The Joy of Wanderlust

Consulting & Web Services

My company, Thrilling Heroics Consulting, works with remarkable organizations, social entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to establish their online presence and spread awareness of their cause globally—on bigger development and consulting projects. Individually, I’m also passionate to work on smaller projects with non-profits, solopreneurs who want to go location-independent, and Gen-Y’s that want to make a difference with their careers!

If you need blog or social media help, lifestyle design or digital nomad coaching, I’m for hire!

“[Cody] helped me establish my presence on the net and because he believed in what I was doing to help people, really spent a great deal of his time explaining how to best use the web and social media. I have gotten numerous personal compliments and messages about the excellence of the website and was recently featured in a CNN article. This wouldn’t have been possible without Cody’s work and advising. I highly recommend his services and highly recommend him as a standup guy who’s passionate about helping people succeed.“

Dwight Turner
In Search of Sanuk

“Cody came well-recommended and exceeded my expectations in designing a blog for me (Moving From Me to We). He is that rare individual who combines deep technical expertise, ability to communicate with a non-geek (me) and disciplined in meeting deadlines. He has a coterie of colleagues who admire him so his ability to solve problems is greatly expanded.”

Kare Anderson
MovingFromMeToWe.com

“In just one hour, Cody cut through the chaos and confusion of social networks, showing me what I needed to do and—even more importantly, what I did NOT need to do. It was very valuable and worth the time. I would highly recommend him.”

Eileen McDargh
McDargh Communications

Social Media & Web Technology Consulting

I’m a digital native who monitors changing web trends. I can work with your company or organization to understand your mission and needs, help you identify ways to capitalize on your expertise to build a community around you, as well as leverage emerging web technologies to help you collaborate with your partners & clients in new ways, cut costs, manage projects remotely, and get things done with web-based applications.

My expertise areas are in:

•  Blogger relations
• Networking & online community building
• Personal branding & establishing credibility online
• Remote work strategies
• Web collaboration & location-independent project management
• Use of WordPress, Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook

1-hour Call: $70US  |   Available by retainer  |  Contact me→

Business & Lifestyle Design Coaching

Interested in starting an entrepreneurial career or living the location-independent lifestyle? Do you have questions about freelancing, becoming a digital nomad, social media networking, ortraveling to Thailand & Southeast Asia?

I get a lot of questions from readers who are interested in my lifestyle, how I run my business, and inmy travels. I hope to be able to help as many people as I can create their own freedom—to liberate you from the cubicle, create location independence, and financial freedom. If you’re a young professional who wants to take the road less-traveled, I am passionate to help you discover your passions, and determine the lifestyle of your dreams. I can share my thorough experience working remotely with clients on five continents, spending my days in coffee shops and hostels as a “digital nomad”, leveraging geo-arbitrage to free up time, and traveling on the cheap.

30-minute Call: $30US  |  1-Hour Call: $50US  |  Contact me→

Freelance Travel & Lifestyle Writing/Copyediting

Online content is a booming industry, with many website owners and bloggers outsourcing content creation. But mediocre writing doesn’t sell and it doesn’t create raving fans. I’m a compelling writer and a fantastic proofreader—passionate about lifestyle design, adventure travel, and social entrepreneurship. From producing text for webpages to writing sales letters, pamphlets and emails, I can help you sell your ideas through words.

500-word Articles starting at $80US  |  Copyediting: $50/hour  |  Contact me→

Speaking Engagements

I’m involved in conferences like Twestival, BarCamp, TEDx, and IdeaStorm here in Bangkok, Thailand, and I can gladly deliver social media presentations for schools, businesses, and organizations in Southeast Asia.

Tell me about your event→

Blog & Social Media Management

Let my team complete the often-frustrating technical updates and other time-consuming tasks so that you can concentrate on what you do best. We have monthly support plans OR we can accept your individual tech support requests. It’s like getting the support of a blog webmaster at an affordable cost!

