fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Walking among the dead
By: Cecile Riphagen
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Spirituality, Wonderfulwanderings

Cemeteries are places of peace and contemplation generating an atmosphere that forces you to think or just let go. I have often asked myself why I’m drawn to these, for me, nostalgic places: they remind me that I’m bound by time. By allowing me a glimpse of things lost to the past, I feel the present more strongly.

Already as a child I liked cemeteries and I’ve wandered around many sprawling but also small graveyards in France and England during the summer holidays. Sweet messages of “Till we meet again”, a faithful dog buried at the feet of his owner, and small chapels drew me in. As an adult, my travels brought me further: cycling through the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano (yes, cycling was allowed), passing by the chilling wall of coffins for the poor in Havana, or the City of the Dead of Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.

One of my all time favourites is still the West Cemetery of Highgate, one of the Magnificent Seven in London. Highgate has two parts, the East and West Cemetery. For its protection, the older West Cemetery, which holds an impressive collection of Victorian mausoleums, gravestones and elaborately carved tombs, allows admission only in tour groups. The eastern section, which contains a mix of Victorian and modern statuary, can be toured unescorted. There are many illustrious people buried at Highgate and the Internet gives enough information on the history and interments at the cemetery. Karl Marx might be the most famous one but there are several others such as one of my favourite writers, Douglas Adams.

The grounds of Highgate have a feeling of neglect and decay but are also full of wild flowers, bushes, undergrowth and trees. The Egyptian Avenue with its gloomy appearance and the Circle of Lebanon are particularly magnificent but the whole atmosphere of overgrown paths, toppled monuments and wild greenery clinging to statues of angels and alike, is what makes this such a special place to visit.

Tales of ghostly figures inhabiting Highgate are often whispered, and on one of the many tours I’ve taken over the years, I too wondered if the cemetery was haunted. I asked the guide: “Not haunted, my dear. It is a place of the dead, not the living and we are on their turf.”

I remember I smiled but didn’t reply. I wasn’t sure I agreed with him and I still see it differently. When you walk among the graves, you pass thousands of stories, many unfinished and some completed. Graveyards are for the living as the dead tell no secrets. So, you wonder. You feel mortal. You feel alive.
And There Was Ice
By: Pablo Tovar
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Northern Europe, Backpacking, Iceland

Tall columns of steam cut through the cold morning air and the strong scent of sulfuric acid enclosed the 4x4 truck. Angelo, the Italian friend with whom I traveled the Ice country, drove with his sight focused on the road while dozens of geothermic plants filled the chartreuse landscape. A few cars moved through Route 1, the famous Ring Road that runs around the whole country and would lead us to our final destination: Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon located three hundred and eighty kilometers away in the Southeast corner of the island.

Our first stop was at Seljalandsfoss, an elevated waterfall that can be encircled walking through a cave behind its water curtain. Not far from there is Gljúfrabúi, a lesser-known waterfall hidden within a narrow river path. We waded from rock to rock through ice-cold water until we reached the waterfall. Gljúfrabúi, flanked by dark stone walls covered in mold, broke against the floor with violence. We climbed a large boulder in front of the fall and got soaked with a fresh breeze that filled the atmosphere.

Seljalandsfoss (2018). Source: Pablo Tovar M.

A few kilometers ahead on the road we arrived at Skogafoss, a wide waterfall where the Skógá river meets its end with violence and volume. Climbing the five hundred and twenty-seven steps to its top we saw the sea afar and the green hills to the right filled with white dots that turned into grazing sheep.

On our way to Reynisfjara’s black sand beach, we picked up a Romanian woman and a Spanish backpacker heading to Vik, a town not far away from our destination. It is common to find hitchhikers pointing the tips of their thumbs up on the sides of the Icelandic highways. Besides being one of the safest countries in the world to share a ride with a total stranger, there is only one road: Route 1. Either you go one way or the other, there is no other option.

One of Iceland’s marvels is the black sand that covers its beaches. More than an island, the whole country is a giant volcano stranded in the Atlantic Ocean. The black sand is nothing but the remains of the lava that once flooded the surface and met its end at the sea.
BitBook partnership with Priceline and the next steps
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Passive Income, Travel Tips, Traveling

BitBook is proud to announce our strategic partnership with the Priceline Partner Network, part of Booking Holdings Inc., a world leader in travel.

The MVP booking engine inventory (Hotels, Flights,Cars) will be powered by Priceline partner network and provide us with the following:

- 400,000+ Hotels worldwide

- 322+ Airlines with global coverage

- Hertz and Sixt car rental available on 18,500 locations across the world

Our partnership goes further

Besides enabling us to have a massive amount of booking options available from day 1. We are also extremely proud to announce that all customer care will be done by the Priceline group. Customer care will be therefore directly available 24/7/365.

Our service level will be outstanding, as we will have an average response time to pick up the phone within 30 seconds.

What is next?Our booking engine will be going live on June 24th, it will be our first step in launching BitBook, from day 1 we will keep track of all bookings that are done.

