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New Music: October 2018 Playlist
1 Oct. 2018
New Music: October 2018 Playlist
One of my favorite things about travel is the opportunity to hear and find new music.  On my last trip to Eastern Europe, I was surprised at how good the music was inside a bar in the capital city Minsk.  New music this month from a variety of place:  Brazil, Mali, Sweden, USA, France, Angola,
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New Podcast: Minsk, Belarus
29 Sep. 2018
New Podcast: Minsk, Belarus
Privet (Hello)? As part of a couple of trips through Eastern Europe, I’ve traveled to Minsk, Belarus twice this year (and will also be visiting again early next year).  This podcast episode talks about visiting Minsk, things you need to know before going, and what you can expect once you’re there.  It’s a completely different
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Saving For A Travel IRA
22 Sep. 2018
Saving For A Travel IRA
Anniversary and 10M This week is my five year anniversary of being involved in the points and miles hobby/profession.  Kind of by coincidence, I’ve just passed the 10 million points mark.  That total isn’t points earned, it’s points currently banked.  I haven’t accurately kept track of points that I’ve redeemed, but kn...
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The Single Best Travel Rewards Card
12 Sep. 2018
The Single Best Travel Rewards Card
Contrary Although I love talking all things points, miles and travel, I generally shy away from starting that conversation with strangers.  If there’s time or if I feel I can help someone look at travel rewards in a different way, I might go for it, but the topic often mushrooms and becomes a time drain.
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New Music: September Playlist
1 Sep. 2018
New Music: September Playlist
Tuned This month’s playlist has songs and artists from Sweden, Brazil, Ukraine, Africa, USA, France, Jamaica, and Spain and more.  Long time favorites Tallest Man on Earth and Pearl Jam both occupy some space on this list.  I also added a nice song from Nassau, and a tune that I forgot I had.  With a few
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Poznan: Poland’s Hidden Gem
23 Aug. 2018
Poznan: Poland’s Hidden Gem
The Great Unknown It’s hard to find great places in Europe that aren’t flooded with tourists.  Harder to reach and formerly obscure travel destinations like Albania, Montenegro, and even Georgia are all getting more tourism and attention as new hotspots for travelers.  However in central or “mainstream” Europe, it seems like there aren’t any ...
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What I did With My Marriott / SPG Points
8 Aug. 2018
What I did With My Marriott / SPG Points
Intro By now it’s no secret that big changes to Marriott’s merger with SPG are underway and others in the process of being finalized.  Initially those changes were set to take place on August 4th, but that date has since been pushed back to August 18th.  I assume that the dates are now set in
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Fallout From A Bank Shutdown
7 Aug. 2018
Fallout From A Bank Shutdown
Shutdown I recently wrote a post about a bank shutdown linked to manufactured spending (MS).  It was my first checking deposit related bank shutdown from MS, but probably not the last.  The TCF Bank checking account in question was set to be closed on July 31.  I preemptively closed the account the day before, so
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