Have Tech, Will Travel…
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As I write this I am concurrently putting together my weekend trip bag for a jaunt to Cape Cod. My packing list contains the usual tech items: iPhone and charger, iPad, and my Canon digital SLR. I consider this is a pretty small list of items.
When traveling with the whole family, however, the list expands very quickly with portable gaming devices, iPods, headphones, DVDs for the in-car entertainment system, portable DVD players, and chargers of every kind possible…and that’s just for the kids. For the parents a Kindle or Nook is in tote and most likely a laptop (let’s be honest, we can’t leave work at work, can we?).
If you’re reluctant to add any more devices to this dizzying array, consider some of the following items that are not only fun and useful during your getaway, but hardly take up any space in your luggage.
X-mini Capsule Portable Speaker
A day at the beach is fun to begin with, but playing tunes through your iPhone or Droid built-in speakers leaves a bit to be desired. Or, if you’re entertaining friends and family while away from home and want to play some tunes during your party, consider the X-mini Capsule Speaker. Available in a bunch of colors, this yo-yo-sized pop up speaker delivers fantastic sound with good bass from its compact size. Fully charged it will last 11 hours, which is plenty of time for the beach, picnic, or whatever.  Better yet you can daisy-chain the devices together if you own more than one and create even more room (or beach) filling sound. Just make sure the public beach you’re visiting permits radios.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com , $25
Aqua Box WaterProof Smartphone Device Case
For any kind of water-related activity, a waterproof case for your smartphone is a must. What’s great about the Aqua Box is that your phone is still functional from within the hard-shelled shockproof case! A floatable lanyard keeps the phone handy when keeping it at your side in the pool. With smartphones replacing the point-and-shoot camera for everyday photo-taking, utilizing a waterproof case ensures you’ll get the best photos while kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, the list goes on and on.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com , $30
XTG Solar Portable Battery Pack
Taking the family camping? If you’ve got a sunny day you can keep your cell phone charged while you’re away from electricity. Using a standard USB cable, keep your devices charged while on the go with the XTG Solar Portable Battery Pack. The device is geared for the outdoorsman (it has a built-in flashlight), but certainly would be useful for keeping your devices charged at the beach (say if you were to play music through the portable speakers above). The XTG would make for a suitable addition to a home emergency kit so you can keep your phone charged if the power goes out for an extended period of time.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com , $30
Have any favorite summer tech or travel gadgets of your own? Please share in the comments below.
A lover of all kinds of technology, Jason Bajor is a freelance website designer and owns JB Web & Photo, based in White Plains. He can be reached at jason@jbwp.com.
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Greenacres Man Completes Largest Jigsaw Puzzle in the World
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Ian Koenig set a record in the basement of his Brewster Road home where he completed the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle. Made by Ravensburger Puzzles in Germany, the 32,000-piece puzzle features 32 panels of Keith Haring’s artwork in vibrant reds, pinks, blues, oranges, yellows and greens. The puzzle's limited color palette makes it even more challenging to put together. Pictured below, the puzzle comes in a 3 foot by 2 foot box that weighs 42 pounds.
We asked him how he came to complete the puzzle and here is what we learned:
How did you become interested in pursuing this feat?
I’ve always been a fan of jigsaw puzzles. I find them relaxing. So last Christmas I received this one as a Christmas present from my wife and sons. I have to admit that I never would have bought it myself since I did not actually believe I could do it (My initial estimate was that it would take me 18 years). But since it was Christmas break and I was on vacation and we were not going anywhere, I decided to give it a try. I finished the first section (of 4,000+ pieces) about 3/12 weeks later on January 17th. Completing the first section gave me hope and I forged through the rest in just under 5 months.
How did you sort the pieces?
I sorted each major solid color into its own pile: blue, yellow, red, green, pink, orange, and white. I arrayed these around the table in a semicircle. By the way, I had trouble distinguishing orange and red at times and mixed those up a bit. Behind each solid color, I made a pile that was that color plus black. Behind the color=black pile, I made a pile of color+black+white.
In between the piles I made piles which had two base-colors plus black. In this puzzle, I had: yellow+blue+black, red+yellow+black, green+pink+black, etc. You get the picture. No matter how hard I tried I never really get better than about 99.9% right.
I also developed a system and sorted the pieces by shapes. After awhile, I learned how the puzzle was cut so I had a feel for the kind of piece I was looking for.
