How would you like to visit a place where firearms are legal, people drink incredibly strong liquor and dance through the night listening to up beat and slow music all night long. If all these things sound nice then take a visit to the Wild West. If you’re the type of person who relies heavily on a car for transport this may not be for you, but for the person who loves horse riding, walking on sand-covered pathways, being outdoors in hot temperatures and spending most of their time working on machinery and relaxing in bars, this would be highly enjoyable. There are obviously many dangers associated with the Wild West, with people dueling and challenging people to drinking games and gambling. Watch out for those western punks who think they run any town they come across.

3000 - Advanced Technology

When the year 3000 comes, people will be surfing the Internet but in a completely different way to now. When people connect to the Internet they will wear special equipment that allows them to be absorbed into the vast and impressive world of websites, news and not forgetting dreadful and irritating advertisements. For all the gamers in the world just imagine what the year 3000 would hold for you: advanced games like Laser Tag, where not only infrared beams are fired, but you can actually see the laser hit your target. Games like Halo, Killzone and Call of Duty will allow you to stand in a room for a fully immersive experience. Just think of the ways we will be watching movies and listening to music. Maybe in this millennium we will live underwater - who knows?

230 - 65.5 MA - Dinosaurs

If we were to travel back to this time we could understand what really killed off these magnificent creatures. Could you imagine a world where instead of seeing pigeons and various other animals, you see Compys and Pterodactyls. If you were to travel back to this time what would be the first thing you would do? For me, it would be looking for a T-Rex, just for the adrenaline rush.

2630 – 2611 BCE – Egypt

If we could travel back in time, we could see just how the Egyptian managed to create and build one of the most famous landmarks in the world, The Pyramids. The pyramids were built thousands of years ago made of sand and stone, yet these structures were built around 230 meters wide and 146 meters high. Think of the strength these people had. If you were to travel back to this time filled with wondrous structures being built, watch out for the dreaded plague.

The scardey-cat is an extremely annoying person to sit next to on a plane. You’ve begun your escape from the boredom of reality; working, cleaning, cooking, and just want to be spoiled after all your hard work. Or maybe you’re on a business trip and need to relax from the stresses of your job. The scardey-cat makes everyone stressed, especially when they have to be taken to the front of the plane to be given air because they passed out after take off. On the way back, the scardey-cat will remind you of why you wanted to be away in the first place.

The ill passenger is difficult because it’s not their fault that they’re unwell - but it does make them very annoying. You’re flicking through a leaflet of safety instructions and they barf all over you because they can’t handle the turbulence or can’t keep down the plane food. It’s not their fault but neither is it yours and you think to yourself you don’t deserve this after spending hundreds of pounds on your journey. It’s also worse when you’re sitting in front of the ill one. This is because you’re more likely to have their sick pour into your row from behind your seat, and yes, much to many people’s dismay (I have witnessed this happen myself).

The chatterbox: perhaps you’re in the position where you have to work or you want to listen to your mp3 player in an attempt to relax on your long-haul flight. Then you hear those cruel words: ‘Oh hi, what’s your name? I’m Brenda!’ you know from then on that you have just become involved with the serial chatterbox who has marked their permanent place on your neverending journey. There are discussions about where you are going and then the chatterbox insists on meeting up during the holiday itself seeing as you are going to the same place. Welcome to hell.

The last thing you want on a long haul journey is when you have to go to sleep during the night-time but you’re sat next to a snorer. This prevents you from getting any sleep and makes you even more grumpy because it’s boring being in one place for so long and there are only so many times you can walk up and down the aisle especially when you’re placed next to someone so annoying they emulate a type of Spongebob Squarepants snore that is so disturbing you cannot do anything else but give in and listen. Good luck.

