Radio v2.0

Back in April 2005 I gave a plugged BBC Radio1's internet streaming radio service. Well that still rocks - Annie, Fergie, PeteT etc still bring you the some of the finest tracks.

Since then Web 2.0 has really taken off. What is Web 2.0 - who really knows. Hard to define- but there are examples. Del.icio.us, gmail, digg etc. Don't worry about what it all means, just that it's supposed to make a more social and better net experience. Well as long as you got a broadband connection that is :). 512K probably the min you need. Enough waffle get on over to www.pandora.com.

It's run by the people from the Music Genome project. To summarise it's a radio site where you pick a song and it automatically makes a radio station for you with similar music. You can give different songs the thumbs up/down, skip tracks and more. I can't do it justice. Really simple to get started and you don't need to sign up for an account. Music streams at 128kbps so it's decent especially if you're only listening from your laptop. If you're looking for a precreated station check out my Groovalicious radiostation. Full of old skool funk with a balance between the old and the remakes. As I use it more I love it more. It learns what you like and what you don't. After a few hours it's really cranking some good tunes.

Below is a pic of a recent dish that I cooked. After looking at the pic, I realise it doesn't look as appetising as it tastes. Believe me this stuff is tasty. 80% of the recipe comes from a cook book called "one pot". I had to give it some schmu love coz I didn't have all the ingredients. Oh yeah nearly forgot - it's a pork & sausage bake. I put some risotto in there to give it a bit more body. Yummm...now go on over and check out my Groovalicious radiostation.

 

Commuting

Ever since I moved to the US, elevator talk not only includes the weather but how long your commute is to work. Mine is 20miles / 25-45mins depending on traffic. When you hear how long some people's commutes are then you realise how dependant this country is on gas/petrol.

I try not to post things that can be found on social sites such as digg, but this one is amazing. 186 miles each way to work everyday. This is insane. You can go direct to the article here or to the digg reference here.

Phuket Photos

I've updated my flickr page with photos from SY & my holiday in Phuket. Go directly to the set here.

Forty five

45 is the number of hours that I have spent in the air in the last week. That's purely airtime, not including transit times and getting to the airport. I've flown American, United, JAL and JetStarAsia. My conclusion is that when flying, it definitely is the end and not the journey that I look forward to.

American airlines you suck. If you weren't my company's preferred airline I would not choose to fly you. The last two flights I have spent running through LAX and Narita to make your connecting flights. Leaving Chicago for Narita you managed to have another 'technical' issue - this time with luggage - and were late into Narita. Touching down at 5:00 and trying to connect to a 5:30 flight is interesting. I was rush by bus to the other terminal and ran the length of the terminal (approx 1km) to make my flight. The only thing amusing was that the flight stewardess ran faster than me in heels (I didn't have heels on).

United you need to improve your food.

JetStarAsia you suprised me with how many seats and lack of leg room you can get away with. Well for $50 flights I can put up with this.

JAL your services uphold the hospitality and quality that the Japanese are reknowned for. Kudos to you.

Well gotta scram..time to board my final leg of my holiday back to Chicago. Back in 13hrs :)

30 mins to go...

Well actually it's 3hrs to go before my flight but the limo will be coming in 30mins to pick me up. I'm stoked. I can feel the vacation spirit sweeping over my sleep deprived body. Beginning the packing process at 2am of the day of the flight is not a smart thing to do. Ne'er mind - it's vacation time. Finally I'll have some worthy updates to post on my flickr page!

ORD/NRT/SIN/PKT

That's airport talk for Chicago O'Hare to Tokyo Narita to Singapore Changi to Phuket International.

I'm still trying to get used to saying "vacation" instead of "holiday". For some reason American's only associate the word "holiday" as a national thing that is celebrated. So when I say I'm going on holiday to Singapore & Thailand for 9days they are like "what the?".

I reckon I've put in 9days worth of work this week. Last night I worked until 3am (2hr break from 6-8pm). I treated myself to a 9am sleep in then found myself back at work. I cannot wait for this vacation. Sun, swimming, surg, sea, spas & Su-Yin. Not long to go now.. ..