Leaving Chicago, Malaysia Photos

In about 20 minutes I leave Chicago to go back to Tokyo. It's frankly crazy to fly all this way only to stay for less than three days, but at least I voted this morning for Debra Shore for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. I know Debra as a fellow volunteer during the 2004 Iowa Democratic Caucuses, and I think she'll do a great job.

Photos delayed but certainly not forgotten. The view from Starbucks KLCC (top) and the view from the 50th floor of Petronas Tower.



UPDATE: Debra Shore appears to have run a strong second in her primary election. She had to finish in the top three to win one of the three vacancies, so she won and will serve as one of the next MWRD commissioners.

Chicago & Basketball

I'm back in Chicago until Tuesday, March 21.

Let it be noted that American Airlines is vastly inferior to JAL, Korean, ANA, Cathay Pacific, or just about any other Asian airline. The major reason is that AA's flight attendants are not particularly service-oriented and certainly not empathetic, as a rule. Unfortunately it's also true that many American (the nationality) passengers are rude, so the feedback loop reinforces negatively.

Fly JAL in business class and you'll see almost everyone neatly attired ("business casual"), serene, and polite. Passengers and flight attendants cooperate to keep the restrooms immaculate. If you glance in a flight attendant's direction — and they are always within glance range — your eyes are more than enough to let them know you have a request. Fly AA in business class and you'll see half the cabin in t-shirts and sweatpants. You cannot board because everyone who hasn't been called clusters in front of the gate, blocking access. The flight attendants disappear for long periods, and most are surly.

At this instant I'm ranked #4 in the office NCAA basketball bracket. However, I picked Iowa, Michigan State, Syracuse, and Illinois to advance much farther, and all are now out of the tournament. I think Connecticut will win the whole deal, but their first game was unsteady.

Kuala Lumpur Arrival

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur last night and had a full day of customer meetings today. It's refreshing to meet some real customers.

Photos to follow. For this quick report I'm using the free WiFi at Starbucks in the Petronas Towers — the twin towers that officially but oh-so-controversially dethroned Chicago's Sears Tower as the "world's tallest."

Name That Fruit

I knew the 500 gram bags in the grocer's freezer contained some sort of fruit, but I didn't recognize them. Still, at only 99 yen per bag, how could I not take three home?

Turns out they're frozen lychees. The white flesh, inside a husk and surrounding a pit, is the only edible part. They have a subtle sweet and fragrant taste. Lychees are chock full of Vitamin C and potassium, supposedly.

I spent a good part of today walking around Chinatown in Yokohama. I bought a bag of roasted chestnuts (200 grams for 525 yen), and lunch was fantastic — as it should be for 3000 yen per person.

Looking Out the Window

Some views outside my Tokyo apartment. Please note that I may add some photos to previous blog entries from time to time. Click on any photo for a larger view.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Music plays in the hallways and elevators at the IBM office. This morning's feature: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in about a dozen music school variations. Previously I've heard variations on "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Ring Around the Rosie."

I suppose this music beats Barry Manilow and Olivia Newton-John. Except maybe the Grease soundtrack.