Google has some pretty cool new features for blogs. One of them is the ability to add specific news feeds from Google News, so I'm having some fun with it. Scroll down and look on the right to see the latest news on the Spears family (You can select either Britney or Jamie Lynn) as well as the Lindsay Lohan news ticker. All links open a new window.
Any ideas for others, let me know.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Reindeer Games
The building I work in has video screens in the elevators that provide news updates and trivia side-by-side with advertisements (because God knows we need to be entertained for the 45 seconds we're trapped in there . . .).
This morning, one of the trivia items it displayed was that reindeer are the only species of deer in which the females grow antlers. Consequently, Rudolph (and all of Santa's other reindeer) could be girls.
I'll bet it makes for interesting encounters in reindeer bars.
This morning, one of the trivia items it displayed was that reindeer are the only species of deer in which the females grow antlers. Consequently, Rudolph (and all of Santa's other reindeer) could be girls.
I'll bet it makes for interesting encounters in reindeer bars.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Downside of the Holidays
Now I don't mean to sound Scrooge-like, but hear me out.
I love the holidays.
I love the holidays in New York.
I love tourists because I enjoy sharing the city I adore with others and appreciate what they do for our economy.
I don't like tourists during the holidays.
It's not that I don't like them. It's just that as someone who has to walk through the theater district going to and from work, the heavy influx of tourists at this time of year who don't understand how to navigate our streets frustrates the crap out of me as I'm trying to make my way. I have, therefore, come up with the following tips for tourists in New York at the holidays:
1. Unless you're from the UK, a current or former British colony, or Japan - stay to the right. I can understand if you're from one of the previously mentioned locales and your natural instinct is to stay left, but for the other 96% of you - stay to the right! It will make walking on busy streets much easier.
2. Unless you're dressed like Marilyn Monroe (which you're not) or wearing spike heels (most of you are in sneakers), it's okay to walk on subway and transformer grates.
3. Eyes front while walking. This means:
4. Don't walk more than two or three abreast on the sidewalk. Otherwise, we will think of you as bowling pins and go for the strike. Or at least a 7 - 10 split.
5. If you must pose for a picture and are shooting across a crowded busy sidewalk, most people will stop or walk around you - ONLY if you don't take too long to pose or set up the camera. Otherwise your portrait will be marred by several passing faces in profile, some again giving your lens the bird.
6. The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and TGI Fridays do NOT represent New York cuisine. You will never find New Yorkers there as patrons. These establishments exist in New York purely for your convenience should you get homesick.
7. We understand that you don't jay-walk, but please don't huddle up at the corner waiting for the light to change, blocking all access to the street. Jay-walking is a New Yorker's God-given right. Unless you too have the innate ability to triangulate the velocity of an oncoming taxi with the proximity to your kneecaps, move aside so we can finish crossing safely.
8. Just because you bought an NYPD or FDNY hat, doesn't mean we will assume you're a cop or firefighter. This is especially true when your buddy is wearing a shirt that says "FBI (Female Body Inspector)."
We don't mean to be rude. We know you're here to soak it all in, to enjoy the many sights and activities our fair city has to offer. We're happy to have you here. We also understand that you walk slowly.
It's just that we don't.
When you see someone walking purposefully with no hint of map or camera in hand and seemingly un-phased by all the bright lights, PLEASE just move out of the way so we can get about our business. Everyone will have a better holiday.
I love the holidays.
I love the holidays in New York.
I love tourists because I enjoy sharing the city I adore with others and appreciate what they do for our economy.
I don't like tourists during the holidays.
It's not that I don't like them. It's just that as someone who has to walk through the theater district going to and from work, the heavy influx of tourists at this time of year who don't understand how to navigate our streets frustrates the crap out of me as I'm trying to make my way. I have, therefore, come up with the following tips for tourists in New York at the holidays:
1. Unless you're from the UK, a current or former British colony, or Japan - stay to the right. I can understand if you're from one of the previously mentioned locales and your natural instinct is to stay left, but for the other 96% of you - stay to the right! It will make walking on busy streets much easier.
2. Unless you're dressed like Marilyn Monroe (which you're not) or wearing spike heels (most of you are in sneakers), it's okay to walk on subway and transformer grates.
3. Eyes front while walking. This means:
- Don't look at your map while walking;
- Don't look up at the lights or tall buildings while you're walking;
- Don't use your camera while walking. You will end up with someone giving your lens the bird.
4. Don't walk more than two or three abreast on the sidewalk. Otherwise, we will think of you as bowling pins and go for the strike. Or at least a 7 - 10 split.
5. If you must pose for a picture and are shooting across a crowded busy sidewalk, most people will stop or walk around you - ONLY if you don't take too long to pose or set up the camera. Otherwise your portrait will be marred by several passing faces in profile, some again giving your lens the bird.
6. The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and TGI Fridays do NOT represent New York cuisine. You will never find New Yorkers there as patrons. These establishments exist in New York purely for your convenience should you get homesick.
7. We understand that you don't jay-walk, but please don't huddle up at the corner waiting for the light to change, blocking all access to the street. Jay-walking is a New Yorker's God-given right. Unless you too have the innate ability to triangulate the velocity of an oncoming taxi with the proximity to your kneecaps, move aside so we can finish crossing safely.
8. Just because you bought an NYPD or FDNY hat, doesn't mean we will assume you're a cop or firefighter. This is especially true when your buddy is wearing a shirt that says "FBI (Female Body Inspector)."
We don't mean to be rude. We know you're here to soak it all in, to enjoy the many sights and activities our fair city has to offer. We're happy to have you here. We also understand that you walk slowly.
It's just that we don't.
When you see someone walking purposefully with no hint of map or camera in hand and seemingly un-phased by all the bright lights, PLEASE just move out of the way so we can get about our business. Everyone will have a better holiday.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Vote Early, Vote Often
Just a reminder that there are now only 12 days left to help Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus, Georgia win a free MRI (See my original post here). Please try and cast your vote once per day through the end of the year by going here and selecting Sumter Regional (should be the first to appear in the list).
I hope Santa has a Siemens Magnetom Essenza 1.5T in his bag for them . . .
I hope Santa has a Siemens Magnetom Essenza 1.5T in his bag for them . . .
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Santa Matt or Matt Claus?
A couple of weeks ago, I was approached by one of my clients - a community health center on the Upper West Side - because they needed a Santa for the annual kids holiday party. Since it is every nice Jewish boy's dream to play Santa (that, and to date a shiksa) I leapt at the opportunity.
I showed up on Saturday morning a week and a half ago and the first thing I noticed was the phenomenal job they had done creating a winter wonderland of the facility. There was a whole process whereby kids checked in while being serenaded by a choir, then proceeded through the halls to the first stop which was a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus. They then proceeded down another hall to a second Santa and Mrs. Claus who gave them wrapped age and gender-appropriate gifts.
I was given my costume which was complete from the wig, beard and hat down to the big black fur-trimmed boots. A pillow added to my tummy and the transformation was complete. People there who know me didn't even recognize me.
For the first 2 hours, I was photo Santa, and the second 2 hours was gift Santa. Over 600 kids came through in those 4 hours!
A community health center serves Medicaid populations and the uninsured. More than a medical facility, it is a safe home for many of its patients. A place where they come and are treated not only for their conditions, but also with the utmost respect. That the entire staff turns out to put on this party for the kids is a tribute to the passion and compassion of those that work there. I was very proud to be a part of it.
I expected a lot of things. I expected some of the younger kids to be scared of me (I won many of them over). I expected some interesting questions ("Are you the real Santa?") and requests ("Santa, can please bring me a baby?" My response - "Well, it depends on what your mother looks like . . ." Yes, I'm kidding about my response). What I did not expect was the number of kids who, when it was their turn to approach me, just ran into my arms and gave me a great big hug.
I was honored and proud to serve in this capacity and have already been invited back for next year. In the meantime, the local ABC station covered the event (my client and this event are very prominent in NYC) and you can see the news clip here.
It was definitely the highlight of my holiday season. Hope yours is as rewarding and fulfilling.
I showed up on Saturday morning a week and a half ago and the first thing I noticed was the phenomenal job they had done creating a winter wonderland of the facility. There was a whole process whereby kids checked in while being serenaded by a choir, then proceeded through the halls to the first stop which was a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus. They then proceeded down another hall to a second Santa and Mrs. Claus who gave them wrapped age and gender-appropriate gifts.
I was given my costume which was complete from the wig, beard and hat down to the big black fur-trimmed boots. A pillow added to my tummy and the transformation was complete. People there who know me didn't even recognize me.
For the first 2 hours, I was photo Santa, and the second 2 hours was gift Santa. Over 600 kids came through in those 4 hours!
A community health center serves Medicaid populations and the uninsured. More than a medical facility, it is a safe home for many of its patients. A place where they come and are treated not only for their conditions, but also with the utmost respect. That the entire staff turns out to put on this party for the kids is a tribute to the passion and compassion of those that work there. I was very proud to be a part of it.