• WordPress Theme and Plugin support & troubleshooting
• Monitoring your reputation on the web, your competitors & your market
• Synchronizing your brand across blogs, Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn
• Keeping your blog software, databases & plugins updated
• Blog design and styling tweaks

Monthly support plans starting at $75US  |  Individual tasks starting at $35US  |  Contact me→

WordPress Blog Setup

If you don’t already have one, one of the first things you need set up if you want your ideas to reach a global audience is a business blog. I build websites with your users in mind. WordPress is the easiest way to manage your content online, just like using Microsoft Word. My blog setup & development services can help you get started right:

• WordPress Installation & Configuration
• Theme Install & Customization
• Integrated WordPress Themes

Tell me about your project→

What else can I do for you?

• Web Hosting Recommendations & Setup
• Usability consulting & search engine optimization
• Video production & DVD creation
  
• Convert Photoshop PSD Designs to WordPress 
• RSS Feed Optimization & Email Subscription setup
• Copywriting & Sales Page Assembly for remarkable products & services
• Autoresponder/Newsletter Setup & Opt-In Forms
  
• Ebook Conversion/Formatting

Tips for better Wi-Fi on the road By Ed Hewitt updated 8:30 a.m. ET, Tues., Oct . 13, 2009 Travel, business, and government leaders and pundits have been buzzing about public Wi-Fi for years; projects to wire every corner of major airports have come one after another, upstaged only by projects to wire entire cities. A price and policy war wages among hotel chains as many low and mid-priced chains offer free Internet access while some upscale chains, red-faced but holding tight, still charge as much as $14.95 a day for Internet in your room and hotel lobbies. But just because there is a Wi-Fi signal doesn’t mean it will work very well. For example, on a recent international trip I fired up my laptop in an airport lounge, free Wi-Fi coupon in hand. My wireless card software showed the signal to be very good — nearly 100 percent. Story continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here Why, then, couldn’t I get any e-mail to download? Why did my browser just hang, hang, hang? A quick look around the room held the answer. The room had one or two Wi-Fi access points, and dozens of users competing for those points. The signal was great — it was also maxxed out. The situation can get much worse when your signal is weaker, as it often is in hotel rooms. Like cell phones, wireless connections rely on a line-of-sight connection to the access point. Again, you know from your home wireless network that you should place the router antenna up high and clear of clutter, and you get a better signal on the remote computer if you are in direct line with the output. Move a few feet over so there is a wall between you and the source, and you still get signal, but it often suffers dramatically. In your hotel, your proximity to the hotel’s base station or booster, which may be out in the hall or even in the lobby, dictates the strength of signal. Then there is the fact that the entire airport, hotel or location also has to connect up and out to the Internet; logjams can occur at every node along the chain, and you’re staring at an hourglass. So let’s say it’s evening, just after dinner, and everyone in the hotel is checking their e-mail. The nearest antenna is maxxed out, the network connection is burping and choking — and you’re sitting at a cramped hotel work desk, fuming. Here are tips for beating the crowds and getting better Wi-Fi. Find a better Wi-Fi spot JiWire.com has become the definitive guide to hotspots worldwide. Check the list before you travel, and you can save yourself a lot of frustration in staking out your access points and expenses. One JiWire.com employee traveled through a half-dozen airports on a cross-country trip and enjoyed high-quality free Internet access the whole way. Additionally, many travelers staying in a hotel without access (and sometimes with fee access) will head to the lobby of a neighboring hotel to jack in. Post yourself as near the signal as possible Nearly all newer laptops have a signal sniffer, and most wireless cards come with software that does the same thing. Computer stores sell signal finders that specifically help you find wireless signals. You can do a search dog routine and use your wireless antenna software to sniff out the source, and post up when you get the strongest signal. As most wireless routers are hidden behind ceilings or wall panels, or otherwise out of view, this may be your best bet. “The beauty of Wi-Fi is that it works through walls and doors, so the access point is probably in a utility or other secure area,” says