Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Economy Update
First off, I have no news on how the general economy is doing, but I do have news about how the economic climate impacts me personally. Monday, the staff at my company was asked to shift to 3/5 pay and hours. That's right, way more free time and way less pay.
Awesome.
The staff avoided layoffs (for now), which had me super giddy in the immediate aftermath. But then I started realizing what a cut that size actually means.
I've been oscillating between feeling incredibly bummed out by this and energized by all the next steps that flow logically for this change. But one step in front of the other.
On a lighter note, I freaking love that on 3-9-09 The New Late Night with Jimmy Fallon spent like a full 10 minute segment geeking out over the new (yet to be released) Palm Pre phone.
I think Fallon would be smart to play up the tech geek angle. It suits him and will endear him in the hearts of geek peeps of America. Loyal folks.
Awesome.
The staff avoided layoffs (for now), which had me super giddy in the immediate aftermath. But then I started realizing what a cut that size actually means.
I've been oscillating between feeling incredibly bummed out by this and energized by all the next steps that flow logically for this change. But one step in front of the other.
On a lighter note, I freaking love that on 3-9-09 The New Late Night with Jimmy Fallon spent like a full 10 minute segment geeking out over the new (yet to be released) Palm Pre phone.
I think Fallon would be smart to play up the tech geek angle. It suits him and will endear him in the hearts of geek peeps of America. Loyal folks.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Beijing: Hutongs and Fire Cupping
I was in Beijing for 5 days, at the end of the 12 day trip. It was great to have time to slow down a bit and take in the city.
The food was amazing the entire time. But I think a few of the best meals of the trip were in Beijing. The picture below is of one of our favorite street foods. It is a crepe with a scrambled egg scallions, cilantro and this very light crispy fried thing in the middle, all folded up together.
The last night Celia and I were there, after Aaron and Alex had gone home, we had hot pot. The bright red half is spicy tomato broth. The other side inferno hot, of course (thus the 'hot' in hot pot), with chillies and oil. Both are bubbling at a rolling boil right on your table. You pick a bunch of different ingredients and put them into the mixtures. AMAZING!
We also got a chance to do some real shopping when we were there. We went to an area that Celia called the Hipster Hutong. Hutongs are these series of exceedingly narrow alleys built by the Mongols. They are rapidly being torn down and their inhabitants moved to high-rise apartments in the suburbs. The Hipster Hutong is full of neat, artsy, little shops and bars filled with expats and locals smoking cigarettes. Because it has so many profitable businesses in it this Huton isn't in any danger of the wrecking ball.
This picture was a delightful example of Chairman Mao kitsch at a bar full of Chinese young people.
The day that we visited the Hipster Hutong Alex's neck and back had were so sore he could hardly move. Celia tried to help, but he needed something a bit more.
It just so happened that there was a massage and acupuncture place right in the Hipster Hutong. Full service!
While we waited in their cozy lobby for Alex to be cured, Aaron, Celia and I browsed the menu of their services. We'd previously had a discussion about fire cupping.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_cupping
We were super curious what the whole thing was supposed to do and be all about. We didn't have wikipedia at our disposal and it was cheap so we decided to try it.
This was taken the same night we got it done, 2-14, and the bruises only went away last week. Yikes. It did make me feel relaxed and energized immediately after, but I would not get it done again.
Sappy travel story conclusion: bruises fade but the memories of my trip will last a lifetime.
The food was amazing the entire time. But I think a few of the best meals of the trip were in Beijing. The picture below is of one of our favorite street foods. It is a crepe with a scrambled egg scallions, cilantro and this very light crispy fried thing in the middle, all folded up together.
The last night Celia and I were there, after Aaron and Alex had gone home, we had hot pot. The bright red half is spicy tomato broth. The other side inferno hot, of course (thus the 'hot' in hot pot), with chillies and oil. Both are bubbling at a rolling boil right on your table. You pick a bunch of different ingredients and put them into the mixtures. AMAZING!
We also got a chance to do some real shopping when we were there. We went to an area that Celia called the Hipster Hutong. Hutongs are these series of exceedingly narrow alleys built by the Mongols. They are rapidly being torn down and their inhabitants moved to high-rise apartments in the suburbs. The Hipster Hutong is full of neat, artsy, little shops and bars filled with expats and locals smoking cigarettes. Because it has so many profitable businesses in it this Huton isn't in any danger of the wrecking ball.
This picture was a delightful example of Chairman Mao kitsch at a bar full of Chinese young people.
The day that we visited the Hipster Hutong Alex's neck and back had were so sore he could hardly move. Celia tried to help, but he needed something a bit more.
It just so happened that there was a massage and acupuncture place right in the Hipster Hutong. Full service!
While we waited in their cozy lobby for Alex to be cured, Aaron, Celia and I browsed the menu of their services. We'd previously had a discussion about fire cupping.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_cupping
We were super curious what the whole thing was supposed to do and be all about. We didn't have wikipedia at our disposal and it was cheap so we decided to try it.
This was taken the same night we got it done, 2-14, and the bruises only went away last week. Yikes. It did make me feel relaxed and energized immediately after, but I would not get it done again.
Sappy travel story conclusion: bruises fade but the memories of my trip will last a lifetime.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
In the weeks since China
On February 18th I returned from an absolutely unbelievable, stupendous, eye-opening vacation to China. I have lots of stories about the trip, but so much has happened since that stories will have to wait.
I cut my hair.
I'm psyched about my hair. But even that can't distract me from general business pessimism.
For months now, I've heard a million times a day in a million different ways that the economy is going to slumping/depressing/collapsing/stalling/freezing/tightening. I've had nothing to call this mess, yet a mess never the less.
I knew things at my work had been slow, but we had a plan. I'd been a busy little bee in the plan. Then, last week, they told us that things were worse than we had thought. They let us know that some thing drastic needs to change and fast or the company will go under. Layoffs are the most likely option. Yikes bikes.
I expect that next week will bring more answers. For now I'm doing all I can. Taking things step by step.
Okay. I got that out of my system. Soon, stories from China.
I cut my hair.
I'm psyched about my hair. But even that can't distract me from general business pessimism.
For months now, I've heard a million times a day in a million different ways that the economy is going to slumping/depressing/collapsing/stalling/freezing/tightening. I've had nothing to call this mess, yet a mess never the less.
I knew things at my work had been slow, but we had a plan. I'd been a busy little bee in the plan. Then, last week, they told us that things were worse than we had thought. They let us know that some thing drastic needs to change and fast or the company will go under. Layoffs are the most likely option. Yikes bikes.
I expect that next week will bring more answers. For now I'm doing all I can. Taking things step by step.
Okay. I got that out of my system. Soon, stories from China.
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