blog, blog, blog -nonsense and conundrums

zombie strippers music video

2009-03-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

Even better than the preview!

Remember v-day!

2009-02-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Video (semi-NSFW)

Gun Pron

2009-01-29T10:54:00.001-08:00

Metal band taxonomy

2009-01-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

How metal bands are named

WTF?!

2009-01-14T16:21:00.001-08:00

Carbon Fiber Lotus...

I'm glad I waited for this to come out to get one!

Photo a day

2009-01-04T01:47:00.001-08:00

Polaroids, no less!

I see this in Jenni's future...

2009-01-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.likecool.com/Shots_Gun_Drink_Dispenser--Accessories--Home.html

Sacramento Food blogger

2008-12-30T10:58:00.001-08:00

See above

2008-12-23T11:48:00.001-08:00

http://www.secretfunspot.com/

Blowguns and energy beer banned

2008-12-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

PENAL CODE SECTION 12582. Any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, offers forsale, possesses, or uses a blowgun or blowgun ammunition in thisstate is guilty of a misdemeanor.

SACRAMENTO, CA - San Francisco, California and 13 other states have reached an agreement with a second brewery to pull alcoholic energy drinks off store shelves.
The settlement with MillerCoors requires the company to stop manufacturing and marketing all caffeinated alcoholic beverages, including Sparks; reformulate Sparks so that it does not contain stimulants, including caffeine, guarana, taurine or ginseng, and eliminate the use of images that suggest an energizing effect; not promote the mixing of caffeinated products with alcoholic beverages; and inform distributors and retailers that reformulated Sparks contains alcohol, but no caffeine, and Sparks should be displayed separate from non-alcoholic energy drinks.
The states had argued the stimulants in Sparks counteracted drinkers' sense of intoxication, possibly distorting ther judgment and inducing unsafe behavior. Sparks has held 90 percent of the alcoholic energy drink market.
Last June, California and other states succeeded reaching an agreement with Anheuser-Busch to stop making its alcoholic energy drinks.

Idaho Club's clubhouse burned down

2008-12-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

Iconic building is 'a total loss'

SANDPOINT - The Idaho Club's iconic clubhouse burned down on Thursday, according to Northside Fire District officials. “It’s a total loss,” Northside Fire Chief Brad Mitton said of the club’s rugged, yet elegant timber and stone clubhouse. The log clubhouse was considered one of the finest structures of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. “We are greatly saddened as this was a building that held many memories for so many people,” Chuck Reeves, president of The Idaho Club, said.

“We are just thankful no one was injured.” “The only thing we can do at a time like this is to look to the future and think about how we can quickly rebuild the Lodge and make it even better than it was before.” In a prepared statement, Reves said no one was in the building at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The blaze remains under investigation and no further details were immediately available on Thursday. Along with Northside, the East Pend Oreille Fire District and Sandpoint Fire Department were also summoned to the fire. The 30,000-square foot clubhouse housed a restaurant, bar, pro-shop and office space. The ground-level portion of the clubhouse also provided cart storage for the club’s 18-hole Nicklaus Design course. The clubhouse replaced Hidden Lakes’ former clubhouse, which was housed in a trailer home near the corner of Lower Pack River Road and Highway 200. The new clubhouse was part of Hidden Lakes Golf Resort's expansion plan, which was approved by Bonner County in 2000. At the time, the projected cost of the clubhouse was $6.2 million and was to be built by Pucci Construction. Dick Villelli later sold the resort to Pend Oreille Bonner Development, which further expanded the housing development and began reconstructing the golf course, which was designed by golfing legend, Jack Nicklaus.

Daily Bee link

Swoopo -WTF?

2008-12-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

Read about it here -comments are most interesting

Swoopo follows up

My opinion -not a scam, but not a smart place to shop!

3m MPro 110 (tiny) Projector

2008-12-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

Physical Dimensions:
0.9"h x 2"w x 4.5"d

Gizmodo sites quality control issues in their review

Uber bass for your car

2008-12-20T11:07:00.001-08:00

To help people understand the need to move out of your way!

5. Rumbler Intersection Clearing System Whether it’s due to cranked-up radios or a plummeting sense of civic duty, today’s drivers are apparently less likely to get out of the way of a police siren. Taking a page from thunderous, bass-heavy car audio systems, Chicago-based Federal Signal created the Rumbler. The “Intersection Clearing System” consists of two 8-in. woofers and an amp, adding a low-frequency signal to an existing siren’s high-pitched wail. According to Joseph Bader, vice president of engineering for Mobile Systems at Federal Signal, the Rumbler was designed to operate at 180 to 360 cycles per second. Sirens, by comparison, are in the 500- to 2000-cycle range, and music is either high in cycles, or extremely low (those bassed-up audio systems are buzzing at 120 cycles or less). The Rumbler’s range is not only pretty different, it’s pretty disconcerting, which is what makes it effective. And since the system is essentially duplicating the siren’s existing signal at a much lower frequency, listeners quickly realize that the vibrations they’re feeling are mapped to the rise and fall of the approaching siren. In most cases, officers turn on their Rumblers for a single 10-second interval, which is long enough to clear an intersection or a jammed-up stretch of highway. The effective range is up to 200 ft. ahead of the police vehicle. But Bader says the system is more useful in close quarters.

Short-Term Impact: The Rumbler is being adopted by agencies on the East coast, particularly in metropolitan areas, such as Washington, D.C. The system’s simple installation and incredibly low cost—around $600 per car—could make it a fixture in city-based fleets within a few years.

I think gangsters have been using their own version of this for years tho...

