Well, back from China now for seven days. I see there's hasn't been much happening on the blog since I left.
(Actually, nothing from anyone else since Apr 4. In fact, there are odds posted at MGM Mirage:
Which will happen first?
The oil leak in the underground Gulf is plugged -130
Someone besides Eric posts on F&J +110
-ed )
But I digress. As some of you know, we have a reprieve - our paperwork is being delayed, so we aren't leaving for China until mid-July. This means we have soem time to get everything done around here throughout the month of June - like stocking up on Cascade, Hefty trash bags, chocolate syrup, and Off.
Random notes about the trip:
- I can't reliably access blogspot.com, nor twitter. I did not have the audacity to try to access the on-line gambling site on my P&G work computer. Someone said (another P&G ex-pat) that I need to buy my own VPN, based in Hong Kong. I'll look into that - but any thoughts from the gallery out there?
- Walking off the plane, we were hit with this wall of humidity - at 6 in the morning. It was 85 degrees and at least 90% humidity. It felt like one of those August mornings in Baltimore where it feels that it will rain any moment. It was like that all week.
We remarked to a local: "gees, the heat here is bad, isn't it?"
"Heat? Oh no. It will get 10 degrees warmer (that's 10 degrees warmer in Celsius!!!) in July and August!"
Oh great.
We did not see the sun all week; apparently, we will see the sun/blue skies about 10 days on average.
- The pollution, however, was suprprisingly good. Some ex-pats said it got a whole lot better since the Olympics; 3 years ago, it was suffocating. I didn't notice it at all over a week.
- House hunting was (and is) difficult. We need a 4 bedroom apartment, because of the kids and the need for us to have some sort of office (as we will be taking many late night calls for fantasy football/work). However, there just are not many of those in Guangzhou. It's a classic case of supply and demand. There's no supply - so prices are exponentially higher when moving from a 3 bedroom to a 4 bedroom place.
- Food? Food was good. Many of our Chinese hosts ordered for us - and it was great. Problem is - we will never be able to order that food again, since we don't know what the dish is called. This is espeically a problem at the dim sum restaurants.
- In order to get a work permit for China, we have to go through a state-sponsored medical examination. Let's just say that the exam - which took 3 hours - will haunt me for a long time. You were shuffled from room to room in a 1950s style block building; in each room you were greeted by someone with the personality of Krauss from "Benson".
I had an ultrasound done on me.
- The Asian games are coming! Guangzhou is hosting the 2010 Asian Games in November. This is the 16th playing of the games. This is a huge deal, apparently - and therefore there is an enormous amount of construction going on to get ready.
And - unfortunately - it's all on tight timing. Construction is going on 24/7 - so there is lots of noises that you can hear in the hotel room at 3 am due to the construction all around.
- We think we have found a place to live (we are in the process of negotiating right now); there is a Starbucks, Subway, and KFC within walking distance; there is also a neighborhood corner store very close that sells everything Western - for a price. Pop Tarts? 35 Yuan a box - about $6. Cereal? 50 yuan - $8. Chocolate Syrup? 40 yuan.
And many fast food restaurants - including McDonalds & KFC - deliver. This could be trouble.
- In general, we did not do anything touristy in Guangzhou. We stayed near the neighborhood of our hotel, the school (where our apartments are going to be) and work. We did not explore any of the markets or sightsee.
- Sports? Well, we got ESPN International....where the headline story for two days was "Is Fabregas going to Real Madrid? Will he leave Arsenal??"
Oh God no. Not Soccer.
- We then went to Hong Kong for a day. That city is indescribable. Within 10 miles on the island, you get a combination of:
- New York, with the bright city lights;
- San Francisco, with the famous "peak" in the middle of the island, a 600 foot "mountain" that was fogged in continually as we drove up it;
- San Diego, with the beaches on the eastern side of the island (reminded me of La Jolla),
- Paris, as there are many streets that are barely two-lane streets but are teeming with restaurants/shops/cafes on both sides of the street.
Just a wild juxtaposition of cultures. And - of course - it's own money/currency.
Lot of things still to do to get ready for the move - like figure out how Slingbox works.
Oh! I met my hero. We had dinner at the house of some P&G ex-pats...we met 4 families, one of them is moving back to Cincinnati this summer. I asked the male in the family on what P&G category he is in.
The group laughed.
What is the joke I am missing?
He is a stay-at-home dad. In China. With two "ayis" (or nannys) that cook, clean, and take care of the kids. Now that's the life.
