Meteora Greece. I was born & raised an hour away from it. |
WHAT’S ON MY MIND
I am getting my butt kicked. I need to cut something out of my life to keep it all together. What would it be? It will not be the gym visit every day. Maybe my @FlyerTalkerinA2 account? #developing
The era of free agency has begun. I am now a lowly Sivler after a long run of Platinum/Gold Elite on Delta. I feel good about it. I have evolved. From nobody to elite slut allergic to economy class to…realizing I am a normal human being and coach won’t kill me . Besides…the cost to achieve elite status with less capacity, higher prices, less competition, continued devaluations, revenue based enhancements, fees up the wazoo, ridiculous award availability, etc…it was time.
I need to lay lower until April 15th…but I just can’t let go. TBB has become my crack…Is there a 12 step program for blogging addicts?
I checked my Alexa rankings. Low 900k in the world and 120k in US. What do these mean? Can a blogger do a newbie tutorial on Alexa rankings and the possibilities. Or, lets cut to the chase, when will BentOffers come knocking on my door begging me to sign up, lol.
Comment of the Month:
Great, my 3yo now wants to fly AirAsia because it looks like a Fire Truck!
You blogger can count your revenue from the affiliate credit card links, cha ching. I read the comment above and smile…Priceless!
MILES/POINTS
Mr.Pickles joined First2Board!
Frequent Miler has an innovative series of posts about “Million Mile Madness” in the month of March. It sure makes great content and of course I will be reading. Notice how he does not take advantage of attacking your eye sockets with affiliate links! Having said that, I am not sure I like to encourage everyone to do these things, such as applying for 11 credit cards in one day. I know he can handle it, I can handle it, most of my readers can handle it. But LOTS of people can’t even handle one credit card…they should never be encouraged/tempted to do anything like this. Yes it is a “fun and foolish” quest but it could be a very destructive quest for some. THAT is my own philosophical “issue” about this.
You can follow @HiltonDishonors on Twitter. Purpose of account is obvious!
TRAVEL
Very interesting infographic by Tnooz on Inflight Entertainment.
It appears that you now can search for Alitalia flights on Delta dot bomb. When you find one be prepared to cost you an arm and two legs.
More details are slowly coming out on the AA-US merger. From the Airline Biz Blog
ODDZ & ENDZ
Dennis Rodman goes to North Korea and call Kims “Great Leaders”. WTF Dennis!!
COMMENT DIAMONDS
Angry Surge & Swell taunted me about my boring content so I replied:
Really? I can point you to a gazillion blogs right now that are big time snooze fests! They all revolve around content like: Southwest cards are the best, Companion Pass is the best thing since sliced bread, I just got 7% dividend in Sapphire Preferred did u get yours?, the Ink cards give 5 pts at office supply stores woohoo, the BA card is going away tomorrow & if u don’t get yours u are a freaking idiot, u can apply for the quarterly Freedom bonuses here & while at it here are a gazillion cards to be helpful to you, the US Air card is awesome here is my affiliate link it is the exact same one like so many other bloggers, here is my churning challenge let me just pull up some numbers out of thin air & copy/paste some affiliate links for you depending on what’s for sale lately, here is a giveaway for a luggage tag or drink coupon, I started collecting miles/points in 2011 & starting this blog to help my friends/family to travel free LOL, I had no idea what Platinum or Diamond is but now that I got my elite cards I feel entitled to publish a bunch of crap & flood my readers with affiliate links every chance I get, and I can go on forever. The vast majority of blogs in existence would not exist if it was not for blatant pimping of credit cards and you know it.
Deep down, for you to post here it means you are reading me. Thank you for your support;-)
Then I followed up with another comment:
I am ok with Amazon referral links. I am not ok with plastered all over credit card links. Debt can bury unsuspecting newbies before they realize what hit them. THAT, to me at least, is THE difference.
Credit cards are to consumers what derivatives were to banks (we bailed them out remember?)..Weapons of Mass Destruction!
Anonymous says
Gratz on your alexa ranking! 20,000 more and then you can get yo aff links. that’s higher than parag, and first2board atm 😉
TravelBlogger Buzz says
I have no doubt first2board will surpass me very very soon:-)
Surge & Swell says
Are you suggesting that TBB somehow rises above the squalor? Is your long list of perceived flaws and accusations an attempt to imply that you provide a fresh and unique perspective on the travel blogger world? I have two pieces of bad news for you, George.
If you take a broader look at TBB you’ll see that there is a particular format that most every entry follows and that the information found under those subsections is just you rehashing and spinning what can also be found on other blogs and forums. Has it yet dawned on you that by first presenting your blog as an aggregator of travel blog news and by following that up with accusations of inferiority aimed at your sources, you’ve essentially called your own blog inferior? Are you familiar with the transitive property of equality?
I’ve read your brief articles in the Wall Street Journal. They’re not particularly insightful nor are they very profound. Perhaps there is a larger trend in your writing that you may want to address? Sometimes slight overviews leave an audience looking for more. Brevity and negativity do not always make for good writing.
