D N N TRAVEL: August 2020

Friday, August 28, 2020

Virus Aerosols, Best Extended Stay Hotels, Blockchain BS, Doug Parker Beating, RIP Eric Mueller

TODAY'S READ

Virus Aerosols, Best Extended Stay Hotels, Blockchain BS, Doug Parker Beating, RIP Eric Mueller

We try to protect you from virus aerosols, the best extended stay hotels, warn you about blockchain BS, a vicious Doug Parker beating, RIP Eric Mueller, the best Covid coverage you have come to expect, many promotions to register for, travel to Detroit, North Korea and Scotland, the RNC circus, a wild insurance scam by a mega douche bag, Milevalue blog sold again, my baby daughter is now in college and I am facing an empty nest and I don’t know how to deal with this if only you can help with some conversions lol. Enjoy the weekend, stay positive 😉

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COVID-19

Best article to help you avoid getting infected I read recently: COVID-19 Is Transmitted Through Aerosols. We Have Enough Evidence, Now It Is Time to Act. Must read.

An Anthony Fauci interview at Germany’s Der Spiegel: “Helpless Means You Can’t Do Anything. There’s a Lot We Can Do.” You should read it. It ends answering a question about what plague will hit us next:

The one thing that is predictable about pandemics is that they will occur. The one thing that is completely unpredictable is what the heck it’s going to be. And that really is the truth, I don’t have the foggiest idea. The one thing I hope is that it’s not what we’re going through right now. I told you why this was my worst nightmare. So, if we do have another outbreak, and history tells us it will occur, I hope that it’s relatively insignificant and it can be easily confined. But whatever it will be, it’s not going to be in 10 years. Maybe we’ll see each other soon, sooner than that.

I feel like I am learning so much and I am on my way to get an epidemiology degree these days! More about immunity next: Four scenarios on how we might develop immunity to Covid-19.

The latest on the vaccine front: The latest in the global race for a COVID-19 vaccine.

This is one a devastating read: What Happened in Room 10? Where it all began: The Life Care Center of Kirkland, Washington, was the first COVID hot spot in the U.S.. Accounts from residents and family and staff. Great background information how this industry works. We need to take a much better look to fix the problems. I felt pain reading this thinking about my mother…I don’t do clickbait shit here. Or pump you with repeated posts trying to sell you what earns me money. I find good stuff online and I share it with you to educate/entertain/inspire. For almost 8 years, you are welcome. Warning: It is a long read and prepare to get emotional.

India is now leading the world with new Covid cases per day. Which is probably wildly under counted and everyone knows it: India is in Denial about the COVID-19 Crisis. I repeat, we will never get back to normal if we don’t control the virus. Period.

Meanwhile, the killing in the US still goes on. We lose as many as we lost on 9/11 every three days. THREE DAYS, get this number to sink in ok?

MILES & POINTS

HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: There are now three different 65k Chase Southwest card offers and a 60k Chase United Explorer card offer. Please use my Affiliate links.

If you do not see a credit card you want with my affiliate links, perhaps I could refer you to it? Some cards I can refer are: ChaseFreedomUnlimited, ChaseSapphirePreferred, AmexHiltonAspire, AmexBlueBusinesPlus, AmexHiltonBusiness. Contact me please and thanks for your support!

Register HERE for the latest Hilton Hotels promotion to earn both double points and double elite qualifying nights for stays between September 8 and December 31, 2020.

Another comprehensive resource: Amex Membership Rewards Sweet Spots.

Interesting review of The Best Extended Stay Hotel Brands. I love Hyatt Place. I also have had good experiences at IHG’s Staybridge Suites. My back still hurts from a stay at a Candlewood Suites property, never again. I find the Marriott ones to be, well, standard I guess, nothing stands out. I have not stayed at a Hilton Home2 Suites yet…but I have loved every stay at a Homewood Suites property so far.

I think more hotel companies will tailor stays with the now familiar work from home theme. Hyatt introduced its Work From Hyatt program.

IHG let go 103 hotels to Sonesta which has a frequent guest program that sucks and is now double the size…At less than 200 properties it should not be on your radar. Keep It Simple! The breakdown of the 103 departed hotels is three InterContinental^®, five Kimpton^® Hotels & Restaurants, 11 Crowne Plaza^®, three Holiday Inn^®, 20 Staybridge Suites^® and 61 Candlewood Suites^®.

You could do this but why bother doing it when not much travel is happening? Marriott instant status match challenge from IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, and Accor.

Newbies: This is a great time to stack up with miles and points to use in the post pandemic travel bonanza that is going to take place! Here is a good credit card recommendation flowchart, click to enlarge.

TRAVEL

What if the airlines did not have their lucrative frequent flyer programs to bail them out when they need it! Delta Plans to Follow United With Debt Backed by Loyalty Program.

Just a day after the bailout money ends, American Airlines is at it again: ‘The hardest message’: American Airlines to lay off 17,500 front-line workers due to coronavirus travel slump. About a month before the election…I think they will get some money in the end and…keep them to let them all go on the day after the election, sad!

Bet you did not know there was a pyramid in Scotland. And we got Video: Story Behind Hidden Pyramid Highlands.

One of the most beautiful places in the world with a drone video, WOW! Norwegian Scenic Route Hardangervidda Voringsfossen. Must click!

In Detroit we all know this building. Park Avenue House owner gets the OK to turn lower-income hotel into an upscale Hilton. Sad to see all the evictions! It will be a “Tapestry Collection by Hilton” property after a $50 million overhaul.

From Detroit to North Korea. I Have Been To North Korea Almost 30 Times & Counting…Why Do I Keep Going Back?

The travel industry has been decimated. And now a Chart: Coronavirus Cuts International Tourism by Half. Actually, I think it is much worse…When a resort does this…you know: Aveda Resort: Indian hotel turns luxury pool into fish farm to keep business afloat.

Let’s continue with rare places. Like Baldwin Street, The Steepest Street In The World. It is in city of Dunedin, New Zealand. You need to see it! Can you imagine driving it with a stick shift?

PERSONAL FINANCE

I am not a fan as you may have noticed from my posts over the years: Blockchain, the amazing solution for almost nothing. The blockchain is a solution in search of a problem.

I like to warn about scams and scammers here. And this is a hell of an article from Texas Monthly again: The Wildest Insurance Fraud Scheme Texas Has Ever Seen. What a douche bag sitting in a jail cell right now but out soon smh. It involves airplanes and arms trading and stuff like that.

Let’s single out our “favorite” airline CEO, American Airlines Doug Parker. Why am I posting this in the Personal Finance section? Because…it shows you how you can make out YUGE in today’s business world if you climb up the managerial ranks! Sacrifice for Thee, Vast Wealth for Me. Of course above I mentioned how AA is basically extorting the government for more free money, old news. But let’s see how Dougie made out, shall we? BE ANGRY!

From 2014 through 2019, Doug Parker pocketed more than $150 million in cash through his sale of 3.6 million shares in American Airlines. That’s in addition to the $50 million in stock he still owns (and net of the pittance that Doug has paid for all of these shares). That’s in addition to the $100+ million in cash salary and cash bonuses and deferred comp and stock options and incredible perks that Doug has received…

These stock sales were particularly egregious in 2015 – 2016, where for a twelve month period Doug pocketed between $4 million and $11 million in stock sales per month, and again in 2018, when for a brief shining moment American Airline’s stock price went above $50. Wouldn’t you know it, Doug just happened to choose that moment to sell 437,000 shares of stock, more than twice as much stock as he had ever sold before and almost 5x the usual size of his stock sales.

But surely, compensation like this is well earned. Surely, American Airlines has outperformed its competition, built a solid franchise, and delivered nice returns to its investors.

LOL. Don’t call me Shirley.