May 29, 2010
Memorial Day Notes
So Freddie's school put on a performance by the 3rd graders on Friday in honor of Memorial day. The 3rd graders sang patriotic songs, recited poems, and honored veterans.
Quick quiz: Which one of these songs was not played in the school program:
a) Grand Old Flag
b) Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
c) In the Navy
d) God Bless America
Answer: e) All of them were part of the performance!
I would really have liked to known what went through several of the veteran's heads - many of them 80 years old or so - when the class did "In The Navy" and were dancing to it. "Is this what we fought for? We fought so that American kids can dance to The Village People to honor us?"
Quick quiz: Which one of these songs was not played in the school program:
a) Grand Old Flag
b) Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
c) In the Navy
d) God Bless America
Answer: e) All of them were part of the performance!
I would really have liked to known what went through several of the veteran's heads - many of them 80 years old or so - when the class did "In The Navy" and were dancing to it. "Is this what we fought for? We fought so that American kids can dance to The Village People to honor us?"
May 14, 2010
And we are off!
Off for house hunting tonight! We'll see how much blogging I can do starting on Sunday!
May 12, 2010
The end of the NBA in Cleveland?
Well, I think I have to post something about the game 5 debacle last night. In today's sports world with the media, it's easy to overstate events. (An 80-79 OT college basketball game is instantly declared the "Game of the decade!")
But it's easy to see how the game 5 disaster can lead to the end of the NBA in Cleveland....and a vastly different landscape for Cleveland sports.
Reality hit hard last night that Game 5 could - and probably will be - LeBron's last game in Cleveland. If they don't survive against Boston, this is now two seasons where they didn't even reach the conference finals. THey didn't even make the final 4!!!!
Can you imagine if they lost in a blowout in game 6? Why would LeBron stay? Can anyone give me one good reason why he would stick around? Has his actions so far indicated that he would?
It has been written in an article that Cleveland fans "expect the worst, and then worry if they are being too optimistic". That has a lot of truth to it. What are the next dominoes to fall if/when LeBron leaves this summer?
First, let's fill people in on the Cleveland sports pecking order. The Browns will always be #1. The Indians are a clear #2. The Cavs are #3 - and in many cases, are #4 behind the Buckeyes. No one will care about this team. I will be done with the NBA for a long time - not that I was the biggest fan - but I will actively diengage.
Part of me - just part - is secretly happy the Cavs are folding. As you know, the city is starving for a title. I want to see a championship sometime in my life. If I am going to dream, why not shoot for the moon? In order, if I had a choice, my rank of the "worth" of championships is:
1. Browns
2. Indians
3. Cavs
The Browns and the Tribe are a close 1-2; Steve would switch the 2; I'm not sure how Don would rate them. But I am positive that the joy we would have in a Cavs title would be dwarfed by a Browns Super Bowl. So if I'm only going to get one title in my life, why not want it to be the greatest title ever?
Anyway - back to the present. If LeBron leaves, the Cavs will not win 70 games in the next 3 seasons combined. We will go back to the late 90s pre-LeBron Cavs, where Randy Wittman was our coach, Shawn Kemp was our best player and our record was 25-57. No one will care. Games will routinely have 5,000 people.
I think it would be an even money bet to see if the Cavs would be playing in Cleveland in 2015. They would be in a 20 year old arena (wow, now I am old), worth absolutely nothing with a team that is pathetic. I would wager on a move to Kansas City.
Which then means - what is the city of Cleveland going to do between December and April? um - debate who the #1 QB would be for the Browns, which is an annual event? Ha ha.
It opens up the way for a three-person partnership (me, Steve, and Kermit) to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning and move them to Cleveland for the 2019 season.
But it's easy to see how the game 5 disaster can lead to the end of the NBA in Cleveland....and a vastly different landscape for Cleveland sports.
Reality hit hard last night that Game 5 could - and probably will be - LeBron's last game in Cleveland. If they don't survive against Boston, this is now two seasons where they didn't even reach the conference finals. THey didn't even make the final 4!!!!
Can you imagine if they lost in a blowout in game 6? Why would LeBron stay? Can anyone give me one good reason why he would stick around? Has his actions so far indicated that he would?
It has been written in an article that Cleveland fans "expect the worst, and then worry if they are being too optimistic". That has a lot of truth to it. What are the next dominoes to fall if/when LeBron leaves this summer?
