News — Archaeology |
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Friday, May 18, 2007
Wooden Anchor Could Be Oldest Found
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Angling Masters: Social Networking Comes to Fishing
Just when you'd thought you'd seen everything, along comes Angling Masters, a social networking site for recreational fisherman that also supports the creation of user generated online fishing tournaments.
Angling Masters has the standard features you would expect from a MySpace style social networking platform. Users are given their own page (called a cabin) and can add photos, buddies (friends), maintain a blog and list personal details such as location, memberships etc. The layout is slick. It has a nice, be it somewhat masculine feel to it, but unlike the many MySpace clones out there some one actually thought this one through.
The addition of user generated online fishing tournaments is claimed to be a first and I couldn't find any other site competing in the space.
The "Buddy Tournament feature" allows users to create and participate in online competitions with their fishing "buddies" located anywhere in North America. The vast differences in rivers, lakes and the many fish species inhabiting them is overcome with an interesting twist. Length conversion tables and a series of algorithms allow fish of one species to be compared to fish of another, no matter where they were caught so all participants compete on a level playing field. 12 species of fish are covered and the back end considers how large each species typically grows in each geographic region and scores fish caught accordingly.
Cheating is overcome with tournaments having options such as requiring a witness for the catch and/or the requirement of participating anglers to use the official Angling Masters Measuring Tape to provide accurate measurements of the fish.
If fishing is your thing there are some great features on this site. The idea of competing in fishing competitions online seems so simple I'm surprised it hasn't been done before.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
top picks
Winter Carnival
January 31st – February 16th
Historic Qu�bec City is transformed into a winter wonderland during
this 17-day extravaganza. Thousands take part in the fire-lit night
parades, ice slides, skidoo races and live music events.
7.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin International Film Festival
February 6th – February 16th
This year marks the 53rd Berlin International Film Festival. Thousands
will attend this leading European film event to see who will be honored
with the Golden and Silver Bear awards.
8.
Venice, Italy
Venice Carnival
February 21st – March 4th
This outdoor masquerade ball features nightly parades, theatre
performances and live music. Venetians and the thousands of Europeans
who attend spend all year creating their elaborate masks and costumes.
9.
Rio De Janeiro , Brazil
Rio De Janeiro Carnival
March 1st – March 4th
This carnival of carnivals attracts thousands from all over the world
with its incredible costumes and infectious music. Samba dancing,
parades and live music fill Rio during this unbeatable event.
10.
Binche, Belgium
Binche Carnival
March 2nd – March 4th
The Gilles, strange, costumed carnival characters, are the signature of
this unique festival. Dancing in the street, parades, bands and pelting
the crowd with oranges make up this one-of-a-kind event.
11.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mardi Gras
March 4th
Masks, music and mayhem! Enjoy live jazz bands in festive costumes,
delicious Cajun food and thousands of paraders partying along Bourbon
Street during this wild New Orleans festival.
12.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin's St Patrick's Festival
March 14th – March 17th
A spectacular parade, premier street carnival, live music, fireworks,
city-wide treasure hunt and lots of Guinness are all part of Dublin's
magnificent St. Patty's Day celebrations.
13.
Boston, Massachusetts
St. Patrick's Day
March 17th
Boston hosted America's first St. Patrick's Day celebration in 1737 and
still boasts one of USA's biggest St. Patty's Day parties. Don't miss
the parade with many colorful floats and merry entertainers.
14.
Liverpool, England
The Grand National
April 5th
Place your bets! The Grand National is regarded as the greatest
steeplechase in the world. Race day buzzes with excitement as hundreds
watch the winning horse approach the finish line.
15.
Augusta, Georgia
US Masters
April 10th – April 13th
Tiger Woods defends his title against the best golfers in the world as
they compete for one of golf's most coveted prizes, the Masters green
jacket.
16.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh International Science Festival
April 11th – April 22nd
Stimulate your mind every Easter in Edinburgh! Each year science
enthusiasts, young and old, gather for over 250 fascinating events,
workshops and exhibitions. James Watt would be proud!
17.
Whistler, Canada
World Ski & Snowboard Festival
April 11th – April 20th
Definitely the largest music and snow-sports extravaganza in North
America, this raucous event includes the World Snowboarding
Championships, free outdoor concerts, film premieres, photography
events and endless parties.
18.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Marathon
April 21st
This Olympic inspired event is the world's oldest contested marathon
and the first to officially recognize wheel-chair athletes.
Established in 1887, it is New England's most widely viewed sporting
event.
19.
Seville , Spain
La Feria de Abril
April 28th – May 4th
From the official lighting of the lanterns at midnight on opening day
to the finale of fireworks, Seville's April Fair is a celebration of
Flamenco, folklore and endless fun.
20.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Queen's Day
April 30th
One of the most vibrant Dutch holidays, it celebrates the birthday of
former Queen Juliana. Every city transforms itself into a dazzling
fairground with live music and outdoor markets.
21.
Paris, France
Fiore de Paris
April 30th – May 12th
and health and beauty exhibitors, live jazz bands and culinary
specialties from around the globe.
22.
