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I am not a very good negotiator.  Although, you don’t have to take my word for it, just ask the lady who runs the laundry service about a block from my apartment.  Where I come from in America you don’t need to be negotiator.  Everything is a set price.  Its not like you can walk into a McDonalds and try to get a nickel or two knocked off your  McLatte.  I digress.
As I was saying, I am not a good negotiator, but I do know one thing, a properly timed pause in the negotiation is absolutely crucial.  Take for example when I took a couple of dress shirts in to be dry cleaned today.  The woman behind the counter first told me that it would be 150 pesos (or about 3 bucks)  each .  I knew this wasn’t a great deal, but at this point in the day I was okay with it. But…instead of agreeing right away (like an idiot) (like I normally do), I  decided to use “The Pause”, one of my very few negotiating tactics.    Without saying anything I slowly looked down at the counter, then up at the ceiling and then back at her, giving her the impression that I was really thinking about something.

“Ok, 100 pesos each” she said.

I am pretty sure I still got screwed over, but thanks to the Pause  this amateur negotiator got screwed over just a little bit less.

Tags: Kiva, Philippines

Today was a good day.  In addition to getting a free upgrade on my flight from Tokyo to New York, I also managed get a seat right across the isle from Vin Diesel.  Here is how our conversation went:

(while waiting for other passengers to take their seats)

Vin Diesel: Hey man, does your phone work here?
Me: Uhhhh, no.

(Later when deplaning as Vin Diesel was opening an overhead bin)

Vin Diesel: Hey man, watch your head.
Me: Thanks.

Tags: Experiences that significantly changed my life, Important conversations, Sitting next to famous people

Steve Seel, the Current Radio personality, moderated this event.

Tonight I stumbled into the Varsity Theater for the Citizen’s League Policy and a Pint.  In addition to there being snacks from the Loring Pasta bar next door there was on hand Tom Weber and Glen Dorfman, two local experts on the state budgetary issues.  There was some good discussion, from the audience and the panel.  Steve Seel, the moderator from the local radio station hosting the event, kept everything moving along nicely (characterized below).  Tom offered some good insights to us common folk on where the stimulus money  goes as well as how its possible to keep track of billions of dollars flowing into the state.  Glen, on the other hand, was also insightful, when he wasn’t straying off on a tangent, that is.

Good times in Dinkytown.

Tags: Citizens League, Politics, St. Paul

I was on my way to work earlier this week, riding in the back of a taxi cab from downtown Saint Paul to the Minneapolis airport.  As we were nearing the airport the cab driver told me of this new program to help cab companies deal with the sky rocketing gas prices.  He went on to explain that this new program calls for the taxi cab being put in neutral for the last quarter mile of the fare.  The passenger will  then be asked to get out and push the automobile, cabbie and all,  to the final destination.

I declined.   I guess nowadays, everyone has to do their part.

Tags: St. Paul

Through out my life I have usually had at least a couple of friends who have really enjoyed wrestling.  And I am not talking about greco roman style either, but rather the overgrown, temperamental, baby oiled men who every week announce to the world that they are to be the next champ.  Only until next week that is.  Hiccup.

When I found out that Monday Night Raw was going to be held just across the street from where I was staying on a business trip, I couldn’t resist.  Along with a couple of coworkers and even an unsuspecting boss man, we attended.  As we walked across the street, the first thing I saw was a black van.  I soon learned that this van was the center of a contest for tickets.  To the person who could touch the van the longest would be awarded a free admission to this event.  The winner was there for over 12 hours!  We walked in the Qwest center and immediately got in the back of a very long line for Pabst Blue Ribbon.  I learned a few things that night, none more important than a live professional wrestling event is far more entertaining with a PBR in hand.

Tags: Omaha

We took the 6 am flight to Delhi. By about 9:30 am we had all gotten our bags (I actually got mine this time) and were packed in for our 4 hour journey south to Agra, the one time Capital of India and the home of the famed Taj Mahal. My original plan was to get some sleep in the car on the way down. I am not sure if it was because the insistent honking horns or because of the hot, sticky car but I didn’t get my nap in. It was an interesting drive though.

Once we (finally) got to Agra and stopped for directions twice we arrived at the AgraFort. As we piled out of the car we were immediately greeted by man named Rajiv. Rajiv was kind enough to offer us his tour guiding services. As no one in the group was at all familiar with the Agra Fort or even Agra for that matter, we took him up on his offer. It took us quite a while to get though the whole place. There is a lot to see, a lot of interesting architecture, including a running polyreligious theme. The attention to detail is amazing. We were shown one room (that for some reason cost everyone an additional 100 rupees to see) that was tiled with small mirrors. From another room you can see the The Taj Mahal from across the river.

