Welcome Jerry Springer viewers! Just kidding, relax! Blog Buzz is for long time followers of this hobby and references to blogs/bloggers may not make much sense if you are new to this. You are welcome to stay and read it of course but if you go WTF just remember this note! If you are new here and get lost you are highly encouraged to read the posts NOT starting with “Blog Buzz”. Thank you. Just remember, LOVE is the answer…and snark!
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This Blog Buzz Edition covers blog action Wednesday October 1st and Thursday October 2nd. This is intended to be satire! If you were the subject of satire at SNL and you complained you certainly would look like a fool…so don’t. Feel free to start your own blog to make fun of us!
The Deal Mommy has joined Saverocity. She runs the Family Travel for Real Life conference. The next will be held on March 7, 2015 at the Hyatt House Center City in Charlotte, NC.
More than a few blogs have written about this which I first read at the Wall Street Journal and had to do a double take. $1 billion valuation for Credit Karma, wow! Never underestimate the power of debt culture entrenched in the US!
And then we have a shocking move going away from credit card affiliate links as Doctor of Credit did with this post here! Whoever has resisted or turned away from this deserves a lot of respect. What I have learned doing this for almost two years is…that trying to compensate for your time in any other way other than the credit card links is ridiculously low paying (always in comparison to the credit cards of course). I am trying to figure out a way to do this in a way that is respectable. Several blogs in my Like and Love lists do this respectably but I move slow. More because if I spend any time on that stuff and not what brings you back here makes me feel guilty. I know, I know it is a mental block or something…working on it. As long as we are having fun things will take care of themselves!
And now, we enter the infamous TBB Snark Zone. Buckle up!
Posts are in chronological order, from earlier to later.
Start Earning 5X Points (5% Cash Back) at Amazon, Zappos, and Select Department Stores – Million Mile Secrets [Hey, it is always time to sell credit cards! There is a picture of the couple with horrendous Santa things on their heads smiling away telling us how they will make the 5% bonus with their Freedom cards. Yeah right….I bet my RoboForm revenue that you will make a little more selling the Freedom card. Just a little. Ask them how much they make per card at FTU events! For laughs. Or whatever.]
What Can You Get With the Ink Plus Card’s 70,000 Point Bonus? – Million Mile Cards [This was entered by pushing button labeled “Chase Ink#2b”. 5 pour souls take the time to ask questions in the comments and are ignored because they are all preparing another credit card marketing template. See below!]
Strategies For Minimizing Credit Card Annual Fees – The Points Guy [Another pretense to pump 30 credit cards. Pump it up boy!]
10 Ways To Maximize 70,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points – The Credit Card Guy [Didn’t you get the memo? It is a Chase Ink Plus credit sale baby, they ALL sell them! Non stop. 24/7! ]
Limited Time: 70,000 Point Bonus on Chase Ink Plus – Chris Guillebeau [Hey, I need some money. I am too busy doing media stuff but when I see a lucrative credit card I come out and sell it. Word!]
The Options You Have With 70,000+ Ultimate Reward Points – Noob Traveler [Yeah baby, we are still selling it. Buy buy buy. Or sell sell sell…or whatever, just click the damn links. PLEASE. Look at us smiling in First Class. For FREE. Same old story. Yawn. Oh wait, please don’t go yet. Here is what’s in “About Me”: I have managed to earn over 1 MILLION reward points and miles every year. Traveling 1st class for pennies is truly within reach for anyone. I write my blog so my readers can learn how they can start traveling classy for pennies.” Please excuse me while I go bang my head on the big wall behind me! At least he didn’t say “for FREE”…he said “for pennies” LOL]
Can You Get ANOTHER Chase Ink Card for the 70,000 Point Bonus? – View from the Wing [We love the card money so much. This factor has absolutely no impact in what we post here. LOL. Pump it boy. Get your tickets to get pumped in person! One comment there was “Always BE Closing!” LOL]
AmEx Eliminates Threshold Bonus On Best Membership Rewards Card – One Mile at a Time [Yep, I post right after VFTW does. Amazingly, I post about credit cards all the time too! Amazing how you can squeeze 10 different Amex links reporting crappy news about these cards. These guys are getting really good, wow!]
American Express Eliminating Threshold Bonus on Their Premier Rewards Gold Card… Next Year – View from the Amex Wing [I kid you not! These were all back to back to back. Boarding Area or Banking Area. YOU decide! Think!…Okay, I am getting a little tired about this Think thingie 🙂 ]
Best of Million Mile Secrets – September 2014 – Million Credit Card Links [These monthly internal linking fests must be the most boring and non innovative aspect of the blogosphere. At least we do it with the TBB Comment Gems…and we all laugh, learn and rarely get inspired. I would actually rephrase this “Worst of” but hey, I am different!]
