Maddie and I took a few days to go down to Los Angeles. Really it was for dumplings (no, really). While I was on my last business trip, I was introduced to a delicacy of a restaurant called 'Din Tai Fung' in Sydney, Australia. Turns out to be the best dumpling I have *ever* had by the largest of margins.
Anyway - they have locations all over the Asia-Pac region and a *single one* in the good ol' USA. In Arcadia, California. Not NYC, not SF, not in Vancouver (a huge asian population) - shoot, Arcadia isn't even LA - its a suburb of Pasadena really.
So I had to take her to this place to have a similar experience that we didn't get to share when I was on the trip. So down to LA we went. Of course we made a mini-vacation out of it - we stayed at the Fairmont in Santa Monica (cute little bungalow in their courtyard), we planned many other things to see/do while there but it was all about the dumplings.
How where they? Not quite up to the amazing delicacy I had in Australia (in summary, they were close but the ingredients weren't as fresh, amazingly, and the pork in the dumpling not as minced so it was more chunky of a mouth feel than what I had previously) but if you hadn't had the dumplings previously - they are 'scrum-dilliscous' - according to Maddie.
But be prepared to wait, when we arrived there were about 60 people already waiting for a table on Friday night (about 6pm) but since we were a 'table for two' we got seated immediately. And that is the secret I am sharing with you now, don't take any friends, go by yourself or a single loved one and enjoy beating everyone to the amazing dumpling. And if you get a chance, try one of their several other locations around the world - you will be grateful you did.
As for the 'more' part of this post: expect pictures, updates and more about this trip in the coming days.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Athens, Europe's ashtray?
Ok, that's a little harsh but I have to say, the graffiti on every surface coupled with the prevalent cigarette smoke was enough to make me wonder. On top of that, numerous buildings in a state of 'its either being torn down or built but is other wise abandon' was another reminder that things in Athens aren't going to well.
On the other hand - there was an overabundance of bathroom stores (sinks, toilets and tile) and used car lots on my way into Athens - on both sides of the street. It was either one of the abandoned buildings, a car lot or a bathroom store. Honestly - I have the film to prove it.
But besides that it did have the Akropolis (Gr. we use a 'c') and some other ruins to gawk at for a while and the coast line is gorgeous - Athens needs a spa-retreat, face lift. Not saying don't go - but certainly wouldn't spend more than two days in Athens site seeing and then moving on to the Santorini Islands or some other nice part of Greece. Just don't ask me where that part might be...
The ruins were ruined, the food was fully cooked (i.e. - over cooked, with one majorly enjoyable exception) and the people were as happy as folks in Humbug, er Hamburg, Germany. Its not that I didn't have a nice time, its just that it wasn't a nice time :-P Either way, there are some photos to enjoy over at the right hand side link - go to Picasa for that and consider that I just saved you a trip!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sorry not blogged in a few days...
but as you likely know I am on a trip around the globe. Funny little story:
The day after elections back in the States, I went into work there in our Dublin, Ireland office - and I got a standing ovation. Simply for what our country did and me being a citizen. Truly an inspiring thing - especially when you consider this was mostly European engineers (few are actually Irish in the office but those that are stood and applauded too).
This applause wasn't because we chose the candidate Obama, but because we chose the 'new choice' for our voting record. Again, this wasn't because he is Democratic party member but because he wasn't a Bush clone or an 'old white guy'. Again, not against John McCain but we showed the world something different for the first time in over 200 years of Presidential elections and people are saying 'whoa, those American's aren't quite what we thought' (in the bad way of thinking of Americans).
They simply didn't think we had it in us. It wasn't so much the black thing* but it was. It wasn't Obama specifically, but it was. Not sure I can explain it but people stopped me on the streets in Dublin, asked if I was an American (why, is it *showing*???!) and then asked me what I thought - usually after saying some positive things or sometimes before saying extremely positive things.
Then I get to China - and its more of the same. Except here in China they assume because 'we love Mr. Bush' as an American public, we agree with all his policies. No use trying to tell them that his approval rating is the lowest in recorded history and that 'not too many Americans are that much in favor of his actions'. The point is, they too are reassessing their opinion on the American peoples.
And that is a cool thing!
------------------
*re:"black thing" - it was surprising just how little the folks in Ireland knew about the racial divide in the US - they were shocked that race was the 'main problem' of people potentially not voting for him when I talked to them. Not his age, not his background nor even his policies but that his race was even possibly an issue was shocking to them. Then I asked how likely they might be to vote for a Protestant for Prime Minister. They got it then. So racial problems = religious differences in Ireland. The rest of the EU folks here, like the Polish - simply didn't see any of that being a potential problem.
To them, it was 'either you like his point of view of policies or you don't' as to how/why you voted. Not even liking someone but agreeing more with their platform you should still vote for candidate A. Funny. Of course, few of them understood why so few Americans vote too.
Ah Democracy, win some ya lose some!
Its nice to win one for once.
PPS - Most people over here simply didn't see it much as a choice but a 'you got to be kidding me with the old guy who is farting around saying 'stuff' but not saying anything but the old 'those dems suck' and the woman he chose didn't even know that Africa wasn't a country but a continent full of countries'. And don't give me that bit about how that was a 'made up' story. It broke in Ireland over two weeks ago.
Let's see, the inspiring, well tempered, even keel, non-fundamentalist, well spoken guy - or the same ol' same ol'? Going with something new - gave the world something new to think about.
The day after elections back in the States, I went into work there in our Dublin, Ireland office - and I got a standing ovation. Simply for what our country did and me being a citizen. Truly an inspiring thing - especially when you consider this was mostly European engineers (few are actually Irish in the office but those that are stood and applauded too).
This applause wasn't because we chose the candidate Obama, but because we chose the 'new choice' for our voting record. Again, this wasn't because he is Democratic party member but because he wasn't a Bush clone or an 'old white guy'. Again, not against John McCain but we showed the world something different for the first time in over 200 years of Presidential elections and people are saying 'whoa, those American's aren't quite what we thought' (in the bad way of thinking of Americans).
They simply didn't think we had it in us. It wasn't so much the black thing* but it was. It wasn't Obama specifically, but it was. Not sure I can explain it but people stopped me on the streets in Dublin, asked if I was an American (why, is it *showing*???!) and then asked me what I thought - usually after saying some positive things or sometimes before saying extremely positive things.
Then I get to China - and its more of the same. Except here in China they assume because 'we love Mr. Bush' as an American public, we agree with all his policies. No use trying to tell them that his approval rating is the lowest in recorded history and that 'not too many Americans are that much in favor of his actions'. The point is, they too are reassessing their opinion on the American peoples.
And that is a cool thing!
------------------
*re:"black thing" - it was surprising just how little the folks in Ireland knew about the racial divide in the US - they were shocked that race was the 'main problem' of people potentially not voting for him when I talked to them. Not his age, not his background nor even his policies but that his race was even possibly an issue was shocking to them. Then I asked how likely they might be to vote for a Protestant for Prime Minister. They got it then. So racial problems = religious differences in Ireland. The rest of the EU folks here, like the Polish - simply didn't see any of that being a potential problem.
To them, it was 'either you like his point of view of policies or you don't' as to how/why you voted. Not even liking someone but agreeing more with their platform you should still vote for candidate A. Funny. Of course, few of them understood why so few Americans vote too.
Ah Democracy, win some ya lose some!
Its nice to win one for once.
PPS - Most people over here simply didn't see it much as a choice but a 'you got to be kidding me with the old guy who is farting around saying 'stuff' but not saying anything but the old 'those dems suck' and the woman he chose didn't even know that Africa wasn't a country but a continent full of countries'. And don't give me that bit about how that was a 'made up' story. It broke in Ireland over two weeks ago.
Let's see, the inspiring, well tempered, even keel, non-fundamentalist, well spoken guy - or the same ol' same ol'? Going with something new - gave the world something new to think about.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
At the time it happened...
Thinking back to 2000 and watching the election unfold at the time and have it become a STOLEN moment in US history, I was really torn apart by my founding fathers and this obscene electoral system that could not deliver an elected president but instead a 'one time only' 'special circumstances' Supreme Court ruled decision of a 'winner'.
I thought I would get over it. Then four years later I was more aghast and appalled at the President but then he DID get elected. Now I see why all that 'had to happen'.
Without the horrid performance of George Bush and his failed policies for 8 years driving our country to the brink of total collapse helping lead people to making a more informed, 'different' choice this election cycle. This would not be Barack standing as the President Elect if any of the previous 8 years had a different outcome, I can guarantee this. Sometimes change has to be forced - and I mean a change in attitude on race in this case, not forcing presidents out of office here (although that would have been nice to see as well).
May God/The Universal Energy/Light/All that IS - protect our President Elect. May he live up to my hopes and dreams of what he will do for this great country. And in the least, the rest of the world has an improved sense of what America is - finally a real example of democracy when just 40 years ago we tore down someone who dreamed that one day there might be an African American President - promise land indeed. Thank you Dr. King for showing us that we could rise up and over come this last stanchion of abhorrent behavior left in this country.
I know it isn't a CURE ALL for our racial divide, but it certainly will help the healing process. I know President Obama won't be able to control the economy well, but he can affect it - for better or worse. May we land on the former side and not the later.
Many of my 'republican' friends and family are 'angry' and indeed there are already calls for impeachment. Fine - but know that the country just elected this man by a LANDSLIDE victory - the most for a Democrat since 1964. If you aren't up on your facts, you might not know that it takes at least 6% of the popular vote to be considered a 'landslide'. That means more people think you are wrong than think you are right. You can think this was a vote against George Bush but it was McCain who could not win the people over to his side.
Let's table this whole thing for 2 years - we can meet again and see how things are then. If Barack has not done his best at unifying the country - and stabilizing our economy and providing real growth for education and health care in America, I will join you in voting him out come 2012. Unless of course your answer is an Alaskan Governor, then you are on your own, and good luck with *that one*. (I say while jabbing my thumb over at Sarah P. sitting on a stool)
I thought I would get over it. Then four years later I was more aghast and appalled at the President but then he DID get elected. Now I see why all that 'had to happen'.
Without the horrid performance of George Bush and his failed policies for 8 years driving our country to the brink of total collapse helping lead people to making a more informed, 'different' choice this election cycle. This would not be Barack standing as the President Elect if any of the previous 8 years had a different outcome, I can guarantee this. Sometimes change has to be forced - and I mean a change in attitude on race in this case, not forcing presidents out of office here (although that would have been nice to see as well).
May God/The Universal Energy/Light/All that IS - protect our President Elect. May he live up to my hopes and dreams of what he will do for this great country. And in the least, the rest of the world has an improved sense of what America is - finally a real example of democracy when just 40 years ago we tore down someone who dreamed that one day there might be an African American President - promise land indeed. Thank you Dr. King for showing us that we could rise up and over come this last stanchion of abhorrent behavior left in this country.
I know it isn't a CURE ALL for our racial divide, but it certainly will help the healing process. I know President Obama won't be able to control the economy well, but he can affect it - for better or worse. May we land on the former side and not the later.
Many of my 'republican' friends and family are 'angry' and indeed there are already calls for impeachment. Fine - but know that the country just elected this man by a LANDSLIDE victory - the most for a Democrat since 1964. If you aren't up on your facts, you might not know that it takes at least 6% of the popular vote to be considered a 'landslide'. That means more people think you are wrong than think you are right. You can think this was a vote against George Bush but it was McCain who could not win the people over to his side.
Let's table this whole thing for 2 years - we can meet again and see how things are then. If Barack has not done his best at unifying the country - and stabilizing our economy and providing real growth for education and health care in America, I will join you in voting him out come 2012. Unless of course your answer is an Alaskan Governor, then you are on your own, and good luck with *that one*. (I say while jabbing my thumb over at Sarah P. sitting on a stool)
Relief from the election news you are bombarded with..
As I am in Europe right now, I am suffering from a lack of coverage on the election. For you however, I bring this blog entry from someone else:
http://humorland.wordmess.net/20081025/what-the-real-crisis-is-like/
Just scroll slowly down - and THIS is what inflation looks like in a hard hit place like Zimbabwe.
http://humorland.wordmess.net/20081025/what-the-real-crisis-is-like/
Just scroll slowly down - and THIS is what inflation looks like in a hard hit place like Zimbabwe.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Number of times...
McCain looked like Barty Crouch, Jr with his lizard tongue breathing gasp he took every 90 seconds he spoke: 47
McCain seemed lost in thought on how to get out a false dig at Obama: 11
McCain spoke of 'Joe the Plumber': 21 (Obama, 4)
McCain has won a presidential debate in 2008: 0 (zlich, nada, zip, cero, none)
Yeah, not getting truly political - but thought it was funny that two months ago (or 7 weeks, whenever S. Palin was announced and I shortly compared her to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Pottery only younger, it took 5 weeks for the national press to pick this vibe up) - Why, then, has no one pointed out the McCain/Harry Potter character match of Barty Crouch, Jr? so here I do my duty...
In case you are wondering, Obama's Harry Potter character: Harry Potter himself. At first you think 'what is all this hullaballoo about this guy'? Then you watch, pay attention and notice he is brave, strong of character and someone who is leading, regardless of what everyone else thinks. It took 5 books for Harry Potter to impress me, its taken Obama two years.
G-O-B-A-M-A!
PS - Bob Schieffer, best moderator BY FAR in these debates. He'd be Albus Dumbledore... :-P
McCain seemed lost in thought on how to get out a false dig at Obama: 11McCain spoke of 'Joe the Plumber': 21 (Obama, 4)
McCain has won a presidential debate in 2008: 0 (zlich, nada, zip, cero, none)
Yeah, not getting truly political - but thought it was funny that two months ago (or 7 weeks, whenever S. Palin was announced and I shortly compared her to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Pottery only younger, it took 5 weeks for the national press to pick this vibe up) - Why, then, has no one pointed out the McCain/Harry Potter character match of Barty Crouch, Jr? so here I do my duty...