David Blumenfeld, VP of marketing at hotspot locator JiWire.com. “Once you have a signal, the best thing to do is walk around and try to improve it.” MORE FROM INDEPENDENTTRAVELER.COM Airport Internet tips Computer travel tips Get our best travel deals and tips! Poll: How do you stay connected? In a hotel, this may mean to get closer to the door of your room. Most hotels have a single base station, and then place repeaters on each floor, sometimes on every other floor, and use the hallways as “wave guides” to direct signal to your room. msnbc.com travel teasers See the latest contest winner and take the quiz Note that many hotel wireless systems have been set up somewhat willy-nilly; one connectivity expert I know has seen systems that he says “can barely support a home network, let alone a hotel full of business travelers zooming PowerPoint presentations around the Net.” One in particular, a single Linksys home router in a janitorial closet on every other floor, performed particularly poorly. If you can position yourself to pick off a bit more of the signal, you may do much better. And just because the hotel Web site says “Free Wireless Internet” doesn’t mean you’ll be working from your king bed. Wireless may be available only in the lobby, the restaurant or other select parts of the hotel. Go to an empty gate In airports where Wi-Fi is “ubiquitous,” there will be numerous antennae posted throughout the airport. If you sit at your packed gate, you are competing with everyone else on your flight for the single proximate antenna. Moving to an empty gate or waiting area will give you better data speeds with the same signal strength. When you move, a glance at your signal gauge will let you know whether you have sacrificed signal for solitude. Note that not all gates have wireless access; search for your airport on JiWire.com to get the which and where of airport hotspots. Invest in some Wi-Fi gadgets Directional and long-range Wi-Fi antenna cards can significantly increase the strength of your signal. One note: reception on certain Apple wireless cards can underperform many PC cards. If you are having trouble with your Apple reception, long-range cards may help you considerably. It’s A Snap! See the latest entries See the amazing images sent by msnbc.com readers and submit your own for next week! Some travelers prefer not to be trapped at the desk in their hotel rooms, especially at the end of the business day. Additionally, multiple occupants of the same hotel room may want to access the Internet at the same time. You can achieve either by investing in a portable wireless router. Apple offers a Cellular Travel Router, and Linksys has the Wireless-G Travel Router. Most reputable wireless router retailers offer a travel router of some stripe. Find a jack Anyone who has a typical home wireless setup knows that the computer that is jacked directly into the modem has the best signal. When you plug into a jack in an airport lounge full of folks competing for Wi-Fi, your one becomes equal to their many. That is, your computer plugged into the jack has as clear access to the larger network as does the one antenna being used by 40 people. Your data speed will soar. You can often find jacks in your hotel room, as well as at airports — I have found jacks both in airline lounges as well as in public waiting areas in major airports. When in doubt, jack in! The rule of thumb you can take away from the scenarios laid out above: Strong signals combined with small crowds make for better Wi-Fi — the law of supply and demand trumps all once again.

From Forks and Jets

October 10, 2009 Greece

We weren’t planning on spending any time in Greece. We presumed the country was over-touristed and expensive, well above our tight budget. At best, we were going to travel across the mainland on our way into Eastern Europe from Turkey. Meeting fellow travelers on the road often helps us polish the itinerary, and we found those who were even island hopping on a tight budget. Who better to meet than Cha Cha who is working on a blog devoted to travel connections. She recommended some islands that we might be able to afford, and were worth checking out.

Out at lunch with Cha Cha in Turkey.

We love the feel of the Greek islands. There are so many different sizes and types, that everyone can find the experience they are looking for. Some travelers hate the quiet islands but love the party lifestyle of Mykonos. Others prefer historic ruins, or the big city feel of Rhodes.

Rhodes

Our first stop was only a brief glance, as we moved on from Rhodes before midnight the same day we sailed in. We were told there are great villages, parks, and caves hidden away from the hustle of the cities on the massive island, but that will have to wait until another trip. Need a better look? Here’smore from Rhodes.