If you actually need any convincing on why you should visit Japan’s capital city then look no further…

Cuisine

Food has to be the primary reason (or is that just me?). Tokyo is a haven for amazing food with over 200,000 restaurants located across the city. Now, I love sushi but I know it is not to everyone’s taste. What I would say is that even if you have tried sushi in the UK it is really not the same as the quality sushi on offer in Tokyo and you should really try it. You have nothing to lose, and I promise you it is exquisite. Also, since Tokyo is one of those cities that never sleeps (New York is not the only one) you will be able to find food to tickle your taste-buds no matter what time of day or night your hunger strikes. Surprisingly most restaurants are busy the majority of the time as most residents eat out the majority of the time due to the small living quarters in the city.

Shopping

We all know that Tokyo is at the forefront of the creation of gadgets and gizmos but it is also a mega shopping destination for those looking to score the best designer clothes. There is also an impressive array of department stores throughout the city. However, this is not to say that shopping in Tokyo has to cost you a fortune. On the contrary, Tokyo has an abundance of indoor and outdoor markets so you are sure to find something to spend your hard earned cash on no matter what your budget is.

Nightlife

So, when you have shopped until you dropped and your stomach is satisfied there is only one thing left to do - party the night away. You could not be in a more lively city. Tokyo’s nightlife ranges from upmarket wine bars to traditional pubs and discos to nightclubs. As we have already mentioned this is a 24-hour city so you can go out for a drink at 9pm and find yourself not getting back to your accommodation until the next day!

Culture

You cannot visit this striking city without delving beneath that ultra-modern façade. Believe me, it is worth it - this modern metropolis is concealing years of history and old Japanese culture. There are temples just waiting to be explored and you may even be lucky enough to view a traditional Kabuki performance. Not to be missed is the Imperial Palace which is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan set amongst stunning greenery - an unusual sight in this city. However, if you wish to visit you will have to plan your holiday dates very carefully as the grounds are only open to the public on December 23rd (the Emperor’s birthday) and January 2nd. Fancy Christmas and New Year in Tokyo?

Adrenaline

We have already touched on the technology which is in abundance in Tokyo but in terms of adrenaline you should be prepared for some experiences which you will never forget. Why not visit the Ikebukuro Bosaikan Centre for Disaster Prevention where you can experience their earthquake simulator. Earthquakes are no fun, we know that, but it is fun to pretend! Other attractions include free-falling from 35 storeys high. Now I would no recommend you do this from your 35 storey office block. Save it for Tokyo where you can experience the 4G gravitational force on your body. This has double the effect of a standard roller coaster, so I wouldn’t eat that sushi I was talking about before directly before you attempt this.

Fireworks

You probably didn’t know that fireworks are a huge part of life in Tokyo. Well, they actually have some of the most impressive fireworks displays in the world. In particular, throughout August you can experience any one (or all) of the seven festivals attended by tens of thousands of locals and tourists who gather to marvel at these displays. You are probably thinking ’seen one fireworks display, seen them all’. I can guarantee that you have never seen a fireworks display until you are flying in a helicopter amongst the twinkling lights. You can do that in Tokyo.

Massages

Massages are a part of everyday life in Tokyo, as common amongst men as they are amongst women. Similarly men attend spas regularly (although British men may wish to note that most Japanese men go naked to these places).

Kimonos

There is nothing like a traditional Japanese kimono. They are like pieces of art. Granted they are not cheap and you can buy versions in the UK but they are nowhere near the same quality as you will purchase in Japan. You can expect to pay around £90 for a second hand kimono and £350 for a brand new one.

The Weird and Wonderful

You have probably realised by now that there are plenty of wacky experiences to be had in Tokyo but those that we have mentioned so far are only the tip of the iceberg. They push the boundaries further by offering you the opportunity to be chained to the bars of the Alcatraz ER club (but you will have to pay 1,000 yen for the pleasure). Tokyo presents you with options you never knew your life was missing.

It’s Tokyo!

Enough said!

A person who is a bit of a, well, ’scardey-cat’ will probably like to sit next to someone who is calm and always at ease.

‘Haha, you’re hilariously bad at this flying thing ain’t ya.’

The last thing anyone wants to hear from a complete stranger is that they’re bad at something. Discussing your new buddy’s dislike of flying due to their nerves could turn them into an angry Hulk-like monster.