In case you are wondering, Obama's Harry Potter character: Harry Potter himself. At first you think 'what is all this hullaballoo about this guy'? Then you watch, pay attention and notice he is brave, strong of character and someone who is leading, regardless of what everyone else thinks. It took 5 books for Harry Potter to impress me, its taken Obama two years.
G-O-B-A-M-A!
PS - Bob Schieffer, best moderator BY FAR in these debates. He'd be Albus Dumbledore... :-P
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Fun, just not on a moving bus
So for the past 30 mins I took this 'quiz' here and I gotta say its more fun than you'd think.
The best I could do was a 7.6 but that was on a moving bus. How well can you eyeball things? I am guessing my dad will win if he takes the time.
The best I could do was a 7.6 but that was on a moving bus. How well can you eyeball things? I am guessing my dad will win if he takes the time.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
I haven't taken a better picture yet
but clearly *I* am doing my patriotic duty and shopping to prop up this economy.
Oh, was I suppose to buy an American car?!? Not a single one showed up on my list, can you guess why? (Hint: quality hasn't been job one in decades)
I really wasn't going to do this - never have I wanted to own a Porsche. Then I drove this one - and while a top speed of 200mph doesn't help me, going 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds sure does! This thing goes from 40 to 60 in less than ONE second. ONE! Now that is passing power. Oh yeah, it also has a back seat (two actually), sure people don't fit in there but the dogs do.
Plus, its AWD - and if you take a turn, or pass someone while punching the gas, you need all wheels driving. Man is this a blast - I highly recommend this for anyone suffering from any kind of blues/blahs/mid-life whatevers/addiction, you name it. Truly an engineering feat.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
No wonder you folks don't want to engage...
According to a recent study - ideology trumps *facts* when it comes right down to it. And I will take it further to say that many of you don't even know what your ideology *IS* but cling to some idea of the self-applied label when pushed to 'think'...
(skip the ad to see your results if you go there)
Anyway, I hate the labels we are all stuck with these days and propose that no one set of labels fully describe anyone well enough but we sure are comfortable throwing them around, aren't we? Sure, I am a liberal that believes in Choice, (some) gun control and social programs; I also have some conservatism and libertarianism in that I believe in not passing/deferring our national debt on to the future Americans and keeping Corporate America afloat does not make sense to both say 'regulation restricts a free market' and 'help us with $700BILLION as the free market is hurting' by deregulation (thanks again Bush, your presidency will keep on giving for decades to come).
Think Bush isn't the one to blame for this current $700B debacle? Check out what the White House press release from 2004 has to say on it. If you don't think his deregulation of the mortgage market isn't to blame, you should vote for him again in 2008!
Of course we could just trust Henry Paulson with the $700B and ZERO OVERSIGHT, after all he did spend 30 years in and running Goldman Sachs Group Inc. What was I hearing about that company recently...? Oh yeah - our govt. agreed to BAIL THEM OUT with some cash. Perhaps Paulson will pay back some of his TAX EXEMPTED $500MILLION in stock he was 'forced to sell' when taking the President's offered Post 1.5 years ago. Yup - tax free, 100% of it.
McCain't gonna happen...
(skip the ad to see your results if you go there)
Anyway, I hate the labels we are all stuck with these days and propose that no one set of labels fully describe anyone well enough but we sure are comfortable throwing them around, aren't we? Sure, I am a liberal that believes in Choice, (some) gun control and social programs; I also have some conservatism and libertarianism in that I believe in not passing/deferring our national debt on to the future Americans and keeping Corporate America afloat does not make sense to both say 'regulation restricts a free market' and 'help us with $700BILLION as the free market is hurting' by deregulation (thanks again Bush, your presidency will keep on giving for decades to come).
Think Bush isn't the one to blame for this current $700B debacle? Check out what the White House press release from 2004 has to say on it. If you don't think his deregulation of the mortgage market isn't to blame, you should vote for him again in 2008!
Of course we could just trust Henry Paulson with the $700B and ZERO OVERSIGHT, after all he did spend 30 years in and running Goldman Sachs Group Inc. What was I hearing about that company recently...? Oh yeah - our govt. agreed to BAIL THEM OUT with some cash. Perhaps Paulson will pay back some of his TAX EXEMPTED $500MILLION in stock he was 'forced to sell' when taking the President's offered Post 1.5 years ago. Yup - tax free, 100% of it.
McCain't gonna happen...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
I'm a Dad!
Jill and I celebrate our adoption of each other on 9/12. She is talking to her grand parent's in this shot. Adult adoption requires both people to commit to each other and not just Parent to child. The good news is I avoided the diaper change period and *she* will most likely change mine in the distant future ;-)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sunday, September 07, 2008
If it wasn't so funny, I'd cry...
So my friends at the Daily Show cut this together - watch it and learn people, Watch it and learn.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Some Olympic fever in the form of ....
DATA.
From my previous posts (here and here) on the beauty of data - I submit to you this map - which is cool in that the layout of the graph data is the continental positioning of each country and the size of the sphere is the overall number of medals won. Its a relative representation - so the largest circle is the largest winner of medals. Watch the timeline run through and pay attention to the German area of the map - neat to see through time what has happened. Hover the mouse over to get the actual count and breakdown of the medals.
Clearly there is far less emphasis on Olympic training today (see 2004) in Germany than 8 years and further back. Or at least that is what I see in this map - what do you see? (don't worry, rhetorical question as based on my last post only my sister let me know how she felt about the post per my request).
From my previous posts (here and here) on the beauty of data - I submit to you this map - which is cool in that the layout of the graph data is the continental positioning of each country and the size of the sphere is the overall number of medals won. Its a relative representation - so the largest circle is the largest winner of medals. Watch the timeline run through and pay attention to the German area of the map - neat to see through time what has happened. Hover the mouse over to get the actual count and breakdown of the medals.
Clearly there is far less emphasis on Olympic training today (see 2004) in Germany than 8 years and further back. Or at least that is what I see in this map - what do you see? (don't worry, rhetorical question as based on my last post only my sister let me know how she felt about the post per my request).
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Not sure how I feel about this but then again....
Came across this nice little gem today thanks to Google News: Washington Post - "Police turn to secret weapon". The article covers the usual Orwellian theme behind it but wraps it up in things we all want 'fixed' in our neighborhood. I don't want rapists or murders running around my neighborhood freely causing havoc.
But I also don't want Johnny Law deciding when and against whom to use this technique against, either. On the one hand it appeals to the geek in me - using technology to catch criminals. On the other hand (the liberal left hand?) I don't want any government deciding it should 'illegally track' potential criminals. On the other hand, I pay taxes (lots of them) and I want more police in my very neighborhood, which my neighborhood apparently cannot afford.
Damn.
What do *you* think about this? Read the article and then drop me a note.
But I also don't want Johnny Law deciding when and against whom to use this technique against, either. On the one hand it appeals to the geek in me - using technology to catch criminals. On the other hand (the liberal left hand?) I don't want any government deciding it should 'illegally track' potential criminals. On the other hand, I pay taxes (lots of them) and I want more police in my very neighborhood, which my neighborhood apparently cannot afford.
Damn.
What do *you* think about this? Read the article and then drop me a note.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
DAD - watch with the lights on...
Not exactly sure just how 'ignorant' you have to be but it actually looks like something I would do. How long do you think the snake thought about what its choices are watching this dude walk along side it?
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Zurich, how very German of you
The Swiss are a lot like the Germans (go figure) - but by that I mean they seem angry and far from friendly but if you approach them first, it turns out they are super happy and very friendly.
Checking out today, they called my room to ask 'what time they might expect me to need a check out'? Funny, I called down at 10am to ask for a 1pm late check out. 1pm? That is fine, jah. Thank you. click.
I hung up - this would normally make me mad, I mean after all I am allowed 4pm late check outs with the status I have with this hotel chain... But not today, today I figure they are just a little out of sorts downstairs and the person I spoke to at 10am didn't let anyone know.
Ok, so they have been feeding me these things called, I kid you not, 'Speckli' - tiny little vanilla/almond flavored Swiss versions of a Madeline Cake/Cookie. They are soft and bread like but a touch sweet - very much like cake indeed. In a convenient travel size.
So its 1pm - and true to my word I am standing at the counter. It seems like just yesterday that I was standing at this very counter asking for dinner directions and the man I was speaking to quickly fired off 'that iz not allowed!' at his co-worker.
Seems she was letting a couple stand slightly behind the counter to use the computer terminal as the free internet computer in the lobby was not working.
She said something to him, he said something back - it was all rapid fire.
Then he turns to me without breaking stride and says 'jah, here is vere you want to go!' in the most friendly of voices.
Oh wait, that was yesterday. So each time I come to the counter there is this formality but also a feeling like I am interrupting. Very German to me. Its this 'I am being efficient, look at my efficiency and now what, now you interrupted me and I must do my job but now I will not be as efficient' ...How may I help you, sir?' bit.
Anyway, checking out I ask where can I buy some of these Sprecklis you have me addicted to. NOT IN ZURICH! was the reply - perhaps not quite so sharply but perhaps it was, very hard to tell. These Germ...Swiss aren't so friendly.
Then they handed me a bag of them - no questions asked, no money exchanged. Friendly indeed. And that is Switzerland in a nutshell, think Germany but with fewer people and more laid back but not too laid back as not to be efficient...
If I ever doubted my heritage was German, that is long gone. Seems not to friendly but if you take the first steps....want to be efficient at almost all costs (almost) and will give you a bag of Spreckli just cause you said you liked them.
--------A little about dinner and we are out of here --------------
Restaurant Zeughauskeller! Why does everything that is spelled like this come out of my head as an excited shout that starts slow and ends 'up and to the right' with emotion?
Anyway, I ordered: Aelplermagronen (Alpine Macaroni - vegetarian) a specialty from the heart of Switzerland, with onions, potato cubes, served in a cream sauce with a portion of apple chunks with cinnamon (traditional)
It was excellent. I just didn't feel like meat, even though, as the menu says, "Sausages are our favorites". The restaurant is located on the Paradeplatz stop of nearly every light rail line in Zurich. Bread in Switzerland is also remarkable and at this lovely place, it costs 1.50chf per piece (they serve it in a basket and you tell them how much you had, like Italy and the table wine). Nice and crunchy while also chewy - well worth the small price.
A couple other interesting pictures and then off to Dooblin...
Checking out today, they called my room to ask 'what time they might expect me to need a check out'? Funny, I called down at 10am to ask for a 1pm late check out. 1pm? That is fine, jah. Thank you. click.
I hung up - this would normally make me mad, I mean after all I am allowed 4pm late check outs with the status I have with this hotel chain... But not today, today I figure they are just a little out of sorts downstairs and the person I spoke to at 10am didn't let anyone know.
Ok, so they have been feeding me these things called, I kid you not, 'Speckli' - tiny little vanilla/almond flavored Swiss versions of a Madeline Cake/Cookie. They are soft and bread like but a touch sweet - very much like cake indeed. In a convenient travel size.
So its 1pm - and true to my word I am standing at the counter. It seems like just yesterday that I was standing at this very counter asking for dinner directions and the man I was speaking to quickly fired off 'that iz not allowed!' at his co-worker.
Seems she was letting a couple stand slightly behind the counter to use the computer terminal as the free internet computer in the lobby was not working.
She said something to him, he said something back - it was all rapid fire.
Then he turns to me without breaking stride and says 'jah, here is vere you want to go!' in the most friendly of voices.
Oh wait, that was yesterday. So each time I come to the counter there is this formality but also a feeling like I am interrupting. Very German to me. Its this 'I am being efficient, look at my efficiency and now what, now you interrupted me and I must do my job but now I will not be as efficient' ...How may I help you, sir?' bit.
Anyway, checking out I ask where can I buy some of these Sprecklis you have me addicted to. NOT IN ZURICH! was the reply - perhaps not quite so sharply but perhaps it was, very hard to tell. These Germ...Swiss aren't so friendly.
Then they handed me a bag of them - no questions asked, no money exchanged. Friendly indeed. And that is Switzerland in a nutshell, think Germany but with fewer people and more laid back but not too laid back as not to be efficient...
If I ever doubted my heritage was German, that is long gone. Seems not to friendly but if you take the first steps....want to be efficient at almost all costs (almost) and will give you a bag of Spreckli just cause you said you liked them.
--------A little about dinner and we are out of here --------------
Restaurant Zeughauskeller! Why does everything that is spelled like this come out of my head as an excited shout that starts slow and ends 'up and to the right' with emotion?Anyway, I ordered: Aelplermagronen (Alpine Macaroni - vegetarian) a specialty from the heart of Switzerland, with onions, potato cubes, served in a cream sauce with a portion of apple chunks with cinnamon (traditional)
It was excellent. I just didn't feel like meat, even though, as the menu says, "Sausages are our favorites". The restaurant is located on the Paradeplatz stop of nearly every light rail line in Zurich. Bread in Switzerland is also remarkable and at this lovely place, it costs 1.50chf per piece (they serve it in a basket and you tell them how much you had, like Italy and the table wine). Nice and crunchy while also chewy - well worth the small price.
A couple other interesting pictures and then off to Dooblin...
Friday, July 25, 2008
Zurich, for the heck of it
Actually its work related but so far its far better than Geneva, by a long shot. Got all weekend so if you know of something I should go see or do, send me email.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Last meal - I sure hope they finished before she sunk
The Titanic - surely one of the most tragic travel accidents in history, one because it was man versus nature from the beginning ("The unsinkable ship"?!?, C'mon they were just begging for Mother Nature to take a shot) - or at least the human kind bravado where luxury and engineering were set to conquer, and two - and most importantly, because over 1500 people died that night.
Well, turns out they ate well:
Here's to hoping we all met our demise not in cattle class (third class on the RMS Titanic) but in First class after enjoying a fine meal.
Well, turns out they ate well:
Here's to hoping we all met our demise not in cattle class (third class on the RMS Titanic) but in First class after enjoying a fine meal.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Bush~ism, I'd laugh it he wasn't so laughable that it makes me sad
Let's make sure that there is certainty during uncertain times in our economy.