100% of net revenue that we make will be used to buy and burn tokens from day 1. Therefore we encourage our entire community to move forward using us for any travel, as by booking, you are stimulating the BitBook ecosystem and decreasing the total supply of BBT.

Our next step is to develop and launch the Account & Reward system. Users can visit the BitBook platform itself to view the account system, where you can log in, see your trips, refer new people, see the rewards you have received, and plenty more features.

We are planning to create a transparent dashboard so that when you log in, you can see all the bookings that are happening on the BitBook platform to keep track of how things are going.

Everyone who will book before the Account & Reward system is launched will be % proportionally rewarded with one specific pool of 1,041,667 BBT. After the launch of the Account & Rewards system and the months before the reward program officially begins (December), will be personally financed by the BitBook co-founders to provide monthly rewards for people who book a trip and influencers who bring new people to the platform.

We will keep the community up to date on the progress of the development, and as soon as we have a realistic release date, we will communicate this directly.

Best place to be informed the fastest is on our Telegram channel. We will pin the announcement, so don’t worry, you don’t need to read all the chat.
Travel in Beijing | One Day in the Center
By: Lu Jiang
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, China Travel, Beijing Travel, Beijing

Travel in Beijing | One Day in the Center

Beijing has undeniable bragging rights when it comes to history. The city center is packed with must-see historical spots, especially along the central axis: Forbidden City, Wangfujing/DongDan, QianMen Street, Temple of Heaven. Whether you come for the history, the culture, the food, or the modern city, you only need a day or two to understand why Beijing is such a heat travel destination.

Forbidden City

The former Chinese imperial palace from Ming dynasty to Qing dynasty, is a massive, sprawling palace complex and now houses the National Palace Museum. The Forbidden city offers outstanding insights to the past. The palace recalls the glamour of the Ming and Qing dynasty with extravagant buildings, pavilions, and halls, 980 buildings in total covering over 180 acres. The Forbidden City is working to preserve its heritage while embracing new kinds of culture, craftsmanship innovation, as its souvenirs have a creative touch from both history and modern life.

WangFuJing

One block to the east of the Forbidden city, also known as DongDan (Dong means “east” in Chinese). It’s one of the most iconic shopping streets in Beijing. Both tourists and residents of the city enjoy coming to WangFuJing, not only for this numerous stores, but also for its historical influence.

QianMen Street

Bearing a history of around 600 years, is one of the last remnants of the business centers of the old Beijing. Now it has been transformed to a modern commercial pedestrian street with traditional local architecture design. QianMen Street is ideal for travels with a passion for history and an appreciation for modern business creativity. There are many famed shops that have been operating for over a century, such as RuiFuXiang silk shop, LiuBiJu sauce and pickle shop, TongRenTang drug store, NeiLianSheng shoe store, and etc. Visit the QianMen street for boutiques, antiques, food, and a glimpse of a bygone era.

Temple of Heaven

A renowned temple complex, best known for its distinctive circular buildings. It has been serving for religious rituals by the imperial from Ming dynasty to Qing dynasty. Blue color stained-glass rooftops and hand-carved marble decorations on the circular buildings represents the respect for the heaven. Wandering in the picturesque Temple of Heaven on an uncrowded morning is a purification ritual with inspiration from nature and history.

To be continued.

Photo credit to FLC.
What are the Best Places to visit in Ladakh?
By: Rishabh Pradhan
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Ladakh, Travel Tips, Traveling

What are the Best Places to visit in Ladakh?

Best places to visit in Ladakh including:-

1. Zanskar Valley

2. Nubra Valley

3. Spituk Gompa

4. Hemis National Park

5. Magnetic Hill

6. Shanti Stupa

7. Hemis Monastery

8. Khardung La Pass

How can you experience Ladakh Tour as their best?

As you all know Ladakh is famous for its iconic and beautiful view. Many youngsters attract to it every year. There are many beautiful places or destinations to visit in Leh Ladakh is Nubra Valley, Keylong, Sonamarg, Pangong Lake, Pahalgam, and many more. All-season is best to visit Ladakh but April-June is the best season to travel Ladakh. It is the season when the snow melts and spectacular hues that all spread across the region. So, if you want to enjoy the Ladakh tour and make your journey more memorable then here is the solution. We Getz Destinations are given awesome experience in Leh Ladakh Tour. We also give the best Ladakh Tour Packages for our valuable customers. There are many exciting offers available in the Ladakh tour packages. According to our customer’s need and wants our team designed the special Ladakh Tour Packages.

How can someone reach Ladakh?

Ladakh is well known for its tremendously low temperatures nearly all year. Although Leh Ladakh is moderately pleasant in the time of summer. The winters are exceptionally cold and unforgiving. So, in that case, the best time to visit Ladakh is summer. So, if you plan to travel to Ladakh you can take Flight, Train, and Bus.

• Jammu Tawi is the nearest railway, located at a distance of 708 kM from Ladakh.

• And Via road you have the two main highways one is from Manali, covering 473 Km and one is from Srinagar, covering 434 Km.

• And the last nearest airport is Kushok Bakula Rinpoche.

