US Visit - Day Four

Boss again earlier than me today.
Only morning workshops today. Impressed with what Salesforce are offering for their Winter 07 release.
All sorts of dramas as they pull down the conference BEFORE the last workshop finishes. Unhappy organiser people looking worried.
Go for lunch at a place called Zuni's. Realise it's mentioned in that "In Praise of Slow" book. Wait an hour for roast chicken, but well worth it. Rate it better than Orportos!
Attend baseball game with Eddie. Great seats. Sports fans are nuts all over the world! I now know what an RBI is (Runs Batted In) and who the Detroit Tigers are (go Justin Verlander!)
Back to the room for 11pm conference call.
Now 3am, have to get up by 4:30am...it's not worth the effort.

Amount of work done: moderate

US Visit - Day Three

Boss earlier than me today.
Colin Powell's speech on leadership. Powerful and funny. A true orator. Some good quotes:

- The best leaders are those that not only have a vision, but can drive that vision through to every member of their team
- Leaders inspire, not just motivate
- You know you're a good leader if your troops follow you, if only out of curiosity. Cause then it's about trust

Another full Salesforce conference day. Impressed with some of the partner offerings that link in with Salesforce.
Realise that there is a massive Playstation Sony store across the road. Had to check it out. Everything is just bigger in America!
Damn conference calls with back home make me miss the company sponsored drinks.
Eddie intros me to an Australian friend of his from Brisbane. Turns out to be Lina, a friend of mine. Small world indeed.
Back to Red Room for more drinks. I'm a damn regular there.
Happy that getting home is as simple as pressing the elevator button to Level 3.

US Visit - Day Two

Great sleep in high thread-count sheets, able to get to the lobby before boss.
Attend first day of Salesforce conference. These Americans really know how to do a conference! Keynote address contains strobe lights and massive projector screens. It's all about the optimism, random "yeahs!" and bagging out Microsoft.
Attend workshops. Mostly good, one bad. Bad lunch.
More workshops. Realise I should take some notes so I can write something about this trip when I get back to work.
Concert at night, "Train" performing. Only realise who they were at the very last song, "Drops of Jupiter". No boogying afterwards, everyone dispersed.
Drinks with AUS/NZ people. Red Room (apparently it's the bar to go to) too full, onwards to another Red Room.
Jet lag kicking in after one or two, had to go.

Amount of work done: high

US Visit - Day One

Wandered around San Francisco (well, at least around Union Square).
Had a lazy lunch listening to a jazz duo (double bass + trumpet).
Checked out the Apple Store (where else??), that Genius Bar thing is quite helpful.
Swung into Museum of Modern Art, liked Henri Matisse and this guy called Chuck Close.
Slight issue on the project, hopefully will be fixed by tomorrow.
Caught up with my cousin who lives here. Great to see him again, it's like friends who after a long time away can get back straight into conversation.
Went to a bar called Red Room. Classy establisment, they have portraits on the wall, but they are of actual people on video. Swank!

Amount of work done: moderate

Damn! two cheap calls already:

fantastic city.... enjoy mate :) go the farmers market at the ferry building - the site of an always favourite client office visit!!
Bjee - 08 October '06 - 20:29

Bah, didn't make it there :( Will have to check it out next time.
JookBoy (link) - 11 October '06 - 16:22

Us Visit - Day Zero

Furious packing till 2am.
Sad farewell. (but only for a week babe!)
Quality food in business class.
Couldn't sleep, kept sliding down the bed.
Watched "Kenny", very heartwarming movie.
Watched "Mission Impossible 3", Michelle Q is hot!

Amount of work done: minimal

Damn! five cheap calls already:

Maggie (it's MAGGIE Q) is hot. Even as a chick I have to say she's H.O.T.TTTTTTTTTT. Just oozes sex appeal.

What's up with the sliders thing? My pal who's a shortie says she slides down the business class bed, but wouldn't have thought you'd have that issue with your 6-ft-minus-1-cm?! Maybe you should've stuck with cattle class instead :)
beckster (link) - 09 October '06 - 09:25

Whoops, yes Maggie Q.

