More pondering...

More of my wild, yet intriguing thoughts:

Internet access when on the road

• I found this to be somewhat challenging and in the end frustrating. I do own a laptop, so I expect to have some options for accessing the internet. And I don't want to pay some flat fee that give me access for 24 hours; I'm only trying to check email and enjoy my travel destination.
  
• The hotel did not even offer free wifi in the hotel lobby, which I thought was standard; same for the conference hotel.
  
• Usually, the conference will set up a location where conference attendees can check email; no, no, no, not this conference, not this time.


• How about the airport...? There is usually at least one free wifi hot spot; okay, so there was, but I did not have time to access it and when I had a very lenghty layover, I was unable to connect (for whatever reason). Oh, and how about a free wifi hot spot with some electrical outlets nearby ...

Battery life on laptops

• This is way past annoying! Who creates/designs these things? I think my battery life is about an hour. Again, that could be fine when I can successfully connect to some free wifi in a matter of minutes, but when there technical glitches, one hour is not enough time

A few things to ponder...

On a recent trip I pondered the following:

Should people be allowed to talk on cell phones during flights?

• I say no! Some people are loud enough w/o a cell phone; there are so many distractions - crying babies, coughing and sneezing, beverages being dispensed, flight altitude updates; and when things finally settle down, it is somewhat nice to relax.

How many people know that McDonald's and Chipotle used to be in the same bed?

• Well, the real question is, what difference does it make? Chipotle's got da bomb buritos, eh?
• I don't think a lot of people know or knew; however, I don't think McD's got involved as a replacement for their cash cow; McD's was an investor from 97-05, 06

The Starbucks Strategy: No Freebies, ever!

• Come Starbucks, stop being so greedy! Can I get a freebie after I've purchased, say 70 tall, non-fat lattes? My nearby Circle K will give me a freebie after I've gulped down 8 cups of java (and much less expensive)