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When Hostels Are Terrible {Gadling}
Apr 9th 2012 11:26PM The most annoying part of a hostel experience for me involves two things...
1) EBS: Exploding Bag Syndrome.
One of the worst hostel experiences IMHO, when a roommate can't keep control of their crap - and it spreads like a disease across the floor until you're tip toeing around the room not to step on their junk.
2) Plug hogs
There's always only a limited supply of power plugs in a room, but there's always one who has their devices charging 24x7 in every port. I carry around a travel double adaptor extension board, so there's at least one plug free for me when I need it.
Traveler to be caned for overstaying visa in Singapore {Gadling}
Oct 25th 2010 9:18PM Couldn't agree more. And if you do need to extend your visa, the Singapore Govt. have one of the easiest systems to do it. Simply answer a few questions online, schedule an appointment, and you've normally got the issue sorted in under 15min.
Sorry, but when you go to another country it's your responsibility to be aware of and abide by their laws and regulations. If you're too stupid not to follow them when travelling, then you deserve the punishment they hand out.
OS X 10.7 "Lion" Announced {TUAW.com}
Oct 20th 2010 11:28PM Yawn. Seriously, these are the six features that are supposed to make me upgrade to a new version.
1) App Store: Please, the crap iPhone developers go through to get apps in there won't make it worthwhile for anyone else. Also replicates sites which already do this kind of thing, and will do it much better than what Apple can. The installation method of the store which they claim is a user experience improvement is just catering to the dumb.
2) Mission control: Complete waste of time.
3) Launchpad: Yeah, the dock already does that, and Spotlight makes it as easy as pie to start an app with a simple keyboard command. I don't see how they'll make it viable for keyboard navigation.
4) Full screen apps: Gimmick, next.
Sorry, this upgrade is a complete waste of anyone's time. Unless they announce something spectacular or it will deliver greatly improved performance - forget it and wait for the next release.
Cockpit Chronicles: How to bypass U.S. Customs with Global Entry {Gadling}
Sep 20th 2010 10:07AM Just a shame the US won't expand this to US/Dutch citizens at the moment.
Frankly, anyone with a chip-enabled passport storing biometric data should be able to register if a frequent traveller. Once they've passed risk assessment, throw open the doors.
Reduce the length & time taken to clear customs, enhance customer service, and reduce employee bills - meaning more machines deployed, better perception of US customs, and better outcomes for all travellers.
Sorry, dreaming a little there.
Ryanair CEO questions the need for the co-pilot - wants to replace them with flight attendants {Gadling}
Sep 7th 2010 7:00AM Can we please get some factual reporting, rather than just reporting on this guy's publicity stunt.
The fact is that O'Leary's plans can't be done, won't be done, and aren't likely to happen in any sane universe.
Credit to the Worldmate Travelog for pointing this out - it can't happen thanks to JAR-OPS Subpart N, 1.940(A)(1) & 1.940(A)(2), set by the The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA).
JAA is a multi-national organisation that oversees safety and regulatory standards for more than 40 European countries.
JAR-OPS 1.940 Composition of Flight Crew states;
(a) An operator shall ensure that:
(1) The composition of the flight and the number of the flight crewmembers at designated crew stations are both compliance with, and no less than the minimum specified in, the Aeroplane Flight Manual (AFM)
(2) The flight crew includes additional flight crew members when required by the type of operation, and is not reduced below the number specified in the Operations Manual.
And if one reads the AFM for the Boeing 737-800, it states the aircraft requires a crew of two pilots in the cockpit to operate this type.
So - stop being part of the O'leary media machine, and start being the catalyst for stopping his idiocy. The more outlets which report on this rubbish and don't call O'leary out for trying this on - the more value Ryanair gets, and they'll keep pulling this crap.
New York taxis nudge customers toward 30% tips {WalletPop}
Aug 13th 2010 8:03AM Sorry, but asking for a tip for a service like taxis and the like is a joke.
Sorry, but the rates are designed to give a fair and representative value to the price of using a taxi.
Additionally, credit cards are a part of every day life - and customers paying by these reduce the risk of cab drivers being mugged or assaulted for their takings. By absorbing the credit card fees as you're legally required to, you're buying some safety and security for your income.
Any cab drivers whining about this should be kicked out of the business, quickly. It's a disservice to the paying public.
VW Passat takes the red pill, jacks into Nokia's Terminal Mode (video) {Engadget}
Jul 14th 2010 7:37AM @shreyas Couldn't agree more. Sorry, but Nokia's are on their way out - as a mobile brand they are dead in the water, and they have their rubbish N Series handsets a-la N97 to blame for that.
Shame VW couldn't find a better partner.
Nokia N8 to be final Symbian N Series device, all MeeGo from here on out {Engadget}
Jun 23rd 2010 9:38AM @chiefy Thank christ, took them long enough to admit the need for this change and have the cojones to do it.
Nokia X5 square slider gets official in Singapore (update: video!) {Engadget}
Jun 14th 2010 2:31AM What was the designer on when they came up with this device? Crack? Cocaine?
Its horrible. There, I've said it.
Concorde may once again fly - thanks to $22 million and a lot of hard work {Gadling}
Jun 1st 2010 4:24PM I also must disagree. Sure, age may have wearied her but it is still a fascinating example of technological achievements which are still ahead of their time.
I think that so many people want to see the Concorde live on, simply because of what it represents, and to help keep the dream and potential future of passenger supersonic flight alive.
