In a rented Best Western conference room. Classy.

I suppose it shouldn’t be very surprising to me that the resorts in Atlantic City charge you for every single amenity that they can, for every step you take on their property, and for every bite or sip of anything while you’re in the resort. This is the land in which retirees sit transfixed on three tumbling numbers – hoping they’ll line up and their life will somehow change.

Walking through the casinos Eliza and I saw older men and women, smoking and drinking, working two and three machines at a time – simply eking out the remainder of their existence at the mercy of the smoke, liquor, and gambling control boards. It isn’t a pretty sight. I’m all for a good game – this isn’t what this is. This is bloodletting and the vein is the pension plans of the retired and the drug and alcohol induced whims of newlyweds.

Did I mention we had a good time? For those of us with self control, the motivation to seek out the side streets, and the wherewithal to side-step the money hungry schemes – Atlantic City can be fun.

I suppose the part of all of this that makes me upset the most is that the Internet is a commodity nearly everywhere else in the world. Cafes, “cheap” motels, even the local car garage. It is a service. Like providing a phone book, phone, TV, business services, and “things to do” sheet all in one.

I’m just looking forward to the day when the Internet is as ubiquitous as electricity.

During our stay on Oahu for the Social Media Club Workshop, Podcamp and Wordcamp Hawai’i, and a little leisure time – Eliza and I stayed at the Wyland Waikiki hotel.

This modern hotel showcases some of Wyland’s (whose name is Robert Wyland, by the way) artwork on nearly every surface available. Wall-sized paintings, sculptures, surf boards, and even tile works on the bottom one of the hotel’s pools all show off the creativity of Wyland.

The rooms are a decent size with all of the amenities that you’d come to expect nowadays. Beautiful flat-panel televisions, high beds, and nice bathrooms. Eliza and I had a room with a fridge and a sink (no range to cook on). We both really enjoyed our stay here.

Not that you spend a lot of time in your hotel when you are in Hawai’i, but I still think it is important to find one that suits your lifestyle. The Xbox-filled gaming room suits my lifestyle, though I admit I didn’t end up using it. The bar in the lobby with some of the better tenders I’ve come across, suits my lifestyle. The free wifi throughout the property, does as well.  Though, I must say that only having wired access in the rooms was a bit disappointing.  But Eliza and I quickly took care of that with Mac OS X’s internet connection sharing which is drop dead simple to set up.

Why am I writing about this hotel? Because they were extremely accommodating. They helped out the Podcamp attendees and speakers and also were always on hand when we wanted to chat about the hotel. Something I have never, ever heard of with any other hotel.

And, in the very near future, if you head down to one of the lobby’s two iMacs – you may see Viddler sitting on the desktop ready for you to record your video testimonial for this excellent hotel.

Date taken: August 17, 2008 | In the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Date taken: August 17th, 2008 | Impressive. Most impressive. A display set to music.

Date taken: August 17, 2008 | The Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas from the Bellagio.

Date taken: July 18, 2008 | Seneca Lake Marina in Watkins Glen, New York at night.

Date taken: September 7, 2007 | A view from 20 floors above the Ben Franklin Parkway and Cherry St. intersection in Philadelphia.