Tagged With "science fiction"
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Re: How do occupy your time while flying?
Great ideas and i especially like the audiobook idea! For me it depends whether I'm going on the trip or returning home. Going, I tend to organize my notes and read about some of the sights I'm planning on visiting. That used to be in guidebooks but now it's a combination of guidebooks and material I've printed off. Coming home, I try to relax and unwind. Maybe watch a movie or read a fiction book. My next trip I want to use that time to learn some French.
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Re: World's most attractive libraries
A followup to attractive libraries are great bookstores. Fodors just released 16 of their favorites in the USA, which you can find here . I've visited a number of these and enjoyed them. I would like to add two other stores that I know of. 1) Univ. of Washington bookstore. While mostly a student store aimed at textbooks and supplies and such, it has an excellent collection of fiction and non-fiction as well as frequent author readings and book signings. 2) Auntie's books in Spokane,...
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Re: World's most attractive libraries
There's always more to know about libraries, so 2 interesting items noted in this morning's Bookmarks from The Guardian: 1. A book, The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders, by Stuart Kells . . . 2. and his item in The Guardian, From Bag End to Babel : top 10 libraries in fiction. I hope to get a copy of the book when the price of used copies comes down (if ever)! If you look at The Library , scroll down the page for more things library and also click on "Source notes" for a long list of fun stuff.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A great piece! Amazing to me how some of the best products of their day were not built commercially . Even when they were, sometimes they were not successful. Cars like the GE-100 are great examples of that. A true find and thanks for teaching us more!
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Love it! Exactly the type of finding that makes a trip memorable. Something proponents of electric cars seem to forget or choose to ignore -- where does the electricity come from? Currently mostly from coal and oil fired plants, so the practical side of having them for most doesn't currently make that much sense (might as well burn the oil product in the car engine, right). But I am hopeful that was energy technology improves, as it surely will, we'll develop better ways of charging these...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
The argument, and I'm not informed enough to judge it, is that the amount of fossil fuel needed to generate electricity for a plug-in is far less than that required to run a gasoline engine. The same sort of argument that points out that a gallon of fuel moves far more freight on a diesel train than a diesel truck. On the other hand, that's about plug-in cars. For hybrids, it's a different story because the batteries charge while the car is running on gas. So less gas is used than using gas...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
As I understand it, with hybrids the batteries charge when the car brakes are applied (transferring the energy of moving to the battery), so they're especially well adapted to city driving in places with lots of stop signs and traffic lights. Less useful for driving on open road because you don't brake often. So living in Brooklyn, I think the hybrid would be a reasonable choice for you. I don't think battery technology is anywhere near "ripe" yet, but as with the Mercury and Gemini...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Much further to go, of course, but even in a highway driving situation (and a city/highway mix), hybrids are generally cheaper to run than their gas-only counterparts. That's Camry vs Camry hybrid, for example, not Corolla vs Prius.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A little further research confirms what I thought: at least in the Toyota and Ford hybrids, the gasoline engine powers a generator/charger while in use. That's in addition to the power captured from braking.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
I have some friends with a Prius, and their greatest fuel efficiency comes when driving in the city, not on the highway. Paradoxical, but it shows how good the braking is at building up a charge. Good to know there is a backup generator. While the hybrids save on fuel, they also cost thousands of dollars more than their non hybrid counterparts. For an average consumer, it takes many years to recapture that extra cost for the hybrid on fuel savings, if they ever will. And there's the issue of...
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IslandMan
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Re: Books That Send You Packing...
There are so very many great travel tales. I am partial to non-fiction. I enjoy reading well researched, historical accounts of the human drama that is within the scenery. I enjoy writing that gives a strong sense of place and context to what I see. " The Old Patagonian Express " by Paul Theroux " The Pillars of Hercules " by Paul Theroux " Cut Stones and Crossroads: A Journey to Peru " by Ronald Wright " Basin and Range " by John McPhee " Two Years Before the Mast " by Richard Henry Dana,...
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Re: Books That Send You Packing...
I enjoy a good fiction book as well as non-fiction, especially if the writer is skilled. I really liked "Travels" by the late great Michael Crichton, my favorite of the nonfiction travel books I've read.. "Robinson Crusoe" made me want to visit tropical islands as a boy. "Fantastic Voyage" by Isaac Asimov intrigued me with traveling at a cellular level, within a human body no less (maybe lead to my current day job?) And my all-time favorite, "2001: A Space Odyssey". Made me want to travel to...
