Steve Says

Tonight I covered a story about a growing consumer trend that may start to effect the validity of political polls- cell-phone-only-callers.

Right now between 14 and 22 percent of Americans have only, or use only a cell phone as their means of communicating.  When political polls are conducted via telephone, pollsters traditionally only call landline numbers. They do so because federal law prohibits them from auto dialing cell phones (auto dialing is the cheaper faster way to poll).  If pollsters want to call cell phones they have to hand dial the numbers at a cost that is up to three times more expensive than calling a landline.  Why?

- Cell phone customers pay for their minutes and therefore have to be reimbursed for them.

- Cell phone users have a higher rate of refusal (how busy are you when you answer your cell)

- Cell phone users have a higher rate of error because they are usually doing two or more things at once.

- Cell phone users are harder to track geographically (remember you can port your NY number to Dallas if you move here)

Ok.. so they're harder to reach- so? 

This all potentially becomes a problem when you consider that the majority of cell-phone-only users are male, are minorities and support Barack Obama.  HOWEVER these same consumers are also LESS likely to be registered to vote, and if they ARE registered they are less likely to CAST A vote in the upcoming election.

In an attempt to make up for this "missing" demographic statisticians "weight" polls (counting some answers more than once to make up for under represented groups) and say it all comes out in the wash. 

Considering that "weighting" increases error in data, what do YOU think? 

Do we need to start looking at ways to include more cell-phone-only users in political polls or are the results good and accurate as they are?

Have at it:

     The newsroom is a buzz with reporters and photographers packing up their rain gear and heading to the coast.   There are gallon jugs of water in the back of news units "just in case".   It seems every 5 minutes there is some sort of "Hurricane Ike" meeting- we are all over this!

    I walked in this morning to find that we are setting up a temporary newsroom for our sister station in Houston so their team of reporters can work out of here to follow the story.  Below you can see crews buildnig a temporary weather wall for the KRIV crew.

    Where does that leave me?  Well, believe it or not I used to be a "I-see-you-just-lost-everything-in-a-tornado-how-do-you
-feel?" reporter, but it seems the days of holding on to a lamp post to show how windy it is- are over.

    So- here is my contribution to our hurricane coverage- preparedness information passed along to me that I am now passing along to you.  I invite you to add your own storm-advice in the space below:

FOR THE TECHIE:

- Back up all of your important data.  Power outages may be likely during severe tropical storms and hurricanes and you will need to make sure all of your critical data is stored.

- Print a list of important phone numbers

- But a back up battery for your cell phone

- If you are forecasted for a direct hit, unplug all of your computer and electronic equipment in advance of the storm.  This will keep it safe from a power surge.  This includes computers, monitors, printers, TV's, and fax machines.

- If you are concerned about flooding, cover all of your equipment with plastic and lift all machines off your floors to protect against water damage.

- Have a backup phone handy.

- Keep vital paper documents and records of accounts both personal and professional in a safe and dry place where they can be EASILY located once the storm has passed.

- Gather emergency supplies, 2 way communication, battery operated television or radio, extra batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, emergency tool kit, food water and utensils (remember the can opener if you are stockpiling canned goods)

FOR THE HOME:

- Know where and how to shut off utilities at the main switches or valves

- Move chairs and beds away from windows, mirrors or large pictures.

- Remove heavy items stored on shelves more than 30" high.

- Should a tornado hit your area DO NOT use matches, lighters, or appliances or operate light switches until you are sure there are no gas leaks.

FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:

- Write down your specific needs- limitations, capabilities and medications- keep this list on you.

- Find someone nearby who you know who will agree to assist you in case of an emergency.  Give this person a copy of your needs list.  You may also want to provide a spare key to your home.

SOME TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A tornado/storm WATCH means tornado/storm IS POSSIBLE in your area.

A tornado/storm  WARNING means tornado/storm IS OCCURRING in you area.

GET EVERYONE ON BOARD:

- Take a few minutes with your family and develop a tornado emergency plan- this should include a sketch of the floor plan of the building you are in.

- Look for more than one way to leave a room.

