Iconic Photos – Captivating photos are mesmerizing, and this Weekly Blog winner offers a large collection of culturally and politically significant photos spanning across space and time. Each photo on this blog is more magnificent than the next, and each is accompanied by a textual explanation of its context. Disclaimer: Iconic Photos includes powerful, compelling photos that often consist of graphic images, so take that in mind before entering the blog. Having that said, here are two photos that caught my eye (and heart): The famous WWI Christmas Truce in the trenches, and the poignant story of little Elian Gonzalez.
Photographed by Alan Diaz
Patch – This cool website seeks to keep you informed with what’s happening in your very own town. This extremely local news provider includes photos and videos of events taking place near you, keeps you updated on local businesses, it invites you to join discussions and even encourages you to submit your own announcements, photos and reviews. In this era of massive information consumption the local community often gets lost. Thanks to Patch, your own neighborhood becomes the center of attention.
Here’s what the Patch coverage looks like for Apple Valley, MN:
TIME LightBox – Great photos in newspapers have long been a prerequisite. The professional teams of photographers working in major newspapers produce compelling pictures that help to tell an important news story. But the TIME’s LightBox tops even that by offering a one-stop place for the absolute best photos the newspaper has to offer. All photos are hand-picked by the TIME’s photo editors to create a regularly updated collection of grade A pictures.
Terribly Beautiful: J Henry Fair’s Aerial Photographs of Industrial Pollution
YouTube’s First Orbit – On April 12, 1961 Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to fly into outer space and complete an orbit around planet Earth. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of humanity’s most important milestones, YouTube created a compelling movie, “a real time recreation of Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering first orbit, shot entirely in space from on board the International Space Station. The film combines this new footage with Gagarin’s original mission audio and a new musical score by composer Philip Sheppard.”
First Orbit is a poignant film unlike anything you’ve seen before. It is a well-documented piece of history everyone should enjoy and cherish.
Utopic.me – If you want to know what’s going on right now in terms of new movies, cool music, viral videos and events in your area, who to better consult than your friends? Utopic is a new innovative platform that allows you to discover the important and inspiring things your friends are into, right now. Simply connect via Facebook or Twitter, and see immediately what’s buzzing around your social circle. I logged in with Facebook connect, and here’s what’s hot in movies, according to my best pals (to see your own sign up first):
Using Utopic is super easy and fun, and each category page is loaded with photos plus brief description of each entry. Give it a try and see what’s in store, thanks to your friends!
Google Crisis Response – Google.org initiated this blessed project back in 2005 (following Hurricane Katrina) to help hard-hit locations worldwide cope with the aftermath of natural disasters by making relevant information readily available for everyone, everywhere.
The recent earthquake and consequent tsunami in Japan forced the island country to come to terms with its worst natural disaster on record. The Google Crisis Response project gives you all you could possibly need in one easy page; comprehensive coverage along with real-time updates and latest news on the sitatuion in Japan; direct donations to the Japanese Red Cross using Google Checkout; detailed maps of the affected area; emergency phone numbers; people finder; current status (transportation, government warnings, blackout info) and much more.
Google’s Crisis Response project makes helping out fast and easy. Just imagine how helpful this could have been back in 2005 when New Orleans was in dire need of fast assistance. Please visit this project and help where you can. You would appreciate the same, God forbid you should find yourself under the circumstances Northern Japan communities are currently dealing with.
Memolane – This most inspiring and exciting service offers an interactive, ongoing audio-visual timeline of your life, with the option of adding your friends as collaborators. Create your own Memolane made up of photos, music, video, tweets, status updates, blogs, and many other content tools and you will be pleasantly surprised at how rich your seemingly ordinary life really is.
Click the image below to see what a Memolane timeline looks like, this one -rather, only a fraction of it- by Jeff Hester.
To learn more about Memolane and how it works, see this video:
Going – Find cool things to do, see and discover in your city with Going, a one-stop place for cool attractions suiting your going out cup of tea (or beer). Although the beta version of Going starts off with NYC as the default location, there are 30 US cities to choose from.
The great part about Going is that you can search for fun things to do by checking activities and events’ popularity (what people like the most) so you don’t have to start wondering if a certain event is as promising as it seems or if it’s a flop. In addition, the Going platform allows you to meet new people seeking the same activities you are looking for, hence putting together people with the same areas of interest.
Other Going perks include popular places, Going deals (for members only), top searches, browsing by categories (nightlife, music, culture and more), and there’s even a mobile app that comes in handy when you’re out in the street looking for something fun to do. Going will show you what it really means to make the most out of what your city has to offer!
