In part one of this ongoing series, we explored dim sum’s greatest hits, and what I—as a Hong Kong-reared dim sum obsessive—look for in separating the great from the merely adequate. This time, we dive deep into six more menu staples, and the signs to notice in order to achieve expert dim sum proficiency.
(Creative Commons Zero – CC0 pic)
MIAMI: Alone at a health clinic in a small, remote seaside settlement in Australia, a 44-year-old nurse sensed he was having a heart attack and sprang into action, saving his own life, a report said Wednesday.
The man, whose name was withheld for privacy reasons, experienced severe chest pain and dizziness while he was the sole medical professional on duty at a nursing post in Coral Bay, more than 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Perth, the capital of Western Australia, said the account published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
With the next medical facility 90 miles (150 kilometers) away and no one else around to help, he hooked himself up to an electrocardiogram (EKG), which showed a complete heart block that may have been due to an evolving heart attack.
The man then performed another EKG on himself, which confirmed the diagnosis of a heart attack.
He emailed the results to a doctor via the Emergency Telehealth Service (ETS), and found an emergency physician to talk with him via real-time video.
Then, he inserted intravenous (IV) lines in both of his own arms and self-administered drugs including aspirin, blood thinners, painkillers and a clot-dissolving drug called tenecteplase.
“He attached his own defibrillator pads and prepared adrenaline, atropine, and amiodarone,” which are drugs to treat heart rhythm problems, said the report.
As it turned out, the clot-busting drugs worked, and the heart attack subsided.
He was flown the next day to a cardiology unit in Perth, a stent was inserted in the coronary artery that had grown blocked, and he went home two days later.
Experts said his extreme, do-it-yourself, MacGyver-like approach would not be recommended for most people.
But the use of the clot-busting drug is standard procedure for people who are far from a hospital, and his own medical knowledge likely contributed to saving his own life.
“It was quite genius to be able to do all these things,” said Brandon Godbout, vice chair of the emergency department at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
“When nobody else is around, what do you do? This person seemed to have quite good experience in emergency care, based on their confidence in managing this severe situation,” said Godbout, who was not involved with the case but said reading about it made him smile.
The case also shows the importance of telemedicine, particularly as hospitals retreat from rural areas, leaving more people far from emergency medical care.
“I think telemedicine is crucial to dealing with these sorts of emergencies,” Godbout added.
Jim PaullWould have had his ass kicked anywhere else.
This must make the top rank of our Most Outrageous Passengers list since the inception of LoyaltyLobby: A Dhaka-bound Malindo passenger got undressed in flight and then engaged publicly in other indecent acts.
His actions lead to his immediate arrest upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur in Dhaka, the man is a Bangladeshi citizen enrolled in a university in Malaysia.
The videos, mostly cellphone clips, that started appearing on social media and Youtube right after the plane touched down are a mixture of disgusting, crazy and outright unbelievable wouldn’t the images itself be proof of what has in fact happened.
Free Malaysia Today (access here) reported that the man also attacked the purser of the flight.
A Bangladeshi man was detained after he removed his clothes and attacked a stewardess during a Malindo Air flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka on Saturday.
The airline said in a statement posted on its Facebook that the disruptive passenger onboard OD162 was met on arrival by a security team and detained by authorities in Dhaka.
“The crew on board followed the standard operating procedures to restrain the passenger and causing any further disruption to the crew and passengers onboard,” the post said.
The Star Online reported that the 20-year-old man, who is said to be a student at a university in Cyberjaya, was alleged to have masturbated in his seat while watching pornography on his laptop.
Witnesses said the man had walked naked to the toilet and had also urinated on his seat.
The man attacked the head stewardess when he was asked to put on his clothes.
Other passengers then helped to restrain the man and tie his hands behind his back.
Needless to say plenty of people had their cellphone cameras rolling, giving us a glimpse of this episode of ‘unwanted inflight entertainment’.
