Bring on the Veeps

I watched the debates from the other side of the earth and I admit I have lost touch with much of it.  However it is truly clear now that Barack is the one that should change his home address.  If you don't know the name of the president of Iran, just say Iran or some other side step vs getting it WRONG.  It almost came off like, "you know who I mean, move on".

Now it's on to the Veep debate.  I think it will be like watching a car wreck on the side of the road, you just have to see who's dead or the very least who comes away bloody.

Anderson Cooper:  "But it still remains if they let her (Palin) do an interview again".  Ya think?

Is that a phone in your pocket or are you...

Just a note to all out there who entertain clients with wine and fantastic food...lock your phone keyboard.

You never know when your hot girlfriend is going to be leaving you a message in the morning saying she didn't think you liked chocolate. Huh?  Well apparently when you don't lock your keyboard you end up dialing your girlfriend five times and she hears the entire evening including a discussion on the chocolate desert.  Now of all the people that I have listed in my phone directory my pocket picked her.  Now I just have to face accounting who will be questioning my five calls from Bangkok to Australia...oops!

ACL - The Best Music Festival in the World

Just about now every year I make a pilgrimage to Austin, TX for another turn at discovering new music from all corners of the earth including the most obscure of places, Texas.  

Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Last years highlights were the sexy and sultry Gotan Project, rocker blended with Inxs - Muse, Paolo Nutini - with his heart and soul and from the home town of Austin, Spoon. 

Unfortunately I wont be making it back this year.  However, to taunt me but good, ACL and iTunes put out a sampling to get you psyched for the amazing music experience.  So now I sit here in Bangkok on a Wednesday night, wishing I was on a plane right now, listening to what is turning out to be a great evening of sample songs.

So far Nicole Atkins and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are winners in my book.  If you have a chance to head down to Austin, bare the 95+ heat and listen to some outstanding bands, 150 or more in three days, I really suggest it.

View of Japan

I moved from Tokyo about 7 months ago and I do miss some of the craziness of the city and culture. I especially miss the way the English language is used by the Japanese.

In the hotel world we report on when a guest has a complaint; when the hotel does something that impacts a guest adversly; or sometimes just to let all staff know that a guest likes something a certain way. Many times when there is problem we appologize with a nice amenity and an appology note from the Manager on Duty, letting the guest know we care about the situation and value their feedback.

Well today's laugh came via email from a friend back in Japan.

"Report receiving supervisor Yonehara faces the apology for the guest by 15:43, saying that "the remote control of the TV doesn't move." It exchanged it for new remote control because it was broken when remote control was confirmed. It had at once and it apologized again I wanted to have eaten the fruit as follow-up. The guest is very with pleasure".

So what this really means is, the guest called down to say his remote control didn't work and when we went to the room at 3:43pm we confirmed it didn't work and replaced it. We then sent a note and fresh fruit and the guest commented he loved the gesture.

Facebook Shit-canned

Let's just start with, if you are not familiar with Facebook then you have been living in a cave.

Created by 24 year old Y generation types to keep in touch with friends which had been lost during their very short lives. It has over 100 million active users and is the 4th most visited website in the world. It has grown to be a global, seven language, web based networking tool that spans from friends to business associates to groups in favor or against something.

So who would have thought that I would have been shit-canned by a "friend" who wanted to avoid seeing her ex-boyfriend who has recently gotten married. Not only this but her son in-law has been shit-canned since he was also a friend of the ex on Facebook.

Because Facebook allows you to see your friend's friends, you learn many things. As an example, you find for the first time that your ex has recently married, that they honeymooned in Langkawi and are posting pictures. You find that your friends are actually friends with the new wife and think she is fantastic.

The lesson is that you should not be "friends" with someone on line unless you are ready to accept all the public shit that comes with them. This takes us to a bigger lesson in life. When a couple breaks up, who keeps the friends? Being told that "I can't have you as a "friend" because you are a "friend" with the ex" is just not right as the world goes and seems a bit juvenile.

So the son in-law and I have been shit-canned and cancelled as "friends".

How do you penetrate deep enough?

It's marketing plan time and budget time here in the corporate world. Trying to figure out where the next big Tuna will come from.

Will it be Seoul, Korea with the most vacation time of any country and one of the highest per capita income at $16,000 USD per household?

Will it be the Russian market who are benefiting from the quick rise in the price of oil and celebrating their new freedom?

Will it be the massive economies of India and China with nearly 1/2 the earths population between them, they are traveling and spending money if only the top 5%, which translates to 120 million people.

So how do you penetrate deep enough? How much money do you spend and what do you do to get them interested in you?

I love Saturdays

For $100 USD per month (including groceries) I have a wonderful housekeeper who cooks and makes sure my underwear and all my crap is folded and ironed perfectly in my closet.  But why do I love Saturdays beyond the obvious?  She cooks a week worth of meals for me.  

So they say the sign of a good cook in Thailand is being able to go a month and not eat the same thing twice.  That is Khun Pem.  Today, red curry with crab as well as pad thai with prawn...arroy!

What's it all mean

Well, it's Japanese and Diajobu has become such a common phrase in my world; meaning, "It's all good", "No worries" and to increase the ease of it add Zen Zen before or after.  Zen Zen Daijobu is beyond OK.  Add Desu and its about you.

So, Diajobu-desu let's start the journey.