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We all knew of the cool kids at school. They were the ones that didn’t follow but were followed. The cool kids were the ones who wore their uniform unlike anyone else. Their ‘look’ became copied whereupon they’d instantly change to something different leaving the rest of us to catch up.

At school, being cool wasn’t about trying too hard or wearing expensive stuff, it was far more Zen than that. It was all about the ‘just being’ that singled the leaders from the pack. Of course, these days, thanks to Facebook, it’s quite nice to see that a few of the ‘cool kids’ from way back have actually grown into middle aged parents with beer guts and thinning hair.

This got me to thinking, how does one be cool today? Who are the coolest people on the planet? Why are they cool and how can I get to be as cool?

Below are just a few examples of how you can be cool but, like everything, perception is in the eye of the beholder and, inevitably, what I find cool will also be what someone else considers to be totally uncool, like writing this article, perhaps?

Holiday

Arguably one of the most important times of the year to be cool is on holiday and from trying to pick-up members of the opposite sex to fitting in with the local’s dress sense, trying too hard is often a sure-fire route to Loserland. Personally, I think that one of the coolest options is to undertake singles activity holidays where no one actually cares who you are or what you look like as long as you’re having a great time and joining in.

Hang-out

Being cool in a supermarket is something of an oxymoron and although you may be wearing the latest designer threads, if you’re seen shopping then cool you are decidedly not. Coffee shops, jazz clubs, second-hand book shops, late-night independent theatres, these are quintessential cool hang-outs where, basically, if it’s in a cellar, basement or loft, it’s probably cool. Read a second-hand version of Zorba the Greek, recline on a piece of tattered furniture in a coffee shop, wear a hat and have a dog at your feet, now you’re cool.

Wear

As mentioned, hats are cool. No, strike that; if you’re confident enough to wear a hat then you’re cool. Of course, this does not go for all hat wearers as my granddad often wears a hat to play lawn bowls and he is decidedly not cool. Ok, but aside from hats, what you wear will invariably single you out as cool or not. Second-hand ensembles, mix and match styles, vintage garb without going over the top, are all totally cool around my way and if you feel comfortable, relaxed and aren’t stuffing logos, bling, labels and ‘witty’ comments in anyone’s face then you’re on the money.

Read

Basically, read anything that’s considered beatnik i.e. written by Kerouac, Ginsberg or Burroughs. Of course there are plenty of other ‘cool reads’ around but everyone else is reading them too. Steinbeck, Hemingway, Dostoyevsky – all cool. Reading a battered, pages falling out, water-marked, book of Shakespeare or even Dickens, is cool. Three more points: don’t use a Kindle, don’t surf the net and don’t read Dan Brown, Fifty Shades of Grey or anything that’s been mentioned on Richard & Judy’s book club.

Volunteer

And now we get to the essence of cool. When all around you are losing their heads deciding what’s cool and what’s not, and when everyone’s thinking that wearing a hat at a jaunty angle is so much cooler than wearing a hat that covers your left ear. When you’re reading a book in a coffee shop, with a dog at your feet, but you don’t understand what on earth the book’s about and you’re suffering from severe paranoia due to a caffeine overdose, that’s when you have to say STOP! This is not cool. Get yourself a ticket to a far-flung corner of the globe where no one cares what you wear, what you read or where you hang-out as long as you’re prepared to smile, help and not complain, then, you’re cool. Volunteer abroad – because no one gives a damn whether you’re cool or not.

Biog: Nicola is a mother of two and therefore uncool on so many levels, apart from when she buys ice lollies and reads stories, then she’s totally, like, cool, man.

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Photo by Mikebaird on Flickr.com. Used under Creative Commons Licence.

Yachting Basics

The best way to conquer your trepidation about sailing is to take a quick course in yachting basics – how to navigate and use the latest mapping equipment, what all the engines and parts do, how to use sails if you prefer wind power, and some pretty standard safety lessons. Yet most of it is common sense, and besides, most people who set sail with a private yacht rental will often hire a captain, and even a crew, to help them on their way. And the latest generation of yachts are so user-friendly, safe and efficient that even amateurs can have a go captaining their own ship.