Is the puzzle custom made or mass-produced?
It's mass produced (the largest mass produced jigsaw puzzle in the world) by Ravensburger. Here it is on Amazon.com:
What is the cost of the puzzle?
It cost $257 and comes in a very large box, but I was able to pick up the box.
Are you the first person to complete it?
As far as I know, I am sixth in the world. At least I am the sixth entry in the Hall of Fame:
Where did you have space to put it together?
I completed the puzzle in my basement where it is now mounted on a wall. I wrote a detailed blog about my experience, including how I eventually mounted it. The blog is here.
What do you do professionally?
I am the Chief Software Architect at LexisNexis
Do you think your professional skills came into play in completing the puzzle?
When you work in software you look for patterns in things which is similar to what you do when working on a puzzle.
Did anyone help you with the task?
My sons Robert and Jonathan both age 12 helped with about 100 pieces. The other 32,000 I did myself. (Dakota, the dog didn’t actually help and might actually of eaten one of the pieces.)
What did you miss while you were in the basement?
Life takes priority. I never missed dinner or a night of sleep – though I did put in some 18-hour days working on it.
What’s the largest puzzle you completed before this one?
A 5,000 piece puzzle of the wonders of the ancient world.
What was your family’s reaction?
They were happy that they found a Christmas present that I really enjoyed!
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Victor Cruz Visits the Dale
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Sports legend Victor Cruz came to Scarsdale on Saturday June 2 to greet fans and sign memorabilia at Last Licks on Palmer Avenue. Fans signed up beforehand for the privilege of meeting Cruz and getting his signature. Though he wasn’t due to arrive until noon, the line formed early, beginning at 11 am outside the shop at the Five Corners. Cruz, who is a wide receiver for the 2012 Super Bowl winning New York Giants is well-known for the salsa dance her performs after every touchdown. Watch him do his famous dance here ... and see photos below of Cruz’s visit to Scarsdale.
(Photo at left: Ryan Smith with Cruz)
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Bagels and Babies at WRT
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Westchester Reform Temple Early Childhood Center (WRT ECC) is once again holding their popular Bagels & Babies program this summer. This free, informal playgroup is designed for moms, dads, caregivers and grandparents to have a cool place for their babies to play during the hot summer months.The drop-in program will take place 9:15– 10:15 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning on June 25 and concluding on August 1. There is no program on July 4.
“This special program is just one more way for us to help serve the families in our community,”   says ECC Director, Susan Tolchin. “We are excited to have a safe, cool place for babies, parents, grandparents and caregivers to meet-up and play!” The program is sponsored by the Early Childhood Center and the PJ Library® at WRT.
Bagels & Babies is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. All sessions take place at Westchester Reform Temple Early Childhood Center at 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY. For more information, call the Early Childhood Center office at 914-723-7727 or visit www.wrtemple.org.
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Chelsea Piers CT Opens July 5th in Stamford
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Imagine a facility that has 2 full-size indoor ice rinks; an aquatics center with an Olympic-size pool, water park, water polo team, and warm water lesson pool; a 100-yard turf field for soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, and football with an indoor track around the perimeter; classes for children with special needs and everything handicap accessible, gorgeous locker rooms, a daycare center, great food, and in the near future, a medical facility. Now imagine you could drive to it in about 30 minutes (traffic permitting), find easy (free!) parking, have a variety of membership options (including a day rate), all with brand-spanking-new equipment and top-level instruction. Well, this place does exist and is located in nearby Stamford, CT, right off of I-95 at exit 9. I was lucky enough to take a hardhat tour of Chelsea Piers CT two weeks ago and the place is amazing. The facility is owned by the same group as the NYC location and offers equal top-notch instructors/coaches, clean design and friendly, helpful people. Here is a brief overview of just some of the activities offered. The fun starts July 5, 2012.
Aquatics Center
I wanted to jump in the almost-finished Olympic-sized pool; it is just so beautiful and big. Youth and adult programming will include recreational swimming, competitive swim teams for youth and adults, swim classes for all ages, and a wide array of summer camp programs. Chelsea Piers will also be home to a comprehensive water polo program (think Olympics and college scholarship), with instructional classes for kids and competitive leagues for adults. There is also a warm water instructional/exercise pool. The indoor water park (The Splash Zone) features a water play pool, three giant slides, a zero-depth entry area and mini water slides -- all guaranteed to keep kids happy and active for hours.