I expected a lot of things. I expected some of the younger kids to be scared of me (I won many of them over). I expected some interesting questions ("Are you the real Santa?") and requests ("Santa, can please bring me a baby?" My response - "Well, it depends on what your mother looks like . . ." Yes, I'm kidding about my response). What I did not expect was the number of kids who, when it was their turn to approach me, just ran into my arms and gave me a great big hug.
I was honored and proud to serve in this capacity and have already been invited back for next year. In the meantime, the local ABC station covered the event (my client and this event are very prominent in NYC) and you can see the news clip here.
It was definitely the highlight of my holiday season. Hope yours is as rewarding and fulfilling.
Friday, December 14, 2007
New Playground
It used to be that if you wanted to find me in my neighborhood (i.e. if I wasn't at home), you usually would have to look no further than Tower Records or Barnes & Noble, both a block and a half away.
A year ago Tower Records closed and I was terribly depressed. Spent more time at Barnes & Noble, though their excuse for a music department and complete lack of knowledgeable staff rubbed salt in the wound.
Thanksgiving week, Best Buy opened a few blocks away. Slightly bigger music selection than B&N and same lack of educated staff, but oh the gadgets!
If you know me, you know I like gadgets and I now get to wander wide-eyed through the aisles thinking up my wish list. I carry napkins for the drool that occasionally escapes the corner of my mouth. I bump into people a lot.
It's fun to see what's out and what's new, but it is also a sad reminder that as much as I am a gadget guy, my current stock of goodies are a bit behind the times. (Warning: Only gadget people may likely understand and/or appreciate the following!) I have a 4G iPod (though may have to go 6G as my measly 20GB drive is almost full and I want video), my GPS doesn't have integrated bluetooth, my digital SLR shoots only 6MP and my DVD player does not upconvert to 1080i (only have a 720p TV but who cares . . . gotta have it).
I know, I know - poor, poor boy . . . But you don't understand. Walking through Best Buy makes me want to be the best gadget guy I can be.
Maybe the Easter Bunny - ahem - I mean the Passover Porcupine will bring me goodies.
A year ago Tower Records closed and I was terribly depressed. Spent more time at Barnes & Noble, though their excuse for a music department and complete lack of knowledgeable staff rubbed salt in the wound.
Thanksgiving week, Best Buy opened a few blocks away. Slightly bigger music selection than B&N and same lack of educated staff, but oh the gadgets!
If you know me, you know I like gadgets and I now get to wander wide-eyed through the aisles thinking up my wish list. I carry napkins for the drool that occasionally escapes the corner of my mouth. I bump into people a lot.
It's fun to see what's out and what's new, but it is also a sad reminder that as much as I am a gadget guy, my current stock of goodies are a bit behind the times. (Warning: Only gadget people may likely understand and/or appreciate the following!) I have a 4G iPod (though may have to go 6G as my measly 20GB drive is almost full and I want video), my GPS doesn't have integrated bluetooth, my digital SLR shoots only 6MP and my DVD player does not upconvert to 1080i (only have a 720p TV but who cares . . . gotta have it).
I know, I know - poor, poor boy . . . But you don't understand. Walking through Best Buy makes me want to be the best gadget guy I can be.
Maybe the Easter Bunny - ahem - I mean the Passover Porcupine will bring me goodies.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Molly's Instinct
I believe I have mentioned in the past that my daughter has a trait that is not exactly socially friendly. She is quite gaseous. Since breaking wind is still very funny to a 7 year old, we are treated to her gastrointestinal feats of wonder on a regular basis even though we admonish her to control it if possible.
Last night Molly provided what can only be described as an explosive example of this condition. I responded with a very stern "MOLLY!!" Once she stopped laughing, she said "Dad, I can't help it. It's my instinct."
Only problem is that when Molly said that last word, she left off the "t" at the end. She was quite right. It is her "instink."
Last night Molly provided what can only be described as an explosive example of this condition. I responded with a very stern "MOLLY!!" Once she stopped laughing, she said "Dad, I can't help it. It's my instinct."
Only problem is that when Molly said that last word, she left off the "t" at the end. She was quite right. It is her "instink."
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Limmud New York
Many of you know that I am on the Steering Committee of an organization called Limmud NY - a festival of Jewish learning in which over 800 people come together for a 4 day event that celebrates all things Jewish through study, music, dance, film, prayer, and discussion. It's coming up January 17-21, 2008.
Last year I was on the Marketing team and created a short fun video as a promo for the January 2007 conference (check it out here). This year I am co-leading the Marketing Team and we created a fun "pop quiz" to both collect anecdotal data, but mostly to draw people to the website and demonstrate that we have a wicked sense of humor. Go to the Limmud NY homepage and take this month's quiz (and return each month for a new fun quiz).
If you'd like to know more about Limmud NY, feel free to contact me - I'd love to tell you all about it.
Last year I was on the Marketing team and created a short fun video as a promo for the January 2007 conference (check it out here). This year I am co-leading the Marketing Team and we created a fun "pop quiz" to both collect anecdotal data, but mostly to draw people to the website and demonstrate that we have a wicked sense of humor. Go to the Limmud NY homepage and take this month's quiz (and return each month for a new fun quiz).
If you'd like to know more about Limmud NY, feel free to contact me - I'd love to tell you all about it.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Scotrun, PA
On I-80 in Pennsylvania, just over the border from New Jersey at the Delaware Water Gap, is a town called Scotrun. Every time I drive past and see the exit for Scotrun, the auto-correct function in my brain reads it as "Scrotum, PA." I recently found out that I am not the only one to whom this happens.
I think they should have a sign at the exit that says "Welcome to Scotrun - Have a ball!"
I think they should have a sign at the exit that says "Welcome to Scotrun - Have a ball!"
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Help Sumter Regional Hospital - All It Takes Is A Click
Earlier this year, Sumter Regional Hospital in southwest Georgia was destroyed by a tornado. The hospital served a largely poor rural population, and was the sole source of healthcare for many. They are currently operating from a temporary structure until the new hospital is completed in 2010. The shortfall between insurance and other payments and the funds necessary to complete the hospital is $13 million.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines are very expensive, yet critical for diagnosing many complex conditions. Due to their cost, many smaller hospitals cannot afford one. Siemens, a large international corporation that has significant market share in medical equipment, is currently holding a "Win An MRI" contest. Hospitals of fewer than 180 beds create a video explaining why they should win a free MRI. Anyone can then go to the website, view the videos, and vote for the one they think most deserving.
Some of the videos are quite imaginative and amusing (think "Magnetic Redneck Imaging"), and all of them certainly need an MRI, but none of them have had to face what Sumter Regional has this year.
Please visit the website (click here), view the video for Sumter Regional Hospital by selecting it from the drop-down box, and cast your vote for them. You can vote once per day from the same computer through the end of December. The first time you vote, you have to watch the video all the way through (it's only a couple of minutes) - on subsequent visits, you can cast your vote as soon as the video starts. Watching the video is actually pretty amazing as it includes live images that were captured by the hospital's security cameras during the tornado.
So as they say in Chicago, "vote early and vote often" for Sumter Regional Hospital and help this critical service provider get back on its feet, and provide the care that is so desparately needed in their community.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines are very expensive, yet critical for diagnosing many complex conditions. Due to their cost, many smaller hospitals cannot afford one. Siemens, a large international corporation that has significant market share in medical equipment, is currently holding a "Win An MRI" contest. Hospitals of fewer than 180 beds create a video explaining why they should win a free MRI. Anyone can then go to the website, view the videos, and vote for the one they think most deserving.
Some of the videos are quite imaginative and amusing (think "Magnetic Redneck Imaging"), and all of them certainly need an MRI, but none of them have had to face what Sumter Regional has this year.
Please visit the website (click here), view the video for Sumter Regional Hospital by selecting it from the drop-down box, and cast your vote for them. You can vote once per day from the same computer through the end of December. The first time you vote, you have to watch the video all the way through (it's only a couple of minutes) - on subsequent visits, you can cast your vote as soon as the video starts. Watching the video is actually pretty amazing as it includes live images that were captured by the hospital's security cameras during the tornado.
So as they say in Chicago, "vote early and vote often" for Sumter Regional Hospital and help this critical service provider get back on its feet, and provide the care that is so desparately needed in their community.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
We Own XM Radio!
I work for RSM McGladrey - or, as I tell people - the biggest company nobody has ever heard of. We are actually the 5th largest professional services firm behind the "big 4".
It helped our brand recognition by sponsoring Zach Johnson in last year's PGA. When he won, I got about a dozen messages essentially saying, "Hey, now I've heard of your company" as our name was emblazoned across Zach's shirt.
Last week, nine-year old Sam told me that he asked all of his classmates and teachers, and none of them have ever heard of RSM McGladrey. Obviously, we need to target more of our marketing towards 4th graders.