First, let's fill people in on the Cleveland sports pecking order. The Browns will always be #1. The Indians are a clear #2. The Cavs are #3 - and in many cases, are #4 behind the Buckeyes. No one will care about this team. I will be done with the NBA for a long time - not that I was the biggest fan - but I will actively diengage.
Part of me - just part - is secretly happy the Cavs are folding. As you know, the city is starving for a title. I want to see a championship sometime in my life. If I am going to dream, why not shoot for the moon? In order, if I had a choice, my rank of the "worth" of championships is:
1. Browns
2. Indians
3. Cavs
The Browns and the Tribe are a close 1-2; Steve would switch the 2; I'm not sure how Don would rate them. But I am positive that the joy we would have in a Cavs title would be dwarfed by a Browns Super Bowl. So if I'm only going to get one title in my life, why not want it to be the greatest title ever?
Anyway - back to the present. If LeBron leaves, the Cavs will not win 70 games in the next 3 seasons combined. We will go back to the late 90s pre-LeBron Cavs, where Randy Wittman was our coach, Shawn Kemp was our best player and our record was 25-57. No one will care. Games will routinely have 5,000 people.
I think it would be an even money bet to see if the Cavs would be playing in Cleveland in 2015. They would be in a 20 year old arena (wow, now I am old), worth absolutely nothing with a team that is pathetic. I would wager on a move to Kansas City.
Which then means - what is the city of Cleveland going to do between December and April? um - debate who the #1 QB would be for the Browns, which is an annual event? Ha ha.
It opens up the way for a three-person partnership (me, Steve, and Kermit) to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning and move them to Cleveland for the 2019 season.
May 9, 2010
A request for diversity
I've really been hesitant to wade into the political arena on this blog. You probably know where I stand on about 90% of the issues, and is this blog really fun when we write every week on how Obama is a communist/Bush is evil/Pelosi is an alien/Boehner is a baby-killer? To me, it gets old and tired quick - so I'll save the political posts for some really big events (like the Tea Party throwing out a sitting Republican senator in Utah) or as we get close to elections (wait for October's Nena's 99 Red Balloons for Democratic House Seats preview!)
Are you sure people don't want political talk? I thought last week you were informed that political talk is eminently preferable to NHL memories from the 1990s... -ed
This post, however, is a request to President Obama. As we know, there is another Supreme Court opening that needs to be filled....and I call on President Obama to use this chance to demonstrate his commitment to diversity.
What diversity am I talking about? I'm not talking racial, sexual, or age diversity. I'm talking educational diversity.
I read in one post (and dammit, I can't find the link) that the current Supreme Court justices are all educated from 1 of 3 Ivy league institutions - Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. (Note to self - find that link to confirm!)
It's time we recognize that excellence in professional fields do not come from elitist institutions. Back in the 20th century, the Ivy league institutions had the best and the brightest in the land. However, over the past 10-20 years or so, something has changed. I can't put my finger on exactly what has changed, but I don't think we necessarily need to look at a handful of colleges and determine "that's where our societal leadership comes from". I think it is very unhealthy.
Yes, I am a Republican, but I am also a populist at heart and I abhor elitism. And I think we can all agree that our political, societal, and financial leadership has failed us over the past 10-15 years. Bush was from Yale, Obama got his law degree from Harvard, the Wall Street mess was led mostly by Ivy League graduates (um, need link! -ed.) . It's starting to be clear that there is a detachment from the east-coast Ivy League schools and the rest of the nation.
I realize I am painting a broad brush here, but I really believe we are raising a generation of "leadership" candidates that has never held a real job in the private sector. Yes, I can easily point to Obama as a prime example, but I bet I can find many on the Republican side as well.
I think this nation used to send its brightest to Ivy League schools - because it was clear that the Ivy League schools were head and shoulders above the rest - and then the graduates would be dispersed throughout the land. Now? There are two things that changed with that statement.
- it's no longer true that the Ivy League schools are head and shoulders above the rest. There are plenty of state (and private) schools across the country that can give a comparable educational experience in many fields.
- It just seems (again, I don't have stats here) that the graduates don't "go forth and multiply" but remain concentrated in Academia or in certain regions of the country. And that's not healthly.
(I also can rant about the falling reputation of the Ivy League schools due to their insane liberal bias - the Larry Summers affair and the banishment of the ROTC at Harvard come to mind. But I won't go into that now).
I'm not that stupid to suggest that Obama should nominate a white male with a history of conservative rulings from the Univ of Mississippi law school (Chales Pickering?)
