Pandora Radio, sad news

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Jan 082008
 

A few months ago I discovered Pandora Radio…it was a fantastic site that allowed me to enjoy music that I hadn’t heard of before. But then something happened. New draconian license fees basically stopped Pandora and other internet radio stations streaming to outside of the USA, and even their US domestic market has suffered financially. However, Pandora hoped that discussions with PPL and the MCPS/PRS Alliance would allow a financially-sustainable service to the UK so Pandora did not block the UK.

But today I got an e-mail from Pandora with some really sad news. This is part of the text:

Both the PPL (which represents the record labels) and the MCPS/PRS Alliance (which represents music publishers) have demanded per track performance minima rates which are far too high to allow ad supported radio to operate and so, hugely disappointing and depressing to us as it is, we have to block the last territory outside of the US.

So there it is. One of the most exciting and innovative companies has been forced to block streaming to everyone outside of the USA. I’m sure Pandora will continue fighting for what is right but they will need support from others. Remember, Pandora are a fully legal company and do not promote any forms of piracy. They do pay royalty fees. They’re the good guys.

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

Photos of Kulvinder Singh Matharu – Part 1

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Jan 052008
 

[update: most of the links below are now out of date. But all the photos can now be found at http://www.metalvortex.com/images/Misc Photos/Matharu/]

OK, this is a bit of a vanity post but some people have asked for photos of me so I’ve gone through my published photos and have collated the links here. Someone also accused me of not smiling in my photos…you judge! I think you’ll find that most of the pre-2001 photos are of low quality as I hadn’t taken up photography as a hobby until 2001 and I’ve only got low resolution scans of the old photos.

Antarctica
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/antarctica/matharu_wideangle.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/antarctica/matharu_and_water.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/antarctica/matharu_at_door.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/antarctica/matharu_wrapped_up.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/antarctica/matharu_and_mountaintop.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/antarctica/matharu_in_yellow.htm

Generic “artistic”
http://www.metalvortex.com/photo_art/matharu/index.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/index.htm

Canada
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/canada/victoria.htm

Tenerife
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/canary/newpage3.htm

Egypt
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/egypt/philae.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/egypt/mtsinai.htm

Hong Kong
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/hongkong/hongkongpark.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/hongkong/taio.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/hongkong/victoriaharbour.htm

Jordan
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/jordan/mountain.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/jordan/mountain1.htm

Laos
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/laos/passport_picture_of_me.htm

Malaysia
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/malaysia/jb/housein.htm

Peru
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/south_america/pages/DSCN2132a.htm

Singapore
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/singapore/group_photo.htm

Thailand
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/thailand/pathom_chedi_replica.htm

USA
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/lincoln.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/seattle_space_needle.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/creolequeen.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/grand1.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/grand.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/yosemite1.htm
http://www.metalvortex.com/myphotos/usa/goldengate.htm

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

Antarctica – Best. Trip. EVAH!

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Jan 022008
 

I recently went on one of those Antarctic cruises in December 2007 spending Christmas out there. The cruise included zodiac landings on the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsular. Of course I took lots of photos and I’ll need time to sort through them and start putting them online…it will take me months! I’ll provide an update when the first series of photos goes online.

Apart from witnessing the amazing scenery and wildlife I made loads of fantastic friends most of whom were single and well travelled people like me…it wasn’t what I was expecting at all! We all had real fun and I miss them all!

One or two persons, with their enthusiasm, energy and kindness, reminded me that there is still so much goodness and joy in this world and that perhaps the world isn’t as doomed as I sometimes imagine. I suppose I’ve spent too much time recently looking at just the negatives and using my blog for criticism that I had almost lost perspective. Too many rants and not enough raves.

I now remember why I started travelling in the first place; to meet people and immerse oneself in various cultures, to be alive and enjoy the wonders of this world! It’s now a New Year…a time for reflection and a refreshed outlook. I’m looking forward to it! So thank you all!

Best. Trip. EVAH!

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

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