What's The Diff?

The things Quicken Loans team members care about and want to share with the world

Euro DIFF-o

Thursday, January 31, 2008

EuroCheapo.com is the ultimate go-to site for traveling in Europe! by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

By Paul J. Pickett

Many Americans dream of starting their own business and being their own boss. For Tom Meyers, his American dream began in Europe.  And truth be told, it didn’t begin with a "business plan" for Tom, it began with a love for travel and a desire to spend his life doing it.

So in 1998, recently graduated from Columbia University, he was brainstorming how he could leave his job in NYC and start a business that would "force" him to travel. He didn’t want the typical "9 to 5" desk job, he wanted a business that would get him traveling to Europe. And he wanted to do it often.

Fast forward to 2008 – mission accomplished. Tom is the founder and
editor of www.EuroCheapo.com, a free Internet guide to budget travel in
Europe, led by a team of travel experts who show up unannounced at
inexpensive hotels in 23 cities in Europe (and New York), check out the
rooms, and get a feel for each place. If they think its “The DIFF”
(they like it), they write a review and list the hotel on the site,
providing full, up-to-date information, so that users can book a room
immediately. I say that’s pretty DIFFtastic.

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I found love at FoundMagazine.com

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

FoundMagazine.com by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

By Cora Bledsoe

Well, not really…but it is still a good site. I was told about FoundMagazine.com a few years ago and although I don’t visit often, every time I do, I’m there for a while. The site is full of items that have been lost and found. Usually there are photographs, notes, drawings, etc. It’s kinda like the Lay’s Potato Chips slogan, “I betcha can’t eat just one”.

Only one item is shown at a time, and for some reason, I’m always drawn to look at another… and another… and another. I could probably spend hours on this site alone. It’s so interesting to try and understand what people were thinking when they wrote the notes or where they were when the pictures were taken.

Maybe one day I’ll find something interesting enough to submit to FoundMagazine.com. Until then, I’ll just continue to spend endless hours viewing other’s contributions.

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Spirit Airlines & an ill-fated first impression

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Editor’s Note: This is a post sent in by a guest blogger about his experience with Spirit Airlines. In all fairness, we’d also like to invite our readers to check out a very different experience another guest blogger had with Spirit Airlines. Or feel free to get writing and send in any and all experiences you have!

By Jay Wetcher

I have flown extensively over the past 25 years, domestic and international, on business and personal travel.  I have encountered all kinds of delays, lost bags, even 2 emergency landings. I have never had an experience like the one I had on Spirit Airlines.

On Jan 4, 2008, I had the misfortune of flying on Spirit Airlines for the first time. The flight was from Fort Lauderdale, Fl to Washington DC Regan Airport.

Upon check in, I was offered an upgrade to a big seat, which I took. (more about this later) Upon arrival at the gate, about 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time, I saw that the aircraft was at the gate, very good sign. I noticed that the Spirit section of the terminal was in utter chaos, but I have seen this before on other airlines, and did not pay any attention. The flight did not board as scheduled, so I tried to ask when it would board. There were very few Spirit employees available, and when I found one, a flight attendant waiting to board a flight, I was told to check the tv monitors. When I explained that I already had, and the monitor said the flight was on time, and it was already past the scheduled departure time, the person said "Welcome to Spirit Airlines, no flights are ever on time." I thought that this was just a disgruntled employee. I found another employee, a gate agent, who informed me that she had no idea why the flight was delayed or when it might leave. She was nice enough, but she was clearly fed up with her job. I never did find out the true reason for the delay.

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Quick fix: use dry erase to save the trees!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Use dry erase forms at businesses! by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

By Kriste Gaither

Recently I paid my dues to society and purchased a Smart Circle Card to a local salon. The card allows you to choose from several companies participating in the charity and pick one that you feel you would most use.

Naturally I jumped at the chance to get a discount on a massage, facial, and haircut, plus I knew I was helping out a cool charity. The card afforded me 4 visits to Salon Valenti in Livonia.