Crazy boat video

2008-12-20T09:56:00.000-08:00

Note Tesla coil on side

Violet Blue oublogs 'em all (from SF)

2008-12-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

http://artmachines.org/

http://violetbluesf.com/

http://techyum.com/

and last but certainly not least:

http://www.tinynibbles.com/

Thank you, Laughing Squid!

Don't fuck with Dio, maaaaaaaan!

2008-12-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

"Meet Kyle Drinkwine. The Wisconsin man, 24, allegedly became so incensed by a lackluster karaoke performance of a heavy metal song that he assaulted the singer and a second man, police charge. According to a River Falls Police Department report, Drinkwine throttled singer James Mischler, 28, and his friend Cyrus Kozub, 29, "over one's ability to sing karaoke." Though cops did not specify which song set Drinkwine off last week, Kozub told TSG that Mischler was performing "Holy Diver," the title cut on Dio's 1983 debut album (the band is fronted by Ronnie James Dio, the former Black Sabbath lead singer). [In a subsequent interview, Mischler told TSG that when Drinkwine and some cronies started heckling him, he responded with a putdown about the "big gaudy crucifix" worn by Drinkwine. "I told him he should find a better vending machine for his jewelry," Mischler recalled, adding that the comment angered the heckler, who himself had earlier performed an Eminem song."

Google can tell you more...

So... I may blog again this year.

2008-12-18T15:44:00.001-08:00

Maybe...

Laughing Squid is better than me

2007-09-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

There. Read this if you wanna know about Burning man 2007. Quit pestering me. LS is funnier than me anyhow. and has more links.

Apparently 2002 is the last year anyone cool went, anyhow!

Not about Burning man...

2007-09-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

I know that my BM/house boating blog post is L8. Three reasons: 1) It's gonna b long. 2) I'm lazy 3) I've already talked to too many people about it and am kinda over it. Basically... Call me and I'll give you the short version. or search my name on flicker to see the pics. or whatever.

so this last weekend...

Current exchange rate -Yay Bush! the American dollar is SO fuct right meow!

Saturday

Jackie made us breakfast at Annie and my place (delicious veggie juevos rancheros), then the six of us (Annie, Jackie and Yen in the super Civic Hybrid and Kirsten, Lindsay and I in the Saabaru) drove up to Ainsworth Hot Springs via the ferry . We left around ten and caught the 1400 ferry after eating a passable lunch at some roadside stand where this kid was making incredible Bionicles.

We had fun hanging out at the hot springs for a few hours (it cost C$8), soaking up the wellness and meeting some pretty funny construction dudes. It took all of about thirty minutes for the male:female ratio to go from 1:5 to 5:5...

Then... off to Nelson (about an hour) via the liquor store

We checked into the Hume Hotel. (funky but totally cool!) around 6, napped/watched TV/drank for a few hours, then ate dinner in the hotel around nine. The food was passable at dinner, but tasted great at five when we got home!

After dinner we put on our party pants in the hotel room, then headed to the pub in the hotel (very convenient!). It was packed with some pretty lively looking people, but Annie's friend from Shambhala (the manager) was eating dinner and didn't look like he wanted to be bothered. So... we went to the club (in the hotel). It was kinda dead. Half of us stayed and half went back to the pub (myself included) for a few hours. We drank some drinks and had some good conversation until the music stopped and we realized we were the only people there! Lindsay and Kirsten went to bed and I went back to the club with the other three girls...

Heavy drinking, silly behavior and poor decision making landed us deep in the woods courtesy of a very drunk driver... We were at an impromtu after party... You've been there... you know how the rest goes...

We got back to the hotel after five. But, alas, our new friends were not allowed in! Old hotel employee lady quote of the day: "If I let just these nice people in, they will go to their room and go to sleep. If I let you boys in you all will be noisy and obnoxious and wake everyone up." We were noisy and obnoxious without them, BTW!

530a: We watched TV and ate the aforementioned leftovers...

7A: Tried to sleep (failed)

0830a: Ate hotel breakfast (two bites) and drank coffee (two cups)

Ran around town (most was closed on sunday)

1030: went home -via the selkirk loop through Washington ). One of the longest, most tedious rides I've been on (luckily, the company was good)!

We pretty much killed it!

So you can understand me L8r

2007-09-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

How to speak LOLcat

Saturday night, Bishes!

2007-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

V. Satui Castle is havin' an event and I'm goin!

Thank you, Jenni!

Burning man any minute!

2007-08-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

Some sites:

Samsa B's Black Rock Booty Music Schedule

Various schedules

Art that will be there

Camps

Full schedule

So there's this chick...

2007-08-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Named Carrera...

She's cuter than you...

And your friends...

And your hot cousin who used to be a model...

PFF

2007-08-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Feist video from the Portable Film Festival
shot in one take!

NIN wants you to get into it...

2007-08-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

Not quite LOST, but pretty odd!

lolcats

2007-08-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

WTF?

Theze kats

2007-08-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

has the funniness!

More BM ideas

2007-08-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here

Here's where I'm goin'

2007-08-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Wanna go?

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Minneapolis

NYC
London, England
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Athens, Greece
Johannesburg, South Africa
Hong Kong
Singapore
Bali, Indonesia
Sydney, Australia
then home sweet home
Auckland, New Zealand

This guy has lots of info

2007-08-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

On his sight...

Saturday

2007-08-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

Seafair in Seattle

I'm here with the band...

2007-08-02T09:00:00.001-07:00

Hatefist in Seattle Friday night

If you know more about it...

2007-08-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

Maybe you can get more of it!

Yes, I have seen the whole world...

