A9 Yellow Pages

OK, this is a great innovation.

One of these is not like the other

Let me get this straight. So this administration believes Iraq is like Japan and Germany?

"History is Calling Us"

But Rice exuded confidence as she entered the State Department with a cheery, "it's great to be here," and declared "democracy will take hold" around the world as it did in Germany and Japan after the Second World War.

Someone should pick up the other line -- Earth is calling Condy.

Print your resume with...

I wonder if this USB-enabled sewing machine takes standard printer output.

For Sale: Lightly Used Condo. Considering all offers.

We're selling our beloved former residence on Jean St. in Oakland. The first open house and the brokers' tour went well, with many visitors. Open house again on Jan 30. Wish us luck!

Hotwire Apologizes

Response in less than a week. Nice. I wonder how much input they got on the motel.

Thank you for your feedback about your recent stay at the Golden Bear Inn in Berkeley. We sincerely apologize that the hotel did not meet your expectations. Customer feedback helps us ensure that our properties continue to meet the high quality expectations we expect from all of our partners. After receiving feedback from you and other guests, we re-evaluated the hotel and have adjusted the star rating to 1-star.

Please accept our apologies along with 50 HotDollars, which we have added to your Hotwire account under @ . One HotDollar is equivalent to one U.S. dollar in value when used for any future purchase on the Hotwire Web site. Our customers are important to us, and we hope to have a chance to better serve your needs in the near future.

Screwed by Hotwire.com

I've been a big fan of Hotwire, until they screwed us with this reservation for an out-of-town visitor last week:



Whoa. What the...

1) This place is not a hotel.
2) It's not a two-star establishment.
3) It's not a "name-brand lodging" as promised on the site, and booked in the past.

See for yourself.

(Other happy traveler comments here.)

So I called to complain about a local motel being in their inventory, and the operator had the wits to ask "So, what exactly would you define as a motel?" -- Like, um, you park in front of the room and get to open the street-level window to San Pablo Avenue?

Tsunami before/after photos

Sets 5 and 11 from this set of satellite photos is shockingly dramatic. Send your help.