Clark Boyd

Clark Boyd has written 287 posts for PRI's The World

Talking Travel: Floods threaten to cut off Machu Picchu in Peru

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In this episode of Talking Travel, we talk about the heavy rains and flooding that have threatened the lives and livelihoods of those living in the shadow of Machu Picchu in Peru. Lonely Planet’s Robert Reid and Tom Hall assess the short-term and long-term damage to Peru’s tourism industry, and offer listeners some alternate spots to take in South America’s ancient ruins. Hosted by The World’s Clark Boyd. Photo: Martin St-Amant – Wikipedia

Tech Podcast: Internet Addiction and Depression

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We’ve got a great mix of stories on this week’s podcast. We take you inside a Crisis Camp for Haiti meeting in Montreal, to hear how concerned people thousands of miles away are helping the relief effort. Also, two great stories about design and technology: one concerns an ancient footbridge across the Nile, and the other the humble, but dangerous, British pint glass. And we end with some research into potential links between Internet addiction and depression.

Tech Podcast 275: Nope, no iPad

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No, this is not an exclusive screenshot from the new iPad. In fact, this episode has absolutely nothing in it about Apple’s shiny new gadget. This is, in fact, the first “screengrab” from John Logie Baird’s “televisor.” Find out all about it in this week’s episode. Also, we hear about Internet connectivity in Nigeria and Finland.

Talking Travel: Tourism and Haiti’s recovery

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In this episode of Talking Travel, we talk about Haiti’s past, present and future as a tourist destination. Lonely Planet Haiti guide author Paul Clammer talks about just how much the earthquake has affected the country’s status as an up-and-coming tourist destination, and what role tourism might play in the recovery. (Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)

Tech Podcast 274: Mapping Haiti, Google and China

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This week’s podcast features more news on different tech efforts to help relief workers in Haiti. We look at Open Street Map, and Project EPIC’s “Tweak the Tweet.” We also delve into Clinton’s speech on Internet freedom, and get two in-depth views of Google’s recent announcements about China. Also, let us not forget the power of radio in Haiti.

Online mapping helps Haiti relief efforts

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When the earthquake struck Haiti last week, aid workers and geographers alike realized that there were no good maps of the country. A group of volunteers quickly sprang into action. Open Street Maps has been putting together a real-time view of what Haiti looks like on the ground. Aid organizations and rescue teams are actively using their maps to direct and coordinate relief efforts. The World’s Clark Boyd reports. Download MP3


Tech Podcast: Tech aids Haiti relief efforts

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This week, we look at two major stories. The first is the relief effort in Haiti, which was hit by a devastating earthquake earlier this week. We examine the importance of getting telecommunications back up and running, both for aid groups and for locals. Also, we talk about how US aid groups are turning to text messaging to raise funds. Our other big story is Google’s announcement that it may pull out of China completely.

Talking Travel: New Airline Security Measures

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Episode four of Talking Travel explores the confusion surrounding the new regulations for air travelers in the wake of the attempt to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day. We also explore the cities chosen by Lonely Planet readers as the world’s worst. Wolverhampton, England anyone? Tom Hall and Robert Reid also share stories from their holiday sojourns.

Tech Podcast: M-PESA, Y2K10, and Call of Duty

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And…we’re back, ready for a whole new year of fun and frolics on the Tech Podcast. The centerpiece for this episode is a conversation with Tavneet Suri of MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Suri, a Kenyan herself, has been studying the impact of the mobile money transfer system called M-PESA on her native country. We’ve also got two items on tech and Iran, some news about a Y2K10 bug in Germany, and some Russians who are riled about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.

Talking Travel: Copenhagen and holiday travel

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nyhavnPity the poor delegates to the Climate Conference in Copenhagen. They’re all stuck inside that conference hall. That’s too bad, because Copenhagen and Denmark have a lot to offer a tourist. In our Talking Travel podcast with Lonely Planet, we’ll tell you about some of those tourist spots. We’ll also discuss holiday travel, which sometimes, as you’ll hear, involves spiders in Burma. (Photo: Christer Frederiksson for Lonely Planet)

Tech Podcast 271: Drones, tech in crisis, and the Copenhagen Wheel

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copenhagen wheel projectIt’s a nice line-up for the last podcast of 2009. We’ve got an item on the MIT SENSEable City Lab’s Copenhagen Wheel project. Turn your ordinary bike into an e-bike. Cool. Also, we revisit drones, and we hear all about the pluses and minuses of technologies in times of crisis, political and otherwise. PHOTO: Max Tomasinelli

Talking Travel with Lonely Planet

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bergennorwayYeah, we here at The World like to travel too. And that’s why we’ve teamed up with travel publisher Lonely Planet to bring you a new online feature called Talking Travel. The World’s Clark Boyd brings the news. Robert Reid and Tom Hall from Lonely Planet bring the travel. Find out more about the show below. Photo sent in by World listener Evy Haroldson.

Tech Podcast 270: Drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan

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us-air-force-drone_785837cOn this week’s podcast, we kick off with an extended version of an interview with Noah Shachtman of Wired.com. Noah’s just back from checking out the drones that are currently flying over Pakistan and Afghanistan, and he’s got a lot of interesting things to talk about. We’ll also take a trip into space to hear about a new NASA telescope, and about Sapporo’s “Space Barley” Beer.

Talking Travel 2: Cuba

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cuba1In our second news and travel podcast, The World and Lonely Planet take you to a country that’s only 90 miles from the United States, and yet is off limits to most Americans. That’s right, Cuba. You’ll hear about efforts to lift a decades-long ban on American travel to Cuba. And, you’ll hear what most US citizens are missing out on by not being able to explore the island. (Photo by Rachel Lewis for Lonely Planet)

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Tech Podcast: Tackling Cybercrime and Spam

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shaneThis man is Shane Atkinson, allegedly part of global spamming team that at its peak may have been responsible for one-third of all the world’s junk email. Two years ago, the BBC’s Simon Cox tracked him down. Then, Cox became part of the story of bringing Atkinson to justice. We have that story in this week’s technology podcast, along with a round-up of cybercrime in 2009.