‘WE’RE GOING TO DIIIIIIEEEE!… joke!’

Nothing annoys anyone more than someone who ends their sentences by pausing and then saying, ‘joke!’. You’ll probably get slapped by a confident person and make the scared one, well, scared. The scared one will begin crying and then you’ll feel embarrassingly compelled to explain to them that it really was a ‘joke’ because they’ll be crying like Niagara Falls.

‘Ohhh, look, we’ve got poison on the menu! A la carte!’

The threat of being killed and then furthering the pain of your frightened friend by demonstrating your lack of ability to speak half-decent French is simply unasked for. Why do this to someone? The scared one won’t be eating and on a flight to Australia, which is approximately twenty-four hours long, they could potentially starve.

Steward: ‘Would you like a Bloody Mary, sir?’
Passenger next to scared person: ‘No… but I may fancy a bloody murder.’ [followed by a wink]

The company of a mass murderer is everyone’s nightmare, but particularly those that are afraid of flying. What could possibly worse than dying because of the airplane? Dying because of the person sitting next to you. They don’t know who you are, they’ve never met you but they could be making this assumption, thus if you say this to them when offered a drink, be a bit considerate.

‘Oh dear, I think the wing is coming off. Maybe we should say something?’

Being concerned and then doing nothing about it is typically British. Despite this, if the wing is ‘really’ coming off the plane, it is a good idea not to inform your frightened acquaintance but to attract the steward’s attention instead. Then everyone on the plane can go crazy over your observation and attempt to use the ‘floaty’ boat as shown in the demonstration video at the beginning of all flights. Then your friend can freak out again after the sudden shock of leaving the aircraft is replaced by a boating holiday in the middle of the ocean where no one can possibly help.

‘Have you seen ‘Snakes on a Plane’?’

Mentioning a movie is fairly normal in conversation. However, mentioning it to someone who is scared of flying is very mean - especially to those who are afraid of snakes as well. Unless you are as badass as Samuel L. Jackson and can reassure them, be careful when approaching the topic of film with your new passenger friend, as they will appreciate the prevention of a manic panic attack very much.

‘The last time I was on a plane it actually crashed - yeah, I know!’

It is not time to get all nostalgic, is it now? Citing those vivid memories of crashing into the water with a massive explosion of fire and drama, all conjured up by your amazing storytelling skills. A person who is afraid of flying will not appreciate being told this type of story.

‘Hmm… I think we’re going the wrong way…’

Self-explanatory. A person who is afraid of flying will simply not want to fly again - especially with you sat beside them for twelve hours.

As Stealth Bombers fly they detect and track different frequencies and signals, using a mixture of infrared, audio and visual sensors, and radio frequencies. Stealth Bombers are also literally invisible to radar thanks to the shaping of their outer shell.

The sleek but very complex design of all Stealth Bombers is necessary to reduce the amount of air the craft will take up - the smaller the better, even when talking about something as big as an aircraft. The design is not only to reduce the size, but also the amount of heat, emissions and sounds the craft make. Stealth Bombers are are equipped with secondary defenses such as Chaff Grenades, the purpose of Chaff grenades are to scramble any tracking devices. As the Chaff Grenades explode they release tiny pieces of aluminum and metallised glass or plastic. Any radar or tracking device will pick up the tiny fragments, making it seem like there are many more targets than there really are - think of static on a television.

The Horten Ho 229 is believed to be the very first Stealth Bomber, designed by Reimar and Walter Horten and built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik during World War 2. Engineers who designed the first few Stealth Bombers had only one thing in mind: size, to help with minimal radar cross-section (how easily an object can be picked up on radar) whilst in flight. The main problem with this was how unstable the craft would become. With help from a fly-by-wire (automatic handling of the craft, even when the pilot is flying) computer, small adjustments are made to keep the Bomber level, a trend that has continued to this day.

Newer models of Stealth craft such as the F-22 can perform flight maneuvers that would match jet fighters but still maintain the stealth technology to stay hidden from radars and other tracking devices. Due to their size, the payload (amount of weaponry carried by the vehicle) for Stealth Bombers such as the F-117 is significantly smaller than a non-stealth fighter. Once engaged in combat, Stealth Bombers are more exposed to radar.