But if you plan your Ladakh tour with Getz Destinations then you don’t have to take any tension of Flight, Bus, and Train. Their Team gives you Proper guidance related to Ladakh and gives the best and affordable Ladakh Tour Packages. They provide the best Ladakh Tour Packages with all accommodation.

Which is the Best Time to visit Ladakh?

The best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer from (April to July). It is the best time to go for a Ladakh tour. In the summertime, the temperature in Ladakh is between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Ladakh is well known for its very low temperatures. So, it is quite well or you can say pleasant in the summertime. Therefore the best time to visit Ladakh is in the summer season.
Travel in Beijing | 5 Food Recommendation from Locals
By: Lu Jiang
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Chinese Food, China, Beijing Travel

Travel in Beijing | 5 Food Recommendation from Locals

Beijing is packed with must-try restaurants offering an indulgent mix of inventive and traditional fare.

Roasted Duck

DaDong, has become one of the most famous go-to place for Beijing Roasted Duck. All the branches of DaDong offer a mix of next-gen design with traditional Chinese literature culture.

The delicate presentation of dishes and artfully designed settings has made DaDong a perennial favorite with food and culture seekers. DaDong reimagine Beijing Roasted Duck with its aesthetic of Chinese literature. The menu is a collection of Chinese art with each dish assigned to a Song poem and Chinese painting.

SiJiMinFu, is another renowned restaurant groups for Beijing Roasted Duck. One of the most popular stores is housed in a historical building, right next to the Forbidden city. Relax over a decadent dinner time with the stunning view of the Forbidden City and the crispy roasted duck. Customers especially adore the quality of roasted duck: crisp on the skin and tender on the meat.

Beijing Cuisine

Imperial cuisine (NaJia): Being the capital city since Yuan dynasty, imperial cuisine has a unique impact on Beijing dishes. Come to NaJia to enjoy a gospel dinner featuring food with an imperial touch from the Qing dynasty, both from the lavish settings and the gorgeous food. The silverwares, bowls and plates in NaJia all have the glorious “royal yellow” color which was only allowed to use by the emperor in Ming and Qing dynasty.

HotPot

For food enthusiasts, Beijing style Hot Pot provides a feast with casual marketplace crowdedness and common people’s freedom. If you are looking for delicacy and refinement, Hot Pot is definitely not the best place to go. Foodies enjoy the delectable culinary of fresh lamb, beef, and sesame sauces. HaiDiLao (Hi Pot), Little Sheep, DongLaiShun are among the most popular franchise brands for HotPot with more delicate settings.

GuiJie

Not far from the city center, GuiJie is a street crowded with restaurants featuring various kinds of food. It’s especially packed during dinner time. Both locals and travels flock to GuiJie for a variety of cuisine: Beijing cuisine, BBQ, HotPot.

Specialty Small Dishes/Snacks

Bing Tang Hu Lu (Sweeten Hawthorn Skewer): Crispy sugar glazed hawthorn skewer, a very traditional food of Beijing. The appealing red color of hawthorn high glossed by sugar and sesame; sour taste balanced sweetness: a treatment to both sight and taste.

Beijing Yogurt: can be found in most Beijing cuisine restaurant and in HuTong, smooth and thick with rich taste. With similar texture but sweeter lol taste than Greek yogurt, all ages will love.

Beijing Dessert: influenced by the imperial dessert, Beijing style dessert enjoy a long history and rich variety. Usually the dessert has flour-made floral patterns, crumbly skin and stuffing made of date, red bean, lotus seed, and etc. DaoXiangCun is a time-honored brand for Beijing Dessert with various branches across the city.

Photo credit to TuNiu, Zhihu, Sohu
…What’s coming
Tags: Travel Writing, Merakihistorias, Short Stories And Poems, Life Stories, Snapshotsdeviajesenglish

And there I was, excited, once again waiting for life to surprise me. I waited for the news for days, perhaps weeks or a lifetime. I hoped that everything would be easier, lighter, faster, and more precise from that instant. Maybe, I was hoping for security I didn’t need, a path that wasn’t mine, or just not having to think more about what is coming next.

But once again I was wrong, as usual reality hit me in the face, questions and uncertainty flooded my body … for a moment I thought it was the failure of a good story, the worst end to the adventure … but no.

This experience was different. The pain was ephemeral like a stormy night that dissipates at dawn, giving place to the bright sunrise. The sadness was partial. The tears healed my wounds. While the seawater liberated me from my sorrows.

I was prepared for the following. At last, I felt the desired tranquility when faced the uncertainty and unknown. I began visualizing infinite options, embrace and desire each of the circumstances that could be presented to me from that second in time.

In the depths of my being, I felt I wasn’t wrong, that the result obtained was necessary to achieve my future… that life guided me without errors, without fears.

So, I trusted, I continued on my way to the unknown. Without a plan as dictated by society, but with blind faith on what is coming will be even better. More magical and necessary for this path called life. Where there are no errors, only wrong perspectives.