We do have a big advertising campaign going on now, including a deal with the NY Yankees for next year's broadcasts, and we also sponsor the Traffic/Weather channels on XM Radio. Now Sam does not fully grasp the concept of advertising and sponsorship, so when we were in the car on Sunday and heard "This XM Radio traffic and weather update is sponsored by RSM McGladrey," Sam exclaimed, "Dad! RSM McGladrey bought XM Radio?!?!?"
It helped our brand recognition by sponsoring Zach Johnson in last year's PGA. When he won, I got about a dozen messages essentially saying, "Hey, now I've heard of your company" as our name was emblazoned across Zach's shirt.
Last week, nine-year old Sam told me that he asked all of his classmates and teachers, and none of them have ever heard of RSM McGladrey. Obviously, we need to target more of our marketing towards 4th graders.
We do have a big advertising campaign going on now, including a deal with the NY Yankees for next year's broadcasts, and we also sponsor the Traffic/Weather channels on XM Radio. Now Sam does not fully grasp the concept of advertising and sponsorship, so when we were in the car on Sunday and heard "This XM Radio traffic and weather update is sponsored by RSM McGladrey," Sam exclaimed, "Dad! RSM McGladrey bought XM Radio?!?!?"
Ithamar Enriquez
I'm in Chicago on business which means that I went to Second City last night (I'm a HUGE SC fan, which also explains why I am a HUGE SNL fan . . .).
The cast was the same as the last time I was here almost a year ago, and while they are all excellent, there is one who stood out both last year and last night. His name is Ithamar Enriquez and I believe he is one of the most talented comedic actor/writers and improv artists that I have ever seen. I want it documented here first so that it will show up in Google searches for posterity that I predict big things for Ithamar.
I also want to meet him to know how to pronounce his first name.
The cast was the same as the last time I was here almost a year ago, and while they are all excellent, there is one who stood out both last year and last night. His name is Ithamar Enriquez and I believe he is one of the most talented comedic actor/writers and improv artists that I have ever seen. I want it documented here first so that it will show up in Google searches for posterity that I predict big things for Ithamar.
I also want to meet him to know how to pronounce his first name.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
My Daughter, The Boxer
We don't have video games in our house (a rule) so when the kids go to a friend's house that does have them, it becomes a key area of interest and activity.
Molly's friend Hannah has a Nintendo Wii. Apparently, there is a boxing game with which Molly has become enamored and, it turns out, she's pretty good at it. She loves bragging that she's an excellent boxer.
I have started calling her Mohammed Mah-lee.
Molly's friend Hannah has a Nintendo Wii. Apparently, there is a boxing game with which Molly has become enamored and, it turns out, she's pretty good at it. She loves bragging that she's an excellent boxer.
I have started calling her Mohammed Mah-lee.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Little Things Make Me Happy
Warning - This is probably of interest only to those who appreciate good design or gadgets.
It's true. Little things make me happy and especially when it is a seemingly little thing but one that makes a big difference to me, and one for which I would love to shake the hand of the person that thought it up.
On my old Blackberry, if a call came in while I was listening to my cell phone voicemail, the device would treat it like any other call waiting call and give me the option to ignore it, place the first call on hold and answer, or drop the first call and answer.
I got a new Blackberry Curve (8300) a few months ago and the other day while listening to my voicemail, another call came in. The device did not, however, treat it as a call waiting call, but rather as a regular call with no options for the first call. Since it was a call I wanted to take, I answered, assuming that it would just disconnect my voicemail session.
When finished with the call that had come in, I noticed that my voicemail call was still there in a suspended state. I resumed the call and the message I had been listening to started again from exactly where I had left off.
What this means is that someone at RIM got together with someone at AT&T and said, "Hey, how can we make this easier and more intuitive for the user?" Bravo!
It's true. Little things make me happy and especially when it is a seemingly little thing but one that makes a big difference to me, and one for which I would love to shake the hand of the person that thought it up.
On my old Blackberry, if a call came in while I was listening to my cell phone voicemail, the device would treat it like any other call waiting call and give me the option to ignore it, place the first call on hold and answer, or drop the first call and answer.
I got a new Blackberry Curve (8300) a few months ago and the other day while listening to my voicemail, another call came in. The device did not, however, treat it as a call waiting call, but rather as a regular call with no options for the first call. Since it was a call I wanted to take, I answered, assuming that it would just disconnect my voicemail session.
When finished with the call that had come in, I noticed that my voicemail call was still there in a suspended state. I resumed the call and the message I had been listening to started again from exactly where I had left off.
What this means is that someone at RIM got together with someone at AT&T and said, "Hey, how can we make this easier and more intuitive for the user?" Bravo!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Anjelica's Maracas
Sam just started fourth grade. I have distinct memories of my own fourth grade experience, that being the turning point for me when I realized that I didn't hate girls, but was strangely attracted to them yet I didn't know why. I was expecting something similar of Sam, though he has never gone through a "I hate girls" stage and is, instead, friendly with many of his female classmates.
On the first day of school last week, Sam told us that his friend Anjelica came up to him and very matter of factly announced that she was wearing a bra. Sam related this story in a somewhat puzzled manner because he had no idea how he was supposed to react or what to do with this information. He was truly bewildered and we were more than just a bit amused by the situation.
A couple of days later, Sam was telling us about music class, and how all the students were using different percussion instruments. I jokingly asked if Anjelica was shaking her maracas. This reference went right over his head and he simply responded that Anjelica is not in his music class. Seven-year old Molly, however, got it right away and started giggling. Ever since, she turns to Sammy every so often and while doing a top-body shimmy, asks if Anjelica has been shaking her maracas at him.
What have I created?
On the first day of school last week, Sam told us that his friend Anjelica came up to him and very matter of factly announced that she was wearing a bra. Sam related this story in a somewhat puzzled manner because he had no idea how he was supposed to react or what to do with this information. He was truly bewildered and we were more than just a bit amused by the situation.
A couple of days later, Sam was telling us about music class, and how all the students were using different percussion instruments. I jokingly asked if Anjelica was shaking her maracas. This reference went right over his head and he simply responded that Anjelica is not in his music class. Seven-year old Molly, however, got it right away and started giggling. Ever since, she turns to Sammy every so often and while doing a top-body shimmy, asks if Anjelica has been shaking her maracas at him.
What have I created?
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Report from Dubai - Day Three/Final Report
I forgot to mention in my last post that part of the conversation last night was around Arab-American perspectives. I was told that Arabs used to love going to the US for vacations but since 9/11 they have, for the most part, not returned due to the way that they were being treated. They found that they were being reported as suspicious simply for speaking Arabic in public. They also said that one of the reasons Muslim women would not fly was because they knew that some US airports employed x-ray machines that revealed a woman’s body. Not only did I state that I knew of no such devices in use, one of the physicians backed me up saying that such a machine would provide a view of a skeleton and any metal objects, but that the form of the body could not be discerned. The person who originally made the statement was suspicious about our responses and we quickly moved on to another topic.
This third and last day of my trip to Dubai was by far the best, and it had less to do with the conference than what transpired afterwards. Yes, I did have some good meetings including with the Saudi German Hospitals Group – the largest private healthcare company in the Middle East and North Africa – and two wonderful people from Jebel Ali Hospital with whom I then had lunch at the same Iranian restaurant in the hotel as where I had dinner last night (dinner was better, though I did get to have some very tasty Iranian desserts at lunch). But the invitation to visit a hospital and the subsequent dinner was the highlight.
I had initially pegged Zulekha Hospital as a potential target, but I came to realize that they really wanted just to pick my brain about some things that they were considering and to get some education on a particular area of my expertise. That was fine because what I got in return was worth it.
The tour of the hospital covered just about every inch of the facility. They are very proud of this 80-bed private hospital and the mission that it serves – and rightly so. Lead by the IT director and the director of the hospital, we saw the outpatient departments, the clinical laboratory, registration/admitting, the emergency department, patient rooms, nursing stations, the pharmacy, one of the operating rooms and the cardiac catheterization lab. It was a rare opportunity to get such an in-depth peek at a foreign hospital and being a hospital person, I not only enjoyed it all, but learned much about how healthcare is delivered in this country in the process, including a very different role for pharmacists than those that work in hospitals in the US. We then spent about an hour looking over their impressive IT infrastructure and the self-developed hospital information system that they have implemented. In that process I also learned all about the payment and reimbursement process in the country – also invaluable. We then had a long discussion about CPOE and closed loop medication processes (I don’t expect you to know what that is, and there is no simple way to explain it) with the director of the hospital, the chief pharmacist, another administrator and a physician. I figure that I gave them about an hour or two of free consulting but it was worth it given what I learned during my time there. It was positively delightful as they were so proud to show off their hospital to a knowledgeable and appreciative audience.
I should mention at this point that approximately 40% of the population of the UAE is Indian, as were all of the people that I was with, and it is this population that the hospital primarily serves. Dr. Zulekha, the founder and owner of the now two-hospital company which is also expanding in the UAE and into India, is an OB/GYN who started practicing in the early 1960’s, delivering babies by lantern light as their mothers arrived by camel. She went on to start a primary care clinic and eventually decided that high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare was needed by the Indian population so she started the hospital to serve them, with a strong focus on the patient experience. While she is still involved, her daughter and son-in-law now run the company.