Everyone at December FTU Gets Elite Status. FTU Advanced Sold Out, But Tickets Remain for the Main Sessions – View from the Hyatt Suite [If you read a negative thing about Hyatt in Boarding Area please call me. Maybe.]
NO “Bump the Bonus” with new 70,000 Point Chase Ink Plus® Business Card offer! – Delta Points [Three tiny paragraphs. The link to get paid. The work ethic is unparalleled. Unless it is when photo shopping voting ballots to take votes away from TBB…still can’t believe that move!]
Making the Most of the Chase Ink 70,000 Point Bonus: Transfer to United Airlines – Millions & Millions of Ways To Close [How do you like to be pumped to oblivion? Wow. Sometimes even my standards get blown away by the aggressiveness of the pumping involved. Wow. I see this every day. Wow! Eeeeek!]
Free Hyatt Platinum Status With Frequent Traveler University Tickets! – Million Ways to Sell [ Isn’t it amazing how many times they push this and none of these blogs has told its readers how to get IHG Rewards Platinum status with the IHG Rewards card. Oh wait, that card does not pay…and we just can’t have THAT! I am starting to feel the anger building now…see my threshold is going higher seeing this crap every day!]
The Beloved Chase Ink Bold is Being Discontinued! – Deals We Like [OMG, this blog actually wrote more than a few paragraphs! Hey, for a card that pays so well we would endure such hardship. &*%^$!]
How To Adjust Your Spending To Delta’s New Transfer Limits – One Credit One More Time [Yeah, here we go again selling Amex cards. We actually could care less if you adjust your spending or not…as long as you buy the Amex cards here!]
The Secret Of Flying Singapore Suites – One Dozen Credit Cards One More Time [Amazing what we do to sell another dozen cards. The thing is…they are the same freaking cards…again…and again…and again]
Purchase Club Carlson Points with a 30% Bonus – Deals We Dinero [Wow, all that for this “deal?”. Sell sell sell! Does anyone ever comment there? How can they sell so much product to keep the links is a mystery!]
Shopping Portals Back in the News – Frugal Travel Guy [Barf! Wasn’t it recently the same pump job was done? Wow, does Internet Brands pay for this “article” which is, in my opinion (per TBB Legal Dept. advice), nothing but a sales job pumping the Founder’s referral links again! Unbelievable! Well, believable. I would be totally ashamed to produce something like this. Or maybe I am just angry. Whatever. Please ask follow up questions about this post in Chicago. Cough]
Best Cash Back Credit Cards – One Hundred Cards Every Time [Yeah, you are right, you are not hallucinating. Again baby. The selling never stops! Get your tickets for autographs to learn how to always be closing! Barf!]
Amex Membership Rewards Card Showdown – Which Card Wins? – The Credit Cards Guy [We are reaching unimaginable depths of pimping credit cards folks, sorry Jules! What the hell do you call that?]
The 5 Best Credit Cards Overall: The Best All-Around Benefits in One Package – View from the Bank Vault [In my neighborhood only the dealers and the pimps were always closing. In my hobby blogosphere we have bank representatives “bloggers” selling product non stop. Sickening!]
Play By Play of a Mileage Run – Mommy Points [Are you serious, play by play? Well I guess elite status is important so we can show off to drive by clickers “hey, look at me in First Class for free!”. So let’s ditch the kid to grandma (not before we take a few selfies with her because, you know, it is Mommy branded you know) and then the all so typical nonsense stuff of a mileage run are reported to us like we really care. Readers, I only endure this for YOU! Hey look here, look at this picture of a cookie, WOW!]
Lufthansa Card Sign-Up Bonus Increased to 50,000 Miles! – Millions MileCards [Holy Mother of Bluebird! I was alerted by a source embedded in the deepest circles of this plastic marketing world and in his typical undercover mode gave me the code word for “Watch out for mega pump” on the Lufthansa card! Look who is first out of the gate as this landed on Feedly at 11.30 pm Thursday night! By the way Travel With Grant dropped everything to write about some real NEWS impacting you all but this outfit right here dropped everything to write about a marginal card that has been hyped before and impacts its pocketbooks every time one of you applies. Friends don’t let friends apply through this business. Why? Look at what was unleashed in just two days Oh Lord!]
So what I am saying is please help bloggers who treat you with respect and add value to you AND don’t pump pump pump credit cards to your face every freaking day. Tell your mothers in law about this too. Unless you don’t like them. If you don’t like them send them my Amazon link LOL. To your mothers too!
