Politician or Therapist?

Did anyone notice the similarities between Governor Palin and The Sopranos Dr. Melfi?
Maybe voters will vote for a hot 40-something women who will listen to anything I have to say.

An Interesting Way to Make Money

From an Irish bartender (imagine it in your best Irish accent):

So, let me tell you the best way to make money. You put a condom machine in the women's room, and don't put anything in it. One of the girls tries to buy one. Nothing comes out. She tries again. Nothing comes out. And after that, she does nothing. 'Cause she isn't going to complain to no one about losing her money in a condom machine!

Home of the International Oyster Festival

Galway. Very quaint. And home of the International Oyster Festival. They're famous here, but since I grew up near Galveston I was doubtful that I would find them THAT good.

I was wrong. The oysters here are fantastic. The best I have ever had. You can taste the wind-blown sea.

Word of the Day: JetNag

JetNag - What husbands who travel a lot experience when they get home after a long trip.

What's Next? They Going to Charge for Oxygen?

The airlines are now going to ridiculous lengths to add on additional fees for services. They would piss off fewer people if they just raised all ticket prices by $15, but they just love to have their customers hate them. Here is a partial list of what is now being charged by airlines:

• Checking Luggage - Most of the airlines, with the notable exception of Southwest, are now charging for checked bags. Now you can pay for the privilege of having them lose your luggage.
  
  
• Pillows and Blankets - Jet Blue now charges for taking a nap. A lot of other airlines simply don't provide them any more.
  
  
• Food and Snacks - Nickle and diming started with food. It wasn't enough that it was crappy, now you had to pay for it. Most of the airlines now charge for food on anything less than 5 hours or so.
  
  
• Booking Fees - The airlines used to charge you a booking fee if you used a real agent, but didn't charge anything if you used the internet. The logic here was that using a real person uses real resources requiring real money. Okay, I maybe get that. But now American is charging a fee for booking on-line. So they charge you no matter how you buy a ticket. Why not just raise the ticket price, guys?
  
  
• Water - Yes WATER is now a $2 charge on US Airways. American started charging for coffee and OJ on morning flights last year, but I don't think that stuck.

As if that wasn't enough, they're adding more frequent flier charges and limitations. So if you put up with airline BS and accumulate miles your point value is now converging on worthless. Limited seating, additional miles for tickets, and now up to a $100 "fuel surcharge" on mileage tickets (so not exactly "free" any more, are they?). In the latest outrage US Air has stopped offering bonus miles to frequent fliers. Why would anyone fly them at all any more?

Which Season's Don Draper?

Apparently Don Draper of "Mad Men" has put up an advice blog, answering questions from around the internet.

My question is which season's Don is writing it:

Season 1: A cocky, sure, man coming up in the world. He has a hidden past, but, hey, as long as he is making coin, no one cares. Political upcomers are squashed during the brief periods he isn't bedding or chasing someone besides his wife.

Season 2 (Opening Episode): Defanged at home, unsure in bed and starting to feel his age at 36, Don is feeling political pressure at work, but still has his creative juices flowing.

I am hoping for the return of Season 1's Don, just because that is a more interesting character.

As for the "advice blog", it has a few funny lines, but I won't be permalinking it.