True story relayed to me today: Someone was hiring for a sales role and had several candidates. Among them was a 20-something male who neither […]
Year: 2015
What have you done!?
Dear Inventor of the Ubiquitous Touch Screen, I would like to blame you for the proliferation of your public petri dish every time I check […]
QUICK TAKES: What I learned about the Digital Divide
The below is a personal brain dump from The Washington Post Bridging the Digital Divide conference, October 8, 2015. This is not intended to be […]
QUICK TAKES: What I learned about Cybersecurity
The below is a personal brain dump from The Washington Post Cybersecurity Summit, October 1, 2015. This is not intended to be coverage of the event. […]
We are indestructible …
… right up until the moment we are not. We remember … not to harbor hate, but to never let it rule us.
Colin Huggins
Colin Huggins is a pianist from Georgia, who pursued classical music career for a while in New York, eventually becoming a ballet accompanist. For a […]
Much Love, iRude!
In the world of consumer technology, innovations that take off tend to enhance life, simplify it or make it more efficient – without requiring significant change […]
From Here, the City Looks Spotless …
A recent flight back to New York, from a week in paradise – and as we made our final approach up the Hudson all the […]
His Name is Earle. Or Not.
The only thing I know about Iguanas is that this one was named Earle. The only reason I knew this was that I had named […]
QUICK TAKES: Some things I’ve Learned from a Year at The Washington Post
(HEADLINE-WRITING IS NOT ONE OF THEM) The below is a personal brain dump, not intended to be coverage or Washington Post editorial. Quick Takes are intended […]
QUICK TAKE: What I learned about Energy
The below is a personal brain dump, not intended to be coverage of the event. Quick Takes are intended to record questions that deserve futher exploration. […]
QUICK TAKE: What I Learned About Food
The below is a personal brain dump, not intended to be coverage of the event. For coverage by the professionals and to see video, visit http://www.americaanswers.com […]
He’ll Just Have to Wait
Everyone is all smiles on stage at this press conference in China’s equivalent of the White House Press Room. We were only a little bit […]
The Camden Track Runner
One evening, the train from Washington, DC to New York slowed to a near stop. We crept along for 10 minutes for mysterious reasons. Then, […]
Ferguson Riots.
Here’s what I saw out my window on the craziest night of Ferguson/Staten Island riots in New York — On the news were pictures of […]
That Time We Met With Sonia Ghandi
For most people 30 seconds isn’t a long time. For most people 30 seconds with Sonia Ghandi would be about 30 seconds longer than they […]
Sunrise Over the Fuel Farm
5:30 am. Monday morning. Styrfoam cup of coffee. Faint smell of jet fuel in my shirt. Hair doesn’t smell like jet wash yet. Feet on the […]
I Know You’ve Been Wondering
Like a bee sting. At first. The immediate reflex is to reach for whatever is causing such pain and try to kill it. But it’s very […]
Santorini
I wouldn’t dare claim to have captured the uniqueness and beauty of this place. So here’s a small sampling.
Liwa Oasis; Muscat, Oman
I’ll never understand people who hole up in a hotel when they travel, eating hotel food, watching TV and wandering what is nearly always an […]
A Questionable Storm
RMB 4 million. That’s four million yuan. Roughly $500,000 in American dollars. I’m told it was never spent. That the rockets were never launched, the planes […]
A Mexican Friend, Out of Context in Boston
March, 2006 It was 1999. I hadn’t been to Mexico since 1997 and hadn’t worked with my business partners down there since 1996. We have warm […]
Is Billy a Billionaire Today?
April, 2006 On my desk here at FORTUNE Magazine. A piece of direct mail from “Billy Fletcher.” Handwritten in magic marker. THE WORLD OF PRODUCTS Over 3000 […]
Muay Thai in Bangkok
April, 2006 [photos courtesy of Clay Chandler] I just found a keychain in my desk drawer. It’s imprinted: amazing MUAYTHAI LUMPINEE STADIUM BANGKOK THAILAND What a night […]
Waiting in the DEN
May, 2006 I got to the airport, sat for a while, found out my flight has mechanical problems and will be delayed … and that I […]
Alone in the DEN
May, 2006 Not much to report. I finally made it to Denver. If you get out your map or Google Earth, you’ll discover that I’m about […]
My Apologies, 96 KitKats for Your Trouble
June 14, 2007 So I figured my luggage wouldn’t arrive in New Delhi yesterday when the rest of me arrived, and since this happened to me […]
The Beijing Waffle Incident
September, 2007 Well. Back in Beijing. Again. You might remember that I was here in March for the first time since May 2005. Many of […]
Welcome.
