| An inconvenient trip: Here are 10 great destinations before it's too ...
I know that we have seen tremendous growth in our expeditions to the polar regions (Antarctica and the Arctic)," says Jennifer Gregoire, media relations manager for Lindblad Expeditions, via e-mail. The voyages have been sold out far in advance, prompting the company to purchase a second ship for the polar regions. The National Geographic Explorer is expected to set sail in June. Denise Landau, executive director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, says the increase has nothing to do with climate sightseeing: "It's a fantastic place to go, more vessels available for people to travel on, and there are more companies who are established around the world. I've actually gotten that question a lot, and our operators don't believe it has anything to do with global warming." Online: www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com; www.iaato.org - Low-lying islands A tiny Polynesian island nation called Tuvalu already has discussed evacuation plans if the sea continues to rise.
My mum went to the Tate and all I got was a pair of Andy Warhol oven ...
Our museums and galleries are busier than ever this holiday season. But is anyone actually looking at the art? Paul Arendt on the rise and rise of the gallery shop
Tuesday December 18, 2007
The Guardian
Present sense ... pop art cufflinks from the National Portrait Gallery. Photograph: David Levene
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Brain-Reading Headset to Sell for $299
How about controlling games with your thoughts instead? Later this year, Emotiv Systems Inc. plans to start selling the $299 EPOC neuroheadset to let you do just that. The headset's sensors are designed to detect conscious thoughts and expressions as well as "non-conscious emotions" by reading electrical signals around the brain, says the company, which demonstrated the wireless gadget at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The company, which unveiled a prototype last year, says the headset can detect emotions such as anger, excitement and tension, as well as facial expressions and cognitive actions like pushing and pulling objects. The headset will be sold with a game developed by Emotiv, but it can also be made to work with existing PC games, the company said.
Trading places: day-two update
GEELONG'S best and fairest winner from its VFL premiership side, Tim Callan, is headed for Whitten Oval next season. Callan, who joined the club in 2002 under the father-son rule, will join the Western Bulldogs after the Cats' recruiting manager Stephen Wells confirmed the two clubs had agreed on the transfer, with only the details of the transaction to be sorted. “The two clubs and Tim have all agreed that Tim will be playing for the Bulldogs but we haven't finalised exactly what the deal will be yet," Wells said. Meanwhile, Geelong are likely to re-sign young ruckman Mark Blake, but they are fielding "reasonable" interest in his veteran teammate Steven King. It's our expectation that Blake will sign, will be keen to go on, but that hasn't been confirmed," said Cats football manager Neil Balme.
Hostess Club Appeal Denied
The Central Area Planning Commission has denied an application to open a hostess club in the basement of a six-story building at 1240 S. Main St. The city's zoning administrator denied the project key permits in October. The case was appealed to the Central Area Planning Commission, which rejected the matter Jan. 22. Attorney Roger Diamond, who represents applicant Richard Fedoruk, said he plans to file a lawsuit against the city contesting the decision. "The zoning code allows the hostess club at that location, but apparently the planning commissioners feel that it is not appropriate for that location," said Diamond. "It doesn't make sense because there's another one nearby." In recent months, a spate of proposed new hostess clubs has caused concern among Fashion District stakeholders, who are concerned that the clubs could attract crime and are not compatible with surrounding businesses.page 2, 2/4/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News.
Sorry Scots lucky to avoid a rout
YESTERDAY'S match only goes to prove that the scoreboard really does lie. It is one of life's mysteries that Wales won this match by just 15 points despite dominating proceedings from the first whistle to the last. It says something of the cussed nature of the Scots that they hung on to the Welsh coattails, closing the gap to just two points midway through the second half, before the home team made things safe in the final quarter. Chris Paterson kicked five penalties to overtake Gavin Hastings' Scottish points record in this championship, but there was little else for the travelling fans to celebrate.After their troubles last Sunday, the scrum enjoyed the upper hand, John Barclay fronted up again in a losing cause and Mike Blair enjoyed a storming match, tackling like a dervish and mopping up any number of other people's mistakes.
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