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs I Ignore
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TBB
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My last first because I’m retiring from this.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Spencer is dancing right now 😉
It’s just way too stressful to go for first every time.
Second. Helixcardinal is the Derek Jeter of TBB.
I recently read on VFTW that VFTW is one of the best blogs on the internet.
Whatchoo talkin bout Willis
Thanks for the link to George. I had a nice Panera salad for dinner and did some shopping at Walgreens afterwards. Cashier was chatting about PayPal My Cash Card and he told me he sold his car on EBay Motors in one day. $500 flat fee to sell. Just FYI. Tomorrow is my last day of my internship. Not sure what I’ll be doing on Monday. I have a feeling there will be some last minute scrambling to keep me. Either way, I have a going away lunch planned for tomorrow 🙂
“Picture of a cookie”-Great One, Buzz.
Hey George, thanks for the link. Had a lot of positive feedback about the decision and it’s something that never felt right.
P.S 8th?
Ah you’re just a yellow bellied commie bastard. People like you give this hobby a bad name. Why can’t everyone just sell credit cards to the noobs like the good old days.
People think this means I’ll be pumping less, you guys have no idea. I’m just moving onto more lucrative markets. Can I interest you in a payday loan, Matt? It’s an excellent way to get a bit more spending money for your holiday. The APR is pretty reasonable as well, it’s only 2000%.
I think you might want to get one for your wife and I think you also have kids? It’s never too early to ruin their credit. Anyways, I’ll put you down for three for now and then once the interest becomes due on those you might wanna look at taking out a few more to finance the first three.
Forget payday loans subprime auto refinancing is the new rage.
Spend on.
Mother Teresa, why give affiliate income to charity?
Thanks for the shout out. Looks like most have found me as I haven’t seen a drop like I expected with a move. Team at Saverocity has been a dream.
Shout out to F2B as well…the move was both positive and smooth.
SMH. Take the kids on a mattress run, sure, but how many Moms are really curious about mileage running? Robin Leach angle? Hey, you can’t argue with success!
You mean normal family travel doesn’t involve dropping the kid and grandmas so mom can do mileage runs?! 😉
On an aside, I find your blog very refreshing and real… So kudos on that
Thanks! Real life would be the goal.
MommyPimp gets my vote as the biggest piece of trash in the blogosphere. Pimps her daughter more than Bow Tie pimps Emily. Takes her on round the world trip in business, cause it’s soooooooo hard being a family flying back of the bus! And of course, it’s soooo “educational” to drag a 4 yr old thru airport after airport! The amazing thing is so few rip her for doing so. And how many “families” can afford to travel enough to earn Hyatt Diamond status? 1 in 100K? And yet she’s out there pimping cards showing readers how to travel for “free”. OMFG.
I am out most of the day. This morning I have a really BIG deal meeting, it is with the Chase Bank person in charge of credit cards. Going direct baby…Just kidding relax!
Don’t expect any replies here until later in the day. In the meantime, you know what to do (hint: Amazon shopping, hehe)
I think you should move FrequentMiler into “blogs you love.” I think his blog is the best in the manufactured spending space, and he handles credit card referrals responsibly. A “model blog,” if you will.
If you compare Travel is Free (love list) to Frequent Miler lately (like list) there is no comparison. Frequent Miler ain’t what it use to be. Rumor has it, FM is changing it’s name to Frequent Shopping Portal Bonus Update. FSPBU………………………………………..HEFF.
P.S. just got an email from him urging me to sign up for both Chase Ink cards ala FTG email alerts……….. et tu FM et tu?
Disagree. FM has long since run out of new content. How many ways can you repackage how to use portals? Yawn.
Well, I’m going to reply if that’s ok with you . 😉
Even though the Bloggers constantly pump the various credit cards, there’s something to be said about repetition. TBB thinks YES, that means my blog has a long future ahead of it, and he’d be right; but let me explain.
I recently signed my wife up for the CSP card. I’ve had that card in my wallet, but it’s been sleeping in my desk drawer of late. From the ‘you’re never to old to learn’ department, I’ve been ‘brushing up’ on the benefits of that card. When bloggers such as all the above keep harping on these cards, and our host (and others) continue to poke fun at them (rightfully so), there’s something that needs to be said… repetition isn’t bad, as long as you pick your favorite blogger, and read about what you need, from just one blogger. There’s no need to read about all of a cards benefits from 10 different bloggers.