- Know where your first aid kit is located

- Show your family how to administer basic first aid and how to use a fire extinguisher.

AFTER THE STORM:

One of the most common questions I get after a storm is this:

IF MY NEIGHBORS TREE FALLS IN MY YARD, WHO PAYS FOR THE DAMAGE? (And of course conversely "If MY tree falls in my neighbor's yard... who pays?")

Before we get to the answer, I'd like to share a couple of reminders for you to help calm your nerves during what can be a very frustrating time. Remember, just like I say on TV- this is MY 2 cents... it's up to you to spend it wisely.


STORM CLEAN UP- PROTECT YOURSELF FROM NON-REPUTABLE CONTRACTORS:

First- as you clean up from the storm, beware of fly-by night service providers offering to help you cut down trees. You want to make sure those you employ carry proper insurance and the proper know-how to get the job done right. Any reputable contractor should carry workman's compensation insurance and be able to show you a certificate verifying such. If you hire someone without this insurance, and they are injured while doing work for you, you open yourself up to being sued to pay for their injuries.

Be sure to ask the contractor you are about to hire for references. Then IN ADDITION check their record with the BBB- remember if it is a franchise of a national company, be sure to ALSO check the BBB in the city where the company’s headquarters is based as this is where complaints and records will also be filtered to.


PAYING FOR REPAIR WORK:

Beware of workers who want you to pay up front. Payment should be made at the CONCLUSION of their work (after you have reviewed and approved the job they did).

If ABSOLUTELY necessary, you can give a deposit for HALF of the amount of the estimated total up front- if you do... pay with a check NEVER in cash. This way you can stop payment if the work is not completed.

ALWAYS get a written estimate of any work you are having done. Make sure both parties sign the document AND be sure to initial next to the dollar amount and ask the service provider to do the same. This will ensure that there is no disagreement over how much the job was supposed to cost.

Draw lines through 'extra' boxes on the invoice where additional charges could be plugged in later. You would never write someone a check without ensuring your safety, right? Think of the invoice as a documented promise of the check you will eventually write.

Ask to be notified IN ADVANCE if there are any additional charges that come up during the contracted work.

Remember there very well may be legitimate extra charges (i.e.: a tree that is leaning on a power line, damage that is more extensive than you thought)- just because an additional fee is added on for additional service that is discovered during the work process, doesn't mean it is necessarily bogus.


DOCUMENTING DAMAGE AND REPAIRS:

Take plenty of pictures of the damage and any work you have done (before, during and after it is done). It is always better to OVER document events.


WHAT REPAIRS SHOULD I DO IMMEDIATELY?

In most cases it is best to repair any damage that, if not fixed immediately, will result in further damage.

Save your receipts! Go a head and do MINOR repairs which are needed to prevent additional damage (these are most often able to be reimbursed through your insurance provider) but hold off on doing anything major until AFTER you contact your insurance agent.


WHAT ABOUT MY PIPES?

Pipes that break are commonly covered under your homeowner's insurance policy. If there is an active leak that is causing additional damage, your insurance company may allow you to have it repaired immediately to prevent further damage. However, you should hold off on doing major repairs until after they are approved by your insurance provider. 


WHAT ABOUT THAT FALLEN TREE?

Keep in mind a fallen tree is a TEMPORARY SITUATION who you live next to is a situation that will most likely last years- whenever possible KEEP THE PEACE.

Here is some info for you:

If one of YOUR trees falls and damages a neighbor's property, the folks at the Insurance Information Institute in New York say, generally speaking, it is your NEIGHBOR'S insurance policy that is called upon to pay the damage. Since his insurance is being impacted, you probably won't face an insurance premium increase as a result.

HOWEVER, your neighbor could come after you to cover his deductible. In the interest of neighborly relations you may want to pitch in somehow (maybe at least split the cost of the deductible).

THE UPSIDE? Your neighbor and you are still on speaking terms.