Choose Comfortable Routes

While experienced sailors love the thrill of setting sail to the Straits of Magellan, the Bay of Biscay of the fierce Tasman Sea, if you are new to yachting then it is best to choose manageable and realistic itineraries. Avoid rough seas and start your journey in the summer when waters tend to be a fair bit calmer. Many island-hopping destinations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas are ideal, with peaceful waters, plenty of marinas to head towards and expert coast guards just in case you happen to get into trouble. Once you feel more confident, think about heading out in the South Pacific, where waters are amongst the most beautiful, and most serene, in the world, though your navigation skills will need refining, as the sheer size, and emptiness, of the world’s biggest Ocean can sometimes seem overwhelming.

Try Flotilla Sailing

One of the most enjoyable ways to traverse the seven seas is to embark on a flotilla voyage with a number of like-minded travellers. This way you travel in a group of boats, each one giving the other support, offering help and assisting with directions. If you are scared you will end up drifting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, fear not, as you are unlikely to get lost when sailing in a flotilla. All lead crew and support staff can come along as well, making this perfect for any amateur sailing enthusiast looking for sailing holidays.

Start Small

While we’d all love a super yacht moored in Monte Carlo or Fort Lauderdale, both the cost and practicality of such a vessel rules it as a realistic option. And often the smaller the boat you are using, the better, as they can be easier to guide. Make sure your vessel is weighted too, as this massively reduces the degree to which it will sway in open water, ensuring you don’t get sea sick, but instead earn your sea legs. Soon enough you will get the hang of it, and before long will no doubt become the next Christopher Columbus. And as ever, always keep your radio on to hear the latest coast-guard and weather information about the area you are sailing in.

John is an experienced travel writer who has sailed the seven seas in order to bring you the greatest sailing holidays on the planet.

Greeting cards, filled with holiday wishes, congratulations, and thank-yous, may well become an anachronism. Within the past few years, particularly with the rise of social media, technology has brought about major changes in the greeting card industry.

According to the Seattle Times, a US-based newspaper, greeting card sales have been gradually declining since the mid-1990s. This decline is most likely due to the rise of the e-card. First appearing in 1994, e-cards represented a convenient way to send a quick note via email, without a trip to the post office. E-cards are also more cost-effective, with many of them being free or lower cost than a paper card. As time went on, e-cards become more varied, with cards playing music or video as part of the message. Now, with the increasing popularity of smartphones, apps are being released to allow you to send greeting cards from your phone, such as Apple Cards for iPhone, making it even easier to digitally tell someone you care.

However, greeting cards are not completely obsolete yet. According to the UK Greeting Card Association, 1.386 billion pounds were spent on greeting cards in 2010. In the UK, the industry is still growing, despite the economic woes. In 2010, the industry saw 3% growth in value and a 2.7% increase in volume. US greeting card companies are also turning profits, with total sales estimated at $7.5 billion.

This growth may be attributed to the emotional value we place on a hand-written, paper card. While an e-card is a simple, one-click ordeal, they do not measure up to a card received in the mail with a personal note inside. Particularly around major milestones, such as weddings, graduations, and anniversaries, many people prefer to put in the extra effort and give a paper greeting card.

Greeting cards are also entwined with tradition. Many families still choose to send cards to their friends during the Christmas season, along with a yearly update and photos. Similarly, after a wedding many brides still send hand-written thank you notes to their guests.

There are also many new types of greeting cards entering the market currently. For example, a luxury market for greeting cards has emerged, with cards printed on specialty paper and bearing the work of well-known designers. Some cards feature music or more whimsical designs. Other sub-markets have opened up as well, such as cards for kids, humorous cards, and even risqué cards.