Paros

Droves of backpackers seemed to enjoy the chic islands of Paros and Antiparos. They combine the feel of smaller islands with an energetic night life. Everyone here is proud of their resident celebrity, Tom Hanks. You can see the money here; more expensive and expansive homes are dot the island, some claiming private beaches. There is even a giant Cancun-like dance club beach called Punta Beach, if that’s what you’re into. All in all, the Kastros (main streets) were quaint and relaxing, the food was fine… but like Goldilocks, we were looking for something else. Want more of Paros & Antiparos?

Antiparos

Paros

By now, you may be imagining what a perfect island is for you. Does it have beautiful women? perfect waves of crystal clear water to surf? Flower lined streets? High style or low? We finally managed to find our perfect island getaway. While we love the hustle of big cities and endless museums, multicultural events filled with alien rituals, the effort of traveling sometimes needs a rest.

The perfect island for us had no banks, no hotels (really!), one internet hotspot, two grocery stores and no souvenir stalls. No big museums, no loud nightclubs with vomiting coeds. Nothing fancy, just simple daily life that loves to be lived. We will never tell you the name of this place — that’s right, this is our secret and we, along with the locals, swear to keep it to ourselves (recognize it? shhh!) So far, it’s name hasn’t made it to any travel mags and island life hasn’t changed in a long time.

A little over 200 islanders live here, mostly atop one hill in a tightly packed white village. We thoroughly enjoyed winding through the little alleys and eating at one of the 4 restaurants in town, overlooking the broad expanse of ocean in the moonlight.

Most evenings we ended up at our favorite restaurant, listening to the live band. Without a stage, the band played facing each other over a table in the center of the dining terrace while the locals all sang along.

One night, we were lucky enough to enjoy a visiting band from Crete in the town square — the whole island showed up for the show. Everyone drank 50 cent Raki shots while dancing and singing along with the traditional greek music, cheering on the greek bagpipe.

We did explore a little, renting a scooter to get around the 18 square kilometers that make up the island. Spotting the entire island are little white churches, almost one for every family, dedicated to different saints and often decorated with memorabilia of a deceased family member.

We could even see these little churches on rock outcroppings in the ocean surrounding the island. Historical sites are limited to two monasteries, one of which has ancient temple ruins and kind nuns who gave us apricot preserves.

See the little nun?

The other monastery is on top of the highest peak on the island; the adventurous can reach it by a steep and sometimes perilous-looking hike along the rocky ridge.

Oh yeah, and every day we went down to the beach and tanned our tanlines off with all the surreally good-looking locals, sometimes swimming in the crystal-clear water and often stuffing ourselves to catatonic levels at the Tavernalocated just off the sand.

This family run restaurant served beyond-good food and our hosts, the family that ran it, were the most hospitable people you could meet, resident trio of identical kittens and all. Our last night they got us so thoroughly drunk, we barely made it home.

Most people on the island asked us how we found out about this place. Truth is: in passing, by chance… This was our perfect holiday, nothing to do but eat and sun bathe and ride our scooter. We have a feeling we will be coming back.

More photos from our secret island are here on flickr.

From Animoto Web Site: 

“Turn your photos & videos into pure amazing.

Animoto automatically produces beautifully orchestrated, completely unique video pieces from your photos, video clips and music. Fast, free and shockingly easy.

Outlier Workwear Pants by Tim Yu

Informally dubbed as the anti-jean, I’ve worn my Outlier Workwear Pants for four days straight, and tomorrow makes five. A simple, stripped-down pair that prioritizes functionality, it’s durable, versatile and always maintains a clean look.

Tailored in NYC, the pant is constructed using a double weave method featuring a Cordura canvas face and soft brushed back interior to ensure comfort. The fabric is a blend of 80% Nylon, 10% Polyester and 10% Spandex—a combination that lends itself to water and abrasion resistance while remaining breathable and quick drying. Even better, the fabric is woven and dyed without the use of toxic chemicals common throughout the textile industry, minimizing harmful waste and reducing emissions.