PLEASE NOTE: The American Insurance Association, in Washington, D.C. reports- if a tree falls on your home and the incident happens to involve a COVERED PERIL such as lightning (so yes, check to see if the "ice storm" was covered), no matter whose tree, YOUR insurance company should pay for YOUR home repair.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS IS: If the damage happens as a result of negligence (if the tree was dead before it fell and you had proof that your neighbor knew or should have known that the tree was dead) then the damage becomes your neighbor's liability. (Remember the same goes for your trees... so now may be a good time to see which ones are standing strong and which ones have to come down or be cut back)

Please stay safe during what looks like it will be a busy weekend- feel free to add any advice you may have below.

This is the body of an email ai got today- some interesting stuff...  Have I looked any of the stuff that's not common knowledge up to confirm? Nope!

TYPEWRITER  is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.  
 

A  cat has 32 muscles in each ear. 

 
A  goldfish   has a memory span of  three seconds. 

A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of  time for 1/100th of a second. 

 
 
A  shark is  the only fish that can blink with both  eyes.  

 

A  snail can  sleep for three years.  

  

Almonds are a member of the  peach family.    



An ostrich's  eye is  bigger than its brain. 
 
Babies are  born without kneecaps.  They don't appear until  the child reaches 2 to 6 years of  age.  

 
February 1865 is the  only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.  

In  the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.  

If  the population of China  walked past you,  8  abreast,  
the line would never  end because of the rate of reproduction.  
 
 

Leonardo Da Vinci  invented the  scissors    

 

Peanuts  are  one of the ingredients of  dynamite!  
 

The  winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara  Falls  froze completely  solid.  
 

There are more chickens than people in the  world.    

 

Winston  Churchill  was  born in a ladies' room during a dance.  



Women  blink nearly twice as much as  men.  

Rubber  bands  last longer  when refrigerated.  
  


The  average person's left hand does 56%  of the typing.   


 
The  cruise liner, QE 2   moves only six inches for each  gallon of diesel that it burns. 

   
The microwave was  invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and  a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.  

 
'Stewardesses' is  the longest word typed with only the left  hand  

 
And  'lollipop'   is  the longest word typed with your right hand.  



No  word in the English language rhymes  with month, orange, silver, or purple.  


 
'Dreamt' is the only  English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.     
 
 

Our  eyes  are always the same  size from  birth, but  our nose and  ears never stop growing.   

  
  
The  sentence: 
'The quick brown fox jumps over the  lazy dog' 
uses every  letter of the alphabet. 

 

 
The  words 'racecar,'  'kayak' 
and  'level' are the same whether they are  read left to right or right to left  (palindromes). 
  
   

There are only four words in the  English language which end in 'dous': tremendous,  horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.  
 
  

There are two words in the English language that have all  five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.'

DECLINE THE UPGRADE: I just got back from a week out of town.  During my vacation I drove from Boston to Vermont- and back-  a good number of miles would be logged (about 600 round trip).  The clerk at the rental counter said- it's my lucky day!  I had been upgraded from the small compact car I reserved to a full size SUV!  I immediately said- NO THANKS!  Due to the great distance I would drive, I was looking for a fuel efficient car.  I needed to look past their shinny luxury upgrade to my own bottom line.  When I declined the upgrade I was told- that's all they had.  I opted to wait for a more fuel efficient car to be returned- while this meant waiting longer at the rental counter for them to locate a more fuel efficient vehicle, I saved money on gas. (an amount more valuable than the extra time I had to wait)

EATING OUT: It was a Monday night and I asked a couple of friends if they'd like to grab a bite to eat- something light on calories and on budget.  Immediately one suggested a restaurant where the grilled chicken salad I was planning on would have cost me upwards of 15 bucks!  YIKES!  I had already told the other friend that I was in savings mode and our dinner plans changed to something more affordable- yes, kind of awkward, but not as bad as having no money at the end of the week would been.  When inviting friends to dinner, I suggest selecting a restaurant that you can afford comfortably, and asking them  to join you there.  This way you can enjoy the  meal without worrying about how it's blowing your budget.  I often find that when I offer that I am trying to mind my money, my guests often admit that they too are in savings mode.  Another tactic I use to enjoy a meal out without breaking the bank is going out to breakfast or lunch (when menu prices are more affordable) instead of dinner when prices are more expensive.  

