like discovering new things. geeky stuff is cool. student at Columbia Business School. focus on entrepreneurship and venture capital. avid snowboarder. love to travel. people and their thoughts intrigue me. jack bauer + bear grylls is the man. learning is fun. blogging about my experiences.Tumblr (3.0; @shirley-xu)http://shirleyxu.org/<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llxlbcY8WN1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Villa Dievole, our Tuscan home (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/5947375563http://shirleyxu.org/post/5947375563Sat, 28 May 2011 20:28:24 -0400<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llxkw7JXr11qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My favorite place in the world (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/5947125704http://shirleyxu.org/post/5947125704Sat, 28 May 2011 20:19:19 -0400<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lismulvjRL1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Executive sushi chef teaching sushi class (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">Instagram</a> at SUSHISAMBA 7)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/4172156612http://shirleyxu.org/post/4172156612Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:32:47 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhzju0iwAR1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Foie GRAS (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3826974981http://shirleyxu.org/post/3826974981Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:37:14 -0400<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhvadk4GbM1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Cheese tasting at cheese farm (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">Instagram</a> at Crowley cheese farn)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3773347333http://shirleyxu.org/post/3773347333Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:22:34 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhb3t10NdE1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>What I got for showing up to a 30th birthday (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3556653968http://shirleyxu.org/post/3556653968Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:48:39 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh74foAdP01qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Streaming snowboarding #theartofflight en route to 16 inches in Vermont (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3510818027http://shirleyxu.org/post/3510818027Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:11:49 -0500theartofflight<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh6qkv5Vnd1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>CFOs of Aol and Time Warner on stage together (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">Instagram</a> at MBA Media & Entertainment Conference)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3505808381http://shirleyxu.org/post/3505808381Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:12:34 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh3sn1H2Uc1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>You know you made it when you get this on a random Wednesday evening (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3476868774http://shirleyxu.org/post/3476868774Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:04:14 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgtvd1McQb1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Beautiful spring like day at Columbia (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3366291676http://shirleyxu.org/post/3366291676Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:27:03 -0500<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgj1pyQrOT1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Beignets (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">Instagram</a> at Café Du Monde)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3259937908http://shirleyxu.org/post/3259937908Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:10:48 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgixiymUDx1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Desire oysters (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3258428610http://shirleyxu.org/post/3258428610Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:40:11 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lggygbdFA11qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Great food weekend (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3237610914http://shirleyxu.org/post/3237610914Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:05:02 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lggydpf1LM1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Valentine apple (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3237589724http://shirleyxu.org/post/3237589724Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:03:27 -0500<p>i can’t believe that my final semester is in full swing… </p> <p>even though it’s my last semester, I feel like I have more work than before. I guess it’s my desire to actually get something out of the academics. First semester that I actually like all of my classes and don’t resent any of them as a waste of time. </p> <p>I also can’t believe that Chris left this morning for Whistler. He’ll be heli-snowboarding with 10 of his closest friends. It’s actually here - we’re approaching our 3 month countdown to the wedding. </p> <p>Everything is pointing in the direction of having to rejoin the real world… procrastination has now become an enemy</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3153444095http://shirleyxu.org/post/3153444095Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:52:20 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg2oduaKKr1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Gangsta lobster…lunar new year (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">instagram</a>)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/3098177045http://shirleyxu.org/post/3098177045Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:01:08 -0500<p>Uniqlo has 1 store in the US currently and about to open a second on 5th avenue. “Fast Retailing” it says in red on a big white enclosed storefront. 