Macrobioticality

I met my friend Sara at lunch today at a macrobiotic place in Union Square. I like macrobiotic food because there are usually no limitations for me (and other semi-kosher eaters) on the menu. However, I always get a kick out of the circular explanations of what macrobiotics really is. This place was classic in that respect. The description was actually presented in a circular format! The food was good though and despite the plethora of spelling errors, I'd go back.

The MIAgic Kingdom

The Palm Beach Post reports that Miami International Airport has hired Walt Disney to train employees:

In an effort to improve customer service, Miami International Airport has
hired the Walt Disney Co. to train airport employees. A national survey
of customer satisfaction this year ranked Miami 14th among the
country's 18 busiest airports.

Which prompts the very important question: WHAT WERE THE OTHER FOUR?!

Massad State of Affairs at Columbia

According to this sharp article by The New Republic's James Kirchick, Columbia professor Joseph Massad goes along with Ahmadinejad's, "We don't have [homosexuals] in our country ... We do not have this phenomenon."

Clinton to Speak at Brandeis

That's Bill, if you're curious. According to The Justice via JTA, Bill will be speaking in honor of a new fellowship named for the late Eli Segal, a Brandeis graduate and former Clinton adviser who died in February.

It's on December 3rd. Get in line, snitches!

Pita Express Downtown

My new work friend Dan and I sauntered up Broadway today to try Pita Express, a kosher middle eastern place near J&R.
The good: Pita was fresh, food was hot, zchug was very strong and flavorful, placed was full, friendly and lively
The bad: Like nearly all kosher middle eastern places, the service was poor. We waited a long time for our food and then were the recipients of numerous dirty or frustrated looks from the waitress.

Anyhow, for kosher keepers downtown, it's a good option and I'll definitely be back...hopefully they will have better service next time, but I guess that's why kosher places get away with it...people like me go back in spite of it!

News.com on 70s PCs

Here's a phun photo essay of 70s PCs. Seeing the Apple II and Atari 800 brought a little tear to my eye. Here's my favorite example of 70s era PC glamaliciousness, the Vector 1:

In 1976, Vector Graphic designed and sold static RAM and other expansion cards for S-100 computers. The company was run by two women--Lore Harp (founder and chair) and Carole Ely. Bob Harp, Lore's husband, was the design engineer. Eventually they released an entire computer based on their technology--this
Vector 1.
Credit: Steven Stengel, Oldcomputers.net

Not quite eleventy billion, but close

Oracle is putting up some nice dough for BEA: CNET article on the $6.7B offer

BEA on the block even moreso

A big part of my jobs at IBM usually involved tracking BEA. I've always felt they were an acquisition target, but it seems that possibility may be increasing. According to this CNET article, Carl Icahn's influence may be a key factor in the potential sale of the second-best portal and application server provider.

I have long felt HP, once it realizes that systems management is not enough, would look to expand its software infrastructure portfolio with a BEA buy but Oracle and its A&A mentality might have a say. What do you think?

Tie, no jacket

With the new show, "Chuck" a seeming hit and Best Buy's integration of and thus spreading of the GeekSquad brand, geek chic is definitely hitting a fever pitch. Yes, I'm talking about wearing a button down shirt with a tie, without a jacket. Riding the train in this AM--and new phenomenon as many of you know--I noticed more than a few folks sporting this look. My hunch is that most were in IT.

Unified Messaging

I'm shocked my new company--with its mostly virtual and traveling workforce--doesn't offer UM. That is, I have a voice mailbox and an associated number (but no desk/phone) that does not alert me if I get a new message! I could be at a client site and I have to dial in to check my VM. It's unconscionable to me. We have it at home. Do you have UM at home? Work?

Give me a rug, I'm oriented

Phew. Three days of orientation in the books. I'm pooped, but mostly because I've developed a little cold--well, I finally caught it is better put--and haven't slept well. Today was consulting-specific and located in my new office building so it was much more informative than the past two HR/IT-focused days.

New glasses...finally!

After one major failed start and about 30 visits to opticians in the past year or so, I have finally got my new frames on my face...right now!



I'm really enjoying them so far. What do you think?

Thanks to our neighbor--and fellow MJC member--Cindy for her help!

Day 2 is in the books and I'm back online

Finally got a laptop again. It's an HP, which is fine, I guess. Widescreen is nice, but the imbalanced keyboard is an oddity. The trackpad is also not centered. Weird.

Other notes on the orientation so far:

• Partnership America is just as red-tape heavy as Corporate America
• Wearing real shoes is as tiring as I feared
• Wearing grown-up clothes is still fun
• The WTC area is still borderline dreadful