Author Archives: Raoul

About Raoul

With a fairly unusual first name, this is where I have to stress VERY STRONGLY that these posts are my personal opinions and in no way reflect anything at all to do with my employer. For employer-approved content, take a look at my work blog.

Hard Times?

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Raoul

It’s been a tough couple of weeks  – traveling takes its toll and life carries on in the big city even when you are away.  It’s also hard to have your heart broken a couple of times in (relatively) quick … Continue reading →

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Ninja Obama

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Raoul

DiD US Presidential Election 2008????????. This is why I love Japan and Japanese culture –  the picture of President Obama with a katana and wakizashi is worth ten thousand words of description of cross-cultural strangeness. How did William Gibson find this?

Posted in Travel, WTF? | Leave a comment

Oregon – 48th of 50

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Raoul

I’m traveling to Portland, OR next week to meet with some clients and it will be the first time I’ve had a chance to visit Oregon.  Seems strange to me, since I’ve always heard great things about Portland and the … Continue reading →

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Wisdom from Marcel Proust

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Raoul

I can’t pretend to have read all of “In Search of Lost Time” (although I do have “Swann’s Way” sitting on my to-read shelf), but I did just finish “How Proust Can Change Your Life” by Alain de Botton and was … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Life | Leave a comment

The mobile phone as self-inflicted surveillance • The Register

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Raoul

The mobile phone as self-inflicted surveillance • The Register. The level of surveillance in the UK is out of control – I was at the railway station in Arnside when I was over for my mother’s party and we counted … Continue reading →

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Trip to Grange-over-Sands

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Raoul

I got back from the UK on Tuesday afternoon after a flying (no pun intended) visit to the UK for my mother’s 70th birthday dinner (although she claims it was the annual old lags dinner that just happened to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friends, Life | Leave a comment

Bold-face names?

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Raoul

Chey and I made the gossip column in the Minneapolis Star Tribune last weekend, but I’m not going to link to it because she asked me not to 🙂 Nothing terrible or salacious at all – just a funny run-in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friends, Life | 1 Comment

Travel, travel, travel

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Raoul

Lots going on in Q4 which leaves me little time to update.  Had a great weekend in MSP with Chey and a crazy week so far since getting back. Heading to the UK this weekend for my mum’s birthday.

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Van at the Beacon

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Raoul

I had planned to come back and write about the concert on Wednesday night, but work and travel got in the way until Chey reminded me. What can I say?  This is a show that I’ll remember literally for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Music | Leave a comment

Skiing at Hunter

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Raoul

I went skiing to Hunter mountain yesterday with Jen and although it was icy, I had a lot of fun.  It’s a little ironic, because today I woke up and it’s snowing hard with 3-4″ of accumulation in the city … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Life, Travel | 1 Comment