I know TBB will make fun of me if I were to tell you who my favorite blogger is; but let’s face it, even the most cynical of us reads select blogs. Lots of Secrets out there. Opps, I said too much. 😉
My previous favorite blogger has retired. 🙁
Flame away TBB. 😉
I’m genuinely speechless, Buzz, and I think you need to reconsider something you’ve written in this post that makes the headline even.
“Because that is what good mommies all over this country do!”
You’re the judge of what makes a good mommy? WTF? Because only men should mileage run, and women should stay home and cook and clean the house? Clearly miles are men’s work.
You make yourself come off as an ignorant, misogynistic ass with statements like that, and you owe Mommy Points an apology.
Gotta speak up for George here. If you’re blogging for the “average” family, mileage running isn’t a topic of interest, it’s a peek into the 1 percent. For Moms OR Dads. The “mommies” in his post is a play on the title of the blog in question. He stuck to commenting on the content.
Got to agree with Dia here I think if the blog was called daddy points I suspect the comment would be “because that’s what good daddies do.”
“Good mommies” who care about miles and points do exactly what MP did — considering the fare and the benefits for her family. A “mommy” can mileage run too when it makes sense. Calling her out for that is total sexist BS. George should admit it and apologize.
George, what kind of a “man” are you?
Shelley you are right! This man is just another typical chauvinistic pig!……………..Shelly if you are hot, can you please post a picture of yourself. Thanks. H.H.
Shelley, as a long standing feminist….I have no problem with George!!!!
You want misogynistic statements? Visit Gleff’s site. With his infamous MP gets wet post!
I think he has a valid point about this particular MP post. I like Summer, but it seems as if her mommy angle is geared toward upper middle class suburbian moms. Nothing wrong with that, but….
Anyhoo, Dia and Kendra seem to be kindred spirits for me. (i.e TheDealMommy and Points and Pixe Dust). Yup, read Kendra’s post on the Vendome! but I have nothing bad so say about it. She “gets” Paris, so I find her awesome. I want to experience luxury, but I don’t want to do it in a way that disconnects myself from the place to which I travelled to see!! So Dia and Kendra get it; have a great place to rest but seriously, get out and discover the neighborhood!
I find Gleff to be increasingly sexist. I know, no name calling on TBB….but seriously, have you read HIS posts geared on women? Not so much fun. I don’t see any sexist commentary here, but then I have a sense of humor.
Sexism is ok as long as it’s funny? Nice.
Oh Shelley,
I have marched in the streets for women’s rights. Have you?
I have done the petitions, joined the groups, fought the battles. Have you?
I have done more than simply point a finger and criticize. Have you?
If you think this is sexism, let’s address the sexual assaults on college campuses. Or Female genital mutilation in Africa. Or honor killings in Turkey. Or the fact that women still can’t drive in Saudi Arabia. Or the increase of violence in India towards females of any age. Or the fact that Republicans in Congress refuse to vote for a bill that will give women equal pay rights.
Let’s discuss why the ERA has not been passed yet!!! Or that we haven’t had a female VP or President (yet)!!!
TBB isn’t sexist. If you think that is sexism, then you have a golden, lovely life. Good for you.
Thanks icicle.
To Shelley: Listen to icicle. I think you are the only one seeing “sexism” here! Don’t be so angry 🙂
The incidents in India are beyond revolting, OMG! And I think we are ready for a female in the White House, it’s about time!
@ harvson3: Thanks. I do apologize for readers making wrong assumptions about what appears here. It happens. Other than that…my hazelnut coffee from Panera tastes awesome this morning!
@Shelley:
In your first comment, you interpret George’s line “because that’s what good mommies do” to imply “only/mainly daddies should mileage run.” Such a thought would, yes, be sexist. Some of us have difficulty with that interpretation because it has no other support in the text and “mommy” is Summer’s own formulation.
Then you switch your position.
In your second reply, you disagree with the implication (from the same line, and other commenters) “good parents don’t leave their kids or drop their kids off with grandparents to mileage run.” People can and do disagree about this, but such a sentiment is not “sexist BS,” and an apology isn’t necessary.
yep, good mommies do mileage runs. Especially when it’s the suckers who click on the mommies credit card links that are paying for it. You could even call that FREE mileage run!!
As I commented at AWTY, good parents make sure to leave an extra-big carbon footprint with needless mileage runs so that their kids will never get to visit the Maldives. But, hey, at least with their status mommy and daddy will get to sit up front in comfy chairs and feel important. FTS.
Hacked! Why should Target and Home Depot have all the fun? Stay Chase-y, my friends!
Off to demand 10,000 UR points for my inconvenience.
