Archive for July, 2006

Settling an Argument

Friday, July 21st, 2006
     I’m pretty close to a number of Germans.  They’re very good friends (and family), and I really love them all.      Occassionally we’ll discuss world events, and since the Middle East is nearly always in turmoil, it tends to come up as a good topic.  I tend to talk at length about [...]

Chris’ Market Watch

Friday, July 21st, 2006
     I am by no means a professional investor.  I’m not just a hobby investor, either.  Call me a serious amateur, perhaps with a serious lack of time to really get good at being a part-time pro on the side.      In any case, here are some things I know that I [...]

Tropical Paradise

Friday, July 21st, 2006
     The past few days have been somewhat relaxing.  I’m on the island of Okinawa.  I wish I could say I was relaxing and enjoying myself.  I brought plenty of work with me, so I’m working and enjoying myself, as it were.       The other great thing is my old deputy [...]

Annoyance Resolved

Tuesday, July 18th, 2006
     I’m happy to report that Avis made good on the problem of the parking attendant who tried to make me park anywhere else but where I was because she thought she could.  Management actually got in touch with me and asked some questions, and offered a discount on my next rental.  [...]

Typical

Friday, July 14th, 2006

Left is Right

Tuesday, July 11th, 2006
    When is the "Left" right? When you’re driving in Japan (or England, or Singapore).      I just bought a car with a number of ‘firsts."  It’s my first Toyota.  It’s my first four-wheel drive.  And it’s the first car I’ve bought that has the steering wheel on the right side of the car!     I’m [...]

Nippon

Friday, July 7th, 2006
     I arrived in Japan for the first time ever about a week-and-a-half ago.  Actually, I’ve touched Japanese soil before (if you count the Narita International Airport terminal ’soil’) on several occassions.  This was the first time I actually stayed here.    I had some great sponsorship in getting here, so I knew pretty much what [...]

Annoyances

Friday, July 7th, 2006
    I was in my hometown of St Louis last week.  There were a couple of issues that came up that I thought I’d vent about.  There isn’t necessarily any rhyme nor reason to it, they’re just little things I found bothersome.    First, I rented a car while I was home.  Now, the auto rental [...]