Dan Florio's Blog

Posted by Dan Florio

There are many reasons to bring your business cards on a trip and hand them to everyone you meet.

Just make sure you hand the right card to the right people.

I carry three or four different kinds of business cards, plus my wife's cards, all waiting for the chance to be glad-handed off. I have my Microsoft card, my personal website card, my blog site card and the card I hand out for Suite. I also have cards for my photography. Then I carry my wife's cards for her Suite editing work, and the cards for her freelance work (here, she says, pass these out if anyone needs a writer).

It's a little shady-looking, shuffling amongst your cards to find the right one to pass to people. It's like, "Psst! Ya wanna buy a watch?" It's so much cleaner to smoothly pull a card from your pocket without a glance.

Best solution - have a nice little business card case and fill it with the card du jour. You have to guess ahead of time what card you will want for the occassion. Then you only have to play the shuffle if you guessed wrong...

Posted by Dan Florio

Okay you jokesters. Who really carries a robotic dog to hotels to warn off intruders? You must really like the idea of it to be voting for it so strongly in my poll. Or do you really never think twice about hotel security?

Posted by Dan Florio

Calling aisle and exit row seats "Premium Coach", the Seattle Times reports an extra fee of $15, newly tacked on, for choosing some leg room.

Naturally we Seattlites don't take our seat fees sitting down. A flurry of sarcastic Letters to the Editor followed this pronouncement, asking when Northwest was going to install in-flight pay toilets.

Huh.

Frankly this just sucks. I fly a lot. I live in the Northwest, home of this airline. I like the aisle.

What I don't like are those middle seats, which I suspect the airlines are currently trying to fill. Or pack. Sardines, much?

If all the airlines start charging for aisle seats - and I bet the industry is watching the Northwest development avidly - then I will simply have to choose: be shoved between two strangers who might have ebola or merely stink...or pony up the cash when flying coach.

At least window seats are still considered cut rate. For now.

Posted by Dan Florio

In the bathroom - My last hotel made a pretty basket with origami washcloth art, a shampoo, a conditioner, lotion, a shower cap, and a tiny packet with an emery board, four Q-tips, needle, a button and thread.

Did I use any of that? Well, nooooo. But I grabbed it all for my wife anyway, who lives for free things (whether she needs them is another question).

On the Desk - Packet of coffee, packet of decaf coffee, black tea bag, herbal tea bags of various flavors, packet of sugar/creamer/stirrer, napkins and paper cups. I used several of those things and debated whether to bring home the rest of them for Jill. Decided against it.

On the TV - Card explaining the free cable and the pay-per-view options. Card explaining the nearby bar and grill happy hour specials. Bound Book with hotel rules, safety precuations, explanation of phone use and local tourist deals. I didn't touch any of those. They aren't technically freebies anyway.

What about other shwag, known as Things Not Nailed Down? Towels, bedding, toilet paper, the radio? Um...taking those things would be stealing. I guess I could take the toilet paper and facial tissues if I wanted, but it's hardly necessary. They probably charge you for them in the end. And, frankly, I prefer the towels I have at home. :)

I want to hear about more hotel free stuff - Read about my Top Ten Hotel Freebies.

Posted by Dan Florio

I'm picky about my sunscreen: I don't like putting glop on my face. I am told I need sunscreen and at my age (hovering close to 40) it's a damn good idea to take sun protection seriously.

I am trying different suncreens. They need to:

* have UVB (burning rays) and UBA (cancer rays) protection.

* be at least 15 SPF.

* be water resistant so they don't run into my eyes from my forehead when I am active.

* be nice feeling. not greasy, oil, waxy, gooey. I want it to soak in pretty quick. I don't have the patience to mess with my face with products. I also don't want to SEE it. I don't need a makeup look.

* have an easy dispensing, non-leaking container for travel.

* and, with some luck it will also be moisturizing and have

antioxidants in it but I won't hold my breath.

I have a few sample sizes I have been test driving. Remember you can't put lotion or gel sunscreen in your carry on bags for flights anymore. Check in only.