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Dr. F - A wonderful tribute to a man, a place, and a friendship. The sense of fun and of respect clearly rings from your writing. Thank you for sharing this.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Thanks, TravelandNature! Arthur was a wonderfully kind and sweet man. He was probably the most intelligent person I've ever interacted with one-on-one, but always made me feel very welcome and comfortable with him. We had a nice chemistry between us that I believe we both enjoyed. He was the one who nicknamed me, "DrFumblefinger" and encouraged me to write about my adventures. So here I am now --DrFumblefinger writing about my passion for travel!
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? (11/20/13)
A summary of Amazon from on the new Martin Cruz Smith Novel, TATIANA (see latest clues(. " Arkady Renko, one of the iconic investigators of contemporary fiction, has survived the cultural journey from the Soviet Union to the New Russia..... The trail leads to Kaliningrad , a Cold War “secret city”......" TravelandNature, I believe we may have an answer!
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Hi Dr. Fumblefinter, I was wondering if you knew the location of Arthur Clarke's former residence, or perhaps his grave? I'll be visiting Colombo for work next month and I'd like to make a visit, even if just outside of the walls of the house.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Hi Nevin, Nice to hear from you and thanks for your interest in Sir Arthur. Arthur's home is at 25 Barnes Place in Colombo, which is near the popular shopping store Odels. A taxi or even tuk-tuk should be able to get you there. His former business partner and best friend, a SriLankan, still lives at this home. You won't see too much from the outside as it is a walled compound. If you contact the home and come during business hours, it is likely that someone will take you to see Arthur's...
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Re: Nova: Building the Great Cathedrals.
Thanks for the heads up on that. There are few things I enjoy doing more in Europe than to spend a half day exploring a great cathedral! If people haven't read it yet, I'd highly recommend Ken Follett's great book, "The Pillars of the Earth" , a work of fiction set in Medieval times and focused on the building of these great churches.
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ET, Call Home: A visit to the Arecibo Observatory
On our recent visit to Puerto Rico, we took an unplanned side trip to what might be called ET’s phone booth—a vast radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory that “listens” to space both for astronomical information and any...
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Travel to Where "Your Shadow Always Has Company"
Well, you can't actually visit the planet Kepler 16b; it's not even in our solar system. But graphic artists at the National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) have made up dream travel posters for several "exoplanets" (planets that orbit other...
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Holy Space Rays, Batman! Boeing patents "force field"
Boeing has taken a leaf from science fiction and turned it into a patent for a force field that could protect airplanes (and other objects) from damaging explosions. The title of the patent is "method and system for shockwave attenuation via...
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Books That Sent You Packing (your bag, that is)
The book I always think of in this regard is ‘The Sheltering Sky’, by Paul Bowles. And the subsequent movie, with the devilish John Malkovich as, guess who, Port Moresby. It inspired me to take the plunge and travel outside Europe, to Morocco, a place I’ve returned again and again, sure that would be so as soon as I read the book. But there have been others - ‘The River’s Tale: A Year on the Mekong’, by Edward Gargan, added Yunnan Province in China to my first round-the-world destination...
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The Colby Trophy Room, Museum of Science, Boston (Where Gumbo was #116)
Gumbo was visiting the interesting Museum of Science in Boston. It's especially a great museum to explore with children, but fun for everyone! There are many fascinating exhibits and demonstrations that take a full day to...
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Exploring New Roads
Travel leads us in new directions. In this instance, the art he's looked at in his travels has led Jonathan L to new directions in writing.
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Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh (Where Gumbo was #209)
Gumbo was visiting George G's home city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specifically the Carnegie Science Center.
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Flushing Meadows Park and the Museums of Queens
Join Jonathan L on a visit to a great park and two interesting museums in one of New York City's 'outer boroughs'
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March 11, 2020: Photographing the Photographer
Samantha shares her visit to the Denver Botanical Garden. She was with her inephew Jesse, who is an inspiring photographer. After a while she had fun taking pictures of him, taking pictures, lol
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The Space Race from the Soviet Side Displayed at London's Science Museum
There's an exhibition at the London Science museum called Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age." It has technology that put the first dog, man and woman into orbit on display and most of it has never seen outside of Russia, There...