It's just that the bed is flat, but it's at an angle. Just found it hard to stay still, and when I do push against the foot rest at the bottom, my feet were getting squished!
JookBoy (link) - 09 October '06 - 14:01

kenny is such an interesting movie, a little slow but very heartwarming. How cute is the little romance huh...
addy - 09 October '06 - 19:27

Gee - bit rich to be complaining about the lack of sleepability in business class! [Considered retracting this comment due to upcoming 12 hr flight and worry about bad karma, but will leave it as is]
Dessy - 10 October '06 - 13:51

Yes, quite cute!

haha, but it's true :) If it was good, I wouldn't complain, but considering the amount of money that is needed for that ticket...however, seemed like everyone else around me was getting sleep, so I must have been doing something wrong with my sleping position.
And yes, if I had Economy tickets, I'm sure it would have been a lot worse, so relatively it was much more comfortable. Is that better? :P
JookBoy (link) - 11 October '06 - 16:11

"The Undercover Economist" - A Review

Tim Hartford's book about the underlying theories that drive our behaviours was a very interesting read. It explained in layman terms how the scarcity of a resource, as well as the information that each party has, and other external factors drive the prices that we are willing to pay.

I especially liked his explanation on the intricacies of auctions, and how one would go about getting the best price for an asset. There was a section about poker where the theory goes that you should bluff only when you have the worst hands, not when you have the semi-strong hands (as I try to do).

The section on why poor countries are poor was food for thought, arguing that the 'social capital' of poor countries was low, which made it so hard for poor countries to start reform. He continues with a convincing (in my opinion) statement at the need for lowering global trade barriers. I finally understand 'comparative advantage'!

So very informative book, worthy of a read.

Death In The Family

It always hurts to hear of a death in the family. Grandpa's (Dad's side) passing away from a heart attack was a suprise to most of us. However, at the age of 85, as my Dad says, we have been thinking of it for a while.

Looking at it positively, it does bring our family together...Dad told us stories of Grandpa in his youth (he was a pioneer of women's underwear in Hong Kong....yes I do learn something new every day!) and of his devotion to his kids, sending them all that he earned so they could get through university. It ultimately gets repaid, as his kids (ie my dad and my uncles/aunts) have looked after him for the last 20 years since his retirement. Dad said that he didn't have much invested, but I think his investment in his kids was very wise.

The suddenness has made my Dad think about his work-life balance, and what is really important for him, and that is a good thing. It has made me think that it's time to call up my Grandma (Mum's side) in Hong Kong, and to reconnect with family, cause you never know what's going to happen tomorrow. As for me, I have some regrets that it was about 4 months since I spoke to him, but we were never that close. I just want to make sure Dad is ok.

Dad sent an email around, here's an excerpt that I found quite touching:

It is always a sad thing to lose a parent and it marks the ending of an era. Father had moved from China to Hong Kong and then to Canada and his children and grandchildren are now living all over the world. I think he will be proud to be the head of a family tree that valued hard work and family ties. He will be remembered as a loving father and dedicated husband .

Grandpa - Passed Away 1 September 2006 - R.I.P.

Damn! four cheap calls already:

Condolences to you and your family Big Guy. Your Grandad sounds like an honourable man and am sure his legacy will live on
lmm - 04 September '06 - 14:43

Kev, I'm very sorry to hear mate. But it sounds like your Granddad has left his mark on a lot of people and his memory and legacy continues to live on strongly.

And yes, a death in the family always reminds us to be good to the people we still have.
Anton - 04 September '06 - 23:11

My thoughts are with you and your family KC.

Losing your grandparents are one of the hardest things to have to deal with in life. I identify to the words of your father, for my father ushered similar words when my grandmother passed away some five years ago.

His memory, I'm sure, will live in your heart, and surely if only in spirit through you, passed on to the next generation.
alvina - 07 September '06 - 12:31

sorry to hear it, dude.

RC
randomcow (email) - 10 September '06 - 19:27

The Wonders Of The Web

A friend of mine told me about someone they had met. Not knowing his other friends, my friend had a slight level of discomfort in being "in the dark" about this person. So what do we do? We "Google" him :)

Amazingly, the top hit led straight to his blog (what else?). Only after a few searches, and I was already looking at photos from his trips etc etc. The even ruder shock was seeing a photo of myself in one of those sets of pictures!

Yes, it is a small world :)

So the lesson here, boys and girls, is to always be aware that everything is public on the Net. I remember Bec reading some of the older, more quality posts before she went out with me. Lucky I didn't write up all my hoey stories!

