Siliconchef by Brian Richardson

Even though I put a lot of thought into how to best dodge airline bag fees, I tend to check my luggage more often then I go “carry-on only”. As a frequent flyer, I avoid bag fees thanks to my Delta Medallion status. Even with the financial barrier removed, there are still cases where carrying all of my luggage is preferable to letting the airlines carry that load for me.

More »

As a frequent flyer I need to discuss how the overhead compartment has been ruined by stupid airline fees, shy airline staff and clueless passengers.

More »

Over the long history of mankind, people mark the passing of the seasons with various traditions … decorating dead conifers, taking candy from strangers, getting drunk in Savannah under the guise of cultural heritage. I know it’s Thanksgiving Eve when I’m placing a turkey into a bucket on my back porch. More »

I’ve had a bit of an attachment to the Ziplock bag since I started traveling for business, but it has nothing to do with those stupid TSA requirements.
More »

I expected the rain on this trip to Taiwan. I wasn’t expecting to slide all the way across the sidewalk …

Sidewalks may be wet when raining. People may fly when sidewalks are wet.

More »

This post comes to you from Delta Flight 276 from Tokyo-Narita to Detroit. I didn’t start my day in Tokyo, and I’m not ending it in Detroit. This is just part of my path home from a week in Taipei …

… but after week I’m heading back to the airport to do it all again.

Back-to-back trips like this used to be old hat for me. Six or seven years ago, I’d be in Asia several times a year. My travel died back to something a bit more sane, perhaps two or three international trips a year. With my change of employer, the travel seems to be back.

I guess this is what I get for showing competence in my area of supposed expertise. Thanks to Boeing, I’m rapidly putting distance between me and the testing event I attended. The original plan was simple … Fly in Sunday, setup on Monday, pack up on Friday, fly home Saturday. After that I’m home for a dear friend’s birthday, a Dragon*Con gathering and a presentation on Dragon*ConTV.

Great plan … which means it won’t work. A conference in Taipei came up for the week of November 7th after I had this trip completely booked. Originally this was not a problem, because we had someone to cover it. When that fell through they realized someone else had to take on the presentation.

High profile presentation for a very established software partner … yeah, that called me. I’m kinda used to it now.

The hardest part wasn’t deciding to do the presentation, it was deciding to come back for a week in the middle of the trip. Staying in Taipei for three weeks has a certain appeal to it. I love the city and have a good office to operate out of when I’m not at conferences. But that it another week away from home. My friends back home greatly outnumber those in Taipei, and there’s too many people I need to see next week.

Tray tables up, seat backs in their upright and locked position … only one more stop on my trip home.

If I were a homebound parent I would probably use this space to complain about the drivel that passes for children’s programming. Brightly colored nonsense masquerading as toy commercials, talking sponges and educational characters with televisions embedded in their digestive tracts.
More »