The bodies of Stealth Bombers, specifically the B-2, are built out of various materials to absorb as much radio signal as possible. Specific points are painted with radio wave absorbent paint, to reduce the amount of stray waves.

The big question is which would be better? With the DS you will have hours of fun playing any new Pokemon game, starting off with a new Pokemon, leveling your Pokemon up, catching new Pokemon, gathering items, battling a few Pokemon Trainers or even a Gym Leader. Or, if Pokemon isn’t your type of game, why not fully immerse yourself in the wonderful detective world of Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Filled with unique and lovable characters, unravel the mystery of Hotel Dusk while solving matchstick puzzles.

One of the best handhelds for enjoyment and convenience is the new PSP go. Unlike the PSP 3000 and Nintendo DS, all your PSP games are downloaded onto the 16gb internal flash drive or a micro memory stick. The PSP go can also store mp3 files and the latest in movie releases. Feel like tearing the city up in one of the Grand Theft Auto games? Feel like decapitating enemies or taking on legendary Greek mythology creatures? then God Of War Chains Of Olympus is for you. Or sit back and enjoy the classic that is Final fantasy 7 or even one of the newer Final Fantasies, or download Silent Hill Shattered Memories for a re-imagining of the classic horror Silent Hill. All games on the Playstation Network cost the same if not less that a retail copy of the game. You may even find cheaper games available for download. Sony are planning to re-launch the PSP go and bundle ten free games for download.

Even though the DS uses cartridges for the games, you can buy plenty of different carry cases, but unlike the PSP go you wont have access to movie and audio files, limiting the amount of entertainment provided. The DS Lite also has backwards compatibility with Gameboy Advance games, broadening the amount of playable portable games to well over a thousand. Plus, access to the DSiware store available on the DSi and DSi Xl takes you to a virtual shop where you can purchase short yet very good games, ranging from between 200 - 1,000 DSi points, including a few free ones.

The Nintendo DS is the more family-orientated handheld, so even adults will find enjoyment from most of the games. Children around 15 years old will get the most enjoyment from the DS, with plenty of games and interactive games designed for both boys and girls, from the classic Super Mario to caring for a virtual dog in Nintendogs. If you want more graphically pleasing and more mature games the PSP go is perfect. It has advantages over the DS with accessories such as Extended Batteries, audio file playback, storing all your games via the internal memory and, of course, movie playback. Whichever you choose, there will be plenty to get you through the flight.

North American X-15

The X-15 is a rocket powered aircraft powered by a single Thiokol XLR99-RM-2 liquid fueled rocket engine piloted by a single person. The X-15 has a maximum speed of 5,420 miles per hour and can climb 60,000 meters per minute. The X-15 was fairly small in comparison to other aircrafts at only 55 feet in length with a wingspan of 22 feet, but this had advantages. NASA designed and used these aircrafts to reach altitudes of 328,084 feet, known as Spaceflight, to bring back data on aircraft designs. Only three X-15’s were built, with eight pilots reaching spaceflight thirteen times; these pilots gained astronaut status.

SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird is a reconnaissance craft capable of traveling at a blistering speed of 2,293 miles per hour. Powered by two Prat and Whitney J58-1 continuous after burning 32,500 ibf (pound per force) engines, allowing the Blackbird to climb a staggering 11,810 feet per minute. The Blackbird is just over 107 feet in length with a 55 feet wingspan, weighing 30,600 kilograms when stationary and a massive 77,000 kilograms when loaded with fuel and two pilots. The Blackbird can carry 1,000 more kilograms before it would be unable to takeoff. Some of a certain age may recognize the Blackbird from the popular cartoon X-Men. The Blackbird has some innovative features designed by Clarence Johnson, one of which is the ability to execute evasive maneuvers just by acceleration. The Blackbird production was stopped in 1998, but still holds a record for ‘Fastest Air-Breathing Manned Aircraft’. Pilots nicknamed the Blackbird ‘Habu’ after a deadly pit viper found in Japan.