So even with the influence of technology, greeting cards are still an important part of our culture. There is no substitute for the warm feeling brought by a hand-written, heart-felt card in the mail. Nevertheless, as our society becomes more connected through social media, it will be interesting to see how the greeting card industry adapts.

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Photo by Dick Thomas Johnson on Flickr.com. Used under Creative Commons Licence.

Big Ben

The big daddy of the clock world and the most famous clock face in the world, the clock that adorns the officially named Clock Tower of the UK parliament building is known the world over. However, technically it isn’t called Big Ben at all – that is the name of the clock’s huge bell, that rings out at every hour to announce the time to Londoners. In the olden days the sound of the huge bell, off-pitch due to a large crack in the moulding, would’ve been used by workers in the city to tell the time, but nowadays, with digital phones and watches prevalent, the announcement of the time is primarily ceremonial, and used as a tourist attraction. Though the clock-face at Big Ben looks large, it is only when you read the figures that you realise just how huge it really is, with each number standing over 4 foot in height, and the face itself over 23 feet in diameter.

Prague Astronomical Clock

Prague is surely one of the most beautiful cities on earth, ideal for family holidays abroad, and the Old Town Square simply the most evocative corner of this gorgeous city. And the one place in the Old Town Square where most tourists congregate is at the base of the Prague Astronomical Clock Tower, to gaze up at one of the most fascinating clocks on the planet. First built in 1410, this is the oldest astronomical clock in the world, and one of the most elaborate, with intricate astrolabes and dials spinning on a stationery background to superb effect. The clock charts not only the time in Prague but the movement of the sun and the moon, amongst other things, though it can be a bit confusing to interpret this magnificent piece of medieval technology.

Copenhagen World Clock

Though Jens Olsen’s World clock, permanently on display in Copenhagen Town Hall, looks like a relic from the past, it in fact dates only from 1955, and hides a complex system of mechanics to calculate time for a range of phenomena. Gold and silver dials perpetually revolve, the quickest taking a mere 10 seconds to fully turn, while the longest, charting the slow shifting of the earth’s axis, will take an astonishing 25,753 years to complete its turn, a movement so slow it looks as if it is not spinning at all. This is one of the top tourist sites in Copenhagen, and must be visited as part of cycling holidays to Denmark, one of the top cycling destinations on earth.

Yokohama Cosmo Clock

Not all clocks are ornately mechanical devices – recent decades have seen a switch to computerisation and, with it, digital clocks. While the digital clock inside your mobile phone is rather small, the largest digital clock in the world stands proud in Yokohama, Japan, just south of capital city Tokyo. Fixed into the centre of what was the world’s largest Ferris wheel when it opened in 1989, this is the biggest clock by any measurement, and is known as one of the most iconic images of Japan the world over.

John is an experienced travel writer with a deep seated passion for cycling holidays to all four corners of the globe.

This photo was used under the Creative Commons license curtsey of Flickr.com

It’s inevitable that someday you’re going to bump into Mr or Mrs Right and the sound of wedding bells will peel across hill and dale announcing that you’re officially out of the dating game and ready to embark on the road to married bliss.

To many impressionable young people, the thought of settling down, babies and even having a long-term partner may seem a completely alien concept but, believe you me, it can creep up on you a lot quicker than you may have first thought.

Like everything, you won’t know what you’ve gained or lost until it’s gone and it’s with this in mind that I’d like to lay down a few particulars on what you should try to do before you get hitched.

Please be aware that this article is not intending to put you off the wonderful world of wives and husbands, far from it. All I’m hoping to achieve is to open your eyes to what you’re probably not going to be able to do once you’ve decided to tie the knot – good luck!

Live with your mates

If you’re lucky enough to have gone to university or attended a college away from home then you’ll probably be well-versed in the delights of living with friends and likeminded individuals. This is your chance to party, philosophise and chill with your best buddies 24-7 and from leaving your room like a tip to finding random strangers asleep on your couch this rite-of-passage has to be achieved as soon as possible before you leave it too late.