You can find a collection in the following Youtube clip:
Malindo has the following to say on their Facebook page:
If he was able to do all this and nobody stepped in then there are legitimate concerns about the ‘standard operating procedure’ Malindo Air applies in such cases. Apart from the fact that he apparently attacked the purser on the flight you got to wonder what means the crew have at their disposal other than asking other passengers to help overcome an offender.
Conclusion
Something tells me that this kind of entertainment won’t be very much appreciated in a Dhaka jail. The good old saying ‘Don’t drop the soap’ comes to mind here.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this episode also considerably helps to speed up his exmatriculation from the Malaysian university in Cyberyaya where he is currently enrolled as per various media reports. He should never be allowed back on a plane, though I doubt Bangladesh has such a No Fly List in place. They could probably impound his passport for a while, at least there won’t be any flights leading that jail.
Jim PaullCan try
You don’t necessarily need to buy a new mattress to get a better night’s sleep: Sometimes, a mattress pad will do, and a great one is on sale in today’s Amazon Gold Box.
Jim PaullHmmm
The Instant Pot is a weeknight wonder for its ability to produce flavorful meals in lightning-fast time. The seven-in-one appliance makes it possible to get perfectly cooked, juicy chicken thighs in a Thai-inspired peanut-lime sauce on the table in under 30 minutes. It doesn't get any better or easier than that!
Anker’s new true wireless earbuds are solid entries into the burgeoning product category, and you can get a set for just $79 today with promo code ZOLOADS2.
Jim PaullHmm
The long, glorious breakfasts of Sunday mornings are something to look forward to, but on weekdays I'm looking for something super nourishing and satisfying. I want something that doesn't require me to get up 30 minutes earlier (not happening!). Major bonus points if it can be made ahead, just waiting for me when I roll into the kitchen.
Guess what? All that is possible — especially when you're looking for vegetarian options. From egg and veggie pitas and meal-worthy smoothies, to wholesome breakfast cookies and a Southwest-inspired quinoa bowl, here are 30 fuss-free vegetarian breakfast recipes to inspire you.
Prasarana says train from Gombak to Putra Heights and vice versa will now pass through Kelana Jaya LRT station without stopping for passengers. (Blogspot pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) station was temporarily closed after several portions of the station’s roof were blown away during a heavy rain and strong winds that hit Petaling Jaya at noon near here today.
In a statement today, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad said no accidents or injuries were reported.
“The Kelana Jaya LRT station operators closed the station for safety reasons,” it said.
Following the closure, the train from Gombak to Putra Heights and vice versa will pass through Kelana Jaya LRT station without stopping for passengers.
Commuters from Gombak or Putra Heights intending to go to the Kelana Jaya station should alight at the Taman Bahagia station to take the shuttle bus to Kelana Jaya, said the statement.
Consumers were advised to get the latest updates on LRT services via Rapid KL’s Facebook page and Twitter account.
An employee at a convenience shop at the affected station, who wished to be known as Ahmad Zaim, 23, said he heard a loud bang during the incident while arranging items at the shop.
“Commuters who were near the area rushed to leave the vicinity. Some portions of the station’s roof have fallen near an electrical substation and parking lots,” he said when met by Bernama.
A LRT user and resident of Kelana Jaya, who wanted to be known only as Vinosh, said he used the station daily.
“I was shocked when told that the station is closed temporarily…luckily Prasarana provides transit buses to nearby stations,” he said.
A Bernama survey at the scene found that members of the public were prohibited from approaching the area and told to vacate the station.
The management and contractors were also seen inspecting the station, while cleaning work had commenced.
Jim PaullWonder if it's the same here.
Jim PaullSomeone needs some money.
Saudi Arabia is taking a big step in opening its doors by announcing that it will start issuing tourist visas to travelers this spring.
Prince Sultan bin Salman announced that tourist visas will be available starting April 1. In the past, visas were mainly allowed for business travelers, those visiting families and religious pilgrims visiting Mecca — although it did run a limited program that allowed tourists into the country from 2006 to 2010.
