dcgirl

We have tickets for tomorrow's taping and are taking Amtrak up to NYC and going home to DC after the show. We will be bringing our laptops so we can work on the train. The tickets are not clear on if they will allow us to bring in laptop bags/backpacks and we're trying to figure out if we need to make alternate arrangements or if they will have a bag check onsite, or just allow us to bring our bags. Thanks in advance!

Hi,

We are flying LAX-AKL-SYD in a few weeks and have about 90 minutes from touchdown of our LAX-AKL flight, before our AKL-SYD flight leaves (so an hour till that plane boards). I would assume this is enough time to transit but wanted to get some advice.

Is there an "In Transit" lane at customs/immigration? Will we need to claim then recheck bags?

Would a US citizen take any different lane/path than a UK citizen (both are departing from the US and ending in Australia)?

We will be flying Air New Zealand in Business Class (so should be among the first off the plane which helps with the immigration lines), landing at 7:40 AM on a Tuesday and departing back out at 9:00.

Thanks in advance!

I've always stayed downtown or in West Hollywood when visiting LA; now we need to book a hotel for just one night on our way home in the middle of a 30-hour journey. I seem to remember a hotel connected to LAX by a walkway but I go through a lot of airports so I could be remembering incorrectly.

Is there a hotel actually connected to LAX? I know there's tons nearby and many have shuttles, etc. Just wanted to see if there's one that you can walk via a walkway to. Thanks in advance!

I know it's impossible to predict what a court will award but I wanted some guidelines of what's "fair" when considering rehabilitative alimony. This is in the state of Florida.

The scenario: both husband and wife are under 30; he works and earns roughly $60k/year; she does not work and goes to school full-time. Earlier in the marriage, she worked and earned roughlyy $35k so it's not like she has no skills at all. She will not consider taking a job right now but probably would if she didn't have the alimony coming in at the current rate. The alimony agreement is only supposed to last until she completes school.

Currently she is receiving about 49% of his *post-tax* salary and I think that is unreasonable, but then again I've never been divorced so I don't know what is fair and what isn't. Her alimony covers her rent, car payment, insurance, cable, utilities, and pocket money; she also got literally everything in the divorce-- all the furniture (every last stick), kitchen wares, TV's, etc and he got nothing of tangible value. They are trying to finalize things without using lawyers but most of his friends think he is getting ripped off, especially since she won't get a job.

Anyone have any personal experience to share or any references? I tried searching online and can only find very vague references to what rehabilitative alimony is and not how to actually calculate it. I know it's supposed to get a person taken care of till they can re-enter the workforce but I don't think that means "pay all of your bills while you refuse to work."

thanks in advance!

I travel a lot for work and am burned out on the Marriott-Hilton-Hyatt scene. I have recently started seeking out mid-scale and upscale boutique hotels (like the Algonquin in NYC or the Metropolitan in Toronto) and I really enjoy the character you get at places like those. But I miss my free nights. Is there a network or frequent traveller program that focuses on smaller, boutique hotels? I know some or most of the smaller chains have their own programs; I'm looking for a program that gives me a lot of variety/choices in hotels and still allows me to get rewards.

I travel primarily in the US with about 3 trips a year to Canada; mainly on the East Coast but some West Coast travel; hotels themselves should be priced similar to an area Marriott/Courtyard/Hilton/Embassy Suites or else work won't pay.

Thanks in advance!

Hi... I was just out in Vegas with some friends. I gambled pretty regularly with two people; we all have Players Club cards and used them religiously at the tables. My two friends are married and on a linked account (2 card numbers that go back to one Players Club account) and I am solo on my account. The husband gambled about as much as I did-- consistently $20 + odds on craps plus assorted line/hardway/feild bets, and the wife bet about half of that. During the play we got equal comps (cigarettes, etc). At checkout, their food tabs had been comped and one night of my room had been comped (separate bills, separate rooms) so I got about $75 more than they did in freebies. Now that I get home, I am getting tons of emails from the MGM casino family offering me a casino host for the next trip and Players rates but they are not getting anything.

My Q: why am I getting more comps when one of them gambled as much as I did and between them, they spent more?

(No I am not complaining!)

Hi... I was just out in Vegas with some friends. I gambled pretty regularly with two people; we all have Players Club cards and used them religiously at the tables. My two friends are married and on a linked account (2 card numbers that go back to one Players Club account) and I am solo on my account. The husband gambled about as much as I did-- consistently $20 + odds on craps plus assorted line/hardway/feild bets, and the wife bet about half of that. During the play we got equal comps (cigarettes, etc). At checkout, their food tabs had been comped and one night of my room had been comped (separate bills, separate rooms) so I got about $75 more than they did in freebies. Now that I get home, I am getting tons of emails from the MGM casino family offering me a casino host for the next trip and Players rates but they are not getting anything.

My Q: why am I getting more comps when one of them gambled as much as I did and between them, they spent more?

(No I am not complaining!)

Specifically looking for best sushi, best *affordable* sushi (so your picks for the best at any price and the best on a budget would be great); best seafood restaurant. An oyster happy hour or similar would be great--- raw bar where you can get a little break at happy hour. I have also heard of a bar with lots of British motorcycles in it and would love to find it--- but not the Ace cafe.

Will be in San Fran for work for one week; staying downtown on 2nd near Fremont; I have an expense account but my per diem is about $110 and I know San Fran is expensive, sushi is expensive everywhere, and sushi in San Fran will probably blow away that $110 before I know it. Oysters too!

Neighborhood bars to throw darts or shoot pool would be nice. Microbrewries, etc.

