Re: Use your Lawtalkers' Amazon Link.
 

I strongly suggest you buy it.

Re: Use your Lawtalkers' Amazon Link.
 

Now why on earth would I want to do that? Why should I provide financial support to somebody who managed to escape this cesspool of a profession and gets to sit on his ass writing a blog instead of drafting the opposition that I'm supposed to be working on right now? He can suck it. You hear me Philadelphia Lawyer? Suck. It.

Re: Use your Lawtalkers' Amazon Link.
 

Well, now that you put it that way....

travel question
 

It appears that I need one more rather substantial trip in order to maintain my gold status for next year (I'm in the process of ascertaining whether my current year end is measured at 12/31/08 or 2/28/09, but assume that I must complete this travel during the winter). So here is my hypo to all of you:

If you were in LA and needed to take a trip that was at least 3,000 miles round trip during the winter, where would you go? Assume also that neither you nor your travel companion are big fans of "winter weather". And go ahead and throw in that locations with decent Starwood options are preferred because Starwoods are free (or prepaid, depending upon your point of view) and no one is in the mood to pay for an expensive vacation right now.

Wow, that hypo was tiring to write. Think I'll take a nap now.

Re: travel question
 

St. John?

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...ropertyID=1098

Re: travel question
 

Why not keep an eye out for esavers to some mildly attractive destination and then go for 2-3 days, which keeps hotel costs down. If two trips are necessary, so be it.

Re: travel question
 

The obvious choice: Hawaii
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/19...c5ad52.jpg?v=0

Less obviously: Buenos Aires
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/4...55c20e.jpg?v=0

Re: travel question
 

Fabulous. The Westin seems a little sterile, but nice enough. Be sure to have your travel companion pick up a nice Roberto Cavalli Freedom Kaftan:

http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/ROBERT...C/sts/sr_men80

Because sheer floral kaftans are going to be the next big thing. The. Next. Big. Thing.

You heard it here first. I just got myself a half dozen.

Re: travel question
 

my daughter will be in Dunedin New Zealand 12/15 until 1/5 or so. i would save that if you guys bought her and her friends booze I bet they'd let you crash in their basement, or guest house or whereever. i would say that but the drinking age is like 12 there so they don't need someone to buy.

Re: travel question
 

1. Another vote for Hawaii.

2. It is almost certain that the deadline is 12/31 (we go through this every year, but on UAL; maybe AA is different).

3. You will also almost certinly be offered the opportunity to buy the status without flying--UAL usually prices it about the same as a non-discounted (but not "full-fare") flight that would get you about the same number of miles. I've been offered up to 10,000 status-qualifying (non-redeemable) miles at year-end.

Big Scam
 

classmates started as a free thing, before it becasme clear that.coms needed to generate some money. i actually got in touch with people from HS on it.

then, it changed. you could only email people if you were a member. i was a member for a year but stopped because it was stupid- you could only READ an email if you were a member, so I emailed people but didn't know if silence meant they weren't a member or that they didn't want to hear from me.

lately I've been getting email from the page "Someone signed your guestbook!" that is, someone visited my profile and left a note. BUT you can't see who unless you are a member. a few moments ago i joined to see who all had signed. it was people I've never heard of. I'm guessing they get the owners relatives to sign guestbooks so us dumb fucks will join to see who signed.

Will Obama stop this?

Re: travel question
 

Yeah, the first thoughts were Hawaii or Miami for Christmas weekend (we really don't have a lot of travel dates that work for us before year-end, so Thanksgiving or Christmas would be best). I just wanted to see if there were options I hadn't thought of (that are reasonably priced, with Hawaii being the top of the scale for spending). I looked into Mexico, but west coast is not far enough and Gulf coast is almost as much as Hawaii.

Hawaii kicks Miami's ass as far as awesomeness of destination and is only $185 more per person, so we'll likely end up there, though Mr. Man is talking some crazy talk about flying through O'Hare Thanksgiving weekend to see the Packers game. I think he forgets what most holiday weekend travel is like.

ETA - I'm not interested in buying my status this year. Next year I may have to (unless I can talk Mr. Man into a fun South America trip) and I'd like to keep that option reserved, as you can't do it twice in a row, since I'll be 3k miles away from status on my own.

Re: Big Scam
 

I cannot believe how many high school and college people I'm now in touch with through Facebook. I guess that could be good or bad, but it basically was better than flying to Albany for my reunion this summer for finding out what's up with my old friends (though, in retrospect, that trip would have fulfilled my mileage points dilemma!).

And. It's. Free. (And there are endless Obama groups there, if you are into that sort of thing.)

Maybe you could write to classmates and tell them you are deceased? That was my sister's foolproof plan for dealing with Columbia Records.

Re: travel question
 

those are intriguing. i bike to work and the drape below the waist will help hide the bulges that show throuhg my bike shorts when I'm bloated, but should I worry it could get caught in the chain?

Re: Big Scam
 

Si Se puede!

S_A_M