After a lunch break at a restaurant that for some reason was called ‘Quality’ we were off to see the Taj. Its funny because when I said that we might go see the Taj Mahal to some of the guys at the office it was always pointed out that the Taj is one of the 7 wonders of the world. I believe it.

When we finally did get to the Taj Mahal it truly is an incredible sight (one that definitely deserves to be on the list of the seven wonders of the world). The building itself was constructed by Shah Jahans as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to their fourteenth child*. The building and everything surrounding the building is made of white marble, which has this really cool transparent quality to it when light shines though it. Another quality that this stone has is that it gets ridiculously hot in the sun. Shoes are not allowed in the building itself. Most people just walked barefoot through. But because we were perceived as huge wimps by Rajiv he made us wear these embarrassing accessories.

All in all, this was a good day, exhausting but good. The sun was begining to set as we headed off on a camel that evening and children were peddling miniature Taj Mahal keychains and men were getting a trim and a monkey watched the activity below. I know that it is pretty far out of the way, but if you get the chance, I highly recommend going to Agra.

* after fourteen kids in 16 years building this thing was the least he could do.

Tags: India

I’ve always thought it hilarious that Indian people chose the most boring, domesticated, compliant and stupid animal on earth to adore, but already I’m seeing cows in a while different light. These animals clearly know they rule and they like to mess with our heads. The humpbacked bovines step off median strips just as cars are approaching, they stare down drivers daring them to charge, they turn their noses up at passing elephant and camels, and hold Huddles at the busiest intersections where they seem to chat away like the bulls of Gary Larsons
cartoons. Its clear they are enjoying themselves.

- Sarah MacDonald, Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

Tags: India

Hard Rock

For some reason a few of the people in the group wanted to go to Hard Rock Cafe in Mumbai. After a pretty full day, just about anything would have sounded like a good idea. We were at this shop and evidently the driver was told that we could get to the Hard Rock Cafe using this shortcut through this alley. This “alley” was actually a neighborhood. It kind of looked like mini-storage. The streets weren’t paved either, much less grated. Looking out the window, you see people walking hovered around open flame, people cooking, small children barely clothed not really even supervised. This road went on for probably two miles, it seemed like we were in the car for a lot longer that that though. Then a clearing, finally some pavement. We took a right and within about 20 feet we were at the entrance of the Hard Rock cafe.

Tags: India

For a weekend trip it was decided that we go to Mumbai, or before 1994 what was called Bombay. Mumbai is about a 4 hour drive from Pune. Hitesh, one of my coworkers has family living in Mumbai so the plan was to meet up with her and she would show us around. The problem was that as we were getting ready to leave, we found that Hitesh, wasn’t going to make it. Now by this time, Harith and I had already arranged hotel accommodations. After a brief discussion, we decided that the trip was still on, that we would rely on our drivers as tour guides. For the most part, this turned out to be a good idea. On our way there, I just happened to read an article in the local paper about the country; 80% of the population lives on $2 (88 Rupees) or less a day. This statistic stuck with me all day. The road to Mumbai from Pune was relatively uneventful. After six tunnels, two toll booths, and one bathroom break, we were there.

The first place we stopped was the Gateway of India. I refer to this as a tourist trap in both the figurative and the literal sense. The moment we stepped out of the car we were swarmed. The first was a man whose role in my estimation was to introduce people just like us to ‘A Holy Man’. The Holy Man was an older fellow who followed a few steps behind. Once introduced the Holy Man proceeded to tie a bracelet to my wrist. Overwhelmed and under prepared I went along. He painted something on my forehead, gave me some white pills* and assured me that I would now have good fortune. As bizarre as this sounds, this was an appropriate introduction.**

After having lunch at the The Taj Hotel we went onto a few other sites around town that were recommended. Our cabbie turned tour guide ended up lacking certain skills often desired for such a role namely, knowledge of the city and English. Needless to say we spent a good deal of time in the back seat of his car driving around. This did allow for some time to for us to observe more of the driving behavior. The street signs specifically I found amusing. One in particular I liked displayed: “Please don’t ignore traffic signs.”

* No, I didn’t take them
** Later on I learned Jerry was at least one other person in the group had “good fortunes” that day.

Tags: India

Everyone seems to drive with one finger on the horn and another shoved high up a nostril. The highway soundtrack is a chaotic symphony of deep blasts, staccato honks, high-pitched beeps, musical notes and a weird duck drone. Its as if Delhi is blind and driving by sound-except it seems many are deaf. Women are curled up on the pavement sound asleep, and a man is stretched out on the medium strip, dead to the danger. One the backs of bikes, on the laps of the motorcycle mums, babies are floppy with dreams.

- Sarah MacDonald, Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

Tags: India