The country is embarking on a mission to decrease its economic dependance on oil and opening itself up to tourism is just one of the ways it will do that.
“[Saudi Arabia] is open for people that are doing business, for people working in Saudi Arabia, investing in Saudi Arabia, and people who are visiting for special purposes,” Prince Sultan bin Salman told the Associated Press. “And now it will be open for tourism again on a selected basis.”
Still, visas will be subject to some restrictions. Females under 25 won’t be allowed into the country as solo travelers, The Telegraph reports. They’ll have to be accompanied by a family member if they want a 30-day tourist visa. Women in Saudi Arabia are still subject to strict laws, and only recently was a law passed allowing them to drive.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ascended the throne in 2017 and consolidated power with an “anti-corruption” crackdown, which had Saudi elites “jailed” in the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh this fall. Salman is pushing for the country to adopt a more moderate and open form of Islam.
Saudi Arabia hopes to bring 30 million visitors to the Kingdom by 2030. Starting in late 2019, it will be begin a large construction project developing resorts on islands in the Red Sea, with the first phase being completed by the end of 2022. The resorts will be “governed by laws on par with international standards,” meaning conservative dress codes likely won’t be enforced in these areas. It’s unclear if alcohol will be allowed either, which is entirely banned in the country.
Mada’in Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will likely attract visitors to the country. The Kingdom is also building an “entertainment city” outside of Riyadh that will rival Las Vegas — it will feature a Six Flags theme park and Safari Park.
Saudia, the Kingdom’s national airline, is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and operates five nonstop flights to the US. You can fly from Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK) and Washington DC (IAD) to either Jeddah (JED) or Riyadh (RUH) on the carrier’s Boeing 777.
TPG Managing Editor Alberto Riva recently flew business on the carrier and said they had a decent hard product, but its soft product was lacking (especially because it doesn’t serve alcohol).
You can book Saudia flights from the US to Saudi Arabia with Delta SkyMiles for 42,500 one-way in economy or 85,000 in business. Air France’s Flying Blue will charge 40,000 miles one-way in economy and 100,000 in business.
Other carriers like British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines offer flights to the Kingdom, too.
Featured image by Sammy Six / Flickr.
Jim PaullHaha
Jim PaullHahaha
A United Airlines pilot filed an urgent report with the National Weather Service’s aviation center on Friday: Almost every passenger on a Washington, DC-bound flight was sick due to turbulence from strong winds.
“Very bumpy on descent. Pretty much everyone on the plane threw up,” the pilot said in the report, according to NBC 4 Washington. The extreme winds and turbulence were caused by a Nor’easter that is churning up the East Coast and has grounded more than 2,300 flights.
Even the pilots on UA3833 were feeling nauseated due to the plane’s rocking. “Pilots were on the verge of throwing up,” the report said.
The flight left Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) at 6:27 a.m. and landed at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 7:19 a.m., which was nine minutes early, according to United.
No additional injuries were reported aboard the Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft, a 50-seater jet whose relatively small size may have been a factor in its being rocked especially hard by the storm.
“Air Wisconsin Flight 3833 operating as United Express from Charlottesville, Va. to Washington Dulles International encountered turbulence because of high winds,” United Airlines said in a statement. “A few customers onboard the regional jet became ill as the aircraft was preparing to land. The aircraft landed safely and taxied to its gate. No customers required medical attention because of the turbulence.”
Featured image of a United Express Bombardier CRJ-200 by Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Whether you’re sitting up in bed and reading a novel, or staying up past midnight scrolling through Twitter until you’re too upset to get to sleep, your back will thank you for buying a reading pillow.
Jim PaullLike there is any room.
Jim Paull"Black suit center" I wonder if that was a subtle dig?
Dr Mahathir (black suit, centre) appearing at the KL High Court today to testify in a defamation suit by his son Mukhriz against Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim.
KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned the legitimacy of the ruling by Chief Justice Raus Sharif today in dismissing the former prime minister’s appeal over a public misfeasance lawsuit against Prime Minister Najib Razak.
“He should not even be listening to this case today.
“I have my doubts about the legality of his decision in the case,” said Mahathir, referring to the decision by a three-man bench, chaired by Raus, in affirming the previous decisions by the Court of Appeal and High Court.
Dr Mahathir (left) greeted by his lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla (right) on arrival at the KL High Court today.
The former prime minister did not attend the hearing at the apex court in Putrajaya this morning and gave his comments on the decision at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex this afternoon after testifying in another case involving his son Mukhriz’s defamation suit against Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim.
Mahathir said he was baffled over the Federal Court’s decision in affirming Najib is not a public officer.
“He is a public officer, otherwise he wouldn’t be where he is because whatever he does involves the government and the public,” he said.
Earlier today, Raus, in chairing the Federal Court panel, dismissed leave to appeal by Mahathir and 1MDB critic Khairuddin Abu Hassan against a High Court decision last year to strike out their suit against Najib for alleged abuse of power in office.
Mahathir’s lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla sought to recuse Raus from hearing the case today on the grounds there is another case against Raus by Mahathir that is pending at the Court of Appeal.
Mahathir had last year challenged the appointment of Raus, as chief justice, and Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin as Court of Appeal president through a judicial review application but the court refused to grant leave to initiate the challenge.
The top judge dismissed Haniff’s application to recuse himself and continued to hear the case.
In dismissing the appeal, Raus said Mahathir and Khairuddin, who are the appellants, failed to meet the threshold of Section 96 of the Courts of the Judicature Act in persuading the apex court to grant leave.
In the statement of claim filed in March 2016, Mahathir and two others said they were among the rightful parties to take action against Najib.
They traced the chronology of the 1MDB investigations dating back to March 2015, from the formation of a special task force, to then attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail’s sudden resignation, and the sacking of former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
They said Najib had continuously interfered with the due process of the law to ensure all the relevant authorities discontinued from carrying out and concluding the investigations into his alleged misconduct over the RM2.6 billion donation.
They wanted a declaration that Najib had committed the tort of misfeasance and breach of fiduciary duty in public office.
They also wanted Najib to return to the government the money found in his private bank accounts.
End of the road for Mahathir, Khairuddin’s abuse of power case against Najib
Court dismisses Mahathir’s bid to annul appointment of 2 judges
Jim PaullMmmmm
When you combine certain foods together they become extra special, like taco pizza or spaghetti and chili (which is still debatable if you're not from Ohio). In this case, we're talking about Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and sloppy Joes. If you're like me, you will suddenly find yourself asking, "Where has this been all my life, and why do I not have some right now?"
A meal that works for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, this recipe will surely become a staple on your dinner rotation.
With the Galaxy S9 Samsung added a new feature that allows you to virtually try on makeup using your phone.
Jim PaullHaha, didn't see it was Ecuador and thought here.
Chef Nube Siguenza prepares a seafood pappardelle at Cava Wine Bar in New Canaan. Picture taken on Feb. 20, 2018.
Jim PaullAwwww blackie.
KUALA GANDAH: A herd of elephants tramp through jungle before lumbering into a river under the watchful gaze of their keepers, training at a Malaysian sanctuary for their vital work in reducing human-animal conflict.
The sanctuary in Kuala Gandah, central Malaysia, is an area of secluded rainforest where “mahouts” – as the keepers are known – care for a 26-strong group of endangered Asian elephants.
A handful were rescued after suffering injuries or being orphaned, but most have been domesticated and trained to aid the National Elephant Conservation Centre’s effort to help elephants who become embroiled in conflicts with humans.
They accompany a highly-trained team on their missions to find and subdue fellow pachyderms whose habitats have been encroached on, and are putting themselves and villagers at risk.
Since the centre started operations about 30 years ago, its staff have relocated more than 700 wild elephants, taking them away from inhabited areas and deep into the jungle.
