Chris Guillebeau's Blog, page 99
June 12, 2014
This Is Not a Post
It’s really not.
But if you return next week, there will be a lot of posts.
Because everything is changing—very soon.
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Image: Michiel
June 9, 2014
Why I Started The Art of Non-Conformity
In the next week or so, there’s going to be a major change here. After publishing the blog in the same way for the past five years, all of a sudden it will be… different. Expect a new design, new structure, and new content—but aside from everything, nothing much will change.
As I’ve been working on the redesign and new publication schedule, I’ve also been thinking about why I started the blog more than five years ago.
It all goes back to 2006. I’d moved back to the U.S. from four years abroad,...
June 5, 2014
Soon. Very Soon.
Just watch.
Well, wait a few days. And then watch.
It will all be different, and it will all be worth the wait.
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Image: Chris
June 2, 2014
Palma de Mallorca
I hadn’t been sleeping well and was in a weird mood when I arrived.
The flight was on Air Berlin, all Economy. The hotel was lovely—in the way that 70-year-old people from England and Germany appreciate. I was jaded as usual, it was a struggle to get online, etc.
But then I walked on the terrace and looked out at the city, and I thought—okay, that’s nice.
Click to enlarge
I don’t want to pack it all in and move to an island off the coast of Spain anytime soon. But for a night or two before I he...
May 29, 2014
On the Road in Berlin: Three Things from Today
1. I’m in Berlin. What a fun city! I’m excited to stay somewhere for three whole nights.
2. I flew out of Doha’s brand-new airport early this morning. Unbeknownst to me in advance, when I came in two days ago it was the very first day it was open—which of course was a mistake. Everyone was friendly and lots of people were standing around, but nothing worked as it should.
Leaving today was a lot better. There was still some confusion, but it’s shiny and new and for some reason there was a big...
May 26, 2014
Onwards: Notes from Haneda Airport
When visiting Japan I usually fly into Narita airport, located at least 90 minutes from most of Tokyo. It’s a long bus ride, especially after stepping off a ten-hour flight from the U.S. or Europe. But whenever possible, I prefer to leave Japan from Haneda airport, more centrally located and more “local” all around.
There are plenty of long-haul flights from Haneda, but the international terminal chiefly serves Japanese passengers traveling to other Asian countries or Hawaii.
Before clearing s...
May 22, 2014
On the Road Again: Next Stop, Berlin (Eventually)
I’m heading out to Europe and taking a small side trip to get there. The first part of my itinerary is:
PDX-LAX-NRT-HKG-JNB-DOH-TXL
Portland, Los Angeles, Narita (Tokyo), Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Doha, Berlin
On the outbound I’ll be finishing up a Round-the-World itinerary I began in Johannesburg earlier this year—and then I’ll be beginning another one from there.
For the most part the Asia transits (Tokyo, Hong Kong) as well as the African and Persian Gulf ones (Johannesburg, Doha) are just quic...
May 19, 2014
Three Things I Learned Last Week
1. You write a book when you have something to say.
I actually learned this long ago, while sitting in a Chicago conference room with Jonathan Fields. You don’t write a book because it’s a good thing to write a book. You don’t write a book to “build your platform.”
You write a book because you can’t bear not writing a book. You have something to say and you’re willing to put in the effort, day after day, to craft that message in the best possible manner.
I knew this before but it was good to...
May 15, 2014
Jackson Pollock’s Overnight Success Was a Lot Like Most People’s
Despite claims made and repeated for decades, Pollock did not paint his epic Mural canvas in one great, glorious burst of nonstop creative fervor.
Instead, a painting revered as a turning point, both for the artist and the history of Modern American art, evolved over many days and perhaps even several weeks.
Link: The Real Pollack Story
The story that a great work of art was created all at once is just that: a great story. A myth.
It turns out that the truth is much better than the story. Polloc...
Jackson Pollack’s Overnight Success Was a Lot Like Most People’s
Despite claims made and repeated for decades, Pollock did not paint his epic Mural canvas in one great, glorious burst of nonstop creative fervor.
Instead, a painting revered as a turning point, both for the artist and the history of Modern American art, evolved over many days and perhaps even several weeks.
Link: The Real Pollack Story
The story that a great work of art was created all at once is just that: a great story. A myth.
It turns out that the truth is much better than the story. Polloc...