I started with a step, a cleaning, a movement, and continued enjoying the adventure that will show me the way. I decided to permit myself to be surprised and transformed by life itself. Without waiting for the precise, without expecting to stop thinking about what is coming.
Similes
Tags: Travel Writing, Merakihistorias, Short Stories And Poems, Life Stories, Snapshotsdeviajesenglish

We were there, in that great room with known colors and shapes. We came from different parts of this world without acknowledging we would meet familiar faces and looks.

We became aware of all those similar experiences when we heard those stories happened in different moments and placed. Perhaps, we never imagined the instant connections that would occur between us just by being there, together creating our new stories.

On other days, I think maybe we expected to meet. Perhaps during previous years, we knew somewhere out there were people like us. Our future friends and lovers lived their own stories. That at the right time we would finally meet and enjoy our presence for as long as necessary or allowed.

It may not have been randomness that joined us during that season of our journeys. It might have been written before. Our energies attracted us for years without us consciously recognizing it. Or we may have only been lucky, to meet, listen to each other in the rainy summer.

No matter how the process has been, our presences complement each other. Grow together with each conversation and joint dinner. Every laugh, hug and shared secret mark us, made us even more similar.

The differences are superficial, our languages understand each other. Our colors, sizes, and shapes do not define us. Our cultures forget their different traditions and prejudices… and always, food unites us, feeds our body and soul. In that space, we are only human.
Black Travel Anxiety Part III: Seeing SPAIN for myself
By: Siraj Abdul-Malik
Tags: Travel Writing, Travel, Spain, Writing

After being in Scotland for two years and getting settled in, I decided to do what most workers would do and take small trips when I had time off. Spain was a very popular choice so I booked a flight to go with a girl I was dating at the time. She was a Polish native speaker so I had no backup in case the language barrier would have been a problem. I was told by football fans when I was younger that Spain was one of the most racist countries in the world. All we really knew about Spain as public school children in Bermuda was about football, so the incident where a black player had a banana thrown at him didn’t do much to prove the earlier statement wrong. However, Spain was the first time I completely lost my travel anxiety before even arriving in the country. I had met and worked with many Spanish people which had completely debunked all of the blatant myths I had grown up listening to. Had I not, I may have let what I was told get to me and probably missed out on some of the most joy I’ve experienced since I left Bermuda. I’m going to hopefully do the same for you as you keep reading so you can add this amazing location to your travel list.

Spanish people are very open and extremely sociable, so even introverts such as myself somehow become mesmerized with the overall vibe of the people in Spain. Spanish folks are known to be very accepting of various social classes, and are on the forefront of many social justice movements. If you have an alternative lifestyle, or have ever felt like a misfit or outcast, you will feel completely welcome in Spain. They are all big foodies, which would mean nothing without the social aspect since we all know great food was meant to be enjoyed with company. They are also very approachable, no matter what you look like, I’ve found you can start a conversation with almost anyone which certainly came in handy after I reached a conversational level in Spanish. Being a big fan of languages, I would not have learned Spanish as fast if race was an issue with them. In Spain they tend to put quite a bit of focus on rest, relaxation, and pleasure. Feelings of hate for something as silly as where you come from or the colour of your skin would get in the way of that, so the vast majority give no importance to it.

Like I said with Scotland, it would be a big mistake to avoid an opportunity to visit Spain based on a few bad stories. To be honest, I doubt you would find anyone that has been to Spain with anything less than positive to say. Some of the best friends I’ve made in my adult life are from Spain, and they have become like family to me to the point that we seem to forget that we’ve only known each other for a few years. All I can say is my relationship with Spain and its people has been absolutely life changing.

Keep those eyes peeled for next week’s post where I talk about the one time I felt threatened being abroad and much more about my experience in Poland. As always thanks for reading, leave a clap, and don’t be afraid to comment. Hasta luego!
Stories that Inspire — III. “While I was working at Godrej, I was…
By: Sathvik Reddy Vemunuri
Tags: Travel Writing, Himalayas, Inspire, Naropa, Ladakh

“While I was working at Godrej, I was handling a team of 12 whose average age was around 45 years. One night it happened that a fellow team member asking for permission to take a leave as his father passed away and he had to leave home. That day I was hit really hard, someone approximately 50 years old tried to take permission from a 21 year old just because I was privileged enough to study from a decent college. This made be taken aback and I resigned my job at Godrej. “

Hello! My name is Surya and I am a travel photographer, film-maker and a budget backpacker. I was born in Hyderabad and raised in Guntur. Last year I quit my job and moved to Ladakh where I pursued Naropa Fellowship. During my job at Ola or Godrej I realized that I was more inclined to different fields and I felt that my job is limiting my overall learning curve. Therefore, I decided to quit and explore and that’s where Naropa came as an answer to my question. One year at Ladakh has changed me a lot as an individual as well as given me insights both to entrepreneurship and to life. I follow an E-cube formula in life: Explore experience and empathize. I realized that the more one explores, the more one experience which leads to a greater empathy. I believe that at the end of the day it is about the experiences and I crave for new experiences every day.