In gratitude for my time, Ali – the late 20-something IT director – then took me out for one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I have always maintained that some of the best food can be found in dives and the place we went can only be described as a stand-up luncheonette counter outside a supermarket in one of the Indian sections of town. Ali just kept ordering different things, some of which I knew of, others I didn’t recognize and couldn’t pronounce so I can’t tell you what they were except that they were, for the most part, fried, spicy and delicious. Ali just kept saying “try this,” “hold it this way,” (everything was eaten by hand), “dip it in this sauce and then in this sauce,” etc. As I was still in my suit and it was about 100 degrees and humid – even in the dark of evening – he kept plying me with water and napkins with which to wipe my head. I think the whole meal cost about $7 for both of us.
It was a very nice way to wrap up my trip here. Had I known, I certainly would have stayed longer as I did not get to see most of the tourist sights and I am told that one of the best things to do is a late day 4X4 ride into the desert to a Bedouin tent where there is live music, belly dancing, camel rides and a feast fit for a king as you watch the sunset. If I come back, I will definitely try that experience. In the mean time, it is off to bed with a satisfied belly and then to the airport in the morning for the long journey home. All in all, it was a short but successful (I hope – the truth will be told in whether my meetings convert to signed contracts) trip to a strange and far off land to which I hope to someday return.
This third and last day of my trip to Dubai was by far the best, and it had less to do with the conference than what transpired afterwards. Yes, I did have some good meetings including with the Saudi German Hospitals Group – the largest private healthcare company in the Middle East and North Africa – and two wonderful people from Jebel Ali Hospital with whom I then had lunch at the same Iranian restaurant in the hotel as where I had dinner last night (dinner was better, though I did get to have some very tasty Iranian desserts at lunch). But the invitation to visit a hospital and the subsequent dinner was the highlight.
I had initially pegged Zulekha Hospital as a potential target, but I came to realize that they really wanted just to pick my brain about some things that they were considering and to get some education on a particular area of my expertise. That was fine because what I got in return was worth it.
The tour of the hospital covered just about every inch of the facility. They are very proud of this 80-bed private hospital and the mission that it serves – and rightly so. Lead by the IT director and the director of the hospital, we saw the outpatient departments, the clinical laboratory, registration/admitting, the emergency department, patient rooms, nursing stations, the pharmacy, one of the operating rooms and the cardiac catheterization lab. It was a rare opportunity to get such an in-depth peek at a foreign hospital and being a hospital person, I not only enjoyed it all, but learned much about how healthcare is delivered in this country in the process, including a very different role for pharmacists than those that work in hospitals in the US. We then spent about an hour looking over their impressive IT infrastructure and the self-developed hospital information system that they have implemented. In that process I also learned all about the payment and reimbursement process in the country – also invaluable. We then had a long discussion about CPOE and closed loop medication processes (I don’t expect you to know what that is, and there is no simple way to explain it) with the director of the hospital, the chief pharmacist, another administrator and a physician. I figure that I gave them about an hour or two of free consulting but it was worth it given what I learned during my time there. It was positively delightful as they were so proud to show off their hospital to a knowledgeable and appreciative audience.
I should mention at this point that approximately 40% of the population of the UAE is Indian, as were all of the people that I was with, and it is this population that the hospital primarily serves. Dr. Zulekha, the founder and owner of the now two-hospital company which is also expanding in the UAE and into India, is an OB/GYN who started practicing in the early 1960’s, delivering babies by lantern light as their mothers arrived by camel. She went on to start a primary care clinic and eventually decided that high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare was needed by the Indian population so she started the hospital to serve them, with a strong focus on the patient experience. While she is still involved, her daughter and son-in-law now run the company.
In gratitude for my time, Ali – the late 20-something IT director – then took me out for one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I have always maintained that some of the best food can be found in dives and the place we went can only be described as a stand-up luncheonette counter outside a supermarket in one of the Indian sections of town. Ali just kept ordering different things, some of which I knew of, others I didn’t recognize and couldn’t pronounce so I can’t tell you what they were except that they were, for the most part, fried, spicy and delicious. Ali just kept saying “try this,” “hold it this way,” (everything was eaten by hand), “dip it in this sauce and then in this sauce,” etc. As I was still in my suit and it was about 100 degrees and humid – even in the dark of evening – he kept plying me with water and napkins with which to wipe my head. I think the whole meal cost about $7 for both of us.
It was a very nice way to wrap up my trip here. Had I known, I certainly would have stayed longer as I did not get to see most of the tourist sights and I am told that one of the best things to do is a late day 4X4 ride into the desert to a Bedouin tent where there is live music, belly dancing, camel rides and a feast fit for a king as you watch the sunset. If I come back, I will definitely try that experience. In the mean time, it is off to bed with a satisfied belly and then to the airport in the morning for the long journey home. All in all, it was a short but successful (I hope – the truth will be told in whether my meetings convert to signed contracts) trip to a strange and far off land to which I hope to someday return.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Report from Dubai - Day Two, Part 2
Had dinner at Shahrzad last night, the Iranian restaurant here at the Hyatt. When you walk in, you feel as if you are taking a step back in time to a Bedouin tent with live music. Since everyone keeps asking me about the food, I will report that I had a wonderful soup called Ash-e-Adas which is a lentil soup with leeks, some cream and fresh squeezed lemon juice. The main course was Gheymeh Bademjan which is a traditional stew of lamb with yellow lentils, tomatoes, and topped with crispy fried eggplant served over scented rice. Delish! They also had shisha pipes available (also knows as hookahs) with various flavors available (apple, rose, others) but we did not partake.
Lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me so it’s a good thing today is the last day of the conference though it promises to be a long day since I will be going out with the folks from Zulekah Hospital after the conference ends. It is the start of their weekend and typical Arab evenings go late into the night so who knows when I will get in tonight.
Lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me so it’s a good thing today is the last day of the conference though it promises to be a long day since I will be going out with the folks from Zulekah Hospital after the conference ends. It is the start of their weekend and typical Arab evenings go late into the night so who knows when I will get in tonight.
Report from Dubai - Day Two
Today was a work day – the first day of the congress I am attending which was kicked off by the Minister of Health for the United Arab Emirates. It was very formal – there was a red ribbon across the door of the ballroom where the opening session was held which was ceremoniously cut with silver scissors by the Minister upon his arrival.
It was very interesting and much of what I had read in “Understanding Arabs” paid off in terms of knowing how to interact. One of the pointers is that Arabs will not do business with you unless they get to know and like you. One of my meetings was with 4 administrators from a hospital group in the UAE. Afterwards I wasn’t sure how it had gone but I must have done something right as they tracked me down later to invite me to see their hospital tomorrow afternoon when the conference ends and then out to dinner. Especially nice as their weekend starts Thursday night.
I also met with a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that will may likely lead to some work over there, and I am having dinner tonight with 4 medical directors from the Ministry of Health.
I also had a chance to meet with some of the other solution providers. In the US and particularly in the Northeast, everyone in my industry knows most of the other people. This concept has now extended around the globe as I found one person with whom we know 3 people in common and another who grew up on 73rd Street and Central Park West. Small world!
Not a bad day at all.
On the food front, the breakfast buffet here is nothing like I have ever experienced. As they must cater to Middle Eastern, Western, and Asian tastes there was a grand selection of items, some of which I had never heard of and fruits that I had never seen. Don’t ask me what anything was – it was just delicious.
The conference’s lunch was at the hotel’s Italian restaurant and while nice and tasty, nothing to write home about (or blog about).
Dinner tonight will be at the hotel’s Iranian restaurant which is highly regarded in Dubai both for the food and the atmosphere. Aside from the 4 docs, I will also be joined by the managing partner of our affiliate firm here in Dubai. That actually led to another interesting tid-bit. I let the managing partner know what I looked like and what I would be wearing so that we could find each other in the lobby of the hotel. He responded with what he looked like and simply that he would be wearing a suit - as opposed to the traditional white garment and headress.
All in all a good day and I’m looking forward to a good dinner. Am starting to get just a wee bit tired so it is a good thing that Muslims do not drink – otherwise I would probably pass out half way through dinner as the lack of sleep starts to catch up with me.
It was very interesting and much of what I had read in “Understanding Arabs” paid off in terms of knowing how to interact. One of the pointers is that Arabs will not do business with you unless they get to know and like you. One of my meetings was with 4 administrators from a hospital group in the UAE. Afterwards I wasn’t sure how it had gone but I must have done something right as they tracked me down later to invite me to see their hospital tomorrow afternoon when the conference ends and then out to dinner. Especially nice as their weekend starts Thursday night.
I also met with a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that will may likely lead to some work over there, and I am having dinner tonight with 4 medical directors from the Ministry of Health.
