The wonders of Technorati

Hands up if you've ever heard of Technorati?

If you read blogs, and by reading this entry your answer is 'yes', then Technorati is a site you should look at. If you blog, then you should definitely head there.

Technorati is a website which gives order to the (often) chaotic, messy and noisy world of blogging. It, essentially, acts as a big catalogue for the 'blogosphere' - a collective term for all the blogs on the internet. 

The site publishes content from blogs, arranging posts based on subject matter - meaning visitors can search the blogosphere to see what's being talked in any particular subject - e.g. mobile phones, Thailand, Britain's Got Talent, or whatever.

As the blogosphere is a pretty crowded place, blogs are ranked in order to give prioritise content from more influential and established bloggers. Thus allowing Technorati to gauge what issues are hot on the web.

So, for those who like to read blogs, Technorati will 'sort the wheat from the chaff' and make sense of the noise of the blogosphere to tell you what topics are trending/popular.

As Technorati is THE place to hear what's going on in the blogosphere, all bloggers should register their blogs on the site. Your blog won't appear unless you do.

It's a very easy process and one of the benefits, which I love, is that you can see who/what is linking to your content - i.e. how influential your blog is. 

For example, I had the honour of featuring in this Globalvoices article on the recent Red Shirt protests, the content was then syndicated on the New York Times website here.

[Globalvoices is another website worth looking at. It contains articles written using news and content from blogs across the globe, often translating from native languages.]

Once your blog is registered, its content will be available on Technorati making the site a forum for broadcasting your posts to a new audience of potential readers.

Technorati does do many other things, including linking to social bookmarking sites (social networks which rate content to show what is popular/hot on the web).

It isn't perfect, I think it could allow more user interaction, for example promoting content you like, to give it a more viral flavour. But as blog resources go, it's one of the best going and a must for bloggers, as I keep saying.

Check it out at www.technorati.com.

Liverpool to play in Bangkok

Thailand is Liverpool crazy, so locals and expats will be excited to hear that Liverpool will play the Thai national team in Bangkok on 22 July. The game is a follow-up to the club's last trip to Thailand in 2003.

The Premiership title chasers will also take on Singapore four days later as part of a pre-season, friendly tour. 

Pre-season friendlies and tours used to be take place against local teams, maybe involving a crossing to Ireland or, for the lucky ones, an exotic destination in mainland Europe, somewhere like Belgium.

These days however, money talks loudly and the pre-season tour to Asia, Africa, America or other Premiership hungry hotspot is a manditory merchandising and promotions effort for any leading club. Football is a global business and the tour helps build a recognisable brand, vital for reaping the cash.

It was quite an eye-opener to realise, on moving to Thailand, I can watch any top-flight football game on TV, even at 3pm on a Saturday (not legally possible in UK), from the comfort of my chair, glass of Leo in hand, any day of the week. 

Given the sheer consumer market in Asia it is inevitable, then, to see football taking on a global flavour and spreading its appeal. And it isn't just the clubs.

The number of the non-UK pitchside adverts (such as the Emirates offers in Vietnamese) from my beloved Emirates Stadium is a striking testiment to the overseas following and business appeal of Brand EPL - "English Premier League", an acronymn I despise, for me it is THE Premier League.

But this isn't a rant, I really enjoy the hype and prediction of pre-season, I also watching tournaments played abroad but sadly the 'merchandising tour' is the likeable face of the dark side of football, the influx of money. A subject I could write a thesis on...another day.

On the plus side, the FIL can watch Liverpool live, assuming I should be so lucky and manage to get the much sought-after tickets! 

Hmmm, I have a feeling they'll be back soon.

If you're interested in more on the globalization of football, an interesting and far more indepth piece is waiting for you here. And you should also read twofootedtackle, an excellent footie blog.

Avoid TT&T MaxNet in Thailand

If you're looking for an internet service provider in Thailand I have some anecdotal advice for you. Do not sign up to TT&T's MaxNet service.

The internet is generally inconsistent in Thailand at the best of times but for the last week or so I've had a mixture of intermitten usage and no access at all to sites hosted by blogger or wordpress - so most of the web's blogs. I've also had patchy and limited access to Wikipedia, YouTube, Twitter and a host of other mainstream websites.

Incredibly frustrating and it has meant my postings to JF have been limited too.

From talking with Thai expats on Twitter (if you’re not on already, you really should be!) it's clear that MaxNet is to blame as other customers are experiencing these access problems.

One guy suggested that it might be linked to the current government crackdown on controversial websites, particularly in relation to the UDD (Red Shirt) protests - see here for details. I don’t believe this to be the case as, to the best of my knowledge, other ISPs are operating a regular service in spite of restrictions.

Bottom line, avoid MaxNet, which definitely doesn’t live up to its name, and spend your hard earned baht elsewhere.

[UPDATE: If you're interested in the internet, technology and social media check out my new blog over here.]

Happy half birthday to my little monster

My little man's half birthday (six months) fell yesterday, Saturday, but I was unable to post due to ongoing internet access issues from my ISP, TT&T - not flavour of the month with me.

It was a good excuse for some delicious Thai cake, although Little Monster didn't partake - hardly the same fresh out of a blender is it?

So here is a little photo of my li'l hero to mark the occasion.

My tea war-chest

Jonny Foreigner has to be a bit cliched sometimes, so here it is. There's something about the English and tea, even in a place as hot as Thailand, we simply love it and I'm not different.

Check out my tea arsenal.

I went dry a few months ago but learnt from the experience and now I've accumulated quite a collection, if I dare say so myself.

The imported lot includes M&S from the parents and the delectable Boh Cameronian from my brother courtesy of his 'Escape From Blighty World Tour Extravaganza' (TM).

Closer to home Tesco Lotus has provided a little gem with its organic tea (recycled box to boot), geat quality and a bargain at 70 baht, around £1.50 - highly recommended. As for the cheapo Tesco box, the contents is pretty hideous by English standards but better than nothing out here.

Anyone else got a tea collection worth shouting about?