Ladies & Gentlemen - The Winner is...

Sarah was recently awarded the Miami-Dade County Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award.

True to character, my dear wife doesn't like the spotlight, hence why she probably kept it quiet. With humility and dignity she accepted it, and told no-one - neither before nor after.

Congratulations Sarah!

How to Clean Up Your Facebook Profile

We moved into our current abode after living nearly 3 years in an apartment in West-Miami. During the packing process we were amazed at the amount of junk two people can gather in such a short time - most of it stuff we really didn't want or needed. Know the feeling?

Facebook has been around since 2005, about the time we moved to Miami, Florida. During a few years a FB account can accumulate a lot of junk, weird applications, and even "friends" you cannot remember! It's important to clean your Inbox once in a while, and even more essential to do the same for your FB account. After all, it's public.

The following article on the Mashable website provides some fantastic tips on how to get this task done: How To: Clean Up your Facebook Profile.

Standup Comedy Night, Seminole Hard Rock & Casino

The comedians were OK, the company was great.

A Visit to the Florida Keys

It's a 3 hour trip from the Gables down to Bahia Honda Key State Park.
But there's much to see during the 120+mile-long trip. This was taken
just South of Islamorada.

More Problems with AT&T

We've been experiencing problems with our AT&T lines for two weeks now - due to bad customer service. Enough to drive you up the walls! ;-)
My wife explains (typed on an iPhone, so there might be spelling errors):

AT&T is the worst company ever. Repeatedly they have ranked the lowest in customer satisfaction. Today was a prime example of why. After 3 calls to disconnect my landline, 2 botched bills, 1.5 hrs on hold I was finally told yes I could disconnect my landline and have only an Internet line. This however was after repeated harrassment about keeping the landline because "ma'm geeting rid of your phone line is not a smart way of saving money." Nevermind that i don't use the landline and have enough roll over minutes to last me until July if I was to run out of minutes on my cell. Furthermore though, who is he to tell me how i should be saving money???
After being repeatedly assured that my internet would still work once it was disconnected, I came home to find that not only was my phone disconnected but so is my Internet. Coveniently disconnected after service hours and representatives won't be available until Monday at the earliest.

A Toast to the New Year

Here's wishing all our valued friends and family the most prosperous, productive, and blessed 2010!

We ended a rather sedate 2009 of on a high with a adventurous road trip through the North-Eastern United States, driving more than 3,000 miles, and passing through 12 states in the process. Spent some great quality time with the family, saw it snowing for the first time, had my first white Xmas with Sarah's lovely family, and ski'd.

We ventured off the beaten track on occasion, a surprise finding of Colonel Sanders' first KFC and tavern/inn in a little Tennessee mountain town with a population of less than 200, stood on the spot in Harper's Ferry where John Brown was hanged, had the most expensive Indian food ever in Washington D.C., the best ever(!) Afghan food in Georgetown, visited all the neighborhoods in the nation's capital, and even had a delightful conversation with an authentic 17th century shoemaker in Williamsburg.

The best however, was the memorable time spend with great friends and family - they made the 16 days fly and their companionship and conversation rejuvenated us.

We are ready for 2010 - it is going to be a spectacular year!

God bless.

This Is Where I Am Now

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

—M. Scott Peck(1936-2005); Psychiatrist, Author

Hillsborough River State Park Camping Trip

Camping trip - Hillsborough River State Park

Sleepless Night In South Beach

An absolute blast!

University of Miami Homecoming Weekend

We were walking home from dinner when all heck broke loose! Saw this 20 minute awesome fireworks display at the University of Miami campus.

A Thought on Success

The fifth One-Day match between India and Australia in Hyderabad today was an absolute humdinger. With Sachin Tendulkar passing the 150-run mark, with 6 wickets standing and India cruising towards 351, Oz looked out of it. But they won, with 2 balls to spare, bowling India for 347 all out. The commentators put it down to "Australianism", coined by Jon Arlott 60 yrs ago on a Oz tour of England.

"Australianism means single-minded determination to win - to win within the laws but, if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means where the 'impossible' is within the realm of what the human body can do, there are Australians who believe that they can do it - and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them. It means they have never lost a match - particularly a Test match - until the last run is scored or their last wicket down."
"South Africanism" there must be too - we've shown the same grit often enough.

But a great quote all the same, and very applicable to business, entrepreneurship, success and determination in any event.

The New Cape Town Stadium - Gearing up for the '10 World Cup

Washington Politicians

I voted for the Democrats because I didn't like the way the Republicans were running the country. Which is turning out to be like shooting yourself in the head to stop your headache.

- Jack Mayberry

Las Olas Art Festival

We drove up to Fort Lauderdale and the Las Olas Art Festival on Sunday and visited with the up-and-coming pop artist Ed King, who had some amazing pieces on display. There were hundreds of stalls. Here Sarah is becoming acquainted with some outdoor farm animal art.