I also had a chance to meet with some of the other solution providers. In the US and particularly in the Northeast, everyone in my industry knows most of the other people. This concept has now extended around the globe as I found one person with whom we know 3 people in common and another who grew up on 73rd Street and Central Park West. Small world!
Not a bad day at all.
On the food front, the breakfast buffet here is nothing like I have ever experienced. As they must cater to Middle Eastern, Western, and Asian tastes there was a grand selection of items, some of which I had never heard of and fruits that I had never seen. Don’t ask me what anything was – it was just delicious.
The conference’s lunch was at the hotel’s Italian restaurant and while nice and tasty, nothing to write home about (or blog about).
Dinner tonight will be at the hotel’s Iranian restaurant which is highly regarded in Dubai both for the food and the atmosphere. Aside from the 4 docs, I will also be joined by the managing partner of our affiliate firm here in Dubai. That actually led to another interesting tid-bit. I let the managing partner know what I looked like and what I would be wearing so that we could find each other in the lobby of the hotel. He responded with what he looked like and simply that he would be wearing a suit - as opposed to the traditional white garment and headress.
All in all a good day and I’m looking forward to a good dinner. Am starting to get just a wee bit tired so it is a good thing that Muslims do not drink – otherwise I would probably pass out half way through dinner as the lack of sleep starts to catch up with me.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Report from Dubai - Day One, Part 2
Not sure what’s up with my jet lag. I made it through the day on Tuesday finally hitting the sack around 9PM, but have now been up since 3:30AM. At least I got some sleep.
I have endured extreme heat before, but nothing prepared me for walking around yesterday. When I stopped at the concierge to check my directions for my planned jaunt, she said that I was very brave for undertaking such a walk and didn’t I want to take a cab? After about 15 minutes, I realized that she was probably right. The humidity wasn’t all that bad, but the heat is so intense that even my glasses were burning to the touch. It didn't help that I was in long pants as shorts are frowned upon here (can't reveal too much flesh).
I made it as far as the Gold Souk which was not all that interesting as neither Betsy nor I are very much into jewelry. Perhaps more interesting was that once I got a block from my hotel, I was in a blue-collar commercial section of town. There were shops offering just about anything one could want, yet none of them were particularly nice – mostly hole in the walls – but I got the sense that I was seeing part of Dubai that many tourists probably do not. It also seemed to be the center for shops that do custom modifications on cars. No garages – the work was being done right on the street in front of the storefronts.
Some other observations:
o I have a fairly dark complexion for a Caucasian so when traveling through Europe, no one really has ever pegged me as a tourist until I open my mouth and they hear my lousy accent. Here, however, I feel like a lily-white Irishman who hasn’t seen the light of day for months.
o Many Arab businessmen – essentially anyone in a white collar job – wear the traditional long white robe and headdress. I did not see many at all at the airport or on the ride to the hotel, but here at the Hyatt which plays host to many business meetings, at least 50% of the men in the lobby and other public areas were wearing just that, including the security guards. All the others were foreigners for the most part. I find it both interesting and somewhat amusing. The amusing part comes from the fact that in films and other exposure to the Arab world, I have always associated men in such dress as being leaders or royalty. Every time I pass an Arab man in the white flowing garb, my initial reaction is that he must be a sheik or emir when, in fact, he is just as likely to be the IT guy or a personnel manager.
o There are very few women in public here and many are dressed in black robes and fully veiled. Contrasted with this are the many commercials on TV featuring Western women in contemporary dress, until I realized that all of those commercials were for products that are geared towards outer appearance – cosmetics, weight loss products, etc.
When I returned to the hotel I checked out the attached upscale mini-mall which features an ice-skating rink, Fun Time Pizza (think Chucky Cheese) and Baskin Robbins. And everyone here seems to smoke, regardless of whether it is permitted or not. Now it makes sense why, on the flight from Paris, the crew repeated the fact that smoking is prohibited on board including in the lavatories about 8 times.
The revolving restaurant was completely booked last night so I ate in another of the hotel’s restaurants where I had an excellent Middle Eastern mixed grill before hitting the sack. Tonight I am hosting a dinner at what is supposed to be a very fancy Iranian restaurant (many of the restaurants in town are either Lebanese or Iranian).
More later.
I have endured extreme heat before, but nothing prepared me for walking around yesterday. When I stopped at the concierge to check my directions for my planned jaunt, she said that I was very brave for undertaking such a walk and didn’t I want to take a cab? After about 15 minutes, I realized that she was probably right. The humidity wasn’t all that bad, but the heat is so intense that even my glasses were burning to the touch. It didn't help that I was in long pants as shorts are frowned upon here (can't reveal too much flesh).
I made it as far as the Gold Souk which was not all that interesting as neither Betsy nor I are very much into jewelry. Perhaps more interesting was that once I got a block from my hotel, I was in a blue-collar commercial section of town. There were shops offering just about anything one could want, yet none of them were particularly nice – mostly hole in the walls – but I got the sense that I was seeing part of Dubai that many tourists probably do not. It also seemed to be the center for shops that do custom modifications on cars. No garages – the work was being done right on the street in front of the storefronts.
Some other observations:
o I have a fairly dark complexion for a Caucasian so when traveling through Europe, no one really has ever pegged me as a tourist until I open my mouth and they hear my lousy accent. Here, however, I feel like a lily-white Irishman who hasn’t seen the light of day for months.
o Many Arab businessmen – essentially anyone in a white collar job – wear the traditional long white robe and headdress. I did not see many at all at the airport or on the ride to the hotel, but here at the Hyatt which plays host to many business meetings, at least 50% of the men in the lobby and other public areas were wearing just that, including the security guards. All the others were foreigners for the most part. I find it both interesting and somewhat amusing. The amusing part comes from the fact that in films and other exposure to the Arab world, I have always associated men in such dress as being leaders or royalty. Every time I pass an Arab man in the white flowing garb, my initial reaction is that he must be a sheik or emir when, in fact, he is just as likely to be the IT guy or a personnel manager.
o There are very few women in public here and many are dressed in black robes and fully veiled. Contrasted with this are the many commercials on TV featuring Western women in contemporary dress, until I realized that all of those commercials were for products that are geared towards outer appearance – cosmetics, weight loss products, etc.
When I returned to the hotel I checked out the attached upscale mini-mall which features an ice-skating rink, Fun Time Pizza (think Chucky Cheese) and Baskin Robbins. And everyone here seems to smoke, regardless of whether it is permitted or not. Now it makes sense why, on the flight from Paris, the crew repeated the fact that smoking is prohibited on board including in the lavatories about 8 times.
The revolving restaurant was completely booked last night so I ate in another of the hotel’s restaurants where I had an excellent Middle Eastern mixed grill before hitting the sack. Tonight I am hosting a dinner at what is supposed to be a very fancy Iranian restaurant (many of the restaurants in town are either Lebanese or Iranian).
More later.
Report from Dubai - Day One
As some of you know, I am in Dubai attending a conference on Global Healthcare Expansion as a business development effort. There is a tremendous amount of growth in the hospital and primary care markets here in the MENA region (Middle East-North Africa) and I am using this congress as a test to determine if there is a place for the services my team provides.
What is more interesting, however, is the trip itself and as some requested, I hope to blog about it here.
I left New York yesterday on the morning flight to Paris, connecting there to Dubai. I must say that business class on Air France doesn’t suck. The food was quite good, the seating comfortable, and although I was working and did not take advantage of it there is a very good selection of on-demand films.
As much as I tried – took melatonin, used ear plugs and an eye shade – I just couldn’t fall asleep for more than a few minutes at a time on the second leg which was an overnight flight from Paris. Consequently I am now going on 24 hours without sleep and with the exception of a potential brief nap later this afternoon, I don’t expect to go to sleep for another 10 hours or so.
The first “a-ha” moment I had was towards the end of the flight as I watched our progress on the moving map. We flew right between Baghdad and Tehran – two places that I have known only through news reports, none of which made either city seem that inviting. The plane was equipped with an external camera which was way cool for watching take-off and landing, but which also provided a straight down view while in flight. Flying over Iraq and Iran, the landscape looked strangely like the American southwest from 39,000 feet.
I did a lot of research for my trip here, both on the business side, as well as the cultural. I picked up an excellent book – “Understanding Arabs” by Margaret Nydell – which proved to be an invaluable resource in terms of understanding the culture based on both a historical and modern perspective. Most importantly, it helps debunk myths regarding the differences between Muslims and Islamic Fundamentalists and also provides much great information on understanding the social and etiquette standards I expect to encounter.
Prior to coming, I had planned – if asked – to indicate that I am an agnostic as I had heard that Judaism is not respected here. The book, however, corrected me. Arab issues are with Israel – not Judaism. As a matter of fact, Islam is very closely aligned with Judaism and Muslims consider their religion to be much closer to Judaism than to Christianity. The other thing I learned is that Arabs do not respect atheists or agnostics as they believe that being religious – no matter what the religion – is something to be highly respected. I believe that if asked (which I probably won’t be anyway) I will likely respond that I am Jewish, from an Eastern European background.
