American Express marketing USB gadget – Safe?

Posted By on May 3, 2010

amexmarketingusbcard

American Express continues their rich and creative advertising using USB technology  computer technology to entice card members amexusbplugand ‘would be’ card members to apply for one of their credit cards. I started to ponder the safety of popping the little fold out USB plug into a waiting computer … wondering just who made the card and what might be included on the circuitry? I regularly read that many of the USB memory chip devices coming from China are laced with programming other than what was intended for the product. Electronic photo display frames have been especially a problem.

I’m not doubting the integrity of American Express or its marketing division, amexusbcircuitjpgbut suspect these kinds of low cost advertising items are produced overseas where ‘who knows what’ can be unscrupulously added to the USB circuit. Still, the temptation was too much and I plugged the website launching redirect in to my Mac … chose not to plug it into my Windows notebook.

I dissected the foam credit card just to see what was actually included in the little USB plug. This can’t cheap to produce, but on the other hand a annual fee paying American Express customer must be worth the marketing?
🙂

 

 

Roz Savage TED Talk and spreading oil slick off Louisiana

Posted By on May 2, 2010

BP_Louisiana_Oil_Rig_Collapse Since I follow, and have posted, the rowing and progress of Roz Savage, I thought I would post her recent Tedprize MissionBlue TED Talk (Wikipedia info). Although I don’t see eye to eye with her robust embrace of the‘green political’ bureaucracy, I do recognize the impact we humans have on oceans and the marine environment.

For many, if our ecological mistreatment isn’t readily noticed, but ocean habitats are fragile as we are all noticing with the recent oil slick spreading in the Gulf of Mexico.

Below is Roz’s short speech during the recent MissionBlue Galapagos conference.

American sized all-electric vehicles by AMP Electric Vehicles

Posted By on May 1, 2010

A few years ago when I posted about the opening of AMP Electric Vehicles in my backyard of Blue Ash, Ohio (Cincinnati), the company company was in the planning stages of electrifying two place vehicles like the Pontiac Solace and Saturn Sky. As technology and battery technology improved, so did their vision in building useful American sized family vehicles.

AMP Equinox

Take the AMP version of the Equinox crossover for instance, it is powered by two direct to wheel water cooled electric motors which provides plenty of power and still offers a range of 150 miles, according to company CEO Stephen Burns at the 2010 New York Auto Show. For many of us, having a second car that seats five + storage, can be recharged in 1 to 4 hours and still zip to 60 in 7 seconds sounds pretty good. Introductory pricing is currently being quoted as a “$25,000 conversion price after tax incentives.” Take a look at what it would be like driving a nicely equipped Electric Equinox (video below).

Veggie Van smashes Guinness record for longest journey on alternative fuels

Posted By on April 30, 2010

Good news, bad news …

Posted By on April 30, 2010

With a new El Rancho Grande Mexican restaurant opening close to home, I won’t have to drive as far to get my chips and salsa ‘fix.’ Unfortunately being so close is going to be a real temptation.

Times have changed – what happened?

Posted By on April 30, 2010

bradleygroupshowersIt is interesting how different generations respond to this 1950s advertising photo from the Bradley Corporation.

A pre-boomer, not as tuned into today’s political climate and mindset, commented “what’s wrong with the ad — it doesn’t show any nudity?” A boomer, a bit older than me, responded with a raised eyebrow and a  comment … “oh for a return to the good ol’ days.” A 20 year old, with his only reference the last couple decades, declared “that’s just wrong.”

What happened to our society?

Less inclusive airline travel and fees for additional services

Posted By on April 29, 2010

spiritcarryonluggage It has become challenging to fly commercial airlines in recent year, especially since 9/11. Not only has the process of going through most airports become time consuming with all the additional security precautions, but the airlines themselves have made changes which most agree have become irritating to down right miserable for passengers, I’m thinking about those passengers who’ve been stuck on the tarmac for hours.

With competition, high or fluctuating cost and economic pressures, airline companies are all looking for places to pinch their pennies. Besides the recent trend of charging a per bag price for luggage, Spirit Airlines will be the first to charge for carry-on items if they need to be stored in the overhead bin. According to recent reports this is due to the trend of passengers not checking luggage to forgo the baggage fees and opting instead to carry on their suitcases. According to industry experts this slows the loading and unloading of airplanes delaying flights. Passengers, me included, struggle to cram their luggage into the already full overhead bins. Discount airlines like Spirit have also added additional seats (ie. more passengers) and now with less overhead space have an even bigger problem. Enter the ‘fee’ for carry-on luggage, up to $45 on August 1, 2010.

spiritcarryonfee 

At first glance I bristled since the checked baggage fee already sent me huffing and puffing in complaint, but eventually realized that the free-market is the best approach in working this out … so as long as we all know up front what flight/service we are getting. Frankly, the same should be true for a fee for carry on luggage. We can all choose with our wallets what kind of flying experience we what to have, be it a door to door elite private jet service or self serve discount airline flying 40 year old planes. It’s both our freedom to choose (within a set ‘safety’ limit) and our responsibility to be a value conscious consumer.

But … enter big brother: Some of our ever further reaching Federal legislators  see it as their job to be the ones to legislate and no doubt ‘tax’ us to pay for another bureaucratic department (just a California politicians do for ‘toys’ in McDonald’s Happy Meals). To be fair though, they might also be concerned over loosing tax revenues since the ‘fees’ the airlines charged aren’t taxed as high as airline tickets… hmm.

There Ought to Be a Law

Some in Congress believe airline fees should have limits. A bill has been introduced to outlaw carry-on baggage fees; another effort is aimed at taxing fees just as tickets are taxed so government doesn’t lose out on revenue as airlines shift their charges from tickets to fees.

