On Friday, the day the pair were supposed to fly home, Zipp sent out e-mail messages on their behalf to five firms: Bessemer Venture Partners, At Ventures (CMGI's venture arm), Institutional Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital and U.S. Venture Partners.

FORBES: Dog fight

Smartphones make it easier for managers to change their minds at the last moment: for example, to e-mail a minion at 11pm to tell him he must fly to Pittsburgh tomorrow.

ECONOMIST: Schumpeter

Munter, who says when her racing career is over she'll be a scuba diving instructor, e-mailed CNN.com saying it was important for her to fly halfway around the world to get out the message of the film.

CNN: She's racing to save the environment