Issue Date: March 2, 2008
5 big-city hotel deals
Looking for a big-city hotel that offers a central location, comfortable room and attentive service for around $200 a night or less? Here are five that hit the sweet spot.
San Francisco. The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, with 137 rooms, is located in the heart of the city with a cable car stop at the door. From $200.
Chicago. One of the best deals in the Windy City is the Fairfield Inn & Suites. The hotel is situated just one block from Michigan Avenue and five blocks from Navy Pier. From $149.
New York City. The Pod Hotel, a hip 348-room hotel in east Midtown Manhattan, offers tiny but smartly designed rooms that include flat-screen TVs and an iPod docking station. From $109.
Atlanta. Rooms at the Ellis on Peachtree boast flat-screen TVs, free WiFi and Ermenegildo Zegna bath products. From $124.
Seattle. The Mayflower Park Hotel is adjacent to the Westlake Center shopping mall and a five-minute walk to the Pike Place Market. From $209.
Travel writer Everett Potter's website is everettpotter.com.
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Travel with your files: Portable hard drives
There's nothing sexy about computer storage. Backing up your data is probably the technological equivalent of flossing -- you know it's good for you, yet you probably don't do it enough. But for many of us, a good portable hard drive is more than just a safety net: The right one can change your work life.
Those who save and share large files, like high-resolution images, will want a drive built for speedy transfers. The MiniStation TurboUSB (Buffalotech.com, from $129.95) can zip data along at a rate that's up to 64% faster than standard portable drives.
Some of us just need simple storage on the road. In that case, there are options like Iomega's stylish eGo drives (Iomega.com, from $132.95). The eGo drives, in two sizes, are built to withstand rough travel, include software for performing backups and, like the MiniStation, use a single cable for power and data transfers.
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3 biofuels on the horizon
As prices at the pump continue to creep (or shoot) upward, many are looking to biofuels as the next great hope to take the place of gasoline. USA WEEKEND talked to Michael S. Briggs of the University of New Hampshire's Biodiesel Group to find out what's on the horizon.
Jatropha-based biodiesel
Jatropha is a small tree or shrub that grows in poor soil and actually improves soil fertility over time. Briggs suggests that countries with low costs of labor could grow the jatropha, and the United States could import an affordable biofuel, creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Algae-based biodiesel
Briggs says this one has potential, but he warns that presently, the cost of making it is too high for it to be viable.
Ethanol
Made from corn, this biofuel is popular among politicians and in the car industry, but some scientists and environmentalists have their doubts because they say that converting corn to ethanol may add to global warming.
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Exercise and chemo
A recent Canadian study on the effects of regular aerobic exercise and resistance training on breast cancer patients getting chemotherapy produced some unexpected results. Researchers found that resistance training improved chemotherapy completion rates; both resistance training and aerobic exercise bettered self-esteem, physical fitness and body composition.
Trying to decide between aerobics or resistance training? Pick the one that works for you. Both types of exercise are important and beneficial, but the study suggests that resistance training may have produced broader effects, and it may be more tolerable during treatment.
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An antioxidant bowl
Colorful veggies and spices combine to deliver a hefty dose of health-protecting antioxidants, fiber and exotic Caribbean tastes.
Caribbean Chicken Stew
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsps. cinnamon
1 tsp. each, allspice and nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste
Salt to taste
1 bay leaf
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes, no salt added
2 cups 99% fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts/thighs, boiled or poached, pulled into strips
1 1/2 cups winter squash, cubed (or substitute thick zucchini slices)
1 15.5-ounce can black beans, undrained
4 limes, each cut into quarters
Optional: cooked brown rice
In a large pot, heat oil. Add onion, green pepper, garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Add spices; sauté 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth, chicken, squash and beans. Simmer, covered, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Serve over optional brown rice with juice from lime wedges.
Serves 8
Per serving: 221 calories, 18g carbohydrates, 23g protein, 6g fat (1g saturated), 60mg cholesterol, 6g fiber, 274mg sodium
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