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For more inspiring stories, Do wait for my book: Humans of JY
New York City — the city that never sleeps
Tags: New York, Travel Writing, Travel, Traveling

Welcome to the start of our Travel Blog. These blogs will give you personal insight and wonderful experiences into some of our favorite cities in the world. We start right at the beginning with the city that will always remain timeless and adventurous and the one that stole our hearts

THE BIG APPLE — NEW YORK CITY

Photo by Mateo Catanese

The very first international experience is one that you will remember forever. It is for this reason that New York City will always be the city that never tires my heart or bank account. The first sites of that beautiful city as the plane landed at JFK will always take my breath away and a memory that will last a lifetime. Those picturesque sunsets, bustling city streets, underground subways and amazing street food made for the perfect holiday destination.

Starbucks in hand (yes the original Starbucks is always the best) and a little walk to Central Park is one of my beautiful memories. If I needed good food, I just pop down to Ruby Tuesdays for an amazing t-bone steak or even good old Indian cuisine at Utsav (try the lamb vindaloo and don’t forget to choose hot, very hot or spicy hot) and if I really want rustic, I could just grab a good old corn dog.

New York City presents some of the most iconic building and structures but none as special as ground zero. The presence of loss and triumph resonates itself so well in that atmosphere, as respect is undoubtedly shown and admired throughout that platform. Of course no visit to the big apple is complete without a tour to Lady Liberty, Empire State building and even the Flat Iron building –all of which I must add was done through street ticket holders, far cheaper and easier to obtain (great tip: always bargain, there is always someone with the best price).

However the most memorable part was the city tours at night. New York is magical in every way. It literally is the city that never sleeps, with those star gazed nights across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan or those golden sunsets between the buildings has to be experienced.

Now we all know, when in NYC, do as the New Yorkers do — SHOP! There are many options to choose from when it comes to shopping, but value for money has to be found at Century 21 , located next to ground zero. This is where I found expensive designers as well as local wear. The great discovery was that the tourist discount is available (with your passport) and this gets you loads of authentic items at a fraction of the cost. If budget allows you, take a trip down 5th avenue, where everything is out of reach and slightly exorbitant, until someone makes you an offer you cannot resist!

From times square to Rockefeller Centre, NYC will always hold the closet and most exciting adventures of my life and yes, it is one of the longest flights I have had to endure but with pride I admit I endured it 3 more times after that and will again in the very near future.
Fake it till you make it
By: Abhinav Neelam
Tags: Travel Writing, Programming, Travel

This is going to be a travel blog with a twist. Every time I want to publish a new story, I’m going to choose three random numbers first.

[261, 144, 216]

Well, I’ve picked them already, courtesy the delightful random.org

The first number is going to be my album selector. I’ve 20 travel photo albums on my Flickr account today, so I’m going to modulo 261 with 21 to get… 9.

Album 9 on my Flickr? Ola, Rio, 2014.

The second number is going to be my photo selector. There’re 42 photos in my Rio album, so doing the magic maths again, I’m going to pick Photo #18.

You probably already know where this is going. I’m going to just write about this randomly selected photo, aren’t I? Yes, but there’s more. I’m going to use the third random number as my tone selector.

Here’re the tones I’ll be choosing from:

0 — Funny 1 — Thoughtful 2 — Beautiful 3 — Grim 4 — Silly 5 — Wild

There’re six of them, so using modulo magic again, my random number 216 maps to.. Tone #0!

There you go. I’m going to write about Photo #18 from Rio, 2018 in a funny way.

Super gimmicky, right? Yes, but also super fun. This is also going to be my writing practice project, so I’m hoping I can do at least four of these a week, or until I run out of photos. Whichever happens first, and yes, I’m an optimist.
Roku’s wireless subwoofer is just $150 today
Tags: Tvs, Cord, Consumer

Roku’s streaming devices are some of the best in the biz, and its audio offerings promise to boost your entertainment experience even further. Today on Amazon, you can get the Roku wireless subwoofer for $150, down from a list price of $180 and the cheapest we’ve seen it.



This subwoofer boasts 250 watts of power, promising a booming, immersive audio experience. Its wireless connection allows you to place it anywhere, up to 30 feet from your TV, so you can position it wherever works best. And you won’t need to worry about hiding cables, even if your subwoofer is set up far from your TV. Automatic software updates keep it up to speed with any improvements Roku makes, while a 10-inch driver helps avoid audio distortion.



Note that this subwoofer only works with Roku Audio, including the Roku Smart Soundbar, Roku Wireless Speakers, and Roku Streambar. So even if you have a Roku streaming device, you’ll need Roku’s sound system to make this work.



This subwoofer averages 4.7 stars out of 5 on Amazon across more than 250 user ratings.



[ Today’s deal: Roku wireless subwoofer from Amazon for $150 ]



Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
Freddy’s Nightmares episode review — 2.13 — What You Don’t Know Can Kill You
By: Patrick J Mullen
Tags: Television, Horror, Tv Reviews, TV, Freddy Krueger

Original air date: January 7, 1990

Director: Ken Wiederhorn

Writer: Jonathan Glassner

Rating: 4/10

This episode starts promising enough, with the first story centered around a hypnotherapist who takes advantage of his female patients when they’re under.