Malaysia is home to vast tracts of rainforest and a kaleidoscope of exotic wildlife, from elephants to orangutans and tigers, but the numbers of many rare species have fallen dramatically in recent decades.
Some have been hunted for their body parts that are then sold on the black market, but a growing number are falling victim to human-animal conflict — which happens when rapid expansion of plantations or development of settlements encroaches on animals’ natural habitats.
Many elephants in Malaysia have been injured or killed after coming into contact with humans when they wander onto the country’s ubiquitous palm oil plantations, or enter settlements and eat crops.
Villagers and plantation workers sometimes target them, viewing them as pests and not realising they are endangered and protected by law.
One elephant among the herd at the 30-acre (12-hectare) sanctuary, Selendang, lost part of its leg after it was caught in a snare trap, and has been fitted with a prosthetic limb.
On a recent visit to the centre, a dozen of the resident elephants marched in single file with their trunks swinging as their mahouts put them through the paces during a morning workout.
They emitted trumpeting sounds before splashing into a river, where the mahouts scrubbed their bellies and trunks.
There are believed to be some 1,200 wild Asian elephants in peninsular Malaysia, down from as many as 1,700 in 2011.
“If their remaining habitat faces rapid deforestation, I think before the end of the century, there will be no more wild elephants left,” warned Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, a Malaysia-based elephant expert.
Jim PaullNo fucking way would I fly airasia india.
AirAsia India is producing a video to explain the do’s and don’ts to those flying for the first time.
PETALING JAYA: With more people now taking advantage of the low-cost airline and flying for the first time, AirAsia India has decided to ease their experience by coming out with an etiquette video.
Among others, the video gives basic instructions on when to arrive at the airport, how to clear security, when to stand up in a plane and, of course, how to use the onboard toilets.
“The video is still in production, but we will try to make sure people see it before the flight, whether through our social media channels or website,” a report in the Financial Times quoted AirAsia India chief executive Amar Abrol as saying.
The carrier estimates that at least one in four of its customers are first-time flyers.
Airfares in India have dropped rapidly in recent years and it was reported that on some routes, air travel is now cheaper per kilometre than riding in a rickshaw.
As a result, more travellers are opting for air over rail, which is often slow and unreliable. Last month, 11.5 million people flew with one of 11 domestic carriers, up 19.7% on the previous month, the report said.
The number of new flyers brings unique challenges, such as trying to keep to schedules when passengers take a long time to clear security or trying to prevent customers standing up when the flight is landing.
“There are a lot of things frequent flyers take for granted, which many Indian passengers don’t necessarily know, such as the importance of packing light or arriving at the airport on time,” Abrol said.
One frequent problem is keeping the aircraft’s toilets clean, with many passengers unfamiliar with waterless flushes or automatic taps.
“Many people don’t have a loo at home and suddenly they are having to use a loo in the sky,” said Abrol.
He said many passengers were also unsure what they could carry onboard.
“We have been asked ‘Can I carry live fish in a tank?’, ‘Can I carry fish packed in ice?’ and ‘Can I carry blood?’,” he said.
“People are used to rail travel and bus travel, where anything goes.”
Jim PaullQualitative VS quantifiable
AFP pic
By TK Chua
It is just so funny. When our ranking in a corruption index is down, someone in authority decides to formulate and start our own index to gauge the country’s performance in the fight against corruption.
Before this, we heard of arguments like “I did it my way” and “Development following our own mould” whenever we wanted to justify going against international norms or standards.
We behave as if our country is under constant siege. We hold on to the notion that other countries are jealous of our success. Their criticism and negative comments were motivated by bad intentions and jealousy.
Seriously, if we find a country doing better than we are, are we going to argue that the methodology used in the study was faulty? Are we going to say that the comparative study used the wrong criteria? I think there would be no end to this.
Comparative studies must meet objective, independent and verifiable criteria. Otherwise, they are “shiok sendiri” studies.
