TalkBoard Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 7 minutes from DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM refugee to cheapest business class fare, SPG Lifetime Plat, CBP Global Entry, TSA Pre!
Posts: 27,148
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss.
--Pete Townsend
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1. What are your views on non-US members standing for election?
FT is an international site -- both by the nature of its content and that of its regular visitors -- albeit it is quite likely that 90% of its traffic comes from the United States, and American expats abroad. At the same time, among regular posters, there is likely a higher representation from Canada, the UK, DownUnder [both Australia and New Zealand], the Asian rim of the Pacific, and Europe, than among actual signed up members. Thus it should not be an issue to have non-US members standing for election.
2. What are your views on having at least one non-guaranteed US member on the board?
The nature of FT makes it essential for at least one member of the Board, preferably two, to come from outside the United States. I might add that given the AirCanada forum is the third or fourth most-visited, there should also be some mechanism to ensure that not all North American board members come from the US. For despite what some in other parts of the planet may think, we are quite different from our neighbours to the south. And this is quite evident by the unique cast the AC Forum takes on, and the rules it operates by. [In any case, one would hope the law of numbers works and that at least one of the three of us Canadian candidates does make it onto the Board. As well as another non-NAmerican hailing from another part of the world.]
3. What sort of time can you give to the board? I.e. once a week, twice a week?
The nature of my work gives me flexibility to attend to various matters as required. I already spend too much time on FT, but diverting some of this posting/reading time to other FT activities would not be a problem.
4. What’s your view on the $15 to pay for FlyerTalk Premium?
This is a fine option to have, and the cost of this access must be reasonable and yet balance the potential loss of "ad eyes". FT must be an open site and keep growing. But FT must also find ways of providing better service to those who make the most use of it. And at the same time, cover its costs.
I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be offline from October 14-17. I have a 4 day mileage run (BWI-LGA-LEB-LGA-ORD-SAN-PHL-LGA-LEB-LGA-BWI) & although I will have my laptop with me, I don't believe I'll have too many opportunities to access the internet.
Friday night, I still don't have a hotel for LEB - but the midsize car that I'm renting should suffice if I can't find anything cheap enough up there - Saturday night in SAN, I'll be at a Ramada Inn near Qualcomm Stadium (gotta love best price guarantees!) - but I'll also be visiting friends so I don't know how much time I'll be online & Sunday night, I'm on a redeye. This will requalify me for status with US & it was only 77 bucks! (Thanks, FT! )
I'll try to get online when I can.
bhatnasx
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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of faces if you look at them right.
Actually, a vacation schedule post for full disclosure isn't a bad idea.
The bad news: I'll be mostly unavailable from Oct 22 - Nov 21. That's a full month long absence.
The good news: I'll be doing lots of research for future postings during this period. John C is getting married Oct 22 and for our honeymoon I am cashing in just over half a million miles and doing a month long Round-the-World trip.
I believe in my candidacy. I think I'll serve the TalkBoard well. But just as I have been very upfront about my views - so too do I want to be completely candid about this upcoming absence.
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Flying just is not as fun as it used to be, and it might actually be less secure as well.
John C is getting married Oct 22 and for our honeymoon I am cashing in just over half a million miles and doing a month long Round-the-World trip.
.
Congratulations, John!
***
edited to add - I PM'ed Randy & Mikel asking them to follow up with your request to add a thread for candidates to post when they'll be offline if it will be for extended periods of time.
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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of faces if you look at them right.
Thanks! We are pretty excited about the whole thing. But I must admit that she gives me funny looks when I tell her that I need to photograph all the in-flight meals we get along the way so that I can include them in my trip report.
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Flying just is not as fun as it used to be, and it might actually be less secure as well.
Programs: DL: 5.2MM Miles Marriott: Lifetime Platinum Most Everybody Else: Zip
Posts: 23,883
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhatnasx
Congratulations, John!
I second that. Congrat’s on the marriage and enjoy the RTW trip with your hard earned miles!
I understand that there are a few things a bit more important than FT and you’ve just discovered a couple of them.
Look forward to your trip report.
Mind if i ask what the routing is, just to satisfy my own curiousity?
Mind? Actually, that is a topic I LOVE to talk about.
The Wedding is in Florida. From there, we head straight to Hawaii for several days R&R to recuperate from everything that leads up to a wedding. After tossing around several options on these boards, I finally decide to go with the Ritz Carlton for that little bit of extra pampering for our first stop (and it would be overly repetitive to discuss each decision FTers assisted with, but let’s just say I received a whole lot of really good input).
From there, we head to Tokyo for a few days. I'm generally not big into crowds but I've always wanted to go see Japan. Then, due to an intentional flight schedule disconnect, we get to spend one night in Seoul.
Next, we head to Beijing for several days to see the Great Wall of China, panda bears, and the now infamous Tiananmen Square. And then it is on to India, first Mumbai (Bombay) and then New Delhi with a trip out to the Taj Mahal for more pictures.
Egypt and the Pyramids follow. And then we wrap up in Europe with stops in Sorrento (Naples), Venice, Nice/Monte Carlo, Lyon (Wine Country), and Paris.
The trip lasts for an entire month, which is far quicker than I would really like to do it, but that is as long as I dared take off from work.
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Flying just is not as fun as it used to be, and it might actually be less secure as well.
Thanks to everyone for your good wishes. It is certainly a busy time around here. Within a two month period we have/will:
Both get new jobs in Atlanta and move up from Florida
Sell two houses and buy one new one (3 active contracts as we speak)
Get married
Take a month-long Honeymoon RTW trip
Run for TB
Things are certainly busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We truly have much to be thankful for. And I do appreciate all the kind words here. Forgetting the politics for a moment, this board does draw a lot of very solid people and that is the biggest reason why I enjoy being a part of it.
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Flying just is not as fun as it used to be, and it might actually be less secure as well.
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