He gets walked in on, though, and he’s in big trouble. But thankfully he has an out, as he now has a new patient who he convinces to kill the woman when he’s under hypnosis so that she won’t tell.

But then his business partner suspects him of this, so he has to hypnotize his new patient again to kill him. But he has dyslexia, so he ends up in the wrong room, killing his doctor.

To be fair, this was set up ahead of time, but it was set up very awkwardly. That having been said, it’s my favorite aspect of either of the two stories.

The second story follows up on the same patient after the murder he’s committed. He’s in the hospital with his girlfriend who referred her to the therapist, and she believes what he tells her that he was hypnotized to do it.

Since the cops are looking for him, she has an idea to perform a laser facial reconstruction surgery, so she has him pick out a face from some magazines and newspapers that match his facial structure.

The surgery is a success, but there’s one problem: he’s chosen the face of a mob hitman who’s wanted.

What follows is really by-the-numbers stuff. It isn’t tremendously exciting, suspenseful, or funny. It’s a fairly weak story, and a subpar episode overall.
We loved the iRobot Roomba 960 for $600, and this model is just $280
Tags: Electronics, Consumer Electronics, Music, Tvs

We loved the iRobot Roomba 960 for $600, and this model is just $280 Edward Dec 26, 2020·2 min read

Every year we hope to renew ourselves and our lives for the new year. For 2021, how about reinvigorating your vacuuming strategy with a fantastic “renewed” iRobot Roomba 960 for under half its original $600 cost? Amazon is selling one for $280. That’s also $120 off the usual $400 for this refurbished model, and the all-time low. The is a one-day sale, which ends just before midnight Pacific time on Monday evening.



[ Want more great deals? Check out TechConnect, our home for the best tech deals, all hand-picked by the PCWorld, Macworld and TechHive editors. ]



We reviewed the Roomba 960, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars and an Editors’ Choice Award—and that was at its full $600 price. “The Roomba 960’s flawless navigation, stellar cleaning, and advanced features set it apart from all other robot vacuums,” we said.



While that review is more than two years old, the Roomba 960 is still an excellent vacuum. It features Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration for voice control, and an intelligent mapping feature. The Roomba 960 has a three-stage cleaning system with rubber brushes, and you can control the vacuum via Wi-Fi using the iRobot smartphone app.



As for the “refurbished” part of this robovac, it comes with Amazon’s 90-day Renewed Guarantee, which means it will work and look like new. If it fails that promise, you can get a replacement or refund within 90 days.



The non-refurbished version of this can be anywhere from $400 to $500 depending on the day (as of this writing it’s $437). So you’re getting quite a bargain with the refurbished version.



[Today’s deal: Refurbished iRobot Roomba 960 for $280 on Amazon.]



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The Ettie video doorbell takes your visitor’s temperature before they cross your hearth
Tags: Home Tech, Tvs, Gear, Home Theater

The Ettie video doorbell takes your visitor’s temperature before they cross your hearth Yesenia Jan 27·2 min read

COVID is definitely a theme during this year’s online-only CES, particularly when it comes to video doorbells. We’ve already seen video doorbells with touchless designs from Arlo and Alarm.com, and now here’s one that takes your visitor’s temperature before they’re allowed inside.



Related product Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) Read TechHive's reviewSee it The Ettie comes equipped with your usual arsenal of video doorbell features, including HD resolution, two-way audio, and a mobile app that lets you see who’s standing on your doorstep. (Plott, the company behind the Ettie, has yet to reveal additional features.)



What sets the Ettie apart is its infrared temperature sensor, which lets it quickly take a visitor’s temperature. Once it’s measured a person’s temperature, the Ettie can send an alert to your phone to let you know whether it’s safe (well, relatively speaking) to let the visitor inside. There’s also a pair of LEDs—one green, and one red—on the doorbell itself, which can flash to let the person know whether they’ll be allowed entry.



[ Further reading: The best video doorbells ]Besides its ability to take someone’s temperature, the Ettie can snap the visitor’s picture and take note of when they arrived. It can also track a venue’s headcount and send an alert if you’ve reached capacity, while its visitor log could be used for contact tracing.



While the Ettie could certainly be used for a residence, it seems more targeted at businesses—say, a small storefront that’s limiting its capacity to maintain social distancing, or perhaps the waiting room of a doctor’s office. The built-in infrared temperature sensor could also be useful for a small business that can’t spare an employee to perform temperature checks at the door.



Ettie manufacturer Plott says beta units of the doorbell are slated to ship in the second quarter of 2021, with a target price of $300.



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Samsung SmartThings, Google Nest partnership kicks off
Tags: Tvs, Consumer, Home Theater

Samsung SmartThings is our current favorite smart home hub, and Google Nest cameras, smart thermostats, and doorbells are among our favorite smart home devices. As was announced in December 2020, the companies behind those products have forged a partnership that brings Nest devices into the SmartThings ecosystem via the Works with SmartThings certification program.



SmartThings users with Nest products can now incorporate those devices into SmartThings scenes and other automations alongside any other Works with SmartThings-certified products. Nest Camera and Nest Hello video doorbell users, for example, will be able to stream video to their Samsung TV or Family Hub refrigerator.