2007-07-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

Finding the Best Around-the-world Ticket Fare

We are stationed in Germany, and when we return to the States after our tour, we wish to travel via Australia and Okinawa, Japan, to visit friends. Would this merit an around-the-world ticket? If so, where would I research the options? Is one carrier known to have less expensive fares?

— Tom and Mary Wahl
Bonn, Germany

A round-the-world trip might be just the ticket for you, especially if you plan to make further trips to Europe, or to the Asia-Pacific region. There is an ineluctable logic to flying all around the world if you already plan to go half way, for much the same price as a round-trip ticket, and far cheaper than a one-way fare. You can use the remaining coupons any time within 12 months.

Prices depend on itinerary (a Southern Hemisphere route traveling east or west via Australia, New Zealand or the South Pacific will cost about 30 percent more than a Northern Hemisphere routing via Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok or Tokyo) and the number of stopovers you wish to make.

Compare fares and route and airline combinations offered by major airline alliances: Oneworld (www.oneworld.com), with 10 carriers, including American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, which sets fares according to the number of continents you visit or pass through; Star Alliance (www.staralliance.com), with 17 carriers, including Singapore Airlines, United, Air New Zealand and Thai Airways, which sets fares according to mileage limits of 26,000 (economy class only; maximum five stopovers), 29,000, 34,000 and 39,000 miles; and www.skyteam.com, with 10 carriers, including Continental, Delta, Air France/KLM and Alitalia.

You may find it best to buy a low-cost, one-way ticket to London and start your round-the-world flight from there; in which case, whatever your final destination in the States, you will be left with a one-way ticket to London. Expect to pay about $2,200 in economy ($7,200 business class). Alliance round-the-world trips are typically made with two airlines, such as Qantas and British Airways, for example, if you choose to fly with Oneworld.

Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.co.uk) claims to be the only single airline to offer a round-the-world service with a routing between London, Hong Kong, Auckland and Los Angeles in both east and west directions. Travelers can choose to fly around the world with stopovers in either direction for the price of a Britain-to-New Zealand round-trip ticket. Fares from London (with tax) start at £705.30 (about $1,418 at $2.01 to the pound) in economy; £1,766, premium economy (Pacific Economy); £3,076, business class (Business Premier).

Trailfinders (www.trailfinders.com), a London-based travel agent with offices in Australia, which specializes in long-haul travel, offers tailor-made round-the-world routings, taking in Australia and the United States, from about £1,000. Or consult a specialist like Roundtheworldflights.com or TravelNation (www.travel-nation.co.uk).

Round-the-world tickets, like most multisector trips, are typically too complicated to book online. Check out the options on an airline alliance site and then call a member airline or a travel agent to fine-tune your itinerary and make your reservations. –ROGER COLLIS

Last Updated: 06/14/07

Planning a long trip? Consider an around-the-world plane ticket.

Visit The Passport Center!
International Travel Resources
Get Itinerary Ideas from Our Member Trip Reports

Even if you're not traveling around the globe, an around-the-world ticket could be a money-saving investment. Sometimes an around-the-world ticket is cheaper than a point-to-point round trip, especially in business or first class.

A business-class round trip on American Airlines between Los Angeles and London, for example, recently cost $5,940 plus taxes, compared with $6,600 plus taxes, to fly business-class from the United States to Europe to Asia and back to the U.S. with an AA around-the-world fare. By buying a global ticket and coordinating appointments, an executive with clients in both Hong Kong and London could save heaps.

If you are circling the globe, you have various options. The trip can take from three days to several years. It can involve a few brief stops or unlimited stopovers, plus side trips. You can stay north or south of the Equator or crisscross it at an extra cost. The journey can cost as little as $2,000 in economy class, or over $16,000 in first. In addition to saving you money, buying an around-the-world ticket is a good way to organize your itinerary.

Specialist Agencies
If all this sounds confusing, it is. But before you plunge into the maze, plot your preferences -- where you would like to stop and for how long -- and get help! Unless your aspirations are very simple, seek out an agent or service that is familiar with airline tariffs and the global scene.

Some such agencies are consolidators who can piece together point-to-point one-way tickets that undercut the lowest partnership economy fares but, unlike partnership tickets, usually will NOT earn frequent flier miles. Some won't accept credit cards; others will, but with a surcharge.

You will find that around-the-world fares through these agencies begin at about $1,500, which is a very basic New York-London-Hong Kong-New York; and rather than selling you a single around-the-world ticket, they ask you where you want to stop, then issue you a series of point-to-point tickets. Most flights depart from major U.S. gateways, so if you live inland, you will need to pay extra for a connecting flight.

We recommend Air Treks because they offer the best bang for your buck and have a Trip Planner which gives you the ability to create your own custom multi-stop international trip right on their Web site.

Which Airlines Offer These Tickets?
There are dozens of partnerships, from both the major airlines and discount carriers, that allow you to link together the routes of two or three airlines for one continuous global trip. For a leisurely, rambling odyssey involving many stopovers, it may be cheapest and most practical simply to link together point-to-point tickets for the route of your choice.

The biggest alliance, the Star Alliance, includes United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Thai Airways International, SAS, Varig, BMI, Austrian Airlines and Tyrolean, to name a few. It covers 841 destinations in 157 countries, and is a good bet if you want to go with major airlines.

The 18 Star Alliance members have launched a cost-saving and flexible around-the-world airfare. Competitively priced, the mileage-based fare allows passengers to backtrack and make side trips from three to 15 destinations, depending on the fare paid, for a maximum of 39,000 miles. Travel on the Star Alliance around-the-world ticket can be from 10 days to a full year, dating from the first intercontinental flight.