SAVE THOSE ATM RECEIPTS: My credit union doesn't charge me when I use another bank's ATM, but the other bank does.  I save my ATM receipts and turn them in to my credit union who credits me back the fees that other banks charge.  It saves me AT LEAST 20 bucks a month!  

CASH IN YOUR CHANGE JAR: I avoid the coin machines at my grocery store which charges me a fee to turn my loose change into folding money.  Instead I bring it to my credit union OR I take advantage of the program that the change kiosks often offer which waives the fee if I turn my money into a gift card for the grocery store I am using.  I figure you gotta buy groceries, right? The gift card will never go to waste.  

CONSOLIDATING DEBT: It's been a year of unexpected expenses, and yes, even I can get off track.  I have a few thousand dollar balance on my credit card.  Instead of taking ALL OF my extra money each month and throwing it at the balance (to pay it off quickly), I went on line to find a 0% interest credit card offer which is good for 12 months.  I transferred the balance to the new card and set up an automatic payment every month from my bank account to the card (enough to pay it off in full BEFORE THE rate adjustment after 12 months).  The new payment is less than the payment I had been making because I am now (with no threat of interest for the next 12 months) allowing myself more time to pay off the debt.  I take the "extra" money I now have each month and put it in an interest earning savings account so that I have it to use for unexpected expenses.  Now that I'm not spending every last cent I can find on my debt- I am less likely to run up new charges on a credit card.   

PAYING MYSELF FIRST: There are some absolutes that I MUST pay- these are non-negotiable.  Mortgage, HOA, Taxes, Agent Fees, Car Payment, Gym Membership (ok, maybe not a MUST, but I look at it as savings in the long run as it cuts down on potential health costs).  How do I make sure  the money is always there?  I have 6 bank accounts at my credit union.    - First my paycheck gets direct deposited into my first checking account- (I call it my "Bill Pay" account).  IMMEDIATELY every pay day, my account is set up to transfer money as soon as it is deposited.     - Then I pay myself- money is transferred into my "everyday" account- this is my set budget for spending money to live on- it has to last for two weeks until my next check comes.    - Next, money for my gym membership and for my HOA payment is sent to a savings account- so that it is there ready to go every time a bill comes.    - Money for savings and for my property taxes is sent to another savings account (which I have under a different member number so that I can't "see" it when I check my balance).    - Every time there is 2-thousand dollars in that account for my taxes, I open up a money market account to earn extra interest on that money.  At the end of the year when tax time comes (and yes, I pay my taxes by December 31st so that I can deduct them on that year's income taxes) I don't write a check from that account to Dallas County, instead I pay my taxes with my VISA card which offers me cash back rewards.  I then write a check to VISA instead.  Since I have been saving the money all year, the balance is paid off immediately.  I then use the "cash back" award to pad my tax savings account for the next year.  It may sound like a lot of work, but it only took a few minutes to set up on line- and it is all automatic.

What are YOU doing today to save? 

Kiplinger has posted picks for 30 Fabulous Freebies.  Everything from movie tickets to furniture to cultural events.

Check out their 2008 list by clicking here to see which of these budget minded deals  you get can your hands on.

What are your favorite freebies?  Share them below.

This morning on Good Day I had a segment about back to school computers.  We discussed many options for consumers.

During the segment I misspoke.  We were talking about whether or not a PC will update your iPod.  I said it won't update it. 

I should have been more clear and said that a PC will not AUTOMATICALLY update your iPod when you plug it in, you have to search for updates (as opposed to with a Mac which gives notification of updates automatically). 

Additionally, a PC will require you to download the iTunes software (which is free, and required to use your iPod) to get full software updates for your iPod - this software is standard on a Mac.

There were two viewers who wrote in to clarify the error.

Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

I had a feeling there would be a price difference, but just HOW MUCH of a price difference really surprised me.

We shopped three stores- Walmart, Office Max and Kroger.   Each chosen to represent ONE segment of the shopping market- a deep discounter, office supply store, and supermarket.  We certainly know our list of sources is not comprehensive.