--George W. Bush Washington, DC 06/02/2008
The one thing I AM certain of is the future of uncertainty with regards to our economy. Thanks, W for the legacy that will keep on giving/
The news used to clean his lines up they wouldn't publish his direct quotes - like the time he said "There is an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me --- you can't get fooled again."
When he said this I had heard it on the radio live and was floored. Then I check the news to get it right so I could make fun of it like a proper patriot and all I could find (at the time) was 'President says 'won't get fooled' by enemy'. There were variations on it but I guess it was 2002 and it wasn't yet time to point out (again) what a poor speaker and idiot he is. But the good news is that on the White House web page you can find all those gems directly.
Of course to save time, I just recommend you get the calendar version.
--George W. Bush Washington, DC 06/02/2008
The one thing I AM certain of is the future of uncertainty with regards to our economy. Thanks, W for the legacy that will keep on giving/
The news used to clean his lines up they wouldn't publish his direct quotes - like the time he said "There is an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me --- you can't get fooled again."
When he said this I had heard it on the radio live and was floored. Then I check the news to get it right so I could make fun of it like a proper patriot and all I could find (at the time) was 'President says 'won't get fooled' by enemy'. There were variations on it but I guess it was 2002 and it wasn't yet time to point out (again) what a poor speaker and idiot he is. But the good news is that on the White House web page you can find all those gems directly.
Of course to save time, I just recommend you get the calendar version.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Discourse with an old friend
(for my few regular readers, this post is a response to my comments left in response to this blog of a friend of mine I have known for 20 years)
Welcome to public discourse old friend. A reminder this should be a blogscussion(c, Raleigh Mann) on The Energy Problem but it seems to be deteriorating into a political debate on which side is 'worse' on this subject. As I am not a scientist, I don't claim to be correct but I will say your original blog was chock full of 'hippy' and 'liberal' this and that - as if 'they' got the WORLD into this problem. Yes, $4 gas is expensive for American's - boo hoo.
So if this is a political debate on which party is to blame for high gas prices we can go that route or if this is a debate on what to do about the Peak Oil problem, we can cover that too but lets not try to mix the two issues as they are separate and not equal. One is the same ol, same ol and the other is science meets economics. I am game just tell me what your original post meant to cover and I will readdress my counters.
Counter Point #1: Quoting from a published article on Huffington Post, by the author David Goldstein. Not quoting Huffington, who appears to smoke the same pipe that most blathering talking heads like Bill O'Really seem to puff on...
On your point (on my point) on Ethanol not being an alternative fuel. Yes, it is correctly identified as an alternative fuel. NO, it is NOT answer for solving the fuel 'crisis'. My point was (and is) that growing ethanol from any food crop COSTS MORE ENERGY than it replaces as an additive.
Not only that but it has helped raise the price (I will let you pick which 'web site' this comes from so you don't accuse me of citing a left wing news source) of food crops (older citation just in case you think this is 'news') since there are fewer of them being grown. Your point on ethanol seemed only to say that the price is the same. It seems as if you are talking about price and I am talking about how we are in a fuel crisis. I wouldn't say that the price 'being the same' (as normal gas) is equal to 'deride ethanol as less than advantageous alternative to petrol'. (citing your own words in case you think I am twisting them as leftist rebels would do).
And this is the crux of our 'blogscussion' (c, 2008 Raleigh Mann) is that you don't seem to want to understand that there are bigger problems than drilling or not drilling off the coast or in Alaska. You see, currently India and China have an appetite for oil that far out weighs our ability to pay for it (hence the production of oil has PEAKED while the demand continues to grow). You think drilling is the answer but I don't think you understand the question. The question is 'What is America going to do to get off the oil teet?' and thinking that drilling will even put a dent in that I got bad news for you:
For the economics of the issue - China's demand for light-sweet crude is up 25% per year over year. At this growth rate, paying $250/barrel for China won't be a problem as the Chinese have $1,000,000,000,000.00 American dollars to pay for it with (the real reason Bush HAD to go to the Olympic opening ceremony, if they ever want their money back for our debt we sold them, we are so S-C-R-E-W-E-D). Add to that mix India's increasing need for oil and now you have a major supply/demand issue on your hands. (Yes, yes, your original post was seemingly on supply being able to be offset by this off-shore drilling but I just covered that fallacy above.)
On counter-counter point #3 - hybrids are great if you don't already own a car. Go get in line to buy one. Check, we seem to almost agree here. But then you throw out this liberal media bias shit that is really pandering to the core of the republican spin zone that drives me bananas. If liberals owned media then I would have seen coverage of the articles of impeachment of Bush filed recently. It wasn't even covered on my hippie media news from San Francisco. Can you believe that? /ok, really end sarcasm/
The GIGANTIC CORPORATIONS that own the news outlets aren't forthright and keeping you and me in the know. Hell, if the liberals owned the media Bush wouldn't have had the Supreme Court rule to make him president. The news would have covered the database mis-use for culling the Florida vote registration, the insiders at the Supreme Court on the Bush payroll and all the other "Oh SNAP" moments during the recount days. Liberals owning the media - Hollywood - sure thing, 'THE MEDIA', no.
General Electric owns NBC (GE is the 11th largest corporation in the world) , Westinghouse owns CBS and the entire list of media owners is downright scary. Geesh, if the liberals have this much cash, then why is the world seemingly run by the republicans and their cohorts? I am sure each party takes turns taking care of their own but this would be me pulling this discussion on energy shortages back into party politics. Please get your facts straight when talking about liberal media. Last I heard, Air America (radio, not the CIA drug running operation during Vietnam) wasn't doing so well and that was about the extent of liberal owned media.
Next point: I know who BP is, I was there when we filmed a commercial for them about 12 years ago to introduce them to American's watching their boob tubes. I know they generate electricity - IN OTHER COUNTRIES. What about Exxon-Mobil? This country's largest oil producer doesn't generate electricity or participate in the production of electricity outside of making diesel. Not only do they not do much besides count major cash, oh yeah - they also donate to the right. FAR RIGHT:
This is about as fair and balanced as Fix news. (No, I am not saying they should equally distribute their donations to political campaigns just showing you how stacked the deck is...)
Ok, back to power generation - I don't care what you get in Virginia, (btw, I thought you were back in Alabama?) for the United States of America - we get about EXACTLY 50% of ALL ELECTRICITY IN THE US from....COAL.
I suppose our liberal government facts are wrong but for now, I will accept your apology on accusing my facts as being 'fake' somehow in your counter-point. Yes, we import oil - we also export it for some reason (I actually know the reason, do you?). But the number one country we get oil from is Canada.
I suppose we will invade as soon as some evidence of WMDs can be manufactured and subsequently forgotten about. Oh wait, maybe we could say Osama bin Laden is hiding there - remember that name??! Its been a while since he was spoken of - last I recall, he was the dude responsible for the Tower collapse and not anyone or anything from Iraq. (here I go making this a political debate which it is clearly not)
Second to last point - correct, I have never lived over seas. I have, however, fully used my govt issued passport (pre-chip thank you very much) and after visiting over 30 countries and five continents I have seen the love of the small car. I would love one of the numerous little hatchbacks I get to rent every where I go, but alas on American streets and highways (paid for by our tiny little Federal Tax on Gasoline which doesn't quite cover the tab) they simply aren't the safest thing to drive.
And as a liberally leftist bent hippie in California, I drive two vehicles that get a combined average of 15.5 mpg. I do this because I like to drive and drive fast in my 350+hp V8 2 seater and my 550+hp 6.3 liter V8 for the 5 passengers to feel what its like to go from 0 - 60 in 4.3 seconds. It sometimes makes my dogs throw up but then I get the car cleaned and all is well. Worse, I chose to pay something around $2500 gas guzzler tax on both vehicles. I don't mind personally. I am paying a luxury tax that I can afford or I would choose another car to buy. And smaller cars are sold (and sometimes even made) in this country.
Now back to the gasoline tax that evil Al Gore tie-breaking voted to increase. This tax covers the Federal Highways and several state highways, pays for 'public transportation' (assuming this mostly means AmTrak??!) and up until 1996, 6.8 cents of this tax actually went to pay off some of our deficit. But the final straw is this is an EXCISE TAX (you accidentally called this a general tax). Its a tax on the producers of the gasoline who pay it directly for each gallon of gas they produce. The fact that they then pass it on to the consumer is the real crux of the matter. I am sure you did the research but I included it here for others to read.
I like how your retort goes back to not being a republican puppet that thinks for yourself (bravo sir, bravo) but then there ya go - throwing around labels again as if that were enough of an argument unto itself.
Side note:
I don't know which news source you follow (guessing its Fix News all the time in your house) and I am sure you read things like the Standard perhaps when the Sacramento Union and its all of 15,000 FREE COPIES they manage to distribute gets old in your household - but not all Democrats ARE liberals (very very few are and none of them would admit it thanks to Ronnie making that somehow a cursed word) and certainly not all of them are knee-jerk. Some of them are just jerks - like the many republicans you admire. Further, not all liberals are tree huggers and most tree huggers are not democrats, most of them are green party members.
Last point: I guess I am missing the hypocrisy of incentivizing companies to reduce their carbon footprint and make money doing it at the same time by selling their 'carbon credits' to other companies not reducing theirs. It helps force some change which is better than none. And point of fact, many of the companies who were going to have to reinvest capital due to a normal 'cycle' of such things are finding that its cheaper to reduce their carbon output with the latest technolgies and selling the credits (which do expire btw) is just icing on the cake.
So if you think the Republicants who have been in power for these past 7 years (with a recent congress of almost TWO years of democratic leadership btw, not four as you stated) and have denied global warming, denied peak oil and have fostered oil speculation (although it was Clinton who allowed Enron to start the unregulated oil speculation market that still exists today), provided tax cuts to big oil and then slashed funding for alternative energy - best of luck. It will take much luck for that plan to work. Deriding the Dems for being tree hugging do nothings but somehow characterizing the Republicans as doing nothing 'by placing it to far down the priority list' seems hypocritical to me.
The upshot - I don't believe the Dems will do much better - the American public doesn't seem to understand the current issues on why we pay $4/gal for gas. Its still cheap, its been subsidized for years and now that the dollar is worthless we are paying more for a product that is in global short supply. Drilling off-shore won't help end our need for foreign oil plain and simple - it will buy us less than three more years. Hell, even it were 5 or 10 more years (it isn't, hope is not a strategy and prayer is not a plan) the GLOBAL ECONOMY would still be faltering as its all based on crude oil that will never again be produced enough to meet the current and worse, rising demand.
Unless you mean we can get oil out of the hair of all those old white men republicants that still grease their hair back... (there I go again...)
PS - In case you weren't around the last time this debate was started, it was when we needed to replace whale oil with something else and that turned out to be crude oil from the ground. Texas tea. Black gold. Well, these whales are in short supply so aggressively determining our forward path is the best option, not delaying the innevidable.
Welcome to public discourse old friend. A reminder this should be a blogscussion(c, Raleigh Mann) on The Energy Problem but it seems to be deteriorating into a political debate on which side is 'worse' on this subject. As I am not a scientist, I don't claim to be correct but I will say your original blog was chock full of 'hippy' and 'liberal' this and that - as if 'they' got the WORLD into this problem. Yes, $4 gas is expensive for American's - boo hoo.
So if this is a political debate on which party is to blame for high gas prices we can go that route or if this is a debate on what to do about the Peak Oil problem, we can cover that too but lets not try to mix the two issues as they are separate and not equal. One is the same ol, same ol and the other is science meets economics. I am game just tell me what your original post meant to cover and I will readdress my counters.
Counter Point #1: Quoting from a published article on Huffington Post, by the author David Goldstein. Not quoting Huffington, who appears to smoke the same pipe that most blathering talking heads like Bill O'Really seem to puff on...
On your point (on my point) on Ethanol not being an alternative fuel. Yes, it is correctly identified as an alternative fuel. NO, it is NOT answer for solving the fuel 'crisis'. My point was (and is) that growing ethanol from any food crop COSTS MORE ENERGY than it replaces as an additive.
Not only that but it has helped raise the price (I will let you pick which 'web site' this comes from so you don't accuse me of citing a left wing news source) of food crops (older citation just in case you think this is 'news') since there are fewer of them being grown. Your point on ethanol seemed only to say that the price is the same. It seems as if you are talking about price and I am talking about how we are in a fuel crisis. I wouldn't say that the price 'being the same' (as normal gas) is equal to 'deride ethanol as less than advantageous alternative to petrol'. (citing your own words in case you think I am twisting them as leftist rebels would do).
And this is the crux of our 'blogscussion' (c, 2008 Raleigh Mann) is that you don't seem to want to understand that there are bigger problems than drilling or not drilling off the coast or in Alaska. You see, currently India and China have an appetite for oil that far out weighs our ability to pay for it (hence the production of oil has PEAKED while the demand continues to grow). You think drilling is the answer but I don't think you understand the question. The question is 'What is America going to do to get off the oil teet?' and thinking that drilling will even put a dent in that I got bad news for you:
So according to most people, *IF* we are lucky enough to tap that 19 billion barrels, we get 2.5 years of more oil. Hoo-RAY, lets keep doing everything we have been plus this new drilling and go home. But everyone knows we can't and that even limiting the damage to our coastal waterways with the most careful drilling we end up with an ugly coastline for this 2.5 years of continued oil use. (I have seen the commercial and 'they' (big oil) have giant bendy straws for getting this stuff out environmentally friendly. I am sure big oil wouldn't lie to us on this matter. /end sarcasm/In a 2006 report, the Interior Department offered a wide range of estimates as to how much oil could be recovered offshore. While it estimated that the Outer Continental Shelf could hold as much as 115.4 billion barrels, it also noted that recoverable reserves off U.S. coasts in now-banned areas probably contain only about 19 billion barrels.
The U.S. consumes about 20.6 million barrels a day, about 60 percent from foreign sources.
If 19 billion barrels are available in as-yet-untapped U.S. coastal areas, opening them all to drilling — an unlikely prospect if individual states are allowed to impose their own restrictions, as Bush and McCain recommend — would provide about 920 days, or 2.5 years, of current American consumption.
