Captain's Log

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.

FYI - I'm selling a McHale ultralight Backpack, perfect for a thru or section hike, approximately 4000 cubic inches. Its a ~18-22" torso size pack for a ~32-38" waist. Starting bid is $24.99+shipping.

See the listing on eBay here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230413101937

...forgot to mention - includes matching silnylon pack cover.

Hi people, if you love travelling, get in touch! My trailer link follows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BtH737f8P8

Dyl!

Hi all,

My dad is going to Nicaragua this coming year (or planning to) and I was wondering if anyone had a good recommendation about something I could get him that might come in handy for his trip. He's already back-packed through Argentina, so he has the basics, but is there something that has come in particularly useful for you on your adventures you can recommend?

Thanks!

ETA: Should have mentioned, he bikes through the country. Also, he had his journal/camera stolen last year near the end of his trip- and i think he misses his journal the most. Any ideas on how to prevent?

Hey there,

I'm looking to go to Europe for as long as possible (I was shooting for 6 months but not sure if that's realistic) on a 10,000 dollar budget. It may or may not be more than this amount, but that's the amount I'm hoping to have by this time next year (I have 7,100 currently).

My primary aims are go to to France, Spain, Germany, Italy (especially Rome), Greece, and Switzerland. Other countries as they come along -- if there is opportunity). So far my only priority is to make sure I get a unlimited EUrail pass for the duration of my stay - I'm eligible for 2nd class, so that's good.

Can anyone point me in some sort of direction? I already have my pack, my boots, and weather-gear; I just need to know how I can deal in terms of finding places to stay and eating without breaking the bank, so to speak.

Thanks!!!

If anyone comes up Liverpool way (North West Midlands) theres a hostal called "The Old Diary" cheap place, warm people, lovely owners very recomendable. its a little bit hard to find the first time but very worth it. :)

taste_buds
Holidays provide a built-in excuse for indulgent entertaining. This all-purpose foodie community covers everything from homemade hangover cures to dinner party menus. Need quick advice? Get five-minute snack suggestions, low-fat ingredient substitutes, and even measurement conversions. Delicious recipes garnished with humorous advice. Yum.

naturesbeauty
Always on the lookout for compelling images, we were delighted to discover this flourishing community of artists who share a love of nature. Honoring the subject with photographs, paintings, sketches, prose, poetry, and other creative works, you'll be simultaneously riveted to your monitor and inspired to run helter skelter towards the nearest wooded dale.

backpacking
Want to embrace your wanderlust on the cheap? If you're tall on adventurous spirit, but short on funds, this community can help you plan a trip to anywhere. Offering plentiful tips on how to travel light, you can post about bargain hotels and hostels if you're into urban exploration or discuss camping gear and mosquito netting for the great outdoors. Hitch your backpack, pitch your tent, and carpe diem!

**FINAL EDIT Thu Dec 10 02:15:47 UTC 2009**

So there is the final update... Over the past day we have processed around 11 million jobs out of the 12 million that were in queue at that time. Please bear in mind that over this past day, more jobs for notifications are also created. So while the queue has been dropping, we are still not fully caught up at this point, due to backlog and new jobs. We have roughly 3 million jobs still pending that involve the notification system in some manner. We had hoped we could have fully cleared the queue in a day, but unfortunately we can't clear it too quickly, since we need the rest of the site to operate normally. From our current perspective on the amount of jobs that are left in queue, and how many it has processed thus far, we believe it will take around another 8 - 12 hours to process everything.

And finally some answers to some questions:

( Read More and Get Some Answers... )

freeskiers
While some of us long to escape the cold, dark stretch of winter for hot tropical beaches, for others, there's nothing quite like whoooooshing down those shimmering sugar alps. If you're fond of freestyle skiing, get ready to slide down the slippery slopes in good company. This passionate, international community shares travel/gear tips, anecdotes, photos, and videos for those who can't get enough of the sweet stuff.

seasonal_icons
Need some extra twinkle to decorate your place? Check out these dazzling holiday-themed icons. If you're an artist, you can post your own creations, provided you abide by the simple rules (which is to say, all cheer and no politicking). Be sure to comment and give credit if you wish to borrow a little spirit (no direct links, please). If you're feeling a touch of humbug this season, this is an instant shot of festivity.

handmade_gifts
High on creativity, but low on cash? You'll find tons of brilliant suggestions for do-it-yourself crafts sure to please everyone on your holiday gift list. Offering detailed instructions, photos, budgets, timelines, and active support, you'll soon turn spare remnants of fabric and time into cherished keepsakes. Be sure to search entries and read user guidelines before you post for help!

Dear All,
Me & my friend [2 girls] are planning to go to Phuket [Thailand] on May 2010..
We still confuse on where to stay and what is the best thng to do there..we only plan to stay for 3 days..

For someone who has been to Phuket, kindly give us some good advice.

Thank you,,