You’re most welcome for the support, George. Thank you for the entertainment that you and your commenters provide. I’ve replaced my daily TMZ habit with an afternoon (and sometimes an evening) visit to TBB. Don’t mistake that for a compliment though. Trash is trash, no matter what name that digital content may mascarade under.
GeorgetheTravelMonkey says
There is something called the change curve for when receiving criticism. First stage is shock/denial, anger/fear, acceptance then commitment to change. Looks like surge&swell is at the second stage.
bluecat says
Lame post, S&S, even if you do try to sound smart. You do seem like a smartass.
Surge & Swell says
GeorgeTM, there’s only one problem with your statement and it’s the assumption that you made. TBB’s criticisms haven’t been aimed at me so I cannot be in any of those stages.
I don’t own a travel blog. I don’t ghostwrite for a travel blog. I don’t guest post for a travel blog. I don’t even write about travel on the internet or using any other medium. The last credit card application that I completed was at least 2 years ago, so I’m clearly not a churner. You might be wondering why or how I became a reader, right? You guys amuse me.
Bluecat, I’m not a smartass and I don’t have to try particularly hard to sound smart with an IQ that’s significantly higher than the general population’s.
TravelBlogger Buzz says
S&S: It is my blog, I post my thoughts as they come to me. I find it an honor readers spend time reading me. I honestly can not follow your logic in your comment in your 2nd paragraph. Check my post tomorrow and tell me who is negative dude. The only “negative” bias I have ( I admit it!) is my extremely low tolerance for credit card pimping & the perverse consequences this practice infects our community. Why do YOU focus on the negative and ignore all the other stuff I share? Look at my tagline (finally got one). I have no idea why you read “trash” and enjoy it so much. I want to sincerely thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I always invite suggestions from readers on how to improve and will never censor dissenting views.
Have a great week!
Anonymous says
Haters gonna hate
MickeyW says
WTF was Dennis Rodman supposed to do when he goes to North Korea? Tell them about democracy?
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Remember the Kims are not going away(just like non-commercial blogs) 😉
MickeyW says
oops meant Commercial Blogs … lol
TravelBlogger Buzz says
I hope I get to see the Kims get what they deserve! And yes the commercial blogs are here to stay!
MileageUpddate says
George, I know we would go around and around on this CC thing. You cant protect everyone from themselves. Seems both very kind and disturbing at the same time. Worrying about someone blowing up their finances seem like a waste of time and energy. Especially since you cant control their behavior. Its like Mayor Bloomberg in NYC trying to stop people from drinking 32oz sodas.
OracleofMumbai says
Bloomberg did stop people drinking 32oz sodas. Now they just have to drink multiple 16’s. But fat slobs don’t care. They just take giant gulp while standing at the soda dispenser – and then refill immediately.
Encouraging people to get a dozen cards, when most people can’t balance their checkbook, is a WMD for many. Sometimes, you really do need to protect people from their own stupidity – hence the need for “Caution – may be HOT” signs on coffee at MickeyDs, or instructions on boxes of toothpicks. Or caution not to take out “interest only” mortgages on grossly over priced houses…
Surge & Swell says
MileageUpdate, agreed and well said… I’m imagining that George (with tax season beginning) is reviewing credit card account statements for quite a few people and shaking his head at the frivolous spending habits of some credit card holders, but that’s not a good enough reason to go harpooning the “enablers”. If a compulsive shopper wants to shop, they will apply for a card one way or another… affiliate link or not. One angry, ranting accountant and part-time travel blog commentator won’t put an end to the stupidity of the masses when it comes to managing their spending habits.
GeorgetheTravelMonkey says
I disagree MileageUpdate. People don´t make decisions in a bubble. People´s decisions can be influenced. Normally this does not matter too much as most decisions do not have serious consquences (for example, it doesn´t matter which shampoo you buy in the long run unless it physically harms you). However, the financial world is difference. Financial decisions have serious and occassionally lifelong consequences. Once a blogger steps into the world of credit cards they are making themselves financial advisors to some degree and therefore enjoy the tremendous responsibility that comes with that. At the very least a blogger should fully disclose any financial relationship they enjoy. I personally believe they should be forced by law to disclosure the precise monetary benefit they recieve per credit card applications if it is above a significant amount (similar to financial advice laws in my country United Kingdom). Bloggers should not be treated differently than other financial advertisers if they are running their websites for profit.
TravelBlogger Buzz says
For the record, I completely agree with Oracle of Mumbai (especially about the WMD comment!) and with GeorgetheTravelMonkey. I need to pick one blog comment to comment…or maybe I should just feature both:-)
The new SEC head appears to be a little different than all the previous ones. Maybe, just maybe, we can get this country to have ALL financial advisors become fiduciaries and not continue to have charlatans sell crap down people’s throats with the excuse “But it was disclosed in the prospectus”. Never mind the prospectus is a thick booklet and the disclosure is in page 97, parargraph 2, second sentence from the end (& in the number 34 footnote in tiny font). Same with credit card pimping. Bloggers should not be pitching these WMDs to the masses. Like GTTM said, at the very LEAST they should be forced to disclose the precise monetary benefit PER credit card app. Don’t give the newbies rope to hang themselves with. Instead….it is a giant cc pimping orgy.
