Top 10 Architectural Marvels

September 14, 2009

By Joanna Burgess

The common theme to all of these places? They're awesome in their look, design and use of space and environment.

Gaudi's House of Bones, Barcelona, Spain

Top 10 Coolest Statues in the World

August 26, 2009

There's nothing better than traveling the world. But if funds prevent you from doing that on a regular basis the 2nd best thing is cruising flickr which is exactly what Liz Suman did this weekend--a virtual tour of the Top 10 Coolest Statues in the World. Click on the nose to start.

Pointer Finger, Stockholm

And if you like Top 10s, be sure to check out these.

Weekend Escape: Beacon, NY

July 27, 2009

by Joanna

As much as we love the city, we can't always be here. This past weekend we took a little trip north, following the same route Henry Hudson sailed (it is the quardricentennial of his voyage up the Hudson River after all). Except we rode on a train and it only took 1.5 hours to get to Beacon.

Google Map Mashups

July 23, 2009

By Joanna

My obsession with Google map mashups continues, thanks mostly to the fine blog Google Maps Mania which collects mashups from people all over the world. I've found a few lately that I'm really enamored with like the most excellent Topography-to-Topography made by Aussie Rhett Dashwood who used Google Earth images to create the alphabet. This one attempts to help besieged folks in Toronto deal with their garbage strike by mapping out places to dump trash. As someone who loves to travel and preferably read plaques on the side of the road while traveling, the Wikifieldtrip map is a trivia dork's dream. It maps Wikipedia articles to locations based on the map you're looking at. The TwitterTravel map shows you traffic in major cities around the world. Scribblemaps is one I actually found some months back but have only recently gotten around to playing with it. I'm making a map of all the places I've traveled in the world, with some of the more interesting sites I've seen called out. And who doesn't love Digg A Big Hole? You pick a spot to dig and the map shows you where you'd end up, complete with latitude and longitude coordinates.

I'm putting together my Top 10 Google Map Mashups. In the meantime, if you find an interesting map, post it here or Tweet @nerdabout on Twitter with your find.

Geocaching in Hawaii

June 01, 2009

Guest blogger Carol Campbell shares how she uses GPS to turn a vaction into an adventure.

So you’ve booked your vacation to the Hawaiian Islands but you’re wondering what to do when you get there. Of course there are all of the usual trappings…luaus, pineapple tours, and black sand beaches. If you are going to be driving from one side of the island to the other every day, you might as well make the most of it and see as many beautiful places as possible. That’s not always so easy to do because many of them are hidden away and not put on the map that your concierge will give you at the hotel. Our first visit to Kauai was fun but we saw so much more our second time because we had some help with finding locations that we didn’t even know existed.

Where Nerdabout Fans Like to Roam

May 20, 2009

By Joanna Burgess

I took a very informal, unscientific survey of where us sophisticated nerds like to roam and what geeky things we like to do while we're there. Here's a few Nerdabout fan favorites:

North America:

Vancover: Who doesn't love whales? Who doesn't love seals?

Swine Flu Tweet

April 30, 2009

By Joanna

My new love of the week, Google Maps Mania, has provided me with more Swine Flu mashups: Swine Flu Tweets map. Now we can get amusing, hysterical, and odd observations on this latest "threat to humanity" Go check it out.

Brooklyn's Forgotten Subway Tunnel

April 08, 2009

By John Son

No, we're not talking about the G Train. One Sunday a month, near downtown Brooklyn, hundreds of intrepid New Yorkers of all ages gather under the Trader Joe's sign post at Atlantic and Court streets to take a tour of the world's oldest subway tunnel. When the light changes, small groups are shepherded into the middle of the intersection, where, one by one, they descend via a steel ladder down a real live manhole into a once forgotten piece of New York City history

This past month, Joanna, Heather and I were the first Nerdabouters to go down the hole. Once underground, we found ourselves stooped in a short, dank, mud-walled corridor that brought us to an opening knocked out of a century-old brick wall. On the other side we stepped down into a scene you usually see in moody, noir thrillers like The Third Man--a long, cavernous tunnel lit stingily by a few naked light bulbs. Cold, damp air seeped into our clothes. After everyone made it underground, Bob Diamond, a sweet, gentle bear of a man, sat down amongst us and began telling us the story of how he discovered the tunnel after it had become more myth than real.

Hippie With a Bank Account: Ike Rodriguez on Living Green

March 25, 2009

By Joanna Burgess.

Last Sunday I was walking home from tending my plot at the 6th and B garden, when I noticed a silver RV parked on Bowery at Houston. It's side door were open, there were steps leading down. Then I noticed the writing on the side of the van: Mobile: Sample Sale. Need I say more?