Google joins a host of other major brands in the Works with SmartThings program, including Arlo (security cameras), August (smart locks), Bose (speakers), First Alert (smoke detectors), Leviton (lighting controls), Lutron (lighting and smart shades), Ecobee (thermostats) Philips Hue (lighting), Ring (home security and lighting), Sonos (multi-room audio).



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Save a massive 30% on Eufy’s Security Wi-Fi video doorbell
Tags: Tvs, Chargers, Services, Connected Home

Given what’s going on in the world, it’s nice to have a way to talk to someone at your door without actually opening it. Right now, Amazon is selling the 1080p Eufy Wi-Fi video doorbell for $90, significantly below the usual $120.



[ Want more great deals? Check out TechConnect, our home for the best tech deals, all hand-picked by the PCWorld, Macworld and TechHive editors. ]



This version of the Eufy doorbell features 1080p video capture , complete with HDR and distortion correction for a clearer image. The doorbell includes two-way audio, customizable smart detection zones, and canned responses that you can record yourself.



The doorbell integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to see live video from the front door on your smart displays. The Eufy doorbell can also show you three seconds of video footage prior to the doorbell alert thanks to the doorbell’s smart detection.



Unlike other smart doorbells that put all your videos in the cloud, Eufy has the option of onboard storage keeping local activity, well, local. It also comes with an electronic chime that offers 8 different options, including some holiday-themed ringtones for that time of year. Existing chimes do not work with this doorbell.



A video doorbell is a helpful addition to a house and right now, Eufy’s is available at an excellent price.



[Today’s deal: Eufy Security Wi-Fi 1080p doorbell for $90 on Amazon.]



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Konka TV goes upscale with quantum-dot TVs at CES 2021
Tags: Home Tech, Tvs, Headphones

Konka TV goes upscale with quantum-dot TVs at CES 2021 Michelle Jan 27·2 min read

Our first look a Konka TV revealed a decent entry-level picture for a very nice price. In 2021, the company promises to deliver a line of higher-end smart TVs with more accurate color thanks to quantum-dot technology. Shoppers with tight budgets will also appreciate being able to choose between the company’s current Android TV implementation and WebOS, LG’s highly regarded smart TV operating system.



The Lineup Mentioned in this article Konka U5-series 4K UHD Android TV (50-inch class, model 50U55A) Read TechHive's review$279.99See iton RCWilley WebOS is scheduled for March/April availability on Konka’s U4 series (see below), which will range in size from 43- to 75-inch-class. Pricing was not announced.



Konka Konka’s WebOS TVs will arrive in the U.S. in the middle of spring 2021.



As far as was announced, quantum-dot color will be available only on Konka’s Q7 Pro series running Android TV. This mid-range line will come with a host of Konka’s best-foot-forward features: color gamut of more than 100 percent DCI-P3, a gaming mode, support for Google Assitant and Chromecast, and Bluetooth 5.0. Note that most Konka TVs support the latter—a nice perq for those who listen through Bluetooth headphones.



Konka will continue with the affordable U5 series we reviewed, as well as the super-budget H3 series in smaller 32-inch (720p) and 43-inch (1080p) models. The TVs will also integrate with the company’s line of smart home products, including video doorbells.



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TCL adds 8K models to its 6-series smart TV lineup and moves to a gap-less mini-LED backlight array
Tags: Consumer Electronics, Music, Tvs, Streaming

TCL adds 8K models to its 6-series smart TV lineup and moves to a gap-less mini-LED backlight array Toya Jan 27·2 min read

Later this year, TCL will launch TVs featuring its third-generation mini-LED backlighting system, dubbed OD Zero. OD stands for “Optical Depth” and zero indicates the size of the gap between the backlight array and the LCD panel; in other words, there isn’t one. Eliminating this gap should reduce light bleed through adjacent zones, boosting overall contrast and improving black levels.



The company will offer this latest version of its highly granular backlighting, which employs thousands of tiny LEDs instead of hundidreds of larger ones, in its new 8K UHD 6-series TVs. Older 4K UHD 6 series models will remain in the lineup, so don’t assume that 6-series means 8K when you shop.



[ Further reading: TechHive's top picks in smart TVs ]As do other vendors, TCL claims upscaling will increase the percieved resolution of 1080p and 4K UHD content. If TCL’s AiPQ engine uses the same tricks I’ve seen from Samsung, LG, and now Sony—it will. Content in those lower resolutions really does appear to be significantly more detailed on an 8K set when properly processed.



TCL TCL’s 4-series smart TVs will be among the lowest-priced 85-inch TVs on the market.



TCL also plans to go big this year with it 85-inch XL-series TVs. The company has added an 85-inch model to the 4 series (the $1,599, Roku-based 85R435) for the early spring, followed by a quantum dot, Roku-based 85R745 (pricing to be announced), and eventually an 85-inch mini-LED, wide color gamut 8K UHD model.



The 85R745—and we’re assuming the 8K UHD variant—will include Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, as well as variable refresh rate and 120Hz HDMI input support for game-play.