Some partnerships fly the North Pacific, some the South, some your choice of either (north is significantly cheaper). Most fly via Europe. A few go via South America or South Africa. There are so many nonstops between eastern Asia and Western Europe, however, that you may have difficulty plotting stopovers at such cities as Tel Aviv, Cairo or Istanbul.

Other Specialist Agencies:

Air Brokers International (800) 883-3273

British Airways (800) 828-7797

Intrav (800) 456-8100

Most tickets bear restrictions, and they vary widely; most are valid for a year. Open jaws and side trips on separate tickets are often okay, the side trips sometimes at no extra cost. You usually may not change the first flight after the ticketing deadline, and other changes are subject to penalties. Sometimes, however, only the first destination must be firmly set. Sometimes there are minimum or maximum stopovers, and mileage caps.

At the luxury end of global travel are jet tours organized by tour operators. Check with your travel agent for itineraries and rates. Just about anything else you want to know about around-the-world air travel, including trip abstracts and journals, can be found in The Practical Nomad by Edward Hasbrouck.

(Editor's Note: While we have had great experiences with some of the companies listed above, this is a cutthroat business with very small margins. Please take the same precautions you would in buying a ticket from an around-the-world specialist as you would from a consolidator, preferably charging your tickets on a credit card and confirming all reservations/seat assignments with the airlines directly.)

Around the world plane ticket.
fransor fransor wesley Post Count: 0	Msg: #1 Added: 2007-04-12 13:32:45
	Can someone please explain to me how these work? How many stops do you get? Do you have to go \'around the world\'? I have researched the net and found prices as low as $1,500. Wifey wants to go to Ireland and Europe with a couple of stops in between. Is this the most economical method. Many thanks

