Stay in touch with the World

The new News Republic smartphone app is launching on new platforms including iPad, Blackberry, Symbian, Bada, Windows Phone 7 and webOS and Android Honeycomb tablets. Smartphone users can also search, discover and share news stories using email, Twitter or Facebook. Giving you the ability to stay in touch with world news no matter where you are from.


Then you might fancy the News Republic smartphone app, which enables users to search and organize news stories. The app, featuring TagNav news tracking and navigation system, has attracted 400,000 iPhone and Android users with its English, French and Italian editions. This week, the app launched a Spanish edition and a German edition is expected shortly.

Users can create their own news channels from breaking news stories from 50+ news agencies and media sources worldwide including AFP, AP, Reuters, ITN, Adfero, Techradar, eWeek and WENN. The company says it has licensing agreements with content providers so users access the full news stories, images and videos within the app. They can also reference external resources including Wikipedia, YouTube and Google.


The News Republic app is available at the App Store, Android Market, Blackberry Appworld, Samsung Apps and Ovi Store in the News Sections.


For more info, visit the the News Republic site.

Image and video courtesy of News Republic.

Bike, Scooter Sales Shifting Gears

As gas prices surge beyond $4 a gallon, more Americans are cycling as a way to stay fit, save money or both. There’s definitely an obvious link that one leads to the other when it come to taking a bike instead of a car.

Bike sales rose 9% in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2010, and sales of road bikes – commonly used in commuting – shot up 29%. Sales for gas-powered scooters are up even more: nearly 50% in the first quarter compared with a year ago.

Census data show that when gas prices last peaked, in summer 2008, bike commuting rose 15% nationwide from 2007. If gas keeps going the way the experts expect it to go I expect this will be no different this time around. We embrace our travelling biker. We’ve seen a few bikers booking with us and we feel it’s due to several of the nearby bike trails that we have.

In the past two years the federal government has made a $2 billion investment in aiding the growth to bike trails. Cities have capitalized on this and the number of U.S. communities designated “bicycle friendly” by the league of American bicyclists has grown from 25 in 2003 to 179 this year. See how our state or your state rates in bicycle programs by clicking HERE.

Travel Tips for the Solo Traveler

To minimize risks, follow these five practical tips, gathered from experts including Whitman, Schlichter, and travel guidebook author Rick Steves.

(1) Project strength. Walk purposefully, and show no fear — even if you have to fake it. Pickpockets prey on travelers who look like confused, easy victims. Common areas for Pickpockets are crowded areas. Pickpockets probably hit thousands of tourists a day around the world. Follow these simple steps, and you'll avoid them:

Keep your money in three places. The big money, credit cards, and passports go into a money belt under your clothes. More money and perhaps one credit card go into a more easily accessible change purse or zippered pocket. Finally, small money, for tips and taxis, goes into a front pocket, where most pickpockets work. This way, if successful, they get only the small stuff.

Inner pockets of jackets are less likely to be lifted but if I pickpocket notices you putting your wallet there than they can and will attempt to relieve you of it’s contents.

Keep your purse or luggage locked in transit. Also when sitting keep your bags in a visible area. Do not hang your purse on the chair as this is a common area thieves will riffle or take while you are distacted.

(2) Always remain alert. "It's those few seconds of inattentiveness when your bag or purse could get snatched," Whitman says. "Thieves are generally looking for a quick steal, so bring a cable lock to secure your belongings to your seat on trains, and lock the zippers of your bags together so no one can easily open them."

(3) Readjust your schedule. If you feel uncomfortable going out at night, don't force it. Instead, sightsee during the day, make lunch your biggest meal, and turn in early. "Everyone should avoid walking alone at night," Schlichter says. "I've heard plenty of stories of male travelers who put themselves in bad situations — they made the mistake of assuming they'd always be fine because they're guys."

(4) Avoid the flirts. Steves has long advised single female travelers to wear fake wedding rings, especially in Mediterranean and Latin countries, where the men tend to pay more attention to women than Americans are typically used to. Getting hit on doesn't always turn into a safety concern, of course, but a simple gold band could save you some headaches.

(5)Follow your gut. If your radar goes off, listen to it — no matter who sets it off. "Woman and young children are just as likely to be pickpockets in some European countries — not men with knives," Whitman points out. "They often get away with it, I think, because people don't want to be rude to a nice-looking, middle-aged lady holding a baby, even if she's being pushy."

Trends for Sping and Summer

As Pasadena weather starts to warm up and the stores have completed their switch from winter items to warmer weather items these are the typical trends to be aware of. Our weather in Pasadena runs about 40 degrees to 70 degrees in the spring but about mid June we start to see temperatures averaging around 60 degrees up to 100 degrees. Humidity is also a factor so if you plan to be outside you’ll want to keep this in mind when packing.

Afraid to try the latest trends because you don’t have the body of an 18-year-old supermodel? Never fear! Many of this season’s hottest trends are wearable for all ages and body types. Trying a new trend can be scary! Don’t be shy - Try one at a time and mix them in to what you already own. Summer is a great time to try something new or with a splash of more color than you’re used too. Here’s a couple of spring and summer trends that just about anyone can pull off:

This season dresses, and skirts will remain must haves... But this season fashion designer's have also given us all kind of fun fashions, fashions that will offer wonderful vivid prints, stripes, and geometric prints... The main theme this spring is somewhat tailored, and classic, but with a touch of bold, and edgy.

According to many fashion experts, super tight denim (commonly called ‘jeggings’) are a thing of the past. Instead, opt for wide-leg and trouser-cut silhouettes, which are flattering on all body types! Another trend making a comeback is flare jeans. If you have a curvy figure, flares are your best bet. They balance out a fuller top nicely and will make you look slimmer.

