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Tag Archives: Great Debate

Great Debate: Hawaii vs. Japan

by Catherine Toth on May 2, 2012 in Adventures, Musings

It’s easy to come back from a trip and think everything on your vacation was better than what you return to at home.

Like ramen. I don’t think I can eat ramen here for awhile without comparing it to the bowls I’ve had in Fukuoka and Tokyo on my recent trip to Japan.

But sometimes we don’t stay long enough in a place to really get to know it — and some things may seem better on the surface.

Take, for example, traffic.

It’s easy to think that other cities don’t have the kind of gridlock morning traffic we have here on Oahu. But we also don’t travel during peak commuting times when on vacation, so what we experience — the lonely backroads, the unclogged interstates — aren’t really an accurate picture of the city’s traffic woes.

So I’m going to make a list of things that we can compare between Hawaii and Japan, and for those of you who have been to both, I’d love to get your input:

Hawaii vs. Japan: which is better? (My answer is in parentheses.)

• Public transportation (Japan)
• Ramen (Japan)
• Pastries and desserts (Hawaii. I have a sweeter palette. Sorry!)
• Convenience stores (Japan, hands down)
• Fashion (I prefer Hawaii’s laid-back vibe.)
• Beaches (Hawaii)
• Friendliness (Hawaii)
• Crowds (Hawaii)
• Tourist areas (Japan. I think Hawaii is too kitschy.)
• Music (Hawaii)
• Weather (Hawaii)
• Public restrooms (Split. I think Japanese bathrooms are cleaner, but you have to like squatters.)
• Birds (Tough one. I’m not sure if I prefer huge crows or dirty pigeons.)

Hmm. Looks like I’m torn.

What about you?

Comments { 10 }

Great Debate: Should toddler have been kicked off plane?

by Catherine Toth on March 12, 2012 in Musings, The Daily Dish

We’ve all been there.

A fussy toddler, a crying baby, an annoying kid who insists on kicking the back of your seat.

It’s become almost part of the modern-day travel experience.

But when are these everyday — and, for the most part, tolerable — too much for the cramped, claustrophobic space called the cabin?

Well, two weeks ago a toddler who threw a tantrum before takeoff and refused to sit down and put on her seatbelt on a JetBlue flight in the Turks and Caicos was removed — with her family — from the flight.

This is what the airlines had to stay about its decision:

Flight 850 … had customers that did not comply with crewmember instructions for a prolonged time period. The captain elected to remove the customers involved for the safety of all customers and crewmembers on board.

The parents say they had finally, after a few minutes, gotten their 2-year-old daughter, Natalie, safely strapped into her seat. But they were still told to get off the plane. They had to stay an extra night in the Turks and Caicos and had to book a new flight to Boston — all of which cost them an estimated extra $2,000.

So here’s the question: do you think the airlines did the right thing in removing the family?

NBC’s “Today” asked its online users the same question, and 70 percent of respondents agreed with the airlines.

What about you?

Comments { 13 }

Great Debate: Phones in the potty?

by Catherine Toth on December 13, 2011 in Musings, The Daily Dish

The other day I was in the restroom at a restaurant and heard the woman in the next stall talking.

And not to me.

She was, I figured out, talking on her cell phone.

It was such a strange experience — even for me as an innocent participant in this. I mean, I didn’t want to flush for fear of “outing” this woman, who was casually chatting on her iPhone like she was lounging in her living room.

I’ll admit: I’ve walked into the bathroom still on the phone. But I wouldn’t go into full restroom action with someone on the other end listening. That’s just rude — and gross.

But why? We don’t seem to mind people talking in restrooms. Why is it different if that conversation is taking place on a mobile device?

Probably because we suspect the person on the other end doesn’t know where the caller is — or what those strange sounds are. And we feel awkward, not just for us, but for that unsuspecting person on the line.

The bathroom should be a private space — even if it’s a public restroom. I’m not going to subject others to my bathroom antics — and neither should you.

What do you think?

***

#TodaysGift

Dog Kimono from Inu Inu Hawaii

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Dog kimono or yukata from Inu Inu Hawaii (www.inuinuhawaii.com)

Price: $30 online or at pet boutiques such as Calvin & Susie in Kilohana Square

The gist: Bored of the usual dog outfits? Or your pooch is quite the fashion diva? Get a kimono (or yukata) from Honolulu-based Inu Inu Hawaii, which specializes in unique Asian-inspired apparel for dogs. They come in all sizes — in fact, you can custom order ones for larger breeds — and patterns. Imagine your Rottweiler in one of these!

Best for: Dog owners, of course!

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Great Debate: Banning e-mail at work

by Catherine Toth on December 6, 2011 in Musings, The Daily Dish

It sounds like an impossible feat.

But Atos, an international IT services company, announced that it will ban e-mails because the big boss, Thierry Breton, considers 90 percent of them a waste of time, according to a New York Times article.

The goal of getting rid of what’s become the most common way we communicate in work settings is to get employees to spend more time talking to each other in person, on the phone or via “real time” tools like IM-ing and Twitter.

It sparked an interesting debate on the Times site, and I thought we could discuss it here.

For me, I have a love-hate relationship with e-mail. I love the ease, the efficiency, the one-sided conversations it affords. But I hate checking them, getting spammed, trying to find an efficient way of organizing messages. It really only adds to my stress load — instead of reducing it.

And I feel like I can get a lot more done when I talk to people face-to-face. Meetings, as much as we all hate them, can be productive. We get everyone in the same room and get a lot of answers to questions, a lot of decisions made. It’s easier for me to get an answer from someone over the phone than through websites or e-mails — but it requires a bit more work in that I have to actually engage in a conversation with someone, which is something we try to avoid with technology.

See the challenge.

But banning the use of e-mail entirely seems a bit extreme — and unrealistic. But it’s an interesting experiment.

What do you think? Are e-mails a waste of time? Would we be more productive if that was limited?

***

#TodaysGift

Dog Kimono from Inu Inu Hawaii

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 19

Days left: 3

Dog kimono or yukata from Inu Inu Hawaii (www.inuinuhawaii.com)

Price: $30 online or at pet boutiques such as Calvin & Susie in Kilohana Square

Best for: Dog owners, of course!

Comments { 4 }

Great Debate: Paycheck vs. broke-but-happy

by Catherine Toth on November 10, 2011 in Musings, The Daily Dish

One of the guys I surf with is considering retiring — two years before he had originally planned.

He just couldn’t take his job anymore. And right now he’s sitting down with a financial planner, trying to figure out if he can retire without suffering too much financially.

But he doesn’t mind suffering (a little). As long as he’s out of that job.

This debate comes up often — especially among my friends who, save for some, hate their jobs. They talk endlessly about quitting and doing something they love, even if that requires a substantial pay cut — and, thusly, a huge lifestyle change.

But hardly any of them do it, feeling more secure and comfortable with a steady paycheck and medical benefits.

Most of us would rather suffer in a job we dislike — even hate — than take the risk and follow a passion that may or may not turn into a profitable career.

I hear people — and they seem to always be gainfully employed — say if you follow your passion, the money will come.

Why couldn’t my passion be accounting…?

But is that easier to say than do?

We hear all the success stories about people — think Samuel Adams founder Jim Kock and former Apple chairman Steve Jobs — but what about those who failed? I want to hear their stories.

So what would you rather be — and be honest: unhappy in a job that paid well and provided benefits — or broke but actually happy?

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