Travel on your own

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing better than a romantic break where you can walk hand in hand across white sand beaches staring into each other’s eyes and enjoying exotic cocktails, however sometimes it’s just better doing what you and you alone want to do. These days, singles holidays will take you everywhere and from adventuring through America to experiencing high arts and culture in Europe, going your own way has never been more enjoyable.

Fall in love

I know that this is what leads to marriage in the first place but sometimes you’ve got to fall in love with someone else before you’re ready to settle down. Only after you’ve had your heart broken can you truly appreciate the love and trust that comes from that special someone who you want to spend the rest of your life with. Of course, you can fall in love every day of the week if you so wish, because guess what, you’re not married and therefore you get to do what you like!

Join a band

Anyone with just an ounce of ‘va va voom’ will have picked up a guitar, held a microphone or twisted a drum stick and thought: ‘you know what, I’m going to join a band!’ The trouble is that this sort of endeavour can’t be achieved overnight (punk’s dead) and through a combination of hard work, practise and creativity turning yourself and your friends into a fully functioning rock and roll band is going to eat into every moment of time that you have with gusto.

Spend some cash

Joint accounts, food bills and weddings all cost money, and where you once had a free and easy hold on your purse strings now someone’s tugging on the other side pulling them ever-tighter. That’s the thing about marriage, it’s a kind of long-term thing and like most commitments, it costs money. So spend some cash while you can. Go on adventure travel tours to the other side of the world, buy fancy cars with only two seats and splash out on those shoes that are just way too expensive because, once you start shopping for houses, babies and all-inclusive holidays, it may be too late.

Biog: Nicola is happily married with two lovely children. The reason that she’s happily married is that she undertook all of the things above before she met her husband!

South Sudan is the world’s newest country, but at just one year old, it has already been through a lot. In fact, the crisis in the area is still significant and many people think it is the worse it has been in many years.

There are lots of issues affecting the country, from the fact that half of the population are struggling to get enough to eat to lots of people fleeing the border with Sudan because there is still fighting going on. Added to this is the fact that prices for things like fuel and food have sky-rocketed, making it much harder for ordinary people to buy things needed for everyday living.

Many people in South Sudan are dependent on food aid for survival, which means the work of international charities is hugely important in the region. Compared with just one year ago, the number of people who require food aid has doubled. The country is also dealing with significant numbers of refugees coming over from Sudan to the North, escaping conflict. Many people who have fled the North are currently living in camps.

All of these problems are making it harder for South Sudan to set up the infrastructure it needs and develop the country for the future. International charities are carrying out a wide range of work in the country to help alleviate the crisis and make sure the population has got enough to eat. For example, charities are providing food aid to thousands of people and taking action to ensure they have safe drinking water.

International charities are also providing vital supplies, such as tents for refugees coming over the border from Sudan. They are also trying to support people to help them deal with the high price of food and offering services such as training to help people get jobs.

Also, it is now the rainy season in South Sudan and recently flooding has forced refugees to move again. This is clearly an on-going crisis and there is still considerable work to be done to help the country fulfil its potential and increase its development; any donations you can make to international charities working in the country are sure to be extremely welcome and put to very good use.

Guest post from Liz Madeley on behalf of World Vision UK http://www.worldvision.org.uk.

This photo was used under the Creative Commons license curtsey of Flickr.com

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If you’ve ever worked in an office environment and looked around at your colleagues and wondered what they’d be like away from the confines of a rather beige environment then you’re not alone.

I often find myself wiling away a wistful couple of hours considering how my work mates would fair in the outside world bereft of suits, computers and spread-sheets.

Of course, the ritual of ‘end of the week’ drinks at the pub presents a minor insight into a colleague’s life outside of the office although, it’s usual that people tend to stay within their roles i.e. the MD buys the drinks and everyone else laughs at his/her jokes.