Brigette Brigette Dempsey Post Count: 39	Msg: #2 Added: 2007-05-01 03:37:48
	Heh, I bought a round the world ticket and it worked out fine for me, only down side to a RTW ticket is IF you want to travel for more than 12 months you cant on that ticket..it expires after 12 months, unless there are tickets out there that dont expire..I don't know, I have been travelling since August and hope to travel till March 2008 but from Thailand my ticket expires and I have to pay my own way home..bummer really...How long do you want to travel for. The RTW tickets can give you as many stops as you want...depending on how much you want to pay of course. I flew in to Mexico and out of Chile..but made my way overland down through all of Central and South America...had to fly over Columbia though as it's not as easy for the Irish to get in..so I hear.. bus journeys were long and over night, even spent 3 days from Rio to Chile..all for 150 USD I think but it was still a good experience for me... If you fly to Europe I wouldnt waste stops on a ticket to Ireland and UK or other places, www.ryanair.com is a very cheap airline that can get you to Ireland if you book the right dates for near enough 1cent.. they do actually exist, you can register with them and recieve emails of when their sales start and they always have sales, they do it to most of Europe aswell. Brigette
Mikey M Mike Meggiato Post Count: 38	Msg: #3 Added: 2007-05-07 10:44:27
	Hi Fransor, Im going on a RTW ticket at the end of this year and i have done a fair bit of research, the are three main tickets and this is basically down to airline alliances. The is the One World ticket and this is made up of British airways, Quantas, Lan Chille,United Airlines and a few others that i can not recall at the moment and the one world ticket is priced by high and low season and by continents. Basically the One world ticket gives you upto 20 flights and has 4 internal flights per continent except for North America were you get 6 flights. the more continents the higher the price.Were ever you start you have to include that as a continent and so were ever you go you are using a continent straightaway. The next ticket is the Star Alliance and the alliance is made up of Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, SAS Scandanavian, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SpanAir, Swiss International, TAP Air Portugal, Thai AIR,i think the are more airlines and the ticket is mileage based and the are options and the basic ticket is 29,000 miles and you can change this upto to 39,000 but the cost goes up. The is the escapades ticket and is made up by the following airlines Virgin Atlantic Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Silkair, this ticket is better if your going via Australasia and the is a basic 29,000 ticket which is the same price all year round. The key to an RTW is you can not back track, you can change times for a small fee, if you reroute it can get really expensive and as brigette says your limited to 12 months. The price is basically set by the alliance and then of course taxes on top, so its a case of shopping around to see which agency is willing to give the best deal, as the tickets and taxes are the same everywhere and it is down to how much profit the agency is trying to make. Another consideration is helpful are the agency.............one agency may quote slightly less but may not have the technical staff that can advise you on what visas you need and what routing is best.Afterall some agencys have been there for years cause they know what they are doing. Routing can also effect the price, for example an RTW ticket out of london or sydney is cheaper than from going from the states or canada, dont know why, but it means if youre in the states you pay more...........which sucks. thats a brief overview really, but if i can help anymore Fran, just give me a holla and good luck:)
The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 63	Msg: #4 Added: 2007-05-11 13:28:07
	Trying to figure which is the best RTW ticket option is a real headache - and unfortunately I will add to it by adding a lesser known airline alliance than the main two (oneworld and Star Alliance). This one is called Skyteam and is a combination of Areoflot, AeroMexico, Air France, KLM, Alitalia, Continental, Czech Airlines, Delta, Korean Air and Northwest. It is very good for the northern hemisphere, but not as good south of the equator. Personally, there are a couple of airlines in Skyteam that give me the sudders, but there is also another alliance which I cannot find a name for - and it includes KLM, Northwest, Kenya Airways, Continental, Alaska, COPA, Air Pacific, South African Airways, Emirates and Malaysia. This one is a better one for getting to and from southern hemisphere destinations. There is a cheap method to do an around the world ticket which is only good for a few stops - and to use Australia as a base for this example, it would involve a return trip to the UK - but going via USA on the way there, and Asia on the way back. This is not technically an around the world trip, but a London Return since you really only have one stop there and one stop on the way back - however, it depends on the airline whether you can implement this. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to work through the plethora of round the world options - since you need to calcluate your maximum miles, number of stops, different zones etc. If you can find a travel agent that will give you a good price, than that could be an option - but if you love the planning aspect of your travels - then you can organise an itinerary yourself - but just give yourself a lot of time to consider the alternatives.
Mikey M Mike Meggiato Post Count: 38	Msg: #5 Added: 2007-05-11 18:37:10
	Wise words TTC.............i was going to mention the Skyteam........but then thought better of it because of the small scope and the laughable experience i have had with KLM and Aeroflot ( Aeroflop as i lkie to call it)........but i suppose he needs to know all the options:)
The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 63	Msg: #6 Added: 2007-05-12 00:32:45
	Mike, I was considering using KLM as part of my RTW next year - is your laughable experience with KLM going to deter me from this plan?
Mikey M Mike Meggiato Post Count: 38	Msg: #7 Added: 2007-05-12 09:50:24
	Well TTC....its all down to personal choice mate, but for starters KLM lost my luggage for 4 days and i was only Russia for ten days....which really didnt help and then i had to pay to get my luggage back?..........as apparently KLM's lovely Russian luggage agents were securely storing my luggage. as compensation they offered we a 12 euro voucher off another one of their flights...but it had to be used on a flight over 100 euros..........so basically they were offering me £6 off a £90 flight and wasn't wanting to spend money with them again. The aeroflot flights were an experience......even the newer planes are not that new and a local told me that if they aren't really noise when flying....then thats when you worry..........the carpet wasn't laid down on the aeroflot flights and the in flight meal was a dry croissant with what possibly could have been chicken inside (although it could have been anything) and the croissant looked hand bought and made on route as it was wrapped in cling film. The were other delightful elements..........but im saving that story for when i have kids.........lol, it was an experience and maybe you will have a better time, however from friends and my housemates who have used the skyteam.......its a resounding thumbs down..........but as i said its personal choice. Take care mate and feel free to ask me any questions:0) Mike
LabratsBreakout Lachlan and Brigid Post Count: 1	Msg: #8 Added: 2007-05-23 15:47:26