Atlanta, Georgia
Music Midtown
May 2nd – May 4th
This 10th annual Atlanta tradition features over 100 of the world's
leading musicians performing across 11 stages. World-class
entertainment and great food draw over 300,000 people to this
celebrated festival.
23.
Portim�o, Portugal
Algarve International Film Festival
May 4th – May 18th
Join film buffs for Portugal's oldest cinema event. Held every year in
the town of Portim�o, this short film competition is open to animated
and live action 35-mm shorts.
24.
Cannes , France
Cannes Film Festival
May 14th – May 25th
In its 55th year, Cannes is revered as the most glamorous and important
cinema event. Movie stars, the coveted Palme d'Or award and chic
parties make up this penultimate festival.
25.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
The Monaco Formula One Grand Prix
May 29th – June 1st
Begun in 1929, this Grand Prix is considered the most famous motor race
in the world. Drivers speed through the narrow, winding streets at an
incredible 88 miles an hour.
26.
Basel, Switzerland
Art Basel
June 18th – June 23rd
Basel transforms into a Mecca of art hosting one of the world's most
significant art events. Selected galleries from around the world
feature works from contemporary masters to emerging artists.
27.
London, England
Wimbledon Tennis Championship
June 23rd– July 6th
Last year, Serena Williams reigned as Queen of one of the world's most
important and historic tennis tournaments. Since 1877, this classic
sporting event has come to define the British Summer.
28.
Montreal, Canada
Montreal International Jazz Festival
June 26th – July 6th
Widely considered one of the finest jazz festivals in the world it
attracts the best international and local jazz artists. Over 2000
musicians perform over 500 shows in beautiful Montreal.
29.
Glastonbury, England
Glastonbury Festival
June 27th – June 29th
Enjoy the mystic English countryside, groove to many top artists and
party all night long at one of the UK's biggest, best and most famous
music festivals.
30.
Siena, Italy
Il Palio
July 2nd and August 16th
Parades, religion, rivalries and a feast: what more could you want?
Siena has hosted this 3-lap, 10-horse bareback romp around the main
town square since 1147.
31.
New York City, New York
Macy's Fireworks Spectacular
July 4th
What better way to spend Independence Day in the big apple? Join
thousands along the East River to watch this one of the country's most
brilliant fireworks extravaganzas choreographed to music.
32.
Rouen , France
Tour de France
July 5th – July 27th
This famed event began in 1903 and is widely considered to be the
world's most prestigious and grueling bicycle race. The remarkable
participants cover over 2500 miles of arduous road.
33.
Pamplona, Spain
Feast of San Fermin
July 6th – July 14th
The patron saint of bakers and wine merchants is honored during this
vibrant Fiesta. Soak up massive street parties, colorful parades and –
for the very brave – the Running of the Bulls.
34.
Berlin, Germany
The Love Parade
July 12th
In 1989 this wild, street party started with 150 revelers, now this
hugely popular event attracts over a million party-goers and some of
the hottest DJs in the world.
35.
Paris, France
Bastille Day
July 14th
This important national holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille
in 1789 and the beginning of the French Revolution. Festivities
fireworks.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
King Herod's Tomb May Have Been Found
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JERUSALEM (AP) -- An Israeli archaeologist on Tuesday said he has found remnants of the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem, on a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert where the biblical monarch built a palace. Hebrew University archaeologist Ehud Netzer said the tomb was found at Herodium, a site where he has been exploring since the 1970s. Netzer said a team of researchers found pieces of a limestone sarcophagus believed to belong to the ancient king. Although there were no bones in the container, he said the sarcophagus' location and ornate appearance indicated it is Herod's. "It's a sarcophagus we don't just see anywhere," Netzer said at a news conference. "It is something very special." Netzer led the team, although he said he was not on the site when the sarcophagus was found. Stephen Pfann, an expert in the Second Temple period at the University of the Holy Land, called the find a "major discovery by all means," but cautioned further research is needed. He said all signs indicate the tomb belongs to Herod, but said ruins with an inscription on it were needed for full verification. "We're moving in the right direction. It will be clinched once we have an inscription that bears his name," said Pfann, a textual scholar who did not participate in Netzer's dig. The fragments of carved limestone found at the sandy site are decorated with floral motives, but do not include any inscriptions. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 40 B.C. The wall he built around the Old City of Jerusalem during the time of the Jewish Second Temple is the one that can be seen today. He also undertook massive construction projects in Caesaria, Jericho, the hilltop fortress of Massada and other locations. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations failed to turn up the site until now. The first century historian Josephus Flavius described the tomb and Herod's funeral procession. Herodium was one of the last strong points held by Jewish rebels fighting against the Romans, and it was conquered and destroyed by Roman forces in A.D. 71, a year after they destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Hebrew University had hoped to keep the find a secret until Netzer's news conference on Tuesday. But the university announced the find in a brief statement late Monday after the Haaretz daily found out about the discovery and published an article on its Web site. © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy . |
Friday, May 04, 2007
Lastminute.com to launch talking phrase books for mobile phone users
Lastminute.com is set to launch talking phrase books for mobile phone users. The phrase books allow travellers to look up phrases on the screen of their mobile phone. The software then speaks the phrase in the local language, overcoming pronunciation problems.
