Do I Miss The Tech Stuff?

While chatting via email with Shelley, one of my favorite bloggers, she asked first about the business and then about me…

“Do you ever miss the tech stuff?”

Well, um, yes, er, sometimes, oh, maybe… I do miss being an expert. I was very good at managing networks, and was very good explaining and using my expertise with others. I understand maybe 30% (at best) of the restaurant business, and defer most of the time to Frauke’s experience and the experience of those in our team.

I don’t miss the conflicting expectations of those who design, sell and market tech applications and those who implement them. I spent a lot of my time playing Link  Email item  

Beach Party

Christopher and Frauke at the beach in Cuxhaven. No Viking battles were fought, and while the sun shone seldom, it did shine.

Viking Camp

This weekend we’ll be away in Cuxhaven for our annual camping trip with Christopher’s uncles and cousins. We refer to it as Viking Camp, since the weather for our trips is always so frigid that only a Viking could feel at home. Well, at least one time it was. It looks like this time it will only be wet. We’ll be back Sunday evening to wring ourselves out.

Flags

Christopher is ready for tonight’s game.

FPH in the HAN

A couple of weeks ago Frauke spoke at a business round table on franchising sponsored by the Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft (business promotion council) for our region. The Harburger Anzeigen und Nachrichten published article on her presentation (scanned PDF, in German) in their business section, complete with a photo of our McCafé Ford Ka.

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The last thing I expected when we went to a McDonald’s meeting the past two days was to be berated for not updating my blog for over a week. But that’s what happened, at the bar after the disappointing German game against Austria at Euro 2008.

So for the McDonald’s insiders who follow our restaurant via PapaScott… we just got our second ISC for the month, and while the TET was a bit high (so no perfect score), we have a zero CSO for the fourth month in a row.

Euro 2008 Flag Count

Driving in Harburg this afternoon, one day before the start of Euro 2008, here are the numbers of car-flags I noticed (German flags excluded):

(I was going to twitter this, but Twitter is down, and this is too important not to post.

Uncle Tom in the 21st Century

So is the Tageszeitung’s “Uncle Barack’s Cabin” headline today stupidly racist, or just racist? “Uncle Tom” has been an insult for, what, a century and a half now?

Spiegel Online International: German Newspaper Slammed for Racist Cover Davos Newbies: Tin Ears Davids Medienkritik: Die Tageszeitung: “Uncle Barack’s Cabin”

Update: An opposing view (in German) from Markus Tripp (who I follow on Twitter), who links to the discussion at tazblog, the newspaper’s own blog.

Poor Reception

Frauke has the sometimes annoying characteristic of using her accelerator as a stress-relief device. If, for whatever reason, she become angry or frustrated while driving, she steps on the accelerator and drives faster. In certain situations this can be counter-productive, for example, when she’s having trouble finding her destination. She can’t find the place she’s looking for, she gets mad, steps on the gas, and drives right on past.

When this happens, I’ve learned through experience that it’s best not to say anything, since in these situations Frauke is not very receptive to suggestions.

I was rudely reminded this morning of the relationship between receptiveness and technology this morning at 4 am. Our security company called and spoke...
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An Honor Killing in Hamburg

Spiegel Online International: Afghan Girl’s Death Sparks National Debate. This is the story of a 16-year-old girl in Hamburg stabbed to death by her older brother. One of our best employees in Dibbersen is related to the family and attended the funeral. He told us the family has been very hurt by how the media has protrayed them the past week. As you read the story, try to find the line between the truth and trying to fit the story into a pre-set “Muslims in Germany” mold.