For the economics of the issue - China's demand for light-sweet crude is up 25% per year over year. At this growth rate, paying $250/barrel for China won't be a problem as the Chinese have $1,000,000,000,000.00 American dollars to pay for it with (the real reason Bush HAD to go to the Olympic opening ceremony, if they ever want their money back for our debt we sold them, we are so S-C-R-E-W-E-D). Add to that mix India's increasing need for oil and now you have a major supply/demand issue on your hands. (Yes, yes, your original post was seemingly on supply being able to be offset by this off-shore drilling but I just covered that fallacy above.)
On counter-counter point #3 - hybrids are great if you don't already own a car. Go get in line to buy one. Check, we seem to almost agree here. But then you throw out this liberal media bias shit that is really pandering to the core of the republican spin zone that drives me bananas. If liberals owned media then I would have seen coverage of the articles of impeachment of Bush filed recently. It wasn't even covered on my hippie media news from San Francisco. Can you believe that? /ok, really end sarcasm/
The GIGANTIC CORPORATIONS that own the news outlets aren't forthright and keeping you and me in the know. Hell, if the liberals owned the media Bush wouldn't have had the Supreme Court rule to make him president. The news would have covered the database mis-use for culling the Florida vote registration, the insiders at the Supreme Court on the Bush payroll and all the other "Oh SNAP" moments during the recount days. Liberals owning the media - Hollywood - sure thing, 'THE MEDIA', no.
General Electric owns NBC (GE is the 11th largest corporation in the world) , Westinghouse owns CBS and the entire list of media owners is downright scary. Geesh, if the liberals have this much cash, then why is the world seemingly run by the republicans and their cohorts? I am sure each party takes turns taking care of their own but this would be me pulling this discussion on energy shortages back into party politics. Please get your facts straight when talking about liberal media. Last I heard, Air America (radio, not the CIA drug running operation during Vietnam) wasn't doing so well and that was about the extent of liberal owned media.
Next point: I know who BP is, I was there when we filmed a commercial for them about 12 years ago to introduce them to American's watching their boob tubes. I know they generate electricity - IN OTHER COUNTRIES. What about Exxon-Mobil? This country's largest oil producer doesn't generate electricity or participate in the production of electricity outside of making diesel. Not only do they not do much besides count major cash, oh yeah - they also donate to the right. FAR RIGHT:
Political contributions
The ExxonMobil political action committee (PAC) contributed $698,450 to federal candidates in the 05/06 election cycle - 7% to Democrats and 93% to Republicans.
This is about as fair and balanced as Fix news. (No, I am not saying they should equally distribute their donations to political campaigns just showing you how stacked the deck is...)
Ok, back to power generation - I don't care what you get in Virginia, (btw, I thought you were back in Alabama?) for the United States of America - we get about EXACTLY 50% of ALL ELECTRICITY IN THE US from....COAL.
I suppose our liberal government facts are wrong but for now, I will accept your apology on accusing my facts as being 'fake' somehow in your counter-point. Yes, we import oil - we also export it for some reason (I actually know the reason, do you?). But the number one country we get oil from is Canada.
I suppose we will invade as soon as some evidence of WMDs can be manufactured and subsequently forgotten about. Oh wait, maybe we could say Osama bin Laden is hiding there - remember that name??! Its been a while since he was spoken of - last I recall, he was the dude responsible for the Tower collapse and not anyone or anything from Iraq. (here I go making this a political debate which it is clearly not)
Second to last point - correct, I have never lived over seas. I have, however, fully used my govt issued passport (pre-chip thank you very much) and after visiting over 30 countries and five continents I have seen the love of the small car. I would love one of the numerous little hatchbacks I get to rent every where I go, but alas on American streets and highways (paid for by our tiny little Federal Tax on Gasoline which doesn't quite cover the tab) they simply aren't the safest thing to drive.
And as a liberally leftist bent hippie in California, I drive two vehicles that get a combined average of 15.5 mpg. I do this because I like to drive and drive fast in my 350+hp V8 2 seater and my 550+hp 6.3 liter V8 for the 5 passengers to feel what its like to go from 0 - 60 in 4.3 seconds. It sometimes makes my dogs throw up but then I get the car cleaned and all is well. Worse, I chose to pay something around $2500 gas guzzler tax on both vehicles. I don't mind personally. I am paying a luxury tax that I can afford or I would choose another car to buy. And smaller cars are sold (and sometimes even made) in this country.
Now back to the gasoline tax that evil Al Gore tie-breaking voted to increase. This tax covers the Federal Highways and several state highways, pays for 'public transportation' (assuming this mostly means AmTrak??!) and up until 1996, 6.8 cents of this tax actually went to pay off some of our deficit. But the final straw is this is an EXCISE TAX (you accidentally called this a general tax). Its a tax on the producers of the gasoline who pay it directly for each gallon of gas they produce. The fact that they then pass it on to the consumer is the real crux of the matter. I am sure you did the research but I included it here for others to read.
I like how your retort goes back to not being a republican puppet that thinks for yourself (bravo sir, bravo) but then there ya go - throwing around labels again as if that were enough of an argument unto itself.
Side note:
I don't know which news source you follow (guessing its Fix News all the time in your house) and I am sure you read things like the Standard perhaps when the Sacramento Union and its all of 15,000 FREE COPIES they manage to distribute gets old in your household - but not all Democrats ARE liberals (very very few are and none of them would admit it thanks to Ronnie making that somehow a cursed word) and certainly not all of them are knee-jerk. Some of them are just jerks - like the many republicans you admire. Further, not all liberals are tree huggers and most tree huggers are not democrats, most of them are green party members.
Last point: I guess I am missing the hypocrisy of incentivizing companies to reduce their carbon footprint and make money doing it at the same time by selling their 'carbon credits' to other companies not reducing theirs. It helps force some change which is better than none. And point of fact, many of the companies who were going to have to reinvest capital due to a normal 'cycle' of such things are finding that its cheaper to reduce their carbon output with the latest technolgies and selling the credits (which do expire btw) is just icing on the cake.
So if you think the Republicants who have been in power for these past 7 years (with a recent congress of almost TWO years of democratic leadership btw, not four as you stated) and have denied global warming, denied peak oil and have fostered oil speculation (although it was Clinton who allowed Enron to start the unregulated oil speculation market that still exists today), provided tax cuts to big oil and then slashed funding for alternative energy - best of luck. It will take much luck for that plan to work. Deriding the Dems for being tree hugging do nothings but somehow characterizing the Republicans as doing nothing 'by placing it to far down the priority list' seems hypocritical to me.
The upshot - I don't believe the Dems will do much better - the American public doesn't seem to understand the current issues on why we pay $4/gal for gas. Its still cheap, its been subsidized for years and now that the dollar is worthless we are paying more for a product that is in global short supply. Drilling off-shore won't help end our need for foreign oil plain and simple - it will buy us less than three more years. Hell, even it were 5 or 10 more years (it isn't, hope is not a strategy and prayer is not a plan) the GLOBAL ECONOMY would still be faltering as its all based on crude oil that will never again be produced enough to meet the current and worse, rising demand.
Unless you mean we can get oil out of the hair of all those old white men republicants that still grease their hair back... (there I go again...)
PS - In case you weren't around the last time this debate was started, it was when we needed to replace whale oil with something else and that turned out to be crude oil from the ground. Texas tea. Black gold. Well, these whales are in short supply so aggressively determining our forward path is the best option, not delaying the innevidable.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Diner's Drive-ins and Dives: TV you want to eat
Maddie 'found' this show for us and if you aren't aware of the Food Network, this is the reason to find it on your cable listing: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives covers the places you'd like to know exist when you visit a new area.
What you need to do is this: have your tivo find the show and record it - go ahead, I'll wait...
Ok, now go to this list of places Guy has gone to (the host of the show) and find one near you to visit yourself. If you are unsure, send me email and I will tell you what places I have seen on the show and would give my eye tooth (side note: do people still say that? Eye-tooth? I dunno, tooth, teeth, one of them sounds right to me) to go to myself and then go there FOR ME.
Tell them Maddie sent you though, for she is the responsible party in all this...aw heck, who am I kidding, she is the 'designated responsible party' for the royal 'WE' - period.
What you need to do is this: have your tivo find the show and record it - go ahead, I'll wait...
Ok, now go to this list of places Guy has gone to (the host of the show) and find one near you to visit yourself. If you are unsure, send me email and I will tell you what places I have seen on the show and would give my eye tooth (side note: do people still say that? Eye-tooth? I dunno, tooth, teeth, one of them sounds right to me) to go to myself and then go there FOR ME.
Tell them Maddie sent you though, for she is the responsible party in all this...aw heck, who am I kidding, she is the 'designated responsible party' for the royal 'WE' - period.
Friday, June 27, 2008
On a lighter note...the Beauty of Design
I could blog about how America hasn't put up a building that has wowed the world since the Chrysler Building in 1930 (imho).
But this blog isn't about how America's economy is so in the crapper we can't afford to build such things. Nope, this is about a designer, Dr. David Fisher, who is building not one but TWO such buildings on the globe.
These are pictures that show that EACH FLOOR independently rotates at the owners command! Imagine being able to catch the sunrise and sunset in the same room. Further, this building generates more electricity than it needs, so it feeds INTO the local grid instead of pulls from it.
Not only that, but these building will go up about 50% faster than traditional buildings due to the 'prefabrication' technique.
Which is how most new homes should be built if you want them to be greener (less materials in the build process), more solidly built and much more energy efficient.
Now, about America's cement problem...ok ok, I promised. :-P
But this blog isn't about how America's economy is so in the crapper we can't afford to build such things. Nope, this is about a designer, Dr. David Fisher, who is building not one but TWO such buildings on the globe.
These are pictures that show that EACH FLOOR independently rotates at the owners command! Imagine being able to catch the sunrise and sunset in the same room. Further, this building generates more electricity than it needs, so it feeds INTO the local grid instead of pulls from it.
Not only that, but these building will go up about 50% faster than traditional buildings due to the 'prefabrication' technique.
Which is how most new homes should be built if you want them to be greener (less materials in the build process), more solidly built and much more energy efficient.
Now, about America's cement problem...ok ok, I promised. :-P
More proof we (would be) are doomed- not a good time to be a vegetarian
I have blogged about this in the past here and here but food people, its getting expensive. Think gas going up 25% in a year is bad, check this out.
According to the Cattle Network (don't ask), here is the list of wholesale prices for food - the big deal is looking at the final column, Percent Change.
If you were planning on going on that new lentil-lemon diet you can forget it.
The only good news, and proof that eating meat might cost you high cholesterol but not high cash - BACON is actually down for the year over year price!
Of course this is likely due to factory farming I keep ranting about and all I can say is 'thank gawd I don't live near one of these hog farms and the millions of pounds of poop they create'. But c'mon - its BACON!
According to the Cattle Network (don't ask), here is the list of wholesale prices for food - the big deal is looking at the final column, Percent Change.
Field Crops Unit 2007 2008 % Change
Barley Bu $3.12 $4.76 52.56%
Beans, Dry Cwt $3.08 $5.06 64.29%
Corn Bu $3.49 $5.12 46.70%
Cotton Lb $0.44 $0.61 37.95%
Flaxseed Bu $7.08 $16.60 134.46%
Hay Ton $138.00 $166.00 20.29%
Lentils Cwt $13.20 $32.70 147.73%
Oats Bu $2.49 $3.46 38.96%
If you were planning on going on that new lentil-lemon diet you can forget it.
The only good news, and proof that eating meat might cost you high cholesterol but not high cash - BACON is actually down for the year over year price!
Bacon, Sliced Lb 3.651 3.637 -0.38%
Of course this is likely due to factory farming I keep ranting about and all I can say is 'thank gawd I don't live near one of these hog farms and the millions of pounds of poop they create'. But c'mon - its BACON!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Update to my last ranting post:
Apparently I was accurate in my portrayal of the speculation market for raising the price of oil and gas. Here, some analysts say it would be cut in half. Worse, here the Kind of Saudi Arabia concurs with this as well...
C'mon people - raise up a ruckus and get to your congressperson to act now.
C'mon people - raise up a ruckus and get to your congressperson to act now.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Waiting for Maddie in the recovery room...
She is just coming out of a shoulder surgery and I am here waiting in a nice waiting room for her.
I appreciate all the well wishers who have sent their love and support for this to go well.
On a lighter side, I have some misc items for you to do some homework on:
1) Oil has gone from $13.80/barrel since Jan, 2000 to its present day $148+ (give or take $15 any given week). Why? Sure it is a scarce property that has most certainly peaked but there are better, more concrete reasons for this sudden surge in pricing. Wouldn't ya know it - Enron is to blame.
2) China - I have blogged in the past about the building boom there - even posted photos that look like they are from some Sci-Fi future movie, but here is something you should see. The upshot is that China has grown in the past two years the entire equivalency of the consumption in the US. In fact, its over 50% of all cement, slightly more than ALL OTHER COUNTRIES COMBINED. Scary stuff.
3) Energy Conservation - remember in the 70's when this was all the rage (Thanks President Carter)? Well, why aren't we talking about conservation again? I mean, LED Light Bulbs are awesome (and soooo much better than CFLs), but every time you replace a functioning thing with a newer, shinier, more efficient one - you are actually COSTING YOURSELF more carbon debt. Much less costing the planet.
Going Green is sexy but really people, use your noggin'. If you are throwing away something already made and working, then you have to carry the left over carbon cost of the item over into the new one. And for fun, calculate your own carbon footprint here, but realize this is only the tip of the melting iceberg for your actual footprint. The more you consume, the worse it gets.
4) Speaking of green, I was going to finish of item 3 with the carbon cost of food, but that got me to thinking about the TV show '30 Days' with Morgan Spurlock. If you aren't watching it, you aren't expanding your horizons. Not every show is perfect but the concept is this - 'walk a mile in someone else's shoes'. Last episode was about a hunter living with a family of Animal Rights Activists. The end of the show the guy was still going to hunt but was going to do what he could to let folks know of the animal cruelty in what it takes to put food on your plate. You should watch the show.