Hope this helps you as you plan on what to pack coming into our city. See you here!

Would You Like Some Vodka on Those Pancakes?

That could be the question someone might jokingly ask upon first learning of this unusual, individualistic, and hauntingly flavorful vodka from Vermont, which lends credence to the fact that it is made with the sugars from 100 percent natural maple syrup. That in itself makes Vermont Gold maple vodka ($40/$20) a very limited, annual production, as the sap from New England’s maple trees only flows for less than six weeks in the spring, when warming daytime temperatures combine with still-frigid nights to allow the stored sugars to be released as sap. This in turn is boiled into maple syrup, which is then combined with a pure, non-grain vodka, then triple distilled and lightly filtered through charcoal to allow the delicate maple essence to come through in this 80 proof spirit. Only pure Vermont spring water is sourced for the distillation process, and no additives or preservatives are used. The distiller, Harry Gorman, handcrafts everything in-house. The result is a distinctly American-made, small-batch vodka with a smooth, semi-rich flavor of maple, a liquid tribute to a unique product of the Green Mountain State. Primarily available in the Northeast, it also can be ordered online. (866.998.6352, www.vermontspirits.com)

Traveler’s Bill of Rights

Enter The Coalition for Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights
A one-woman juggernaut named Kate Hanni was on the American Airlines flight that was grounded in December, and has taken her story all the way to Congress. Hanni formed the Coalition for Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights, which is calling for a passenger bill of rights to be written into law; the organization's Web site is worth a look.

The Coalition's proposed Bill of Rights reads thusly:

All American air carriers shall abide by the following standards to ensure the safety, security and comfort of their passengers:

· Establish procedures to respond to all passenger complaints within 24 hours and with appropriate resolution within two weeks.

· Notify passengers within 10 minutes of a delay of known diversions, delays and cancellations via airport overhead announcement, on-aircraft announcement and posting on airport television monitors.

· Establish procedures for returning passengers to terminal gate when delays occur so that no plane sits on the tarmac for longer than three hours without connecting to a gate.

· Provide for the essential needs of passengers during air- or ground-based delays of longer than three hours, including food, water, sanitary facilities and access to medical attention.

· Provide for the needs of disabled, elderly and special-needs passengers by establishing procedures for assisting with the moving and retrieving of baggage, and the moving of passengers from one area of airport to another at all times by airline personnel.

· Publish and update monthly on the company's public Web site a list of chronically delayed flights, meaning those flight delayed 30 minutes or more, at least 40 percent of the time, during a single month.

· Compensate "bumped" passengers or passengers delayed due to flight cancellations or postponements of over 12 hours by refund of 150 percent of ticket price.

· The formal implementation of a Passenger Review Committee, made up of non-airline executives and employees but rather passengers and consumers -- that would have the formal ability to review and investigate complaints.

· Make lowest fare information, schedules and itineraries, cancellation policies and frequent flier program requirements available in an easily accessed location and updated in real time.

· Ensure that baggage is handled without delay or injury; if baggage is lost or misplaced, the airline shall notify customer of baggage status within 12 hours and provide compensation equal to current market value of baggage and its contents.

· Require that these rights apply equally to all airline codeshare partners including international partners.

Is this a fair response to years of shoddy treatment of the flying public? You bet it is. And is it better than what we have now? Absolutely. The current Customer Service Initiative mostly says "we'll try our best, but we don't really promise anything." It contains nothing whatsoever setting benchmarks, meeting deadlines, setting compensation amounts, requiring notifications, or just about anything hard and fast. It's all squish and slip.

For example, read American's policies regarding "Essential Customer Needs During Extraordinary Delays"; it's clear that these promises rang extremely hollow in late December 2006. The biggest change in the new bill of rights is that these "policies" will become law. It will no longer be enough to say "it's not our policy to starve our passengers on the tarmac" and have the issue just go away.

Is it unreasonable to ask this of the airlines? I don't think so, as, for the most part, the proposed bill simply holds the airlines to their own policies.

When You Deserve The Best

Many folks struggle with the idea of being deserving. They feel that there is something wrong about them. That's why they feel they don't deserve happiness, love, wealth, you name it. Here are three things to avoid when trying to change your life. When you are trying to feel you do deserve all the best.

1. Avoid comparing yourself with others, especially if they have more than you of whatever. You are unique and your situation does not match anyone else's. See yourself as an individual with your own special range of influence, which you truly have.

2. Avoid comparing your present life with your life as a child. You were essentially powerless as a child, as is every child. What was then when, you were a child, does not control what can be when you are an adult.

3. Avoid negative thinking. It is said that people have between 50,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day - - most of them negative. If most of your thoughts are negative, and they will be unless you make a concerted effort to change them, just think how you are perpetuating negativity in your life.

So, there is another side to this coin of thinking you deserve all the best. Here are three things to seek in your daily life - - leading to a better feeling about what you deserve.

A. Seek to define yourself as who you really are. One idea you need to distinctly consider is this: You are a child of the Universe. Yes, if you will, you are divine. Therefore, you deserve all the best.

B. Seek to know that what occurred in the past, whatever is was, need not limit you now. The past is gone. As much as is possible, forget it. Live in this moment. Make the most of this moment.

C. Seek to express yourself positively. You start that by be conscious (aware) of your thoughts when you take a minute, make a minute, to consider what you are thinking. Sounds peculiar, I know. But in order to halt the negativity in your thoughts, you must be come aware of those thoughts. Then, when you discover negativity, replace it immediately with positivity.

Now, take these things to avoid and things to seek and apply them to life now. I believe you will feel immediately more deserving.