This article was edited several hours after posting to correct "Optical Distance" to "Optical Depth."



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TCL’s latest soundbar connects wirelessly to Roku TVs
Tags: Entertainment, Tvs, Headphones, Connected Home

TCL teamed up with Roku at CES 2020 to release a soundbar that eased the TV setup process with on-screen instructions and settings courtesy of the “Roku TV-Ready” program. The two companies are doing it again at this year’s CES with a new soundbar that connects wirelessly to Roku TVs.



Related product TCL 8-series 4K UHD LCD TV (65-inch class, model 65Q825) Read TechHive's review$999.00MSRP $1,999.00See iton Best Buy (Price when reviewed) Slated to arrive later this year, the Alto R1 is an all-in-one, 2.0-channel soundbar that marks TCL’s first truly wireless soundbar—well, wireless save for the power cord.



The Alto R1 manages its wireless audio trick with help from a reference design from Roku that allows for a point-to-point Wi-Fi connection between a soundbar and a Roku-powered TV, meaning there’s no need for HDMI or optical cables. Roku announced its new reference design late last week.



[ Further reading: The best soundbars ]As with the Alto 9+, the 3.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar that TCL unveiled a year ago at CES, the Alto R1 will be a Roku TV-Ready model, which means Roku TV users will be guided through the setup process with on-screen instructions and settings.



TCL TCL’s wireless Alto R1 soundbar is Roku TV-ready, which means it will support on-screen setup instructions and configuration settings when connected to a compatible Roku TV.



Unlike the Alto 9+, the R1 won’t support Dolby Atmos, nor will it offer virtualized 3D audio via DTS Virtual:X. Instead, the soundbar will come with straight-up Dolby Audio support, similar to many budget soundbars. Also missing will be support for Alexa and Google Assistant, although you will be able to stream audio to the Alto R1 from your phone via Bluetooth.



TCL also announced a few higher-end, HDMI-enabled soundbars for 2021, including its first models with built-in AirPlay 2, plus support for Alexa, and Google Assistant.



Due later this year, the 3.1.2-channel Alto 8e boasts a wireless subwoofer and upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos, it will also come with AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Spotify Connect support.



Meanwhile, the Alto 82i will be yet another Dolby Atmos soundbar (no word on the exact channel configuration) with AirPlay 2, Alexa, and Google Assistant support, although it will swap out the wireless subwoofer for a pair of built-in subwoofers. Rounding out TCL’s 2021 soundbar lineup will be a fourth, “premium” model with Dolby Atmos support, TCL said.



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Polk Audio’s $250 React soundbar packs Alexa
Tags: Home Tech, Tvs, Music, Home Theater

The makers of the first soundbar with built-in Alexa are back with a new model, and unlike many budget-priced models, this all-in-one soundbar can actually be upgraded with wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer. Don’t expect Dolby Atmos, however.



Mentioned in this article Polk Audio Command Bar Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $299.00See it Slated to go on sale today for $249, the Alexa-enabled Polk React from Polk Audio comes equipped with a four-driver array, including a pair of 96- x 69mm mid-range drivers and two 25mm tweeters. Two 110- x 100mm passive radiators supply the low-frequency effects.



Now, the Polk React’s predecessor, the Polk Audio Command Bar, came with both built-in Alexa and a separate wireless subwoofer, which generally delivers better bass compared to a built-in subwoofer. That said, the Polk React can be upgraded with not only a wireless sub (the $199 React Sub), but also a pair of wireless surround speakers (the SR2 kit for $249) for true surround sound. The Polk Command Bar, on the other hand, didn’t support wireless surround speakers at all, making it a strictly what-you-hear-is-what-you-get affair.



[ Further reading: The best soundbars ]Besides its support for wireless surround speakers, the Polk React comes with built-in Alexa, complete with a telltale blue indicator light and a four integrated far-field microphones for voice pickup. As with any other Alexa-enabled speaker, you can use voice commands to ask Alexa for news headlines, local weather reports, or what’s next on your agenda, and you can also control your compatible smart home devices and place free phone calls to numbers in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico.



Polk Audio The Polk React can be paired with the optional React Sub ($249) and/or the SR2 wireless surround speaker kit ($199).



The Polk React supports Alexa voice commands for some “basic” soundbar features, including adjusting the volume and subwoofer level. You can also pair Alexa on the soundbar with Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, allowing you to play TV shows and movies without a remote, or connect the Fire TV Blaster for hands-free control of TVs, cable boxes, and other IR-enabled components. Finally, the React supports Alexa's multi-room audio functionality, meaning you can add it to Alexa speaker groups.



The Polk React comes with a standard set of sound modes, including Movie, Music, Voice Adjust (for boosting the sound of dialog) and Night modes. Both Dolby and DTS audio are supported, but not 3D sound formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or DTS Virtual:X.



In back of the Polk React is a single HDMI-ARC port (no eARC support for lossless Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, but that’s no surprise given the React’s budget price point), along with an optical (Toslink) input.



We’ll have a full review of the Polk React once we properly wring out a review unit.



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