From 2014 – 2019, the same years that CEO and Chairman Doug pocketed $200 million in real money stock-based comp, American Airlines had *negative* free cash flow of $3.2 billion.

And took on an additional $14 billion in debt.

And bought back $13 billion of its stock.

How did all this work out for American Airlines shareholders from 2014 – 2019?

Over this six year period, AAL stock was up 13%. Not 13% per year, but 13% over SIX YEARS of the best bull market in history.

Barf.

Doug Parker is not an entrepreneur. Doug Parker is not a founder. Doug Parker has never built a goddam thing in his life. Doug Parker is not on your “team”.

Doug Parker is a financial analyst. Doug Parker is a manager. Doug Parker is a risk taker with other people’s money and other people’s lives.

And for that, Doug Parker is a centimillionaire many times over.

CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS

Another emotional article written about The Life Breonna Taylor Lived, in the Words of Her Mother.

How can we have phucked up our own CDC and FDA these days? Oh wait, maybe it is easy to see why: F.D.A. ‘Grossly Misrepresented’ Blood Plasma Data, Scientists Say. Way to go to show confidence on the coming vaccine you total sycophant phuckups! And they followed that up with letting asymptomatics not do any testing…I mean, vote for Trump to protect us after killing almost 200,000 of us….PURE INSANITY! Oh wait, this has it all: The Epic Shamelessness of the Republican Convention.

ODDZ & ENDZ

We all know about some of them, very fun read: Music’s 30 Fiercest Feuds and Beefs.

We all heard about people who can recognize faces very easily. Did you know How Police Are Using ‘Super Recognizers’ Like Me to Track Criminals. This is about one of them, the best! Fascinating details about their work, wow!

Fun reads: Here are the greatest novels ever written about every sport. If you buy some, use my Amazon link, here is my link for the book about basketball The Crossover, thanks!

This made me puke. I guess I don’t get into the YouTube vloggers influencer fake staged shit. Un-Adopted YouTubers Myka and James Stauffer shared every step of their parenting journey. Except the last. I never understood why anyone would want to waste their time watching what they post, smh. Anyway, no way I do this because…it’s my face lol.

Amazing photography! A Dozing Owl and Tussling Hummingbirds Top the 2020 Bird Photographer of the Year Competition.

Carlos Cifuentes Torres/Bird Photographer of the Year. “Electric,” White Stork Ciconia ciconia. Seville, Spain. Category: Garden and Urban Birds, bronze award winner

BLOG BUZZ

We are now entering BLOG BUZZ, a section for advanced hobbyists and veterans of this fast imploding hobby and also a section where I go on and on about some stuff that happens in my life because it helps me feel better about myself.

So sad to learn Eric Mueller has died. One of the nicest guys in this hobby, RIP. Here is Eric interviewing Bob Crandall (former AA CEO) for Milepoint TV.

Milevalue sold to credit card selling site 10XTravel. It appears the lady who bought it from Scott gave up. I was hoping some bigger blogs will fold first. It is a rough environment out there you guys, how long can miles and points blog hold out? With my own conversions stuck at just two this month (thanks to my wife and daughter lol) I will consider laying off my marketing and tech department staff…wait, I don’t have any staff 🙂 Update: Scott is running for Congress in his native Hawaii…I can’t even…Here is what a person in my fan club (!!!!) said in the comments!

There was a lot of excitement in the miles/points space about this: This 50% Off Iberia Avios Promotion — Now THAT’S a Unicorn! But, you know, there is a pandemic going on these days…By the way, Chase offers a 100k miles Iberia Visa card and, please sit down, it is available with my credit card links and yes you will be FIRST!

Well, as I was expecting, my trip to Greece in November to run the Athens Marathon is crumbling as I just received the dreaded cancellation emails for both of my Singapore Airlines JFK-Frankfurt business class flights. I now have to proceed again with making sure my miles are back in my account and then cancel the hotel award nights I had already booked. Amazingly, the Athens Marathon has not gone virtual yet! Or maybe I hold out canceling the hotels just yet…what a pain this phucking virus is hey? #firstworldproblems

Sending some love and support to everyone affected by the hurricanes. I can not imagine having to go through this…

Maybe I stick with this Friday posting going forward. Unless there is a huge change in the conversion front…which I am certainly doubting these days, sad!

Daughter moved in to the same dorm her brother lived in at the University of Michigan five years after him. Same floor too! Let’s see how long before they all get kicked out due to the virus…

And I leave you with this…

TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com

Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.

You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

The post Virus Aerosols, Best Extended Stay Hotels, Blockchain BS, Doug Parker Beating, RIP Eric Mueller appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.

By: TravelBloggerBuzz
Title: Virus Aerosols, Best Extended Stay Hotels, Blockchain BS, Doug Parker Beating, RIP Eric Mueller
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/virus-aerosols-best-extended-stay-hotels-blockchain-bs-doug-parker-beating-rip-eric-mueller/
Published Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:30:32 +0000

tbuz1

Monday, August 24, 2020

Innovation Magic, Covid Long Haulers, Citi ThankYou Points Guide, Second Passports

TODAY'S READ

Innovation Magic, Covid Long Haulers, Citi ThankYou Points Guide, Second Passports

We bring you a gem about innovation magic, the Covid long haulers, a comprehensive Citi ThankYou Points guide, having second passports, lasting immunity, the latest credit card offers, the latest merger rumors and promos, the most remote Airbnb properties, amazing photos from South Korea, warn you about financial ~~advisors~~ charlatans who are not fiduciaries and other scammers, Europe awakens, the history of the Web, the biggest explosion ever footage and always eclectic material to educate, entertain and inspire you. This means no stupid clickbait and endless ways trying to trick you to click on my ads (oops, I have none) and my affiliate links…which is probably directly related to the fact they get no clicks LOL.

TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!

Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS or visiting our LINKS or Donate

You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!

Shop & support the blog with the TBB Amazon link!

MUST READ POST OF THE DAY

I am singling this one out because it is a fine gem and you should make time to read it! I could excerpt the whole thing but I won’t. Theme of it is about how true innovation happens at the darkest times when fear runs rampant, enjoy.

When The Magic Happens

COVID-19

We keep seeing confusing reports regarding immunity from the virus. They range all over the place. The thing is, as in everything with this virus, we need time to study it as it is so freaking new! We will answer this question “soon”: Scientists See Signs of Lasting Immunity to Covid-19, Even After Mild Infections.

Another must read by Ed Yong of The Atlantic: Long-Haulers Are Redefining Covid-19. Very disturbing! Maybe this was never like the flu hey?

Meanwhile in Wuhan: Massive party held at swimming pool in COVID-19 epicenter Wuhan while we have tens of thousands of new cases and lose over a thousand of our fellow citizens EVERY SINGLE DAY!

In the meantime, we have to waste time with people who just keep falling for stupid crap! Nine COVID-19 Myths That Just Won’t Go Away. Can you tell I have no patience for conspiracy nuts?

MILES & POINTS

HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: There are now three different 65k Chase Southwest card offers and a 60k Chase United Explorer card offer. Please use my Affiliate links.

As a lifetime former Platinum Fairmont President’s Club member (now Accor ALL Platinum)…this was very disturbing to find out: Accor Shows Interest in Merger With IHG to Create Global. Hotels Behemoth. Then again, this is par for the course when you are dealing with Accor. I wonder if we will soon start seeing a wave of mergers in the travel industry induced by, what else, the virus…stay tuned.

Bloggers, in an environment where the main thing we are dealing with, travel is so curtailed jumped on some “news” by an airline that will likely not make it in the next months: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Updates. I guess the “big” news is getting elite credit for award flights. Only to be offset with even higher fuel surcharges lol.

Comprehensive resource if you have any. Citi ThankYou points sweet spots for high value redemptions.

