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Queen Elizabeth 2 sets sail for retirement - Cruising- msnbc.com

Queen Elizabeth 2 sets sail for retirement - Cruising- msnbc.com.

Queen Elizabeth 2 sets sail for retirement
Cunard ship left New York for the last time, will become hotel in Dubai

Image: The Queen Elizabeth 2 The Queen Elizabeth 2 sails down the Hudson River as she sails out of New York for the final time.
Reuters, updated 8:23 a.m. PT, Fri., Oct. 17, 2008

NEW YORK - British queens typically don't retire to Dubai, but the Queen Elizabeth 2, arguably the world's most famous ocean liner, has never been typical.

The 40-year-old Cunard ship sailed out of New York harbor for the last time this week accompanied by the far larger Queen Mary 2 en route to Dubai where she will live out her years as a hotel. "She will always be remembered as the best loved ship in the world and we are delighted that she will be cherished by future generations of travelers at her new home in Dubai," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.

TIME Magazine Archives - TIME Archives - TIME Magazine Back Issues

TIME Magazine Archives - TIME Archives - TIME Magazine Back Issues.

TIME Magazine Archives

Left, screenshot, TIME Magazine Archives

This wonderful historical archive from TIME magazine contains covers, articles, and excerpts from articles from 1923 to the present.. well-organized, with covers, and has some featured collections.. enjoy!

The Hollywood Librarian: Scenes from the world premiere at the American Library Association's 2007 Annual Conference

The Hollywood Librarian: Scenes from the world premiere at the American Library Association's 2007 Annual Conference.

The Hollywood Librarian: Scenes from the world premiere at the American Library Association's 2007 Annual Conference

http://www.hollywoodlibrarian.com/production.html has the link to the video from the ALA Annual Conference premiere, along with some other video and audio links.. the trailer is online now, too.. enjoy!

Vegas cigar lounges roll out the welcome mat | Chicago Tribune

Vegas cigar lounges roll out the welcome mat | Chicago Tribune

From the Los Angeles Times
LAS VEGAS | NIGHTLIFE
Vegas cigar lounges roll out the welcome mat
Smoking bans have increased, but Sin City offers the well-heeled a place to light up.
By Lark Ellen Gould, Special to The Times, Published June 3, 2007

Las Vegas takes its smoke seriously. So seriously, in fact, that recent changes in the state's smoking statutes have sent tavern brass to court and mall-walking tobacco lovers to the nearest smoking-allowed lounge, which is all good news to the city's elegant and aromatic cigar bars.

You will find dozens of smoke dens throughout the valley. Places such as the Tinder Box and the Whiskey Attic sell the usual brands of sticks and stogies with a sofa or two for those who want to smoke on site.

But precious few spots cater to the aficionado who likes his or her tobacco from the Dominican Republic or the Canary Islands, aged at least six months and rolled just so, accompanied by a fine blue Scotch, good conversation and the memory, still on the palate, of a spectacular meal.

Source: Vegas cigar lounges roll out the welcome mat | Chicago Tribune

There's still a few cool places with some people who enjoy smoking cigars.. and some of the ambiance of relaxation.. one more reason Vegas is a number one destination: you can find what you want (to do) in Vegas.. just watch the heat in the summer ;) ...

Independent Weekly: Music: Rock & Roll Quarterly: The infinite shag

Independent Weekly: Music: Rock & Roll Quarterly: The infinite shag.

Home » Music » Rock & Roll Quarterly
The infinite shag
Landlocked and in penny loafers, shag enthusiasts keep the beat moving
JULY 26, 2006, BY CHRIS TOENES

She smiles wide, bobbing her head to the beat and holding a tray of takeout, standing outside of Shorty's, a sports bar and hangout next door to Chapel Hill music haven Local 506, peering through a window. The band wears Hawaiian shirts and dress shoes, and headset microphones that look showy, relative to the typical West Franklin Street bar band. All around, TVs flicker with sports, fighting for space between neon signs. This could be any bar.

But the woman's look says it all: Are the people inside really twirling each other around and shuffling their feet to an old Temptations cover? In a sports bar? In Chapel Hill?