Bell X-2

The X-2, also known as the Starbuster, was specially designed to investigate the characteristics of flight whilst traveling over 2,000 miles per hour. This is the aircraft that has allowed engineers to brake new barriers in speed. Being 37 feet in length and built out of stainless steel and a copper alloy, engineers managed to find a material that would withstand the heat pilots would face whilst traveling over 3,000 miles per hour. During its production between 1955 and 1956 only three were built. Due to design faults whilst trying to find materials that could cope with the intense heat, one of the X-2s crashed in flight - all data was lost. When another X-2 was built three years later, the data could be collected and used in future spacecraft. With the data collected from X-2s, aircrafts can cope with heat produced while traveling at much higher speeds.

Concorde

Concorde may not be the fastest aircraft ever built, but it was the fastest aircraft to carry people going on holiday. The Concorde was a SST (Supersonic Transport) aircraft designed to transport people to different countries much faster than, say, a Jumbo Jet. In the 1950s the combined efforts of Britain, America, France and the Soviet Union created the design for Concorde, which reached speeds of 1,450 miles per hour, powered by four Royles Royce SNECMA Olympus afterburning turbojets. With a body length of 202 feet and a wingspan of 84 feet, Concord could carry between 90 to 120 passengers. The Drooping Nose took a long time to design due to the need for the front of Concorde to be as aerodynamic as possible, as well as letting the pilot see during takeoff.

An unlimited budget makes it easy to determine the benefits of flying First Class. The tough economy has made even those that normally choose First Class begin to review the value. Travelers with limited budgets have to seriously balance the benefits of flying First Class with the benefits of putting that money towards more vacation amenities.

Some Benefits for First Class

Goodie Bags - many airlines give their First Class passengers special gifts. Some of these goodies include lip balm, shaving cream, toothpaste and toothbrush, socks, pen and paper, mints and body oils.

Sleeping Space - First Class passengers definitely have an advantage when it comes to sleeping. Many airlines provide fully-reclining seats in First Class. Pillows, shades and even pajamas can also make sleeping more enjoyable in First Class.

Meals - dining in First Class can be almost as enjoyable as some of the top restaurants. Meals may include lamb chops, lobster, steak or even five-course dining experiences. Dessert will also be something to write home about.

Leg Room - the seat sizes are much larger in First Class and the room between seats is also larger. This means that First Class travelers have more room to stretch out, making a long flight more comfortable.

Who Benefits from First Class Tickets

Almost anyone would enjoy the luxury of flying First Class. Travelers that are taller than the average person will appreciate the extra leg room found in First Class travel. Long-distance travelers will also benefit from the extra space provided in First Class.

Other travelers that might benefit by upgrading to First Class are those that need the added privacy of First Class travel. A working trip in First Class can give the traveler extra time to finish a project while traveling.

What to do with the Money

First Class travel raises the cost of any trip. Even searching around for less expensive First Class can make the cost of a trip jump by as much as eleven percent, just for travel. That means that forgoing the cost of First Class tickets can give the traveler up to $1,000 (USD) for a short flight from one East Coast of the United States to the West Coast. Flying to Asia from the United States in the Economy Class might save the traveler as much as $5,000.

Travelers that are looking for that First Class experience without the budget-breaking price can search the internet for discount tickets. Business Class can also provide many of the same amenities without the same price.

Economy Class is still the cheapest way to travel. Most of the time, the amount of money spent on the flight would be better invested in the holiday or vacation. That extra $1,000 to $5,000 could extend the length of the vacation or even upgrade accommodations. The cost of the First Class ticket may not be the greatest value in the world. That extra expense can take an ordinary travel experience and make it extraordinary. But many people would rather put that extra money towards the destination.

Black boxes are made of materials that allow them to handle just about anything that might be thrown at them. The armour that sits around the boxes has been measured to take around 5,000 pounds of force for up to five minutes. The strength of the materials that protect the black boxes is so great that many people wonder why airplanes are not made out of the same material. Understanding the purpose of the black box and the making of the black box will help you see that making airplanes in the same manner would not be a practical design.