When we conduct our own performance study, we violate objectivity because we are an interested party.
We can claim heaven and earth in our efforts to achieve certain targets, but ultimately it is not for us to trumpet.
We can’t set our own criteria and then use the results to compare our performance with other countries. That would be comparing apples with oranges.
We can’t pre-establish performance targets and then find criteria and measurements that are able to support such targets. That would be dishonesty and cheating.
Sometimes we can be delusional about our efforts. We think we are doing a great job by focusing 80% of our resources on solving only 20% of our problems. That is input-driven, not output or outcome orientation. We are pretending to be busy. Alternatively, we are busy over nothing.
There is another reason why we like to have our own studies and performance indices. We try to hide our deficiencies and weaknesses in statistical/empirical mumbo jumbo.
My suggestion is for us to refrain from indulging in meaningless studies. Nowadays, people are very aware, not just of fake news, but also of “faulty” studies.
TK Chua is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
If you believe cauliflower is a bit too bland for your liking, this recipe will certainly change your mind. It utilizes frozen cauliflower florets, which means making it can be a cinch. To top things off, it's also covered in a creamy cheese sauce. I mean, who can say no to that?
Earlier this year Mary Berry announced that she'd gotten rid of her dining room to remodel herself a much larger kitchen, and it sounds like that was a good plan. Her new show will take place in her own home, and she's going to need room for all of us.
Jim Paull…………………./´¯/)
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia-based firm HelloGold has received a shariah-compliant certification for its gold-backed cryptocurrency and plans to launch its online gold platform in Thailand later this year, the company said.
Its cryptocurrency product, dubbed GOLDX, was launched at the end of last year and has now received certification from Amanie Advisors, a Malaysia-based Islamic finance consultancy, said chief marketing officer Manuel Ho.
Unlike other cryptocurrencies, GOLDX involves the issuance of a token backed by physical gold stored in a Singapore vault, and transactions must be completed within a defined time period, Ho said.
This means the issuance process and audited assets can address transparency, certainty and immediacy of transactions – important principles in Islamic financial contracts.
The move highlights how fintechs, companies that use new technology to revamp banking services, are extending their influence to Islamic finance markets spanning the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Over the past year, the firm has rolled out a mobile app in Malaysia that is based on blockchain, the system that first emerged to facilitate digital currencies such as bitcoin.
That mobile app, which allows users to buy and sell physical investment grade gold, was also certified by Amanie Advisors.
HelloGold plans to expand its gold platform into Thailand in coming months, while potentially adding a third market by the end of the year, said Ho.
The firm is also exploring other unspecified assets for its blockchain technology, which involves a shared electronic ledger that allows parties to track transaction information through a secure network.
PETALING JAYA: A student at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) recalled the time when he was slammed by fellow students for supporting the idea of non-Bumiputeras being allowed to study there.
The Twitter user, “softest loverboy”, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Atif, said the incident happened in a hall during his first semester at UiTM two years ago.
He wrote yesterday that his head of class had asked during his first semester whether non-Bumiputeras should be allowed to further their studies at UiTM.
When he raised his hand to support the idea, he was scolded by his head of class who started screaming at him and asked him to explain his stand.
He said he answered: “Because they also have rights. I think that they have the right to study.
“And you know what the head of class said? He said: ‘Do you think that if UiTM opens its doors for the non-Bumiputeras, you would be here?”
Wan Muhammad said he still remembered how scared he was then, with everyone staring at him and some giving him weird looks.
He said, the head of class continued: “If Chinese and Indians get places in UiTM, all of you won’t be able to further your studies.”
His tweet received nearly 3,000 responses and retweets. He said Malays are “too privileged and being spoon-fed far too much that we take the opportunity as an advantage”.
He said some Malay students don’t utilise the platform they get to study hard enough.
He poined out there were other non-Bumiputeras who have the passion to study but could not afford the fees charged by private universities and colleges in Malaysia.
