What do you think?: February 2008 Archives
I can't stand Apple stores in the mall. Stand alone ones seem to be OK. But the ones you see in the mall are not computer stores. They're iPod stores. They're the modern version of the movie theater in the mall. Every teen wants to work there. The only problem is that most teens who work in mall Apple stores know nothing about macs, except that they're cool. What they do know is that they work in the store that all the other teens want to visit in order to touch and play with the new iPods. Its a status job.
Not too long ago, I went in to purchase FileMaker Pro in the local mall-based Apple store. At the checkout counter I was greeted by a few of the teens who worked there - each of them eager to find out "exactly what FileMaker does". All of our mouths were agape upon my explanation - there's due to the fact that I'm fairly sure that they had no idea what a database is, and mine due to the fact that I couldn't believe they actually worked in a computer store. Just sad.
This is a snap of a wonderful little oil painting that I picked up at a local thrift / consignment shop. Its of Venice - the Bridge of Sorrows - and I paid way too much for it.
But, its original. It is real artwork - not a print. And it has beautiful colors for such a cold city. So, I'm happy with my find.
Like many - and especially Democrats, based on voter turn-out - I have been thinking about what kind of environment I will be living in 9 months from now. Will November cause a perception change by both Americans and the rest of the world when it comes to the view of American and its role in the global community? I sure hope so.
I know that all elected officials campaign on "change". That's just what they do and there is nothing new about that, except perhaps when viewed through the eyes of a first-time voter.
However, this time around, I honestly do think that America is in need of a really big change - and maybe a miracle. We're in real trouble domestically and have suffered drastically with respect to how the rest of the world views us.
The US is the aging opponent, as viewed by some. Or the weakening father figure, as viewed by others. Nothing is scarier for a professional athlete than a sea of youthful, determined competitors that are gunning to unseat the guy on top. And there is a great sadness coupled with empowerment that comes when a young man realizes that he has surpassed his own father - physically, economically, emotionally, etc. This is US, at present.
There are a sea of competitors and fresh, uprising opponents in the world - all seeking to take advantage of the fact that America has become old, tired and slow.
Thankfully, we don't have to be. We don't have to stay that way. America is place, not a person. Places can change. They can evolve, while people rarely do. But in order to change the place, we need the miracle of evolving people. As Americans, we must grow beyond our selfish, opinionated, everyone-else-is-an-idiot point of view. We need to graduate from the that's-how-its-done way of thinking. We have to accept that fact that if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it isn't working.
OK,..you've waited long enough to hear my choice of candidates (although I'm sure you have guessed by now). But I'm going to disappoint you. What I will say is that I wish there were many candidates that understood and believed what I'm ranting about here. Sadly, there only seems to be one. So I truly hope that this one candidate recognizes the subject matter they're talking about is a very real thing - and not just a topic that will elicit votes.
