OK, first things first. A shout out to Chris K visiting from Royal Oak, MI who was the first to ever ask about how to set up Pandora for music at a funeral parlor. Love it! Chris, who runs a funeral home, was also kind enough to teach me the funeral director handshake...see below. Notice the extended index finger (feeling for a pulse :)

In the next several days I take delivery of a TriCaster Broadcast. I have a lot of of plans for the unit, but over the next couple of weeks I need to pick a permanent video streaming service.

Allegiant and American add new routes, Northwest adds more fees, frequent flier miles decrease in value, and more news from the skies above.

While some people's idea of the perfect summer vacation involves a bikini, a hotel suite steps from the sand, a cocktail and a beach lounge, for others a thermal parka, polar fleece gloves, a cramped

This week we wrap things up with visits to Hong Kong's fabulous restaurants, markets, and major attractions including Victoria Peak and the Big Buddha.

Travelers interested in Asia, take heed. For its deal of the month for July Cathay Pacific Airways is offering round-trip flights to Bangkok or Singapore.

Lots of people want to stay in a new hotel, but nobody wants to get stuck in one that's renovating. Unfortunately, the two go hand in hand. Here's how you can make the most of it.

Flying solo? Prepare to pay up. The travel industry makes life uncomfortable for solo travelers in countless ways that, if they aren't discriminatory, are at the very least awkward.

New Web Site Shakes Up Music Industry

The U.S. officials may need to bail out the two government-sponsored enterprises responsible for insuring mortgages, a former Federal Reserve president said. William Poole, who stepped down as President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis three months ago, called Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac "insolvent."

Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the United States fell to 346k in the week ending July 5, following an unrevised 404k in the previous week. Continuing claims rose to 3.202 million for the week ending June 28, the Department of Labor reported Thursday.

The release of U.S. jobless claims and comments from Fed's Yellen (non- voter) will top the North American data releases. Markets will also be paying attention to comments from European Central Bank President Trichet in the afternoon.