Happy landing…not

Watching this video will definitely give you second thoughts about flying this airline. And will make you think that your worst plane landing ever was absolutely fine.

Thanks Ken for passing this on!

Back home

Landed at LAX around 9:15pm and was home by 10:30. The business trip was productive, as we had a good meeting today with a lot of interesting discussion.

Last night I was able to meet John Tracy and his wife Cathy at my hotel. Had a great time catching up. I think my favorite story was the one about John’s student “egg-ing” his truck — and how he caught the guy (who shall go nameless). Looking forward to our next get together.

Afterwards grabbed a late dinner with Moots at Chicago Kalbi, and it was great catching up with him too. I agree with Moots that it’s hands-down the best Korean BBQ — and the owners are really nice people, too. If you’re ever in Chicago, check it out. Highly recommended.

Chicago Kalbi
3752 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 604-8183

Going to Chicago

Leaving for Chicago today to attend a Thursday afternoon meeting. If everything works out, may be able to meet John Tracy tonight, which would be really great. For those of you who don’t know, John was our physics teacher at Gardena High School, and is now a senior executive at Boeing.

Back on Thursday evening.

Quote of the week

“Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength.”

– Hasidic saying

Long weekend

We decided to get away for part of the Memorial Day weekend and spent one night at the Cambria Pines Lodge. It was nice to get away from Los Angeles for a couple days and check out the Central Coast area, including San Luis Obispo.

On the way up north we stopped at Jockos for lunch, and split a large spencer steak sandwich (1/3, 2/3 lucky for me). That steak sure was GOOD!

And today we wrapped up the long weekend with a BBQ at my place. It was great to see everyone, and in spite of everyone’s busy schedules, I hope we can get together again soon.

America’s unhealthiest drink is…

…Baskin Robbins large Heath bar shake (32 oz.).

The stats:

2,310 calories
266 g sugar
108 g fat (64 g saturated)

See the list of other drinks here.

$200 per barrel oil & $6 per gallon gasoline

Arjun N. Murti, an oil analyst at Goldman Sachs — who predicted $100 per barrel oil back in 2005 — is now predicting a “super-spike” that could soon drive oil prices to $200 per barrel.

Iron Man

We went to go see “Iron Man” last weekend at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood. It was great!

When I first saw the movie trailers a couple months ago, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to see it, as it looked a bit hokey.

But after the movie opened, everyone I heard from raved about it — which probably explains why it’s earned over $220 million in domestic box office just three weeks after release.

…having been entrusted to carry Iron Man, Downey sets the pace, establishes the tone and this big movie whirls along to keep up with him. Which it does; it fits Downey as smartly as his Iron Man jumpsuit.

Readers of movie reviews often think that critics hate the big Hollywood stuff and cherish only the little films about Romanian abortions or Iranian kids.

But some of us, this one anyway, knows that there’s an American style — best displayed in the big, smart, kid-friendly epic — that few other cinemas even aspire to, and none can touch.

When it works, as it does here, it rekindles even a cynic’s movie love. So cheers to Downey, Favreau and the Iron Man production company. They don’t call it Marvel for nothing.

From Time magazine.

Quote of the week

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.“

– Robert Frost

Back

Nine days since my last post — was pretty wiped out after arriving from Beijing and Tokyo on the 11th, but feeling much more rested now.

My colleague Ken e-mailed this picture of me at Beijing’s Beihai Park (北海公園) — he said it was “proof that I was in China.”

Happy Mother’s Day

A happy Mother’s Day to mom, Carol, cousin Amy and all the moms out there!

Today we’ll have dinner at Torafuku, where we celebrated mom’s birthday back in January. I think it was pop’s idea to go there, so he must have enjoyed it, too.

From Beijing to Tokyo

It’s Sunday May 11 here in Tokyo. Arrived here on Friday after a business trip to Beijing — which explains the lack of posts this week as I wasn’t able to access my blog in China.

Didn’t get to do much sightseeing in Beijing given our meeting schedule, but I did manage to visit Tiananmen Square, site of the June 1989 student protests calling for greater economic and democratic reforms.

It’s 2:45pm now and should be boarding soon.

Don’t buy that flat panel TV

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, during the first three months of 2008 Americans saved on average just $2 out of every $1,000 of disposable income (i.e., two-tenths of 1%). That’s the worst savings rate since the government starting tracking it in 1947.

From the WSJ Online (subscription required):

No, don’t spend that “stimulus check” on a flat-screen TV. That money, thanks to the federal deficit, comes from your kids. Do them a favor and save it.

Americans saved during all but the worst years of the Great Depression. They managed to save around 8% of their disposable incomes during the recession of 1982, and even more during the fuel crises of the 1970s.

Here’s the reality: We live in a culture fueled by spending and credit. The Americans who remember the Depression and the days of rationing because of war have long since retired. Workers today have no real concept of scarcity.

The recent “subprime” crisis was caused by too much borrowing. The government’s response: Borrow more and send out “stimulus” checks. Retailers are now trying to entice consumers blow the cash in their stores