Missed the RocketMiles 15 min sale by 8 min. FML
Hi from some Middle Eastern food joint in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Chicken Shawarma and lentil soup are amazing!
Oh Shelley I can eat like a pig too! I am also very hairy! A despicable hairy sexist pig!
Woohoo! Time for a layup type post tomorrow with gem TBB comments!
TBB on my big phone!
Ironically, the suckers who FTU bigwigs are touting to that they would get Hyatt Platinum status would have already had the status…. were those same FTU bigwigs who are hyping up Hyatt Platinum ever to talk about a card those suckers should probably already have… the Hyatt VIsa
That’s the VFTW way – tout the fact that you’re giving them something that they don’t already have because you actively withhold information about it’s existence
what is it with you Buzz and your ability to attract the sexist mafia to your blog?
Can you mix it up a little bit and attract the race police or the Jewish conspiracy too?
lord knows we can use some flimsy reasons around here to play the race or anti-semitic cards
I love the alternate titles you give the blogs as the posts mount up. Cracks me up every time. Mucho giggling. 😀
Only been reading your blog for the last 1 week and just can’t get enough of it. Keep up the good work.
If you’ve really been reading the blog for that long, then you probably also know you’ll really need to step up your game with the comments. Mere compliments to TBB (while well deserved) just won’t cut it
bluebird
Buzz-
Do good mommies do mileage runs barefoot?
Even I am not going to touch the P word. Well, why not: 2-for-1, so to speak.
Is nothing sacred?
Nope.
@ MilesMath: “Helixcardinal is the Derek Jeter of TBB.” LOLOLOL
@ Will S and Arnold: Haha. 70k Ink Plus is going quickly, hurrrryyyyyy!
@ Grant: Good luck with the post internship life. Go for it, whatever it is you want!
@ Sam: That cookie was just awesome…but please don’t go there to see it 🙂
@ William Charles: You are welcome. Dang it…you killed that deal too! I was working on a deal about those payday killer loans too! After that I was going to move on to life insurance contracts, sabbaticals or whatever name you give them…They buy life insurance contracts, then they send out Vinny and the gang to kill them to collect. Guaranteed weeeeners! U in?
@ Matt: So, been waiting for the big offer and then you give it to Dia. Seriously? Thanks a lot! I am not a communist man, really! It’s all NIck PFD’s fault, he cleaned you out I hear!
@ ABC: Thumbs up for Mother Teresa…Oh wait, will this be taken as a sexist comment too??
@ iahphx: FM was in the Love and only recently downgraded to Like. I absolutely agree with you about how he handles the affiliate links, certainly an outlier in this space! I just felt the content was not as strong. My decision alone. Thanks for the input.
@ Hugh Hefner: So glad you are posting here. Bring your girlfriends too! How about inviting me to the mansion one day, my life goal! 🙂
@dhammer53: Every time I see you commenting there I hurt inside.Why why why? Bud Dry? 🙂
There is repetition and there is non stop hammering! These two blogs practice the second kind! I would not legitimize them but that’s just me. Of course you can do whatever you want, it’s a free country. And we all like FREE lol.
@ Shelley: You totally misunderstood me. I think the replies you got satisfied you. If not, oh well. Thank you for taking the time to comment here! If you got offended, I am sorry.
@ Dia & Scott: Right on!
@ Shelley: “George, what kind of a “man” are you?” Hmm, don’t know what to make of this. Is this reverse sexism or what? Or are you trying to pick me up or something? 🙂 Before you respond, think of the meaning of the words: sexism and snark 🙂
@ icicle: Out of all handles, why icicle? Just curious 🙂 “I don’t see any sexist commentary here, but then I have a sense of humor.” Me too!
@ harvson3: “…at least with their status mommy and daddy will get to sit up front in comfy chairs and feel important.” Let me add: FOR FREE 🙂
@ Anonymous: Yeah right. Hey, I ‘ve been out all day. U serious about the 10k?
@ Steve: Remember last year or before that how we were all praising that blog….Eeeek! Out of all things to be accused of…being called sexist is very…entertaining!
@ L: I know, me too! I try to make them fun and exercise my few remaining cells of creativity left!
@ somy: Thank you very much.I would make the TBB Amazon link your home page and buy crap from it every day. Send it to all your family to buy crap too! Hurryyyyyy 🙂
@ Sam: You so bad. What kind of “man” are YOU?
Last
Oh my gosh, how funny. Thanks for entertaining me on this Monday afternoon! 🙂
My pleasure. Pass it down to your mother in law or mother or BOTH! And click the AWESOME TBB Amazon link, each purchase provides instant KARMA! 🙂