traveling

Stephen Hawking predicts end-of-Earth scenario

Stephen Hawking, one of the world's greatest physicists and cosmologists, is once again warning his fellow humans that our extinction is on the horizon unless we figure out a way to live in space.

Not known for conspiracy theories, Hawking's rationale is that the Earth is far too delicate a planet to continue to withstand the barrage of human battering.

"We must continue to go into space for humanity," Hawking said today, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We won't survive another 1,000 years without escaping our fragile planet."… Read more

Google holds on to social media accounts in Frommer's deal

Google might have sold off its Frommer's division, but the company seemingly hasn't given up all of the social media accounts that were tied to the brand.

The folks over at PaidContent yesterday noticed that the former Twitter account, @FrommersTravel, has had its name changed to @ZagatTravel. Zagat is fully owned by Google. Frommer's Facebook, YouTube, Foursquare, Google+, and Pinterest accounts were also deleted with followers likely to be transferred to equivalent Zagat accounts.

Google acquired Frommer's from Wiley & Sons last year for an undisclosed price. Earlier this month, Google announced that it had sold the company to its former leader Arthur Frommer. … Read more

Get a Lenovo 13.3-inch touch-screen ultrabook for $599.99

My hunt for a new laptop continues. I definitely want an ultrabook, even if it means paying a premium for a thinner, lighter design, but I'd really like to keep the price under $600. Given that most ultrabooks start at $700, I'm having to marshal all my cheapskate powers.

The latest candidate: Newegg has the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 13.3-inch touch-screen ultrabook (model 59365302) for $599.99 shipped, along with a $50 Newegg gift card.

Staples is also selling the U310 for $599.99 shipped, but you'll probably be on the hook for sales tax. Plus, no … Read more

Arthur Frommer reacquires travel book brand from Google

If you were lamenting the loss of Arthur Frommer's travel guides, take heart: the travel expert has acquired the brand from Google and plans to resume publishing the books.

The search giant acquired the Frommer's brand last summer from Wiley & Sons, including its travel guides and hotel ratings, for an undisclosed price. However, last month, authors of the popular travel guides told travel news site Skift that Google had ceased publication of the print version.

Frommer sold the travel book line to Simon & Schuster in 1977. It changed hands a few more times and stayed with … Read more

Get a Virgin Mobile Overdrive Pro 3G/4G mobile hot spot for $83.99

Remember back on Monday when I said I was the victim of flaky hotel Wi-Fi? It's true: I couldn't publish my Cheapskate post because my room had a weak, inconsistent signal. It was incredibly frustrating, like trying to work using a dial-up modem.

The smart thing would have been to pack a mobile hot spot. Of course, I don't want to get stuck with a two-year contract and hefty monthly fees for a gizmo I need only occasionally. That's why today's deal is so appealing.

For a limited time, Virgin Mobile has the Overdrive Pro 3G/4G mobile hot spot for $83.99 shipped. … Read more

Get a Powerbag messenger bag for $41.97

I haven't been in school for a looong time, but I still like to carry a backpack. To my thinking there's no better man-bag for traveling. And the pack I've carried for the last couple years is my all-time favorite: a Powerbag.

Though it looks like a regular backpack, the Powerbag (video) has places to stow a rechargeable battery and connectors for all my mobile gear. That not only saves me from having to pack a bunch of chargers and cables, but also lets me juice up on the run.

Today only, and while supplies last, Yugster … Read more

Get a Vizio CT14 ultrabook for $599, shipped

Quick update on the refurbished Apple EarPods deal I wrote about last week. Ordered: March 14. Arrived: March 18. Condition: indistinguishable from new. If you're interested, they're still available, though now priced a buck higher at $14.99 shipped.

In other news, I've decided life is too short -- and my eyes are too old -- to waste on an 11.6-inch screen, which is why I'm officially in the market for a new laptop. My HP Pavilion dm1z has served me fairly well, but it's just too small.

On the other hand, I don'… Read more

Sex in space may be dangerous, study says

I've always imagined that being up in space isn't really so much fun.

Yes, the views are nice, but the claustrophobia must be entirely stifling. What are you supposed to do up there, for days on end? You can't just work all the time.

The temptation, then, might be to occasionally enjoy a little recreation in the procreative sphere.

Sex would surely offer a touch of vigorous exercise and a little human community.

However, now research has emerged suggesting that sex up there could be dangerous.… Read more

Get a 15.6-inch HP laptop for $274.99

Have you been eyeing one of those $249 Samsung Chromebooks, thinking it could meet your fairly basic computing needs?

Maybe it could, but for just a few dollars more, you can get a bigger, more powerful, and more versatile PC.

To wit: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Staples has the HP Pavilion G6-2235us 15.6-inch laptop for $274.99 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable). That's after applying coupon code 70847 at checkout and redeeming a $50 mail-in rebate.

The Pavilion sports a 2.7GHz AMD A6-4400M dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, an impressive 750GB hard … Read more

Inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule (panorama)

Get a feel for what it's like inside the Dragon capsule by panning around the panorama image below.

SpaceX CRS-2, loaded with more than 1,200 pounds of supplies, including science equipment and spare parts en route to the International Space Station, lifted off this morning aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40 in Florida.

Just after the carrier rocket delivered the Dragon capsule into its target orbit, however, a problem arose. As the Solar Array was set to be deployed, which is necessary to provide enough energy to reach the ISS, a problem was … Read more