These days visiting Apple Store is no less than entering a Pleasantville as the happening place brings smile on the face of its visitors (magic of smiling employees) and flow of things here is also just perfect. This is the argument that NYT buys and supports it with facts and figures. The aura of Apple retail store complements well with its fascinating architecture, and the ambience attracts you towards this eventful place that is at bay from any ordinary retail store. Those who doubt the above said things may stay tightlipped and read further to enlighten their knowledge as figures don’t lie!

Also, 20% of Apple’s revenue is generated from the stand alone edifice that calculates almost 42% increase over figures from the 4Q of 2006. The store also claims to develop sales at a rate of about $4000 per square foot a year. Appended above is only handful of reasons for making stock up by 135%. Now my query is as a visitor, do you feel on the same lines or share a different opinion? Do quote!

Via NYT

Picture this: You reach your apartment late at 3 am in the morning when you can’t afford to disturb the sleep of our members but have to with no other alternative available. What if I say times have changed and now the locked door can sense your presence and get itself open for you. This is the level of technological advancement to which a man called Jim Crawford has moved. His apartment building doesn’t ask for keys to enter into the locked door. His presence suffices. He needs to get nearby to the building and the moment he comes closer a voice comes from the intercom saying: “Hey Jim, go right ahead,” followed by a buzz in the door when he enters in.
Unlike others who face identity crisis this is a best move to earn one. It is possible with the operators at Cyberdoorman, a virtual-doorman service located in the South Bronx. For watching the building from a distant setting, virtual doormen can receive correspondence for inhabitants by giving delivery people entrée to a protected package closet in the lobby, and this can enable keeping unwanted visitors at bay.
The concept of virtual-doorman is age-old. It entered New York almost seven years back but surely it has gone under a great level of advancement. Devices like cameras and Internet are used to sends the images to a monitoring center, enabling a virtual doorman to take a look at the visitor and have conversation with the doorman. It can be installed in buildings equipped with not more than 40 apartments. The cost factor depends upon then level of superiority and the number of cameras involved in the process. It is anticipated that the cost may vary from $10,000 to $70,000 for installation and $6,000 to $30,000 for annual maintenance.
Via NYT

Paul Brant (70) has now been saving $$$$$ for years but with a difference. Unlike other investors, this man has saved coins worth $25,000 in coffee cans, water jugs and piggy banks and has purchased a new Dodge Ram half-ton pickup truck. This purchase by him happened after an interval of 13 years when he bought a truck with spare change. The old truck doesn’t offer four-wheel drive and this is what enforced him to buy a new one. During all these years, Brant has grown to be parsimonious. His father use to drop him cash and this witty person use to save up the spare change. He anticipates it to be $26,000 in coins. History says in 1994, he purchased a Dodge pickup and a Dodge Neon by dropping $36,000 in quarters.

Via IHT

There’s homeless as verified by a cluster of Italian tramps camping out in the garret above a seven-star Milan-based Hotel. The 10 drifters took shelter on the top of the swanky Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, few floors over the Galleria Townhouse hotel. The hotel charges $5,000 a night.

The clandestine camouflage packed with a washing machine, refrigerator and kitchen sink was identified by the cops during a custom tune check of the building, which is an abode to stores like Prada and Gucci. Police exposed two dormitories crammed with attires, sleeping bags and bare beer bottles. These 10 unlawful tenants use to access the fresh-room of the nearby fast-food restaurant. The structure was gated but the unidentified visitors actually made a copy of a key, advancing attic entrée in a service crane.

Via EarthTimes

If I say that the ongoing trend is spend outrageously then don’t mistake to label me crazy. Because I mean it! Now you can update your knowledge about your own DNA code by dropping $350,000. A Cambridge-based firm called Knome is offering whole-genome sequencing to individuals. I agree, the concept is not new and familiar names like Google’s 23andMe, Iceland’s Decode Genetics and Navigenics of Redwood Shores have been associated with it and offering it at a much affordable cost of $985 to $2,500.