Newbies: The name of the game is earning credit card signing bonuses for free travel. In these pandemic times when travel is mostly not happening it may be a great time to start accumulating miles and points to start burning for epic trips when we eventually get back to normal. Offers north of 60,000 miles/points are attractive. You get one, you satisfy the spend requirement, you earn 60k+ miles/points and then “do the work”, as in maintaining the card, ALWAYS paying the balance EVERY month, keep for a year or cancel and…keep rinsing 😉 Or at the very minimum get ONE 2% cash back credit card and use it for all your purchases, you can handle that right? If this is all too much…you should be skipping this section of my blog, you are just not cut out for this. No shame about it, your life will be simpler no doubt. Oh, my wife just got one of the Southwest 65k cards for future travel #diversify!

TRAVEL

The hotel boom in Ann Arbor shows no sign of stopping: 2 hotels approved for former Michigan Inn site in Ann Arbor, an Aloft by Marriott and a Home2 by Hilton. And keeping it local, the new Indigo Hotel in downtown Detroit looks very nice.

Amazing photography by Ekaterina Busygina of South Korea.

I really liked my second passport (Greek), it allowed me to travel to Iran (when other US passport holders could not go) and to Brazil by avoiding a visa back when it was required. I could travel to many more countries now that do not allow Americans in. And we have friends who come from all over the world and the passport discussion is becoming a lot more frequent after the pandemic hit! The New American Status Symbol? A Second Passport.

Some interesting properties listed here: The Most-Wishlisted Off-the-Grid Airbnbs in the U.S.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Be careful out there of financial advisors who are not fiduciaries okay? Because this can happen to you!

Wild story, beware of scammers! How a Fake CIA Spy Fooled Everyone and Swindled Millions.

CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS

We’ll start off with two presidential speeches. Here is the first one by Joe Biden. Seeing the kid who used to stutter give a speech was one of the most heart warming things I have seen lately, what a change from the current tweeting lunatic nastiness!

One more: A speech by the former President. Just to piss off the few remaining Trump fans here woohoo. I actually deleted the speech by Michelle Obama for fears of being accused of partisanship lol. One day I am going to start doing things that drive conversions… 🙂

Europe may come well ahead after the Covid pandemic actually. Europe’s Geopolitical Awakening.

ODDZ & ENDZ

Fantastic resource: THE BLACK MUSIC HISTORY LIBRARY. Enjoy!

Another gem, I could be doing posts about moronic clickbait shit or just keep trying to sell you but I don’t! The History of the Web.

Wow, stunning clip. “Newly-declassified” footage of the Tsar Bomba nuclear test back in 1961. 50 megatons boom, biggest explosion on record to date. For aviation geeks, start watching around minute 18, you are welcome. The explosion happens at minute 22. Thanks for the HTs bloggers smh.

LOL: Shakespeare Insult Generator.

LOL2: Facemask prevents store from ID’ing man who stole a 3-foot, 40-pound dildo in broad daylight. Hope he is not a relative of yours bwahahahaha.

I like these Index posts at Harper’s Magazine, some selected ones:

Total value of surplus military equipment distributed to U.S. police departments under the Trump Administration : $964,962,803

Percentage increase since February in the number of American Jews who have applied to emigrate to Israel : 64

Average number of times per day that Donald Trump tweeted in 2017: 7

In 2020: 32

Percentage of Americans who want Trump to tweet more frequently: 3 [WTF to infinity!]

Enjoy these amazing photos! 2020 iPhone Photography Award Winners.

‘Nightfall At The Dolomites’, Auronzo Di Cadore, Italy By Leo Chan

BLOG BUZZ

I hope these brothers are not anyone in our hobby who got way carried away with reselling hacks, wtf! How Four Brothers Allegedly Fleeced $19 Million From Amazon.

Have fun dreaming I guess…You Can Now Book Some Cathay Pacific and GOL Rewards on Aeroplan.com.

These guys at American Airlines are just plain mean now, WTF! American Airlines Going After Hidden City Ticket ‘Abusers’.

The writing is on the wall. I have only had two credit card conversions this month here. One by my daughter (Discover it for Students, her first card as an adult to build her credit) and the other one by my wife (one 65k Southwest card). I mean, how sad is that. Ingy is laughing, even after leaving millions on the table as he sold years early. And so it goes…Aiming for an 8 year blog anniversary and a new direction, it’s been fun you guys.

When travel “thought leaders” copy what you post ten days later showing off to their own readers and try to “bury” it on a Sunday night…If I had a dollar for ever time I never got an HT, it is what it is I guess.

Last week: 25 miles running, 28 miles biking #consistency

Another pic from Michigan Upper Peninsula road trip.

And I leave you with this…

TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com

Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.

You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!

The post Innovation Magic, Covid Long Haulers, Citi ThankYou Points Guide, Second Passports appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.

By: TravelBloggerBuzz
Title: Innovation Magic, Covid Long Haulers, Citi ThankYou Points Guide, Second Passports
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/innovation-magic-covid-long-haulers-citi-thankyou-points-guide-second-passports/
Published Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:30:57 +0000

tbuz1

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Tower of London: The Ultimate Guide

Almost 1000 years ago, William the Conqueror wanted to construct an imposing stone tower that would remind the people of London who was now in charge. The resulting building would become known as the Tower of London, a name that conjures images of tourture racks, executions, royal feuds and ghostly mysteries.

In the millennium that followed its construction, the Tower would have many lives and be put to multiple uses. It served as the residence of kings and queens, a Mint for producing coins, an armory, a zoo, and, infamously, as a notorious prison, house of torture and place of execution. From the Middle Ages right through to the Second World War, enemies of the Crown have lived out their last days in one the Tower’s many dungeons.

Today, however, your chances of getting tortured, imprisoned or executed at the Tower of London are fairly slim. That’s probably why as many as three million tourists visit each year to see the armour displays in the White Tower, gaze with envy at the Crown Jewels, learn about the rich and grim history, and meet the many ravens who call this ancient castle home.

In this article, we’ll look at how to visit the Tower of London today. If you’re hunkered down in the UK and looking for something to explore in your own backyard, traveling in England, or just in the mood for some living history, then this needs to be near the top of your list. Let’s start with the basics, afterall, they’re not gonna let you in if you don’t have your ticket! Here goes:

Where to get Tower of London Tickets

The official price for Tower of London tickets is £25.00 for an adult and £12.50 for a child. You can purchase tickets at these prices from the official booths at the Tower site.

If you want to skip the ticket queues and also save money, consider getting your ticket online through GetYourGuide. A ticket there costs at least 10% less than the official rate, and gives you instant confirmation, the ability to cancel if your travel plans change, and a mobile voucher you can use to enter the exhibition when you arrive.

If you plan to visit a few attractions while in London, you'll find better value purchasing a London Pass. This single pass grants you access to over 80 attractions, as well as a 1-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour. The pass is valid for 1 to 10 days depending on which pass you buy, and it's instantly accessible from your mobile device.

Tower of London Hours

Because of the coronavirus situation, the hours of the Tower of London may be subject to change, so please check the official Tower of London Opening Hours webpage on the Historic Royal Palaces website before your visit.

At the time of writing, the Tower of London is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between 10am and 6pm (last admission at 5pm).

From November 1, 2020, the plan is for the Tower to be open every day, with slightly different hours. From November, the Tower will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9am and 4.30pm, and on Mondays and Sundays between 10am and 4.30pm.

Tower of London Tours

Some visitors choose to visit the Tower of London under their own steam. This gives you the freedom to explore the grounds at your own pace. Others choose to take advantage of a tour-guide who can place the buildings and artefacts in context, and help you get a sense of the history and significance of this infamous landmark.

