Pandora Radio is a free internet streaming radio service that allows you to create personalized stations. The stations select music based on similarity using data from The Music Genome Project. You tell it something you like and it will find other songs you probably like. As you listen, you can tell it what you like and dislike so it gets a better idea of your preferences.

I’ve been using Pandora on and off for a few years and it works pretty well. I’ve discovered some great bands I never knew I liked or even heard of. It’s a great way to discover new music. Of course it also plays a lot of your favorites, too.

You can even further customize your stations by mixing them together or manually adding bands for more variety.

The free version has some short ads and a few limits on usage, but it isn’t too bad. I’m actually thinking of getting the paid version that removes the ads and limits, as well as gives higher quality and a desktop application. Right now it’s only $36/year.

Filed under: Misc. Reviews, Reviews by StevoTVR
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I saw the Blue Man Group at The Venetian in Las Vegas. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was not disappointed. I think this would be a great way to start off the Reviews category, so here goes…

So what can you expect from three blue men on a stage? The most accurate answer to that would be to expect the unexpected. The show includes sounds, lights, comedy, and just plain weirdness. There’s even some educational parts if you can believe that.

They don’t talk, but they still manage to communicate and have a great personality simply through body language. They act almost like aliens exploring their environment and they seem very intrigued by the audience and human culture.

Blue Man Group playing with plumbing (Drumbone)

They do some pretty cool stuff with improvised instruments made mostly from plumbing. Just when you are thinking “that’s pretty neat,” something else happens that makes you think “huh?” (not huh as in “that was stupid”, but huh as in “haha, that’s crazy” IYKWIM). They also have a talented backing band with several drum kits, guitar, bass and Chapman stick.

I would definitely recommend seeing this show, especially if you want to see something totally unique. There’s something to enjoy for people of all ages. Not only is it visually entertaining for younger audiences, it also has some deeper meaning for older audiences to appreciate.

Even the signs telling you to turn off phones are funny. Also as an added bonus, you can meet the blue men after the show if you want.

Three words to describe Blue Man Group: Bizarre, Intense, Hilarious

Notes: There are strobe lights used in parts of the show, so you should be careful if you have epilepsy or other problems like that. There’s nothing inappropriate to worry about, so feel free to bring kids or family along. Individual shows may vary.

Filed under: Misc. Reviews, Reviews by StevoTVR
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