800+ stores in tiny japan and ONE in the US? And no internet retailer?? That makes no sense. Over half of my everyday wardrobe is from Uniqlo. I absolutely love their stuff because it’s innovative. I bought several colors of their tank tops with built in bras, tights, heat tech shirts and leggings, skinny jeans, and the list goes on. The material is great and lasts through many washes, and above all else, it doesn’t break the bank. It’s very basic gear with great quality at lower-than-Gap prices.</p> <p>What I don’t/can’t understand is why they’re leaving so much revenue and penetration in the US on the table by not e-tailing. The sizes and fit are pretty standard and the colors and styles are safe. Makes for the perfect e-tailer. Its a Japanese company with only 1 outlet in the states. A few good marketing campaigns and they don’t need to invest in real estate. And why not build out the commerce function on their site? The cost of building the commerce function with a marketing splash - I’d estimate the payback to be less than a year (in terms of revenue). Uniqlo-if you’re looking for someone to lead the charge, contact me.</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/2850353706http://shirleyxu.org/post/2850353706Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:44:56 -0500<p>We decided to stick around for Christmas and see the extended family for the first time as an engaged couple. Little did we know that decision would cost us such headache. We were supposed to fly out to meet our good friends Rishi and Suman in India the day after Christmas. We had elaborate plans of traveling throughout Delhi, the state of Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Kerala for a few weeks and to make it even sweeter, meet our friends Sat and Jin in Udaipur on New Year’s Eve. </p> <p>The one time that we didn’t want the biggest snowstorm of the year, we get 18-24 inches depending on who you ask. We wake up, all warm and fuzzy from all the family time and excited to pack for our evening flight, to an email saying that our flights have been cancelled. We frantically rebook our flights to leave the following evening, get routed through London and then Amsterdam, and finally land in Delhi with 2 full travel days lost.</p> <p>I get a text message from my friend Jen who’s in India about a local war breaking out in Rajasthan and to avoid the region that I’ve been looking forward to traveling to the most. Some quick Internet news/photo searching later, we believe that someone is really trying to tell us something. We’re firm believers of “everything happens for a reason”. It wasn’t such a bad thing that we’re suck in the 6th biggest snowstorm to hit NYC. </p> <p>The irony is that we’re snow fiends and have chased snow with snowboard in hand. This time, the snow came directly to us and we absolutely resented it. The thought of getting on the next flight to Colorado or drive to our Vermont house where our friends are crossed our minds, several times. Luckily, we were one of 4 flights that was flying out of JFK the day after the storm. That would’ve been the last straw.</p> <p>Irony #2: there was a flight to London, one to Amsterdam, and one to Mumbia going out. We, the lucky ones, get to fly to London, then to Amsterdam, then to India. Awesome- more time on cramped economy class than necessary. We did, however, impressively pack everything in a carry on.  </p> <p>I’m writing from London, where we opted for a 12 hour layover to get to Delhi on a direct flight 12 hours earlier than if we flew through Amsterdam. Can’t say that I’m not disappointed to skip Amsterdam but we just want to get to India at this point and start enjoying ourselves on this trip. At least they gave us access to the lounge…</p> <p>The worst part of the trip has been watching the airport staff deal with the situation. In order to rebook anyone or do anything thats out of the ordinary, they have to go through their archaic technology infrastructure, call people left and right, and continuously try to give me someone else’d boarding pass, not to mention waiting on line and watch this happen for a dozen people in front of me. This is a classic situation where the technology backbone of an industry is outdated and inefficient. We had to wait and painfully watch them rebook others that we missed our connecting flight to Amsterdam. </p> <p>If the airport technology system was built today, the agents would be able to walk through the line with a tablet in hand and take care of who they can-like checking in people so they don’t have to wait for the complicated matters to be resolved and jeopardize their timeliness. Queing theory 101.  We saw a cafe at Gate 15 at the Delta terminal at JFK that had iPads at every table. If the cafe can have 50 of them laying around for novelty sake, enterprises should start using them effectively at all points of their operations to reduce wait time. With airline competition and downward pricing pressures, operational efficiency can give an airline leg up and increase customer satisfaction. If I saw Delta using technology to make both of our lives easier, I might have an affinity towards them…they’re missing that part and the uselessness of their agents is incredibly polarizing. </p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/2497407697http://shirleyxu.org/post/2497407697Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:46:05 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_le2b4tI1zS1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Cleaning the mud off my goretex hiking boots (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">Instagram</a> at Manhattan)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/2475463291http://shirleyxu.org/post/2475463291Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:07:43 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_le2atsV61P1qb6gx2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Frozen hot chocolate (Taken with <a href="http://instagr.am">Instagram</a> at Serendipity 3)</p>http://shirleyxu.org/post/2475384807http://shirleyxu.org/post/2475384807Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:01:06 -0500