Edd

Good point. I can’t realistically read and listen to spoken word at the same time. In my second week, when I started having more cause to read and and write during the journey, I found I switched from podcasts to music.

Thanks for the tips. I’d not come across ‘Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything’ or ‘Seminars About Long Term Thinking’ before, so I’ll be sure to try them out.

I very much like to listen to podcasts when I drive. On the other hand I am surprised that you say you can read, write, and think, AND listen on the train at the same time. The focus of your attention is not on the audio probably. But that is ok, as long as you realize that you lose 90% of what is being said.

Here’s the list of the podcasts/vidcasts that I like. Many of them are defunct, but they are worth listening to nonetheless, with the additional advantage of knowing what you get in total, and pacing it as you want:

alt.NPR: Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything (****)
The Amazing Show Starring James Randi
Boing Boing Boing
Boing Boing’s Get Illuminated
IT Conversations (****)
Seminars About Long Term Thinking (*****)
The Show With Ze Frank
TED Talks

Let me know if you sample some of them and if you like them.

David

I also just noticed Last.fm are doing podcasts of free music tailored to your taste through your profile. I’ve not tried it out yet, but might be worth a go a for discovering some new music, see http://www.last.fm/home/freemp3s.

I also can’t wait til they send you out to the USA (NYC, of course) so we can play together again!

Here’s my podcast recommendation: Radio Ecoshock.
It’s a Canadian show but the latest episode focuses largely on the UK.

I’m on expenses, so price is not quite such a concern :)

And I do have a BBC badge – so the bus would work.

However, since the Jubilee line at Waterloo was shut this morning – AGAIN – and I had to catch a cab, I’m beginning to wonder how speedy it really is.

Clapham next week, perhaps.

Well I have a range of podcasts which has only got longer since I got a device capable of playing videos. Some of these might just be worth your time, so feel free to evaluate:

- Sweettt (Matt Simpson and Luis Suarez, although so far they are basically podcasting about how they intend to podcast, which is a little insular)
- Girls Gone Geek
- Attack of the Show (they have range of video content with e.g. gadget reviews in the Gadget Pr0n segment, and others, should be in iTunes)
- MacBreak Weekly
- TUAW talkcast
- Uncontrolled Vocabulary
- Redmonk
- The Toadcast (highly recommended if you want to discover new indie bands, a little long, and a lot of music + NSFW ranting)

Incidentally, on a completely different note, Andrew F – I was following you down the escalator at Waterloo the other day… shortly before arriving at a crush in the Jubilee line escalator and deciding to take a longer route around. Oh, how I remember that Waterloo/Bond St/White City commute (although when office locations moved I ended up going to Shepherds Bush Central Line instead of White City). I guess I will wait for an invitation before I head back there… ;-)

There are a couple of potential drawbacks though:

• My final hop from Kensington Olympia to White City is by way of a free BBC shuttle bus service, on which nearly everyone has their passes out and ready to show the bus driver. If you’re commuting to White City, should I infer that you have a BBC pass?
• As you’ve seen, there are not many direct trains to Clapham. There’s a bit gap between 6am and 8:08 (e.g. your 8:18, the one that arrives at Clapham at 9:14). This late start means I don’t get to White City until 10 am. From Winchester, your earlier non-Waterloo trains seem to be direct at 06:18, via Basingstoke at 06:31 or via Woking at 07:55. Going via Waterloo and bouncing back to Clapham is possible, though it obviously takes time and means you’re not on the cheaper ‘not London’ route.

When I get my season ticket, I’m going to go for a 1 year travel card (£4668) rather than 1 year Southampton Parkway < -> Shepherd’s Bush ticket (£4372). For the additional £6 per week I get access to go via Waterloo, use of the Underground etc. Even if I do continue to mainly go via Clapham and overground it’s is going to be well worth it for the times I can’t, or need a bit more flexibility.