A Golf Blog

IAC to Launch "Ask City"

I see where InterActiveCorp is going to launch "Ask City" - web based city guides, on December 4th. Makes sense - IAC is the Internet's 900 pound media/content gorilla.

This sounds to me like a bop on the head for the online travel sites.

Hat tip to Matt Marshall at VentureBeat.

Beat The Drum Screening on Friday at 30,000 ft.

Thirty airlines are going to use their in-flight movie systems on Friday to to show Beat the Drum - a movie that shows the effects of AIDS on African children. The airlines expect to raise as much as $300,000 for African charities.

From Michael Yessis at World Hum.

Winter Wonder Land

Yesterday we had lunch on the patio - it was about 80 degrees. This morning at 8am it was 30 degrees and right now we're getting light snow and it's 28 degrees. I suspect we'll get little or no accumulation. Wouldn't really matter anyway - tomorrow it will be gone as the temperature is supposed to get near 50.

So, as for the winter wonder land, this is as good as it gets in North East Texas. Pitiful, huh?

Delta Recalling Pilots

About 55% of the furloughed pilots at Delta will be getting recall notices in 2007. Unfortunately for Delta, recall acceptance is down by 25% so they can only count on 1 of every 2 recalled to accept a position.

Some say the decline in acceptance is due to pay cuts. Personally, I think it has as much to do with job security - where the next paycheck comes from is important.

Granted, the position is glamorous but there's more job security in being a security guard at your local shopping mall.

Link to Bloomberg News piece.

Classic Case of the Tail Wagging the Dog

Long term success and profitability for many companies translates to expansion in Asia.

Unfortunately for American Airlines, their pilots union is making expansion more difficult than it has to be. So far, according to the Star Telegrams Trebor Banstetter, American is the only carrier of the four looking for approval to fly to Beijing that has not been able to reach agreement with their pilots.

The issues - preferential seating for jump seats, pay protection, and high-speed internet access at layover hotels.

No agreement could nix American's application. What are the pilots thinking? If they have contract issues, fine. Negotiate those when it's time for a new contract, not by jinxing American's bid for a Beijing route.

TSA Opens the Curtain on their Registered Traveler Program

I was reading a piece by Dan Luzadder of Travel Weekly and it struck me as odd that the TSA would farm out administration of their RT (Registered Traveler) program to 3rd parties. But, when considering the track record of the RT program to date, it makes sense.

So, 3rd party companies will charge an annual fee, one says $100, and the TSA will tack on an additional $28 for the programs background checks.

A quick check at the TSA web site turned up the TSA's RT Program Business Model. Guess what, the program will include a CIMS - a Central Information Management System. From the business model "A system to aggregate, store and distribute information (on an as-needed basis) to the entities participating in RT." The model goes on to say that information includes not only biographic data but also biometric data.

Don't you just know the self appointed privacy of information guardians are going to go sideways on this.

Whimsical Art

Following a family gathering in the Phoenix area, Mandy and I road tripped it home via northern New Mexico. Our trip took us through Santa Fe.

Now remember, what might be condidered as one persons trash is another's treasure.

We happened upon the Chuck Jones Gallery. That's where we re-connected with the work of Todd Warner. We added a couple of pieces to our collection, one, an owl dinner bell, and the second, a limited edition called Two Guns Blazin'.

What amazes me is how diverse our tastes have become.

By the way, if something at the gallery 'tickles your fancy', call and ask for Becca.

Courtyard Flora

The home where we live has a courtyard. And the courtyard is somewhat sunshine challenged. So, while we're working on what to do, this little guy seems to have settled as a squatter. Isn't it amazing how resilient weeds are?

John, This Post's for You

I have a friend in the community where we live and he's been giving me some grief about my not blogging.

So, Mr. F, this post's for you.