Skepticism, Mexican Standoffs, and Electronic Boarding Passes

I am a traveler.  Not your average traveler either.  I am an inquisitive traveler – dare I say a “professional” traveler.  A traveler always looking for new ways to enhance my journeys whether they are for business or pleasure, so at the beginning of my most recent trip when I went online at delta.com to check-in, I was surprised to see an advertisement about the ability use your PDA or Smartphone as your boarding pass. 

When I saw this my thoughts immediately shifted to my Nokia E61i as I wondered if this new capability – nay opportunity – Delta was touting on their web site was real, would even work in the current travel environment and how the heck I would get through the TSA security screening process using my PDA.  Naturally I decided to test out the system and attempt my first paperless trip. 

First off I went to mobile.delta.com on my Smartphone and checked into my flight.  The interface Delta provides is simple and familiar to those that travel with them often.  Simply select “Check-in”, enter your SkyMiles number, pin, select the options such as bags to check and it is off to the races.  The next thing you see is a boarding pass with a strange looking bar code and all the information you would need to find your flight.  Now, let the fun begin! 

When this maverick of travel entered the doors of the South Terminal there was a Mexican standoff with the agent standing in the door.  She had no idea about paperless boarding passes.  I decided to head problems off at the pass and got a paper ticket from the kiosk as backup.  Afterwards I approached my endearing nemesis and bantered with her about “electronic boarding passes”.  I decided to educate her by showing her my own and she was impressed.  At the same time my expectations dropped down to about the same level I have for airplane food. 

Now I was approaching the South Security Checkpoint at Hartsfield thinking in my mind I’d have a better chance of winning at Keno than having anyone even know what the heck I was trying to do with my new fangled technology – let alone a government employee.  My confidence plunged to a new low.  As I approached the first TSA agent I handed her my identification and my PDA, she immediately said, “I hate these things” – darn government employees I thought to myself, but wait – she quickly handed me back my Nokia and requested I scan the barcode over a black box with a red light just to her left.  I did and nothing happened.  She then directed me to hold it lower, which really meant closer.  Ping, the device scanned the barcode from my PDA, popped up my name and she said “have a nice day Mr. Meadows.”  Imagine my surprise – it had worked.  

My skepticism began to fade as I headed to the Crown Room ready to have a celebratory drink before my flight.  Next thing I knew my flight was boarding and I moved like O.J. through the teaming crowds to my gate.  I stepped to the boarding agent with my “pass” in hand.  I showed it to her and she directed me to scan it.   I did, but this time it didn’t work.  Well technically it did work because I had been upgraded and it alerted the agent that they had already printed out a new paper ticket for me.  Score one for Delta!  I boarded the flight content and impressed that the system had worked, the processes to allow it work had been modified, and the people I encountered where it mattered knew in advance about the system and how to operate it.  

With my skepticism abated I tried the system again, this time with mixed results in Las Vegas.  At security the TSA agent hadn’t turned on the scanner for the electronic boarding pass – oops!  Once she figured out what the power button was for the system booted quickly and worked as it should allowing me to pass quicker than my papered counterparts.  At the gate the electronic boarding pass did not work and I gave my name and seat number to the boarding agent without incident – again I was upgraded.  Score two for Delta!! 

Overall my experience with the new system was actually much better than I anticipated.  I would give it a “C” only because of my experience in Las Vegas with the TSA not being prepared to accept it and the gate not being equipped to use it.  

Would I do it again?  Absolutely – and I think within the next 3 years this innovative program that utilizes the technology most savvy travelers already consider common for personal and business communications will become so ubiquitous the paper ticket will become obsolete.  So obsolete that airlines will expand their ala carte pricing models for things like baggage and fuel surcharges to include providing us a paper ticket.  Okay, that is a joke – but tell me you couldn’t envision it? 

In closing, kudos to Delta for having the chutzpah and foresight to transform the travel experience once again in a positive way – and for the upgrades.  Now if we could just convince them to provide their new Wi-Fi service on all flights for free! 

In Memoriam: Somber Thoughts on Those We Have Lost

Today, the American Poker Invitational (API) family lost two people close to us. First we found out about the passing of Tammy Oliver's father, who I did not know, but feel badly for Tammy, Paul, her family and close friends. 

After losing my father as an adult I know the pain and wrenching anguish of losing one's parent. 

But wait, as if G-d had a bad sense of humor tonight when I arrived at The Tavern I learned that a person that inspired me to become a better poker player, a walking storybook, former player of the year, 2007 Team API Member that represented us at the WSOP and tournament director had passed away as well. We will miss you Jon Atkins. That sense of humor, the stories and the hijinks's now live within us as we mourn your passing.

G-d speed to you both. You are in our thoughts, prayers and your memories will live on in the hearts of all that knew you.

Foundational Concepts

There is a running joke between one of my good friends and myself about the "The Meadows Foundation", but I am starting to think that this joke might be better as reality.  The joke began a while back when my friend, who is aware of much of the charitable work and giving that I do, said he wanted to reserve a spot in my foundation in case things went bad for him and his family. 

Given the way things are going today I am beginning to think that creating a real "Meadows Foundation" might not be such a bad idea given the economy and the needs that I see on a daily basis.  I believe charity should be a fundamental part of our lives and the benefits of giving far outweigh the benefits of receiving so today I am going to outline some of my core beliefs of what this Foundation should look like and seek input from those that know me best or at least care to read my rant.

