I'm at the Microsoft MVP conference for a few days, and the Dalai Lama & Bishop Tutu had a meeting in conference room next to the MVP's at the hotel.  Telling the difference between a Microsoft MVP and a Dalai Lama groupie was a bit more challenging then I expected it to be....

My buddy Jason and I were really at MIX08! 

I saw this picture on flickr (tagged with MIX08), and thought I looked familiar.  Notice the conference tarp man-bag to the right -- not a very good schwag-bag, but my daughter totally loves it, and uses it as her diego rescue pack.

Hmm, how many women can you count in the picture?

This makes me so sad to see this kind of thing.  To think that a few months ago, a few of my work buddies took a walk down to see the Gate one night.  It really was odd, in that you could walk right up to the gate, at 11pm at night.  It was more an open park, no fences or anything.  Just a giant traffic circle around the outside, and a few tourists.  I took a few good pictures (I wasn't carrying my camera, so while they went 'juicy', I walked back to get my camera and a few pictures.)  That was the end of our trip (I was going home that day) and we had just came over from Pyongtaek-City --- 50 some miles, but 3-4 hours in Asian traffic.   I really didn't want to go out and see anything, but now I am glad I did.

SEOUL, South Korea — The destruction in a fire of the 600-year-old southern gate to what was once the walled city of Seoul, a landmark that survived foreign invasions and wars to be designated South Korea’s top national treasure, has shocked the nation.

A 69-year-old man suspected of setting the fire was arrested Monday night on Kanghwa Island, west of Seoul, The Associated Press reported the police as saying. The man was identified only by his family name, Chae.

South Korean Gate Destroyed in Fire - New York Times

Here are a few pictures I got that night in October

Qoeka!  I mean, Works!

Just got a Christmas card from my Korean Tailor, Mr. Bo's GQ!  I've bought a handful from him, so I'm probably a good client.  They are well made, and when I upgraded to a better fabric, I really like the jackets.  He was a bit rushed last time (Even though I told him which day I was leaving, I don't think it was done in time -- you can tell that some of the stitches aren't up to snuff...)  Nonetheless, I love the jackets, and will probably get another one when I go back -- you just can't beat a garment that is made exactly for you....

Next time you go to Osan Air Force Base, or are in Pyongtaek-City,  stop and tell Mr. Bo I sent you...(although he still won't give me a discount).  It's right out the front gate, about 2 blocks down on the left, across from Golden Gate and The Sting.

Mr. Bo's G.Q. custom tailoring.

With all the meetings we've had lately, I thought I was back at Ford there for a while...

from: Office Online

Awesome

From: Office Offline

To All My Democrat Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.

To My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks to my buddy Ed (who is a little to the right of the John Birch Society...)

If you signed up for the National Do Not Call Registry when it opened up in 2003, you need to re-register, as the 5 year window of valid registrations is expiring ---  If only the CAN-SPAM act were this effective in cutting down unwanted interruptions....

p.s., I just put our number on the do not call registry -- the web site had an .ASPX extension, and no viewstate...

I hope I remember in 5 more years to register again!

Russ and I had a meeting in Washington D.C. yesterday.  Although I've been to D.C. hundreds of times, I've only seen the insides of conference rooms and airports (BWI, IAD, DCA).  My flight out of Reagan National wasn't until late, and I had an extra half hour in the schedule.  As I was driving around looking for a gas station before I returned the rental car, I looked over and saw Arlington National cemetery.  Rather than sit in DCA bar, I decided to walk around the park for a tick.  It was about 1900 (7pm) so the sun was just setting.  It's a nice park, with a great view across the Potomac of the Capitol.

View Larger Map

I took these pictures with my camera phone, so they didn't turn out very well!

Next time I'll go across the river to the Washington memorial (and maybe I'll remember my camera!)