So I called them up to schedule my first visit. I will admit to being slightly nervous that they would treat me like a "discount" client, but that certainly was not the case. They explained how to use the card and set me up with an appointment within a week.

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Ernie Harwell is baseball – Happy Birthday Ernie!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Ernie Harwell statue at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

For 55 years, of which 42 were with my Detroit Tigers, Ernie Harwell called the shots on every play in a memorable way. Even though he had a slight southern side to his voice, he was a complete Detroit treasure. He celebrates being 90 years young today.

According to the Free Press, he was sent hundreds of birthday wishes to which he replied,

"Well, this is really nice that these people have responded in the
e-mails to my birthday’s celebration. Like I say, I really
don’t deserve it — but I had measles one time, and I didn’t deserve
that, either."

Funny guy. Maybe he could write a little something for the DIFF. But since he is the DIFF, we’ll honor him today. Happy Birthday, Ernie! Hope to see you on Opening Day!

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Freecycle

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Freecycle.org is a nonprofit movement to give and get good stuff! by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

By Mark Messing

I like to think that everyone tries to recycle.  But what about the stuff that won’t fit in your recycling bin?  A tuna fish can is one thing, but where do you go when you’ve finished your spring cleaning, and you have a couch to get rid of?  Most of the time these types of things end up on the curb.  Unless they are picked up by someone else, they end up in our landfills, even if they are fully functional.

Next time you have something you don’t want, you know someone else can use, and you are certain you won’t get any money for, just post it on Freecycle!  Freecycle has want/offer listings for things that are totally free.  All you have to do is find a way to pick it up.

What a difference this could make!

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Quicken Loans named #2 in FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Quicken Loans named a FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work ForLots of people think coming in second place is a bad thing.

You aren’t the best. You lost. You came in second.

Not me.

I’m thrilled. We are #2 baby! 

That’s right.  FORTUNE released its "100 Best Companies to Work For" list today and guess what? Quicken Loans is #2 this year. 

Last year we were #17, which is pretty darn good in itself. Over 1500 companies compete to be on the list.  But to be #2?  Wow.  Nice.

And the only thing standing in our way to being the best place to work in the country??? THE GOOGLE! (I can live with that, I guess).

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Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, January 21, 2008

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the Quicken Loans Blog

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Goodbye Spiderman

Friday, January 18, 2008

Jarrett Knyal with baby - Quicken LoansI didn’t want to write this post. I’ve known for a few weeks I would have to, but I couldn’t even start it.

My coworker and my friend – in fact he was one of the coolest guys I’ve ever known – died Wednesday afternoon after a long battle with cancer.  He was 44. That’s way too young.

Jarrett "Spiderman" Knyal (or Jarrett "Cockroach" Knyal – depending on what day you talked to him) was one of the most inspirational people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.  He understood me when I said "I can’t eat at P.F. Chang’s, since no Chinese people eat there."  My other coworkers usually stare at me with blank faces when I say stuff like that, but Jarrett understood.

Well, anyway, to do a tribute for such a great person, to try to put in words what he meant to me and the impact he had on me, where do I start?

I guess when I first met him.

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Budweiser has a little secret to tell you

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Budweiser packaging plant in St. Louis. by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

By Mark Messing

While stale floor-popcorn, the back of someone else’s head, and stiff legs make a good combination, I am going to guess that people don’t go to football games for the way things smell, look, or feel.  Live action unequivocally appeals to our need for a thrilling atmosphere, and for the most part, that is built by sound.  The cheer of the crowd seems to be unending throughout every game I go to, getting louder for every great play and horrible call.  But even during timeouts, the general chatter of the audience, and booming voice of the announcer add energy to the air.

I noticed this during a timeout at the Champs Sports Bowl, when, amongst the babble, I thought I heard someone whispering to me.  I asked my friends if they had heard, but they assured me there wasn’t anything more than the lull of the crowd and the mumble of the announcer.  I thought I was going crazy.

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Thursday, May 17, 2012