Week of 17 January, 2010 - 01:00 to 24 January, 2010 - 00:59

Above: a photo from nrvs' photostream on Flickr showing his Tri-Star at the Mumbai Domestic Airport. See a larger version of the above image here.

How Social Media Helps One Small Business Connect with Fans
by Leah Betancourt

Excerpt:
"A-Ha Moments On Flickr

The Tom Bihn Flickr group has 278 items posted and more than 115 members. The stream isn’t just photos of people wearing their bags while traveling or at the airport. Informative photos show how much can fit inside a bag (and weight) and how items look once they’re in the bag. What’s also interesting are the user comments. Someone commented on a photo in the Flickr group that they had been looking everywhere for a photo of that exact bag and wanted to know if the bag was still available. Another person chimed in that they were also looking for that same bag."

Read the full article at American Express OPEN Forum.

The Super Ego is now in-stock in all colors: Black/Indigo/Steel, Black/Steel/Wasabi, Black/Crimson/Steel, Black/Black/Cayenne, and Black/Black/Steel.

Above: a photo from the Imago Metrics evaluation of the Super Ego.

Skylark posted in the TOM BIHN Forums:
"TB forum seems like a great resource to tap for recommendations on ipod touch app's for packing lists needed for upcoming trips. I want one with check boxes so that once the list is made I can check as I pack the Aeronaut and Imago and then uncheck and reuse the list next trip. Thanks!"

Several forum members have already posted suggestions: is there a Packing List app that you'd recommend? Post here!

Via the Toronto Star:

"Canadians flying to the U.S. can bring one carry-on bag on board again, starting Wednesday.

The loosening of restrictions was announced by Transport Canada. Domestic and overseas flights still permit two carry-on bags."

Note: "The single carry-on bag must not exceed 23 centimetres by 40 centimetres by 55 centimetres." via theSpec.com

That means your Aeronaut, Tri-Star, or Western Flyer meets or is under the size guidelines. Happy flying!

Also of interest: maverick's trip report describing his experience with Air Canada during the carry-on luggage ban

Special thanks to TOM BIHN Forums member fbrown627 for keeping us updated on carry-on rule/regulation changes.

You've received an email from UPS informing you that your TOM BIHN order has shipped. Woohoo! Armed with your UPS tracking number, what's the best way to stay updated on the progress of your parcel? Try one of the following applications:

UPS Mobile App for iPhone

UPS Mobile App for BlackBerry

Boxoh Package Tracking (RSS package tracking)

Apple Dashboard Widget: Delivery Status

TOM BIHN Package Tracking Page
Enter your order number and you'll be taken to tracking information for your parcel.

A follow-up on a previous post describing efforts by UPS to aid the people of Haiti via the UPS Upside Blog:

"Watching the pictures of the hungry people of Haiti, it’s easy to wonder why food and water aren’t yet accessible everywhere. After all it’s been nearly a week since the quake, thousands of relief workers are on the ground, and people around the world have donated money and supplies.

The reason is logistics. The Haiti relief supply chain is global and complex. Chip Chappelle, an Atlanta-based UPS transportation manager, is spending nearly 24 hours-a-day trying to coordinate shipments of life saving food, water and medical supplies. On top of the usual complexities of international trade, these deliveries are all hampered by broken infrastructure, limited equipment, shifting supply origins and conflicting information."

Read more @ the UPS Upside Blog.

Above: a photo from nrvs' photostream on Flickr showing his Tri-Star at the Frankfurt airport. See a larger version of the above image here.

Terk posted in the TOM BIHN Forums:

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum here, and actually just discovered the website this past weekend. I didn't know Tom was still making gear. I checked out the website and forum, front to back, so I could catch up. I ended up ordering a Synapse and Side Effect. American made gear is getting harder to find nowdays, and I like to support the manufacturers that refuse to go offshore.

I thought some of you might be interested in seeing an old school Tom Bihn product. I bought this over 20 years ago from Tom when he was still down here in Santa Cruz. It is an early version of the Side Effect. I'm not sure what it was called back then. It's seen a lot of hard use, but is still going strong.

See the full thread in the TOM BIHN Forums for more pictures.

Above: a photo from nrvs' photostream on Flickr showing what he packed in his (not even close to full) Tri-Star. See a larger version of the above image here.