A great truth of life: It ain’t easy to find a url for a web site. You will learn nothing about the ancient civilization of Minoa […]
I Still Don’t Know
Dear Homeless Man: I meant to stop and ask what you meant when you said “You people running around like indians thinking you’re spreading the […]
The Lifeguard Always Wins
Vanderbilt YMCA, May 1, 2013 Lifeguard to guy 1: “You can’t swim here without a bathing cap.” Guy 1: “Dude. I already swam 10 laps” […]
Unfortunately Average American
Overheard. Guy: I’ve never been to Ireland, but it’s one of the places I want to go Woman: Have you been to London? Guy: No, […]
The Breeze Was the Best Part
On my 27-block walk to work: — Bad-smelling man instructing a plastic cup on matters of religion & politics — Three tourists narrowly avoiding disaster […]
The Man Has a Point
Overheard. Mother/nanny/teacher or caregiver of some sort: “Are you having fun!!??” Male – 5 – 8 years old: “New York is STINKY!”
I’m Also Available for Birthday Parties
Me: “That’s a lot of food you have up there” Cab Driver: “I eat all day while i drive” Me: “Let me guess what you’re […]
I said “Alabama”. He heard “Albania”
Me: Have you ever been to Alabama? Cab Driver: No, I’m Serbian.
It Was Summer. They Deliver Vegetables to the Office.
Me: I paid the fare with the machine back here, but I also brought this tomato for you as an extra tip (hands a tomato […]
And Now … Sports …
Two people got in line behind me while I was standing third in the checkout line. Overheard. Female #1: Should we go somewhere else? Female […]
There are Easier Ways to Meet the Neighbors
Day 8. Trudging down the steps of my temporarily elevator-less building. Turning the corner at the 5th floor landing, had an-all-too-common-lately shock of almost bumping […]
You Disgust Me.
Dear Gray, Flapping, Smelly, Cloud of Pigeons, I don’t know who puts seed out on the sidewalk in front of my building, but I hear […]
The Trials of a Board President
I knew there would be a few days like this. Just didn’t think it would take until Day 23 in my temporarily-elevatorless building. On the […]
Company Meeting Quiz.
You’re a participant in a training presentation. Which person would you rather have sitting next to you? A. The guy who walks in 20 minutes […]
Upper East Side. No Explanation Needed.
I walk into Dylan’s candies. Look around the main floor. Go downstairs. Look around. Back up. An older woman bundled in a fur and carrying […]
Ode to a Piece of Lettuce
Oh, Piece of Lettuce, I saw you again today. Smashed against the concrete curb. You have a new scar, I see from someone taking a […]
The Shut-up Trick
Me: See that brownstone over there? I went to a play there last night. Cab Driver: No you didn’t. That’s a house. It’s not a […]
Mind Games Matter
Getting back in the swimming pool tonight after a few months off, I played a mind game with myself in which I cataloged mind games […]
Beware the Rain, My Friend
The most dangerous day in the city is a rainy one. Terrors to be avoided while walking the sidewalks: – The Blind Bull: In which […]
Minute (and 6 blocks) Clinic
The worst healthcare development in recent years is right here in Manhattan. These clinics that have popped up every 5 or 6 blocks. Before I […]
Rule #12
“Rule number 12,” he said as he picked up the receiver to give me personal advice. I left mine on speaker because I was angry […]
A Weeping Kiss
So there I stood, atop Tiananmen Rostrum, looking at the lights of Tiananmen Square, fully ablaze for a square mile in our honor. Dinner was […]
True. But Where?
I opened my eyes and saw the blue sky and bright sun. He was jostling me with his foot and finishing a cigarette. “Come on. […]
Holiday Cheer.
This is how I know the holidays are almost here: – Angry, unpleasant people are shoving past each other on 34th St to get into […]
Truth is in the Subtext.