Your entrance ticket, whether purchased at the site or with a discount through GetYourGuide, includes the option to take a free tour with a Beefeater – these eccentrically dressed guards are unfailingly entertaining and will tell your stories sure to make the blood curdle! Beefeater tours start every 30 minutes during opening hours, groups can be large.

If you’d prefer to dodge the crowds, check out a VIP Early Access Tour – this will get you in at 8.15AM, well before most visitors are even allowed to enter. If you want to appreciate the history without the risk of photobombing someone’s selfie, this may be the answer!

History of the Tower of London

Where to begin! There’s enough history at the Tower of London to fill a library! And indeed, books are still being written to introduce modern readers to the story of one of the most fabled castles in Europe.

The Tower of London: The Biography by Stephen Porter introduces the Tower as an “Icon of England’s history.” Tower: An Epic History of the Tower of London by Nigel H. Jones claims “No building in Britain has been more intimately involved in our island's story than this mighty, brooding stronghold in the very heart of the capital.”

There is no way we can do justice to this mighty story in a wee article! However, here are a few fun facts to whet your appetite…

Built to Intimidate: William of Normandy AKA William the Conqueror built the Tower in the 1070s shortly after invading and conquering England. At the time, his hold on power in England was established but not secure, so he decided to build an imposing tower to strike awe into the hearts of the people of London. A thousand years later, the Tower still has that effect on many visitors!Protector of the Crown Jewels. One of the main tourist draws to the Tower today (and something you will most definitely want to see on your visit) is the Crown Jewels. Containing 142 ceremonial objects, the Crown Jewels span the latest 900 years of British history, dating back to the 12th century. The crowns and scepters get all of the attention, but the oldest object in the collection is actually a Coronation Spoon! The official owner of the crown jewels is Queen Elizabeth II, but she won’t mind you taking a peek. Home to the Bones of Princes. The Tower is not exactly short on ghoulish myths and legends, but one of the more chilling stories is true: During the War of the Roses in the 15th century, two boys aged 10 and 12 were imprisoned in the Tower and later vanished. The boys were princes, the children of Edward IV and potential claimants to the throne. Rumor had it that they were murdered. Nothing was proven until much later: In the late 17th century, two childlike skeletons were discovered hidden in the Tower. In the 1930s, scientific analysis of those two skeletons showed them to belong to boys aged 10 and 12 respectively, the exact age of the princes when they disappeared! Scene of Anne Boleyn’s Execution. It’s now widely understood that marrying Henry VIII was not a good career move. No one told Anne Boleyn this, however. Sure enough, her “failure” to produce a son led her to be executed on fabricated charges of adultery. The grim event happened on May 19, 1536. As was customary back then, huge crowds gathered to see the spectacle of the execution. Being a Queen, Anne was afforded the “privilege” of being beheaded by a skilled swordsman specially imported for this purpose from France. After her head was separated from her shoulders, onlookers claim they saw her eyes wide open… and her lips move!

These stories may have made you eager to visit the Tower, but perhaps not so eager to sleep there overnight. Don’t worry, if you’re visiting from elsewhere, London has plenty of accommodation options to suit any budget, and most are absolutely ghost free!

Where to Stay

A visit to the Tower of London can easily take up the better part of the day. And if you’re traveling to London, chances are you want to stay a bit longer and take in some of the many other sights that England’s capital has to offer.

Here are some options that will help you find a cosy place to stay near the Tower:

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel – Tower of London. Located barely one minute’s walk from the Tower itself, this hotel from the venerable Hilton chain has good reviews from travelers and will certainly make your visit convenient! Rates vary depending on demand but will typically set you back around £95 per night. You can compare the rates with other hotels on HotelsCombined. AirBNB – Options abound throughout London ranging from glamorous penthouse suites to shared rooms in student hovels. If you’re planning your trip around a visit to the Tower, look for something near London Bridge Station, Liverpool Street Station, London Charring Cross Station, or Tower Hill underground station, all of which are within walking distance to the Tower.HostelWorld – if you’re visiting on a budget, check our Hostel World. There are several hostels located in the area of London Bridge which is walking distance to the Tower, including Wombat’s City Hostel (around £23/night for a dorm room). Hostels are, of course, at high risk of temporary closure due to Covid-19, which is why the website now offers free cancellation for bookings within 14 days. Though currently unavailable due to Covid, St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge is another budget friendly hostel option worth checking out when it opens again.

Tower of London Map

If you’re thinking that the Tower of London is just one building, then you’re in for a surprise. While it started out as one imposing tower, over the centuries it has been steadfastly expanded into the whopping complex that it is today.

At the time of writing, Covid-19 restrictions have forced the temporary closure of many of the buildings, however the main attractions remain open. Those include all public outdoor areas, the Crown Jewels, and several floors of the White Tower itself.

A map will help you find your way to the sites you most want to see, and will make sure you know what is what when you can’t find a handy Beefeater to ask!

Here’s one courtesy of Thomas Romer:

By Thomas Römer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

The Thrifty Gist

Built almost 1000 years ago, the Tower of London is as popular now as it has ever been! If you’re from the UK and want to rediscover parts of your own backyard, or traveling from overseas and want to see the full force of English history up-close and personal, then visiting the Tower is a must! Tickets purchased at the official ticket booths cost £25.00 for an adult and £12.50 for a child. Consider getting your ticket online in advance through GetYourGuide for a discounted rate and instant confirmation. If you're visiting a few attractions in London, consider a London Pass. Opening hours vary based on the season and also depending on what Covid-19 restrictions may be in place. At the time of writing, it is open for visitors Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 -18.00. From November 1, this will change to Tuesday-Saturday: 09:00-16:30, Sunday-Monday: 10:00-16:30 Your ticket includes a free tour with a Tower guard known as a Beefeater. These tours start every 30 minutes during opening hours, and can attract large crowds. For a more private experience, you can book a VIP Early Access Tour to get in before official opening time. The Tower of London’s history is as rich as it is infamous! Here, child princes have been murdered, Ann Boleyn and countless others were executed, and enemies suspected of treason were tortured into confession. On a cheerier note, it’s also the home to the Crown Jewels, which you’ll be able to see on your visit! London offers a banquet of accommodation options, including the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel – Tower of London which is right on the doorstep. AirBNB and HotelsCombined are great spots for comparing other offers, while Hostel World is depleted temporarily due to Covid-19 but will be ideal for finding dorm rooms when things open back up.The Tower complex is a vast site, containing several spots worth visiting indoors and outdoors including the White Tower, the Tower’s Mint, and the Crown Jewels. Consider downloading a map to plan your trip in advance.

The post Tower of London: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Thrifty Nomads.

By: Nathan James Thomas
Title: Tower of London: The Ultimate Guide
Sourced From: feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThriftyNomads/~3/3XmRivAOB0Q/
Published Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2020 15:14:33 +0000

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Covid Saliva Test, Best Beach Towns, Electric Cars, State Election Guide

TODAY'S READ

Covid Saliva Test, Best Beach Towns, Electric Cars, State Election Guide

We bring you more on the new Covid saliva test, the best beach towns, a history of electric cars, a comprehensive State election guide, some amazing links for aviation geeks, the best Covid-19 coverage you have come to expect, flying trains and nuclear reactors, oil spills and dead micronations, look at police around the world and lots more.

TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!

Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS or visiting our LINKS or Donate

You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!

Shop & support the blog with the TBB Amazon link!

COVID-19

Another post and here we are: Seven months later, what we know about Covid-19 — and the pressing questions that remain. We are getting there…ever so slowly.

Many countries focused on testing. Maybe one day we do this too: The Plan That Could Give Us Our Lives Back. We are already starting to hit bottlenecks in the present system, maybe the answer is “pooling”. Or maybe the answer is this new saliva test developed by Yale and funded by the NBA: Saliva-based coronavirus test funded by NBA, NBPA gets emergency authorization from FDA.

