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| 🙂 What can I say, I am running out of Kim Jong Un material! |
ON MY MIND
As you know, I opened up quite a time consuming task on myself to bring you this blog: going through my Google Reader feed constantly to keep it manageable and pick out the links worthy of featuring here. With everything else I do I have no time to look into stuff such as monetizing as some friends have been encouraging me to do. So…I keep going and perhaps one day I will neglect my blog review research to look into this thing:-) I did make a lame attempt and threw out to you guys my ebates referral link. And I felt a bit dirty for it. Well, when Frequent Miler came out today announcing he will stop doing that and instead (like he does with the affiliate links) shove all these referral links in a separate tab instead of assaulting readers with such inyoface links….well, I even felt worse for attempting to do so myself. I won’t do it again.
Why aren’t other bloggers imitating Frequent Miler’s practices? It must be working for him…Class discuss:-)
When I find time to look into this complicated subject I, hereby declare, I will take Frequent Miler’s approach. Of course, doing it that way and remaining independent, it means I will likely never have the honor to feature the amazing Chase cards! Unless I am invited to join Boarding Area which may impede my (I believe, constructive) criticism of BA bloggers:-)
So…it continues, screw it. Too complicated. Time to get on with the show! If you like my blog please let others know.
MILES/POINTS
Million Mile Secrets finally has an interesting interview with Travel is Free (is not). Very different approach in life/travel philosophy. Many questions came up. I wrote some down in an answer to a comment in yesterday’s post. It is getting late and I am not going to repeat here:-)
Mommy Points has an excellent post about what the bank execs in charge of credit cards are saying. Very interesting stuff. Why was the Capital One guy there? 🙂
As announced a while ago, e-miles has indeed enhanced the redemptions allowed to include more than the airline you originally signed up with. Do It For The Points writes about it here. This could come in very handy when you extend the life of your United/US Air / Alaska / Southwest / Hilton / Frontier accounts.
Ok, Do It For the Points is mentioned again as Hack My Trip interviewed them today! I really like their motto “find a trip, do your research, earn and burn“. I also like their rationale about this hobby “The key is to maintain your head, and not get in over your head”. Definitely worth a read imho.
Points Summary has a useful post on how to deal with debit and credit card fraud alerts while overseas. I always notify my regular bank and the banks of the credit cards I take with me. I usually take two ATM/debit cards and three credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex). The Bank of America online chat feature works flawlessly! I still use mostly cash from ATMs while abroad as I don’t like to take any chances. Peace of mind is…priceless!
I have now seen too many top 10 posts. View from the Wing started doing top 5 best sign ups, best for spending, best for benefits. Dealyst just published the top 5 best looking cards. What’s next? The Top 5 Ugliest cards? Let your imagination run wild, leave a comment! Please keep it civil:-)
TRAVEL
If you are interested in visiting Santorini Island in Greece but you can’t, click here for the second best thing. Click Play on the first video, sit back and just take it all in. This is a MUST click for EVERYONE. It makes up for the kind of lame Greek sky link from yesterday, sorry about that. Also notice all the other panoramic views at the bottom. WOW!!!!!!!!!To the reader who counts my exclamation marks, this must be a record;-)
You don’t believe me? Here is one titled “Norwegian Fjords“. Notice the different tabs/views on the right hand side!
A nice map showing where Americans Can Travel Without Visas.
Routehappy is getting some buzz. USA Today has the story. Yes, another travel booking site. I gave it a click. Nice to see the information about each flight nicely laid out. The Happiness Score is, well, kind of cute. Other than that, let’s see if they will be here a year later. Talk about a crowded field, reminds me…travel bloggers:-)
ODDZ & ENDZ
I knew Russians drink a lot but this article titled “How a Country Drinks Itself to Death” from Roads & Kingdoms puts it all into perspective, wow!
Man’s Best Friends: Heartwarming Pet and People Photography. From Francesco Mugnai Blog. Wow!
how bout 5 best credit cards to impress the ladies………..THE HORNEY TRAVELER
Just pull the number one out lol
Everyone who tends to comment must be at FTU ;).
I was thinking the same thing earlier today!
I’m not at FU. < insert sinister laugh >
dhammer53
My sources indicate that you are not missing much as far as knowledge is concerned. It’s really all about the social aspect in these things that make it worthwhile. I wish they just do away with the presentations:-)
OMG! Santorini! Just moved to the #1 spot on the ole bucket list! now, how to get there and stay there on points! And did you see Bored Panda’s 22 unbelievable places that are hard to believe really exist? http://www.boredpanda.com/amazing-places/
Santorini looks “okay” but not sure I would make a special trip for that.
OTOH, I have very fond memories of Crete, with a Samarian Gorge hike and a visit to the “birthplace of Zeus”. Did that when I was out of college and would like to do that trip again.
George, what are your favorite islands, and why? (No marketing please, just your honest opinions)
Easy to get to Athens with Star Alliance. Aegean is part of Star Alliance so maybe u can connect to JTR from ATH. Also, perhaps you can use One World with Air Berlin too.
I believe there are a couple of Starwood properties on the island but are crazily expensive!
That Bored Panda link was posted on TBB a few days ago April 22-23. We don’t miss anything around here;-)
I made the same comment on Travel is Free without reading your blog first. I swear.
I read the FMiler post and felt a little ambivalent. Did he get a job or is his blog still his main source of income? I respect his position, but…. I think there’s a substantive difference between encouraging people to take out debt instruments (and selling fantasy to increase their probability of doing so) and encouraging people to go through a shopping portal. Perhaps a distinction can be made between costless portal-ing (getting extra back on normal purchases) and potentially loss-incurring portal-ing (manufacturing spend that could have cost if the portal doesn’t work). Dunno. I’m unclear about just how FM makes a buck.
I’m not at FTU. In honor of it, a re-posting of the finest words written about it:
“This event involves “special guest lecturers” who are always the same 5 or 6 people. These shrewd businessmen disguised as dorks will teach you the secret ways of making unlimited miles. Of course, none of this is actually a secret. They’ll also skip the lesson explaining how much money they earn from credit cards links. See, this is all business. You are the customer. The majority of these bloggers sold out their content long ago so they could make a buck.” (all hail MileNerd).
harvson3
Actually, when I was grouchy on Friday I felt that the TisF interview on MMS was a little too “White Man’s Burden” for my taste, and that the kids needed to learn about consumption bundles and income effects (re: buying the Hyatt Bali room). But then I got over myself.
It probably won’t last.
harvson3
FM is a full time blogger. He is “banking” on the quality of his content for readers to seek out his tabs with affiliate and resources links. It must be working for him. If everyone imitated his approach the blogosphere will be so improved and so much…smaller as most of the blogs that exitst today have as their reason of existence the relentless pushing of affiliate cc links without offering any substance;-)
Yeah, that Mile Nerd post was such a classic. I should feature again it in my blog!
I did not follow your TisF comment but maybe it is because I just had too much for dinner just now!
I had my first BBQ session yesterday Saturday. So lucky as today it has been raining!
Man, Milevalue is KILLING us. I only go to his site every day since he doesn’t offer an email subscription, but now I don’t know why I even bother. Never have I’ve seen a blog go downhill so fast.
I agree;-)