Major Asian/middle east airline – staff international flights with the best, most pleasant people to leave a good impression. Major US airline – staff international […]
Kiss, Bow, Shake Hands, etc
Brief summary of the quirks of business outside the U.S. Had a conversation yesterday where I was being quizzed on the above. The answer, if […]
A Very Good Rainy Monday.
Monday – gave my umbrella to a soggy oldish man who was waiting at an uncovered bus stop, resulting in getting to work wet. This […]
A Foreshadowing
Posted 08/06/2013 So today, about 1/2 of my Facebook friends are weeping/lauding/coping with the stunning sale of Washington Post to Jeff Bezos. About 1/3 are […]
For the Record. It’s a Good Idea.
Me: If I give you a dollar, will you sing a song while you drive me to work? Cab Driver: What? Me: You can sing […]
Canine Courtesy
Putting the “dog” conversation in context of places I’ve lived: Question: May I pet your dog? South Carolina Answer: A 20-minute conversation about how the […]
The One Who Follows the Rule
Me: What time did you start driving this morning? Cab Driver: 4:10. I take a fast shower and go (makes a hair washing motion – […]
Shades of Care
Man with Giant Magnifying Glass reading the newspaper at McDonald’s – to man staring into space across the table while drinking a cup of coffee […]
Welcome to New York
For my friends who think New York and South Carolina are nothing alike, i present you with what might possibly be an amphibious vehicle. Spotted […]
Meet a Manhattan Minoan
I clicked like on something, unaware it would commit me to writing 10 things you might not know about me. I keep my word: 1. […]
A Common Happening
Welcome to Chicago. May the wind be always at your back. May the road rise up to meet your feet. And may you never be […]
Secret Service NOT Baggage Service
Vuk Jeremic talks to Kathleen Hays about Europe. Reminds me – I first met Vuk when he came to a conference I ran. Vuk was […]
Napkin Guide to New York
At my Tuesday diner: Man: Excuse me. Sorry to bother you. Do you know where the Statue of Liberty is from here? Me: It’s all […]
What Happens in this House?
Staffer behind the McDonald’s Counter: What is that? Me [finished putting coffee change in the Ronald McDonald House donation box]: You mean the donation box? […]
Back to Reality
Post-Burma culture shock. Jetlag edition. Noises that break the nighttime silence: — Burma – Fruit bats — New York – Snow plows Weather quirks: — […]
Street Walker
It was the silvery mane I first noticed as you walked down East Fiftieth. A noble coiffe befitting the King of the Concrete Jungle. Such […]
I Don’t Wish to Witness the Magic
Guy at 53rd St: Hey man. I do magic. Wanna see a trick? Me: No thanks. I don’t particularly like magicians Guy: Come on, dude. […]
Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Dateline: United Club. Slow night. 9:00 pm: Kids making a ruckus over by the airline club coffee machine. Incessant paging of Ms. Xxxx, a passenger […]
A Place Called Home(ish)
It was this month, 20 years ago when I landed here in Mexico City for the first time. My business partner and I had read […]
An Incomplete Genius
Overheard at my Tuesday diner: Person #1 with finality gives the full story of what happened to flight 370, declaring it to be in the […]
If I Could Find Him Again, I’d Ride With Him Forever
Cab Driver: (singing with the radio/cd/cassette or whatever at 5:30 am) Me: Hi. LaGuardia, please. Driver: (slips “LaGuardia” in as a lyric once) Me: (sits […]
Please State Your Protest Clearly
One-man protest at 53rd and Third. Grizzled man in a bright orange “Builders Union. Build it Right” t-shirt. Blows a whistle and in a “hey […]
The Bus! The Bus? The Bus.
Breakfast at an outdoor table next to a bus stop. Watching the mixture of ages, income class, style and nationality pass by my breakfast table […]
Captain of His Own Two Feet
It took years, but “you did it!”, man in the ankle-length, double-breasted black leather overcoat and leather skipper’s hat complete with golden anchor on the […]
Sometimes an Arm Flap is Just an Arm Flap
51st Street. Delivery truck backing into a loading zone while a man in a suit with briefcase stands at back of truck, both arms flapping […]
Out Loud, But Top Secret
Credit Card Company Voice Activated, Automated Operator: Thank you for calling XXXX fraud prevention we will need to ask you a few questions to confirm […]
Bill Mahan
Happy Patriots Day! Completely unaware of this holiday unique to Boston, I reported to the office on this day in 1997 right after moving to […]