I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND the book 'Fast Food Nation' by Eric Schlosser. I learned that America did have a street rail system in almost every major city, it was bought out and ripped up by greedy corporate America (they were fined $1 for the dirty deed). It might make you want to avoid Fast Food for a while but that's not the point - you should know how your food is grown/raised and 'manufactured'. You can bury your head in the sand but lets evolve folks.
Sure I like the idea of $1.99/lb beef but somehow to me it makes sense to buy that free range, antibiotic free, zero hormones stuff for $5.99/lb. When I eat it I know that the cows got to walk on their own accord, weren't kept in pens with forced feeding tubes and a mixture of crap so they can digest the 'food' (that they would never naturally eat on their own and there for cannot digest it normally).
Factoid: Factory Dairy Farming - where 90% of US milk comes from (my number, unverified)- keeps the cows artificially impregnated - and if/when they do give birth, the calfs are chained into a pen that they cannot even stand up in and turned into veal (extra tender considering these calfs never even moved). Many of the milking cows die from the sheer shock of being hookedup to this machine all the time milking them. It should come of no surprise why I drink Soy Milk (really soy juice considering). No other animal in the world drinks another animals mother's milk.
I still eat cheese and other dairy stuff, lots of it in fact - I just don't like the idea of milk. What do you think I am, crazy? I am not against farming, its the corpro-idustrial-farming so you can eat cheaply (and poorly, btw) that is killing you. ((2) In 1970, there were approximately 900,000 farms in the United States; by 1997, there were only 139,000.))
Lastly, what started this in the first place. The stupid FISA act is up again (approved in the house today 293-129) and very few of our congresspeople are smart enough to fight it. Even Barack and his constitutional law degree is only marginally opposed and will likely amend and then approve this bill. Tsk tsk.
Worse to me still though is how very few of you even know what this bill is and why its so bad. I suppose taking your civil liberties forgranted is a foregone conclusion in the States these days. But let me tell you - they have been roughshod these past 7 years and don't appear to be getting any relief. I suppose until they are gone for good, you will keep your head down 'like a good patriot'.
Now go eat some chicken and drink a glass of milk and everything will be ok as soon as we start drilling off the coastline to 'reduce the high cost of oil'.
I appreciate all the well wishers who have sent their love and support for this to go well.
On a lighter side, I have some misc items for you to do some homework on:
1) Oil has gone from $13.80/barrel since Jan, 2000 to its present day $148+ (give or take $15 any given week). Why? Sure it is a scarce property that has most certainly peaked but there are better, more concrete reasons for this sudden surge in pricing. Wouldn't ya know it - Enron is to blame.
2) China - I have blogged in the past about the building boom there - even posted photos that look like they are from some Sci-Fi future movie, but here is something you should see. The upshot is that China has grown in the past two years the entire equivalency of the consumption in the US. In fact, its over 50% of all cement, slightly more than ALL OTHER COUNTRIES COMBINED. Scary stuff.
3) Energy Conservation - remember in the 70's when this was all the rage (Thanks President Carter)? Well, why aren't we talking about conservation again? I mean, LED Light Bulbs are awesome (and soooo much better than CFLs), but every time you replace a functioning thing with a newer, shinier, more efficient one - you are actually COSTING YOURSELF more carbon debt. Much less costing the planet.
Going Green is sexy but really people, use your noggin'. If you are throwing away something already made and working, then you have to carry the left over carbon cost of the item over into the new one. And for fun, calculate your own carbon footprint here, but realize this is only the tip of the melting iceberg for your actual footprint. The more you consume, the worse it gets.
4) Speaking of green, I was going to finish of item 3 with the carbon cost of food, but that got me to thinking about the TV show '30 Days' with Morgan Spurlock. If you aren't watching it, you aren't expanding your horizons. Not every show is perfect but the concept is this - 'walk a mile in someone else's shoes'. Last episode was about a hunter living with a family of Animal Rights Activists. The end of the show the guy was still going to hunt but was going to do what he could to let folks know of the animal cruelty in what it takes to put food on your plate. You should watch the show.
I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND the book 'Fast Food Nation' by Eric Schlosser. I learned that America did have a street rail system in almost every major city, it was bought out and ripped up by greedy corporate America (they were fined $1 for the dirty deed). It might make you want to avoid Fast Food for a while but that's not the point - you should know how your food is grown/raised and 'manufactured'. You can bury your head in the sand but lets evolve folks.
Sure I like the idea of $1.99/lb beef but somehow to me it makes sense to buy that free range, antibiotic free, zero hormones stuff for $5.99/lb. When I eat it I know that the cows got to walk on their own accord, weren't kept in pens with forced feeding tubes and a mixture of crap so they can digest the 'food' (that they would never naturally eat on their own and there for cannot digest it normally).
Factoid: Factory Dairy Farming - where 90% of US milk comes from (my number, unverified)- keeps the cows artificially impregnated - and if/when they do give birth, the calfs are chained into a pen that they cannot even stand up in and turned into veal (extra tender considering these calfs never even moved). Many of the milking cows die from the sheer shock of being hookedup to this machine all the time milking them. It should come of no surprise why I drink Soy Milk (really soy juice considering). No other animal in the world drinks another animals mother's milk.
I still eat cheese and other dairy stuff, lots of it in fact - I just don't like the idea of milk. What do you think I am, crazy? I am not against farming, its the corpro-idustrial-farming so you can eat cheaply (and poorly, btw) that is killing you. ((2) In 1970, there were approximately 900,000 farms in the United States; by 1997, there were only 139,000.))
Lastly, what started this in the first place. The stupid FISA act is up again (approved in the house today 293-129) and very few of our congresspeople are smart enough to fight it. Even Barack and his constitutional law degree is only marginally opposed and will likely amend and then approve this bill. Tsk tsk.
Worse to me still though is how very few of you even know what this bill is and why its so bad. I suppose taking your civil liberties forgranted is a foregone conclusion in the States these days. But let me tell you - they have been roughshod these past 7 years and don't appear to be getting any relief. I suppose until they are gone for good, you will keep your head down 'like a good patriot'
Now go eat some chicken and drink a glass of milk and everything will be ok as soon as we start drilling off the coastline to 'reduce the high cost of oil'.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Moroc, the rest of the story (part 2) - Great Dinner
Medina (old city), Rabat Morocco - Excellent Dinner in an alleywaySo a Medina is where all the 'old houses' or original city was. Typically walled in for protection and with lots of twisty alleyways. This was the only marker that indicated I was near the place for dinner. A 5 minute walk following this guy really started to get my Deja Vu feeling in high gear. Sure there were no bicycle cabs and whistle calls but still, where the heck was this place and who was this guy leading me there?
All I can tell you for sure is that easily 50% of the people we passed greeted this man formally (assalamu alaikum) and they weren't saying it to anyone else. Don't know for sure who this respected guy was but he did deliver me safely to the restaurant.
Outside wasn't much to look at - inside it was a lush, sensual dining place that normally (although sadly not this night) has Belly Dancing. I figured it would be touristy but locals where eating there. While it was my Hollywood version of a Moroccan place to eat - the food was FAB-U-LOUS. So just when you think Moroc has little to offer, it drops a big old bomb shell and you have to retract (somewhat) and at least give props when there due.
1-Charlie enjoys the atmosphere
2-An interior door - amazing craftsmanship
3-Some mood lighting, dramatic
So if you ever find yourself in Rabat and are hungry (and you will be hungry trust me) - please get into a cab and have them take you to this place. You won't be sorry - not one bit. And with all the rose petals everywhere and the great food, you won't even think for a minute about the smell of...
(yes, its the tea I wrote of in the first post from Day 1 in Rabat...)
All I can tell you for sure is that easily 50% of the people we passed greeted this man formally (assalamu alaikum) and they weren't saying it to anyone else. Don't know for sure who this respected guy was but he did deliver me safely to the restaurant.
Outside wasn't much to look at - inside it was a lush, sensual dining place that normally (although sadly not this night) has Belly Dancing. I figured it would be touristy but locals where eating there. While it was my Hollywood version of a Moroccan place to eat - the food was FAB-U-LOUS. So just when you think Moroc has little to offer, it drops a big old bomb shell and you have to retract (somewhat) and at least give props when there due.
1-Charlie enjoys the atmosphere 2-An interior door - amazing craftsmanship
3-Some mood lighting, dramatic
So if you ever find yourself in Rabat and are hungry (and you will be hungry trust me) - please get into a cab and have them take you to this place. You won't be sorry - not one bit. And with all the rose petals everywhere and the great food, you won't even think for a minute about the smell of...
(yes, its the tea I wrote of in the first post from Day 1 in Rabat...)
Moroc, the rest of the story (part 1)
So I was probably not all that fair to Rabat (and this post to Casablanca) in my initial post. However, there was *very little* charm to either of these cities. Many of the Moroc Nationale told me over and over that Marrakesh was the place to go to see a charming city.
But that was too far and Casablanca was less than an hour away via a $4 (equivalent) train ticket purchase. As the train pulled into Casa, there was a man leaning against the wall relieving himself. For a moment I wish I had taken a picture, then thought to myself - that wouldn't be very lovely a blog pic. (It's sad when you only want to commemorate bloggable items and are constantly asking yourself 'is this bloggable'?)
Got off the train at the center of town in Casa and PEE-YEW did it stink. It stunk of hundreds of years of human and previous camel pee mixed with rotting fish from the wharf. Yup - welcome to a city that could have been the middle eastern equal to Trenton, NJ. The smell never left so it wasn't as if everyone in town used the same wall for a urinal that the man I saw was using. A city of 13+million people and at least that many run down cars as petite cabs.
After taking a few pics of the third largest (or as the locals say 'World's largest Mosque, number three') Mosque in the world. It was big and these pictures don't do it justice.
Casablanca Mosque, Moroc, R. Mann (c)
Well, after walking around and having a so-so breakfast of 'traditional Moroccan pastries' (awful sweet) and more walking around, I had the pleasure of 'sharing' a cab (common in Moroc) and being dumped no where near where I wanted to be. Lovely. More of that smell later and some trashy tourist shopping places to avoid, I found another cab at the local Hyatt. This was the traditional nicer Mercedes 190D that is used en mass in this country to signify a higher level of cab-ness.
This guy took me everywhere - all without a meter running. How nice of him. He waited patiently at each spot I wanted to stop and take pictures or look around. He greased the palm of some local Police agent so I could 'tour' this palace:
The policeman waved at the taxi driver as we pulled out - all very kind of this town. Then the cabbie said I should see ALL of Casa (what the locals call it when speaking to tourists, dropping the blanca and not calling it by its real, longer, harder name).
This meant taking me to the local meat market where I could see this (among other things I couldn't bear to take pictures of):
Yup, that's a camel head. 'Our viagra' he tells me. MAN WHAT CHARM I am getting exposed to... Then the cabbie dropped me at my final stop (below) and I ask 'What do I owe you?' for all his generosity and time driving. He says "Its up to you, whatever you'd like." so I pull out a 200monopoly money bill and some odd ends. He says "More please, 500." WTF? I paid a cab in Rabat for a trip and waiting all of 200. Oh well. Funk you very much Casa.
Anyway, after going by 'Rick's Cafe' (from the movie, opened about 5 years ago) where I got a picture of the waiters looking over a bill. To my 'lens' it could look sinister so I snapped this quick photo of them:
Rick's Cafe - Casablanca, Moroc - R. Mann (c) 2008
After paying *WAY* too much for a mug ($26 after I *again* mess up the exchange rate in my head) it was definitely time to escape....er, head back to Rabat. Grab the train (they ran every 30 mins and were efficient I gotta point out) and viola, back 'home' for one more night.
And just as I was about to write of Morocco, I had one of the best dinners of my life. Certainly in the top 15 anyway. And it was classic from the start. Cabbie drops me off at the outskirts of town, waves to a man who then asks if I am there for dinner. I say yes and before anything else could be said, we are walking down the inner city alleyways.
Now those of you who have been reading this blog might say this sounds familiar. Going to a secretive dinner location, being taken there by a local, alleyways to be maneuvered... (See previous post for the story in Beijing). Read more of the story after this short (recharge the laptop battery) break...
But that was too far and Casablanca was less than an hour away via a $4 (equivalent) train ticket purchase. As the train pulled into Casa, there was a man leaning against the wall relieving himself. For a moment I wish I had taken a picture, then thought to myself - that wouldn't be very lovely a blog pic. (It's sad when you only want to commemorate bloggable items and are constantly asking yourself 'is this bloggable'?)
Got off the train at the center of town in Casa and PEE-YEW did it stink. It stunk of hundreds of years of human and previous camel pee mixed with rotting fish from the wharf. Yup - welcome to a city that could have been the middle eastern equal to Trenton, NJ. The smell never left so it wasn't as if everyone in town used the same wall for a urinal that the man I saw was using. A city of 13+million people and at least that many run down cars as petite cabs.
After taking a few pics of the third largest (or as the locals say 'World's largest Mosque, number three') Mosque in the world. It was big and these pictures don't do it justice.
Casablanca Mosque, Moroc, R. Mann (c)Well, after walking around and having a so-so breakfast of 'traditional Moroccan pastries' (awful sweet) and more walking around, I had the pleasure of 'sharing' a cab (common in Moroc) and being dumped no where near where I wanted to be. Lovely. More of that smell later and some trashy tourist shopping places to avoid, I found another cab at the local Hyatt. This was the traditional nicer Mercedes 190D that is used en mass in this country to signify a higher level of cab-ness.
This guy took me everywhere - all without a meter running. How nice of him. He waited patiently at each spot I wanted to stop and take pictures or look around. He greased the palm of some local Police agent so I could 'tour' this palace:
The policeman waved at the taxi driver as we pulled out - all very kind of this town. Then the cabbie said I should see ALL of Casa (what the locals call it when speaking to tourists, dropping the blanca and not calling it by its real, longer, harder name).