ON THE DAY THAT WE SHOPPED prices were as follows:  (PLEASE NOTE: penny prices at Office Max were part of a promotional sale- Walmart has indicated they would match the advertised penny price.  an * indicates that the item was not the same brand name, but instead the cheapest item we could find.)

#2 Pencils:

Walmart- $.50/10

Office Max- $1.49/10

Kroger- $.99/10

Crayola Crayons (24 count)

Walmart- $.22

Office Max- $1.29

Kroger- $1.99

Crayola Markers (10 count)

Walmart- $.88

Office Max- $2.99

Kroger- $3.49

*Ruler

Walmart- $.97

Office Max- $.01

Kroger- $.99

Westcott Scissors

Walmart- $1.97

Office Max- $2.49

Kroger- $2.49

4 Pack Highlighters

Walmart- $1.50

Office Max- $1.49

Kroger- $2.49

Construction Paper

Walmart- $1.43

Office Max- $1.99

Kroger- $1.99

Mead 5 Star 1 subject Spiral Notebook

Walmart- $1.97

Office Max- $4.99

Kroger- $4.99

*150 count notebook paper- wide ruled

Walmart- $.50

Office Max- $.15

Kroger- $1.00

11/2" 3 Avery 3 Ring Binder

Walmart- $3.67

Office Max- $4.79

Kroger $6.79

PROS FOR EACH STORE:

Walmart- Cheapest prices plus price match guarantee

Office Max- Perks program where teachers get paid back for student spending, plus specializes sales staff and penny promotions which change weekly.

Kroger- Pre-bundled school supplies.  everything on your child's list comes pre packaged at no extra cost- very convenient.

AGAIN PLEASE NOTE: these were prices we found in each store on the day we shopped.  Not responsible for outdated signage or incorrect shelf/scanner pricing.

As promised here is some advice from the mortgage broker in tonight's story.  Below is HIS advice.  Remember in any large transaction to ask plenty of questions and make sure YOU are comfortable with the details.

First Time Home Buyers and Newlyweds

One of the most important things I tell first time homebuyers, and those getting married, is to plan well in advance of the time period you will want to purchase a home. I suggest sitting down with a mortgage consultant at least 6 months to one year in advance to discuss credit scores, establishing credit lines and the amount of money needed to close the loan. For instance, lenders normally require 4 established lines of credit that show at least a 12 month history. It is important to evaluate what credit lines you currently have and if additional lines of credit are needed you will have the required 12 months to count them in your loan application.

Also, it is important to discuss with your lender the different types of loans and which one may be best for you. As the market place continues to change rapidly we are seeing a return to the long standing FHA loan. This is because many first time homebuyers are finding that they no longer qualify for a conventional loan because of more stringent criteria and the higher credit scores needed.

Another advantage of the FHA loan is that it usually requires a lesser amount for the down payment, and 100% of that money can be gifted from a family member, a governmental agency, or non-profit organization. Additionally, most conventional loans require the borrower to have an amount of up to 6 months payments in liquid assets in reserves AFTER paying the down payment and closing costs, FHA loans require NO reserves. Also keep in mind is that the seller of a property may pay up to 6% of the purchase price toward the buyer’s closing costs, this can help reduce the buyer amount needed to close.

In the past year we have seen Mortgage Insurance, an insurance policy that protects the lender in the event the borrower defaults, going up at an alarming rate. Mortgage Insurance is calculated on the loan balance and can range from .55% to 4.18% on conventional loans, this amount is added to the monthly payment. In comparison FHA charges 0.5% of the loan amount, although they do charge a one time upfront fee of 1.5% at the time the loan is closed, but that amount can be rolled into the loan.

The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!

Nine steps to buying a home

1. Figure out how much you can afford

    

2. Know your rights

    

3. Shop for a loan

    

4. Learn about home buying programs

    

5. Shop for a home

    

6. Make an offer

    

7. Get a home inspection

    

8. Shop for homeowners insurance

    

9. Sign papers

    

If you would like more suggestions about preparing to purchase your first home please visit us on the web at www.swfdallas.com

John Collins is a Mortgage Broker and Branch Manager with Southwest Funding located in Dallas, Texas. He currently specializes in FHA and conventional loans, credit consulting and hard money investor loans.