She doesn't realize that, inside, there's a beach music show under way in the Southern Part of Heaven known more for an arms-crossed, hipster non-dance crowd than a full-fledged jitterbug offshoot. She's peeking into the world of Carolina Shag, an unofficial collective of 50 shag clubs statewide. The music and dance tradition is especially vital here in the Piedmont, and several of its most loyal proponents are here, dancing away on a Tuesday night. They're not only moving their feet and grinning wide, but they're also helping to keep this uniquely Carolina tradition alive.

Great long article on the history of one cool dance, the shag.. the article includes a timeline and great links to hear and find out more.. ah, the shuffle in the sand on concrete at Ocean Drive (OD) beach...

Independent Bookstores: Cozy, Friendly, Full of Surprises - New York Times

Independent Bookstores: Cozy, Friendly, Full of Surprises - New York Times.

Weekend in New York
Independent Bookstores: Cozy, Friendly, Full of Surprises
By SETH KUGEL, Published: January 7, 2007

NEW YORK has always been known as a city capable of sating any desire: for money, for high fashion, for companionship. But if you're just a bespectacled out-of-towner who suffers from simple book lust, its eclectic collection of independent bookstores can scratch your itch, too.

Even with the Jolly Green Corporate Bookstore Giant spreading its shelves throughout Manhattan faster than Meg Ryan's 1998 laptop can say “You've got mail,” the city still has many spots where specialized collections, cozy atmosphere and friendly and knowledgeable staff win out over huge selection, standardized décor and jam-packed cafes (serving coffee from that other Jolly Green Corporate Giant).

The Complete Traveller Bookstore is the perfect example of a tiny shop that can suck you in and not spit you out till hours later, lost in dreamy thoughts of other places and times. It is set up like the travel section of a regular bookstore — that is, geographically — except that all the books here are vintage, if not downright ancient.

MojoMom: Mojo Mom Picks: 12 great things about North Carolina

MojoMom: Mojo Mom Picks: 12 great things about North Carolina.

Thursday, December 07, 2006
Mojo Mom Picks: 12 great things about North Carolina

I adore my adopted home state. I was talking to my husband this morning about what makes North Carolina special. He sees a culture of connectedness, which I think is a great way to put it.

Michael said, "Other places I've lived, like New York and California, are places to go to school or work, but North Carolina is a place to put down roots and call home. New York has ionic bonds and North Carolina has covalent bonds."

Much to our delight, we have been embraced by our Chapel Hill community as transplanted North Carolinians.

Mojo Mom has a great post about 12 great things about my home state, North Carolina.. take a visit, explore the links, and like any good list like this, you'll see why North Carolina is a very special state (and "home") to me...

Perspective: The endangered joy of serendipity

Perspective: The endangered joy of serendipity.

The endangered joy of serendipity
The modern world makes it harder to discover what you didn't know you were looking for
By WILLIAM MCKEEN, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES, Published March 26, 2006

There's an art to finding something when you're not looking for it.

In my freshman class at the University of Florida, I require the 240 students to subscribe to the New York Times Monday through Friday. I haven't even finished announcing this in class the first day, when the hands shoot up. "Can't we just read it online?" they ask, the duh? implicit.

"No," I say and the eyes roll. They think I'm some mossback who hasn't embraced new media.

"Why not?" Challenging, surly, chips on the shoulders.

"Because then you would only find what you're looking for." Appropriately weird, elliptical, professor-like response.

Nice opinion piece.. we retain the ability to enjoy the random delights of serendipity, and here's some of the reasons why we should exercise that ability to find, without looking.. thanks to Library Link of the Day for the pointer to this one...

From WBEZ in Chicago | This American Life

From WBEZ in Chicago | This American Life.

This American Life

If you've never heard This American Life, our staff's favorite shows page provides a great introduction to what we do. You might want to start there. Or, if you're looking for a written introduction, here goes:

One of the problems with our show from the start has been that whenever we try to describe it in a sentence or two, it sounds awful. For instance: Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme. That doesn't sound like something we'd want to listen to on the radio, and it's our show. In the early days of the program, in frustration, we'd sometimes tell public radio program directors that it's basically just like Car Talk. Except just one guy hosting. And no cars.

It's easy to say what we're not. We're not a news show or a talk show or a call-in show. We're not really formatted like other radio shows at all.

Instead, we do these stories that are like movies for radio. There are people in dramatic situations where things happen to them.