Outlier also applies what they call the “lotus treatment,” which is a nano tech fabric treatment that deflects oil and other stains. Tyler Clemens, co-founder of Outlier, comments, “We’ve been known to pour coffee and red wine straight onto our pants. Usually it just rolls off. Occasionally a bit might actually dry down, but it too will roll right off if you splash some water over it. Machine drying does help re-up the lotus effect, as does ironing. For the most part, this stuff just works, throw it on and go ride your bike.”

Although these Outliers seem more durable than denim, the biggest difference is the range of motion. Running around, walking up stairs, eating lots and mounting and riding a bike is much easier in the Workwear Pants. The fabric affords a tiny bit of stretch, but a curved waistband and gusseted crotch make all the difference without the bagginess.

Instead of using an older fabric like denim, the folks at Outlier aimed to create their best pant incorporating the fabric technology of today. The result is a harder wearing, comfortable pant that resists wrinkles, needs less cleaning and can be worn during all four seasons. Seems like a no brainer to us. Pick up your Outlier Workwear Pants at Outlier Webshop for $188.

all photos by Emiliano Granado.

Tools & Resources for Living an Incredibly Kickass Life

By, Cody McKibben

These consists of books, tools, blogs, links, and guides which have helped me learn to brand myself, build an extensive network, travel around the globe, and design a business that I can run from anywhere in the world. Check back often, as the Thrilling Heroics Resources section will undoubtedly grow steadily.

Required Reading

Here are my “Most-Important Books”—or MIBs. If you read only 10 books after college, read these:

1. The 4-Hour Workweek by superhero Timothy Ferriss
2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
3. The Brand You 50 by Tom Peters (or one of his other books on personal branding)
4. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
5. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
6. Emergency by Neil Strauss
7. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
8. The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
9. Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins
10. Now, Discover Your Strengths by Markus Buckingham

Mandatory Manifestos

Now you should be thinking like a renegade! Here are some fantastic ebooks to help you even further on your journey:

• A Brief Guide to World Domination (FREE) – Lessons on being remarkable, doing shit you care about, and changing the world, from one of the world’s most-traveled dudes, Chris Guillebeau.
• Reclaim Your Dreams – An uncommon guide to living life on your own terms
• The Zero Hour Workweek (FREE) – Liberate yourself and learn how to get paid to be you!
• 279 Days to Overnight Success (FREE) – 11,000 words of free advice on how to create your own success with your own project
• The Liberation Revolution manifesto from Project Mojave (FREE) – Time to Cut the Cubicle Umbilical Cord
• The Unconventional Guide to Working for Yourself – Creating Personal Freedom through a Very Small Business
• How to Be a Rockstar Freelancer from the authors of FreelanceSwitch.com
• FreelanceSwitch’s Guide to Making Passive Income for Freelancers (FREE)
• How to Become a Travel Ninja – From Hong Kong to Johannesburg and Everywhere Else
• Rockstar Personal Branding (FREE) by blogging superstar Skellie
• The Unconventional Guide to the Social Web – Social Media as a Force for Good
• X Marks the Spot – The Location Independent Guide to Living and Working from Anywhere You Choose
• SourceControl – an outsourcing framework for the dangerously ambitious from MuseLife.com genius David Walsh

How I Do It

These are the applications, tools, and resources that I use daily and recommend to all my clients and friends. All of my best-kept secrets!

Web Presence

• BlueHost – reliable, inexpensive, easy web hosting (4 out of 5 of my clients use them).
• WordPress – an easy content management (CMS) system great for blogs, galleries, portfolios, business sites & more.
• WooThemes – awesome, GPL-licensed themes for WordPress (my site is a heavily-customized FreshNews design).
• ThemeForest – great, inexpensive HTML templates, themes for WordPress and other CMS programs.