	Hello. I'm about to depart on my 10-11 month RTW trip (see my blogs; http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/LabratsBreakout)... which has been in the works, and continually delayed by US VISA issues, for about 4 years now (I am British, living in the US with my american wife... they wouldn't let me leave during processing etc). Back when we first tried to do it, it looked like the best/cheapest option for us was a single RTW ticket (I forget the provider/carrier). But the 3 other times we've tried things changed... that ticket no longer exists, and then for some reason the next RTW all in one ticket that we were going to get changed their policy on directional travel (we had to go west, when originally they would let you go east OR west... weird I know)... basically, it seems to me after all the efforts that my wife and I made that there is no sure way to make sure that you are not getting the rip... in the end, we actually just got everything through expedia, and we saved about 15% in relation to any of the all-in ticket deals that would have worked for us. It is highly dependent on where you go though... and how you want to travel. My wife and I are taking a few 'gateway' flights, with long overland stages through regions, traveling independently, so we really only need a few connecting one-way flights... you may be hopping around more...? The trouble with the package tickets, from our perspective, was that a lot of them jumped price for continents visited and to include everything we wanted the prices just rocketed... we tried to adjust our route to work things in cheaper but basically, a quick expedia search quickly told us that these packages were not going to help us out cost-wise... It is a complete NIGHTMARE trying to sift through all the options and find the cheaper places/dates to fly into/from, but don't get discouraged... at the end of the day it's only money, and if you cared overly much about it you'd probably be aggressively pursuing some 80 hour a week type executive career, rather than traveling the world. Good Luck... L
Evan76 Evan Wheeler Post Count: 4	Msg: #9 Added: 2007-05-27 01:07:27
	Hi, I'm not sure about other countries but in Australia Luftansa and Finn Air have some cheaper fares (albeit much more restrictive than the One World/Star Alliance round the world fares). You can travel from Australia via the USA onto europe then back to australia via asia. These fares tend to allow less stopovers (only one in us, one in asia and generally 2-3 in europe), but can be great value in conjunction with cheap internet fares like ryan air, easy jet etc... If you want to have a larger number of stops in each continent my personal choice is the One World 4 Continent fare were you can have up to 4 stops in each region, eg 4 in Europe(including middle east), 4 in asia, 4 in south west pacific and up to 6 in North America(well USA and Canada). There is a lot of options but essentially it comes down to were you want to go and finding the best fare to suit. Cheers Evan
Stuart Stuart Morgan Hurlbut Post Count: 61	Msg: #10 Added: 2007-05-29 04:13:57
	Hi, You don't mention where you are starting from - this does make a difference. There are many budget airlines in various regions of the world particularly Europe and Asia. There are some very cheap flights from Australia to Singapore - then within Asia plenty of very cheap budget airlines. In fact Air Asia are promising to introduce long distance flights from KL (Malaysia) to London. They are promising a price of 500 Ringgets - thats 80 pounds or 160 US dollars. That hasn't happened yet... but may materialise soon.
Lyndal Lyndal Moore Post Count: 2	Msg: #11 Added: 2007-06-05 20:13:27
	Hi guys, I just wanted to give an ex-travel agent's point of view on this topic. As it's been said, there are 2 main groups of airlines that you can use for travelling around the world (and i'm also of the opinion that Skyteam isn't worth mentioning). It's also true that you must travel in one direction, although in some circumstances you can backtrack within continents. It's also true that tickets are only valid for 1 year, and there's no such thing as a ticket that lasts longer, or can be extended. The OneWorld Alliance has 2 types of RTW tickets; one is based on the total mileage travelled (26,000, 29,000, 34,000, 39,000), and the other is based on the number of continents visited and which ones. Whereas Star Alliance only have mileage based tickets. The pros of a continent based ticket over a mileage one is that you are given a certain number of side trips (or sectors) within each continent, so you're not wasting miles or having to buy separate domestic tickets to fly around within a country or continent, and you can get more flights for your money. However only certain airlines fly to certain destinations, so if the airline you need to use to get somewhere isn't a member of the OneWorld Alliance you will have to buy a separate ticket to get there, and it will end up costing you just as much as if you were to buy the Star Alliance ticket which includes more miles. Therefore my advice is: Make a list of all the destinations that you want to travel to and give it to your travel agent. They will then put the destinations into an order which has you travelling in one direction (and you might have to be a bit flexible with your plans here), and then they'll work out which airlines travel between your chosen destinations, and finally they'll calculate the total miles that you'll travel, which will leave your best option. And by the way, if you fly into London and out of Athens and make your own way around in between, the distance between the 2 cities is calculated into your total mileage even though you're not actually flying between the them. It sucks, but unfortunately it's the rules. Basically - let them have the headache, that's what you're paying them for! Let me know if I can help with ay other queries...
aussie surfer aussie surfer Post Count: 1	Msg: #12 Added: 2007-06-16 01:30:46
	Gday Fransor. Another option is some companies which package together stuff for you along the way as well. We booked one last year and went for 10 months and it was ace. Every stop we had some hostels booked and a few other things in each city already it was really easy and better for us because i was travelling with my girlfriend who had never been overseas before and she was a little nervousabout it - even though i was with her. The mob we used was Aussie Escape, I dunno if you are in Oz as well but maybe sus them out and see what you think. Good luck mate!
Wizard4it Russell Simonds Post Count: 1	Msg: #13 Added: 2007-06-23 21:47:13
	Hi all, I am in Australia, was planning on traveling to the UK around end of October 2007 through November 2007. I have been told by a work colleague that it may be cheaper to purchase RTW tickets for myself and my soon to be wife. I dont have any experience regarding this so treat me as a novice OK. Australia to UK is about 2000 to 2200 + taxes per person, standard stop overs ( depending on service ) Bankok, singapore and Dubia ( hope I spelt it right, 7am here ). My fiancee doesnt really like any of those stop overs. My work colleague advised that a RTW ticket may be the answer, he was talking in reference to the one with the basic set at 29000KM or miles something like that, for around the 2800 to 3000 Australian per ticket min 3 stops max 15 stops. Can anyone suggest possible options, cheapest prefered but dont want lost luggage, plane falling out of sky or lengthy filghts ( I smoke ) it kills me if I cant have a smoke after a bout 10 hrs. Last flight I took was Sydney to New York through LA. I had worked the day before, stayed up all night getting ready, never slept on plane or smoked, landed at LA ( 1 hr stopover ), re registered luggage, 1 smoke, 1/2 cup of coffee, back on plane to New York, landed, went to hotel, slept all night missed walking around alot of New York, jumped on plane the next day, flew to florida, 6 days, flew to NV 2 days, then San Diego for 2 days LA 2 days and back home. I was more tired after the trip than I was before I left to start it hehehehehe. 13 days total, went to all theme parks and attactions I could muster the strength to get to, every day was another attraction atleast 1. This time I figure approx 3 weeks to 3 1/2 weeks ( rather than 2 ) maybe a little more, so I can actually relax. What we plan to do in our trip London, ireland, wales, maybe scotland, ( Lee wants to check out Gretna Green ), blimey stone etc etc etc. Did think about the train ride from england to france, once in a life time experience I guess. But thats about it. Please offer any suggestions, stop overs, itineries, times to spend in different places etc.... Again, I am really a novice at all this. thanx in advance Russell and Shiralee wizard4it@optusnet.com.au