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After 60 years, hotel still waits for opening day
Talk about plans gone wrong! A hotel in Sicily that started construction over 60 years ago and was completed over 30 years ago, has still had no guests except the local pigeons. The story is one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" tales. ...
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Nov. 8, 2017: 8 Free Things to do in St. Louis (pt 1)
Samantha shares half her list and pictures of top free things to do. Don't go yet, though: the rest will come your way soon!
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Jan. 23, 2018: Project Mercury Exhibit, Titusville
DrFumblefinger stumbles upon a nice tribute to the Project Mercury astronauts in the small east Florida town of Titusville.
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Central India, Pt.2: Orchha
Professor Abe visits the town of Orchha in Central India, including its impressive Raja Mahal and Jahangir Mahal palaces.
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Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Where Gumbo was #268)
Gumbo was visiting an excellent museum in Denver, its Nature and Science Museum. The museum has many galleries as part of its permanent exhibits and featured two interesting exhibits when DrFumblefinger visited, one on the Dead Sea Scrolls and one on Nature's Bioluminescence.
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Explore the Intriguing Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago
On a visit to Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry wasn't at the top of Samantha's list...but now it might be. Here's her report!
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Shunpiking through Northern Illinois
Jonathan L continues his westward trip off the highways, and shares his new discoveries and some ideas about random travel.
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Hopper Tales: Fiction inspired by art while traveling
Sometimes, the art Jonathan L encounters in his travels inspires him to create flash fiction. Here are three stories inspired by paintings by Edward Hopper
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In Hemingway’s footsteps: Ketchum and Sun Valley, Idaho
As we drive north from Twin Falls, through black lava fields, farms and sage, I take in the majestic mountains ahead as they emerge from the clouds. It’s easy to see why this area had a special place in ‘Papa’ Hemingway’s...
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On DVD, Friends in Fiction and Real-Life
April 1, 2014 I watch a lot of movies and, while I pay some attention to ratings and reviews, I can like them for any number of reasons, not necessarily related to the usual criteria. There are actors who I’ll happily...
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France's new regions get new names
France recently merged some of its regions, reducing 22 to 13. Some of them are just now getting permanent new names, and not everyone is happy.
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Boom and Virgin team up for supersonic airplane
Boom teams up with Richard Branson to make commercial supersonic jets.
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Schenectady: Two Museum Gems
Two small but fascinating museums in Schenectady, New York offer a day's worth of information and education. One's for science, the other for history.
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Feb. 1, 2016: Academy of Natural Science Philadelphia
Outside the Academy of Natural Science there are some wonderful statues.
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Toronto's science center: Mammoths and Mastodons
Toronto, a great weekend destination from many places, has a new attraction: Mammoths and Mastodons, at the Ontario Science Center.
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Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Long forgotten except in Schenectady's science museum, the little GE electric car that could, long before Prius and Tesla. Here's its story.
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Leonardo da Vinci National Science and Technology Museum, Milan
Gumbo was visiting this rather large hit-and-miss collection. The hits include a wonderful collection of models based on da Vinci's drawings, and an intriguing train collection.
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Jan. 26, 2019: KiMo Theatre, Albuquerque
A theatre with an unusual blend of Native American and Art Deco survives in Albuquerque, with a fascinating history.
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21 Best Museums in America
Kennedy Space Center - Orlando Kennedy Space Center Orlando Kennedy Space Center Orlando (KSC) also known as the NASA Launch Operations Center. The KSC has been the primary launch center for NASA since 1968. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex open everyday at 9 am. Kennedy Space Center Tickets started from USD 57 Museum Of Modern Art - MoMA Museum-of-Modern-Art-NYC MoMA is art museum in New York City. It contains world's greatest collection of modern and contemporary art, almost 200,000...
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The Danville Science Center, Virginia
George G visits the interesting Science Center in Danville, Virginia. The Center contains a complex of buildings with a wide variety of science-related exhibits, including a very nice collection of railroad items.
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Bunratty Folk Park: Living History
One good attraction deserves another, and Bunratty Castle has the Folk Park at its feet.