Online travel service Lastminute.comis set to launch talking phrase books for mobile phone users.
The phrase books allow travellers to look up phrases on the screen of their mobile phone. The software then speaks the phrase in the local language, overcoming pronunciation problems.
"Instead of you having to flick through the pages of a phrase book to find what you want to say, you simply click your phone menu, select the phrase you need and voila!" said Mark McCulloch, Lastminute.com's head of brand development.
The software, which currently runs on Nokia and Sony Ericsson handsets, costs £3 per language to download. Currently the developer - coolgorilla.com - offers six languages: French, German, Greek, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Each download contains between 250 and 300 phrases developed in conjunction with Lastminute.com's travel experts.
According to coolgorilla, developing translation software for mobile handsets makes sense, because the mobile phone is one item almost everyone takes on their travels, and because it is easy to play back an audio clip to a local person from a mobile phone.
The company started working with Lastminute.com by developing a series of phrasebooks for iPods. Although the iPod phrasebooks are free to download for Lastminute.com customers, and they include 800 phrases, the lack of a speaker in the iPod makes that software more of a learning tool than a practical option for travellers who need instant help.
Get the full story at IT Pro
Internet inspections edging out personal visits from meeting planners?
An amazing 61.4% of 192 respondents to MiMegasite.com's latest poll said they would choose a meeting property based just on information, specs and photos found on the internet - without even conducting an in-person site inspection.
Are site inspections for meeting planners going the way of the buggy whip and the dodo?
An amazing 61.4% of 192 respondents to MiMegasite.com's latest poll said they would choose a meeting property based just on information, specs and photos found on the internet — without even conducting an in-person site inspection.
"As the sophistication of Web sites continues to advance, many properties now offer 360-degree views of guest rooms, meeting space, banquet space, and other areas, allowing planners to get a solid idea of a property's feasibility for their meetings," said MiMegasite. "And when it comes to judging the service staff at a property--which obviously cannot be done over the Web--many planners rely on word-of-mouth anecdotes and recommendations if they are not going to conduct an in-person site visit."
Get the full story at Travelmole (free registration)
Hilton launches Sight+Sound rooms
Following extensive conceptual development, Hilton Hotels has launched home theatre-like Sight+Sound Rooms at two hotels, including 25 guest rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare International Airport and 30 guest rooms at the Hilton San Francisco.
Following extensive conceptual development, Hilton Hotels has launched home theatre-like Sight+Sound Rooms at two hotels, including 25 guest rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare International Airport and 30 guest rooms at the Hilton San Francisco.
"Travelers desire more digital entertainment options in the hotel guest room than ever before. The Hilton Sight+Sound Rooms are designed to provide a more enriching experience to business travelers and families, enhancing their journey by providing the ultimate in-room entertainment," said Tom Keltner, CEO – Americas and Global Brands, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "Representing a long-term vision for our hotels, the Sight+Sound Rooms underscore our overall strategy of providing a more personalized experience in-room – giving guests choice and control over their surroundings."
"Featuring a wide-screen, high definition, television, a digital surround-sound system, and an easy-to-use connectivity panel for music, videos, games and laptops, the Sight+Sound Rooms will enable guests to connect, watch, and experience their favorite entertainment," said Tim Harvey, chief information officer, Hilton Hotels Corporation.
This cutting-edge, fully enabled high definition system with a stunning selection of high definition movies, TV channels, and interactive menus, features home theatre-like qualities of surround sound from Yamaha, a 42-inch plasma screen, as well as sports packages and Monster Cables for easy connectivity.
Watch+Listen
The Sight+Sound Rooms will enable guests to catch up on compelling content, including recently aired popular primetime TV series and catch-up specials. The rooms also feature all-day sports packages on demand, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey and college sports. Programming from DirecTV will include 14 high-definition channels among 40 total network and cable channels and five or more XM Satellite Radio stations.
Explore
Hilton has paired with highly esteemed entertainment brands to provide state-of-the-art equipment: LG 42" flat-screen plasma televisions, a Yamaha YSP-800 digital sound projector, high-definition TV programming from DirecTV, and a user-friendly electronic programming guide and high definition menu system for easier navigability, from LodgeNet. LodgeNet also was integral to planning and installing the system.
Connect
Guests also can bring their own media content and plug portable devices such as MP3 players, laptops, digital cameras and video recorders into a specially designed easy-to-use connectivity panel, which LodgeNet developed and provided for the project. To support the connection, Monster Cable is providing a cable pack in the event guests leave their cables behind.
"The Sight+Sound Rooms represent an important extension of the strategic entertainment and technological solutions designed for our guests," said Jeffrey Diskin, senior vice president – brand management, Hilton Hotels. "At Hilton, we know that travel should take you places®, and our newly designed rooms are geared to ease, enlighten, entertain and refresh the mind, body and soul while you're traveling."
Guest feedback on the Hilton Sight+Sound rooms will help the company create a compelling offering for future guests of all the Hilton Family of Hotels.
