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Mixed Messages: How airlines miss the service opportunity {Gadling}
Jun 22nd 2010 2:20PM Unless I am flying business class, I really don't care about the amenities. I can bring my own pillow and blankie and snacks. My attendant is really there to keep me safe, not serve me drinks, and I can appreciate that. What I would like is a quick, efficient check in, a decent lounge, a warmly felt smile and a pleasant demeanour that comes from being well rested and well compensated.
Which I think is the key- European and Caribbean staff are probably better compensated and have more rest, whereas North American staff work far too much and don't get as much rest.
Is Contemporary African Art Ready to Jump? {Luxist}
Jan 13th 2010 7:18PM There has always been a market for ancient and contemporary(West and Southern) African art, and the collectors tend to see the aesthetic as fitting the Modern art movement. The real question is will the luxury market create marquee names and desire for specific types of African art?
North Korean departure leaves five detained in Thailand {Gadling}
Dec 12th 2009 7:06PM Goddamn, that's all I've got to say.
First U.S. marijuana cafe opens for business in Portland {Daily Finance}
Nov 15th 2009 5:16PM Not quite the 'cafes' of Amsterdam, and I will explain in a bit.
The refreshments are indeed for sale, and the marijuana is indeed free- grown by enthusiasts here in the state and nationwide. But, you have to be a registered marijuana user- meaning you have a medical condition that marijuana will help address AND it has been prescribed by a medical doctor, naturopathic doctor or nurse practioner in the State of Oregon. As you state in the article, this significant shrinks the market for this cafe to people who are, for all purposes, quite ill.
The great thing about this though is that people are able to obtain marijuana they need for their conditions without police interference, which is wonderful! Another great thing is that this is another chink in the wall of marijuana prohibition!
American Airlines fires web designer over response to rant {Gadling}
Nov 12th 2009 5:23PM It's very hard where to see this. American Airlines did have the right to fire Mr. X about disclosure, but from my own technical and financial experience from working at different companies, Mr. X does have a point. Processes are often put into place and there is great reluctance to change to help make the experience easier and more streamlined. Not that it's particularly hard, but that the experience makes customers more apt to put up with other crap.
Poll: Have you ever passed up the cheapest airfare to avoid a bad airline? {Gadling}
Nov 4th 2009 6:26PM After my experience with JetBlue ( yeah, I'm naming names) I will never go with the cheapest fare ever again. Lufthansa (when it flies from PDX) is a wonderful airline. So is Northwest Airlines,and Icelandair was a really great way to reach Britain from the Northwest Coast.
Foreigners are still spending less in the U.S. {Gadling}
Nov 4th 2009 6:00PM I wonder if those numbers from the Commerce are broken down by state, and whether there were increases or decreases in the usual suspect areas- Florida, New York, The National Parks and California. If so, that is about 70% of the country that goes unvisited and that the individual state tourism boards are under marketing their areas, which may be of interest to Europeans and provide a lower cost holiday than the usual places.
As for going to Europe, so much stuff there is seriously, seriously overpriced. An American accent is apparently a Pavlovian ring to induce "Are you serious, fool" pricing on everything. And remember, those who were the real big spenders- the $500/night and above hotels, the $40 croissants and coffee breakfasts, the fees for an extra towel- are not spend that much money just for attitude from Monseiur. They can rent a house in Hawai'i or go to India and rent part of palace and have great food and ride out the time.
Of course, a Russian mafiaoso or mineral wealth magnate would still pay those prices happily, and there's a marketing scheme for the European tourist market: Live Like a Czar!
Artists in Need Helping People in Need: Leibovitz and Hirst for Red Cross {Luxist}
Sep 28th 2009 1:26AM now that a Damien Hirst piece may actually have been touched by Damien Hirst.
Oh, snaps, homie.
But for real, this should be really wonderful! I used to work for the Red Cross as a Medical Researcher, and services that the Red Cross provides, with so little money, is truly amazing. This should be wonderful!
New Art Is Emotional, Old Is Intellectual, According to New Study {Luxist}
Sep 15th 2009 8:12PM It's a strange survey- because as you hint in the article, the separation between the two is quite arbitrary.
Consider the ancient Athenian Greeks- they had a very intellectualized view of painting, architecture and sculpture. They had definite views of the human form. And yet, their sculptures do provoke an emotional response, sometimes a very deep one indeed, when we consider that it was human hands that shaped those building and sculptures and potteries all those centuries ago.