This meant taking me to the local meat market where I could see this (among other things I couldn't bear to take pictures of):
Yup, that's a camel head. 'Our viagra' he tells me. MAN WHAT CHARM I am getting exposed to... Then the cabbie dropped me at my final stop (below) and I ask 'What do I owe you?' for all his generosity and time driving. He says "Its up to you, whatever you'd like." so I pull out a 200monopoly money bill and some odd ends. He says "More please, 500." WTF? I paid a cab in Rabat for a trip and waiting all of 200. Oh well. Funk you very much Casa.
Anyway, after going by 'Rick's Cafe' (from the movie, opened about 5 years ago) where I got a picture of the waiters looking over a bill. To my 'lens' it could look sinister so I snapped this quick photo of them:
Rick's Cafe - Casablanca, Moroc - R. Mann (c) 2008After paying *WAY* too much for a mug ($26 after I *again* mess up the exchange rate in my head) it was definitely time to escape....er, head back to Rabat. Grab the train (they ran every 30 mins and were efficient I gotta point out) and viola, back 'home' for one more night.
And just as I was about to write of Morocco, I had one of the best dinners of my life. Certainly in the top 15 anyway. And it was classic from the start. Cabbie drops me off at the outskirts of town, waves to a man who then asks if I am there for dinner. I say yes and before anything else could be said, we are walking down the inner city alleyways.
Now those of you who have been reading this blog might say this sounds familiar. Going to a secretive dinner location, being taken there by a local, alleyways to be maneuvered... (See previous post for the story in Beijing). Read more of the story after this short (recharge the laptop battery) break...
Monday, June 02, 2008
*Ahem* - Greetings from Morocco
So far it's not that bad. Sure the cabbie reminded me of the guy in Casablanca (the movie, not the town, although I am only 20 miles away) that was gonna slip a scorpion in someones bed for some dinar (maybe it was the Hitchcock movie with Jimmy Stewart where he is on holiday and gets wrapped up in a murder/spy thriller...I can never remember the name and I am writing this 'offline' so no access to imdb.com - but you can look that one up. Or if you are Maddie reading this, you are saying the name loudly and frustrated I can't hear you...
Some of my impressions thus far
There is a constant smell of incense in the air although I cannot see where it is wafting in from. Sadly, the 'credit card' machine is down and I cannot check into the hotel yet so I am hanging out in the lobby. The tile motif (pictured above) is in all these alcoves and the hotel is serving free 'tea' to all of us waiting. The tea looks like something someone expelled and smells a bit like they ate some (A LOT) mint to get rid of the potent asparagus they had for lunch. Oddly enough - it taste better than that but those bubbles on the warm side won't go away and there is some sediment in the bottom of the cup.
Yup, not in Kansas anymore - or Paris for that matter. It might not surprise you to learn I have changed my late Friday afternoon flight out into a VERY EARLY Friday morning flight. From the airport here is what I know so far: there are palm trees everywhere, people are just milling about walking everywhere (even through what looked like private fields and yards), hitchhiking is apparently not illegal (when was the last time you saw a hitcher?) as I saw several folks doing this and the way to show someone you are in a hurry is to ride on their bumper for a while, and I mean ON THEIR BUMPER. I thought we were taking paint samples but no, we were just letting the slower folks in front of us know we no longer wanted to be behind them.
It seems desert-y except there are small bushes and trees of a few sorts and a pleasant wind is constantly about (at least so far). I recently realized the 'deserty' part is the fact that there is no grass to speak off anywhere. So while there are bushes and small trees, its the lack of grass that makes a desert, no? (Apparently there is grass but not the kind you walk on but turn into hashish. Haven't seen that yet thankfully)
This definitely feels like a foreign place and I feel like I stick out like an American arse in my shorts (I didn't get the 'everyone here wears cheaply made thin suits' memo) and my 'english' speaking tongue. Man have I got to learn French. Se la vie, I am here and going to enjoy this conference for all its worth. (will let you know what it was worth in a few days)
Then I am going to go back to my croissants and Musee D'Orsay just as fast as Air Chance...er France can get me there.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Paris in the Summertime...
I wont say how many shots I took to get this 'effect' but suffice it to say I was lucky to be alone.
Today I landed in Paris. Not yet hot, not yet full of tourists (but starting to show up) and the receptionist, who upon asking me 'Poly vou françois?', replied to my 'no' with "I am sorry."
Now, that could be considered rude but really its just being Parisien. Truth be told, I am sorry, too. Something to work on right after re-honing (and improving greatly) my Spanish.
After checking into Le Meridien Etoile and taking a power nap and then jet lag cleansing shower, I took Charlie and walked around a bit. Turns out Charlie wanted to see some of my favorite places and he was hungry, so I took him to 'Cafe Deux Magot'. This is my favorite area in Paris and one where I would like to get Maddie to agree to purchasing a studio flat in. Man oh man is this be best location:
View Larger Map
Its the arty district, right next door to the Latin Quarter for the music; EASY walking distance to both the Louvre and the Superior Musee D'Orsay. Lots of funky cafes (including my favorite) and now loads of high brow shopping: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany - all on the same 'corner'. (It's a five way intersection - there is a load of 'corners').
So after a Croque Madame, we (Charlie and I) wandered over to get a few shots of the Arch de Triumph. Paris knows how to light up a night time sky. I will spare you the hundred other shots I took that are almost identical to each other. No really I will.
Expect some updates as tomorrow I head to Morocco and then return to Paris for more fun. Check the Picassa page for more pics of Charlie and Paris.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
(Yet another) reason the EU is different
Not that I care to indulge in the recreational or otherwise habit - but I like it when things are called what they are known to be. Keeping things simple sometimes just works best...
Which if we did the same here in the US we would call the chain store of 7-11: "Snacks you want because you are stoned and other stuff you are too lazy to shop for elsewhere where it would be waaaaaay cheaper, open 24hours a day - 7 days a week".
I guess the sign for that would be pricey and hard to install.
(picture taken in Ireland in Oct, 2005 in a market, Dundrum Town Centre - just outside of Dublin, with my cel phone
Monday, April 14, 2008
And the US to the rescue...(sort of)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7347697.stm
Not looking good out there people. Are you getting this news anywhere on *your* news broadcasts?
Not looking good out there people. Are you getting this news anywhere on *your* news broadcasts?
US President George W Bush has ordered the release of $200m in emergency aid to alleviate food shortages in Africa and other parts of the world.
The White House said the money would be used to meet unanticipated needs for food aid.
Rising food prices have sparked recent riots in several countries, including Haiti, the Philippines and Egypt.
The World Bank has said a doubling of food prices in three years could push 100m more people into poverty.
"This additional food aid will address the impact of rising commodity prices on US emergency food aid programmes and be used to meet unanticipated food aid needs in Africa and elsewhere," the White House said in a statement.
The announcement followed a call by the World Bank's Development Committee and the International Monetary Fund for rising food prices to be addressed at the highest political level.
Food riot deaths
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that the rapidly escalating crisis called for short term emergency measures to prevent people in many parts of the world from starving.
The UN's World Food Programme has launched an emergency appeal for $500m, saying the money is needed by 1 May to avoid food rationing.
Food wars, coming to a country near you - CNN story, see my earlier post
Riots, instability spread as food prices skyrocket
Riots from Haiti to Bangladesh to Egypt over the soaring costs of basic foods have brought the issue to a boiling point and catapulted it to the forefront of the world's attention, the head of an agency focused on global development said Monday.
"This is the world's big story," said Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute.
"The finance ministers were in shock, almost in panic this weekend," he said on CNN's "American Morning," in a reference to top economic officials who gathered in Washington. "There are riots all over the world in the poor countries ... and, of course, our own poor are feeling it in the United States."
World Bank President Robert Zoellick has said the surging costs could mean "seven lost years" in the fight against worldwide poverty.
"While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day," Zoellick said late last week in a speech opening meetings with finance ministers.
"The international community must fill the at least $500 million food gap identified by the U.N.'s World Food Programme to meet emergency needs," he said. "Governments should be able to come up with this assistance and come up with it now."
The World Bank announced a $10 million grant from the United States for Haiti to help the government assist poor families.
"In just two months," Zoellick said in his speech, "rice prices have skyrocketed to near historical levels, rising by around 75 percent globally and more in some markets, with more likely to come. In Bangladesh, a 2-kilogram bag of rice ... now consumes about half of the daily income of a poor family."
The price of wheat has jumped 120 percent in the past year, he said -- meaning that the price of a loaf of bread has more than doubled in places where the poor spend as much as 75 percent of their income on food.
"This is not just about meals forgone today or about increasing social unrest. This is about lost learning potential for children and adults in the future, stunted intellectual and physical growth," Zoellick said.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, also spoke at the joint IMF-World Bank spring meeting.
"If food prices go on as they are today, then the consequences on the population in a large set of countries ... will be terrible," he said.
He added that "disruptions may occur in the economic environment ... so that at the end of the day most governments, having done well during the last five or 10 years, will see what they have done totally destroyed, and their legitimacy facing the population destroyed also."
In Haiti, the prime minister was kicked out of office Saturday, and hospital beds are filled with wounded following riots sparked by food prices.
In Egypt, rioters have burned cars and destroyed windows of numerous buildings as police in riot gear have tried to quell protests.
Images from Bangladesh and Mozambique tell a similar story.
In the United States and other Western nations, more and more poor families are feeling the pinch. In recent days, presidential candidates have paid increasing attention to the cost of food, often citing it on the stump.
The issue is also fueling a rising debate over how much the rising prices can be blamed on ethanol production. The basic argument is that because ethanol comes from corn, the push to replace some traditional fuels with ethanol has created a new demand for corn that has thrown off world food prices.
Jean Ziegler, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, has called using food crops to create ethanol "a crime against humanity."
"We've been putting our food into the gas tank -- this corn-to-ethanol subsidy which our government is doing really makes little sense," said Columbia University's Sachs.
Former President Clinton, at a campaign stop for his wife in Pennsylvania over the weekend, said, "Corn is the single most inefficient way to produce ethanol because it uses a lot of energy and because it drives up the price of food."
Some environmental groups reject the focus on ethanol in examining food prices.
"The contrived food vs. fuel debate has reared its ugly head once again," the Renewable Fuels Association says on its Web site, adding that "numerous statistical analyses have demonstrated that the price of oil -- not corn prices or ethanol production -- has the greatest impact on consumer food prices because it is integral to virtually every phase of food production, from processing to packaging to transportation."
Analysts agree the cost of fuel is among the reasons for the skyrocketing prices.
Another major reason is rising demand, particularly in places in the midst of a population boom, such as China and India.
Also, said Sachs, "climate shocks" are damaging food supply in parts of the world. "You add it all together: Demand is soaring, supply has been cut back, food has been diverted into the gas tank. It's added up to a price explosion."
Riots from Haiti to Bangladesh to Egypt over the soaring costs of basic foods have brought the issue to a boiling point and catapulted it to the forefront of the world's attention, the head of an agency focused on global development said Monday.
"This is the world's big story," said Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute.
"The finance ministers were in shock, almost in panic this weekend," he said on CNN's "American Morning," in a reference to top economic officials who gathered in Washington. "There are riots all over the world in the poor countries ... and, of course, our own poor are feeling it in the United States."
World Bank President Robert Zoellick has said the surging costs could mean "seven lost years" in the fight against worldwide poverty.
"While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day," Zoellick said late last week in a speech opening meetings with finance ministers.
"The international community must fill the at least $500 million food gap identified by the U.N.'s World Food Programme to meet emergency needs," he said. "Governments should be able to come up with this assistance and come up with it now."
The World Bank announced a $10 million grant from the United States for Haiti to help the government assist poor families.
"In just two months," Zoellick said in his speech, "rice prices have skyrocketed to near historical levels, rising by around 75 percent globally and more in some markets, with more likely to come. In Bangladesh, a 2-kilogram bag of rice ... now consumes about half of the daily income of a poor family."
The price of wheat has jumped 120 percent in the past year, he said -- meaning that the price of a loaf of bread has more than doubled in places where the poor spend as much as 75 percent of their income on food.
"This is not just about meals forgone today or about increasing social unrest. This is about lost learning potential for children and adults in the future, stunted intellectual and physical growth," Zoellick said.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, also spoke at the joint IMF-World Bank spring meeting.
"If food prices go on as they are today, then the consequences on the population in a large set of countries ... will be terrible," he said.
He added that "disruptions may occur in the economic environment ... so that at the end of the day most governments, having done well during the last five or 10 years, will see what they have done totally destroyed, and their legitimacy facing the population destroyed also."
In Haiti, the prime minister was kicked out of office Saturday, and hospital beds are filled with wounded following riots sparked by food prices.
In Egypt, rioters have burned cars and destroyed windows of numerous buildings as police in riot gear have tried to quell protests.
Images from Bangladesh and Mozambique tell a similar story.
In the United States and other Western nations, more and more poor families are feeling the pinch. In recent days, presidential candidates have paid increasing attention to the cost of food, often citing it on the stump.
The issue is also fueling a rising debate over how much the rising prices can be blamed on ethanol production. The basic argument is that because ethanol comes from corn, the push to replace some traditional fuels with ethanol has created a new demand for corn that has thrown off world food prices.
Jean Ziegler, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, has called using food crops to create ethanol "a crime against humanity."
"We've been putting our food into the gas tank -- this corn-to-ethanol subsidy which our government is doing really makes little sense," said Columbia University's Sachs.
Former President Clinton, at a campaign stop for his wife in Pennsylvania over the weekend, said, "Corn is the single most inefficient way to produce ethanol because it uses a lot of energy and because it drives up the price of food."
Some environmental groups reject the focus on ethanol in examining food prices.
"The contrived food vs. fuel debate has reared its ugly head once again," the Renewable Fuels Association says on its Web site, adding that "numerous statistical analyses have demonstrated that the price of oil -- not corn prices or ethanol production -- has the greatest impact on consumer food prices because it is integral to virtually every phase of food production, from processing to packaging to transportation."
Analysts agree the cost of fuel is among the reasons for the skyrocketing prices.
Another major reason is rising demand, particularly in places in the midst of a population boom, such as China and India.