seattlephotogirl Candace Ndiaye Post Count: 2	Msg: #14 Added: 2007-06-29 19:29:17
	Hey Wizard! I don't know about the RTW ticket (I'm trying to read to get some insight on that myself!), but take the train from France to England. It's worth it, and you'll really enjoy the ride, I think. I'm not sure if you have alot of trains in Australia, but in the States we really don't. Especially being from the East Coast, it was a great experience for me to be able to ride the trains around Europe. And talk about a huge savings! Flying in the States is SO expensive in comparison to everywhere else I've flown, but the train really allows you to see more, even though it usually takes alittle longer. I would DEFINITELY take the train from France to England of vice versa; it's a relatively cheap way to see alot!

Lord knows u need it!

2007-07-26T10:58:00.001-07:00

Digital photography tips and tricks

How to get to New Zealand AND see the world!

2007-07-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

Round the world ticket...

Next adventure

2007-07-18T12:55:00.001-07:00

Bring this stuff to burning man

Dance Dance Immolation

2007-07-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Dance or suffer fire -lots of it!

All the beer you need in one place!

2007-07-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Liquid solutions

Photos from SF

2007-07-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Me and Joe in the fire buggy... Aptly named berserker!

Here's the breakdown of our adventures:

We got into Sac late Friday night and ate awesome Thai food. Saturday we woke up kinda late, ate mexican food (God, I miss good mexican food!) for lunch (with Dags and kendall), then headed down to the city. Our hotel was awesome and right on Union square (Diva was the name) -we had three rooms for seven of us (party time! -we drank a half a case of Charbay over the course of the night). We ate a slice of pizza and then took BART over to Oakland where the show was. We made it to Oakland by some miracle (because we had no idea what we were doing, not to mention our trashy pants were half on half off) and found the show. It was amazing! I can't even begin to describe it... Just crazy and metal and fire and freaks and odd things I would have never imagined -pretty fun! Here's a review I agree with. After that, we went out to Ruby Skye for a few hours. Very good dancing music and it was packed (yeahyah for Bastille day)!

Sunday we woke up a little earlier and walked around a little -ate lunch at East Side West Cafe, where my sister and Marko have been going for over ten years (we saw Chuck Palahniuk there, if you know who that is). Everybody at the restaurant knew Marko and my sis, so it was nice to be treated like family. They gave us the best mango gelato I have ever eaten. It was like a perfectly ripe fruit frozen in time and dancing around on my tongue. Yep. I'll be eating that again! I also had the perfect mac & cheese! What a meal... Seriously!

Then we went up to Haight, cruised around, took Joe and Bonnie across the golden gate and up to the Marin headlands, then off to the airport.

Fun times!

Sandpoint hookers part 1

2007-07-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Read the comments! Most entertaining!

Suspects arrested in sting operation

SANDPOINT -- Three people were arrested Thursday for allegedly selling sex through craigslist, a free online community which connects people with jobs, apartments, vehicles and other services.

Lavelle Necoy Baudin, 23, Randi Jo Friss , 24, and Selene Ann Mende, 29, were arrested during a sting operation conducted at a Sandpoint motel on Thursday night, police Chief Mark Lockwood said.

"It's probably the first prostitution arrest in Sandpoint since the second world war," he said.

The man and two women are charged with participating in a joint venture to accept prostitution earnings, a felony offense. The three made initial court appearances Friday via video feed from the Bonner County Jail.

Judge Debra Heise set each suspect's bail at $25,000 and appointed public defenders to represent them. Hearings to determine if there is enough evidence to try the three are pending.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined as much as $50,000, according to Idaho law.

Lockwood said Baudin and Mende apparently share an apartment in Sandpoint, while Friss lives in the Priest River area. Court records indicate the two women -- Mende and Friss -- are coworkers at a retail store.

The arrests capped an investigation which spanned six to eight weeks, Lockwood said.

"They were advertising on the Internet," Lockwood said, referring to the craigslist classified ad entry the three used.

Lockwood said a sting operation was set up in which an undercover officer posed as a john. Baudin delivered Friss and Mende to the motel, where prices were set and $350 was exchanged.

The three were then promptly arrested without incident.

Lockwood and Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson said the sting was designed and conducted in a manner meant to deprive the three suspects of a potential entrapment defense.

"We spent a lot of time and energy on it," Lockwood said. "We believe our investigation went right down the center."

Robinson, who reviewed an audio tape of the sting, said there were admissions that the suspects had previous customers. There were also admissions regarding the money.

"I know there have been some admissions about how they were to split up the money, which is one of the crucial elements to our charge," said Robinson, who has been in Bonner County since 1977 and never prosecuted a prostitution-related offense here.

A search of craigslist on Friday showed only one entry for "erotic" services in Sandpoint. Posted on July 6, the entry advertised "2 erotic entertainers" who were available for "discreet outcall encounters" at the rate of "200 roses each or $350 for both."

Contained in the posting were four images of two scantily clad women in a variety of sexually suggestive poses.

Lockwood said the case is particularly unnerving because of the criminal elements which travel the same orbit as those involved in prostitution, including sexual offenders.

"There's a lot of wonderful things the Web brings us, but we don't always see the dark side of it," Lockwood said.

Why do I only find out after it's over?

2007-07-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

Sandpoint hookers!

Probably best that I didn't know...

She does blog about bacon...

2007-07-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

Yummy!

ChopTalk

I'll be here

2007-07-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

Fire arts festival

While you camp in the sand

You need this!

2007-07-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

Painted, dancing hussy!

Sweet T's for cheap!

2007-07-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ten Bills

Hippies go here

2007-07-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

Shambhala

C U there!

Laughing Squid

2007-07-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

Bay area blog that reads boing boing

Get a load of these notes!

2007-06-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

passiveaggressivenotes.com

TRavel Gizmos

2007-06-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

Power converter

AC adapter

Cheapest power adapter ever!

These guys are all about it

Remember to request angled (Australian style) adapter

iPhone my ass!

2007-06-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Nokia's already way ahead of the game with the N95

Dude...

2007-06-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Get the Subie!

WTF?

2007-06-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

CARP

My brother raised some carp in a fish pond in our back yard. One time, as a joke, my friend and I were really high and we leaned out my bedroom window and shot all the carp with a rifle. Then we threw the fish in the street and my brother ran over them in his car when pulling into the driveway. The thing was he failed to see the humor in the situation. Hey, Randy, loosen up!

NZ immigration

2007-06-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Harder than you might think!

2007-06-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

Travel resource

Make yourself one of these

2007-06-06T10:26:00.001-07:00

Then give it to me! Fer real!

click this...

2007-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

You won't be sorry!

That was a HUGE party!

2007-05-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm calling it "Burning man in the Valley"

Sweet ass!

Artsy fartsy

2007-05-09T10:34:00.001-07:00

we-make-money-not-art

For Me

2007-05-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

Harpers archive

Chinavasion

2007-05-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

I knew they were up to something...

SpyCam clock

via Digg

Custom car emblems

2007-05-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

For a great price!

Get better at life!

2007-05-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Personal Development for smart people

Awesome paintings

2007-05-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

here

Helping you

2007-05-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

to be cooler (est)

Where is this machine?