I will not have a car so walking distance to 2nd near Fremont is great but I can spring for a cab, too.

Thanks in advance!

My employer wants to get me a Top Secret clearance with polygraph. I know this will make me really marketable (I do IT work in the DC suburbs) but I have also heard there are some down sides to it, like not being able to travel out of the country as often as I might like. If you have a clearance, could you please share your experiences with international travel, as well as any other positives or negatives? Thanks!

I've been on Chantix for about 3 weeks and it is working very well. I know nightmares is one of the side effects; I have not had any of those. But I have noticed that all my dreams are more vivid, more intense and kind of crazy. I'm wondering just how common this is. So if you are on Chantix, did you notice that your dreams got stranger?

Hi, I'm going to San Antonio for a few days for business and am dying for a good, authentic mole poblano. Last time I was there, folks recommended we try the restaurants along River Walk but we got some pretty yucky food there, so please no recommendations from River Walk! Price range not an issue (it's business travel so we are on the expense account) and we have a car so we can go anywhere in/around the city. Thanks!

I'm looking for a suggestion for brunch for this coming Sunday in Atlanta. We will have about 8-12 people and would prefer a place that takes reservations. The restaurant must serve alcohol (somewhere with all you can drink mimosas or bloodies would be wonderful) and the food has to be good. We're looking for a mid-range place--- not a dive (the EARL is fine for a grilled cheese, not for a group brunch) but not anywhere you need to wear a suit to. Price range up to about $30 plus cocktails and tip per person. Hotels are fine. Bonus points for something in/close to Virginia Highlands and/or somewhere that we could walk around afterwards and maybe continue the cocktailing. Any suggestions?

I met a German lady the other night and she said I was "good to steal horses with" which according to her is a good thing but she couldn't really give me an English equivalent. Is anyone familiar with this phrase? Could you explain it a bit better to me? She said it was almost like calling me a daredevil but I'm very curious now!

Trying to stay in London but relatively convenient to Arkwright Road. Will be visiting in early March and can afford up to about $250 USD/night. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Will be visiting London soon; we want to stay in the city but be on the same tube line as Arkwright which is either a suburb or a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. If you are familiar with London, could you please let me know which tube line goes to Arkwright? I can then select a hotel close to that tube line (but I will gladly take recommendations-- budget up to $200 USD/night, sorry, don't know how to make the pound sign on my laptop!)

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be spending one night in Detroit on Saturday 1/27. I have no purpose in going to Detroit other than an insane frequent flier promotion with the airline I usually fly. I have not selected a hotel yet but am thinking about the Marriott at the Renaissance Center. Looking for ideas of things to do that Saturday night.

Looking for a rock and roll, rockabilly or punk type band, and will consider the casinos too. Local bands are great and I always like checking out new indie acts but I do not usually enjoy rap or hip-hop or trance.

Not interested in museums or anything for this trip.

Any recommendations for entertainment that night, or would you recommend a different hotel? I am not made of money but I am able to pay for a 4-star hotel.

Thanks in advance!

I understand using abbreviations and slang on the Internet; I know all about LOL and so forth. But why do people use "wat" instead of "what" or use "wen" instead of "when"? I can't see how leaving out a single letter really saves time typing! I also see people using Z's in place of S's, or spelling the word "does" as "dose." It doesn't make any sense to me--- there is not a big reduction in the number of keystrokes, and it's sometimes really hard to figure out just what people are asking. Some folks look like Hooked on Phonics rejects!

Can someone please explain it to me? Thanks! I have been wondering for a while now!

Unskilled labor is usually done for low wages--- working in meatpacking plants, restaurant kitchens, dry cleaners, unskilled construction workers (not specialized skills like carpentry or drywall though), etc.

Many people are upset that immigrants, either legal or illegal, have "taken their jobs" and that immigrants are "keeping the wages down" because they will do these jobs for $6 an hour. People are saying that meatpacking plants, etc, should raise their wages so they can attract American workers and do away with immigrants.

So how does a company deal with basically doubling their payroll overnight? Do you think that the American consumer is willing to pay $2 more per pound for chicken? Or 30% more on their restaurant check?

Do you think this will hurt small business more, because their profit margins are lower than big companies' to begin with?

Would families still go shopping and dine out if the prices went way up?

Can you raise pay without raising prices?

I'm getting ready to buy some concert tickets for the Hard Rock in Orlando. This event has general admission seats as well as balcony reserved and something called "High backed chairs along upper counter." I saw a picture on Hard Rock's web site--- the Balcony reserved looks like generic theatre/stadium seating but I'm not sure about this "High backed chairs" thing!

Can anyone tell me if there's a good view from these seats, and if there is a cocktail waitress/waiter serving folks who sit there, or if there is a bar really close to those seats? Also is it like little tables of people or just a line of chairs along a railing?

Thanks!

I have about 2500 songs on a 30-GB iPod; it's about 4 months old. I've noticed recently that some of the songs I've put on there don't function properly. You can click through and queue the song up; the iPod even shows the correct length of the song (3:40 or whatever) but as soon as you press Play, it skips right over to the next song. Consistently the same songs will do this over and over again, and if a song plays properly it doesn't do this (at least not that I have noticed). I use Rhapsody to manage my iPod music. Most of my songs are imported from CD and it seems like all of the "ghost" songs are CD imports, not downloads. Also it may be a fairly new problem as I know I put these particular songs on early in my libray-building, and I probably would have noticed so many broken songs when I only had 100 songs in total.

Any suggestions or tips on identifying which songs are broken? I don't mind importing again but don't want to re-import all 2500 songs!