Everything by Bill Gates lately is a must read: Bill Gates on Covid Vaccine Timing, Hydroxychloroquine, and That 5G Conspiracy Theory.

How do you think this all ends?

The innovations in therapeutics will start to cut the death rate, but the true end will come from the spread of natural infections and the vaccine giving us herd immunity. For rich countries, that will be sometime next year, ideally in the first half. We’ll get out of this by the end of 2021.

So we’re going to be OK?

Certainly. We’re lucky this one wasn’t a more fatal disease.

This will show you where Covid-19 stands with other pandemics. How did we fall asleep with this one is beyond criminal, we need a much better globally coordinated system to prevent another one like it!

This is a deep article and will leave you optimistic in the end I think: The Good (But Not Great) News About T-Cells and Herd Immunity. If you pick one article to read in this section I recommend this one.

Be careful out there! Read This Before You Go to the Dentist.

MILES & POINTS

HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: There are now three different 65k Chase Southwest card offers and a 60k Chase United Explorer card offer. Please use my Affiliate links.

There is not much going on in this space. Unless you consider getting an extra 25% Avianca LifeMiles when you transfer from Citi ThankYou Points. Zzzzzz….

I am enjoying using my new Amex Hilton Aspire card eating some nice meals now that the $250 resort credit is also good for restaurant purchases until August 31st.

You can take some time off from the hobby or perhaps zero in on earning some miles/points to pad your balances for the coming post Covid-19 travel madness run. I am again at over 4 million miles/points in the bank. Long are the days when I had around 10 million laying around but maybe at this road trip rate I am on lately I see myself easily past 5 million miles/points 🙂 Yeah, it is an addiction for sure…

TRAVEL

You are in for some real treats in this section today: Belly Of The Beast: Illicit Photos From Inside The Soviet Ekranoplan. I had never heard of this airplane before!

Yomadic is not blogging much lately but started posting videos in his youtube channel. And the first one is great: Soviet Modernism – Largest Abandoned Hotel in the former USSR – Parus Hotel, Dnipro City, Ukraine. What’s next, podcast? 🙂

Well, one of these weird micronations has ceased to exist. RIP Principality of Hutt River. A tiny “nation” in outback Australia. Fifty years ago, this remote micronation declared independence in a story of princes and princesses, taxes and treason and wheat quotas and war.

We like beaches a lot in my household: The 20 Greatest Beach Towns in America.

Sad to see this happen near Mauritius, damn you 2020! Devastating Oil Spill is Wreaking Havoc on Pristine Mauritius.

One more for aviation geeks. Japan was pretty advanced before World War II I found out. These Japanese Lindberghs Made a 10,000 Mile-Flight in 1937.

Not done with you aviation geeks:Boeing 747s still get critical updates via floppy disks. Before you scream WTF, ponder this: Despite modern technology being available, it hasn’t stopped floppy disks from persisting in other industries. The US Defense Department only ended the use of 8-inch floppy disks for coordinating the country’s nuclear forces in October, and the International Space Station is full of floppy disks.

PERSONAL FINANCE

With the craziness around Tesla stock and electric cars in general, you may be surprised about the history of them. This is a fascinating account which I really enjoyed reading: Speculation & Innovation.

And another gem: Expiring vs. Permanent Skills. Definitely lean towards permanent skills you guys (sent this to my kids):

Not being a jerk
The willingness to adapt views you wish were permanent
Getting along with people you disagree with
Getting to the point
Respecting luck as much as you respect risk
Staying out of the way as much as you offer to help
Accepting a certain degree of hassle and nonsense when reality demands it
The ability to distinguish “temporarily out of favor” from “wrong”

CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS

This is great: How To Vote In The 2020 Election. A state-by-state guide to voting in the age of COVID-19.

Ready for NBA playoffs? In August, all in Orlando without fans? Talk about weird!

ODDZ & ENDZ

Some of them we have all but forgotten. Which is a good thing most likely lol. Every Presidential Candidate’s Running Mate Since WWII.

I usually walk away but maybe there is hope to save these brain washed people? The Facts Just Aren’t Getting Through. The electorate is split into separate information bubbles. But unconventional messengers, appeals to patriotism, and even jokes can reach voters who don’t want to listen.

INCREDIBLE footage from 1902 in a German city: The Flying Train.

What is missing in 2020 is one of these accidents %$#@! Mapped: The World’s Nuclear Reactor Landscape.

Very interesting! How Police Compare in Different Democracies. Check out the killings in the US vs other countries, come on!

BLOG BUZZ

This is a beautiful new post by one of my favorite travel bloggers, Jodie at Legal Nomads: 12 Years of Legal Nomads: Work, Gratitude, and the Challenge of the Present Moment. The vast majority of people writing in the travel/miles/points blogs are not talented writers. On the contrary…I am taking a stand not to call them out because some are very sensitive 😉 Jodie is a very talented writer and this is an amazing post about where she stands after dealing with a health event that has changed her life.

Surrender does not mean you give up on things getting better. Nor does it mean you give up on yourself. But so much advice these days includes the doing – the exercise, the journaling, the meditation and more. Yes, all of those are important tools to help support your mind and spirit. When I am “in” it though, when I am so in it that I can barely see light at the top of that dark, deep well, the last thing that helps me is a list of things that I ought to be doing but am not.

That list just adds resistance.

And more resistance means less letting go. It means more frustration when you’re grieving. It skips that first critical step of just laying down in the well and going, “Ok I’m here. It seems dark and I can’t see any light but it’s where I am now and I know that no matter how my mind is lying to me right now, I won’t be here forever.”

Sounds laughable, right? But it’s been the only way through.

Besides, what’s the alternative? Fearing the future, or feeling saudade for the past. Neither will help me get through today. I’ve reverted back to an anxious mind many, many times and lost my present moment focus. In times like these, how could I not? It takes a conscious reminder to dust myself off and try to move back to the now. I’ve learned anxiety is simply dragging your past into your future, causing a double whammy: not only are you living in worry, but you’re also letting the present pass you by.

Every time I check my conversions it is demoralizing, easily the worst aspect of blogging. If I could only do this I guess…

I actually put the posting of this post off by one day because I was disgusted with myself…Oh well, it is what it is. Every time you see a new post here just enjoy it I guess. Or you can stop me from whining because I hate it too lol.

Yes I am keeping up the running…a reader had asked me. Running and biking 25 to 30 miles every week. Eating on the other part…I would rather not talk about that.

I enjoy discovering new music. Obscure weird “alternative” stuff. My latest obsession is this band from former Yugoslavia “Demolition Group”. Here they are with a song form 1986 that sounds so fresh it is unreal! Beware: My taste is eclectic, cough!

Demolition Group – You Better

One more pic from our road trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula:

And I leave you with this…

TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com

Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.

You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!

The post Covid Saliva Test, Best Beach Towns, Electric Cars, State Election Guide appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.

By: TravelBloggerBuzz
Title: Covid Saliva Test, Best Beach Towns, Electric Cars, State Election Guide
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/covid-saliva-test-best-beach-towns-electric-cars-state-election-guide/
Published Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2020 10:30:24 +0000

tbuz1

Friday, August 14, 2020

Trump Pandemic, New Aeroplan, WFH Guide, Card Referrals

TODAY'S READ

Trump Pandemic, New Aeroplan, WFH Guide, Card Referrals

We bring you the Trump pandemic, introduce the new Aeroplan program, a WFH guide, bring you credit card referrals, the best Covid-19 coverage, the best photography, register for new promos, visit some new places during Covid times, Ann Arbor is in mourning with the loss of University of Michigan football, my latest card activity, a hilarious dating guide in 2020, learn about a farmer living inside the grounds of Narita International airport and lots more always sticking to the blog mission for peanuts I must be insane for doing this for almost 8 years so I guess thank you for reading, get out there and be kind and change the world and vote to end the lunacy, thank you!

TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!

Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS or visiting our LINKS or Donate

You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!

Shop & support the blog with the TBB Amazon link!

COVID-19

Another post and here we go…America’s uniquely bad Covid-19 epidemic, explained in 18 maps and charts. I can’t believe it is mid August and this slowly unrolling catastrophe keeps going and &^$#@&! Read it and weep.

This post explains the mRNA (admit it, you never heard this word before!) vaccine, we all hope it works! This coronavirus vaccine would be two breakthroughs in one. Very educational read. I am praying and I am not even religious lol.

This is a devastating piece! The Trump Pandemic. A blow-by-blow account of how the president killed thousands of Americans. I.Can’t.Even…

By this point, only Trump fan trolls are here lol. I mean, I can’t help it but here is another one even more devastating than above: The Unraveling of America. You know in Greece cases are going up over the last month. From under 20 to 50, 100, 150 and a few days ago it hit 209 in a single day and everyone is freaking out. Oh, deaths are 212. TOTAL! Yeah, they sure are laughing at us now &^$$#%#! Update: Just yesterday, new cases hit 262 and new measures are coming…again! Dead at 218. The rise in new cases is happening everywhere it appears: Coronavirus in Europe: Infections surge in France, Germany and Spain.

Another great Bil Gates interview: Bill Gates on Covid: Most US Tests Are ‘Completely Garbage’. Must read/listen.

Another great article about what we will be dealing with in the years ahead: How the pandemic might play out in 2021 and beyond. This coronavirus is here for the long haul — here’s what scientists predict for the next months and years. And never forget this:

There is one thing that every country, city and community touched by the pandemic has in common. “There is so much we still don’t know about this virus,” says Pulliam. “Until we have better data, we’re just going to have a lot of uncertainty.”

Great visual piece: Could My Symptoms Be Covid? So many…From ‘brain fog’ to heart damage, COVID-19’s lingering problems alarm scientists.

Michael Lewis writes about a public health nurse in his own unique way: Confessions of a California Covid Nurse. What a hero! Hopefully, in the coming (eventually) AC (after Covid) era, we invest properly in public health and not ignore it anymore…

I hope we do not phuck this up! Cutting Corners in the Race for a Vaccine. Russia, China and India are racing to find a coronavirus vaccine. But international standards are not always being respected. Some researchers have even tested their remedies on themselves.

MILES & POINTS

HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: There are now three different 65k Chase Southwest card offers and a 60k Chase United Explorer card offer. For a standard workhorse card I recommend the 60k Chase Sapphire Preferred card. For a standard premium card I recommend the 50k Chase Sapphire Reserve card. For a standard 2% cash back card I recommend the Citi Double Cash card. Available with my links.

If you do not see a credit card you want with my links, perhaps I could refer you to it? Email me please and see more info in the BLOG BUZZ section below.

I used the referral link of a fellow blogger I wanted to support to get me the premium Amex Hilton Aspire card. I applied and Amex had the card in my hands the next day! 150,000 Hilton Honors points after $4k spend. Diamond elite status. $450 annual fee but wait…One free night every year (with up to two years to expire now), $250 resort credit each card year which has been truly enhanced for purchases at restaurants until August 31, $250 Airline fee credit each calendar year (I need to think which airline as I am now a free agent, any suggestions which is “easier”?), Priority Pass Select lounge membership for self and two guests, possible $100 statement credit for Waldorf/Conrad stays, and more. I plan to keep this card going forward and cancel my now useless premium CNB card after burning all my 100k points for, please sit down, Amazon gift cards. No affiliate $ link with the Aspire card but I could earn 15,000 Hilton Honors points with this REFERRAL link, thank you for your support!

The big news in this space was the new Air Canada Aeroplan: Everything you need to know about their innovative new program. A lot to unpack. This pretty much seals the reality of revenue based earning ways. It is good to see they did not kill the award charts but they sure made it a hell of a lot more complex in the process. You must realize that it can only get worse from here…the program has some flexibility as travel has gone to hell so all these changes don’t really mean much. When capacity loads start resembling the old days at some point…watch out for the coming “enhancements”. Well, at least it will keep some bloggers busy writing about something instead of online shopping “deals” and mile/points promotions! 🙂

As expected, the banks are slowly increasing the signup bonuses on travel rewards credit cards after buying tons of them to keep the airlines in business. There are now three different Southwest cards offering 65k points with my links. In addition, there is now a 60k Chase United Explorer card offer available too. 60k is a really good offer but why would you even want a United card? This is why: The Best Feature of the United Credit Cards for Awards. It gets you access to a lot more award seats. Not like that is a big problem in these Covid days…

Not a really big deal but just in case you have some money in your Southwest Travel Bank account: How To Use The New Southwest Travel Bank Conversion To Get Better Than 1:1 Transfer Rates.

It has been months since I rented a car! But just in case you are interested: How to Get Up to Hertz President’s Circle Status By Status Match.

One of the features of the new Air Canada Aeroplan program is the introduction of Family Pooling. It allows up to 8 members. And you could get 2.500 miles with a new account and just one activity (shopping of transfer of bank points). You can get started doing this HERE.

I still find the hotel promos to be sad considering they are hurting for business so badly. The latest by Marriott Bonvoy makes me go zzzzzz. Register after you log in your account HERE.

Members earn 2,500 bonus points for each stay consumed during the promotional period plus a one-time bonus of 5,000 points after their third stay for stays during August 13 – October 18.

TRAVEL

Did you know there is a farmer living in the Narita International Airport? Well, now you do! Thanks to all the bloggers who will link to this story without an HT again smh…

Very good practical info on Visiting Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon During Covid-19.

I was thinking to move somewhere south near a beach for a month or two this winter…And then boom! Adjusting to Customer Demand, United Adds New Nonstop Service to Florida. But not from Detroit, boo! Interesting play by United, I hope it works out for them…

I love these photos! Snow ghosts: Haunting Images of Derelict Soviet Architecture.

Michigan is looking good! States rated the by share of parks in their territory.

Where Natural Disasters Strike Most in the United States. Just in case you plan to travel haha. Click to Enlarge.

Why am I sticking this one in here? Simply because it means there will be a lot less traveling for University of Michigan football games, SAD! Big Ten may cancel Michigan football. In Ann Arbor, businesses brace for worst. So many places will get hurt in my town, unthinkable but also…expected.

The numbers in Greece are devastating. Airline traffic down 75%, tourist office revenue down 90%. Yikes…

PERSONAL FINANCE

I see unqualified people all over online writing about personal finance. I guess it must be the area that pays these days as credit card shilling has obviously been nuked by the Covid-19 pandemic. Maybe I do this too one day here, I don’t know. But my comments will be overtaken by geniuses telling us all that they alone can fix it or something smh. Anyway, this is a good article about what it means to be The Good Advisor. Some morons out there think all we do is pick winning investments when truly educated people (like most of you reading my blog!) should know that there is no proven way to do this and most investors are better served by a low cost diversified portfolio of boring broad based indexing positions. And be careful out there in these crazy times!

Another good relevant article now that so many are working from home: Taxes, VPNs and Office Hours WFH The Ultimate Forbes Guide to Working from Home. I dread handling my son’s 2020 tax returns who had moved to New York City but came back to Michigan in March temporarily only to stick around until, well, it could be June 2021, wow! But he thinks he may move somewhere warm in the Fall…yikes, doing multi state tax returns just blows. Fellow CPAs know what I mean 😉

CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS

This is great writing: A roar, an explosion, then a blank: An L.A. Times reporter’s ordeal in the Beirut blast.