Also, said Sachs, "climate shocks" are damaging food supply in parts of the world. "You add it all together: Demand is soaring, supply has been cut back, food has been diverted into the gas tank. It's added up to a price explosion."
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Bienvenidos a Puerto Rico!
First sunset in San Juan, PR. Wow, what a beautiful coast line. You'd love it. We sure did. More pics and stories to come later on.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Kyoto - Land of many Temples
and here are a few of my favorite shots. For the rest of my Kyoto and Tokyo trip (I love how both these cities use the exact same letters to spell their names)
Oil Shortage? Sure, but the coming war will be over
RICE.
Several weeks ago I heard on NPR that rice had tripled in the past year on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Oddly enough, while the Chicago Merch Ex only 'trades' 2% of the world's rice, it sets the price world wide.
Go figure - what some trader on the floor in Chicago says a bag of rice is worth, tells China and India and the other Asian lands that grow the majority of this stuff - what they should be pricing their crops.
Now its gone up 30% in one month! ONE month! What does that mean for the world? Well apparently a bunch of potential rioting as the folks growing this stuff cannot then afford to EAT it themselves.
Now, call me crazy but with the advent of 'middle class' in both India and China - you have millions (yes, the population is over a billion but we aren't talk about the hundreds of millions in poverty), dozens of millions, hundreds of millions (?) of people eating three meals a day. Worse, they can now afford to not eat it all, throwing it out (gasp:wasting it) like never before.
The pressure this is putting on the worlds food supply will continue to mount. And what with a 'virus' running rampant in Cambodia or Vietnam killing or at least stifling further crop growth, its not looking good.
And don't eve get me started on the clean water shortage. Here's hoping Dean Kamen can fix this problem before it begins the riots.
Oh yeah, that's why the murder and bloodshed in Darfur is happening.
Now *YOU* know.
Several weeks ago I heard on NPR that rice had tripled in the past year on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Oddly enough, while the Chicago Merch Ex only 'trades' 2% of the world's rice, it sets the price world wide.
Go figure - what some trader on the floor in Chicago says a bag of rice is worth, tells China and India and the other Asian lands that grow the majority of this stuff - what they should be pricing their crops.
Now its gone up 30% in one month! ONE month! What does that mean for the world? Well apparently a bunch of potential rioting as the folks growing this stuff cannot then afford to EAT it themselves.
Now, call me crazy but with the advent of 'middle class' in both India and China - you have millions (yes, the population is over a billion but we aren't talk about the hundreds of millions in poverty), dozens of millions, hundreds of millions (?) of people eating three meals a day. Worse, they can now afford to not eat it all, throwing it out (gasp:wasting it) like never before.
The pressure this is putting on the worlds food supply will continue to mount. And what with a 'virus' running rampant in Cambodia or Vietnam killing or at least stifling further crop growth, its not looking good.
And don't eve get me started on the clean water shortage. Here's hoping Dean Kamen can fix this problem before it begins the riots.
Oh yeah, that's why the murder and bloodshed in Darfur is happening.
Now *YOU* know.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
...and GET *YOU*! Stuck in Singapore!
Sure it was only 4pm and my flight was at 11:45pm. But there is a lot to do at the Changi Airport (see previous post on my fav place to eat) so that is fine.
What follows is the 'transcript' if it were recorded by an evil-doer standing by:
Inside Terminal 2 of Changi Airport, mid-day, main character (me) approaches the check-in counter after curb side drop off. He walks in, reads sign that says check-in counter is #12. Pulls luggage to counter 12 from counter 2 where he was dropped off:
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT. (SQ is the airline code for Singapore Air and NRT is the airport code for Narita aka. Tokyo Airport)
Generic Airport Worker for SQ: Oh yeah, you need counter 4. Back that way. (Points back the direction the main character just walked)
Me: Great.
Main character politely turns around and heads right back to where he started. Standing at the counter 4, terminal 2. Biz class check-in.
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT.
Evil Counter Lady 1: 11 (something something) flight tonight?
Me: Yes
ECL 1: You need to go to Terminal 1.
Me: Ugh.
Main character lugs bags around this gigantic, clean but fairly empty airport. Working up a sweat, our man takes a tram, swings luggage around dozens of long hallways and corners and chugs up to counter number 2, terminal 1.
Me: checking in for 11:45 flight to Narita...
ECL2: Uh, huh, there is no early check in for that flight here.
Me: Say what?! (pretty sure that was what I said)
ECL2: And you need terminal 3.
Me:
Main character repeats moving luggage only in the continued direction ALL THE WAY around the airport to terminal 3. More sweat. Luggage getting larger and heavier by the meter. Main character makes way to counter for Biz Class check-in counter.
Me: Yeah, checking in for SQ Flight 5902 - NRT at 11:45
ECL3: You need terminal 1. Do you know where that is?
Me: WHAT?! Of course I know where that is, I was there and they sent me here. I have been to all three terminals already.
ECL3: Well, that is a code share flight for SQ and is run by ANA, so you need to check in there.
Me: But my United sheet says this is an SQ flight (pulls out sheet).
ECL3: SQ doesn't do four number flights, that is operated by All Nippon Air. Terminal 1.
Main character turns and says things that make nearby small children cry and little kittens around the world mew in pain. Somewhere a mother is actually embarrassed by a son.
Cursing his way back to Terminal 1, sweating now more than ever and spewing foulness in a 20' radius, our character says to no one in particular:
Me: I HATE THIS AIRPORT.
Nearby Singapore Policeman: I'm sorry - what was that?
Me: Uh, I said 'man, this airport has grown' since the last time I was here.
NSP: Yup, added a whole new terminal.
Me: I know, I have visited it - AND - all the other ones... (the sarcasm didn't get noticed)
NSP: Take care and have a good flight
Our main character, having just narrowly missed a caning the likes of which are reserved only for spitting, graffiti artist, gum chewers checks himself before he wrecks himself. Now having reached Terminal 1, counter 4 AGAIN pushing what must now look like a full freight train, or at least that is what it feels like we are sure.
Me: Hi. REMEMBER ME? (speaking through tightly pulled lips that arrange to a smile last seen in a Batman, on the Joker)
ECL1: You back again?
Me: YES - I'd like to check in for ANA flight 5902, 11:45 to NRT.
ECL1: ANA does not check in this early...
Me: But what about Business class?!?
ECL1: Oh, sure. (takes offered passport, scans it into the system and looks up, worried) Sir, you aren't on that flight.
Me: WHAT ....DO....YOU....MEAN... I am NOT on that flight?!
ECL1: I don't have you on this flight.
Me: (hands over evil United Itinerary) SEE? This flight right here. (Points to the flight leg he is attempting to check in on)
ECL1: Sir, can you step over to the Business check in lounge? I don't have you on this flight and there is nothing I can see here...
Me: Where is this lounge?
Evil Counter MAN1: Over there (he thumbs over his shoulder at the apparent lounge just behind the counter.
Me:French Sailors know> Fine.
Our character pulls luggage over to the business lounge and is directed to a (get this) smiling gate agent.
NiceGateAgent1: How may I help you?
Me: *terminals* *counters* *told to go...* (recalls potential caning and composes self) I am trying to get onto ANA flight 5902...
NGA1: Yes, of course. I can check you in - they don't have agents here now but let's see what I can do. (Takes passport, scans it into system and then looks up) Sir, I don't have you on that flight.
Me: Yes, so I have been told. I have my itinerary right here and as you can see, United says I am on this flight.
NGA1: Yes, but I cannot find you under any name (screen is visible and you can clearly see that even partial first, last and even middle names brings up nothing). Do you have a ticket number from previous flight?
Me: Yes, here is my first leg stub.
NGA1: (already on phone to ANA and confirms no Raleigh or Mann or Dav... or Ral...or Man...) Ah, that will help. (Punches some keys, screen shows entire ticket AND flight 5902 is listed)
Hmmm...Sir there are no seats available on that flight. United didn't push through the record correctly or something - I see its ticketed by ANA does not have a record of this seat request.
Me: Where the heck is United in this airport so I can go have a *chat* with them?
NGA1: Oh, they only have a single flight at 4:30am every day, so they aren't here.
Me: Wha...?
NGA1: I am on the phone with ANA, they could squeeze you on a flight...in coach.... it leaves at
Me: NO, I paid for Business and damned if United won't get me on a flight in Business with SQ.
NGA1: I have already checked and there are two flights that have available seating with SQ. One to NRT via Bangkok and one direct.
Me: DIRECT....please.
NGA1: Oh, I can't book it, United has to do this.
Me: (calling number on back of 1K card, gets universal tone indicating not a number that is reachable) Do you have a local number for United?
NGA1: I am already on the phone with their local reservations desk. (he turns to the phone call previously unoticed) Yes, I am calling from Thai Air for a Mr. Mann...yes, eticket number 555555555555555 (hollywoodized so no one can look up this actual ticket) no seats available on that flight....yes, they offered another flight in coach but Mr. Mann.... Yes, can you see about getting him on...Sure. Ahmed. And you are? Ok, fine. (hangs up) She is going to call back. Can you sit over there please? (points to no-mans-land seating where the crass and unclean go when they inadvertently walk into this lounge)
Me: What are they doing about this?
NGA1: I don't know for sure, she put me on hold a bunch but says that apparently the seat reservation didn't go through. She is going to call back. (smiles an attempting reassuring smile)
Me: Do you have a local number for United? Never mind. (sends sms for travel friend to send UA direct dial numbers)
Main character is now seated in the 'waiting area' of the check in lounge. A very loudly playing television is nearby, blasting the Ellen Degeneres Show while he is furiously dialing the Evil United 1K desk.
Me: Hello? Can you hear me? (main character covers other ear to block out the cooking segment where Ellen is cooking with an entire Italian family - some sort of fried mozzarella sandwich that looks quite tasty)
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Yes, how may I help you?
Me: Yes, I am trying to get on a flight that *supposedly* was ticketed by United but I am being told there is no reservation for me and NOW they don't have seats so I am stuck in Singapore...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, can I have your reservation number locator?
Me: MVBKVC (close enough), I have been to every counter here in Changi...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (cutting main character off) Sir, I see this its fine. What do you mean they don't see this ticket in their system?
Me: I don't know what it means but they cannot find me in their system and now there is no seating...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (again, cutting main character off) I see it right here.
Me: Well why can't I get a seat THEN?!
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, I don't know what to tell you...
Me: (my turn to cut her off) They...DO...NOT...HAVE...ME....IN...THEIR....SYSTEM
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well can't they find the record by the 16 digit ticket number 555555555555555?
Me: Yes, but I don't have a seat as the record never got pushed to them I am being told.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, someone is changing your record right now, they just deleted this leg...
Me: Yes, a very nice man from Thai AIR cares enough to try to help me and he called the Singapore United reservation desk who said they'd call back. Its been 30 mins and as far as I know I am stuck here in Singapore thanks to U-NITED.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well, someone is trying to do something...
Me: YES, SOMEONE! Not YOU, why does United hate me and want me to fly everyone else? I will be glad to fly my 110,000 miles with someone else this year if this is the lack of customer care I can expect from United. There isn't an office or agent at this airport, the number on my card doesn't work outside the country and as far as you care - someone somewhere might be helping me.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, would you like to speak to my supervisor?
Me: I just want to hear that you are sorry for my experience and now after 2.5 hours of trying to check in for a flight, that United it going to help me get to my next destination.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Hold for my supervisor
A long few minutes pass...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Sir, my supervisor says this wasn't united's fault but that perhaps our computer and ANA's computer didn't speak to each other and get this seat booked.
Me: You are blaming the computer when all I asked for was...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (performing yet another tactical cut off) Sir, we cannot compensate you for something that isn't our fault.
Me: I am not looking for compensation - I want you to put yourself in my shoes and as a representative of United tell me you are sorry for my experience and will make sure I can get to my next destination. That is all I want.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, my supervisor says this isn't our fault.
Me: THAT ISN'T THE CASE FROM WHERE I AM STUCK STANDING
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: I am sorry you having this issue....
Me: Finally, at last you are sorry about something. I will take that as an apology (it wasn't, it was now blaming me for having an issue) that is all I wanted.
(hangs up, says some French words for United)
NGA1: Sir, I have confirmed you are booked on SQ flight 683 to Narita at 11:40, gets in at 7am(ish).
Me: Thank you so much. You have been very helpful.
NGA1: (moving bag back off of scale and onto a trolly) Um, you need to check in at Terminal 3.
More kittens mew, more children cry.
Now if this were a hollywood screen play this would be where we 'end scene' and the audience would have laughed and laughed at our main character's simple plight. But this is real life...
(Cut to Terminal 3 where our main character thinks to himself how much easier the airport is to get around with a trolly pushing the luggage instead of lugging it behind on those little two wheels)
Enter the train where our Nearby Singapore Policeman is on the tram...*still*.
Me: Hi, still lovin' this airport! (sarcasm hopefully not well known yet to this policeman)
NSP: Yes, its nice.
Our character returns back to the same counter (the second one he visited earlier?)...
Me: Remember me?
EGA3: Yes, how you doing?
Me: I am here to check in on SQ 683 now.
Several nearby agents mention something about our character looking familiar.
Me: Just happy to have a seat at this point.
EGA3: Ok, all set. Here is your ticket, leaves out of - hrm, gate isn't assigned yet. Look for the assignment much, MUCH later. (like 5 hours from now)
Me: Will do. Can I get to terminal 2's mall from this terminal?
EGA3: Sure, just follow...
(dissolve to next scene - our man sitting at his favorite Noodle House in Changi Airport, previously blogged and mentioned in the very adjacent post to this one).
Me: Hey you have new menus.
Waitress: Yes, you want this? (points to new 'special fried rice supreme').
Me: NO. I am allergic to seafood. No seafood. I would like BBQ Pork fried rice.
Waitress: Vegetarian? No seafood...
Me: No, BBQ fried rice please
Waitress: Oh, seafood ok?
Me: No - no seafood. DEATLY allergic to shrimp, lobster - NO SEAFOOD.
