Balancing Dog

Pants Password

I would like to thank my brother Greg for sharing this with me...

Man's 'pants' password is changed

The bank apologised to Mr Jetley in a statement

A man who chose "Lloyds is pants" as his telephone banking password said he found it had been changed by a member of staff to "no it's not".

Full Story Here

In the news today...

I was reading USA Today just now and was going through the section where there is a single important story from each state. I like to check on the states where I have loved ones periodically, so when someone asks me about event x, I seem aware. Also I like to make sure everything is still in one piece. So, in Massachusetts, a drunk driver plead not guilty to his ninth offense. In California, a Riverside boy died after swimming in a lake where an amoeba infected his brain. The horrible news stories that are anything but happy, but are, in fact, news and worthy of note. I decided to check on Texas:

Thursday, August 7
Austin - A group of 26 teenage cheerleaders tried to cram themselves into a Jester Residence Hall elevator at the University of Texas to see how many would fit, but they got stuck and had to be rescued, officials said. One girl was treated and released at a hospital; two others were treated at the scene.

Is this news to anyone?

I am one to talk, having been a Texas cheerleader at one time. But... really, USA Today? Really? The most important thing that happened yesterday in that whole state, with its underground polygamist sects and minutemen, was that some cheerleaders committed an act similar to a 1950s fraternity stunt? I guess you could say it's news because they reenacted something their grandfathers probably did, instead of emulating their typical caffeinated versions of the Laguna Beach gang, but one question still remains...

Really?

Link

I, too, am famous

...or at least my work kind of is. I made a video for the Lloyd Center for the Environment a few years ago to give a look at what the center does. They were contacted recently by the Planet Channel, and submitted my video, which is now up on YouTube and the Planet Channel website. Check it here, or just watch it below if you want to.

My Mom's Famous

Heeere she is!

Companies Opting Out of Low Price Searches

Last night I saw a commercial-- I wish the heck I could remember what it was for now. It was something along the lines of a finance or insurance company, and they were offering a deal that would not show up on a comparison search, such as Go Compare, in what looks to me to be an enticement for potential customers to come directly to them instead of risk them finding a lower rate on a comparison website, which are the internet's "hottest thing" equivalent to, say, sliced bread. It got me thinking, "yeah those businesses must be in fiercer competition than ever." All of them- vehicles, hotels, rentals, airfares. Do comparison websites help or hinder these companies?

Today I started to find out. As a valued customer and AAwards member, I received an e-mail from American Airlines saying they were ending their partnership with Kayak. Kayak, for anyone who does not know its majesty, compares hundeds of airfares, or airfare and hotel deals, for a specific (or unspecific) date, to your specific (or unspecific) destination. It has saved me bundles of time and money-- they don't charge a booking fee and add in the tax ahead of time, so it doesn't hit you over the head in the end-- especially with international travel.

I'll leave you with the highlights of the e-mail, Re: American Airlines Ends Relationship with Kayak and Sidestep (my emphasis in red):

American Airlines Fares No Longer Displayed On Kayak Or Sidestep
Book Your Next Flight On AA.com To Earn 1,000 Bonus Miles

Dear Leanne Joyce,

As a valued customer who has booked an American Airlines ticket through Kayak.com or Sidestep.com over the past year, we would like to inform you that American Airlines fares are no longer being displayed on these sites. You may still find our content through many other meta-search engines for purchase through our award-winning web site, AA.com. Tickets already purchased remain valid for customers traveling on American. **(so which is it? through a meta-search engine or on their website?)

At American Airlines, we are committed to saving you time and money by making AA.com your one-stop shop for finding the best fares. In addition to our Lowest Fare Guarantee, you have the ability to search for the lowest available price for three days before and three days after your original departure and return dates. So, when booking your next trip, be sure to visit AA.com.

And, as a special incentive, if you book your next flight on AA.com and travel by December 31, 2008, you'll receive 1,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles. **(why offer an incentive if they're award-winning and a one-stop shop?)

Thanks for choosing American Airlines. We look forward to seeing you on board soon. **(don't count on it, suckers.)

Berrilicious

That's me at the berry farm. Just kidding. I found it on the website for Craigie's Farm, where Fras and I went this morning. The place has amazing berries- strawberries, rasps, red currants, black currants and gooseberries! Blackberries too, but they aren't quite ripe yet. We picked our way through, and in not too long we had 2 pints of strawberries and 2 pints of raspberries.

I just need to express my happiness that pick-your-owns are still thriving these days and stress the fact, and it is a fact, that you'll never taste really good fruit until you pick it yourself. Because the berries you pick don't have to travel far when you go straight to the source, they're juicier and tastier than anything you'd find in Tesco, Stop and Shop, Ralph's, or even Whole Foods, where everything is picked to ship. Plus you don't have to pay for some corporate farm to pay minimum wage (or less) to workers and pocket the rest, when you pay more anyhow to end up with harder, blander berries covering those mushy rotten ones on the bottom-- you know what I'm talkin' bout.

Plus, it's fun to go.

And if you come to this particular farm, you can also get fresh ice cream afterward... I will be as bold to say it was the best ice cream I've ever had, too. No lies. I had "Moo" flavor, which is basically sweetened cow juice. Fraser had honeycomb, which had bits of honeycomb (sort of a caramely toffee-y crunchy thing).

Anyhow, that's my food soap box and I will step off now. Things are good. My knee is sort of goofy these days-- too much walking and working out and with incorrect shoe-age. I'm gonna lay off it as much I can, but there's so much to explore it's not easy.

Well we're about to go out to dinner and beverages. Mike got a new job, so it's time to celebrate responsibly. Ciao bellas!