Got RAC?

AC/DC Bit Rate Up?

I just go the new AC/DC album in the mail and as I import it into iTunes to get it to the iPhone, I noticed that the Bit Rate is all over 1,000 kbps where some of there other albums are in the 700 to 900 range.

I guess it is the technology that captures the sound better, because I doubt that Angus has gotten any better with age!

Can your iPhone read the code below?

There is some new software out there called NeoReader that allows you to take a picture with your iPhone of a bar code and look it up on the internet. If you scan the above code it brings you right to this web page.

You can also scan bar coddes on books and go to the order page on Amazon, or you can scan the code on a product and shop the internet for the item. It's pretty cool!

Apple iPhone power options suck!

There are two things about the iPhone that piss me off and that is how you power and charge the thing.

I left my little square power block that came with the phone at a bar in the Boston airport, not that big of a deal, I have a bunch of them at home. NOT! Apple has decided to use all four connectors when you only need two of them to recharge the device. So you need to buy a new one from apple or one from a company like Griffin. The one that I bought at Radio Shack cost be $35 with tax and that is over 10% of what I paid for the phone. Imagine buying a $2,500 TV and paying $250 for the plug -- bullshit!

The second issue is why did they not just use a standard USB cable? I have bunch of them and other phones seem to use them fine. I have not done the research, but the last time I checked you only need two wires to charge a battery.

So to net it out, you can't use 90% of the wall to USB adapters that are out there, and the cable that you use is not standard either!

What do I do after golf?

Jason Gore who plays on the PGA Tour was recently participating in an interview.

Q: What would you be doing if you weren't a pro golfer?

A: Four hundred pounds. Maybe a beach bum. I really don't think I'm smart enough to be employed by anyone. Actually, I guess if I got a regular job I'd be okay. I've always loved music, but that's an even harder industry than golf to break into. But I have a degree from Pepperdine, so I guess I could come up with something.

Get your booze on!

Getting something to drink at a football game or concert besides the Coke you can buy at the refreshment stand has been a challenge since prohibition was repealed many years ago. It's not that hard to put a small airplane bottle in your pocket, but when it comes to bringing in a fifth, you might need some help.

I don't think this idea is new, but they packaged it up and at $15 counting shipping, the price is good enough to give it a try.

Booze Belly

Hotels charging for things you don't use

I spent the night at the Laveview Resort in WV over the weekend and when I was checking out there was a charge for $1.00 for the in room safe. I did not even know that there was one in the room until I saw the charge.

The only time I ever used the safe in the room was Las Vegas since I took some extra cash with me.

I started to do some math in my head to see how much money the hotel was making. They have 187 rooms and even if they only run at a 50% occupancy rate that adds up to 34,000 nights a year.

I took a quick look on the web and the "key" operated safe that was in the room and I can't even find them for sale, so I suspect that they have been there for a long time. Even a new digital safe can be had for under $150 and if you allocate $35 each to have them bolted to the wall your cost comes in around the $34,000 they bring in the first year.

I guess it's only a dollar, but I would rather seem then roll it into the room rate and not spell it out on my bill.

Airport Delays

For those of you that travel a lot it's important to know when there are delays at airports. You can go to the faa.gov site and see delays, or you can grab this little application for the iPhone called AirportStatus.

It's not real fancy, but a quick click and you have the data.