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 […]
Month: March 2015
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 […]
Everything You Need to Know About Airports
Walter Kamb you got me thinking about the downtown airport days. Let me test your memory with 10 of my key lessons learned from those […]
The Shopping Cart Workout
56th St northeast corner of 3rd ave. Grubby-looking man, arms and legs splayed, sound asleep while standing, leaning at a 60-degree angle, against a shopping […]
Drunken Deli Man
Oh, Drunken Mitty at the deli last night, the things inside your head. I’m certain you saw yourself a man of mystery and charm. The […]
Intra-urban Whiplash
Refresher course for my return to West Village: Uniform Midtown: Suit, tie, clean-shaven. Maybe a pair of hilarious, but tasteful shoes West Village: Black shirt, […]
At Least He’s Creative
Grubby-looking man steps into the 1 train car on the subway at 18th street. Him: I’m homeless and I’m hungry, please give [shakes a paper […]
Hold This for Me, Please?
On the subway. Guy (over 6 feet tall) is sound asleep, wearing giant headphones, leaning precariously to the left, about a 70 degree angle above […]
Scary Driver, Good Donkey
Five minutes into my morning run down the side of the steep caldera, a dozen donkeys ran past me. I heard a man shouting commands. […]
One of Us is a Little Stubborn
Ticket agent: Do you have an injured leg? Me: Yes, just an ankle thing. Agent: Do you need wheelchair assistance? Me: Absolutely not. Agent: How […]
Some Places Should Remain Secret
There’s something about sitting for breakfast in an unpretentious diner, with reasonable prices while the owner, whose English is passable, but not great, leans on […]
The Mystery of the Citibikers
Me: Do you like all of these Citibike riders? They are everywhere now that the sun is out Driver: Yes I do. Me: Really? Are […]
Sometimes, Cheerful is Too Cheerful
Me: I don’t feel like undressing and emptying my pockets today, may we just do a pat down? Tsa woman: Yes (waves me through). Step […]