WSJ

spiritcheckbagfee

Obit: Anne Marguerite Holmstrom

Posted By on April 28, 2010

Anne Marguerite Holmstrom passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 after 80 years of joyful, exuberant living. Her keen wit, artistic talent, strong principles, love of family, friends and country, appreciation of music, funny stories and the well-turned phrase, left a powerful and lasting impression on all who knew her.

Anne started her life on February 28, 1930 in Wilmington, Delaware, the youngest child of Dr. Richard and Marguerite Mullikin. She spent the summers of her youth on the Delaware and New Jersey coasts, Lake Chautauqua, N.Y. and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Her childhood was shaped by the Depression and the untimely death of her father when Anne was 15 years old. Her primary and secondary education was entirely at Wilmington Friends School, founded in 1748 and the oldest school in Delaware. Anne maintained a close and supportive relationship with the school throughout her life.

She met the love of her life, Fritz Holmstrom, at Lake Chautauqua the summer after graduating from Friends School and before her freshman year at Wellesley College. Fritz was a student at Harvard Medical School working a summer at the lake and he spent every free moment courting the 17 year old Anne. After a whirlwind romance, Fritz proposed, Anne accepted, and they were married the following summer. Thus began a lifetime of travel and adventure.

Fritz was a career military physician and his work with America’s early space program took the family to assignments around the world, ending in San Antonio at the School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks A.F.B. Which each move, Anne created a haven of security and happy times. After Fritz retired, he entered an Anesthesia residency at UTHSC and Anne supplemented their in income by creating and selling her colorful and imaginative works of art at local art shows and galleries. When Fritz began his next career in the Anesthesia Department of UTHSC, Anne organized many fun-filled and well attended parties for their friends, both old and new.

Fritz died suddenly in 1982, but Anne found great comfort and companionship with another retired military man, Claude “Mac” McRaven, a former professional football player and WWII Spitfire pilot. They remained a devoted couple until his death in 2007.

Anne’s many and eclectic interests included: golf, British comedies, old movies, The Wall Street Journal (and savvy investing), Nevada slots, poker and bridge with her friends, Sudoku and crossword puzzles, listening to classical music, singing old-fashioned ballads, hosting lively parties, working nonstop on art for her family and friends, and remaining curious about the mysteries of life.

Anne is survived by her two children, Margie Baird and Fritz Holmstrom, their spouses Mote and Suzanne; seven grandchildren, Caroline (and Mike) Decherd, Bill (and Laura) Baird, Anne (and Cameron) Campbell, Michael Baird, Henry Holmstrom, Bonnie Holmstrom, and Kathryn Holmstrom; five great-grandchildren: Cally, Josie, Lucy and Francie Decherd and Marguerite Campbell. Anne was blessed with a collection of beloved, fun-loving friends who participated wholeheartedly in her exciting life. Finally, the family extends grateful thanks to Jo Hames for her faithful and loving care.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE MONDAY
MAY 3, 2010
9:30 A.M.
FORT SAM HOUSTON
NATIONAL CEMETERY Rev. Lisa Mason officiating. You are invited to sign The guestbook at www.porterloring.com

More sailing: Following Jessica Watson as she nears home

Posted By on April 28, 2010

jessicawatson In sticking with the sailing theme, the youngest non-stop solo circumnavigating sailor is nearing her starting point of Sydney, Australia. Jessica Watson, age sixteen (17 on May 18th), is in her country’s home waters and nearing Tasmania, but is experiencing rough conditions and large seas. Her spirits are good as seen on a Skype call and comments, but a quick read of her blog (snippet below) indicates just how challenging the southern oceans can be for her and her 34 foot boat.

Similarly, another young teenager Abby Sunderland (16 as of October 2009) from America is attempting to sail around as well – and yes as expected, there is concern over how young is too young to be sailing alone around the world … how about 13 years old attempting it?

And last night things sure got interesting. I put the drogue (a parachute like thing that you trail behind the boat to slow you down in really big seas) out to stop us losing too much ground and to stop us being knocked down. The wind gusted at 55 knots and the sea was (and still is!) a total, gigantic mess, with 8-12 meter swells. Although the wind is easing now, the sea’s still rising.

Riding out the weather with the drogue out was a lot like my first gale in Ella’s Pink Lady because of the new motion and all the new noises. It didn’t make for the most relaxing night as I played around with the bridle to try and get us sitting at the right angle to the waves. Then when I did put my head down for a bit of sleep we were knocked down again when the lashing came off the tiller and a big wave caught us on the side.

This time we went more than 90 degrees over, port (left) side down for a change. No damage again but this time my big bottle of dishwashing liquid worked its way out of the locker and went flying, empting its contents absolutely everywhere! The whole cabin including the key board I’m typing on is covered in sticky, slippery, bubbly lemon fresh washing up liquid -lovely. Mum reckons that I have some sort of obsession with cleaning! And I’m starting to wonder why I bother drying and tidying the cabin anymore, as it
never lasts.

jessicawatsonmap400427

H-P Agrees to Buy Palm – WSJ.com

Posted By on April 28, 2010

Good news for Palm … I think? Hopefully HP shareholders feel the same way.

Hewlett-Packard Inc. agreed to acquire Palm Inc. for nearly $1 billion in cash, ending months of speculation about the fate of the troubled wireless handset maker.

H-P said it will pay $5.70 per share in cash for Palm, representing a premium of 23% over the closing price of Palm’s shares on Wednesday. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

Posted via web from richc’s posterous

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog