Hello, I'm James Cridland, the radio futurologist.
Every couple of weeks or so I write a blog post about radio and the future of all of that.
But this time I'm not going to read any of those because I need to read something for this microphone.
So that's what I'm going to do. This is an ALabs ION Mini WL microphone.
It's a bit unusual in that it is a completely wireless microphone.
So there's not a wire at all connecting the microphone to the computer.
Instead it uses a UHF connection, apparently, which is very exciting.
HD quality audio. It says that it has incredible warm, rich and full tone that keeps your audience hooked.
Now I'm about six inches away from the microphone itself.
It's made for minimalist or smaller setups, it says.
And one of the things it does say is that it features a zero latency stereo headphone monitoring jack on the receiver.
That may be the case. It may be a zero latency, but it definitely does not sound like it's zero latency.
There is definitely latency in my headphones.
I'm not quite sure where that latency is coming from, although there's virtually no latency.
But there is some latency. So it claims it's zero latency, but it isn't.
Anyway, one of the things that I normally do on my podcast is I just read my latest newsletter, which I can't do.
But james.cridland.net slash blog is where I put all kinds of other things.
And particularly on this, a trip report from when I do flying.
So here's a little bit of the trip report from Singapore to London.
And yes, I was in Singapore. I was weighed down by an annoyingly bulky box of audio equipment that I was returning to a company in London.
So I decided that much though I'd like to spend six hours walking around Singapore, I'm probably best retiring to the first lounge,
which is usually and indeed universally acknowledged as the best on the network since I've got work to do.
On entry, they request to see my passport as well as my boarding pass.
I suspect Word has got a round about how good it is.
And there's a black market in boarding passes, I think maybe. Anyway, it's great again.
I have a decent coffee. I work for a few hours and have a lovely meal and a drink.
And I'm remarkably productive.
Given that this first lounge is run by Sofitel, who run all Qantas lounges, I'm fascinated at the difference
and what Qantas can learn from this space to help all of their other lounges reach the same standard.
A shower follows and then it's off to the gate.
And for this leg, I've got a points upgrade to premium economy, even though I am in an aisle seat.
Julian comes up to give me a platinum welcome.
Julian genuflects next to my chair, looking up into my eyes, locking me in eye contact,
professing his sheer and utter joy at me, me, flying his humble aeroplane.
He would hold my hand if he could, maybe steal a quick kiss, a passionate embrace, possibly with tongues.
He's overjoyed at my presence, although not that overjoyed, since after his short speech of love and respect on bended knee,
he adds, I'm working on the level below, so I won't see you during the flight, but if you need me, you can always come down and find me.
He tells me that the staff looking after me here include something like Beverly male, Beverly female and Anton.
Which is really weird. Is that what he calls them?
I guess we'll never find out, since he's working in first class, not premium economy, and I'll never see him again.
I skip dinner, since I'm still full of the munisophants of the Qantas first lounge, and sleep for much of the flight,
waking about three hours before landing and discovering that there was a Toblerone left in the galley.
Breakfast is the usual Qantas affair of a mystery muffin, some fruit and a hot breakfast,
including scrambled eggs that are actually quite tasty, and the curious Qantas baked beans, created by a chef who has never had baked beans before,
and asked ChatGPT for a recipe instead.
If these are your baked beans, Neil Perry, just stop and think about what you're doing.
I watch my downloaded stash of YouTube videos.
Someone restores a 1940s desk lamp. James May gets someone else to cook him a cheese sandwich.
The latest edition of Have I Got News for You with Mel off Mel and Sue, ABC's Media Watch.
John Oliver rants about farm workers and AI. Big Clive distills some cheap cider.
Some quite annoying people walk around the hidden bitch of Archway Underground Station in hi-vis vests,
saying annoying things like, give it the beans, whenever they turn their torch on.
Tom Scott does something wearing protective clothing.
A man eats some lava bread, a thing made out of seaweed, which doesn't look very nice.
And then I arrive in London Heathrow with beef eaters and Shakespeare and theatrical history on the walls,
and nothing suggesting that the country is in any way progressed from the 1950s.
I'm told that security people are on strike and there might be a wait, but there isn't.
And then, into the city.
You can find more of my trip reports at james.cridland.net slash blog.
But until next time, keep listening.