Gadgets & Gear

• Apple MacBook Pro – intuitive, highly-customizable. The 13-inch unibody aluminum model has been great to travel with.
• iPhone 3G – unlocking instructions for use on non-AT&T networks, international travel & data access.
• Airport Express – will turn almost any ethernet connection around the world into a wifi network.
• Backup your files frequently with TimeMachine and/or Mozy online backup

Communications

• Gmail – please please please ditch Outlook!
• Skype – call friends & clients around the globe for as little as 3 cents a minute.
• Google Voice – previously GrandCentral, this will give you one phone number to route and forward to any phone; highly customizable.
• Twitter – learn how to use it, and use a good desktop app like DestroyTwitter
• Adium or Meebo can connect AIM, gTalk, MSN, Yahoo chat, Facebook chat and more.
• Tinychat – free chat rooms & audio video conferences online.
• FreePhoneConference.com – gives you a free dial-in teleconference number for multiple users.

Online Collaboration

• Google Calendar – shareable calendar and schedule organizer.
• Google Docs – collaborative word processor and spreadsheet applications.
• Adobe ConnectNow – meet live over the web and share your screen with anyone.
• Collabtiv – free alternative to web-based project management apps like Basecamp.
• Box.net – store and share large files online.

Web Development

• Cyberduck – open-source FTP for Mac
• Smultron – open-source, user-friendly code editor for Mac
• MAMP – run your own local Apache server
• Firebug – Firefox plugin that makes testing code much easier
• Adobe BrowserLab – test cross-browser compatibility for free (keep this one hush-hush 

e-Commerce & Invoicing

• PayPal – easily send & receive money online.
• FreshBooks – simple online invoicing and bookkeeping.
• e-Junkie – handles all the payment and fulfillment for your ebook, audio, or other information products.

Marketing & Promotion

• AWeber – leading provider for mailing/customer list management, promotional marketing, and autoresponder newsletter campaigns.
• Su.pr – install the bookmarklet in your browser toolbar, submit your links and they’ll be automatically sent to Twitter, Facebook & StumbleUpon!
• LinkedIn Answers – LinkedIn is the best professional online network, and Answers is the best place to brand yourself, share your expertise with others, and even solicit feedback on your ownquestions from experienced CEOs and other professionals.

Money & Finance

• Text-Link-Ads, PerformancingAds & LinkShare network – publish ads and earn passive income from your websites.
• Emigrant Direct or ING Direct – check out these high-yield online savings accounts.
• HSBC Bank – one of the best international banks with locations around the globe.
• Charles Schwab – reimburses all ATM transactions and has no international fees on their checking accounts.
• Discover Miles card – Frequent flyer? Get 1 mile per dollar spent, plus 12,000 bonus sign-up miles.
• Mint.com – powerful, free personal financial management application.

Travel & Mobile Lifestyle

• Kayak.com – find the best travel deals, Kayak compares thousands of aggregators.
• Priceline – bid low on last-minute flights and check out their Pricebreaker deals.
• Couchsurfing Project – meet locals for a drink, a tour, and sometimes free accomodation around the world.
• AirBnB – low-cost vacation rentals and sublets from locals in 87 countries.
• How to See the World – free Art of Travel guide; European and world backpacking on $25 a day.
• 30 Ways in 30 Days to Redesign Your Life and Travel the World – great series from digital nomad Christine Gilbert.
• EarthClassMail – get all your snail mail sent to you via email. Great for business backpackers!
• World Nomads – easy, affordable travel insurance recommended by Lonely Planet.

Lifestyle Design Tools

• Ideal Lifestyle Costing from Tim Ferriss
• Dreamlining Worksheet

Discussion & Communities

• 4-Hour Work Week Forums – new rich, lifestyle design, and muse creation; focused on the priciples in Tim Ferriss’ book: elimination, automation, and liberation.
• Location Rebel – a community for lifestyle designers and prospective location independent professionals.

Featured image by kaibara.

