I guess I should add that in addition to the buffet, Gary should consider backing away from the paranoia pills. And the CVSs (or Krogers or Targets). . .

This blog has changed. From a valuable source of information
to some kid of middle-age bs preaching. I never go there, but
the Cuba subject attracted my attention. I thought I 'd puke...

seems like hes talking about for those who do manufactured spending

But don't worry...it's just a hypothetical. :confused:

Yep, I knew MS was in there (thus, my CVS, Target, Kroger reference), but honestly, I would never have put together the combination of doing heavy MSing and a Cuba trip--despite all of the concerns that heavy MSing can actually look as if you're laundering money.

In this instance, it appears that the example cited was more than a hypothetical, more than "hey, I have this friend who had this question. . ." And although Gary doesn't do all of the weird routings Ben and other bloggers seem to do, if I were worried about a combination of the appearance of my spending and my travels, going to a newly opened Cuba wouldn't be a combination I'd worry about.

I suspect this was more of a preemptive strike because Cuba, at least currently, probably doesn't have a lot of "aspirational" properties that VFTW can redeem his Hyatt points at, yet is the kind of long-closed destination many readers might actually be interested in reading about--say, rather than another report on what's the best barbecue in the domestic equivalent of the Maldives, Austin, Texas.

Gary's blog used to be a place for somewhat frequent quality information. He's now the leader of worst click baiter, and 2nd least likely to proofread his posts prior to posting (2nd only to DP).

There was an implication today in one of his blog posts that he was talking about someone for whom he was providing 'expert witness' services:

That's twice in a couple days he's brought this up in regard to totally unrelated matters.

Seems like the guy he testified for must have gotten off and he's anxious to talk about it but struggling to figure out how to bring it up. Just a guess.

Can be darn good money playing expert witness. Plus you can demand your client fly you to the deposition first class ;).

My favorite VFTW post in ages - from Conan - Adele sings farewell to Skymall:

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....mall-magazine/

Wait a tick! That is not Adele!

;)

......

No way, COCO never leads us astray!!:p

Gary hit a new low just now... Defending the KL "nut" job

Great comments at least

He doesn't get that US airlines have somewhat low service standards in large part because there are cultural differences and differences in the levels of individual rights protection between the countries where such standards tend to be as he sees them "high" (Middle Eastern and Asian) as opposed to those where he sees them as "low" (US and most of Western Europe). Putting Cho in charge of inflight service training and standards of a domestic US airline would probably mean little difference in service, I believe, because US consumers aren't particularly fond of "bow and scrape" service and also because there is a balance between corporate and individual rights and responsibilities.

Gary does tend to have a thing for totalitarianism (favorite vacation destination of Maldives has a long track record) and loved his implicit defense of Qatar in the same post--sort of a variation on the "they were asking for it" defense.