Reading the book, however, could not have prepared me for my arrival in Dubai. The view from the plane reminded me partly of Elizabeth, NJ (a major port with container shipping quite evident) and partly the skyline of Shanghai. Here I was hoping for a culturally significant experience yet on the drive from the airport to my hotel (Hyatt Regency in Deira on the Corniche overlooking the Arabian Gulf – known in the US as the Persian Gulf). I felt instead that I could have been in Atlanta, L.A. or Miami Beach. The cars are big (mostly Toyotas, Hondas and BMWs including many SUVs), the streets wide, the buildings modern. Everything is in both Arabic and English though I think that there was more English than Arabic. Passed a Hardees and a Chili’s. Can’t escape American fast food. The only difference so far, is that when exiting the terminal at the airport, there is a separate “Ladies Waiting Area” emphasizing the fact that a woman’s role in Arab culture is still very different than Western cultures.
My room at the hotel was ready when I arrived at 9AM and I have been on-line dealing with e-mail since I checked in. As the conference starts tomorrow morning I plan to take a shower and head out in the immediate area this afternoon to check out the Gold Souk (market), Spice Souk, and take a boat ride across Dubai Creek to the Bur Dubai section of town. I plan to grab a shwarma for lunch and dinner will probably be at the hotel tonight in the revolving roof top restaurant. The views from the 25th floor are supposed to be spectacular and the international buffet pretty decent. Will report back soon. Ma’a ssalama (Goodbye) and a-salaam alaykum (Peace be upon you)!
What is more interesting, however, is the trip itself and as some requested, I hope to blog about it here.
I left New York yesterday on the morning flight to Paris, connecting there to Dubai. I must say that business class on Air France doesn’t suck. The food was quite good, the seating comfortable, and although I was working and did not take advantage of it there is a very good selection of on-demand films.
As much as I tried – took melatonin, used ear plugs and an eye shade – I just couldn’t fall asleep for more than a few minutes at a time on the second leg which was an overnight flight from Paris. Consequently I am now going on 24 hours without sleep and with the exception of a potential brief nap later this afternoon, I don’t expect to go to sleep for another 10 hours or so.
The first “a-ha” moment I had was towards the end of the flight as I watched our progress on the moving map. We flew right between Baghdad and Tehran – two places that I have known only through news reports, none of which made either city seem that inviting. The plane was equipped with an external camera which was way cool for watching take-off and landing, but which also provided a straight down view while in flight. Flying over Iraq and Iran, the landscape looked strangely like the American southwest from 39,000 feet.
I did a lot of research for my trip here, both on the business side, as well as the cultural. I picked up an excellent book – “Understanding Arabs” by Margaret Nydell – which proved to be an invaluable resource in terms of understanding the culture based on both a historical and modern perspective. Most importantly, it helps debunk myths regarding the differences between Muslims and Islamic Fundamentalists and also provides much great information on understanding the social and etiquette standards I expect to encounter.
Prior to coming, I had planned – if asked – to indicate that I am an agnostic as I had heard that Judaism is not respected here. The book, however, corrected me. Arab issues are with Israel – not Judaism. As a matter of fact, Islam is very closely aligned with Judaism and Muslims consider their religion to be much closer to Judaism than to Christianity. The other thing I learned is that Arabs do not respect atheists or agnostics as they believe that being religious – no matter what the religion – is something to be highly respected. I believe that if asked (which I probably won’t be anyway) I will likely respond that I am Jewish, from an Eastern European background.
Reading the book, however, could not have prepared me for my arrival in Dubai. The view from the plane reminded me partly of Elizabeth, NJ (a major port with container shipping quite evident) and partly the skyline of Shanghai. Here I was hoping for a culturally significant experience yet on the drive from the airport to my hotel (Hyatt Regency in Deira on the Corniche overlooking the Arabian Gulf – known in the US as the Persian Gulf). I felt instead that I could have been in Atlanta, L.A. or Miami Beach. The cars are big (mostly Toyotas, Hondas and BMWs including many SUVs), the streets wide, the buildings modern. Everything is in both Arabic and English though I think that there was more English than Arabic. Passed a Hardees and a Chili’s. Can’t escape American fast food. The only difference so far, is that when exiting the terminal at the airport, there is a separate “Ladies Waiting Area” emphasizing the fact that a woman’s role in Arab culture is still very different than Western cultures.
My room at the hotel was ready when I arrived at 9AM and I have been on-line dealing with e-mail since I checked in. As the conference starts tomorrow morning I plan to take a shower and head out in the immediate area this afternoon to check out the Gold Souk (market), Spice Souk, and take a boat ride across Dubai Creek to the Bur Dubai section of town. I plan to grab a shwarma for lunch and dinner will probably be at the hotel tonight in the revolving roof top restaurant. The views from the 25th floor are supposed to be spectacular and the international buffet pretty decent. Will report back soon. Ma’a ssalama (Goodbye) and a-salaam alaykum (Peace be upon you)!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I'm SO Proud Of My Brother!
I have always been very proud of my brother Doug and impressed with all his accomplishments. He is an incredibly smart, talented, funny, and articulate scholar, gentleman, and all-around great guy. Today, however, he made me even prouder!
I am very happy to report that effective immediately, Doug is taking a leave of absence from his faculty position with the University of Maryland to assume the position of Staff Director of the Congressional Executive Commission on China for the duration of the 110th Congress (ends January 2009). Combining all his considerable experience, my brother will be sitting on Capitol Hill helping to guide the country's efforts in the monitoring of human rights and development of the rule of law in China. There are nine Senators, nine members of the House of Representatives and five senior Administration officials who sit as commissioners.
I can't stop smiling . . . Just wait 'til Mom hears about it!
I am very happy to report that effective immediately, Doug is taking a leave of absence from his faculty position with the University of Maryland to assume the position of Staff Director of the Congressional Executive Commission on China for the duration of the 110th Congress (ends January 2009). Combining all his considerable experience, my brother will be sitting on Capitol Hill helping to guide the country's efforts in the monitoring of human rights and development of the rule of law in China. There are nine Senators, nine members of the House of Representatives and five senior Administration officials who sit as commissioners.
I can't stop smiling . . . Just wait 'til Mom hears about it!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
RIP Studio 60
It has been a long time since I was upset about a television show being canceled. Certainly part of the reason is due to the load of crap that is on network airwaves, so there's not that much to miss in the first place.
This past season saw two shows debut that are based not so loosely on my beloved Saturday Night Live. 30 Rock started out uneven but continued to grow on me. It is some of the best stuff that Alec Baldwin has ever done and although Tracy Morgan and Judah Friedlander continue to amuse and entertain, and Jack McBrayer's Kenneth may be the most memorable character in a long time, it is Baldwin that keeps me coming back - especially when in a catfight with Isabella Rossellini (one of the 3 most beautiful women in the world in my book, the other two being Catherine Deneuve and Ashley Judd).
But that's a sitcom. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is one of the best dramedies on the tube. It mixes sharp, crisp, and intelligent dialogue with a backstage view much more real than 30 Rock. Although the story lines are somewhat above average and sometimes jump the shark (e.g. the two-part Pahrump episode), the acting, the script, and the characters kept me coming back. Especially for anyone who has seen D.L. Hughley on stage doing his act, Studio 60 provides a view into just how smart and articulate this actor/comedian is and also highlights Timothy Busfield's talents which have gone largely wasted since thirtysomething and Revenge of the Nerds.
There were a number of on-line petitions that obviously failed to make a difference to the network execs who will end its run at the end of this season. I'm in no position to argue given that I have nothing to do with the business, but I question the intelligence of those that cancel shows like Studio 60, not to mention Arrested Development. I know that eyeballs are what keep shows on the air - someone's got to pay the bills - but it's just a darn shame when quality programming suffers as a result.
Rest In Peace Studio 60 and may the DVD set of the one and only season be out soon.
This past season saw two shows debut that are based not so loosely on my beloved Saturday Night Live. 30 Rock started out uneven but continued to grow on me. It is some of the best stuff that Alec Baldwin has ever done and although Tracy Morgan and Judah Friedlander continue to amuse and entertain, and Jack McBrayer's Kenneth may be the most memorable character in a long time, it is Baldwin that keeps me coming back - especially when in a catfight with Isabella Rossellini (one of the 3 most beautiful women in the world in my book, the other two being Catherine Deneuve and Ashley Judd).
But that's a sitcom. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is one of the best dramedies on the tube. It mixes sharp, crisp, and intelligent dialogue with a backstage view much more real than 30 Rock. Although the story lines are somewhat above average and sometimes jump the shark (e.g. the two-part Pahrump episode), the acting, the script, and the characters kept me coming back. Especially for anyone who has seen D.L. Hughley on stage doing his act, Studio 60 provides a view into just how smart and articulate this actor/comedian is and also highlights Timothy Busfield's talents which have gone largely wasted since thirtysomething and Revenge of the Nerds.