Netbook to Laptop Whiplash

Posted by Renee Oricchio at 7:00 AM

If you read this blog on a regular basis, then you might recall that I took the Netbook plunge a couple of months ago.

My laptop met an untimely demise (lightening fried my hard drive) during the summer and I didn’t want to replace it with another when we are so close to the launch of Windows 7 (October 22nd).

Solution: I got a Netbook thinking that I would just use it to get by for a few months.

My expectations at the time:

- I would miss my laptop, especially the larger screen and the DVD drive.

- I would get by without a full size laptop, but it would be somewhat frustrating in the meantime.

- I will get a laptop later this year and then my Netbook would likely get dusty on a shelf used as a backup or pawned off to my kids.

I started a new job this week (in a unrelated field to this one) and was issued a laptop by my new employer. It’s a 15 inch Hewlett-Packard with Windows XP and is probably about four years old.

Let me clear:

It feels like it weighs about the same as a Volkswagen and is the size of my dining room table.

I repeat:

It feels like it weighs about the same as a Volkswagen and is the size of my dining room table.

Oh my gosh! Holy albatross, Batman!

I put it in my briefcase and it felt like I was carrying a bag of rocks home.

Let me add to that; I haven’t used my briefcase since I bought the Netbook. My Netbook actually fits in my messenger bag size and shaped purse. So I have downsized to carrying just one bag, instead of two, which has been liberating and great for my shoulders and back.

Three days after schlepping a laptop back and forth in a briefcase, I’m ready to call a chiropractor

About those expectations that I mentioned at the top of this posting:

- The smaller screen and the lack of a DVD drive is a pain in the you-know-what.

- I probably will buy my own full-size laptop after Windows 7 comes out later this Fall.

- I am a little frustrated with the limitations of my Netbook.

All that being said, I really don’t care and there is no going back to lugging a laptop.

What I have learned from the Netbook is that a laptop doesn’t belong in my lap and portable as it is; I don’t want to carry it around anywhere. It belongs sitting on a desk. Period.

What does this mean for my Netbook?

It will not be gathering dust and as for my kids; from my cold, dead hands, children.

Love, Mom.

From the ABOUT ME

“Some of my nearest and dearest have  dubbed the way I see the world as my “Shannon-tinted bubble.”  You, know, I am not entirely sure what that means even ten years after the first time I heard that expression, but it seems appropriate to share it here. I felt compelled to note it just in case someone else has a theory on why one who those around me so consistently assert the truth of the bubble notion.

Anyhow, I got off track a bit I suppose. What does all of this have to do with my round the world travel adventure?

Well, first let me introduce myself. I, Shannon O’Donnell, am currently 25. I’m from the American south…but not the true south. Florida.

Yes, I know. Your grandparents live there.

Well, so do (did?!) I.  I graduated from college with a degree I had  no intention of ever using as it was intended and  have aspirations for the entertainment industry that prompted me to move myself out to LA just after graduation.

In May of 2008 though, at the ripe age of 24, I hit a wall in my life that can only be described as my quarter-life crisis. I was completely on the “right” track:

Graduate college- check! – BA in Advertising and Public Relations.
Find a well-paying job – check! -  Internet-based freelance SEO work.
Move to Los Angeles – check! – Cute apartment on the only moderately sketchy side of town.
Pursue acting career – check! – Agent and manager secured, some auditions coming in.

You know, everything was pretty much going in accordance with my life plans (blech, life plans, what a trite expression). But then it hit me all at once – this picture of my life tens years down the line: still living in LA, with a husband, kids, and a mortgage payment.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I want all of those things.

Just. Not. Yet.

So I sold most of my possessions, packed up my car with the rest, kissed my LA friends good-bye and drove aaaaallll the way back across the country to Florida. I deposited what was left of my possessions at my parents house and then packed up my bag and headed on the road…I figure I will travel for a couple of years or until I think of something better.

