Blog - foXnoMad

Top 10 Most Bizarre Travel Foods

by Anil Polat | May 29, 2007 | Food | 8

On almost any international trip we’ve certainly encountered some foods that, well, we are just not accustomed to. Even New York and Louisiana are home to two of the top 10 most bizarre travel foods.

Malaysia – Durian; Durian is considered a delicacy in some parts of Malaysia, and has been known to sell for $50 (U.S.) for one fruit. Many people love the taste of durian, but its powerful aroma is so offensive to some that airplanes, trains, and buses often prohibit the fruit in passenger areas.
Madrid, Spain – Callos; A casserole made with blood sausage and tripe, which comes from the intestines of various domestic animals. This dish is popular in Taberna de Antonio Sanchez in Madrid, Spain, where it is often served as tapas, small dishes designed for sharing.

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Use Different Maps To Calculate Business Trip Millage

by Anil Polat | May 29, 2007 | Car | 0

The next time you hit the road on business, make sure to calculate your millage using multiple online map services. For business road trips you are reimbursed for the number of miles driven, not gas bought. Differences in online map services means a variation of an average of 2 miles.

So if you use Google Maps and compare to MapQuest, you might be able to squeeze out a few extra bucks. At 48.5 cents per mile, and a few road trips per year, it adds up.

To maximize the efficiency of your gas millage avoid traffic, find out the weather forecast along the way, or take public transportation.

The Best Hotels For Cheap WiFi

by Anil Polat | May 25, 2007 | Lodging | 0

The wireless Internet train is taking off in more and more places around the world. HotelChatter has compiled a list of the best places to find free WiFi (go Marriot!). One the flip side are the worst places you can stay (boo Intercontinental) [via Lifehacker] and get charged to check your email.

I advice that travelers to most destinations go with their laptop, and several other tech tools. You can remotely access you work or home computer, avoid getting your passwords stolen at Internet Cafes, and Google hack your trip.

How Is Peekvid and the Like Legal?

by Anil Polat | May 25, 2007 | Travel | 0

Sites that allow users to watch current movies and TV shows for free via a stream on the Web, like Peekvid, have been doing so without legal prosecution.

The way that the owners of these sites (including Alluc.org) say since they are not the ones putting up the content, they are not the ones violating the copyright.

Their argument is rooted, ironically, in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act that U.S. lawmakers approved in 1998. The Alluc.org kids, as well as the operators of most sites that let users upload content, argue that they’re not violating copyright law if they’re not the ones putting it up and if they take it down at the copyright holder’s request. It’s the same argument Google is making in its YouTube case.

These sites and the like are great for those who are traveling and want to keep in touch with their favorite shows. Those of you who hate all of this piracy going on should keep in mind that once one site is shut down, 10 others pop up. Not only that, but if the site is hosted in a country that turns a blind eye to this sort of thing (Russia, I’m looking at you) then they will operate indefinitely.

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to catch the next episode of Heros.

Save Green By Being Green: CO2 Saver By Snap

by Anil Polat | May 25, 2007 | Green, Tech | 0

Live Cheap, Save Big writes:

The Snap CO2 Saver is a small free application that automatically adjusts the energy settings on your computer. The CO2 Saver makes your machine runs more efficiently and use less electricity.

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Invisible Multiple Meebo Accounts Hack

by Anil Polat | May 25, 2007 | Tech | 0

The foXnoMad instant messaging favorite Meebo lets users? provides free basic including encryption, yet makes it difficult to manage your combine IM accounts individually. In particular, making an account invisible while the rest are public online is a hassle – but there is an easy way to do it.

Simply start by making each account log on as ‘invisible’. Then make all of the account available (“I’m available”). For the accounts you want to keep invisible, do a sign out and then sign them back in. They’ll revert to the default of ‘invisible’ mode while you are visible with the rest of your accounts.