We’ve been talking about Twitter for some time now but this week the social networking microblog (which requires you to express yourself
in 140 characters or less, in case you were wondering) has really gained popularity with the recent
media buzz surrounding Ashton Kutcher and CNN, as they raced each other to a million followers. On top of that, Oprah has now taken a liking to it so I’m sure it’s on the verge of going totally mainstream. To keep up with the times and refresh Johnny Jet’s Travel Portal, I created a mini travel Twitter resource page. It should be helpful to new Twitter-ers and even to Twitmasters. There are a bunch of websites on there like TwitPic.com, which allows users to upload photos to their account and TwisitorCenter.com for travelers looking for insider information from those who know, the local tourism authorities. Plus you’ll find Twitter addresses of airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruisers and of course, the most popular travel writer Tweeters. So what are you waiting for? Get tweeting, Twitter-ers!
One of our writers Kelly Gray came very close to dying last year from complications due to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Since DVT occurs in approximately two million Americans each year and since travelers are at high risk, we thought it’s important to educate our readers. DVT occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation. The condition may result in health complications, such as a pulmonary embolism (PE) and even death if not diagnosed and treated effectively. This website will help point out the signs and hopefully save lives. Here’s a link to Kelly’s story, which is also informational.
The Antonov 124 was once the largest plane in the world at 226 feet,
three inches long, with a wingspan of 240 feet, five inches. In May 1987, it made history when it recorded the world’s longest flight (10,881 miles) without refueling. I’m glad I wasn’t on it as it took 25 hours and 30 minutes. However, I was fortunate enough to be on the inaugural flight of the world’s longest “commercial” flight, which traveled from Singapore to New York (10,335 miles) but it only took 18 hours and 30 minutes and these days, it’s all business class on Singapore Airlines. There are planes that are bigger and badder, past and present, but it’s still cool to see the Antonov taxi-ing around Atlanta Hartsfield Airport (ATL).
In case you are wondering, the world’s largest commercial plane is the A380, which I have also had the good fortune of traveling on twice;
once with Qantas and once with Emirates. The A380 is 240 feet long and has a wingspan of 262 feet. If you don’t like flying but want to tour one of these mammoth beasts, may I suggest going up to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon? There you’ll find Howard Hughes’ old plane The Spruce Goose. The plane is 218 feet 8 inches long and an impressive 319 feet 11 inches wide; it only flew once in 1947 and for just over a mile. I got to see it with my mom when it was on display in Long Beach in 1990. My mom and I were both in awe.
The Travel Goods Show is the world’s largest tradeshow for travel goods,
with more than 40,000 products being showcased. Last year I made the trek to San Diego for their annual convention
(here’s a link
to my favorite products from 2008.) This year I missed the show in Vegas because I was overseas, however the good folks were kind enough
to send me a box filled with new travel gadgets to test out. That means that in the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring some cool travel stuff.
The one that was on top and caught my eye first was the Take Charge cord organizer.
It’s a brilliant idea because my carry-on is filled with cords and chargers for three cameras, my BlackBerry, my computer,
iPod, webcam, Skype headset – you name it. It’s like the Noah’s Ark of the 21st century.
What I like about Take Charge is that it’s lightweight with a flexible pouch so it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
The compartments are conveniently adjustable for all different size chargers, it has a clear cover so you can see what’s inside
(my underwater camera) and it’s
stylish– well,
maybe if it was the 20th century. The good news is it’s just $10-$16 and is available online at
ShopIntuition.com. FYI: Next year’s show is back in Vega$
from March 2-4, 2010 but keep in mind it’s not open to consumers.
