We just had a minor earthquake here registering 5.1 on the Richter Scale. I was sitting in the big, open air office at IBM. It was odd seeing the walls move in relation to the ceiling, shrinking and enlarging those usually precise right angles for several seconds. The experience was similar to sitting aboard an airliner undergoing minor turbulence and watching the gap between the interior fuselage wall and the overhead bins expand and contract. At that moment one wonders how smart the structural engineers were.
As it happens I was having a conversation with an IBM technical specialist about risk, to put it simply. We had different opinions about how to manage risk in a specific customer situation, but I think we came to a tentative agreement after the earthquake.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Cherry Blossoms & Bangkok
Japan is quite beautiful this time of year as spring begins. The justifiably famous cherry blossoms last many days, and people go to the parks to stake out prime picnic real estate to observe nature's beauty. The whole scene is a bit like Vermont's autumn foliage season. I spent some quality weekend time visiting one of Tokyo's many shrines, a couple parks, and my local neighborhood cherry blossoms to soak in the views. (Photos will appear soon.)
Last week I flew to Bangkok to meet with a major transportation-related company, and the meetings went well. While I was there the opposition parties launched several protests against the current government. The opposition parties asked their supporters to effectively vote "present" in the election on April 2, and they managed to significantly reduce the government's vote totals according to early results. Opposition forces demand the resignation of Thailand's prime minister for alleged corruption. The opposition had a great idea, I thought: use an upscale Bangkok shopping mall as their protest forum. The mall is quite comfortable, has plenty of restrooms, climate control and shelter, and it helps capture their criticism of the PM who also happens to be Thailand's wealthiest man and one of the few Thai who can shop at the fancy mall.
Thailand's newspapers were full of dire warnings about how the protests would disrupt life as we know it, but of course they were perfectly peaceful, and Bangkok's relatively new public transportation system kept the city moving even when the car traffic wasn't. My guess is that Thai newspaper barons like to sell newspapers.
Last week I flew to Bangkok to meet with a major transportation-related company, and the meetings went well. While I was there the opposition parties launched several protests against the current government. The opposition parties asked their supporters to effectively vote "present" in the election on April 2, and they managed to significantly reduce the government's vote totals according to early results. Opposition forces demand the resignation of Thailand's prime minister for alleged corruption. The opposition had a great idea, I thought: use an upscale Bangkok shopping mall as their protest forum. The mall is quite comfortable, has plenty of restrooms, climate control and shelter, and it helps capture their criticism of the PM who also happens to be Thailand's wealthiest man and one of the few Thai who can shop at the fancy mall.
Thailand's newspapers were full of dire warnings about how the protests would disrupt life as we know it, but of course they were perfectly peaceful, and Bangkok's relatively new public transportation system kept the city moving even when the car traffic wasn't. My guess is that Thai newspaper barons like to sell newspapers.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
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.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
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.
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.
Monday, March 13, 2006
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."
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."
Sunday, March 05, 2006
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.
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.
Friday, March 03, 2006
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.
I suppose this music beats Barry Manilow and Olivia Newton-John. Except maybe the Grease soundtrack.
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