The Twitter user said the head of class had hurled racist remarks at non-Bumiputeras in his response.
“So let me tell you this: you are not born with racism, it is taught,” he wrote in his last tweet, closing the debate.
Speaking to FMT, “softest loverboy” said he never wanted to start the debate.
He said he knew UiTM had its rules about enrolment of students and said the debate was triggered by a misunderstanding.
He said people had twisted his words on special privileges accorded to Bumiputeras.
“The only racist part is about the slurs hurled by the head of class.”
Jim PaullBread, cheese, and wine. Guess any non-halal flight would seem nice with those.
Barbara Corcoran, entrepreneur and Shark Tank star, has a genius travel hack: BYOC (bring your own cheese).
Sure, the television star and Corcoran Group founder has flown private, and she’s also racked up plenty of business-class miles giving speeches and advising entrepreneurs across the country, but when the flight’s on her own dime? You’ll find her in economy, laying a cloth napkin out on the tray table, and tucking into gourmet cheeses she brings along for the ride. (This recent Instagram with five kinds of cheese, charcuterie and even a croissant says it all.)
Here, she shares with TPG her best travel hacks, her uber-effective “plastic bag trick” for packing and her worst flight ever.
“I always fly economy if I’m paying the tab because I’m too cheap to spring for an expensive ticket. I’m even too cheap to use free miles to upgrade because I realized those free miles can buy one of my relatives who don’t have the money a free ticket to somewhere.”
“My business travel is always first class because the client always pays, but even in first class I always bring my own food, because I’ve found over the years airline food has gotten terrible. I’m not even a picky eater, but I know what I like, and I know that if I have fresh bread, delicious cheese and a bottle of wine, I’m going to be the happiest traveler in town.”
Trying to make my economy seat feel like first class!
A post shared by Barbara Corcoran (@barbaracorcoran) on
“Once you put a cloth napkin on the tray, it’s practical, things don’t slide off — and most importantly, I’m suddenly at a restaurant in my mind. It sets the tone and makes a difference, especially when you’re squeezed in the middle seat. All of a sudden, I’m in my own universe. I’m floating above the clouds having my gourmet meal.”
“I usually ask for the window seat and I typically get it.”
“I am enormously productive on an airplane because it forces you to hyper-focus. I also don’t use my phone, which is a rare occurrence in life. I use it to accomplish things that I don’t want to do or that I’m stalling on, and it forces the issue since I have a deadline. From the moment I take off to the moment I land in LA — from New York to LA is a good five-hour flight — I’ll work without looking up or coming up for air, except for that lovely break to eat.”
“I am the chattiest person you’ll ever meet. I love people and I love a great conversation, but somehow I turn into a different person when I hit that seat. I’m there because I have to be. I’m not there to make a friend and because I look so focused, I don’t think people bother me. Sometimes I’ll get attention, ‘Oh, you’re the girl on Shark Tank!’ and I smile and say thank you and pose for a few selfies.”
“I used to regularly miss my flight because as unsocial as I am on the plane, I don’t work at the gate, and I would sit at the gate and inevitably talk to a lot of people. I know this sounds bizarre, but I would say goodbye to the people, they’d get on the plane, and then I’d be sitting there at the gate all by myself 10 minutes later and then realize … of course, that was my flight. That sounds ridiculous, but it happened so often to me I had to think of a solution. My husband suggested that I set my alarm [before the flight] and for me it was a lifesaver.”
“I was giving a speech in Washington DC … and I was racing to get on the earlier flight to New York City that would make the difference between me having dinner with my family. I ran to the gate, handed my pass, got on the flight, and of course it was delayed. There was a woman in my seat and I took the seat next to her, rather than disrupt her. Then, they said they had to take all the luggage off the plane, so they did and counted the luggage, came back and walked the aisles and counted heads.”