Perhaps the only chance that might present itself, that takes you out of the office and some of your colleagues out of their comfort zones, is the prospect of the infamous team building day.

Now, for the uninitiated, a team building day is a ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ event which aims to get co-workers out of their usual environment so they can bond as a team and forge new skills, such as: leadership, communication and empathy.

Of course, this still usually involves the MD buying the drinks and everyone laughing at his/her jokes however, there are a lot more activities which often provide some quite hilarious results.

So, if you ever catch yourself wondering what Larry from Accounts would look like dressed in combat fatigues or what Susan from Marketing would do if she was stuck in the middle of some deep, dark forest then check out the team building ideas below as you never know when that email from HR is going to land in your inbox – good luck!

Paint balling

This is an absolute classic in the world of team building and a must for anyone who’s ever wanted to shoot their boss in the face with a semi-automatic weapon. Most of the bonding occurs within the team environment so make sure you get to be on the same side as the movers and shakers. That said, a lot of banter often ensues during combat and many an intern has turned heads after they’ve leapt out of undergrowth and captured the opposition’s flag pretty much single-handedly.

Sailing

Hoisting, scrubbing and tacking are all essential for a day spent messing about on the water but if you’re really going to bond as a team then make sure you listen to the skipper and do as you’re told as Caribbean bareboat charters these ain’t. Nine times out of ten if you mention team building and yacht in the same sentence then you’re going to find yourself trapped in very close quarters with dodgy Dave from IT somewhere off the coast of Portsmouth. Maybe better to stick with proper sailing vacations with the family instead.

Raft building

Similar to sailing but you have the chance to escape overboard if things get a bit too ‘bondy’. Raft building basically involves creating something that floats and then making it float in freezing cold water. I think the bonding occurs through lifting empty barrels, tying knots and keeping a tiny hip flask of whisky just in case anyone’s suffering from hyperthermia. I did this once dressed as an old lady – it was the best work-related event, ever!

Assault course

This one usually sorts out the weekend territorials from the Sunday league footballers and if you get the chance to shout ‘just get your leg over Carol’ then mark it up as a point scored. This event is usually army-related which means there may be a lot of adrenaline-fuelled shouting and don’t be surprised if you find yourself at the top of a cargo net wondering what on earth you’re doing. Aching muscles, bruised limbs and battered egos – that’s team work!

Drinking and karaoke

If all else fails and you have a particularly unimaginative HR department then an organised evening of drinking and karaoke will get you closer to your colleagues than you ever thought possible. From the girls in the typing pool singing a rendition of ‘I Will Survive’ to Martin from laminated flooring getting amorous with the karaoke organiser, there’s a lot to be said for an alcohol-fuelled evening to loosen tongues and let your team know exactly how bonded you wished they were.

Biog: Chris often finds himself wistfully thinking that HR is going to email him with news of a team building event involving sailing vacations in the Caribbean

For the princely sum of $16.49 you can save your poor hands the hassle and have this pioneering new gadget do all the hard work for you – it even comes with a rewind sound which you can replace with whatever you like. Convenient.

USB Eye Massager
You’re sat at your desk or finishing that spreadsheet at home and you’re stressed up to the eyeballs. What better way to relax and unwind than remove your work glasses and trust your precious peepers to a plastic hand plugged into your USB slot?

The eye massager comes in a range of colours and runs straight from your computer so there’s no need for tension while you wait for the batteries to die. Who knew that Universal Serial Bus ports could be so…well… universal?

And there’s even better news! Any conscientious consumer will know that a few years down the line these will be vintage and selling for thousands. Fortunately, you can only buy the massagers in packs of 100, so you can be sure of a good stock supply for eBay.

Portable Watermelon Cooler
Here’s one that no modern commuter can be without. The portable watermelon cooler harnesses the naturally portable nature of the watermelon and enhances this with a 14 litre 6.3kg watermelon suitcase.

