beecherbowers.com

Ok, this is getting to be a bit much. First, there are fuel surcharges, then baggage surcharges, now US Airways is charging more for what they call “choice seats”. The aisle and window seats of the first few rows of coach are the targets and fees start at $5. The fee will cover about %8 of the airline’s seats and begin May 7th.

I’m starting a list of what might be future surcharges:

• floatation-enabled cushions
• oxygen masks
• barf bags
• upholstered seats
• “non-choice seat” seat

Leave any other ideas in the comments.

Source: US Airways

With the Blu-Ray -vs- HD-DVD battle behind us, some companies are trying to help out consumers that were left on the losing end. Those who purchased HD_DVD players are now kin to the Betamax early adopter, stuck with worthless hardware. There is some good news though for Best Buy customers.
If you bought an HD-DVD player from Best Buy prior to February 23, you are eligible for a $50 gift card from Best Buy. If you paid with cash and may not be able to be identified by Best Buy, you can call the company and provide a Best Buy receipt or credit card information for proof of purchase.

It’s not full reimbursement for the player, but it’s more than Betamax purchasers got. Here’s more information about the Best Buy coupon.

Lets pretend I just got a job and was able to purchase a king-size Snickers bar after work. Boy it tasted good and it sure was worth the .89 I paid for it, so I decide to buy another one. That one was enjoyable, so I buy a case of them and start eating them on my way home. Man, I’m really starting to get full, and I don’t know what I’m going to do with the other two dozen in the box. I get home and realize the store owner saw I liked them so much, he sent me four cases and a bill for them. Well, now I just finished my fourth and can’t eat another one, but I’ve got almost five cases and a bill to pay. Suddenly, those Snickers bars aren’t worth .89 each anymore. You’d be lucky if I gave you a nickel for each.

Well, we’ve got banks that are needing propped up by the federal government now. They have been promised $200 BILLION more. Where does that money come from? It gets printed and delivered. Now there is suddenly $200 billion dollars more in the economy. Remember the candy bars above? The first one was great, candy bars were scarce. Then I got nearly five cases. They weren’t worth much to me anymore. Same thing happens with the dollar. If they aren’t scarce (to a degree), they’re worth less. Same old supply and demand. Too much of something and the value goes down, because everyone has them and they’re easy to get.

Just a thought, and you may have thought of this before, so if you have, bear with me. When you buy an OEM version of WindowsXP service pack 2, you have to “validate” it against Microsoft’s server, either over the web, or on the phone.What happens when Microsoft either A) decides to no longer support this authentication, B)closes down, it could happen or C)suffers some sort of catasrophe that prevents validation from occuring?

Granted, new versions of Windows will undoubtedly be made, but some businesses are still using WindowsNT or even Windows98. They probably shouldn’t be, but they did buy it and can use those versions as long as they want. WindowsXP, unless bought from an OEM has to be validated or it will quit working.

When Microsoft pulls the plug, or it is cut, your WindowsXP can’t be reinstalled.

This doesn’t just affect Microsoft Windows, Office, and such. It also affects DRM in music files. If your “license to enjoy” can’t be verified, it won’t work. Just see what happened to Sony’s Connect music store . It’s closing down, and your music files purchased there will no longer play. You are no longer licensed to enjoy that music.