Let Me Upgrade You...

Brussels, Belgium

Last night we met our new best friend. Well, that’s wishful thinking, but what isn’t wishful thinking is insider tips for saving literally thousands on travel costs, from plane tickets to hotels and even un-tapped hotspots. Johnny DiScala, or Johnny Jet to those in the know, is to travel what, say, Martha Stewart is to homemaking, and he spent two hours at the Orange & Brew (courtesy of RUB) giving us the types of tips that only 150,000 frequent flier miles a year could acquire.

So, because we love you, here are some highlights. For the full University of Florida-specific rundown, head to this site created just for you.

• Use Priceline to bid on hotels and cars (rather than flights). And, rather than just blindly bid, head to BiddingForTravel.com to get prices that have recently been accepted. Cool, right?
• Be flexible. Don’t specify the exact airport on the exact day and time you want. And always ask the desk if they’re overbooked and looking for volunteers (if you don’t need to arrive right away). You can find alternate airports here.
• Don’t pack so much! Only bring a carry-on, so if you need to change planes abruptly, you can. For more stuff, ship it FexEx Ground to and from your hotel.
• Travel agents can be your friend, especially for cruises or multi-leg journeys. They might also be privy to deals you’re not.
• Talk to a human being at the actual hotel, not the 800 number, to ask for a better rate or free upgrade. Here’s how.
• Package deals can be cheaper than the flight alone. Even if you don’t need a car or hotel, it might cost lest. Weird, right?
• Consider renting a house or staying with someone if you’re staying a week or so.
• Get paid to travel but working on a cruise or in another country over the summer. you could even become a courier for a big movie company. And, Johnny’s always looking for interns, so e-mail him for openings.
• And, finally, the best place to go right now that you might not realize? Southeast Asia (especially Malaysia) and South America (especially Argentina). After spending on the flight, you’ll save the rest of the time.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

—MM, Photos courtesy of JohnnyJet.com

P.S. Watch his incredible videos to whet your appetite.

Meghan McCain to speak at UF

Meghan McCain was driven into politics and the national spotlight at an early age as the daughter of U.S. Senator John McCain. Meghan’s exposure to American politics gave her the opportunity to hear voters debate on the most controversial issues first-hand, which encouraged her to launch a national movement to redefine Republican stereotypes and values. On Wednesday, January 27th in Pugh Hall at the University of Florida, Meghan McCain will be speaking about these values in addition to the impact of her father’s campaign trail on her life. Doors open at 7 pm, and the show starts at 8 pm. ACCENT is co-sponsoring this event with the Graham Center for Public Service, Student Government External Affairs and Women’s Leadership Council.

Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, McCain graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Art History. She completed internships with both Newsweek and Saturday Night Live before joining her father’s 2008 presidential campaign. With that, Meghan became a columnist, author and award-winning blogger.

For more information, call ACCENT at (352) 273-4429. Visit the website at www.accentspeakers.com or e-mail ACCENT at accent@sg.ufl.edu.

—Jason H. Attermann, ACCENT Chairman

Director Brett Ratner speaks at UF

Last night, we attended a talk by Brett Ratner—acclaimed director of the Rush Hour series, X-Men 3, Money Talks, Red Dragon and Family Man—at the University Auditorium. Ratner, November’s ACCENT speaker, explained to a crowd of about 200 what it's like to lead a lavish rockstar life, and how his ambition and take-charge attitude allowed him to become one of the highest grossing directors in Hollywood.

"I didn’t expect this to happen to me," Brett said in his 45-minute speech. "My dream was to only make movies … I never wanted the expensive house, the supermodel friends, or any of that. I just wanted to make movies and tell a story." To accomplish his dream, Ratner began making short films when he was eight years old; by 10 he gave up doing homework and spent all his time directing. After skipping two grades, Ratner graduated from high school at 16 and applied to NYU to follow in the footsteps of Martin Scorsese. Despite his low grades and young age, Brett used his charm and personality to get into NYU.

"I learned early on that it takes more than just talent," Brett said. "Ninety percent effort and 10 percent talent will get your farther than 90 percent talent and 10 percent effort." Through networking, Ratner met hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, who offered him a spot directing music videos. Since then, he has directed more than 100 videos for artists like Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson, Wu Tang Clan, Jay-Z and P.Diddy.

"Throughout the whole ordeal, I learned to never take ‘No’ for an answer. You just have to love what you do and be passionate about it," he said. Ratner also owns Rat Records, Rat Press (a publishing company), Rat Entertainment (a production company), a corporate branding company called Brett Ratner Brandsm, and www.shootseries.com (a Web site that showcases his music videos, commercials and short films).

"I’m constantly learning," he said. "I use commercials and music videos as an opportunity to use a new piece of equipment or use a technique that I’ve never used. Every time I make a movie, I experiment. Everything I do is a learning experience."

—Attiyya Anthony