Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update

	November 9th, 2012 溝 Posted 1 day ago by Koichi Mitsui to s a s u r a u 銀座。 10 surprisingly romantic US cities Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! 1 The vision of Valentine’s Day dinner with a view of the Empire State Building put New York City on the map of romance and even L.A. has its own story thanks to Steve Martin, but if a romantic getaway is your goal and the biggest cities don’t hold much appeal, you might be surprised at the wooing potential of several smaller cities that locals have succeeded in keeping secret. Melissa Burdick Harmon at Yahoo! Travel decided to pull back the curtain on ten unexpectedly romantic cities in the United States that are far more budget friendly than the big three or four go-to destinations. Finding the perfect partner, though, is still up to you. Minneapolis For natural beauty with a big-city vibe Minneapolis, with its booming big-city feel, combined with its 180 parks, 22 lakes, and 80 miles of bike paths and trails, is a perfect destination for couples who want a mix of sophistication and time alone with nature. Book a room at the 24-room Nicollet Island Inn, on an island in the Mississippi. Its romance package is lovely, and you can venture out to stroll through pretty neighborhoods lined with Victorian homes. The city’s Chain of Lakes offer abundant opportunities for romantic strolls complete with skyline views. Choose pretty Lake of the Isles, with lots of privacy-promoting nooks and crannies, for a late summer, early fall picnic. Go for drinks in the speakeasy-themed bar called Prohibition, at the hip Minneapolis W Foshay. Contact the Hitching Company for a horse-drawn carriage ride along the riverfront, along cobblestone streets and across the Stone Arch Bridge. In winter, cozy blankets are provided. On a less sophisticated note, you can take the light rail to the Mall of America, to get married in the “Chapel of Love,” or renew your wedding vows on the mall’s roller coaster. Cleveland, Ohio For rock 'n' roll nostalgia and more What can be more romantic than reliving special musical moments together? And where better to do that than at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum? The Beatles exhibit alone includes some 70 artifacts (stage outfits, hand-written musical arrangements). Also catch the Grateful Dead exhibit (through 2012), and many others, including Jimi Hendrix, U2, and the Doors. On a totally different musical note, catch the Cleveland Orchestra at the handsome Severance Hall. Finish a day of touring at Edgewater State Park, where you can picnic while you watch the sun slip down into Lake Erie. Perhaps enjoy a nightcap at the Velvet Tango Room, a modern-day “speakeasy” in the Tremont neighborhood. Shop for retro fashion, antiques, and bargains in Larchmere. Grab a tasty lunch, including some interesting Japanese fare, at Flying Cranes Café on nearby Shaker Square. Extend your trip a bit by a drive out to Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island, north of Sandusky. Book rooms at the Vineyard Bed and Breakfast, a century-plus-old farmhouse set among lovely vines, and with its own private beach. Full story at Yahoo! Travel. Love to travel. Photo credit: Fotolia Finally, a practical use for gourds Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! 1 Gourds make for the perfect Thanksgiving decorations, but it always seems like such a shame to capture the poor things and take them out of the wild just to decorate the table. If you don’t have any reservations about the rights of gourds, though, Megan Finley at Offbeat Home has an illuminating idea that takes them out of the obscurity of the cornucopia and puts the ugly things center stage as candle holders. The best part of this project is that it’s fast and easy but will have your guests squealing “Pinterest gold!” the minute they lay eyes on them. Ah, you crafty decorator, you… Full story at Offbeat Home via Neatorama. Easy holiday decorations. All guts, no glory for sharks in the news Posted 1 day ago by Futurity to Holy Kaw! 1 Sharks have suffered a lot of bad press—and it may affect their survival. Experts fear negative portrayals in the media may limit conservation efforts. According to a new study from Michigan State University, more than 52 percent of global coverage focused on shark attacks on people, and sharks were portrayed negatively in nearly 60 percent of the coverage. That’s compared to a mere 10 percent featuring shark conservation issues and just 7 percent focusing on shark biology or ecology. Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Photo credit: Fotolia PBS Off Book explores our love of retro media [video] Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! No hipster pad would be complete without a record player to spin that vintage vinyl, though plenty old-timers never let go of their turntable when the age of 8-tracks, cassette tapes, CD’s or digital music dawned, yet vinyl isn’t the only old-time media we love, as PBS Off Books shows in this short exploration of the classics we just can’t replace with new-fangled gadgets. Embedded media -- click here to see it. Full story at PBS Off Book @ YouTube via Laughing Squid. A blast from the past courtesy of PBS. Buff avatars may help us get healthy Posted 1 day ago by Futurity to Holy Kaw! Having a fit and healthy virtual avatar may encourage people to improve their own health and appearance, according to a recent study on users of Second Life. “The creation of an avatar allows an individual to try on a new appearance and persona, with little risk or effort,” says Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz of the University of Missouri. “That alter-ego can then have a positive influence on a person’s life. For example, people seeking to lose weight could create fitter avatars to help visualize themselves as slimmer and healthier.” Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Photo credit: Fotolia Tax hikes don't send millionaires packing Posted 1 day ago by Futurity to Holy Kaw! 2 The idea that millionaires will flee states that raise taxes on high earners is a myth, say experts. A study by Stanford and Princeton researchers shows no evidence of millionaire migration in response to tax rate changes. For California millionaires, personal connections seem to weigh more heavily than tax rates in deciding where to live, the researchers report. Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Photo credit: Fotolia The secret to a tastier tomato Posted 1 day ago by Futurity to Holy Kaw! 1 Without the enzyme CXE1, tomatoes might not be so tasty, a new study finds. “We do believe this phenomenon makes the fruit more palatable,” says Harry Klee, molecular biologist in the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida. “Because acetate esters are negatively correlated with consumer liking, we want to find ways to get rid of them,” Klee says. “I always tell people there are probably five or 10 chemicals we need to optimize to achieve an ideal flavor balance in tomato, and I think CXE1 is probably part of that group.” Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Photo credit: Fotolia Q-and-A: Jersey Mike's CMO shares the secrets behind stellar social campaigns Posted 1 day ago by SmartBrief to Holy Kaw! When it comes to Facebook marketing, we all know the difference between snagging “likes” with simple freebies and discounts, and earning them through engaging, meaningful social content. Doing the former does get “likes” to pour into your company’s page for a time — until the discount ends, leaving you with bigger numbers but not greater fan loyalty. Doing the latter gets you something far more valuable: “likes” from fans who actively endorse your brand, and who continue endorsing it, because they want to. That second type of “like” — the “like” that keeps on giving — is the one we want our social initiatives to bring in, and it takes more creativity to get. Full story at SmartBrief Social Media. More SmartBrief stories. Photo credit: Fotolia USB accessories don't get toastier than this Posted about 19 hours ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! Work in a cold office and need something more typing-friendly than mittens to keep your digits warm? Has Smoko, Inc. got a variety of cute and cuddly computer accessories for you! Never again will your boss’ thrifty nature or an afternoon of working in the great outdoors get the better of your productivity with a pair of Butta USB Hand Warmers at your fingertips (and palms and wrists). Powered by USB cords that connect to the computer, these plush cuties by Smoko Inc. feature two cozy temperature levels. Simply plug them in, pop a slice on each hand, secure the adjustable straps, and enjoy. And for your piggies, they also have a set of S’more slippers available. Full story at Fab. Work. It’s what’s for breakfast. Sent by Posterous. Change your email settings or unfollow. Other questions? We'd love to help.