Ok, in 24 hours of use, my iPhone review uncovers a few more limitations. I could have titled this “Things my Treo 650 will do that my iPhone won’t.” I think of the Treo as a pretty poor user interface. So, when there are things that it will do that my iPhone won’t, that’s a disappointment. Read more…
I’m reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, et. al. and it’s got me thinking about what I eat. I’m already vegetarian, but a vegetarian who (a) eats a lot of cheese, and (b) travels a lot. Although the USDA and the FDA have some rules on food labeling, companies (especially folks like Kraft Foods) really push the limits in terms of convincing consumers that a manufactured, artificial product is somehow cheese. I have more thoughts, though, on what this really means. Read more…
I stayed at the Towne Place hotel in Irving, Texas in May. This one is amusing rather than ridiculous (c.f., my post on the Westin O’Hare). The hotel’s monthly newsletter has various bits about pop culture. I put a couple bits of content through my unique way-too-much-time-on-his-hands™ analysis and report the results.
My article “Bad news about giving birth at Reston Hospital” has gotten a couple comments which, when combined with other emails from friends who ought to know better, made me want to write a bit more on this subject. I think I am going to stop using the words “doulas” and “midwives” in the same sentence, starting now. Too many people think that the two are related or similar. They’re not. When you’re a hundred miles away, two things that are miles apart can look pretty close together. Read more…
I recently had the misfortune of staying at the Westin Chicago O’Hare. I don’t know that I have ever seen a hotel more inflated than this. Read on for the most outrageous prices for the most ordinary and basic things.
The first thing I noticed was a pair of water bottles, 750ml each. I’ve been to lots of hotels, and I’ve found the occasional free bottle of water in my room. Most often that’s occurred at longer-term places, like Residence Inns or Oakwood corporate apartments. Not here at the Westin. A tag on the bottle notes that if I drink it, I will see a $5.00 charge on my bill. I’ll pass, thanks.
The Mini-Bar is a common feature in upscale hotels. You have a small refrigerator in your room. It works on sensors built into the fridge. Touch anything in it and you immediately incur charges. They could figure out what you ate by doing inventory and noting what they had to restock. Of course, that’s absurd. It would be correct. When my oldest son was a toddler, he went with us to Belgium and we stayed in a fine hotel. Toddlers can do a number on mini-bars. Thankfully, that hotel was gracious about understanding what had happened.
The Westin lists all the prices on a small card near the bar. Sadly, the prices aren’t the prices. What’s the point of putting prices down and then saying “15% stocking fee will be added…”? We’re all accustomed to tax being added onto the price of things, so when it says “10% tax will be added” I realize that it’s not the Westin’s fault and that Chicago is just taxing me. But the Westin is making up this 15% stocking fee. Look at the prices in Table 1. The Westin charges me $2.88 (before tax) for a 12oz can of Pepsi. That can should cost in the neighborhood of 50 cents. Even $1.00 is within reason. But $2.50 plus a 15% stocking fee? Wny not say 75 cents plus 383% stocking fee? Or, for crying out loud, why not just say “$2.88″ and be done with it? If you think this is bad, wait until you see room service. Read more…