Inside I met Ike and Louis, who were chilling out, inviting people to take a look around. I soon found out this van is the traveling offshoot of Green Finds, a small store on Great Jones that promotes the green lifestyle in a fashionable and friendly atmosphere. Dedicated to balancing what we take with what we give, Green Finds has an unusual approach to spreading the love. Along with the shop, Ike and Louis drive around the city on a tour of sorts, stopping here and there to sell their wares. It's the push cart of the century.

While we were chatting, Ike pointed to his house--another RV--parked just in front of the store. He said he felt lucky--for once he got 2 parking spots together. In the following 1/2 hour Ike cheerfully described what he does and how he does it.

You've been in the fashion industry for a long time, when did you decide to take it green?

I've been in fashion since about the age of 17. I use to sell T-shirts in the flea markets. In 1999 I started Find Outlet, a chain of outlet stores. In 2006 I wanted to explore a more sustainable and nurturing way to do business. That's when I decided to start Green Finds. Green Finds is what I call my exploration business. Once you go Green there is no going back, its like the rabbit hole. There is a lot more we have to do to be sustainable, we are just scratching the surface. But that's ok!! The first step to healing is awareness of the issue. There has been a big awakening towards better our total environment.

A lot of people dream of living a mobile life. Can you talk describe a little bit about your existence, living in the RV and living on the boat.

Living the mobile life is great. It feels like a higher vibrating existence. Basically I'm at home anywhere I go, the world is my home. If one day I want to do some creative writing or brainstorming, I would drive to the Berkshires or the Woodstock swimming hole. I would spend a few days living in nature totally self contained. Also spending this much time with yourself, by yourself helps you to get to know yourself much better.

The same goes for the boat except the boat is named Spirit Seeker. So this vessel is my true sanctuary. Time stops on the Spirit Seeker. I usually take 3-4 week sailing trips on the Spirit Seeker, the whole time in in total rhythm with nature. I also do yoga and sunset sailing charters on Spirit Seeker, I like to share my good life with people.

Both your store and the SUV are decked out to make as little impact as possible. Can you describe how they're pimped?

The RV is set up to be green because it runs on a 12 volt system which are basically car batteries. I consume very little energy and very little water. I can take a nice hot shower with 2 gallons of water. Also I offset my co2 for the RV. I have a sticker from trees for the future, it says Global Cooling Vehicle. The Mobile store is green because it also consumes very little energy, I use biodegradable bags made from corn and I also off set my co2 by double for the engine an generator. I'm also looking for a solar company who wants to make a project on turning both vehicles to run on 80% solar. Its an expensive project so I need people to shop in the truck. Ha!! So I can make money to pay for the conversion.

How do you think people view the way you live? What are the types of reactions you get from strangers on the street?

I always get a great reaction from strangers. While I was spending a week on Ocean Drive in Miami, I would basically give daily tours of my RV. It was funny. Overall people feel very inspired when they take the time to talk with me and really see that I can function in the real world and live free. I'm like a responsible Gypsy, a hippy with a bank account. A friend loved my RV so much that they actually bought the same one.

Do you have a vision for your business going forward? What do you anticipate that's going to change/grow in the next year?

My vision is to run a totally mobile lifestyle business. I think coming to the same place every day can get very stale. Also the web business seems to be the wave of the future. The days of sitting in a retail store waiting for people to come in seem have its days numbered.

Can you sum up, in once sentence, what's awesome about the way you live?

I live a life in love with the world that I live in and I still pay my bills on time and eat well, what else can you ask for?

For more information on Green Finds and the work they do, swing by the store or or check out the site to see the mobile store schedule.

And the Readers Shoot Back: What Makes Your Town So Great?

March 05, 2009

We asked, you answered! So the following is a snippet of U.S. nerds giving props to their hometown:

North Bay Area nerds do it best, and we do it while sipping only the finest Sonoma County wine ;).
—Joshua Riley Simmons

It is so much better here. In Cali, you can go out on a hike, bump into a stranger, and end up talking about fusion. It's small town, big science, and great beer.
—Peter Verdone

The midwest is the womb of scientific progress in America. Illinois alone is responsible for some of the greatest scientific/technological achievements.
—Joseph Barone

Good education, snarky New York attitude, and lots of time inside during the long winter months make the Syracuse, New York nerds a force to reckon with.
—M1H0

I live in San Jose, CA, heart of the Silicon Valley! I mean come on, Steve Wozniac(?) practically lives down the road from me!
—Nathan King