$230 might seem a bit steep for this new technology, until you hear that not only can the device keep your watermelon cool but it can also warm it up! I love to keep my watermelon on its toes where temperature is concerned, so this is just what the doctor ordered.

Keen not to define their market too early, the producers state their device could be used for any number of roughly watermelon-sized foods.

Steering Wheel Laptop Desk
You see countless warnings on the TV that driving whilst talking on the phone or drinking a cup of coffee is a serious health risk. Thankfully, they don’t say much about finishing a Word document so this one must be safe – right?

The desk clips onto your steering wheel allowing you to get some work done while you’re sat in a traffic jam – it’s fortunate that having a laptop attached to your wheel won’t affect your steering capabilities.

No word on how much this one costs, but I hope you weren’t considering buying it anyway.

Toast Printer
There’s not much that’ll put you off your day more than staring at a bland piece of toast for breakfast in the morning.

Too long have we been covering up our bread imperfections with jam or butter, but you can rejoice that those times are at an end. The Zuse Toast Printer allows you to print 12×12 pixel designs onto your toast to put you in the right frame of mind for the day – and not a moment too soon either.

Heart wrenchingly, the printer is still in the design process and hasn’t quite hit the shelves yet, but demand for such a device is palpable and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some key investors throwing money at the idea to get it out there.

Rob enjoys writing about technology for Direct Sight – a leading destination to buy glasses online.

This photo was used under the Creative Commons license curtsey of Flickr.comhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mvjantzen/5025935803/

If fifty is the new forty then the big five OH is when life now begins! Of course, these days, keeping our jobs and ensuring we have a roof over our heads is pretty much what life’s about however, if you’re contemplating half a century on the planet then it’s also time to consider your own personal wish list.

Below are five ideas to get you started and no matter what age you are, there’s no harm in planning ahead to ensure you reach your goal with pride and dreams intact.

Travel

As we all know, there’s a big world out there and once you get bitten by the travel bug then it’s very difficult to shake it off. The trouble is that if you leave it too late to start you may wish that you’d started earlier. I find that listing all of the countries that I’d like to visit and all of the things that I’d like to see not only whets my appetite for future adventures but it also helps me to focus on practical elements such as time off, costs and who to take with me.

Charity project

Again, similar to travel, once you start raising money for charity you begin to realise what an easy and rewarding project it can be. It’s also a great if you want to check out some adventure travel options too, because from climbing mountains in the Himalayas to walking the South Downs Way, raising money and challenging yourself often go hand in hand. Consider a project that’s close to your heart then set yourself a challenge, set up a Just Giving page and go for it!

Write that novel

They say that everyone’s got one in them but is this really true? There’s only one way to find out and that’s to put pen to paper. If you’re approaching fifty then you’re bound to have had some experiences and tales to tell that will no doubt be of interest to other people. You don’t even have to call it your memoirs as you can create a fictional character and then send him or her on their own adventures which are based on your life.

Keep fit

As we get older we tend to opt for a more relaxed and less energetic approach to life i.e. running, sports and keeping fit tend to take a bit of a back seat. It’s usually only when we’re told that we need to lose weight or cut down on fatty foods that we feel compelled to do something about our health. Instead of being reactive it’s often better to be proactive and start to keep fit before something goes wrong. Options such as Tai-chi, long country walks and cycling are all great ways to keep healthy long into later life and there’s no better time to start than right now.

Bond with a youngster

If you have your own kids and you’ve sort of lost touch with them then now’s the time to reengage and find out what they’re up to. Keeping abreast of what young people are into helps you to keep fresh and up-to-date without having to resort to second-guessing and categorising all young people as evil, hood wearing rioters. Volunteer work at home or abroad is another way to meet young people and become a mentor or teacher in their lives. This can be one of the most rewarding experiences of all and when you look back and see how you’ve helped change a young person’s life then you can sit back and enjoy a job well done.

Biog:  Chris currently has another ten years until he’s fifty and adventure travel plans and keeping happy and healthy are always high on his agenda.