Umbrella left behind...

Each Wednesday, I share five interesting blog posts from around the Internet that I think are worth reading. Here is this week’s collection.

We start off with Trent Hamm who discussing his “buy it for life” approach. You could save money and buy cheap products, but they tend to break and need to be replaced. The thing is that products that last aren’t cheap; they require a bigger up-front investment and you may not see the benefit of this added cost right away. The same can be said about relationships, community standing, and professional success. You don’t see the rewards initially, but the bigger investment pays off in the long run.

On the complete flip side of that, Scott Young offers us some great tips for cheap travel. People think they have to break the bank to see the world, but there are ways to save money. I’m not a rich man, but I’ve been able to find ways to visit such places as Paris and Maui in the last couple of years. You don’t need high-end accommodations and high-end services.

Continuing on the topic of travel, we turn to Blogdramedy who has gathered together several traveler complaints actually received by Thomas Cook vacations. For example, one tourist was “disgusted that almost every restaurant served curry” when he or she was on holiday in India. Another was upset that a water park excursion didn’t mention they needed to bring their own swimsuits. And then there’s the person who complained all the taxi drivers in Spain spoke Spanish.

Different people from around the world view the world differently. A typical North American may be grossed out by offal or could be turned off by deep fried insects sold by a street-side cart. However, as Megan Willett points out, there are many “All-American foods” that non-Americans may find “completely gross.” I can see how some people may be turned off by casseroles, pop tarts or corn dogs, but how can you hate on bacon? Everyone loves bacon, right?

Technology is amazing, but we need amazing people with amazing ideas to move it along. John Biehler is one of the foremost experts on 3D printing and he recently offered his views on the current state of 3D printing. It’s getting more affordable and more accessible by the day, allowing hobbyists and enthusiasts to effectively print just about anything they want. I’ve seen 3D vinyl records, 3D iPhone cases, and so much more. You can even do 3D scanning with an Xbox Kinect and some software!