My mail delivery has always been reliable. But this year it started sucking. And the last two months it sucks big time! I mean, I hope the mailman doesn’t miss me, an event that was extremely rare before 2020! What’s wrong with the mail.

Fantastic video that explains the lunacy: QAnon, Conspiracy Theories, and the Rise of Magical Thinking. You can not reason with these lunes!

Lol: The New Dating Timeline: Comparing Before-Times to 2020.

ODDZ & ENDZ

Amazing family, wow. The Simpsons. The Forest Hill couple who adopted 30 kids.

This video is an amazing piece of work, wow! Bronson – Keep Moving.

Ok, that was fun read! Yes, of course we have one. The Battle to Invent the Automatic Rice Cooker.

There is a LOT of junk out there that will eventually be coming down, brace yourselves! Why We Need to Clean Up Outer Space.

I thought I would bring you something more uplifting but I changed my mind: The nuclear mistakes that nearly caused World War Three. And then when you think Trump has the codes…

BLOG BUZZ

It is mid-August and the only credit card conversion belongs to my 18 year old daughter getting her first credit card, a Discover for Students card to start building her credit. Just like her brother, we will use this card and pay off of course the full balance every month for six months before she…diversifies! 🙂 If your plan is to maximize your miles/points I recommend having kids! On a second thought…Nooooooo lol.

Enjoy each post that comes out in this site, it is a labor of love! I will never be the blogger who posts clickbait shit or who keeps doing this repeatedly, I am already feeling so dirty after so much shilling on my part today for the paltry conversion of my daughter’s one card lol!

Other referral links I can do are ChaseFreedom type cards, the one and only ChaseSapphirePreferred, Amex BlueBusinessPlus, Amex HiltonBusiness and others.

After dropping my CNB card…which card carries primary car rental insurance again?

And I leave you with this…

TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com

Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.

You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!

The post Trump Pandemic, New Aeroplan, WFH Guide, Card Referrals appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.

By: TravelBloggerBuzz
Title: Trump Pandemic, New Aeroplan, WFH Guide, Card Referrals
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/trump-pandemic-new-aeroplan-wfh-guide-card-referrals/
Published Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:30:51 +0000

tbuz1

Monday, August 10, 2020

Vaccine Volunteers, Travel Blogs Rode Credit Card Wave, Patagonia Schoolhouses, Fashion Industry Collapse

TODAY'S READ

Vaccine Volunteers, Travel Blogs Rode Credit Card Wave, Patagonia Schoolhouses, Fashion Industry Collapse

We bring you content all about becoming vaccine volunteers, how travel blogs rode credit card wave, visit Patagonia schoolhouses, fashion industry collapse, the best Covid-19 coverage, a new 60k United Explorer card offer, talk about airline pricing in the Covid era, a deadly Pepsi contest you probably never heard of, we have some fun naming cc combos and lots more! Thanks for reading and supporting my blog! Comments are always open!

TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!

Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS or visiting our LINKS or Donate

You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!

Shop & support the blog with the TBB Amazon link!

COVID-19

Ed Yong, who writes about science at The Atlantic, is becoming one of those writers who has become a must read in this pandemic world. This is a must read: How the Pandemic Defeated America. If you are going to read one thing today in this post, make it this one, he puts it all together so comprehensively it is simply brilliant. It starts out like this and…keeps going!

Despite ample warning, the U.S. squandered every possible opportunity to control the coronavirus. And despite its considerable advantages—immense resources, biomedical might, scientific expertise—it floundered. While countries as different as South Korea, Thailand, Iceland, Slovakia, and Australia acted decisively to bend the curve of infections downward, the U.S. achieved merely a plateau in the spring, which changed to an appalling upward slope in the summer. “The U.S. fundamentally failed in ways that were worse than I ever could have imagined,” Julia Marcus, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School, told me.

Wait, we are not done with Ed Yong’s work yet. Immunology Is Where Intuition Goes to Die. Amazingly educational read. And fits perfectly in the “Educate” part of my blog’s mission, which has not changed since day one by the way. Our body is weird…you add a brand new and different virus and it gets even more weird:

The thing is, the immune system is very complicated. Arguably the most complex part of the human body outside the brain, it’s an absurdly intricate network of cells and molecules that protect us from dangerous viruses and other microbes. These components summon, amplify, rile, calm, and transform one another: Picture a thousand Rube Goldberg machines, some of which are aggressively smashing things to pieces. Now imagine that their components are labeled with what looks like a string of highly secure passwords: CD8+, IL-1β, IFN-γ. Immunology confuses even biology professors who aren’t immunologists.

Another interview with noted epidemiologist Larry Brilliant: Coronavirus future in America will be whack-a-mole. Read every answer he provides! Here is one:

Q: What’s to stop it?

A. We need synchronized swimming. We need all 50 states swimming toward the same goal at the same time, for the same period of time. That’s what will stop it. And if we don’t do it before the election, the (fatality) numbers at the time of the election will be horrific. [Good luck to us all!]

I am on a roll today with amazing reads, here is another one: Two decades of pandemic war games failed to account for Donald Trump. In case you do not get it yet…the script how to respond to this was played out in a simulation game in the past. And then, you know…

The scenarios foresaw leaky travel bans, a scramble for vaccines and disputes between state and federal leaders, but none could anticipate the current levels of dysfunction in the United States.

I hope this does not turn out to be true and the virus just magically disappears, just like a miracle. The Winter Will Be Worse. I am seriously thinking of moving somewhere warm in the winter now that my wife can work from home the rest of the year and son does not have to go back to the office until June 2021. Because I just don’t see us doing things outside much when the cold hits us. Thought about Florida but…

When the US and South Korea get the first Covid-19 case on the same day back in January 21, 2020 and then US gets over 5 million cases and over 165,000 of our fellow citizens in body bags while South Korea gets 14,600 cases and only 305 dead (as of August 8)…you know something YUGE went wrong here. And to come out and state that we are doing a great job is simply phucking nuts! The Unique U.S. Failure to Control the Virus. If you are not angry what can I say? Go comment at The Points Guy blog! 🙂

If there is one thing that makes this virus so different than all the others is this! Why are some people with coronavirus asymptomatic — and what makes them so contagious? If our scientists could ever figure this one out…

Asymptomatic transmission “is the Achilles’ heel of COVID-19 pandemic control through the public-health strategies,” according to a May 28 editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Hopefully this ongoing tragedy will humble us all. Screaming “We Are #1” was never a good idea and now… The US Is Disastrously Behind in Covid-19 Testing. Again. It is maddening to me that we are not making controlling of the virus the number one goal…still, months later and after so many body bags and so much money thrown at it already.

Testing is one part of the equation. Contact tracing is another, and so are masks and physical distancing and improved ventilation. But curbing the spread really all comes down to limiting the number of susceptible people an infectious person can come into contact with, she says. “If we want to do that, we’ve got to be serious about throwing everything at it,” she says. “And I don’t think we’re serious about throwing everything at it in most parts of the country.”

In case you were thinking about it: Do You Want to Be a Vaccine Volunteer? How do you sign up for a trial? Who is eligible? Will you be paid? Could an experimental shot protect you? Could you get sick? Who covers the costs if you do? Here’s what you need to know. Make sure you get full answers on who pays if something goes wrong ok?

I am afraid sooner or later we will all wonder the same thing…How Did I Catch the Coronavirus?

For the majority of the nearly five million COVID-19 cases across the United States, the point of infection is unknown.

MILES & POINTS

HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: There is now a 60k Chase United Explorer card offer. For a standard workhorse card I recommend the 60k Chase Sapphire Preferred card. For a standard premium card I recommend the 50k Chase Sapphire Reserve card. For a standard 2% cash back card I recommend the Citi Double Cash card. Available with my links.