There were a number of on-line petitions that obviously failed to make a difference to the network execs who will end its run at the end of this season. I'm in no position to argue given that I have nothing to do with the business, but I question the intelligence of those that cancel shows like Studio 60, not to mention Arrested Development. I know that eyeballs are what keep shows on the air - someone's got to pay the bills - but it's just a darn shame when quality programming suffers as a result.
Rest In Peace Studio 60 and may the DVD set of the one and only season be out soon.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Who Says Flying Isn't Fun Anymore
Was at Newark airport on Sunday on my way to the gate for my flight when over the P.A. the following was heard:
Attention, Continental Airlines is paging Darth Vader. Darth Vader, please meet your party at Gate 95. Darth Vader, please meet your party, Luke Skywalker, at Gate 95. Your flight for Star Wars is now boarding.
Perplexed faces were everywhere. More curious than amused as some public spaces such as airports use code names when alerting security personnel to an incident. This is what I thought might be happening as I assumed that airports had become devoid of humor. Perplexed turned to giggles as the next announcement followed only a few seconds later:
Attention, Continental Airlines is paging Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse, please meet your party at Gate 95. Mickey Mouse, please meet your party, Minnie Mouse, at Gate 95 for immediate boarding and departure to Orlando.
Attention, Continental Airlines is paging Darth Vader. Darth Vader, please meet your party at Gate 95. Darth Vader, please meet your party, Luke Skywalker, at Gate 95. Your flight for Star Wars is now boarding.
Perplexed faces were everywhere. More curious than amused as some public spaces such as airports use code names when alerting security personnel to an incident. This is what I thought might be happening as I assumed that airports had become devoid of humor. Perplexed turned to giggles as the next announcement followed only a few seconds later:
Attention, Continental Airlines is paging Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse, please meet your party at Gate 95. Mickey Mouse, please meet your party, Minnie Mouse, at Gate 95 for immediate boarding and departure to Orlando.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Quickies
There have been so many things I wanted to post recently, and I just never get a chance. Here are a few quickies.
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My wife was reading something to Molly, our 7-year old, that included the word "rheumatism." Betsy asked Molly if she knew what that word meant. Molly very proudly said, "Sure. It means having to do with being in your room."
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Saw the following license plate on a FedEx delivery truck: PLZNOTKT
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Boris Yeltsin died today. He always was so sickly, I just assumed he was already dead.
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I now know two people who have seen, on separate occasions, a man in Penn Station wearing a pink tutu.
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A couple of weeks ago there were news reports that Keith Richards had reportedly snorted a mix of cocaine and the ashes of his dead father's cremated remains. It was later denied by his publicist, but not before Richards mentioned that he was on the "Most Likely To Die" list for 10 years and was annoyed that he was taken off. Why does none of this surprise me?
More when I think of it.
-*-*-*-
My wife was reading something to Molly, our 7-year old, that included the word "rheumatism." Betsy asked Molly if she knew what that word meant. Molly very proudly said, "Sure. It means having to do with being in your room."
-*-*-*-
Saw the following license plate on a FedEx delivery truck: PLZNOTKT
-*-*-*-
Boris Yeltsin died today. He always was so sickly, I just assumed he was already dead.
-*-*-*-
I now know two people who have seen, on separate occasions, a man in Penn Station wearing a pink tutu.
-*-*-*-
A couple of weeks ago there were news reports that Keith Richards had reportedly snorted a mix of cocaine and the ashes of his dead father's cremated remains. It was later denied by his publicist, but not before Richards mentioned that he was on the "Most Likely To Die" list for 10 years and was annoyed that he was taken off. Why does none of this surprise me?
More when I think of it.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Plain Jane Ain't So Plain
My friend, neighbor, and colleague Jane Seskin recently didn't retire. That is to say, Jane is someone who will never retire, but rather continue to start new chapters in her life.
In this new chapter, Jane has created a unique selection of cards. Please visit her website (also in my list of Fun Links on the right) and peruse the witty, profound, and charming selection. Even better, tell all your friends and relatives!
In this new chapter, Jane has created a unique selection of cards. Please visit her website (also in my list of Fun Links on the right) and peruse the witty, profound, and charming selection. Even better, tell all your friends and relatives!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
N'awlins
I'm here in New Orleans attending a conference. With 25,000 attendees, we're the largest group to come to NOLA post-Katrina, taking up just about every hotel room in town and filling all the restaurants. The city has been incredibly hospitable and thrilled to have us and our expense accounts.
I haven't seen any of the stricken areas (staying right between the French Quarter and the convention center), but the tales from everyone I speak to are universal. Whether they were directly affected or not, there is duality of sadness and resignation combined with a spirit of survival. While very different, it reminds me of New York post 9/11 when we were still reeling a bit but so very thankful for the visitors that came and spent their money after tourism had dropped off to zilch.
The town is still wonderfully charming with some of the best food and music in the universe. Come visit and spend your money here. It's for a good cause.
I haven't seen any of the stricken areas (staying right between the French Quarter and the convention center), but the tales from everyone I speak to are universal. Whether they were directly affected or not, there is duality of sadness and resignation combined with a spirit of survival. While very different, it reminds me of New York post 9/11 when we were still reeling a bit but so very thankful for the visitors that came and spent their money after tourism had dropped off to zilch.
The town is still wonderfully charming with some of the best food and music in the universe. Come visit and spend your money here. It's for a good cause.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Oddcast
Check out the new entry under Fun Links for the Oddcast Text to Speech Demo. I've seen stuff like this before and they're used quite frequently with canned responses for customer service applications and the like. The demo, however, is particularly fun because not only can you type in whatever you want the app to say, but you can also choose one of several languages and one of several voices/accents. And her eyes follow your mouse around the screen too.
Typing in naughty bits are the most fun . . .
Typing in naughty bits are the most fun . . .
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Rant Of The Day - iFines
It was reported in the news yesterday that New York City may soon impose fines on pedestrians who cross the street while listening to iPods or while busy typing away on Blackberrys. Apparently, there has been an increase in pedestrian accidents and deaths attributable to people not being aware of their surroundings.
I don't think there should be fines. As a matter of fact, I think we should encourage such behavior. After all, if you're stupid enough to be that oblivious while crossing the street, then Darwin's Law should rule and you should be culled from the pack.
If we're going to do something about distractors, how about getting people to stop using cell phones - whether handsfree or not - while driving. I've seen too many people driving like idiots while engaged in conversation and in those cases, while Darwin's Law should again rule, the fact of the matter is that while driving a car you are likely to injure another or take someone else's life at the same time. That wouldn't be fair.
I don't think there should be fines. As a matter of fact, I think we should encourage such behavior. After all, if you're stupid enough to be that oblivious while crossing the street, then Darwin's Law should rule and you should be culled from the pack.
If we're going to do something about distractors, how about getting people to stop using cell phones - whether handsfree or not - while driving. I've seen too many people driving like idiots while engaged in conversation and in those cases, while Darwin's Law should again rule, the fact of the matter is that while driving a car you are likely to injure another or take someone else's life at the same time. That wouldn't be fair.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Maui Ain't Getting Much Better
Last we saw our hero, he was waiting for the car rental company to show up . . .
Well they did, and that was about the only thing that went right on Monday.
That afternoon was the only time I had set aside to do something fun on the island. I had hoped to catch the luau at my hotel which is supposed to be the best one on the south coast (I didn't want to go to the most famous one in Lahaina because I didn't want to have to drive back after possibly having some festive beverages). It is only offered Thursday through Monday so this was my only night to catch it. I enquired as to the start time, and found out that I would not make it back from the 2-hour whale watching trip I had booked for that afternoon.
Greased up with sunscreen, put the polarizing filter on my new fancy-shmancy telephoto zoom lens, and drove up a half-hour north for the whale-watching cruise. Had a few minutes before I had to check-in, so checked my voicemail in the office. The whale-watching organization had called just a few minutes before, leaving a message that all cruises had been cancelled due to the weather.
Not my luck on this trip so far. I thought, however, that I would salvage the evening by now being able to get back to the hotel in time to catch the luau. Went back to the hotel, went up to the front desk to sign-up for the luau - told that it's sold out.
Not my day.
Have been working ever since, which is just fine because the weather has been very windy, on the cool side, and rainy. High surf warnings have closed most of the beaches in the whole island chain. Forecast for the duration of my trip is pretty much the same, except for heavier rain tomorrow - the day I leave.
Supposedly, one can see the whales from the beach right in front of the hotel. I looked. They're not there. Either that or they're hiding.
The good news - I love my client and they love me. When I had to make a presentation to the entire staff who had gathered in a huge meeting room, they introduced me and then presented me with a beautiful lei made from kukui nuts and leaves from the state tree. Perhaps there will be another chance to come back sometime in the future.
Aloha and mahola for reading.
Well they did, and that was about the only thing that went right on Monday.