Damn! four cheap calls already:

i'd be careful how you use the word Google if i were you :) article here
reenie (email) - 26 August '06 - 07:56

oops, didn't realise tags were getting removed. i meant here:
http://news.com.com/Google+wants+people+..
reenie (email) - 26 August '06 - 07:57

Oh but it was exactly your hoeyness that oh-so-attracted me in the first place JB! Nowadays you just want to snooze all the time *sigh*
beckster (link) - 27 August '06 - 05:33

I think that with all my dirt on the web I'm going to have to marry a girl who can't speak English. Or Japanese - people have written stuff about me online in Japanese, too.

RC
randomcow (email) - 10 September '06 - 19:22

"Berlin: The Downfall" - A Review

Curse project deliverables! Been unable/unwilling to write for the last month as I'm desperately making sure that the project goes live (which it has, thank goodness).

I've always browsed Anthony Beevor's books every time I go to Borders, and find his mix of reporting the military strategy against the everyday experiences of the local population quite a refreshing read as opposed to the strictly numbers books of other war novels. In this book, he documents how the USSR invades and concludes the 2nd World War in Europe. It is amazing the quickness of the collapse of Germany in 1945, and horriying the brutality of the Red Army in its revenge against the "facist beasts".

I was thoroughly confused as to where all the armies were going, with frequent consultations to the fairly vague maps at the front. The other thing that I probably did not appreciate were the numbers of people involved in all these armies. Marshalling 2 million men to invade Germany must have been a logistical nightmare. And maybe this confusion I had rightly reflects the confusion of the actual military operations on the ground.
I liked the references to the personas of the individual Russian and German army commanders, as well as the insight into the weakness and cruelty of the Nazi leadership as the walls crumbled around them.

The frequent references to the rape and casualties of the civilian population reared its ugly head time and time again, and emphasised more than anything else that the suffering always hits hardest those most unable to defend themselves. It saddened me greatly to think that there is such a "dark aura of male sexuality that is so easily shown, whenever the shackles of discipline and responsibility are removed".

Overall a very recommended book. I will have to read "Stalingrad" (as from the same author) as well.

"Dry" - A Review

I was recommended this book by a workmate of mine. It follows the memoirs of a alcoholic who goes into rehab and experiences all the trials and tribulations that soberness provides. Whilst the story of recovering alcoholics is not new, the fact that he is a gay advertising writer does lend some more interest to the tale. The humour in the book is top-notch. I had trouble with a few of the references he makes, but the details in which he goes to make it a very enjoyable read.

What I did find the most interesting was the way gay guys seem to be constantly on a roller-coaster of emotions. Heady heights of happiness one day, mind-numbing lows the next. This ability to understand their own emotions to that level is something that amazes me. Is this the reason that girls like to have a gay guy best friend? Because they can understand the emotional roller-coaster, whilst lending another perspective?

There was one line in the book where someone makes a snarky comment to Augusten (the author), who says "Take that back!". I could not help but laugh that is exactly the same line my workmate (who recommend me the book) uses. And yes he is, for those that are asking.

Damn! four cheap calls already:

have you ever considered gals like gay guys as best friends because gals know gay guys won't try and get into their pants? :P i think a lot of straight guys cross that line with their closest gal pals.
reenie (link) - 18 June '06 - 05:51

Really reenie?!! Clearly I'm not alluring enough as I can't recall any of my straight male chums making a pass at me!! Boo.

Or maybe it's just a more dangerous line to tread when both parties are single. You get along, you like each other enough to be good friends, you have fun and enjoy great times together, which all results in a 'oh well why not?' kinda thing?
beckster (link) - 18 June '06 - 10:54

nah, I don't think that's 100% true. This gay buddist monk I used to hang around with a bit was a huge womanizer. Also a cockblock. And to top it all off, he said he didn't find me attractive. Damn gay guys.

RC
randomcow - 25 June '06 - 05:37

:/ i've been in tricky situations before, where i thought i was just good friends with the guy, and the guy ends up wanting more. it's tough, cause you have to end the friendship too sometimes. i've also been told many times by different guys, that when a straight guy looks at a girl, majority of the time, he's trying to figure out how to get into her pants. right RC? :P

beckster, there were probably a TON of guys lusting after you when you were single. they were just too scared to do anything about it :)
reenie (link) - 02 July '06 - 21:48