Roofs of Barcelona

Egg nog!

One of my favorite concoctions appears on market shelves this time of year: egg nog! Much has been written about it, including reviews of the various brands one can find. Here is one from a friend's blog and another one from the New Yorker no less. Most egg nog sold in supermarkets is non-alcoholic, so I usually like to have mine with a little bit of brandy/cognac and a dash of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Turn them off!

Remember the standard overhead "Fasten Seat Belts" and "No Smoking" signs that light up when planes take off or land? Since smoking has not been permitted in planes for many years now, some airlines have eliminated the "No Smoking" sign from their newer aircraft. The picture is from a US Airways Airbus A330, where a more modern message is now displayed!

Beds in economy class?

Lufthansa, the largest german airline, "is conducting an online poll of its customers to gauge interest in the idea of introducing an economy sleeper cabin on its long-haul flights", according to recent articles in the news. The Daily Mail considers the idea as "a cross between a school dormitory and the sleeping quarters on a troop ship". Its new nickname for the airline, sardine air, says it all!

First view from space

This is the first photo of Earth from space, taken by a camera onboard a V-2 rocket, launched October 24, 1946. It shows the view from an altitude of 65 miles. An article from "Air and Space" tells the little known story and has a link to a fascinating clip from that launch. These views of the earth from space came years before Sputnik first went into orbit.

The Queen

Fifty years after her visit to Virginia for the 350th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, Queen Elizabeth is repeating the visit for the 400th anniversary. Many things have changed in these 50 years, including the effigy used for the obverse of the coins of the United Kingdom. The first portrait was adopted in 1953, the second in 1968, the third in 1985, and the current one in 1998. Maundy coins are the exception, still bearing the original 1953 portrait.

Let it snow!

Ski season started late in the Northeast this year, with an unusually warm first part of the winter. But since January we've had good snowfalls and favorable ski conditions. Now the season is almost over, but there is still enough snow around: here is the snow depth in the Northeast on March 18th. (Check out more interesting maps at the National Weather Service's Regional Snow Analyses website).

My new blog

This is my new blog!