I seem to have a theme of attempting to get back to my old level of fitness on the road with a few good days, then I fall off the bandwagon again.  I recently signed up for the Walt Disney World half marathon in January.  That way I figure I have plenty of time to train.  Now I just have to do it.  I need to hold my blog readers responsible for keeping my motivation up.

I last did a 1/2 marathon in 2005 before I started traveling.  I would run outside at a park 5 days a week in the heat of the South Carolina summer.   It has been 5 years since then and my fitness is much lower than it has been since my freshman year of college.  This time I will be fighting weather in various places as well as crappy hotel treadmills.

Me 5 years ago

From Wikipedia

Fring is an application that allows video chat on Android devices and iPhone 4.  The camera on the Backflip is such that when the keyboard is open it is technically a front facing camera so Fring will work for video chat.  Fring can be used for normal talking or IMing on various IM networks with devices on other platforms as well, but it does allow video chat from an iPhone 4 to a non-iPhone.

Fring does not use voice minutes, but does use the data plan or Wifi.

On the Backflip when the application is first opened it states that video chat is disabled due to device limitations.  That is easily remedied by going into the application settings and enabling video chat.  On my end with the Backflip connected to our 3G microcell and to Wifi the video chat was horribly laggy.  While talking in the same room to someone on an iPhone 4 it would take a while to hear him on my end but it seemed like he heard me right away.  I’m not sure if it is the hardware of the Backflip or if it is Android 1.5.

Fring is a pretty bad experience on the Backflip.  Unless you are in a situation where you can use a phone but not a laptop video chat is much better on computers with webcams.  I may use Fring in a pinch during a delay at an airport, but that may be about it.

I believe Skype is coming out with a similar product.  We’ll see how that goes.

There are constantly stories about TSA luggage screeners, airline baggage handlers, and random people stealing items or whole bags.  If you have jewelry, electronics, or other items of value keep them with you in your carry-on luggage.

Also, if you are flying on a regional jet and need to gate-check your bag please make sure you remove your laptop or other items that can be damaged.

If you have expensive perfume or other liquids over 3.4 ounces those items will need to be checked, but laptops, iPads, Wiis, PS3s, and the like can all be taken through security and onto a plane.  TSA will make you run laptops, PS3s, blu-ray players, and other items like that in a separate bin so if you are taking that in the box be prepared to unpack it.  For the most part TSA does not require Kindles and iPads to go separately, but LAX apparently does.

Try to claim your checked bag as soon as safely possible so someone else doesn’t have a chance to grab it and take it before you even know it came onto the belt.

So remember: valuables in carry-on.  Keep you eye on your stuff at all times.  Most people handling luggage are honest, but that doesn’t mean you should throw valuables in their face.

Flying Pasties

Where there’s a problem someone is always innovating a solution.  TSA wants to see you naked so Flying Pasties created a product to block your goodies from the virtual strip searches.

I will continue in the “avoiding at all costs” camp and I will opt for a pat down instead of going through a WBI, but for those of you who think you have nothing to hide might still want to hide your unmentionables.  Some on FlyerTalk report many people still get a pat-down after the WBI so what’s the point?

Using my knowledge of TSA I would assume wearing these would lead to a pat-down anyway or a stern conversation from TSA about mocking their security procedures.

Please note that Wimpie on FlyerTalk states:

For effectiveness, you need leather for the backscatter machines. A nice piece of thick leather down the pants cannot be seen through, as leather is much more dense than ordinary skin.

For the MMW scanners, conductive fabric with a tight weave or metalized fabric will do the trick. They won’t even alarm the WTMD. Check lessemf.com for fabric selections. I guarantee that the copper polyester taffeta will foil any imaging by MMW. (I am an RF engineer with 35 years experience)

This one is thanks to the ladies from http://www.wickedgoodtraveltips.com/

As a woman traveling weekly I have to balance safety and convenience.  The safety people say “Never leave your key in the folder/envelop with the room number” because if someone finds your packet they know the room number AND have the key.

The convenience part of me says “I can barely remember what city I’m in.  How can I remember the room number if I separate them?”

The Wicked Good Travel ladies said to compromise: keep the key in the key jacket, but tear off the number and put that in your wallet so they are separate, but still accessible.

This will be my last time writing about supershuttle from LGA to Manhattan because I will never do that to myself again.  Whatever fears I have of the subway at night with my bags will have to take a back seat.

Landed at 9:25

Supershuttle driver came at 10:00

Got to my hotel after midnight.

I think I will revert to cab from LGA to airport (unless I have a good metrocard) and Metro from Manhattan back to LGA.

Personal and business Platinum and Centurion card holders will now be extended access to US Airways lounges.

from bankingdeals.com

Note: this is the Platinum and Centurion charge card, not various American Express credit cards that have used the word Platinum throughout the year and not American Express cards issued by anyone other than AMEX (e.g. Bank of America).

The US Airways lounges will not require a ticket on US Airways unlike some of the other airlines that participate.  This actually might not be a bad deal since the annual fee is $450 and grants one access to Delta, US Airways, American, and Continental’s lounges.  Membership for the US Airways lounge (which reciprocates to other Star Alliance lounges, but not to Delta or American) is also $450 for a non-status flyer.

Thanks Wandering Aramean

I guess this could count as a green travel tip too, but I just hate hotels that put stickers on the end of the toilet paper.  I appreciate folding the end so I don’t have to roll the thing 30 times to finally find the end (and thus waste 1/2 the roll when it all comes undone at lightening speed), but I really hate having to tear the roll in 1/2 to wipe.

So please fold the end, but there is no need to seal it with a sticker.  A simple triangle will do, no need to mimic some of the things seen here.  Afterall, this isn’t art, I’m going to flush it down the toilet.

from Amazon.com

Thanks.

I had 2 weeks of office weeks due to projects pushing back so today is my first day back out.  Since the last time I flew they have closed the A Checkpoint in CLT and it is Monday so I was afraid of security lines.  I left my house 2 hours before my scheduled departure and tried to see if there was anything I could do about my 3 hour layover in CVG.  The other options required departing 40 minutes before my scheduled departure so I was afraid I wouldn’t clear security in time and stayed with my original itinerary.

Got through security, waiting for my flight, boarding my flight.  The suspension sounded pretty bad with every bump on taxi sounding like an old car, but I’ve had flights like that before and thought nothing of it.  After takeoff it turns out our landing gear never went up.  Since our takeoff weight was higher than landing weight we had to fly around for about 30 minutes before we could actually land.

I stood in line and tried to fix my connection, but the Delta website didn’t realize we had returned to CLT and just thought we were delayed into CVG so I called the Gold Medallion line.  Delta was able to interline me to a direct flight on US Airways (see previous posts about original mileage credit), but now CLT is under a tornado watch and has severe thunder storms so the ramp is closed.

…hopefully I get out of here eventually

The iPhone sat in rice with some silica packets overnight and when I plugged it in it just kinda flashed.  This made me really scared so I put the iPhone back in rice.

I took it out today and plugged it in.  It flashed again, but I decided if it’s fried it’s fried so I might as well leave it plugged in to see what happens.  It gets to the battery screen now so small victories.

Yesterday the Cannon camera seemed to work except for 1 major flaw: it wouldn’t take pictures!  It would power on, view photos on the SD card, etc, but wouldn’t actually take pictures.  Now that is completely working!