But, mind you those affordable package count only the million genes variations while Knome asserts to scan around 3 billion letter pairs in an individual’s genome within no time. With the help of DNA findings, you can identify your family tree and also the diseases you are pone to. It is a clear invitation for filthy-rich class who have money to burn and heart to experiment. Knome claims to entertain only 20 individuals willing to drop out $350,000. Well if you have this spare amount then i would suggest you to give one to your self-obsessed friend.

Via BornRich / Forbes

If your cruiser is in arid wharf and you wish to ride away then try the 108-day cruise offered by Crystal Cruises. Starting from LA on 19 January, 2008; the Serenity will stopover around 45 ports in 22 countries based in South Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Europe and then ending in London. The cruise includes an intricate spa for coddling, delicate and relaxed dining arrangement, bars, lounges, library, theater and a casino.

Those who wanted to update their awareness; Computer University@Sea proffers 200 learning classes during the course of travel. The range is diverse and would talk about managing money with Jane Bryant Quinn, memory development, astronomy sermon, yoga performances and last but most important how to “know more about everything” by Bill Bryson, author of ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’.

The cost of the complete world cruise varies from $49,800 to $261,210 per person/ duo while the segment price is set at $4,890 for a couple. The video depicts a glimpse of the Mediterranean glide with Crystal Cruises.

Via CrystalCruises/ Luxist

A New Zealand-built boat that runs completely on biodiesel is geared up to take the challenge and crack the world speed record for circumventing the globe in a motorboat 2008. Scheduled for 1 March, this 24-metre Earthrace skippered by New Zealander Pete Bethune will start from Valencia, Spain and navigate the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Panama and Suez canals. Bethune is in high spirits destined to break the present world record of 74 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes, rolled out by the Cable and Wireless Adventurer boat in 1998. He also has a strong feeling his success would endorse biodiesel as a feasible substitute to petroleum diesel.

Besides green fuel source, the Earthrace also features eco-friendly uniqueness viz. non-toxic paint. Designed in Auckland, It’s assembling and final creation took 14 months with an investment of $A3.5 million, that Bethune collected by selling his house and other precious belongings.

Making an emblematic gesticulation towards the scheme, enduring liposuction with two other volunteers formed 10 litres of human fat — adequate to command the boat for 15 kilometres. One unique feature of this yacht is its potential to “submarine” throughout waves, dipping deep down to a level of seven metres submarine, facilitating it to preserve a higher standard speed in the course of big seas.

Via Brisbanetimes

If you contemplate a solar-powered ferryboat to be outdated, then what I am going to share next justifies itself. Apparently, this 433 ft long “Beluga SkySails” is set to make its maiden expedition next month. It won’t be dependent upon gulping profuse amount of diesel while crossing Atlantic on its navigation to Venezuela, up to Boston and back to Europe. It will be swallowing down fuel and would be supported by a computer directed kite linked to its bow.

This $725,000 device will be tied to a 15-meter high pole and will wing some 300 meters higher than the boat so as to drive enough wind to essentially aid in ship-movement. It is being claimed that the SkySails kite impulsion arrangement will cut fuel utilization by “up to 20%” thereby enabling operator save $1,600 per day hack off carbon emissions. I wish all the success for its upcoming trip.

Via Reuters

Positioned in Miyazaki, “Ocean Dome” has bagged the title of being the title of being the biggest indoor swimming pool ever made. Measuring 300 meters long and 100 meters wide, the pool is located around 500 meters above the sea.

Some more insights:

The heat inside the marquee remains 30 degrees and the crown tinted with sky-blue and ever have artistic “clouds”. The pool has a built-in mocked volcano and artificial wave’s cohort arrangement. But regrettably this elite pool making up to Guinness record is being shut down this year.

Possibility is it must not be generating adequate wealth. It also claims to be the first ever swimming pool in Japan, constructed around 100 years ago.

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A ‘Secret Santa’ is roving around dropping $$$$$$$ to blessed and fortunate souls. Under the guise of a Secret Santa is a businessman based in Kansas City, who desires to hide his identity. When peeped into his roadmap, Santa years to travel across the country by entering into countless thrift stores, Laundromats and bus stations, and wish to meet hundreds of aliens and convey his wishes to them in monetary form. It is being anticipated that by Christmas, he would have shelled out $75,000.

Via CBSNews