Map Your Valentine – Apparently Google can get cute. Really cute. Using the company’s maps and street view technology, Google offers an original way to send a lovely greeting card to the one you love. How does it work? Fill out the email addresses of receiver and sender, type a location that is special to the two of you (i.e. the restaurant where the marriage proposal took place, the street corner where the two of you first met, etc) and add a personal note in the text box. You can choose between a map and a street view image for that romantic location.
The end result is a sweet “I Love You” letter showing two little Google Maps location icons, forming a small heart shape, showing the exact place of your choice. What a unique way to cherish those magical moments of love, especially on St. Valentine’s Day!
YouTube Ad Blitz 2011 – Even if you’re a TV commercial hater like me, you’ll agree the ones aired during the Super Bowl game are entirely different than the ones aired throughout the year -which are boring and uninspiring in most cases. YouTube continues its annual tradition with the Ad Blitz, a showcase of all the Super Bowl game commercials for us to cherish and share.
Which TV commercial was your absolute favorite? I couldn’t decide between these three:
NFL Super Bowl XLV – Many of us have been waiting all year for this event, and on Feb 6 it will become an adrenalin-fused reality; Pittsburgh Steelers will go against the Green Bay Packers at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX . Whatever team you are pitching for, the Super Bowl is all about great entertainment, lots of nachos and salsa (that’s how I roll), and of course, the best TV commercials of the year.
While the Green Bay Packers have three Super Bowl wins under their belt, the Steelers have six. However, the super game on Sunday can turn out either way. May the best team win!
I have only two questions on my mind though: Will President Obama attend the Super Bowl this year? And which TV commercial will top the charts? According to Chiff.com, Fox will continue the record-breaking trend of charging Super Bowl spots for $3 million per 30-second commercial.
Here’s one of Doritos’ Super Bowl 2011 Finalists:
Every year it’s the same story; we promise ourselves this time we’ll get a grip and stop smoking, lose weight or better manage our expenses. For some reason, most New Year resolutions end up being nothing more than a good intention listed in our to-do tasks, but never really coming into fruition. Well, this year we have some excellent Web aids to help you stick to your resolutions and make them happen.
43 Things is a great site we’ve already recommended as a useful New Year resolution helper, and for a good reason. It’s a well known fact that kicking a deep-rooted habit is difficult, especially if you’re doing it on your own. 43 Things offers the community support -the ‘buddy system’- to make sure you make that change successfully. 43 Things is a terrific New Year resolution tool since it’s your security net, regardless of what change you vowed to make in your life.
The relevance of Match.com and other dating sites to New Year resolutions is, on one hand, redundant but on the other, extremely important. Don’t let bad date stories scare you when it comes to online dating. Match.com is one of the best you can find, and there are many happily married couples who have met each other right here on this site. Give it a try, you might find the love of your life!
One of the most effective personal finance tools you can find on the Web, Mint.com (an Intuit company) is a top-notch (and free) budget software to help you better manage your funds, expenses and future financial plans. We’re not the only ones who think Mint.com is a champ (we’ve listed it on our Business page under Personal finance)- this site received high-profile coverage from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and it received prestigious awards from TIME, PC Magazine, and CNN’s Money Magazine. Let’s put it this way; if you’re looking for a simple and efficient tool for managing your money, Mint.com is your answer.
If you’re a smoker, there’s no need for me to list the life and money loss you’re risking by keeping this literally dirty habit. If you decide that 2011 will go down as the year you quit smoking, make use of the government site SmokeFree.gov to make this a clean-lunged reality. This portal is packed with practical tips, facts, starter kits and lots of support to help you in every step of the way (including well after you’ve stopped smoking). Here’s to a better and longer life.
Going green used to be an expensive ordeal, but that was years ago. These days minimizing your ecological footprint is so feasible it’s a crime not to do it. The Daily Green is your one-stop place for living better, healthier, and helping the planet. Although the site’s news section is fascinating and inspiring, the Daily Green’s Tips & Advice page offers all the info you need to change your life for the better, both now and in the future. It’s all very easy and not as expensive as you would think. Go Green and be happy!
Getting fit is perhaps the most challenging New Year resolution of all, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. That’s Fit, a comprehensive diet and exercise blog from AOL is a perfect starting point for losing weight and instilling a regular exercise routine in your life. Explore the variety of diets and workouts, see what tips celebrities share, and most importantly, check out That’s Fit’s success & motivation section to help you stick to your plan.
Learning something new or simply reading more, the Google eBookstore takes care of both New Year resolutions. Whether you’re interested in science, science fiction, history, art, business or anything in-between, the eBookstore by Google has a world of knowledge waiting to be explored (and read). It’s super accessible, and the reading interface Google has created makes the experience all the more wholesome. What a great example of some seriously good reads!