I do request, however, that Obama nominate someone that has no Ivy League ties to the Supreme Court. If it's a Asian-American from Washington State, a white female from Michigan, a black judge from Virginia - whatever. But I look to President Obama to help show that we have become more educationally-diverse in this country by nominating someone with an education from a respected law school outside the northeast - like the Univ of Michigan, Texas, or UCLA.
And if this ever comes to pass, the questioning will immediately focus to "how can this person be qualified? He/She didn't even go to an Ivy League school?" And I will be the first one to condemn that line of questioning, even if it comes from Republicans like Lugar, McConnell, or Grassley). That type of questioning is completely outdated, now that it is the year 2010.
Are you sure people don't want political talk? I thought last week you were informed that political talk is eminently preferable to NHL memories from the 1990s... -ed
This post, however, is a request to President Obama. As we know, there is another Supreme Court opening that needs to be filled....and I call on President Obama to use this chance to demonstrate his commitment to diversity.
What diversity am I talking about? I'm not talking racial, sexual, or age diversity. I'm talking educational diversity.
I read in one post (and dammit, I can't find the link) that the current Supreme Court justices are all educated from 1 of 3 Ivy league institutions - Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. (Note to self - find that link to confirm!)
It's time we recognize that excellence in professional fields do not come from elitist institutions. Back in the 20th century, the Ivy league institutions had the best and the brightest in the land. However, over the past 10-20 years or so, something has changed. I can't put my finger on exactly what has changed, but I don't think we necessarily need to look at a handful of colleges and determine "that's where our societal leadership comes from". I think it is very unhealthy.
Yes, I am a Republican, but I am also a populist at heart and I abhor elitism. And I think we can all agree that our political, societal, and financial leadership has failed us over the past 10-15 years. Bush was from Yale, Obama got his law degree from Harvard, the Wall Street mess was led mostly by Ivy League graduates (um, need link! -ed.) . It's starting to be clear that there is a detachment from the east-coast Ivy League schools and the rest of the nation.
I realize I am painting a broad brush here, but I really believe we are raising a generation of "leadership" candidates that has never held a real job in the private sector. Yes, I can easily point to Obama as a prime example, but I bet I can find many on the Republican side as well.
I think this nation used to send its brightest to Ivy League schools - because it was clear that the Ivy League schools were head and shoulders above the rest - and then the graduates would be dispersed throughout the land. Now? There are two things that changed with that statement.
- it's no longer true that the Ivy League schools are head and shoulders above the rest. There are plenty of state (and private) schools across the country that can give a comparable educational experience in many fields.
- It just seems (again, I don't have stats here) that the graduates don't "go forth and multiply" but remain concentrated in Academia or in certain regions of the country. And that's not healthly.
(I also can rant about the falling reputation of the Ivy League schools due to their insane liberal bias - the Larry Summers affair and the banishment of the ROTC at Harvard come to mind. But I won't go into that now).
I'm not that stupid to suggest that Obama should nominate a white male with a history of conservative rulings from the Univ of Mississippi law school (Chales Pickering?)
I do request, however, that Obama nominate someone that has no Ivy League ties to the Supreme Court. If it's a Asian-American from Washington State, a white female from Michigan, a black judge from Virginia - whatever. But I look to President Obama to help show that we have become more educationally-diverse in this country by nominating someone with an education from a respected law school outside the northeast - like the Univ of Michigan, Texas, or UCLA.
And if this ever comes to pass, the questioning will immediately focus to "how can this person be qualified? He/She didn't even go to an Ivy League school?" And I will be the first one to condemn that line of questioning, even if it comes from Republicans like Lugar, McConnell, or Grassley). That type of questioning is completely outdated, now that it is the year 2010.
Quick Etiquette Question
Are you supposed to tip at Sonic?
Just asking....I didn't, but then I felt guilty. Don't the teenage rollerskaters deserve something?
Just asking....I didn't, but then I felt guilty. Don't the teenage rollerskaters deserve something?
May 6, 2010
The market today...
Well, it's good that I had meetings away from a computer for most of the afternoon. I don't know what I would have done if I saw teh quotes of the stock price today when P&G went to 55, 50, 47......
It is a little scary that the computers and automated orders can send the Dow down almost 1000 points. Do we really think that one possible fat finger caused a 10% drop in the net worth of Americans?
It is a little scary that the computers and automated orders can send the Dow down almost 1000 points. Do we really think that one possible fat finger caused a 10% drop in the net worth of Americans?
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