COED Presents: Travel Essentials

By John - USMA November 16, 2007 2:20 pm Posted in Tech, Travel & Spring Break John - USMA g+ page

Travel tips

Whether taking a flight home for the holidays or embarking on a cross-country road trip, traveling with electronics is essential to your happiness, unless you enjoy being bored out of your mind and are allergic to fun. If that’s the case…I can’t help you. Nobody can.

The following gadgets will assist you greatly on your grand adventure:

Nintendo DS

I love the multi-purpose Sony PSP as much as the next guy (what does that phrase even mean?), but I find myself returning to the simple charms of the Nintendo DS far more often. The stylus-based gameplay is tailor-made for wasting time during those long stretches on the road/in the air. Couple that with a long battery life and it’s a no-brainer (unless you have Brain Age 2).

iPod

Having an iPod on your travels is as essential as getting to your destination. Sure, other MP3 players may be cheaper, but the functionality of Apple’s “i” is second to none. If you’re budget is tight – or if you’re expecting to receive an iPod of some sort for the holidays – dust off that old portable CD player you’ve had since middle school. Make sure it works, stock up on batteries and make a few 80-minute mixes for the trip. If you’re driving, don’t forget to buy a car-adapter for your music player.

A few mixtape suggestions:

“White Bronco Jamz for Da Ladiez” (dominated by late 80s/early 90s New Jack Swing; think Tony! Toni! Tone!, Bell Biv DeVoe and other three-name wonders)

“Road Trippin’ in the VW Van” (psych-rock freakouts of the 60s; 13th Floor Elevators, Soft Machine and a bit of Blue Cheer to muck things up)

“OPERATION: STAY AWAKE” (heavy acid-rock and noise; Acid Mothers Temple, Lightning Bolt with some one-minute hardcore punk blasts in between)

A Wide Variety of Snacks

Everybody knows to stock up on snacks for a long trip; the problem is that too many people waste precious time and resources going to the local Gas Station for munchie consumption. I suggest not only going to an actual supermarket, but to go at least a day or two before leave. The reason is simple: the pressures of time along with a Gas Station’s poor selection (most of the time) make for sloppy purchases. Trust me, I’m a fat kid – I know these things.

And if you don’t have cash for snacks, try…

Bacon Flavored Toothpicks

I love bacon, you love bacon – we all need bacon-flavored toothpicks to keep that smoky, heavenly taste in our mouths at all times. When you’re in a pinch for time and don’t have enough time to buy a Baconator or two, these savory sticks will do the trick.

Bacon is king – you know it, I know it. Accept it.

Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Books

Stop straining your eyes on a screen and train your brain naturally. Try to avoid bringing a book you’ve already read; borrow a recommendation from a friend and expand on your boundaries.