Also working on influencing the idiots in Washington to break up the big banks…
I bet you there are many bloggers right NOW working on a blog post that they would never EVER work on if it was not for pushing yet another credit card:-)
MileageUpdate says
Blogger are not Financial Advisors in any way. Where do you draw the line on what someone should be allowed to do on their own? At some point you cant blame someone else when you fail at something. Some times people have to take responsibility for their own actions.
TravelBlogger Buzz says
Let me give you an example. Consumers do not take advantage of 401ks. A very simple rule change a few years ago has contributed VERY POSITIVELY to more people investing in 401ks which is undoubtedly a very good thing for all as hopefully less people will be relying on Medicaid (you and me paying for it). What was that rule change? 401k participants had to OPT OUT of enrolling in 401k plans insted of opt in! Followed that up with automatic 1% step up in contribution rates. And we are beginning to see some progress in the dismal saving rates in this country. People will continue doing stupid things with their money of course. But a lot of good can be done if we start having some sensible rules. Bloggers with no training in financial advice should not be plastering consumers with advice such as “Churn apporama, get 10 cards with only $20k minimum to spend”. It should not be allowed period! If it is allowed, all cautionary language full disclosing what is the benefit for the blogger should be required in THE BODY OF THE POST (and not conveniently hidden somewhere in a page with gazillion ads around it, what a copout). These are not affiliate links for toasters folks. The vast majority of consumers should be steeering clear of this hobby, it is good for them and good for all of us (society). And yes I do have strong feelings about this subject.
Anyone caught the 60 Minutes piece last night about the former Marine who killed himself? He had credit card debt issues per his parents “started falling behind”. Maybe this contributed to his fate…you know, just maybe. At least the way Frequent Miler does it is not enabling…people who go track his affiliate links, probably, know what they are doing. But bloggers who focus on newbies and attack them mercillesly with affiliate credit card links are, in my own humble opinion, dangerous!
As long as banks keep paying fat commissions to salesmen selling their credit cards…this will be a topic of discontent. Sadly.
Anonymous says
But that is unnatural. I speak as a European, of course. Why would anyone want a 32 oz soda?! And, indeed, why do Americans call then sodas?
Jack says
Soda = Sodium Bicarbonate. Also called soft drink, pop, coke, soda pop, fizzy drink, or carbonated beverage.
You can get a 64oz double big gulp at 7-11 stores. It’s a good value for the price. You can use it to fill up all the kids cups.
TravelBlogger Buzz says
And please please, for god’s sake, don’t ever use cash, use your mileage earning credit card naturally:-)
Anonymous says
No issues towards what Frequent Miler is doing. He has given more than ample warning multiple times. I agree that was some of the bloggers like TPG and FMG are doing is disgusting, but the message below can be seen in many of FM’s MM Madness posts. You read that and still follow through with it? Your problem in my opinion, not Frequent Miler’s. What more can he do short of watering down the content? At a certain point, the reader has no one to blame but himself
“If you’re brave and/or crazy enough to want to play along with this game, first consider the risks: if you’re not careful you could spiral into debt, damage your credit score, get targeted for a financial review, have credit card accounts closed against your will, etc. Please only do this if you understand the risks and how to avoid them”
TravelBlogger Buzz says
In my FM link above, I did not see this disclosure! I think it is a great disclosure and should be in bold font at every credit card blog post everywhere. I bet my Award Wallet balances that the vast majority would not do this:-)
Anonymous says
In your FM link above, he’s also not encouraging anyone to join him in that post. Could be wrong on this, but I think in every one of his MMM posts where he invites people to join along, he includes an extensive warning about the risks with this and that you shouldn’t do it unless you absolutely know what you’re doing
He has far surpassed what can reasonably be expected in warning people.
And no, the vast majority would not do this. Because FM’s goal isn’t to pimp CC’s. FTG’s is, and doesn’t care if you become financially ruined (it’s capitalism, so tough luck!)
FrugalTravelGuy says
“Credit Card Disclaimer Your Credit is one of Your Most Important Assets
Some of the techniques mentioned on this blog involve applying for credit. The reader is solely responsible for the decisions he/she makes regarding their own credit.”
Every day. Every page. Since 2007. Its called Personal Accountability. Try it. You’ll feel better about yourself.
TravelBlogger Buzz says
Rick, there are so many ads around the disclaimer I bet my Award Wallet balances almost nobody reads it! Why don’t you add it in the body of the blog post? Is it too much work or is it because you know it will lead to less $$$? I read a more elaborate response to Mileageupdate above to see where I am coming from. It is so easy to throw out the “Personal Accountability” excuse when most consumers are so financially illiterate.
We obviously disagree on this and we will never change each other. I do have very strong views on the subject. Thank you for reading and for taking the time to comment.
victoria taxis says
That’s the way of cropping in Hilly Areas.
thanks for the cool pic.