Sunset Kayaking

Pic: The Brickell skyline from Key Biscayne.

We had a brilliant sunset kayak trip along the Miami skyline tonight.
A dolphin followed us for a while and a fish jumped right on Sarah's
lap!

Talks on Future Asian Union

In a very interesting recent development, China and Japan began talks in early October on building an Alliance. In the meantime, Russia, India, Australia, and other countries have been included in early talks on a future East Asian Community, similar to the European Union.

The global power balance is certainly shifting and it is fascinating to be able to watch history unfold in such a way.

Identifying Generation Y

Who is Generation Y?

I've since forgotten the finer details of my MBA lectures regarding the Silent Generation (those born before 1946), the famous Baby Boomers (our parents - born before 1959), and then us - Generation X (born between 1960-1979).

Generation Y or the Millennial Generation (born from 1980 onwards) are a truly different speciment, much more so then the differences noticeable between the preceeding three Generations. Their first mayor memory will probably be of the death of Princess Diana, the fall of the Berlin Wall, or maybe even the 1986 challenger explosion. According to the January 2006 newsletter of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, statistically speaking, “antidepressants, prescription medication and other behavior-altering drugs, such as RItalin, [making] Gen Yers the most medicated generation in history.” See, they also grow up in increasing socio-economic instability and tragedies, and their parents solve their trauma by sending them to psychologists and putting them on drugs prescribed by society.

This crowd grew up with technology, with rapid change, and in culturally, socio-economically, and politically diverse environments. They are young, affluent, educated, brass, very independant due to their parents generation's high divorce rate, and empowered. They are excellent networkers and travelling is not a big deal to them as it was to their parents' parents. They have a wide perspective of the world and are knowleagable of other cultures.

Gen Y grew up with the Internet, immersed in the digital world. What Gen X experiences as an information overload is no problem to them. They are used to intense multi-tasking: Texting while in a conversation, while listening to music on their iPod, while surfing the Internet. Texting, gaming, social networking, the use of hand-held devices, and the dissemination of personal information is part of their daily life.

They are less racially intolerant and more accepting of alternative lifestyles. They have much shorter concentration spans - one reason why the printed newspaper is dying. However, things have come easy for them and they get easily aggitated if things doesn't go their way. Ever seen a kid impatient with a slow Internet connection?! Or angry that a call dropped that was made halfway around the world?! The mere existance of the technology still amazes me!

Very importantly, being the first generation to grow up with the Internet, they have blogging, micro-blogging, texting, YouTube, Facebook etc - this Generation has an opinion about issues, brands, and corporate malpractices. They have a voice. Mainstream pop-culture has made them very aware of brands and issues, especially non-profit topics and grassroots development issues.

According to recent studies, approximately 95% of Gen Y in the US are registered on one or more social networking sites. They are financially savvy, more so then their parents. It is folly for marketers and communicators to ignore them. The landscape has changed.

South Beach Business Chapter - Social Night!

Our business chapter had our monthly social night at an office this time - and we played Twister! I'm way less flexible than I thought and had to bail early. Fun night.

Sarah's Birthday Night Out

After a week of research and a plethora of well-intended options -
advice from colleagues and friends, I had chosen a South Beach French
restaurant for our Thursday night special dinner. The occassion:
Sarah's 30th birthday.

It was supposed to be an evening of dazzle, special smiles, and
stylish dining. Like those college-era, romantic dating days when I
would turn on the charm at will. It was not to be.

As I parallel-parked the car in a side street close to the restaurant
I threw my back out so badly, I could hardly walk. I still find it ridiculous, even writing about it! This was minutes after jokingly telling Sarah that her youth was over!

This was only the start. As the we - Sarah the birthday girl and the
Hunchback of Notre Dame - stumbled into the French restaurant, Sarah
informed me that she does not eat French food. Did I not know this?
Did I not do a bit of planning first? After all, this is her 30th birthday. It's supposed to be special!

Things are a little hazy due to the excruciating pain in my back, but I think I
convinced her that there are a Plan B - another restaurant I chose,
just in case. Close by. We parked in Beach Rd, South Beach, and proceeded to
Fox Cafe. She daintily in her pretty outfit, me shuffling along like a crab,
hunched over from the pinched nerve.

Then it started pouring without any prior warning - Miami-style - and we darted as wet as drowning rats, through the nearest door. It turned out to be a gay male bar where we
waited out the tropical thunder storm -not the intimate, romantic atmosphere I envisioned for Sarah's 30th, but what the heck - she liked the music.

We finally had our dinner at (See pic) Fox Cafe (The worst food I've ever tasted, and the patio roof leaked in the driving rain.) and Sarah were able to show great character and laugh about the experience. What a gal!

Happy birthday Princess!