As expected, the banks are starting to come out with better travel rewards credit card offers. The personal United Explorer card is out with a 60k United miles offer after the typical $3k spend in the first three months which makes it very attractive and I think my household will go for two 🙂 Chase also came out with a United Club Infinite card for 100k United miles but at a $525 annual fee I definitely would not recommend it right now in these no business travel pandemic days. Both available with my links, thanks for your support!

The must read post in this section is this: Travel Blogs Rode Credit Card Referrals Wave: What Comes Next? The commercialization of this hobby led it to its demise…maybe we can get some of these entrepreneur fake experts move on to make another dollar somewhere else. It was never about you, it was “all about conversions”. I may have a few more things to say at the BLOG BUZZ section below…

In the past decade, some travel bloggers became millionaires — sometimes several times over — by publishing breezy posts about world travels, complete with detailed reviews of business class seats and hotel rooms suites. Now that business is in peril, and it’s not clear when, or if, it will return.

TRAVEL

It appears that The Odds of Catching Covid on a Flight Are Slim. I still feel a lot more comfortable driving, thanks.

Via The Middle Seat Column of the Wall Street Journal: Coronavirus Has Upended Everything Airlines Know About Pricing.

Airlines have lost the ability to extract as much money as possible from travelers. And their pricing computers may stay confused for some time to come.

“The good news is that if you banked up a lot of frequent-traveler miles, redemption is not going to be an issue,” he says. “Even business travel is going to be cheaper. I don’t think it’s going to be fire-sale type stuff. It’s just that inventory is going to be much more available.”

Rick Steves: I’m Traveling, Even Though I’m Stuck at Home. Same dude.

Travel teaches us that there’s more to life than increasing its speed. This quarantine has been therapy for a workaholic like me. Perhaps the pandemic is the universe’s way of telling us all to slow down. And, like travel, this crisis is reminding us of how we need one another, and we need one another to be safe and cared for. Hard times highlight the importance of public services and good governance, as well as the value of neighbors.

Fascinating details about Chuuk or Truk Island.

I really enjoyed A Visit to 5 of Patagonia’s Most Remote Schoolhouses.

I loved our trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula. I have no idea when, if ever, a trip report appears here. Doing trip reports is incredibly time consuming and this blog revenue/time ratio has been so out of whack it should have not been alive for almost 8 years now! If my site gets ten credit card conversions in August maybe? 🙂 Come on, my familia will be good for a good chunk of them now that daughter turned 18! If you have any burning questions about my UP trip, please ask in the comments. I could devote more time on marketing my blog and less whining if I also killed the comments like that multimillionaire tall guy 😉 Just here is one pic for now:

Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

PERSONAL FINANCE

The latest from Howard Marks: Time For Thinking. Oh boy, we are doing so much of it right now with bonds so shut and…everything just being so crazy in the investing world.

Great infographic: The 20 Most and Least Profitable Companies, Per Employee. Fannie Mae is tops, seriously?

Fantastic read about the fashion industry: sweatpants forever:How the Fashion Industry Collapsed. Wow…I had no idea. I guess I am never going into fashion lol.

Seriously Pepsi? Amazing promo that went all bad many years ago, I had never heard about it. Number Fever: The Pepsi Contest That Became a Deadly Fiasco. When you see this in blogs taking a break from pumping credit cards…you know where they saw it first. Brings some miles/points promos to mind but definitely no deaths, wtf!

Decades ago, a marketing stunt promised Philippine soda drinkers a chance at a million pesos. But an error at a bottling plant led to 600,000 winners—and to lawsuits, rioting, and even deaths.

CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS

If you have not seen this: Watch the full “Axios on HBO” interview with President Trump. What have we done?

Oh dear God! The Beirut explosion was by far the biggest! The Biggest Ammonium Nitrate Explosions Since 2000. Here are some videos of it as captured by people across the city.

ODDZ & ENDZ

Never understood why the Dallas Cowboys rate so high when, well, I don’t remember the last time they ~~won the Superbowl~~ wen to the playoffs! The World’s Most Valuable Teams.

Well, just in case you did not know: How much musicians make from streams.

Very interesting! Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago.

Only in Germany! You swine! German nudist chases wild boar that stole laptop. That picture is epic!

BLOG BUZZ

And now for something inspiring! ‘I’ve realized my dream’: Italy’s oldest graduate top of the class at 96. What are you doing to realize your dreams?

I need to make a few comments on the Skift article about travel blogs selling credit cards. You can rest assured my site will never become one of them, not sad!

Bloggers don’t like to speak publicly about their relationships with card companies, because terms are confidential. But speaking anonymously, they said some card companies, including American Express and Capital One, almost entirely have pulled referral fees. Others, including Chase, still have paid them, but only for personal cards, not business ones, a source said.

With business so slow, The Points Guy has transferred employees to other websites owned by its parent company, Red Ventures. [Amazingly, no mass layoffs…yet]

Despite the close relationship among blogs, card companies and travel brands, consumers generally have trusted the most-read bloggers, who could make or break airline loyalty programs. Some received criticism for cozying up too much to card companies or airlines, but others remain fiercely independent. A few write harshly critical stories when they believe an airline takes an anti-consumer position. [Bold font added for emphasis by me: LOL]

…they expect the travel credit card ecosystem will return with vigor when air travel begins to recover. And both said they expect bloggers, provided they can still in business, will play a part in that recovery. [Yep, the question is…who will stay in business]

“There is a place for people who act as an advisor to consumers,” Davis said. [Advisor you said? That’s NOT providing advice by any of these blogs, they are tailoring the content to sell more credit cards! When you see “XXX credit card review” posts that ALWAYS end in urging you to get the card…you know this whole industry is phucked up for THE CONSUMER! But hey, millions have been made on marketing to people who don’t know any better, I mean, look at casinos and drugs etc. I do not do this here so I can tell you a credit card sucks because I think it is the right advice for you! And this is why my site will not make me a millionaire LOL].

After the excitement of 2010-15 turned some bloggers into millionaires, larger brands started getting into the game, hoping to siphon some revenue. CNBC and and Business Insider started hawking credit cards, while Wirecutter, a website owned by the New York Times, occasionally published links. [Yep, I have been writing about this turn in my blog recently…]

“It will come back, but I would flag that it was different before the pandemic,” the prominent blogger said. “Credit card affiliate revenue has not seen the peaks of where it was a couple of years ago. That is because there are more people in this game, and more sites, even CNBC. There are all kinds of major brands doing credit cards now. It is very saturated.” [Yep…if only all the readers were properly educated which sites have the consumer’s well being ahead of their own pockets…]

The reddit/churning board had some fun naming Credit Card Combos, here are my favorite, check THIS link for more and have some laughs!

I Just Blue Myself: American Express Blue Business Plus, American Express Blue Cash Preferred, Delta Skymiles Blue, JetBlue Card

Risky Business: Chase Ink Preferred, Chase Ink Preferred, Chase Ink Preferred, Chase Ink Preferred

Karen’s Quarantine Quadfecta: Costco Visa, Kohl’s Cash, Target Red, Walmart Cap1

Bait ‘n Switch

Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The End of the Line

HSBC
PNC
Lowe’s Amex
Random CU debit card

And I leave you with this…

TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com

Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.

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The post Vaccine Volunteers, Travel Blogs Rode Credit Card Wave, Patagonia Schoolhouses, Fashion Industry Collapse appeared first on TravelBloggerBuzz.

By: TravelBloggerBuzz
Title: Vaccine Volunteers, Travel Blogs Rode Credit Card Wave, Patagonia Schoolhouses, Fashion Industry Collapse
Sourced From: travelbloggerbuzz.com/vaccine-volunteers-travel-blogs-rode-credit-card-wave-patagonia-schoolhouses-fashion-industry-collapse/
Published Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:30:51 +0000

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