche praises for their “intense sounds”.
424
“They’re almost certainly the most well-liked band and they reunite the greatest musicians in town”, one particular of them being her more youthful brother Felipe. 424 lately became only the 2nd band in heritage to have reached the number a single spot in Latin MTV’s Top 10. Their “great charisma and presence” tends to make them the best selection for a “great stay show”.
Monte
This project just not long ago manufactured its very first appearance in the Costa Rican music scene and Mercedes calls them her “new favorite”. She raves, “they have the greatest of the greatest! Best songs, finest songs, very best performances!”.
Now that we know the bands, in which can we discover them?
Best 5 Venues in San José
Lobo Estepario
This little venue is located right across from the Nationwide Museum and has turn out to be the go-to spot to see up and coming bands from all around city. There is not considerably of an “ambiance” but its down to earth performance tends to make it fairly an experience.
Jazz Café is maybe the most intriguing venue in city, they have a excellent meals and drinks menu, often feature astounding bands, by the way it is the San Pedro one particular, not the 1 in Escazú!
El Steinvorth, this hip lounge is found in a historical creating in the heart of downtown San José. They normally have a distinct event every single night time of the week, their dancefloor sessions are specially common.
El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte
The place to be on a Monday evening has turn into as chameleonic as the men and women who show up at it. Weekends can attribute bands that play every genre, from ballads to surf rock.
Sala Calle fifteen, this intimate venue is best for “unplugged” sessions and artsy events. Its place tends to make it a great spot to transfer on for right after events in hip bars and lounges.
I asked her how individuals had been meant to find out about all these concerts and impromptu gigs, provided that San José is often plastered with fliers for metal bands, metaphysical occasions and this kind of, but seldom showcases indie bands.
She suggested men and women checked out the bands’ sites and followed them by way of the most well-liked social networks or 89 Decibeles.
Preserve in mind that most of these bands play just for the adore of it, they are rarely sponsored and the ones that get signed with file labels are even less.
Of course, new music is not every thing, and Mercedes also is aware the very best non-songs, spots to pay a visit to in city. From thrift stores to classic diners, she gives us a look at her individual personal San José, the final results may well shock you.
Chelles
This diner is located in San José’s central avenue wherever it’s stood for decades. Mercedes thinks the meals there is excellent, specially since of its handy 24/7 agenda. Even though “gallo pinto” is the Costa Rican dish by default, you have to check out the rice with squid from Chelles, which is also “great [spot to go to] right after a show”.
Kalu
This gourmet café serves what Meche calls “the greatest food in town”, its available costs, wonderful ambiance and all above substantial good quality make it a great spot for an afternoon coffee or an early drink. Mercedes is also fond of their gallery and store exactly where you can acquire distinctive pieces manufactured by regional and worldwide artists. You can get Las Robertas’ debut album Cry Out Loud here as well.
Parque España
This minor park sits correct across from the Casa Amarilla and the INS in downtown San José and it is very shut to Barrio Amón, a single of Meche’s favourite neighborhoods. She revealed being a fan of the park’s tranquility and its greenness. The park is also subsequent to the Modern Art Museum which delivers some incredible free concerts in the course of the summer time.
Location City
This is one of these areas you would never ever find out about if it wasn’t for some regional advice. Meche says “this garage variety of bar [in Barrio La California] has the finest new music for partying”, they play bands like The Smiths, Jesus and Mary Chain and more recent things. This would be a bar where you would locate Las Robertas’ blasting out of the stereo all evening lengthy, also “they have low cost beer and drinks”.
Romantica Venezia
As you might know, or not, the indie scene is best acknowledged for its Diy-ness, dressing up in vintage and retro design is the thing to do and thrift outlets have gone from meh to cool with them.
Meche’s favourite thrift spot is this enormous shop in San Jose, in which she says you will discover “great items, reduced rates and [wait for this…] great Latino music”.
Hmmm, perhaps it is all about the audio in the stop.
Check out Las Robertas’ debut album in retailers now! Also, be certain to examine out some of the finest hotels in San José, who is aware, you may even be lucky sufficient to catch an amazing concert close by.
Join #italychat to Talk About Archaeology in Italy
Dream of Italy (@dreamofitaly) will be hosting another #italychat on Twitter, this Wednesday, April 20th at 3 p.m. ET. The topic will be archaeological ruins in Italy (especially which ones to visit and new discoveries travelers should know about) and our special guest will be Darius Arya, a.k.a @saverome on Twitter.
Based in Rome, Darius Arya is an archaeologist, professor, documentary host and executive director of the American Institute for Roman Culture. He has appeared in documentaries for the Discovery, History and National Geographic channels, and has been cited in articles in The New York Times and The Guardian (among others). Most recently, he appeared as an expert on National Geographic’s When Rome Ruled. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Darius received his MA and PhD from the University of Texas, Austin. He is a Fulbright Scholar and American Academy of Rome Fellow.
We're so happy to have him with us for this edition of #italychat on Twitter! If you would like to participate by reading the chat and hopefully asking and answering questions, here are some tips:
- Be sure to use the hashtag #italychat within your Tweet so everyone can see your question, answer, contribution, etc.
- Whether or not you have a free Twitter account, you can follow #italychat LIVE here OR here or you can come back to these links later to read the chat in full.
- @dreamofitaly will tweet out all questions using "Q" and a number- Sample tweet for @saverome: "Q1: What is one of your favorite little-known ruins in Rome? #italychat"
- Our special guest @saverome will tweet her answer using same number - Sample tweet from @saverome: "A1: My favorite Roman ruin is xyz #italychat"
- Anyone else on Twitter including YOU can answer the question too using A+number as this is all about sharing great experiences and Italy travel information. Sample tweet from YOU: "A1: Actually, I went to abc and that's my favorite archeological site in Rome #italychat"
- If you want to ask Darius or the crowd an Italy question, start your tweet with @dreamofitaly followed by the question and I will put it in the queue and give it a number (example - "Q6") and tweet it out when ready. Sample tweet from YOU: "@dreamofitaly What is the best way to see Pompeii? #italychat"
Money Causes Changes For Better And Worse
Funds changes every thing, and that includes altering people's motivations for the far better and their behavior toward other people for the worse, according to a new review printed in the global journal Science. Florida State University psychology graduate university student Nicole Mead in Tallahassee, Fla was amongst a group of researchers who located that the notion of money brings about a state of self-sufficiency that enables individuals to operate more challenging and much more independently to attain personal targets but makes them more socially insensitive in the approach........
Travel news website From worldvacation