Tennis
The 65,000-square-feet Tennis Club at Chelsea Piers CT features 7 indoor courts. Extensive program offerings include 10 
and Under tennis, summer camps for kids, adult clinics, private lessons, adult league play and organized, social tennis events. The Director of Tennis is Gigi Fernandez, who has been a dominant fixture in the tennis world. During her 14-year WTA Tour career, Fernandez won 17 Grand Slam doubles crowns, as well as 2 Olympic Gold Medals.
Squash
The Squash Club at Chelsea Piers CT offers 12 professional-quality courts (11 singles and 1 hardball doubles). Anderson Courts and Sports Surfaces installed a unique hardball doubles court that includes a colored all-glass left sidewall to create amazing spectator viewing of the fast-paced action (and squash is FAST). The Squash Club will offer a wide range of programming including private lessons, clinics, after-school programs, camps, youth and adult leagues, competitive tournaments and special exhibition events. The Club will be headed by Natalie Grainger, who turned pro in 1996 at age 18. Throughout her 15-year professional career, Grainger has won dozens of tournaments, rising in 2003 to be the #1 squash player in the world. The Squash Club also boasts ample viewing areas for spectators, a comfortable bar and social lounge equipped with flat screen TVs, well-appointed changing rooms and a fully stocked pro shop operated by industry leader Harrow. There is also a 7,000 square-foot fully equipped private gym for Squash Club members, as well as access to babysitting services.
The Adventure Center
The Adventure Center includes the Jump Zone, a multi-trampoline space for open jumping, dodge ball, trampoline basketball and fitness training; a 24-foot-high rock wall (the Rock Zone), 5 automated batting cages, a mini turf field and a Little Athletes Gym for children 6 months to 5 years.
Gymnastics
The Gymnastics Center at Chelsea Piers CT is one of the largest gymnastics training centers in the United States with more than 15,000 square feet of gymnastic equipment. The facility features 2 competition spring floors, deep foam training pits, an in-ground TumblTrak, a rod floor, in-ground trampolines and multiple sets of men's and women's Olympic equipment. The gymnastics center also features a large preschool area equipped with the training equipment for young athletes. The Gymnastics Center will be led by Byron Knox, who will serve as both Director of Gymnastics and Head Girls Coach. Knox is head coach of the University of Bridgeport’s women's gymnastics program.
The Rinks at Chelsea Piers
The Rinks at Chelsea Piers CT will operate 7 days a week, welcoming skaters of all ages and ability levels for ice hockey, league play, figure skating, general skating, and birthday parties. The facility will have an extensive ice hockey program, including youth and adult ice hockey leagues, lunch time hockey for adults, summer and holiday camps, Mite Development and Mite Cross-Ice leagues for kids, and a full roster of youth and adult weekend and holiday tournaments. Players looking to take their game to the next level can take advantage of off-ice training at BlueStreak Sports Training. The Skating School at Chelsea Piers CT will offer private instruction and group classes taught by a professional coaching staff. General skating hours will be available for individuals and organized groups interested in spending a fun day on the ice. Rental skates and helmets for children are available. The general skating schedule will be posted in July. This is a great option when it is 100 degress in the shade in August.
Summer Camp
Camp programs are offered all summer, beginning July 9 and ending August 31, 2012. Available weeks vary by camp. Families may sign up for one, two or more weeks of camp for maximum flexibility. Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camps are divided into four categories: Preschool Camps for the youngest athletes, Intensive Camps that provide a skills-focused experience for upper elementary and middle school athletes in one individual sport, Multi-Sport and Dual-Sport camps for children who enjoy a diversity of sports activities or are two-sport athletes, and High School Elite Camps that provide sport-specific training for high school-aged athletes.
Ok, now you know what they have and you’re thinking: Is this all affordable? The answer is there are different membership options available and heavily discounted Founders rates are available until June 30. For example, a club membership, which give you access to a large part of the club, is $120 for a family with a $195 joiners fee. Compare that with Equinox’s website, which lists the regular membership initiation fee of $395 with dues of $141 a month (and you can’t bring your kids to swim). And remember, there is an option to pay a day fee and use the facility and not join. For more information, check out www.chelseapiersct.com , where there is a ton of information on programs and membership options. Chelsea Piers CT, One Blachley Road, Stamford, CT 06902.
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