Upright & Stowed

Auspicious Blue Moon Welcomes 2010

It's too cloudy in San Francisco to see tonight's blue moon.  But I'm taking the presence of the first New Year's blue moon since 1990 (and the last til 2028) as a sign that 2010 is going to be a very good year.  One in which we apply the things we've learned in the last decade towards making the next one better, smarter, and more compassionate.  Happy New Year!

The 100 Million Club

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The world's human population is about 6.8 billion, according to the Population Division of the UN.  China (20%) and India (17%) are the giants in this list.  There are only nine other countries with populations over 100 million people.  In case you're interested, here they are:  United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Russia, Japan and Mexico.  For the full list on country populations, click here. 

Ready for Takeoff: 787 and Me

After two years of delays, the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" took off on its maiden voyage yesterday.  I am such an airplane geek that I kind of teared up watching the video below. 

As dedicated blog readers know, my past few years have been full of their own work-related fits and starts.  Travel idea ... consulting ... new travel idea ... consulting ... internet startup ... consulting ... non-profit shift ... consulting.  It was all getting a bit tedious, even though the goal of meaningful work in something travel-related never waned. 

Starting January 6th I will take off on what promises to be the most exciting career move for me in years.  I will be joining an organization called the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  In a nutshell, GBC helps businesses leverage their resources – money, communications, core capabilities and employee contact – in the fight against these three global health pandemics.  It's an incredible and very influential organization, founded by Richard Holbrooke in 2001, at the request of Kofi Annan and the UN.  My role will involve working with the travel/tourism industry to leverage resources in the fight against these conditions.  It should be an exciting and very meaningful pursuit.  You can read more here:

So there you have it.  New decade, new job, new possibilities.  David is ready for takeoff!

Embarrassing Move By EasyJet

Peter Eisenman's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (in the heart of Berlin) is one of the most moving pieces of memorial art I've ever seen.  Its stark beauty and massive scale manage to convey the enormity of the loss and the terror of the time in ways that take your breath away. 

Last week it was reported that EasyJet ran a fashion spread in its "Traveller" magazine ... shot among the concrete slabs of the memorial.  All I can say is "Oy Vey."  What were these people thinking?  Pure craziness, from photographer to publisher.  Here's the story, from the Jerusalem Post. 

Portland _ _ _ ' _ Jetport

If you’ve read this blog over time, you know how I love Maine (though not its recent vote on gay marriage).  Maine is a rugged, magical place, and I have visited many times over the years, usually as a guest of my dear college friend Michael and his younger brother Danny (who was my BF for four years).   Michael and Danny grew up in Portland.  They also have a family house on Sebago Lake, a picture-perfect vision of wooded Maine.  Heaven on earth.

If you fly to Maine, you’ll likely being flying into the state’s largest airport: The Portland International Jetport, aka PWM.  I’ve never known which part of that title I find more ridiculous … the “International” or the “Jetport.”  Talk about an airport with a complex. 

The other day Michael sent me the above clipping from the Boston Globe, announcing the suspension of international flights to and from the Portland International Jetport.  Sad yes, but as partial salve, the airport still welcomes planes with jets.  For now.