It is said that when a consumer is happy with an experience they tell just a couple of people- when they are UNHAPPY they tell anyone who will listen.

It's a theory I use when sifting through viewer email.  I figure someone who hated a story I did is MUCH more likely to write me and tell me about it.  The "hate mail" doesn't come too often, and when it does, the author is usually straight forward- sometimes offering polite suggestions.

Well.. hold on to your hat!  This is the most "spirited" piece of viewer email I have ever received. It is SO verbally colorful- that I just had to share it with you.

Looks like someone saw my story run in Atlanta and didn't very much care for it.

(just a quick note, I have removed some of the most colorful language- and although tempting- did not correct his grammar, spelling or lack of punctuation and capitalization.   Additionally, he makes reference to experts we hired- we did not hire any experts for this story)

hey steve,

I'm sorry to tell you this but I honestly can't believe you did a story on the save a blade, had so much trouble with one type of blade which the unit was not designed to work well with, and had the (expletive) to end the segment with "we didnt test any other blades". oh gee. how so very helpful steve you MORON!!! you may be a wonderful person, I have no idea - I live in Atlanta and we have Clark Howard. But this story was a joke!!! how could you go to all that trouble and expense of hiring an expert and getting the film crew together and going to a school of mechanical engineering. did it ever occur to you to maybe try a gillette and a schick and maybe a few different ones of each?? I've read about three different stories from local/regional "investigative reporters" and they came to the exact opposite conclusion as you. also, how about trying to shave with it you assclown?!?!?! "of course, we didnt actually try shaving with it, we just looked at it reeeeeeeeeeeeal close"

seriously dude, go do a little bit of research on the internet - it'll take you all of five minutes. maybe have one of your gophers do it and then test a few more blades and this time, screw the engineer guy, actually SHAVE with it. novel idea eh?

your (expletive) reporting annoyed me so much that i had to track you down and tell you how much it sucked. THAT's how annoying it was. and if you look at comments on aol, you'll find I'm not the only one who thinks that story blew. you may be a great reporter in general, but from the one piece I saw, you blow.

sorry, just giving you honest feedback

Alex

Many of us know this search is not limited to individual airline websites, but now travel websites as well.  I often use them because they are a central location for all of my options on a variety of carriers.  I also know that they don't always offer a more competitive rate than the airline itself, but I like that I can see all of my options and then compare.

Well... not anymore. 

According to the folks at kayak.com, American  Airlines is asking for exclusivity when it comes to their fares.  For example, if I search Kayak for a ticket from Dallas to New York, American wants Kayak to ONLY list the aa.com fares and exclude fares from other travel sites like Orbitz or Cheap Tickets offering American fares.  They are not asking Kayak to exclude fares from competing airlines, but instead want any potential American Airlines customers to be directed only to the AA.com website for a direct purchase (I would assumer that this would work to increase American's revenue- but who knows)

They have given a date of August 1st for Kayak to meet their request.  If Kayak doesn't agree American will not allow them access to any AA.com fares.  In short- you can show our direct fares ONLY if you show ONLY our direct fares.  Since you won't, YOU are technically denying US access to show results on your site.

In response, Kayak has denied American's request saying that it is not appropriate for any carrier to dictate which fares are shown.   They compare it to an electronics company telling a retailer which brands they can carry.

So what will happen?  Well, apparently (and this is where it gets a little confusing) part of American's request is that if kayak DOESN'T show only aa.com fares for American flights, American Airlines will no longer allow Kayak access to aa.com web fares AT ALL.

So let me get this straight- Publish ONLY my airline's direct  website fares, or I'll deny you access to my website's direct fares all together? 

The only logic I can imagine here is that AA feels that their direct web fares are SO competitive that consumers will be driven away from Kayak.com when they are left only with sites like Orbitz and Cheap Tickets to book AA travel through on Kayak.

As per the folks at Kayak, this is all just talk until the August 1st date rolls around- but we'll see. 

What I find most interesting is American's statement regarding this issue:

American Airlines statement on Kayak Content Discontinuation

Kayak/Sidestep has advised American Airlines that they will no longer display American’s content effective August 1, 2008. Following is American Airlines’ statement:

“We are disappointed and hopeful that this issue can be resolved in the near future so that American Airlines will again display on the Kayak/Sidestep sites.