2007-05-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

Free bacon vendor

This is for you:

2007-05-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Time for a complete three-sixty! I mean one-eighty... or u-turn or whatever...

Genius ads

2007-05-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Psyop

R U innovative?

2007-05-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Iinnovate

Not from Boing boing!

tech recipes

2007-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

How 2 4 U!

On eating live shrimp:

2007-04-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

It was among the most unsettling experiences I have ever had in a restaurant, preparing to bite into a living creature as it glared back at me, antennae whipping in wild circles, legs churning, body contorting as if to power the spinnerets that had been so rudely ripped from its torso, less at that moment a foodstuff than a creature that clearly did not want to be eaten....

I bit into the animal, devouring all of its sweetness in one mouthful, and I felt the rush of life pass from its body into mine, the sudden relaxation of its feelers, the blankness I swear I could see overtaking its eyes. It was weird and primal and breathtakingly good, and I don't want to do it again.

Did I mention I like french movies?

2007-04-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Le Cheval

Frickin' funny!

BRMC

2007-04-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

Their new album is killer, according to these guys....

Pretty cool pic

2007-04-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ryan can dig it...

That came from:

2007-04-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

Stumbledupon

Pretty sweet!

This doesn't apply to you...

2007-04-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

Why intelligent people are unhappy

The French make the best movies

2007-04-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Ever. Case in point.

"Let's be friends"

2007-04-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

I’m tortured

I’ve thought of you every waking moment

For days now

How beautiful, caring and thoughtful you are

And so attractive

In a way I haven’t felt for many years now

And I’ve thought

About how my heart has been so broken

And your feelings…

How hurting you would be such a crime

Worsening the pain

With every moment of passing time

That I tricked us both

Into pretending I’m ready for you

Lacubrious can wear these to his shows!

2007-03-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

No more embarassing stink bombs...

Because it doesn't work...

2007-03-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

That's why!

Turns out prayer is bad for you....

Sandpoint in the day

2007-03-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

A lot the same!

Check your town out...

This video is funny

2007-03-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Neuro

If you find a better

2007-03-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

art blog...

I wanna see it!

Web messenger

2007-03-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

IM on the web. From anywhere. No application to load...

I'm learning about dating...

2007-03-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

If you try to force it, you'll come off looking like a kiss-obsessed freak. And that is never good.

From a Grrrl's website... What is this world coming to? At least the shizzle is funny!

Holy F'ing S!

2007-02-23T11:30:00.000-08:00

Bling trucks...

This guy co-founded wired magazine. Coo.

The Coolest Hoody. Ever.

2007-02-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

Yeah. It's hot. I have one. Don't cry so loud, your momma will hear...

Let me eat cake...

2007-02-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

For free!

Ozzfest is free.99 this year!!!

It also makes chicks...

2007-02-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

Do great things in their sleep!

Ambien

Spider problem

2007-01-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

It's major

YTCracker, bitches!

2007-01-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

Rapper, MC, etc.

Review

Free vodka

2007-01-27T10:43:00.001-08:00

Sweet!

Free vodka

2007-01-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

Sweet!

Sweet Art

2007-01-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

NothingMag

If you care about this...

2007-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

I'll give you a dollar

Penguin ladder game:

Penguin game

The OG real deal:

Playful Penguin Race by SCHYLLING

Playful Penguin Race by SCHYLLINGThis battery operated toy will keep children entertained for hours. When the switch is flipped to activate the amazing escalating action, three colorful penguins climb to the top of the iceberg mountain and descend down a tremendous slide. At the bottom, the penguins automatically start up the snow stairs again to create continuous Penguin Race action. The product requires simple assembly and one D battery (not included). Launch date: May 11, 2006 10/25/2006 (Price: $12.99; Age: 6 and up)

The makers of said game

Baudrillard

2007-01-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

Jean Baudrillard is "a talisman: a symptom, a sign, a charm, and above all, a password into the next universe," (Kroker and Levin, BC 5)

NYE 2007

2006-12-29T11:43:00.000-08:00

Mini Kiss!

@

Last supper Club Seattle

Join my Netflix friends!

2006-12-28T11:31:00.000-08:00

Click here

I never realized how true it all was

2006-12-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

'till it happened to me!
Bukowski

Here's my try at similar stuff...

For Amber: With All the Love I Had, Which Was Not Enough

I walk around our house
Lonely
Knowing the love that I had was not enough

I pick up things we shared
Sadly
Feeling I gave it my best shot

I sit in places we shared
Asking
How could I lose something so huge in a place so small?

I sleep where we made love
Crying
Convincing myself there must be some other way

I wake up every day
Wondering
Why the love I had was not enough…

Confused

I am a confused man sitting alone
Wondering where the good luck
Went.

Is this the delayed onset?
Seven years of bad things
Begun

Dreams shattered and scattered
Pieces of a mirror
Destroyed

Realization

Today I realize

Finally

What matters most is not

How well you walk through the fire

It is what you do on the other side

Check your feet for scars

And move on

Is this Suicide or Homicide?

Sadly enough, we are all alone forever

This realization slowly kills me

I let it do its painful work

And help it along

By crying

Some suicides are never recorded

This one will never make the books

It happened quietly

In the privacy of the living room

He left the one he loved

And ripped the last trusting part

From his still beating heart

It’s not myself I worry about…

It is not myself I worry about

It’s my wife

Left with this pile of nothing

Remnant of a life

Makes even our old arguments

Beautiful strife

All consuming thoughts of her

Cut like a knife…

Fuck you, world… god, mom, wife

My heart dead,

The world ablaze.

I’ll remember your kisses the best