Blogging Abroad

Virtual Tube systems
I know close to jib all about Second Life, the virtual world which has millions of people trading, buying, selling and generally living another life online. However, thanks to Andy Green, I’ve learnt that there’s a Tube station on Second Life too.
Please tell me that this is just a fascia though and that there isn’t actually a Tube line that you can travel on? Or is it something that could potentially develop if people wanted to “build” one? Who would own it and would you have to pay to travel on it? I’m assuming there’s a currency in Second Life, but are there virtual Oystercards? Personally I can’t think of anything worse than travelling on a virtual underground. The real one is bad enough, so why would you want to put yourself through this in a virtual world?
Speaking of simulated Tube experiences, Londonist […]

Original post by Annie Mole and software by Elliott Back

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Here’s an amusing (and inspiring!) documentary (14:38 on YouTube). The film “illustrates the challenges encountered and overcome by a group of dedicated musicians seeking to perform in Yosemite” and includes some rock climbing scenes. Brilliant stuff! Thanks to Michele for sending me this one.

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Original post by Felix and powered by Img Fly

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by sara bertoni
ELLE STYLE AWARDS 2007 at Energetica
The most talked about party of the Amsterdam Fashion Week was the ELLE STYLE AWARDS. And that wasn’t because of their cocktails (more about them later).
The Elle Style Awards started in 2004 and are growing bigger and bigger every year. This year, they were held at the museum Energetica in Amsterdam on the second day of the Amsterdam fashion week. Sponsored by H&M, Nokia, Frieda and Nissan, the Elle Style Awards aim is to choose the best up coming styling talent of the year.
After a strict selection, there were only 5 finalists left. H&M provided the basis clothing with 10 items and they could complete their high fashion catwalk creations with national and international vintage design. They were backed up by Elle’s own stylists Esther Coppoolse and Bonnie Orleans Voss.
Finalists were: - Sophia Bentoh- Danny Daniel- Patricia Giesbers- Eveline du Pon- Auke […]

Original post by Rhiannon Davies and a wordpress plugin by Elliott

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Sheriff Ken and Unions can’t agree to stay out late
Looks like plans to have the Tube running for an extra 30 minutes at night on Fridays and Saturdays have been put on ice, as Ken Livingstone says the rail unions pay demands to keep it running are “prohibitive“.

We’re likely to still see plenty of these
Ken had planned to get Tubes running on Friday and Saturday nights until 1am from May 2007. This is after a public consultatation which attracted 54,000 responses, with the majority in favour of the late night service. The changed timetable would have meant a boost London’s “late night economy” (pubs, clubs & eateries). Although British Transport Police were gearing up to cope with the extra “business“.
Ken offered what he claims to be an “incredibly generous” salary deal that guaranteed staff an extra three days annual leave. But both the RMT and Aslef have […]

Original post by Annie Mole and powered by Img Fly

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Usually when it comes to progressive issues — especially those pertaining to the great outdoors — California leads the way. However, here’s something that Colorado is at the very forefront of and is even providing CA some guidance on: “Share the Road” license plates.
Now, at first you might think that this is merely a vanity plate for bicycle-obsessed people such as those who are present en masse in both the Rocky Mountain and Golden States. But the purpose of these plates goes more than sheetmetal deep. For example,

Each special Colorado license plate sold will provide funding to support the Share the Road Education Fund in making roads safer. Some of their programs will include:

- Educating motorists on how to safely share the road- Educating bicyclists on the rules of the road and safe riding- Educating event directors and bicyclists on best practices for event safety- Providing […]

Original post by Felix and powered by Img Fly

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by sara bertoni
Amsterdam Fashion Week kicked off with official opening party that included a martini bar with the unforgettable cocktails. A waitress in a petticoat served champagne and white chocolate strawberries. Then, at the end of the evening, she did the rounds again with French fries for everybody. Well, I was pretty shocked about this, but hey, we are in Holland, don’t forget!
But I’m not going talk about the cocktails… What I would like to tell you about is about the location - the Westergasfabrik - because I think it’s absolutely stunning!
The Westergasfabriek was constructed in 1883 by the British Imperial Continental Gas Association. At the time it was the largest gas works in Amsterdam. Most of the Westergasfabriek buildings were designed by Isaac Gosschalk, in a variation on the ‘Dutch Renaissance’ style. Te Gashouder was designed by engineer Klönne.
After the discovery of natural gas in the 1960s […]

Original post by Rhiannon Davies and powered by Img Fly

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by sara bertoni 
 FASHION WEEK AMSTERDAM 20-28 JANUARY 2007
A fashion week in Amsterdam? All my international friends who work in fashion in Paris, London and Milan couldn’t believe when in 2004 Amsterdam presented the first AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK.
But as Renate Peters (manager at House of Orange Models) said: AIFW is getting bigger, better and more every season! Even the street fashion is picking up – soooo… welcome back AIFW!
Fast forwarding to the present, many prestigious brands, designers and companies have joined. The objective of AIFW is to run talent into business, which makes the number of recent successes very encouraging.
People often ask: “Do you really believe that Amsterdam will take the place of Paris or Milan?” Of course not, but I have to say that more and more Dutch designers, stylists, photographers, models, agencies attract international attention. This results in many brands choosing Amsterdam as their European home, and, […]

Original post by Rhiannon Davies and powered by Img Fly

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A £115 million deal was announced yesterday with the Airwave Radio Network so that there will be be full radio coverage for emergency services at all 125 below ground Underground stations. It will piggyback with the existing Connect digital radio system on the Underground. This is in response to criticism that poor communication hampered rescue efforts after the July 2005 bombings on the Tube.
Investigators from the London Assembly in June last year said there was an over-reliance on the mobile phone network; that the Tube’s radio system was “antiquated” and it was “unacceptable” that rescue teams could not communicate underground.
Evening Standard June 2006“British Transport Police, which has responsibility for policing on the Tube network, currently have radios that work underground, but other emergency services, including the Metropolitan Police, do not have compatible systems and so need to borrow BTP equipment or be accompanied by a BTP officer when underground.
The […]

Original post by Annie Mole and plugin by Elliott Back

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Roundels not on the Tube
Nightclubs seem to be a popular venue for ripping off - sorry - borrowing the Tube Roundel for their logo. We have Piccadilly Circus in Toronto. Daman Albarn’s club in Reyakjavik. A back street club in Napier, New Zealand.
Now we can add Brisbane, Australia to the list:
Ben F said “I found myself in Brisbane, Australia recently, and walking past Edward Street in the heart of the city, I passed a nightclub sporting another ripoff of the LU roundel. I couldn’t resist dobbing them in…“.
Ben appeared not to venture inside, so I checked out the club’s website and the underground motif continued underground
Keep them coming in and I’ll blog and add to the Flickr set.

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Original post by Annie Mole and plugin by Elliott Back

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So you are packing up and heading out for a trip, and want some laid back joints for the flight. That’s awesome, but did your know your iPod can do way more for you than serenade your ear drums?

1. Learn a language:

The latest version of iTunes allows you to download educational podcasts that can teach you the language of your destination. This is basically passive learning, just download, and throw those white buds in your ears. Listen to these on the flight over and you’ll be asking for the bathroom and ordering water like a local in no time. Best of all it’s free!

2. Familiarize yourself with your destination:

Also in the world of podcasting are destination guides. As a traveler I’m sure you have all heard of lonely planet and know the quality of their advice. Well they produce a comprehensive podcast also, download these and you will know what the real deal is in your new host country. These guides and reviews sometimes have real insider information that can’t be attained anywhere else. These are iTunes freebies as well, so freeload that’s what they are there for. Another noteable source for tour guides is iToors.

3. Record your experience:

Make a podcast of your own and email it to your friends back home or post it on your website. The iPod has accessory microphones that you can pick up for about $20. These mikes will allow you to capture sounds anywhere you go, whether it’s the hustle and bustle of a Hong Kong market or the sweet calming waves crashing in Byron Bay Australia.

4. Store your shots:

Running low on memory card space and don’t want to delete any of those precious memories? Just get the photo cable and you can use your iPod as an external hard drive, making room for more of your memories to be captured.

5. Pack a map:

You can upload subway maps from all over the world to your iPod so you won’t be a lost tourist at the subway station. iPodSubwayMaps.com has come with a free download that enables you to get the maps on to your iPod.

PS Don’t forget to pack your charger!

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