Some people who hear about my plan to travel all over the world and automatically assume that I am this vagabond with no aspirations for my life and no plans for a family and settling down (and there would be nothing wrong if that was the plan). In truth, I do hope for some of that in the long-run, but I also know that a year (or more) of traveling the world  will broaden my precepts on life and make me oh-so-much happier in the long-run.  Traveling was always a part of the plan for as long as I can remember – even back when I was 12, pining after Prince William, and dead-set on moving to England and marrying HRH -  how embarrassing in retrospect!

My reasons for traveling may have matured just a bit in the intervening 12 years but the wanderlust is still there.  I can’t wait to meet new people, learn new languages, and experience life outside of the microcosm of the United States.  There is something in my being that is telling me that there is more I need to experience and learn before I settle down, some nuggets of truth I haven’t yet found.

And since all of that got a bit deep toward the end there, a quick run-down of some adjectives I feel describe yours truly: quirky, tenacious, reliable, irreverent, playful, sure as shit, honest, opinionated, and a touch sarcastic. Top that off with a truly a bizarre sense of humor to make it all a bit more interesting – I’m one of those sad souls who laughs hysterically at their own jokes!

So, that would be me in a nutshell (Help! I’m in a nutshell! Let me out!).  If you want to know more, I daresay you’ll learn more about me through my blogs.   :-)”

Helping readers take blogs offline, Zinepal lets any user convert their favourite online content into ebooks and printable, magazine-style PDFs.

Users of British Columbia-based Zinepal begin by selecting content they like from blogs, Atom/RSS feeds and other websites. Zinepal then reformats that content into a printable PDF and ebook format for use with the Amazon Kindle and other electronic readers. Users can preview and edit or reformat the resulting “zine,” even adding a title and logo of their own to customize the publication. Advertising images can also be included at the bottom of each page. Once their zine is complete, users can print it or request an e-mailed copy; they can also request that new zines be automatically created each day or week from the content they choose. Zines can be made public on the site for sharing and searchability; zine feeds, meanwhile, provide a way for users to offer subscriptions to their publications. There is currently no charge for using Zinepal. A video on blip.tv explains how the process works.

Similar also to BlueMailCentral, Peggy Mail and other tools that help forge the OFF=ON connection, Zinepal gives readers one more choice in deciding how their content is delivered. Even beyond that, though, it has the potential to spawn a whole new generation of small, niche publications similar to the (discontinued) The Printed Blog but put together by independent thinkers, organizations or even brands. One to try out! (Related: Magazine publishing for everyone and every niche.)

Website: www.zinepal.com
Contact: info@zinepal.com

Spotted by: Murtaza Ali Patel

Like no other guide book you’ve seen, Le Cool Changed My Life. A Weird And Wonderful Guide To Barcelona didn’t quite change my life but it certainly made my trip to Barcelona a lot more fun. The second edition is just out and British editor Andrew sent a few over for us to check out.

The small hardbound guide may look like Mao’s Little Red Book, but once you open it up you’ll see the quotes aren’t exactly from the Chinese Chairman. Who better than locals in the know to help you make sense of the city’s labyrinthine streets? Hip Catalans share their tips on where to eat; the guy who started local chocolate-chain Xocoa describes his ideal day in the city; and the man who runs an association for Barcelona’s fashion designers gives up where he buys his own threads. In between, there’s everything from walking guides linking the essential shops, a matter-of-fact pricelist for illegal narcotics and where to find a good sex club (should the need arise). The best hotels get a mention too, but Gaudi is kept to a minimum.

Originally born from a free weekly email guide to Barcelona, this new edition features about 30 more pages than the original with many redesigned sections. There are also lovely illustrated maps courtesy of local designers Vasava.

Check out the site for a good look at the guide. It’s available now directly from Le Cool, and onAmazon UK from 17 August 2006.

We have two copies to give away. Send us an email in the next day and let us know why you need a copy; the two best answers get a free guide, practically ensuring a great time in the Catalan capital.

Winners of the contest can be found here