Excellence in radio is still there, and this is one of the great ones to listen to the stories.. thanks to the Scout Report for the pointer to this one...

Discovering Sherlock Holmes - A Community Reading Project From Stanford University

Discovering Sherlock Holmes - A Community Reading Project From Stanford University.

Discovering Sherlock Holmes

The second installment of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is posted in pdf format on the Discovering Sherlock Holmes website under the Sherlock Holmes Adventures
http://sherlockholmes.stanford.edu/readings.html.

Each installment will be available online on successive Fridays by noon PST. If you have difficulty downloading the pdf file you might need to upgrade your Acrobat Reader.

Thank you for joining us! Rediscover the challenge and the charm of Conan Doyle's master of deduction, as the public first met him a century ago. On the website http://sherlockholmes.stanford.edu you will also find other information on the Time, the Author, and Notes to assist your reading of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Sunset :: General :: Life in the West: Orange County, CA Idea House

Sunset :: General :: Life in the West: Orange County, CA Idea House.

Orange County, CA Idea House
Ladera Ranch, CA

Our 2005 Idea House reflects the best of Orange County’s natural beauty and its relaxed yet refined living

Welcome to the 2005 Orange Idea House virtual tour. Due to the dynamic nature of the content, we recommend a broadband connection is recommended and a current browser with Flash and Quicktime installed.

If you're all setup, jump right in!

Navigation
Use the pull-down menus or click on the floorplan. Once the image has loaded it will automatically start rotating. Hold down your mouse button and point in the direction you wish to move.

USDA Forest Service: Fall Colors for 2005

USDA Forest Service - Fall Colors for 2005.

Fall Colors for 2005

National Forest Fall Foliage Hotspots
USDA-Forest Service Regional Fall Foliage Sites
State Websites on Fall Colors

Want up-to-date information for this season? Call our Fall Color Hotline, 1-800-354-4595.

See the great links for fall color sites and information on this USDA Forst Service site.. also, check out the STORMFAX (r) Fall Foliage Guide.. and, one of my favorite sites. Fall Color Information from Virginia ...

Why do leaves change color?

The Writer's Almanac: Saturday, October 1, 2005

The Writer's Almanac from American Public Media.

The Writer's Almanac

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER, 2005
Listen (RealAudio) | How to listen

It's the birthday of Julie Andrews, born Julie Wells in Surrey, England (1935). She made her debut on Broadway at the age of 19 in The Boyfriend in 1954.

It's the birthday of historian Daniel J. Boorstin, born in Atlanta (1914), author of Empire of Czar, The Discoverers and Cleopatra's Nose. Daniel J. Boorstin said, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations people."

Great birthdays, laugh.. and we share the birthday ;) ...

That Finely Engraved Personal Touch - New York Times

That Finely Engraved Personal Touch - New York Times.

Online Shopper
That Finely Engraved Personal Touch
By MICHELLE SLATALLA, Published: September 15, 2005

THE other day our mailman delivered a postcard from Yellowstone, a thank you note for a birthday present and four billion catalogs, bills and credit card offers. Guess which we read first?

I am happy to report that my college friend Sandy and her family enjoyed their summer vacation in a lakeside log cabin and that Claire liked the arts-and-craft kit. Most of the rest of the mail went into the garbage unopened.

In this age of e-mail and cellphone text messages, a handwritten note with a real stamp in the upper corner arrives with the urgency of a telegram. That is why I decided - after years of worrying about the cost and about a commitment to a particular return address - to buy personal stationery online.

Disembodied Brain sci-fi weblog | A video introduction to San Diego Comic-Con

Disembodied Brain sci-fi weblog | A video introduction to San Diego Comic-Con.

A video introduction to San Diego Comic-Con
July 11, 2005

For those who may be unfamiliar with the giant pop-culture convention, SignOnSanDiego videographer Yvette De La Garza and I have prepared a video introduction to San Diego Comic-Con International 2005. [link added]

It features Paul Horn (right), illustrator for The San Diego Union-Tribune; Jamie Newbold of Southern California Comics; and Comic-Con spokesman David Glanzer, who provide the B-roll for this package.
We'll be following up with more video from this year's con.

Comic-Con
An intro to the big comic con.
Video (may require Real Player)

Posted by SignOnSanDiego at July 11, 2005 08:13 AM