“Our schedules and fares remain available through many other Meta-Search Engines such as Mobissimo and Farecast for purchase through our award-winning website, AA.com.  Tickets already purchased remain valid for customers traveling on American."

I'm thinking the conversation went something like this:

American: "We want you to show only our direct aa.com fares for American travelers- and eliminate AA fares offered by competing travel websites."

Kayak: "Sorry we won't do that"

American: "Ok, then we won't give you access to our aa.com fares at all!"

Kayak: "Ok.. well then I guess we won't be showing your fares at all."

American: "Hey everybody!  Kayak won't show our fares!"

Good gosh.. I'd hate to see what would happen if Kayak took American's last crayon on the playground!

In case you are wondering, Kayak.com makes their money through referral fees from their travel partners, as well as advertisements on their website.

Your thoughts? 

Bottom line?

The airline industry needs to find new ways to generate additional revenue- and this one is my favorite BY FAR!

Why?  Because after a seemingly endless cycle of nickel and diming customers, the latest idea looks like it might benefit consumers at no cost to the traveling public... let's hope.

All of the major players in the airline industry (American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Air) have joined forces to bring you, what are essentially,  boarding-pass advertisements.

The new ads come courtesy of an independently owned company called Sojern Inc and are being billed as valuable information and offers for airline passengers to use when they get to their destination.  Everything from the weather report to info on area shows and attractions and yes, coupons- all custom tailored to feature the city you are traveling to.

Sounds pretty good so far- it's the equivalent of finding that every time you travel the free magazine in the seat-back pocket has a cover story on your destination.   Let's just hope it's not TOO successful.. otherwise I foresee these ads, info and offers becoming the paper equivalent of an in-flight movie "available for a nominal fee". UGGG! 

Delta is the first to launch the service (earlier this month) for passengers traveling to Las Vegas and will roll out the service for passengers to all of its domestic destinations shortly.  The other partnering airlines will roll out service later this year.

This might mean more money for the struggling airline industry and one more reason to hold onto your boarding pass.

Want to see a demo? Click here. 

Did you happen to catch the story this week on the Batman Cake Hoax gone bad?  I mean REAL bad.

A PR firm in San Antonio thought everyone was on board with their publicity stunt to attract movie watchers to the opening of the new Batman film.  Part of the pitch?  Deliver cakes to every radio and TV station in town along with instructions to call a phone number. 

You dial the number and the cake starts "ringing" (actually the phone buried in the cake rings).  It was enough to call out the bomb squad to one TV station that 'didn't-get-the-message' so to speak.

Here's the story in case you missed it:

It got me thinking about all of the crazy things that show up on my desk each week from PR firms and manufacturers who are trying to get their product some publicity on TV.  Some are simple.  Some are very creative. SOME ARE OUTRAGEOUS!  Some of the stuff you are about to see would NEVER make it into a TV segment (others would), but the pitches from those that represent the products were memorable enough to at least grab my attention and make it into my blog.  These PR folks stood out enough that I thought their pitches shouldn't be kept a secret.

(What you can't hear when I open the Batman-themed box is a pre-recorded message from the Joker which automatically plays when the box is opened.  We tried again, but my mic didn't pick it up.)

Click play to see what I'm talking about:

You might be wondering, what happens to all of this stuff?  at the end of each year I hold a free raffle for everyone who works in the building and it is all given away.  You'd be AMAZED at some of the junk people can't wait to "sign up" to "win". 

The internet is packed with promises from authors of do-it-yourself manuals designed to teach you to EASILY convert your car to run on hydrogen extracted from water.

If you caught our story tonight at 9 you know what our experience was like trying to complete the task.

During the process, we searched for someone in North Texas who has successfully done so. 

Have you tried?

Have you succeeded?

Sound off and let me know.  We'd love to follow up.

In the meantime many thanks to the many MANY MANY viewers who wrote in requesting that we put such an instruction manual to the test.  

Keep those story ideas coming!