“Then we had a pilot with a ridiculous sense of humor. He told us about the weather Syracuse was having. Finally, I get off the plane and tell the cabbie on the curb that I need to stop at Citibank on the corner of 89th and Madison and pick up cash, and then [onto] the corner of 94th and Park. And he said, ‘What, do you think I’m crazy, lady? You think I’m going to trust you?’ Really arrogant Brooklyn guy. He said, ‘Go get cash in the airport and then I’ll take you.'”
“He walked me into the airport, and then it all hit me: The pilot. The rushing. The unloading of the luggage. I went up to the counter, and I said, ‘Excuse me, ma’am, can you tell me where I am?’ And she said, ‘Syracuse.'”
“That’s when my husband said, ‘You’ve gotta get a grip on these planes, Barbara.’ I started setting my alarm, checking my gates and getting to the airport two hours early. Ever since that flight to Syracuse four years ago, I have never missed a plane again.”
“I give five or six speeches a year, and I typically travel to Las Vegas, Orlando, LA — recently, I was in Nashville.”
“Now that Shark Tank airs in so many countries, I’m getting speaking requests from other countries like India, Bosnia, or places where I’m like, ‘Ooh, I’ve never been there.’ However, they’re always when my kids are in school. I have one son who’s out of the house, but I have a daughter who’s 12 and I won’t travel while she’s in school. All the international travel I do is with my family.”
“Are you kidding? No, we’re all in coach. When my son was five, he said, ‘Why can’t we sit in those big seats?’ and I said, ‘Get a job.’ My daughter travels with her dad, and my husband’s different — he will kill himself to get a business class seat on free miles. She had one trip to Orlando with my husband and then she traveled with me and said, ‘Couldn’t we do what Daddy did and sit in those nice seats up front?’ and I said, ‘Get a job.'”
“I never check a bag. I’m the tightest little packer you’ll ever meet. And what I’ve found, even with the smallest carry-on bag, despite how tightly I pack, I will only use what’s on the top half.”
“I use a steamer, because that allows me to pack very light. It’s lightweight, about the size of one shoe.”
“I always pack from my feet up. If I need sandals and low heels for the trip, I’ll be very careful as to the color so that it matches every single thing in that bag.”
“For business, I travel very comfortably in stretchy pants. I look like a housewife who’s just scrubbed her floors. No makeup. I look like a bum.”
“I take a cheap wire hanger from the dry cleaner, and I’ll put a dry cleaning bag on the hanger, then I put my dress on top of the plastic bag, and then I’ll put another plastic bag on top of my dress, and I roll it as tight as I can, almost like I’m making a dessert with a little jelly in between, and I drop it in my bag. Even though I bring my steamer, it never wrinkles.”
“When I bring a suit, I stuff a plastic bag in each arm softly, because when fabric hits fabric, it wrinkles. I do the same thing with my husband’s suits, which are heavier and much more capable of getting disheveled looking. And for cotton blouses — I’ll fill out the blouse with the plastic inside, then fold it on itself, pack it and roll it. It never wrinkles. So that’s the plastic bag trick, as I’ve called it. You’re going to send me a thank you for this when you first start doing it.”
Feature photo by Phillip Faraone/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images and @spenserlpowell via Twenty20
Jim PaullYummy
When you're whipping up a weeknight meal, you want the side to be as quick and easy as the main. Enter: these pesto smashed potatoes. Between the bright pesto, salty Parmesan, and crispy potatoes, this is a side dish that might just steal the whole dinner show. (Wait, is it still a side dish if you eat the entire pan's worth? Maybe don't answer that!)
Jim PaullOooooo any one of these looks good right now,
Bow down to the meaty, mighty mushroom.
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Jim PaullNoooooooo
The night I made the pork shoulder pasta was the night I lost the ability to brag about my iron stomach.
I was starving by the time we sat down to eat the rich, meaty dish sprinkled with cheese, finished with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a splash of apple cider vinegar. It was going to be so good!
Which ones will actually cook up as deliciously as the picture on the bag? We cranked up the oven and set up a blind taste test.
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