That afternoon was the only time I had set aside to do something fun on the island. I had hoped to catch the luau at my hotel which is supposed to be the best one on the south coast (I didn't want to go to the most famous one in Lahaina because I didn't want to have to drive back after possibly having some festive beverages). It is only offered Thursday through Monday so this was my only night to catch it. I enquired as to the start time, and found out that I would not make it back from the 2-hour whale watching trip I had booked for that afternoon.
Greased up with sunscreen, put the polarizing filter on my new fancy-shmancy telephoto zoom lens, and drove up a half-hour north for the whale-watching cruise. Had a few minutes before I had to check-in, so checked my voicemail in the office. The whale-watching organization had called just a few minutes before, leaving a message that all cruises had been cancelled due to the weather.
Not my luck on this trip so far. I thought, however, that I would salvage the evening by now being able to get back to the hotel in time to catch the luau. Went back to the hotel, went up to the front desk to sign-up for the luau - told that it's sold out.
Not my day.
Have been working ever since, which is just fine because the weather has been very windy, on the cool side, and rainy. High surf warnings have closed most of the beaches in the whole island chain. Forecast for the duration of my trip is pretty much the same, except for heavier rain tomorrow - the day I leave.
Supposedly, one can see the whales from the beach right in front of the hotel. I looked. They're not there. Either that or they're hiding.
The good news - I love my client and they love me. When I had to make a presentation to the entire staff who had gathered in a huge meeting room, they introduced me and then presented me with a beautiful lei made from kukui nuts and leaves from the state tree. Perhaps there will be another chance to come back sometime in the future.
Aloha and mahola for reading.
Monday, January 29, 2007
A Bad Day in Maui
I'm in Maui on business.
For everyone who, upon hearing that I was going here, asked, "Are you taking your family?" - PLEASE think about these things before you say them. If you did, you would have realized that that would mean taking my kids out of school for a week, dropping about $4,000 in airfare plus meals, all so that they can run around and have fun while I'm working. Still want to ask that question Brainiac?
Anyway, I guess the gods conspired to make sure that I wouldn't enjoy my stay here. Within 2 hours of being on the ground, here's what happened:
1. Got halfway from the airport in Kahului to Wailea (southwest coast where I'm staying) before getting stopped at a roadblock and turned around because of a major accident on the road. Had to drive halfway around the island to take the only other road.
2. Was about 1/4 mile from my hotel when a woman decided that she needed to pull out of the driveway of the hotel next door BEFORE I had finished passing it. She hit me in the right rear end, spun me around, and caused enough damage to the car that it was just barely able to limp along to the hotel.
3. When we got out to exchange information, it started pouring.
4. Checked into my hotel whereupon hearing what had happened, they upgraded me to an oceanview room. That was very nice, except that to get to my room, you either had to be a rat looking for the cheese in a maze or you could walk outside a bit to go directly there. I chose the outside route as it had stopped raining. Halfway to my room, the sprinklers came on and soaked me and my bags.
5. Having been awake for 24 hours at this point, I took a shower and crashed, only to get up 3 1/2 hours later to be on a call.
6. Now, as I sit here waiting for the car rental company to come with a new car and a tow truck for the old one, I'm looking out at my ocean view, watching the clouds gather as the usually sunny forecast has turned to "Showers" for the next 3 days - my entire trip.
Maui-Shmaui.
I guess it could be worse. I might have to do some work in Bimidji, Minnesota which is 4 1/2 hours north of Minneapolis. For fans of the movie "Fargo", Brainerd is the "big town" halfway to Bimidji.
Ah, the glamour of business travel . . .
For everyone who, upon hearing that I was going here, asked, "Are you taking your family?" - PLEASE think about these things before you say them. If you did, you would have realized that that would mean taking my kids out of school for a week, dropping about $4,000 in airfare plus meals, all so that they can run around and have fun while I'm working. Still want to ask that question Brainiac?
Anyway, I guess the gods conspired to make sure that I wouldn't enjoy my stay here. Within 2 hours of being on the ground, here's what happened:
1. Got halfway from the airport in Kahului to Wailea (southwest coast where I'm staying) before getting stopped at a roadblock and turned around because of a major accident on the road. Had to drive halfway around the island to take the only other road.
2. Was about 1/4 mile from my hotel when a woman decided that she needed to pull out of the driveway of the hotel next door BEFORE I had finished passing it. She hit me in the right rear end, spun me around, and caused enough damage to the car that it was just barely able to limp along to the hotel.
3. When we got out to exchange information, it started pouring.
4. Checked into my hotel whereupon hearing what had happened, they upgraded me to an oceanview room. That was very nice, except that to get to my room, you either had to be a rat looking for the cheese in a maze or you could walk outside a bit to go directly there. I chose the outside route as it had stopped raining. Halfway to my room, the sprinklers came on and soaked me and my bags.
5. Having been awake for 24 hours at this point, I took a shower and crashed, only to get up 3 1/2 hours later to be on a call.
6. Now, as I sit here waiting for the car rental company to come with a new car and a tow truck for the old one, I'm looking out at my ocean view, watching the clouds gather as the usually sunny forecast has turned to "Showers" for the next 3 days - my entire trip.
Maui-Shmaui.
I guess it could be worse. I might have to do some work in Bimidji, Minnesota which is 4 1/2 hours north of Minneapolis. For fans of the movie "Fargo", Brainerd is the "big town" halfway to Bimidji.
Ah, the glamour of business travel . . .
Molly's Balls
My almost 7 year-old daughter Molly decided that she wanted to try juggling and used her allowance to buy two bean-bag type juggling balls.
The following things that came out of her mouth just made me crack up and realize that they would have been even funnier coming out of a boy's mouth (my parenthetical thought bubbles follow).
In the car: "Daddy, my balls dropped." (It's about time)
A minute later: "Daddy, I can't reach my balls." (Just wait til you get to be my age)
Later that day: "Daddy, I like playing with my balls." (You sure you're not a boy?)
A few minutes later: "Daddy, I want to name my balls." (Again, you sure you're not a boy?)
The following things that came out of her mouth just made me crack up and realize that they would have been even funnier coming out of a boy's mouth (my parenthetical thought bubbles follow).
In the car: "Daddy, my balls dropped." (It's about time)
A minute later: "Daddy, I can't reach my balls." (Just wait til you get to be my age)
Later that day: "Daddy, I like playing with my balls." (You sure you're not a boy?)
A few minutes later: "Daddy, I want to name my balls." (Again, you sure you're not a boy?)
Monday, January 22, 2007
Just Passing Through
It occurred to me that with as much traveling as I have done, there are some cities, states, and countries that I have technically been in, though only by virtue of a plane connection or refueling stop. That means I've seen the airport, and nothing else - though in some of these locations, the airport itself is pretty impressive. All of these locations are ones that I would like to have visited and still hope to someday (okay, I guess Minneapolis can wait . . .) . As of today, the list includes:
Alaska (refueling stops in Anchorage)
Colorado (connections in Denver)
Minnesota (connections in Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Washington (connections in Seattle)
Oahu (connections in Honolulu)
South Korea (connections in Seoul)
Switzerland (connections in Zurich)
Alaska (refueling stops in Anchorage)
Colorado (connections in Denver)
Minnesota (connections in Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Washington (connections in Seattle)
Oahu (connections in Honolulu)
South Korea (connections in Seoul)
Switzerland (connections in Zurich)
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Condiment Packets
Check out the latest Fun Link I've added on the right for the Condiment Packet Museum (thanks 5337!). Someone clearly has too much time on their hands.
And while you have some time on your hands, visit the other links listed there.
And while you have some time on your hands, visit the other links listed there.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
No Apologies
Yeah, I know. I haven't blogged in a long time, yet there is always so much to blog about. Special apologies to Cousin Dana who always checks. No apologies to anyone else. Just too damn busy sometimes. I am, however, going to try and do better.
Molly (now almost 7 years old) has only lost two teeth so far, though several others have been loose. We took her to the dentist yesterday because we were concerned that one tooth which had been very loose, was not so any longer and kind of sticking straight out - we called it Snaggletooth. Long story short, the dentist had to pull Molly's two top teeth on the spot. She was an extraordinary patient - even the dentist was amazed.
Molly now has a huge hole in her mouth where her teeth used to be, yet she can still whistle. Big brother Sammy felt bad for her and is preparing white chocolate fondue to make her feel better (and I suppose, to make himself feel better as well . . .).
Molly (now almost 7 years old) has only lost two teeth so far, though several others have been loose. We took her to the dentist yesterday because we were concerned that one tooth which had been very loose, was not so any longer and kind of sticking straight out - we called it Snaggletooth. Long story short, the dentist had to pull Molly's two top teeth on the spot. She was an extraordinary patient - even the dentist was amazed.
Molly now has a huge hole in her mouth where her teeth used to be, yet she can still whistle. Big brother Sammy felt bad for her and is preparing white chocolate fondue to make her feel better (and I suppose, to make himself feel better as well . . .).
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