Sam, I’ll take this one for the sake of fairness.

I’m at CardCon right now.

No one is selling credit cards. No Cap One or other CC applications are available anywhere in the room.

Gary and David Gold did mention Cap One in passing along with other issuers because they were discussing the state of the industry. I didn’t detect any attempts to sell anything.

This conference is just like any other conference I’ve ever been to. People are trying to network. Sponsors are hustling for more eyeballs while freelancers like me are hustling for gigs. Business as usual and nothing untoward.

Of course, there is always tomorrow, but so far everything’s cosher. 🙂

George, congrats on the marathon! You’re a hero.

About this Komarov article: I’m skeptical about quite a few things, as I’ve read a lot about this tragedy including his daughter’s interviews. Gagarin throwing a drink in Brezhnev’s face is a really big laugh.

The truth is: not a single space ship launched in Russia in the 60-s was fully debugged.
There was a space race with the U.S., the pressure was enormous, and no one was safe.

There were issues with every spacecraft ever launched in the 60-s. The first one piloted by Yuriy Gagarin was plagued with issues until the launch. Then there were several life-threatening situations during the flight and landing.

Komarov did see the craft before the launch, and he presumably did tell one of his friends that there was a 90% chance he wouldn’t get back. That part is true.

But one thing that people don’t understand is that test pilots in the USSR lived in a constant anticipation of death. That’s how Gagarin was killed eventually – during the test flight. They were a special breed, these people.

During the flight Komarov did talk to Premier Kosygin, but not the wife. That never happened. When he managed to start the descent, she, as well as people in the Space Center, believed the scariest part was behind them. Komarov who had to take manual control, did many things right in a situation he’d never been trained for, but then the parachute didn’t open. Perfect storm.

I was not invited…again. They all are in the marketing business. I see myself as a fiduciary…the F word for the pumpers lol.

I am now in my hometown Larisa. I need to hunt for a rapid covid test and then I am going to pray non stop it is negative and then off to see my mom. Today I went to my old stomping grounds looking for some food and all cafes and restaurants are closed as a protest against the strict Covid rules…they need to check vaccination cards of everyone and impose limits on attendance. Definitely not a good time to be here. And then…on my Olympic Air flight to Thessaloniki from Athens this guy in the row in front of me kept coughing up a storm..,and everyone around him sprinted for the back (plenty of empty seats) and now I am paranoid I got it…

We’ll see what happens tomorrow…

I am still sore but getting better…

And of course the links are terrific.

CONGRATS AGAIN ON THE MARATHON! Have a wonderful rest of your stay in Greece!

Are you speaking at Card Con, the big ‘do’ in Denver?

Do you think they know how it sounds to have folks who get commissions to sell credit cards at an event called Card Con?

Do you think Gary’s keynote address will mention Cap One? Do you think Cap One will have apps available in the back of the room?

Do you think they’ll have a moment of silence to remember the first guy who posted an affiliate link? Yes, that’s right, the guy who thought it all up but gets almost no credit (and no ongoing commish).