Ira writes

Euro (Photo credit: Fernando D. Ramirez)

Ira Morse has left a new comment on your post "Greece the Squeaky Wheel":

"Yes, your are putting your life at risk, if you will go there. Greece is facing a crisis."

Thanks, Ira! We just watched a BBC special on the Euro, which highlighted Greece. Athens looks like a war zone. There are dozens of boarded up buildings everywhere. Entire malls are closed up. It is so very disheartening. We have been there when the good times were still rolling. I am grateful for that.

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Does This App to You?

I was sent an intriguing e-mail from Guide Gecko, a travel book guide seller. I linked to them because they have an affiliate program, so if people buy their travel book through the link on my site, I will make a commission great enough to buy a spool of thread at the 100 forints store. There were no expectations to get rich, because after all, the Amazon store has been on our website for five years; our total earning has come to $7.00. Those profits were meant to go the university department that I teach in, but apparently no one cared to enter Amazon through my portal. I had kept it so clean too.

Well, anyway if you have ever had the fantasy of being a travel writer or an Apple apps writer, here is your green opportunity. Why green? You'll see when you visit the Guide Gecko website.

After I had put their logos on our site, I had a number of suggestions to make life easier for those of us who wanted to rake in the cash. The owner wrote me to say they implemented a number of my ideas, but it has not followed with a fat check for referred sales. He added that they are now authorized to provide travel guide apps for the iPhone so if I wanted to be the first kid on my block to write for them, I should throw my hands in the air waving my excitement before throwing myself on the keyboard to produce. Warned that there would be throngs passing through the gates once they are flung open, if I want to be amongst the first, I should not let a moment pass me by.

Interestingly, while in Riga, we happened to be watching BBC one evening when it was so frigid out everyone who wanted to whoop it up had frozen whoops floating in the air. Strange sight, but anyway BBC travel report just happened to have a segment on smart-phone travel apps. They renounced them like the pope renounces condoms and those of other religions. 

Two primary reasons were pointed out: 
A.) In order to use them, you need to have Internet access, which is primarily while in your hotel where you download the info
B.) Once on the street only the less than savvy traveler with an excellent travel insurance policy is going to pull out their expensive phone on the street to fiddle with, while at the same time becoming a beacon alerting muggers and thieves.

A secondary reason does not take my critical thinking course to hammer out. What credibility stands behind some schmuck who has just written one app or a dozen apps for a smart-phone? If you have a smart-phone + WiFi access + excellent insurance + a taste for extreme sports if mugged, then there are plenty of websites that have garnered a reputation for a positive track record. 

Besides, though I was told I could start producing apps immediately, there was no mention of what I get out of it nor a contract of any kind. Caveat emptor. On the other hand, Permissum exigo caveo or probamus auctrix emus. I need a Latin teacher to check these out. I barely passed Latin in high school.

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Ron Arrived, I Guess

Late today, I received an e-mail from Ron's nephew stating he arrived safely. His nephew Glenn also included that his Internet connection was iffy at best. However, I am not sure what this had to do with Ron not sending a note himself. Alas, he made it safely, they let him into the country, and I can stop watching for new flashes or "BREAKING NEWS" on CNN and BBC. The cottonweed is flying through the city like a snowstorm. My allergies that CA doctors swear I do not have are making me miserable. Although news of Ron should allow me to get a good night's sleep, my sinuses have other ideas.

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