The Portland, Oregon area has the best nerds. The reason for that is that we have the best place to live between Seattle (Bill Gates), San Fransisco (Mythbusters), and Silicon Valley (everyone).
—Alex

We in Portland, celebrate all things Nerdy. Plus we rarely see the sun, so we are all pale, like real Nerds should be.
—Polly

Midwest is the best. Not only do we have Fermi Lab, right down the road is Argonne National Lab too!
—Ali

[Rhode Island]'s got infamously corrupt politics for the political nerds, a Mob influence or two for the shady nerds, and bucketloads of history for the historical nerds.
—GreyLadyBast

Uh, Chicago nerds be the best. These Cool school like New Trier get soooooo much funding, we can do just about anything with all the 100's of computers inside ONE campus.
—Pat S.

I don't think the great mid-west gets enough recognization for it's nerds, even though we're the easily largest faction!
—Jaimie Weyer

What Makes Your Town So Great?

March 02, 2009

Do West Coast nerds do it better? Are the real nerds down south? What about the unsung ones of the Midwest? Tell us here why your geek scene is the coolest, and you might become a rep for the city.

—The eds.

10 Spots for a Green Walk-About

February 23, 2009

By Joanna

Spring is still four weeks off and while the tempestuous weather of February may frustrate, here's a few ideas to spend the sunny (and rainy) days that lay ahead.

Wander the 8 miles of hilly paths in Fort Tryon Park. Along the way you might find the spot where Revolutionary War hero Molly Pitcher (aka Margret Corbin) brought water to the troops and then manned the cannons after her husband was killed. Stop off at theThe Cloisters for a medieval art fix.

photo:wallyg

End the day at the New Leaf Cafe. Bette Midler helped to start this little spot and proceeds go toward parks restoration in upper Manhattan.

Going for a walk along the Hudson to the Battery is quite a lovely way to spend an afternoon. There are gardens, the Irish Hunger Memorial and even a damn castle!

The Ramble is a lovely place to stroll and just might be the only place in central Manhattan where you can walk for 30 minutes without seeing another soul, save the birds. Wind your way down to the boat house for an over-priced glass of wine when you're done walking.

If you're not in the mood for an epic walk, taking a gander around the community gardens of the East Village. Run by volunteers, these little green spaces are a nice respite from the crowds. My personal favorite, the 6th and B Garden.

Manhattan to Brooklyn. While you're walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, don't just gaze at the skyline. Be sure to experience a quick sense of vertigo by looking down through the wooden slots to see the glistening East River 119 feet beneath your feet. Once you're on the other side walk along the paths and through little parks. If you wander into DUMBO check out one of our favorite places,Zakka.

Greenwood Cemetery, one of the prettiest and most interesting spots in NYC. Official tours are available. but I've always preferred to grab a map and explore on my own. But as I have yet to see the flocks of wild parrots that inhabit the cemetery, I might sign up for one of the Brooklyn Parrots tours when the next one rolls around.

Walk, run, drum, ice skate, kite fly, frisbee play, green market, get lost in Brooklyn's only forest and picnic with my cat-on-leash are all things that I have done in Prospect Park.

Staten Island is home to the 2,500 acre Greenbelt I'm sorry to say this area is only a recent discovery of mine, and while it's a hike to get there from Manhattan via ferry and bus, it's well-worth the trek. Bring snacks, water and a beer and be sure to pack out what you packed in.

While not the most famous the Queens Botanical Gardens is a pretty little spot in a borough I associate mostly with Greek food and and the time I had to help my sister move a tons of boxes into her apartment on a very, very hot June day. Be sure to visit the bee garden while you're there.

Take MetroNorth a few stops to Riverdale way and wander around Wave Hill public gardens. Amazing views of the Hudson.

photo by TommyBass

4706: The Year of the Ox!

January 26, 2009

By Joanna Burgess

January 26th marks Chinese New Year, 4706 on the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Ox, Element: Yin Earth. Though I was born in the Year of the Rat, I admire the calm, patient, unflagging demeanor of the Oxen people.

Inauguration 2009: You Don't Make History in the House

January 25, 2009

By Elizabeth Suman

I spent the night of January 19th and morning of January 20th curled in the fetal position in the backseat of a white Dodge Caliber rental car in the dingy underground parking garage of the Skyline Hotel on 10th and I in Washington DC.

I didn’t plan on sleeping in the car, but when road closures made getting to my friend Jaideep’s apartment impossible, I did what I usually do when I don’t know what to do; I improvised. The next 24 hours would follow the same theme.