Waitress: Ok, BBQ Pork fried rice
Me: And a tiger beer
Watiress: And a tiger
(montage of some background american rock replayed by Chinese elevator music group - sounds familiar but very hard to place which song)
Our main character pulls out the laptop to blog his encounter. Beer shows up. He writes some more. Some food arrives, some dipping sauces. He begins to eat a dim sum bite and blog in between bites. Fried rice shows up. It looks dry.
Our character takes a bite - too much saffron on top. Pulls it aside. Still dry. Moves back to dim sum, easier to eat and write. Finished blog entry. Music continues. He finished the small plates and his beer. Decides to try fried rice again.
Me: Can I get some soy sauce please?
Waitress: Soy sauce? Oh, sure, ok. Soy sauce.
Main character wonders if he insulted someone somewhere just now.
Waitress returns with soy sauce. Our man looks over his blog. Makes some changes. Relaxes. Thinks to himself that he got worked up over nothing. So a few counters were visited. He had plenty of time. So he didn't actually have a seat on the plane, he has a different flight now that arrives a full 5 minutes earlier than the previous flight.
Plus he is on his second beer in his favorite Noodle House in all of Changi Airport.
Our man moves the rice around to get soy sauce covering rice, takes a bite.
Looks down.
Moves lump of rice.
Lump stays clumped.
Gigantic shrimp reveals itself in rice.
Shrimp all but jumps into our man's mouth screaming 'yeah, eat me, eat me and DIE! AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA'.
What THE F*(K?!?
Me: WAITRESS!
and.......END SCENE. Dissolve.
Queue the audience. Roll laughter. Everyone is rolling around now at our poor sap's simple afternoon trip to the airport. Viola - comedy es tragic, no?
(now someone get me the fuck out of Singapore please?!?!)
What follows is the 'transcript' if it were recorded by an evil-doer standing by:
Inside Terminal 2 of Changi Airport, mid-day, main character (me) approaches the check-in counter after curb side drop off. He walks in, reads sign that says check-in counter is #12. Pulls luggage to counter 12 from counter 2 where he was dropped off:
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT. (SQ is the airline code for Singapore Air and NRT is the airport code for Narita aka. Tokyo Airport)
Generic Airport Worker for SQ: Oh yeah, you need counter 4. Back that way. (Points back the direction the main character just walked)
Me: Great.
Main character politely turns around and heads right back to where he started. Standing at the counter 4, terminal 2. Biz class check-in.
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT.
Evil Counter Lady 1: 11 (something something) flight tonight?
Me: Yes
ECL 1: You need to go to Terminal 1.
Me: Ugh.
Main character lugs bags around this gigantic, clean but fairly empty airport. Working up a sweat, our man takes a tram, swings luggage around dozens of long hallways and corners and chugs up to counter number 2, terminal 1.
Me: checking in for 11:45 flight to Narita...
ECL2: Uh, huh, there is no early check in for that flight here.
Me: Say what?! (pretty sure that was what I said)
ECL2: And you need terminal 3.
Me:
Main character repeats moving luggage only in the continued direction ALL THE WAY around the airport to terminal 3. More sweat. Luggage getting larger and heavier by the meter. Main character makes way to counter for Biz Class check-in counter.
Me: Yeah, checking in for SQ Flight 5902 - NRT at 11:45
ECL3: You need terminal 1. Do you know where that is?
Me: WHAT?! Of course I know where that is, I was there and they sent me here. I have been to all three terminals already.
ECL3: Well, that is a code share flight for SQ and is run by ANA, so you need to check in there.
Me: But my United sheet says this is an SQ flight (pulls out sheet).
ECL3: SQ doesn't do four number flights, that is operated by All Nippon Air. Terminal 1.
Main character turns and says things that make nearby small children cry and little kittens around the world mew in pain. Somewhere a mother is actually embarrassed by a son.
Cursing his way back to Terminal 1, sweating now more than ever and spewing foulness in a 20' radius, our character says to no one in particular:
Me: I HATE THIS AIRPORT.
Nearby Singapore Policeman: I'm sorry - what was that?
Me: Uh, I said 'man, this airport has grown' since the last time I was here.
NSP: Yup, added a whole new terminal.
Me: I know, I have visited it - AND - all the other ones... (the sarcasm didn't get noticed)
NSP: Take care and have a good flight
Our main character, having just narrowly missed a caning the likes of which are reserved only for spitting, graffiti artist, gum chewers checks himself before he wrecks himself. Now having reached Terminal 1, counter 4 AGAIN pushing what must now look like a full freight train, or at least that is what it feels like we are sure.
Me: Hi. REMEMBER ME? (speaking through tightly pulled lips that arrange to a smile last seen in a Batman, on the Joker)
ECL1: You back again?
Me: YES - I'd like to check in for ANA flight 5902, 11:45 to NRT.
ECL1: ANA does not check in this early...
Me: But what about Business class?!?
ECL1: Oh, sure. (takes offered passport, scans it into the system and looks up, worried) Sir, you aren't on that flight.
Me: WHAT ....DO....YOU....MEAN... I am NOT on that flight?!
ECL1: I don't have you on this flight.
Me: (hands over evil United Itinerary) SEE? This flight right here. (Points to the flight leg he is attempting to check in on)
ECL1: Sir, can you step over to the Business check in lounge? I don't have you on this flight and there is nothing I can see here...
Me: Where is this lounge?
Evil Counter MAN1: Over there (he thumbs over his shoulder at the apparent lounge just behind the counter.
Me:
Our character pulls luggage over to the business lounge and is directed to a (get this) smiling gate agent.
NiceGateAgent1: How may I help you?
Me:
NGA1: Yes, of course. I can check you in - they don't have agents here now but let's see what I can do. (Takes passport, scans it into system and then looks up) Sir, I don't have you on that flight.
Me: Yes, so I have been told. I have my itinerary right here and as you can see, United says I am on this flight.
NGA1: Yes, but I cannot find you under any name (screen is visible and you can clearly see that even partial first, last and even middle names brings up nothing). Do you have a ticket number from previous flight?
Me: Yes, here is my first leg stub.
NGA1: (already on phone to ANA and confirms no Raleigh or Mann or Dav... or Ral...or Man...) Ah, that will help. (Punches some keys, screen shows entire ticket AND flight 5902 is listed)
Hmmm...Sir there are no seats available on that flight. United didn't push through the record correctly or something - I see its ticketed by ANA does not have a record of this seat request.
Me: Where the heck is United in this airport so I can go have a *chat* with them?
NGA1: Oh, they only have a single flight at 4:30am every day, so they aren't here.
Me: Wha...?
NGA1: I am on the phone with ANA, they could squeeze you on a flight...in coach.... it leaves at
Me: NO, I paid for Business and damned if United won't get me on a flight in Business with SQ.
NGA1: I have already checked and there are two flights that have available seating with SQ. One to NRT via Bangkok and one direct.
Me: DIRECT....please.
NGA1: Oh, I can't book it, United has to do this.
Me: (calling number on back of 1K card, gets universal tone indicating not a number that is reachable) Do you have a local number for United?
NGA1: I am already on the phone with their local reservations desk. (he turns to the phone call previously unoticed) Yes, I am calling from Thai Air for a Mr. Mann...yes, eticket number 555555555555555 (hollywoodized so no one can look up this actual ticket) no seats available on that flight....yes, they offered another flight in coach but Mr. Mann.... Yes, can you see about getting him on...Sure. Ahmed. And you are? Ok, fine. (hangs up) She is going to call back. Can you sit over there please? (points to no-mans-land seating where the crass and unclean go when they inadvertently walk into this lounge)
Me: What are they doing about this?
NGA1: I don't know for sure, she put me on hold a bunch but says that apparently the seat reservation didn't go through. She is going to call back. (smiles an attempting reassuring smile)
Me: Do you have a local number for United? Never mind. (sends sms for travel friend to send UA direct dial numbers)
Main character is now seated in the 'waiting area' of the check in lounge. A very loudly playing television is nearby, blasting the Ellen Degeneres Show while he is furiously dialing the Evil United 1K desk.
Me: Hello? Can you hear me? (main character covers other ear to block out the cooking segment where Ellen is cooking with an entire Italian family - some sort of fried mozzarella sandwich that looks quite tasty)
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Yes, how may I help you?
Me: Yes, I am trying to get on a flight that *supposedly* was ticketed by United but I am being told there is no reservation for me and NOW they don't have seats so I am stuck in Singapore...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, can I have your reservation number locator?
Me: MVBKVC (close enough), I have been to every counter here in Changi...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (cutting main character off) Sir, I see this its fine. What do you mean they don't see this ticket in their system?
Me: I don't know what it means but they cannot find me in their system and now there is no seating...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (again, cutting main character off) I see it right here.
Me: Well why can't I get a seat THEN?!
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, I don't know what to tell you...
Me: (my turn to cut her off) They...DO...NOT...HAVE...ME....IN...THEIR....SYSTEM
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well can't they find the record by the 16 digit ticket number 555555555555555?
Me: Yes, but I don't have a seat as the record never got pushed to them I am being told.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, someone is changing your record right now, they just deleted this leg...
Me: Yes, a very nice man from Thai AIR cares enough to try to help me and he called the Singapore United reservation desk who said they'd call back. Its been 30 mins and as far as I know I am stuck here in Singapore thanks to U-NITED.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well, someone is trying to do something...
Me: YES, SOMEONE! Not YOU, why does United hate me and want me to fly everyone else? I will be glad to fly my 110,000 miles with someone else this year if this is the lack of customer care I can expect from United. There isn't an office or agent at this airport, the number on my card doesn't work outside the country and as far as you care - someone somewhere might be helping me.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, would you like to speak to my supervisor?
Me: I just want to hear that you are sorry for my experience and now after 2.5 hours of trying to check in for a flight, that United it going to help me get to my next destination.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Hold for my supervisor
A long few minutes pass...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Sir, my supervisor says this wasn't united's fault but that perhaps our computer and ANA's computer didn't speak to each other and get this seat booked.
Me: You are blaming the computer when all I asked for was...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (performing yet another tactical cut off) Sir, we cannot compensate you for something that isn't our fault.
Me: I am not looking for compensation - I want you to put yourself in my shoes and as a representative of United tell me you are sorry for my experience and will make sure I can get to my next destination. That is all I want.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, my supervisor says this isn't our fault.
Me: THAT ISN'T THE CASE FROM WHERE I AM STUCK STANDING
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: I am sorry you having this issue....
Me: Finally, at last you are sorry about something. I will take that as an apology (it wasn't, it was now blaming me for having an issue) that is all I wanted.
(hangs up, says some French words for United)
NGA1: Sir, I have confirmed you are booked on SQ flight 683 to Narita at 11:40, gets in at 7am(ish).
Me: Thank you so much. You have been very helpful.
NGA1: (moving bag back off of scale and onto a trolly) Um, you need to check in at Terminal 3.
More kittens mew, more children cry.
Now if this were a hollywood screen play this would be where we 'end scene' and the audience would have laughed and laughed at our main character's simple plight. But this is real life...
(Cut to Terminal 3 where our main character thinks to himself how much easier the airport is to get around with a trolly pushing the luggage instead of lugging it behind on those little two wheels)
Enter the train where our Nearby Singapore Policeman is on the tram...*still*.
Me: Hi, still lovin' this airport! (sarcasm hopefully not well known yet to this policeman)
NSP: Yes, its nice.
Our character returns back to the same counter (the second one he visited earlier?)...
Me: Remember me?
EGA3: Yes, how you doing?
Me: I am here to check in on SQ 683 now.
Several nearby agents mention something about our character looking familiar.
Me: Just happy to have a seat at this point.
EGA3: Ok, all set. Here is your ticket, leaves out of - hrm, gate isn't assigned yet. Look for the assignment much, MUCH later. (like 5 hours from now)
Me: Will do. Can I get to terminal 2's mall from this terminal?
EGA3: Sure, just follow...
(dissolve to next scene - our man sitting at his favorite Noodle House in Changi Airport, previously blogged and mentioned in the very adjacent post to this one).
Me: Hey you have new menus.
Waitress: Yes, you want this? (points to new 'special fried rice supreme').
Me: NO. I am allergic to seafood. No seafood. I would like BBQ Pork fried rice.
Waitress: Vegetarian? No seafood...
Me: No, BBQ fried rice please
Waitress: Oh, seafood ok?
Me: No - no seafood. DEATLY allergic to shrimp, lobster - NO SEAFOOD.
Waitress: Ok, BBQ Pork fried rice
Me: And a tiger beer
Watiress: And a tiger
(montage of some background american rock replayed by Chinese elevator music group - sounds familiar but very hard to place which song)
Our main character pulls out the laptop to blog his encounter. Beer shows up. He writes some more. Some food arrives, some dipping sauces. He begins to eat a dim sum bite and blog in between bites. Fried rice shows up. It looks dry.
Our character takes a bite - too much saffron on top. Pulls it aside. Still dry. Moves back to dim sum, easier to eat and write. Finished blog entry. Music continues. He finished the small plates and his beer. Decides to try fried rice again.
Me: Can I get some soy sauce please?
Waitress: Soy sauce? Oh, sure, ok. Soy sauce.
Main character wonders if he insulted someone somewhere just now.
Waitress returns with soy sauce. Our man looks over his blog. Makes some changes. Relaxes. Thinks to himself that he got worked up over nothing. So a few counters were visited. He had plenty of time. So he didn't actually have a seat on the plane, he has a different flight now that arrives a full 5 minutes earlier than the previous flight.
Plus he is on his second beer in his favorite Noodle House in all of Changi Airport.
Our man moves the rice around to get soy sauce covering rice, takes a bite.
Looks down.
Moves lump of rice.
Lump stays clumped.
Gigantic shrimp reveals itself in rice.
Shrimp all but jumps into our man's mouth screaming 'yeah, eat me, eat me and DIE! AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA'.
What THE F*(K?!?
Me: WAITRESS!
and.......END SCENE. Dissolve.
Queue the audience. Roll laughter. Everyone is rolling around now at our poor sap's simple afternoon trip to the airport. Viola - comedy es tragic, no?
(now someone get me the fuck out of Singapore please?!?!)
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