Blogging Abroad

If my descriptions about puttering around on motorbikes in Saigon last summer were not enough for you, here is a great video by Jeremy Clarkson on the topic. Despite being produced in the early 90s (judging by the Porsche 911 in the video and Clarkson’s youthful waistline that’s about two-thirds what it is now), Vietnam in the video looked just like it did during my 2006 trip.
One reason for that is the classic Honda Dream is just as ubiquitous now as it was one, two, or three decades ago, and of course most of the buildings haven’t changed. It was a real kick to recognize many of the streets and intersections from “the Paris of the Orient” (Saigon) in the video.
The video is here (24:33, courtesy of Google Video).

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Original post by Felix and plugin by Elliott Back

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Get your votes in by 2nd Feb
Sorry, I’m just not as cool as many of the other finalists (although what do you expect from a blog about trains), but I wanted to say THANKS to everyone who nominated this blog so it got in front of the judging panel. It’s now reached the finals for the 2007 Weblog Awards - The Bloggies - under Best British or Irish Blog.
This is the third year the blog’s reached the finals under this category and it’s great being a finalist. Over the years I’ve been amazed at how brilliant you’ve all been with sending in funny stories, nightmare journeys, photographs of Tube roundels not in their natural homes, pictures of Tube fashion victims to add to the growing Flickr set, videos, news, random subway stories from around the world and generally for being great commenters, emailers, visitors and lurkers.
The blog […]

Original post by Annie Mole and software by Elliott

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My Cannondale family expands again. This time I picked up a late 90s “flaming yellow” F700. The bicycle — like Carrie the Commuter Bike — is comprised of a CAAD3 frame, but this one is the mountain bike version. Yes, finally I own a real mountain bike!
This is not to slight The Tank, my virtually indestructible Raleigh M300 that is sitting in my friend Adam’s garage in California right now. It’s just that without front suspension, The Tank wasn’t the most optimal for really gnarly singletrack. Ditto for The Tanks’ 33 lbs. or whatever it weighs. In contrast, this F700 — despite being equipped with Cannondale’s proprietary HeadShok suspension — only weighs 25.2 lbs. That is one pound lighter than the Reynolds recumbent and even 0.2 lbs. lighter than Carrie when the latter is equipped with a rear rack, lock, pannier, and rat-cage […]

Original post by Felix and powered by Img Fly

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London Underground blame Metronet, Metronet blame London Underground
I was surprised to see that London Underground actually admitting that something could have been done to prevent the delays thousands of passengers experienced yesterday.

“Cold weather and a threat of snow were forecast and Metronet chose not to undertake the necessary prevention work overnight,” a spokesman said.
“This includes running special trains to clear snow and ice from tracks and junctions and having extra technical staff available.
“This failure to deal with the forecast cold weather led directly to much of the problems on the Tube.”
But Metronet blamed London Underground, arguing that it had deemed the risk of severe weather to be small.
My favourite Flickr picture from yesterday’s snow.
From annagfraser’s snowy London set

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Original post by Annie Mole and software by Elliott Back

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Weirdest Tube Map Ever
Many thanks to Max Roberts (author of Underground Maps After Beck and a commenter to this blog) who pointed me in the direction of this map
At first glance you’ll think “Ah it’s some of London’s schools“. But then on closer inspection you wonder what would have possessed a school authority to name its school after a DJ, a soap star or a shouty entrepeneur.
All’s revealed here: “Transport for London (TfL) has produced a special map, based on the Tube map. TfL has replaced the stations with some of the capital’s successful schools, inspirational teachers, excellent GCSE students and successful Londoners who went to state schools, including Rio Ferdinand, Sir Michael Caine, Emma Thompson and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.”
Why? The mind boggles. OK, OK I know, somehow this celebrates London’s kids doing well in GCSE’s. Very well done to them.
But from a geographical […]

Original post by Annie Mole and software by Elliott Back

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It’s snowing in London
Expect to see lots of these today and thanks to Michael W for emailing this to me
You wouldn’t think it ever snowed in England. Check out the TfL site for the latest delays. If your journey was hideous let us know.

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Original post by Annie Mole and plugin by Elliott Back

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Abstract photography is nothing new, and people constantly come up with new — or re-invent old — versions of photography techniques. One of the ones that is going like wild-fire (excuse the pun) around the interwebs at the moment is the art of photographing coloured smoke.
The trend started with the highly talented Graham Jefferey, […]

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Original post by Haje Jan Kamps and powered by Img Fly

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TV stations show court footage
Woolwich Crown Court have released footage of the scenes from July 21st 2005, where alledged Tube bomber Ramzi Mohammed is seen confronted by an off-duty fireman Angus Campbell. I watched the news last night and saw passengers running from the Northern Line carriage at Oval and Mr Campbell stepping in front of a mother and her child who were closest to Mohammed.
When Mohammed legs it from the train, a number of passengers run after him including retired engineer George Brawley who said he “came running up the platform like Linford Christie.”
“I grabbed him by his forearms. I did not know what to do to stop him. But he broke free easily. He got past me without breaking step. I did my best but he was too slippery,” said Mr Brawley.
Another retired man, former soldier Arthur Burton-Garbett, 72, also told the court he leapt […]

Original post by Annie Mole and software by Elliott Back

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Yesterday was another snow day for Fort Collins. Never mind that this time we only received about 1.5″ of new powder and compared to last Saturday’s two-degree day, it was positively “toasty” at 20 degrees F. It was a day where for some snow-weary people may have preferred to stay indoors.
Never fear, because there are plenty of indoor activities to do out here.
For example, on this day, Ryan, Josh and I went bowling. This was Ryan’s idea as it was her b-day. So we met up at Chipper Lanes and put on those colorful, flat-bottomed shoes that bowling alleys love to carry so that their customers can look like clowns. Then it was time to throw some balls in the general direction of the bowling pins.
Josh and I showed off our bowling prowess by picking out the most manly bowling balls we could find (15 pounds) […]

Original post by Felix and powered by Img Fly

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Yesterday was another snow day for Fort Collins. Never mind that this time we only received about 1.5″ of new powder and compared to last Saturday’s two-degree day, it was positively “toasty” at 20 degrees F. It was a day where for some snow-weary people may have preferred to stay indoors.
Never fear, because there are plenty of indoor activities to do out here.
For example, on this day, Ryan, Josh and I went bowling. This was Ryan’s idea as it was her b-day. So we met up at Chipper Lanes and put on those colorful, flat-bottomed shoes that bowling alleys love to carry so that their customers can look like clowns. Then it was time to throw some balls in the general direction of the bowling pins.
Josh and I showed off our bowling prowess by picking out the most manly bowling balls we could find (15 pounds) […]

Original post by Felix and software by Elliott Back

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