The little black box used in airplanes has been designed to not only survive a crash but also to continue to function after that crash. There are typically two black boxes on airplanes: the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. The purpose of both boxes is to answer questions in the event of a problem or a crash. The boxes have also been designed to survive submersion in water for up to 30 days. There are also tests on the box so that they can survive flames and heat, even in the smouldering wreckage of a plane.

Often in the event of airline accidents, the black boxes will be the only things to survive the crash. The information stored on the boxes provides investigators with valuable information to help understand the moments leading up to the wreck. Information gained from the black boxes can help to prevent more accidents in the future.

Information from the airplane’s systems and the conversations with the pilot and co-pilot are recorded onto the black boxes as digital information. These recorders are housed inside a series of boxes that are stacked together to form the protective shell for the recordings.

An aluminum housing provides a thin layer of protection to help hold the memory cards in place. The next layer of insulation protects against high heat. This thermal protection of dry-silica keeps the memory boards safe during fires. The final layer of protection is the outer shell of stainless steel. This outer armor may also be made of titanium.

Most black boxes measure only about 5 x 6 x 9 inches (or 270 inches cubed). The weight of this small box comes out to close to nine pounds. If the airplane was designed with the same structure it would weigh more than the tires, landing gear or even the runways could support.

The term ‘black box’ does not describe the box itself. It relates to idea that the internal workings of the box are not easy to access. The inside of the box is black to the average person. Even those workers that recover black boxes from accidents have to work to gain access to the information that it holds. Most black boxes are painted orange to make it easy to find them in the event of a crash.

The introduction of the black box started as far back as the 1940s. Problems with technology caused a delay in the mandatory use of the black boxes. The new black boxes used in airlines today became widespread in the 1990s. The boxes are stored in the rear of the airplane because the rear of the airplane will actually be moving at a slower rate after the initial impact of the nose during an accident.

Black boxes are made with materials that protect stored information from heat and from impact during the event of an accident or crash. These boxes help investigators understand the reasons behind a crash that can be translated into new measures to protect airplanes in the future.

It’s bad news for the Brits too. Despite the congestion charge, few Londoners will be surprised to find their city comes in fourth overall, while Edinburgh and Belfast also make the top ten. And before the Welsh start singing the praises of their roads, they should take note that Cardiff at number 26 is one of a further five UK cities that make the overall list.

Driving in much of France is a happier experience - once you can escape Paris and Marseilles no other French city is listed. And it’s not just Germany’s autobahns that allow traffic to flow smoothly - its most congested city, Munich, comes just 28th in the list. But once they’ve made it into the table, there’s no stopping the Germans: Essen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Berlin are all between 31st and 38th place. With six further cities in the lower levels of the table, Germany has a greater number of congested cities than anywhere else - though this may reflect the number of large cities the country has.

Residents of Spain and the Nordic countries are most likely to escape the jams. Only three Scandinavian cities make the top 20 - Oslo is 16th with 26% of roads congested, while its Swedish counterpart Stockholm has just six percent. And so much for our preconceptions of angry Latin drivers hooting their horns in fury. In Spain it seems gridlock is relatively rare. Barcelona comes in seventeenth place, but its other major cities are all in the lower echelons of the table. Bottom of the table of 59 cities - and therefore best for drivers - comes Zaragoza, where just one and a half percent of the roads are clogged.

The table has been produced by leading satnav provider TomTom. Rankings are based on how fast cars can travel on a city’s road network - as measured by the anonymous speed data TomTom collects every day from drivers who use its devices.

(Cities are ranked according to how fast cars can travel on the street network. A city’s traffic is defined as congested if drivers can travel at only 70% or less of the posted speed limit, meaning that an hour-long commute would include 20 minutes or more of significant delays. The percentages refer to the percentage of main roads (four highest road classes) that experienced congestion as defined above during a day and only cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants were included.)

The top ten is as follows: