August 18, 2008
Albeit nearly 7,000 miles from his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, The Beijing National Aquatics Centre – or The Water Cube as it’s been called during the 2008 Olympics – may forever be remembered as Michael Phelps’ playground and record-book smashing facility. Like Babe Ruth to Yankee Stadium, Phelps has put his own signature on a place that deserves credence of its own. Read More
August 15, 2008
In this age of instant info – most recently represented by mobile internet devices like Apple’s iPhone – people are more wired than ever before. But if you’re a late adapter, or you don’t plan on purchasing a new mobile gadget yet, don’t sweat it: Your old school phone may actually do more than you thought. Read More
August 14, 2008
The world watches in amazement as Michael Phelps wins gold medals and smashes world records. As ridiculous as it may seem, many are wondering if he is part fish. They aren’t that far off. Phelps’ ankles bend an extraordinary 10 to 15 degrees, sometimes almost parallel to his legs, turning his size fourteen feet into built-in flippers. Combine those with his 76″ height and 79″ armspan and you see why Phelps could be an honorary dolphin. For another astounding feat, read about his 12,000 calorie-a-day diet in this article. And you thought fueling your vehicle was expensive – just imagine his grocery bills. Read More
August 13, 2008
As the U.S. residential real estate market bottoms out, which foreign country tops the list in buying up property? Many of you might guess Korea or China. But that’s not the case, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Since May 2007, NAR estimates between 150,000 and 190,000 homes in the U.S. were bought by foreign nationals. Which country bought the most? Canada. Read More
August 12, 2008
Look out, Facebook and MySpace: Virtual worlds such as Second Life are taking over. According to a recent CNN report. “With over 30 million users worldwide, 8.5 million photos uploaded each day and 15 billion page views a month, Facebook is undoubtedly the Internet’s flavor of the month. But by 2020, Read More
August 12, 2008
Neither MDs nor canines, the pack of Philadelphia musicians known as Dr. Dog make house calls spinning late ’60s rock with contemporary hooks on their latest endeavor, Fate (released 7/22/08). Ebullient melodies, three-part harmonies, fuzzy guitars, strolling baselines and creamy piano chords characterized the needle-in-the-groove sound of their previous four albums. Read More
August 11, 2008
Anyone who watched Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics on NBC (and that’s just about everyone with a TV), likely grooved to the event’s vast visual poetry. Among the overpoweringly beautiful symbols employed by Director Zhang Yimou: the glowing globe rising from the floor of “The Birdcage” stadium. Skeptical commentators have noted how Yimou’s depiction of the history of China conveniently skipped disturbing periods such as the violence of The Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 70s. Unfortunately, those commentators did not include those of NBC, which seemed content to go along with the whitewashing. Of course, the propaganda was not all pro-Chinese: Interviewed by Bob Costas last night, President Bush said “I don’t see America having problems.” Read More
August 7, 2008
It’s rare for a situation to embrace as many losing scenarios as this one. Favre-gate – which ended Wednesday night when the NFL’s Green Bay Packers shipped embattled superstar Brett Favre to the New York Jets – is a win-lose-lose-lose-lose-lose-lose (count them … six) development.
For those that missed the origins of perhaps the greatest American soap opera plot since Bobby Ewing turned up alive on Dallas, read this.
As for those six big losers: Read More
August 7, 2008
Emirates Airlines debuted its A380 in San Francisco this week. Invited press admired a bubbling fountain, exceptionally quiet engines and a tailcam showing the plane soaring through clouds. But the real action was in the first class “suites”… really mini hotel rooms. They include burlwood trim, large screen video displays, a retractable beverage and goodie center (with the $10,000 ticket price, let’s hope this mini bar is complimentary), two showers, and gold-covered everything. Associates of Paolucci Communication Arts, which continues to ramp up its international outreach, may be traveling Emirates Airlines again soon… if not exactly in first class. We’ll sneak a peek for you.
Check out this article for more on the Emirates A380. Read More
August 6, 2008
Beginning in the 1960s, a number of winemakers in California aspired to create wines rivaling the legendary vintages of Bordeaux and Burgundy. By the early 1970s, some had produced wines they believed were as good as any in the world, but had trouble marketing them. These California vintners entered French wine competitions that were allegedly “blind” taste tests. However, Read More
