Back home again and it's immediately evident how the diversity of a big city like Chicago is abundantly absent out here in Connecticut. I've lamented on this to friends in Boston at times, how strikingly white Beantown is. Of course, Boston's like NYC - you don't bash the Beans. So I get two reactions to my statement: (1) What the hell are you talking about? (2) Compared to what?
Well 2006 is the year of travel and the more places you visit the more you start to make distinctions. I like distinctions. I like differences. They show us how much more there is to understand about the world. I believe familiarity leads to stagnation. We all prefer the familiar at times, but in the face of how much more to see and know in the world? If not now, when? Others said it better...
"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility." Albert Einstein
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Chicago: Day 4
Michigan Ave Apple Store... Navy Pier... Field Museum... Museum of Science & Industry. Quick shot over to the airport, bumped to next flight. Words of wisdom for the econo traveler: fly back Saturday so that when the airline offers to give you that free flight anywhere in the US for taking a flight the next day you can take the offer without worrying about work/school on Monday. Summer flight out west? Done.
Museum of Science & Industry: If you ever find yourself in Chicago you need to see this place. One of the top 7th most visited museums in the US and the oldest museum of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. This is not your father's museum, but an interactive extravaganza covering everything from biology to aviation to chemistry to submarines, cars, ships, computers. You name it, they've got it. Pictures don't do it justice. It's downright massive. Plan on a minimum of 3 hours to walk it, 5 to truly appreciate.
Museum of Science & Industry: If you ever find yourself in Chicago you need to see this place. One of the top 7th most visited museums in the US and the oldest museum of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. This is not your father's museum, but an interactive extravaganza covering everything from biology to aviation to chemistry to submarines, cars, ships, computers. You name it, they've got it. Pictures don't do it justice. It's downright massive. Plan on a minimum of 3 hours to walk it, 5 to truly appreciate.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Chicago: Day 3
First day in downtown. Afternoon route: McCormick Center to Atler Planetarium to Shed Aquarium to check-in at the Courtyard Marriot to Hancock Tower to live band at the Blues Chicago. Navy Pier and Apple Store closed, so first up tomorrow.
Hancock Tower. Dine a drink on top of "Big John," you find out why they call Chicago a vertical city. 95 floors up in 40 seconds. A city in itself complete with supermarket, parking, restaurant, and offices. Some people working there never even leave. Imagine that. The highest residences in the world and you don't even have to come down. Plus, how late can you be to work... 30 seconds?
Hancock Tower. Dine a drink on top of "Big John," you find out why they call Chicago a vertical city. 95 floors up in 40 seconds. A city in itself complete with supermarket, parking, restaurant, and offices. Some people working there never even leave. Imagine that. The highest residences in the world and you don't even have to come down. Plus, how late can you be to work... 30 seconds?
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Classical
There's just something about classical music. One of those wonderful things to hear, but not describe. Feel, but not know. Taste, but not touch. The intangent made tangent in heart, but mystery to mind. Beautiful.
They say the beat of baroque music allows the right and left sides of our brains to sync up. I grew up with this stuff and hated it. Decades later and even wine tastes good.
Hallways and worksplaces need to get this. B&N plays it for a reason. Understand: even the best of actors need a stage set right.
They say the beat of baroque music allows the right and left sides of our brains to sync up. I grew up with this stuff and hated it. Decades later and even wine tastes good.
Hallways and worksplaces need to get this. B&N plays it for a reason. Understand: even the best of actors need a stage set right.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Modern Workplaces
90 min phone last night w/a good friend. Two friends, two bad days at the office, just one question: how did the absurdity of modern workplace become so accepted? Complicated bureaucracies, crowded cubicle farms, trivial office politics.
With all that we have.
With all that we know.
Why this?
Insights...
"In Business" podcast, 10/6/05. Beautiful discussion on the growth of social networks, remergence of trade leagues, and increasing popularity of virtual corporations.
Better still. How bout this quickie...
"Distributing the Future" podcast, 12/12/05, 8:40 in (link below). Quote: "The atmosphere of the average workplace is to productivity, what flames painted on the side of a car are to speed."
Enough said.
With all that we have.
With all that we know.
Why this?
Insights...
"In Business" podcast, 10/6/05. Beautiful discussion on the growth of social networks, remergence of trade leagues, and increasing popularity of virtual corporations.
Better still. How bout this quickie...
"Distributing the Future" podcast, 12/12/05, 8:40 in (link below). Quote: "The atmosphere of the average workplace is to productivity, what flames painted on the side of a car are to speed."
Enough said.
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