First, I think the primary purpose of this charity should not be to help the homeless, those on welfare, etc.  The target of this Foundation is average everyday people going about their everyday affairs.  You won't be able to apply for benefits, they will be bestowed in anonymity and require only the information needed to garner non-profit status.  The main principle of the Foundation will be to "pay it forward" or "general reciprocity".  In other words, the good you do comes back to you in other ways - one of the main ways is the abundant joy and reward of doing good for others without seeking external adulation for your good acts - hence the requirement for anonymity.

My hope is that in time by "paying it forward" that there will be a greater propensity of all people to treat others that they encounter, friend or stranger, with acts of random kindness leading to a more peaceful existence.  This kindness doesn't have to be monetarily focused.  The simple act of holding a door, helping a single mom struggling with multiple kids get on an airplane, letting someone with a couple items go before you in a checkout, etc. all help build a better world for us and those who occupy this world after us.   

Now the real work begins.

Can't Wait for Lost Vegas

Now I am not saying that I created the Internet, but I did think of it well after it was actually created by the U.S. Government - and no Al Gore wasn't the inventor (more like the Department of Defense).  One of the benefits of being a net head is that I read a lot of material online and one of my favorite blogs is that of Paul McGuire, a.k.a. known as Dr. Pauly, located at http://taopoker.blogspot.com. 

This deviant and his blog will lead you to sites such as "Guess Her Muff" among many others, but in the end this site is about the reality of the poker lifestyle, the grind of major tournaments, and the pitiful life of prostitutes among other subjects.  

Soon Paul will be publishing his first book that I am aware of called "Lost Vegas".  The subtitle says "The Redneck Riviera, Existentialist Conversations with Strippers, and the World Series of Poker".  Now I am not as traveled as Pauly, but I always thought the Redneck Riviera was Panama City Beach, Florida?  Back to the point I was trying to make.  

I can't wait to read this book because Paul McGuire has covered more WSOP's than I have been too and not only does he have a fun and jovial writing style, but he tells it like it really is instead of glamming up his writings like many journalistic failures I know.  He thinks his book will only sell well in France and Europe, but I think he will be presently surprised by his American fans too.

Can't wait to read Lost Vegas.  

Googling Your Girlfriend

I can't and won't take credit for this idea...I read it on another blog that I found through another blog and now I am bringing it here for you to try.

Go to Google and type in the searchbox "how to convince your girlfriend" and see the completions they recommend.  

You cannot make this stuff up!

The Value of Chips

Whether I am playing at an API event, or at a casino I always try to keep in perspective that the deeper I get into a tournament the more value my chips have, eventually getting to a point that I can put a real numeric value to them.  

For many API players this might seem crazy since the tournaments are "free", but as you get deeper in API nightly tournaments or API major tournaments the closer you get to the final 2, 3 or 8 that get prizes you can literally put a real value on your chips.  Most API players won't get this even still, so let me give a great example.  

Back in November I played in the API Quarterly at The Tavern, eventually winning the tournament.  As I got closer and closer to the final table my chips starting taking on a monetary value in my head based upon the prizes for various positions at the final table.  In the end the value of my chips was a trip to the 2009 WSOP.  Early on in the tournament my chips had little to no value since there was such a long way to go before the likelihood of winning was even possible, but as I moved through the tournament their value and the importance of preserving and gaining more became higher and higher until eventually I could put a real dollar value on them.  To be clear, no cash is awarded at API - just prizes and sponsorships - but a prize or a sponsorship cost someone somewhere something and because of this you can assess value.

Another great example is in a Sit and Go Tournament.  If the tournament started with 9 or 10 players and there are now 4 left and only 3 are paid your chips are almost worth the 3rd place cash.  On Full Tilt in a $10 tournament of 10 players that would be $20 and each subsequent position adds more value to your chips based on the prize structure.  Even if you have $1 in chips left and get pocket aces with 3 other players in the pot, but 2 are all in and one is a massive chip stack your $1 in chips is probably worth $20 - so do you play and risk getting knocked out to win $3 in chips or do you fold and stand a great chance of cashing?  Simple - YOU FOLD.  Your $1 in chips has a real value of $20 in prize money.  If you go out the value of your chips is $0.

I have come to believe that in MTT's or SnG's at casinos or API that this general philosophy is one of the key differentiators between the good players and the bad players.  Loose play early on in either type of tournament can cost you too much and deposition you for a run in the end.  You have to be in to win and without a doubt you will need to gamble and get lucky at some point if you are going to take it down, but a little understanding about the concept I explain here will definitely take you farther.

Crappy Company - Crappy Cars

All the bailouts of automakers that the U.S. Government did a while back really pissed me off - and now this from Consumer Reports to enrage me even more!

"Chrysler, which tied with Suzuki for last place in our 2008 ranking, fared even worse this year. Overall reliability of Chrysler vehicles, which was average last year, dropped to below average this year. No Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicles are recommended."

At one time in my life I worked briefly at a Dodge dealership and back then their quality was absolutely horrible.  It seems times don't change and verifies one of my core business beliefs.

Behind every crappy product is a crappy company.