Chris Guillebeau's Blog, page 57
March 21, 2015
6 Discoveries from Near and Far: Volume XXXVIII
I. Around the World
Things I found on long walks in foreign cities, or perhaps when someone posted them on Twitter.
A Master Comedian’s Advice for Becoming Famous — Steve Martin’s unconventional perspective Birds That Bring Gifts — Maybe the most generous friends are in your backyard How to Become a Brunch Buffet Ninja — Learn how to win the gold in the buffet game The Himalayas from 24,000 Feet — Live from Kathmandu, here’s the first ultra HD footage of the Himalayas shot from above 20,000...
March 19, 2015
Oregon Woman Learns to Speak Six Languages Fluently
This is a quest case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . )
The six official languages of the United Nations are considered the most geopolitically important languages in the world—not to mention that native speakers of those tongues represent about a third of the global population. Emily Liedel decided to learn them all to fluency.
Introduce yourself and your quest.
Professionally, I’m a freelance journalist, translator and language entrepreneur. I write about international affairs, urban...
March 18, 2015
WDS 2015 Tickets On Sale Today at 9am
Link: Tickets on Sale at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT
Hey everyone,
Today’s the day!
For five years now, our volunteer team has produced a global adventure that takes place every year in Portland. This year will be our best event yet—and we’d love you to join us for a very special anniversary event this summer.
Here’s what you need to know:
*This is the FINAL ROUND of ticket sales for WDS 2015. We offer all tickets on a first-come, first-served basis, and we don’t hold back any tickets for sale at t...
March 17, 2015
Traveling the Eco-Friendly Way: On the Road with Ivana and Gianni
This is a traveler case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . )
Ivana Greslikova and Gianni Bianchini are two full-time travelers with a passion for eco-tourism. Here’s how they incorporate supporting conservation efforts in their travels:
Tell us about yourselves.
We are Ivana (from Slovakia) and Gianni (from Italy). While living in Germany, we decided to quit smoking. Our goal was to save money for a big trip, but we realized we’d be able to save enough for a Round-the-World experience....
March 16, 2015
How to Join “The Amazing Race” for Regular People
Have you ever wanted to be on The Amazing Race?
I’ve never actually seen the show—I preferred to focus on my own race for ten years—but one time J.D. Roth and I got up early to stand in line for auditions. After waiting for two hours, we were told that the line had closed and there would be no more auditions. Reality star #fail.
Fortunately, I know a guy who helps regular people with their own amazing race, every summer in Europe. Steve in Washington, D.C. is a full-time travel hacker. Com...
The Magic Button of Good Design
At least once a week I receive questions about the design process behind the self-published work I’ve made, in particular the three manifestos I offered a few years ago.
“What software do you use?” people want to know. In other words, how do I “make them look good”?
I’m no designer, but as a writer I appreciate the value of imagery and structure that works in harmony with words. I also know that there’s no big secret to it, nor is there a shortcut.
On those manifestos I worked with a fant...
March 14, 2015
Prepare for Tomorrow by Doing One Thing Differently Today
Here’s a trick that will help every time you do it.
Work hard during the day, and cross off as many things from your list as you can. But as you’re winding down, save something. Leave one thing undone.
Don’t actually do that one more task—but do identify it. Write it down and leave it in a place you’ll see it when you settle back in for more effort.
Stop before you’re completely ready to stop.
Build a bridge to the future, and leave your current day’s work knowing what you’re going to do n...
6 Discoveries from Near and Far: Volume XXXVII
I. Around the World
Things I found on long walks in foreign cities, or perhaps when someone posted them on Twitter.
Crashing the Ivy League — What one man learned by crashing elite colleges for 4 years Oddly Priced Routes when Using Miles — Some interesting redemption opportunities for all those miles & points you’ve been earning Amazing Tea-Pouring Video — Finding talent in unusual places A Glimpse Into the Lives of Golbi Desert Nomads — A photo tour of eight Mongolian families living stro...March 13, 2015
Earn Miles by Paying Your Taxes with a Credit Card
Link: Discover Card 3% Bonus
Speaking of paying taxes, for years people have asked me about earning Frequent Flyer miles or points by paying your taxes with a credit card. Wouldn’t it be great if you could receive a travel bonus for all that money you have to pay?
Generally speaking, this isn’t usually a great idea, because the companies that process tax payments are smart. They charge a fee, typically 1.87%, in exchange for passing along your money. At 1.87%, you’re paying $467 for every $...
Giveaway: The World Kitchen Box
Friday is giveaway day. Comment to win!
This week’s giveaway is a super cool World Kitchen Box from GlobeIn. GlobeIn is an online marketplace that curates fair-trade, handcrafted goods from artisans around the world into a monthly themed “globe in a box.”
Each selected item supports a farmer or small business and comes with a story about the craftsperson and how the product was created. Every month a new collection of gems is chosen and customers can purchase a box outright or subscribe to...
