Changing the Future

I read some interesting passages from the book ‘This will change everything.’ The work contains short essays from a host of famous and so-called visionary people. The people I recognized where Nicolas Taleb, Alan Alda and Brian Eno. It’s an eclectic mix of persons from different backgrounds and experiences. I like the piece by Nicolas Taleb which I commented about in the last blog entry. There are some articles that I liked but most were difficult to follow. There was one about brain health and seems to follow the point of view and line of work of the Amen Clinics. Some works were pretty visionary that I could not appreciate. Generally, most essays where thought provoking with new ideas and provide a glimpse of the future.

There is one article that I liked regarding the use of the Internet as one’s external memory. Most people now store all sort of things like photos and video that one’s mind has a helper to keep track of all these things. Similarly, one keeps a blog to remember past thoughts, pictures of places where one has been to; a virtual library of books read and even a site to store stuff. So one’s identity is kept in cyber space because it is much easier than keeping everything in mind or storing all this mental stuff off line. The Internet is now easily accessible so one often looks to the Internet to remember times past. Looks like a good sequel to Marcel Proust work ‘Remembrance of Things Past.’ Now one’s history is stored in the Internet to free one’s brain of memories and focus on more important work.

The writer cautions people who make the mistake of confusing storage to memory. But blogs and other such medium is not just storage and in fact serve as one’s other identity. An identity that can exist on its own and thrive independently of its creator (viral videos, for example). In a social network, people respond to this ethereal identity as if it was a different person. Close relatives write to this online identity, commenting on photos and videos and blog posts. Adverts this online presence earn money on its own, become famous and get linked or quoted in other sites like Facebook, Twitter and Amazon. Soon blogs are downloaded to e-readers or mobile phones to be enjoyed by other people without the knowledge of the blogger himself. So it does not become just a storage medium but an ethereal presence lurking in cyberspace; continuing to exit even if its creator has left earthly existence.

I can now understand the popularity of Second Life because the Internet is a second life where can live like a separate virtual being. It’s another country existing in some sort of mysterious twilight zone accessible only via computers. But now the gateway is increasing; aside from normal computers but also mobile phones or devices, iPads, television and special gizmo like Sony Dash. The doorway to this ethereal world is getting wider and wider. How does one live in this future where 2 distinct realities try to exist side by side? Such devices now merge one’s normal life and one’s cyber life. Suppose if the cyber life is suddenly not accessible due to some disaster like a hurricane or nuclear war. Can one still be able to function normally?

Movies like ‘Inception’ or the Matrix trilogy try to examine these dual worlds, where the actors try to determine what the real world is. Conflicts and even death occurs if one mistakes the ethereal world to be the real one. The result is insanity or some sort of mental breakdown. Perhaps it’s a future malady something like schizophrenia or bi polar disorder. On another note, I am reading William Gibson’s ‘Pattern Recognition’ and the actors interact regularly with the Internet. From most reviews, it a good book and the heroine is a ‘cool hunter’ someone who works in advertising, trying to look for the next best thing on the street or cyber space. It looks like a great story using today’s themes as background. One could get a glimpse of the future from science fiction writers like William Gibson.

Doing Nothing

 Nicolas Taleb the author of the book ‘Black Swan’ proposes that the best investment strategy is not losing money. According to him, the normal situation is that people always lose money and it’s rare for one to really earn in the stock market. He uses an interesting analogy with doctors. He claims that most of the time, in centuries past doctors lose their patients and it’s only in the recent years that patients are actually saved by their doctors. One should pay the doctor to keep you alive rather than his usual practice of putting you to an early grave due to fatal mistakes or lack of education. Putting this analogy to investors, most people in fact lose money and one needs to develop a way to not lose his capital. It’s a capital protection strategy not a money earning strategy.

This type of thinking is called negativity thinking. It fits Taleb’s philosophy of randomness. Those lucky people making money are really outliers. From Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Outliers’, one becomes an expert due to culture, practice and lucky circumstances. Achieving about 10,000 hours of experience is the starting point but one should be in the appropriate situation, raised in the appropriate culture that one could really succeed. This would remove most of the usual investors in the stock market. So the general public who do invest are really losing money. Following foolish trading strategies like timing the market, listening to talking heads in MSNBC, following rumors and being overconfident result in high transaction costs with constant trading and generally losing their hard earned cash as one goes in and out of stocks.

So the best strategy is really ‘not losing money’. This would probably mean a buy and hold strategy following the fact that the stock market is steadily rises in the long run. But one could still make a mistake picking stocks. So the best method is buying an index fund or an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). Gladwell’s book makes the case that society generally loves the lone hero or pioneer or genius. Outliers like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates who strike it rich and obtain phenomenal wealth in their lifetimes, convince the general public that they can make it on their own too. Most don’t realize that these outliers succeed due to their inherent culture or location or opportunistic situation that is not available to almost all people. So most folks make a mistake into thinking that one could devote time and hard work to achieve phenomenal success without the other needed ingredients.

Of course, hard work does bring you out of poverty and results in success but not the type of outlier success that these lucky folks have achieved. Warren Buffet, one of the richest men is a true outlier and his down to earth manner fool people into thinking that they can be an astute investor just like him. One spends a lot of time trying to learn his methods mistaking the fact that he had a special childhood. For example, Buffet studied under the legendary investor Benjamin Graham who coined the term value investing, had a father who was a congressman who provided opportunities like meeting famous investment bankers at a young age. These special opportunities do not exist for the common folks but the latest technology allows everyone to open a brokerage account in the Internet and start investing their savings in the market in the hope of becoming Warren Buffet.

An illusion occurs that one could take a short cut and achieve success but in fact it’s false. Hollywood movies and easy credit contribute to the illusion so one could buy as many cars and homes, invest in real estate and the stock market and live like a millionaire. But all has come crashing down in the recent financial crises and folks are trying to regain their balance and survive and remain in their homes. So the new normal is ‘doing nothing’ like Taleb says. One finally realizes the mistake he is living in and perhaps realizes that becoming an outlier is not as easy as it seems. So one should not really seek expert’s advice but follow common sense that is becoming less and less common. One succeeds only because of luck and to think otherwise is a mistake. Is this the lesson that Nicolas Taleb or Malcolm Gladwell are trying to impart?  Perhaps it is a way of controlling hubris.

Journal Writing

Writing about oneself is the easiest thing to do. One overlooks the narcissism.  But despite being a self-indulgent conceit, the act does provide psychological relief. Some books even say this type of writing relieves stress and tension. In my case it was along this purpose that I started to journalize. It was a way to make sense of the world and bring order to my thoughts. There is a calming and soothing feeling to be able to dump one’s brain into paper. It’s one way of emptying the mind - a form of meditation where one sees his or her thoughts in front of them; the causes of the ‘churning’ mind, the constant thinking caught and laid down like a specimen on the operating table. Hence, the objective of the endeavor is not to be a writer but to calm one’s mind.

Eventually, one gets bored of this self-conceited churning that one starts getting literary aspirations. Experience, thoughts and books read are expressed and synthesized. One becomes like a literary critic or pretentious essayist but still resulting in a form of writing exercise. Still it’s an activity of expression; where one would like to ‘exhaust’ his surplus mental energy in order to settle down. It’s like giving a kid a chance to play so he can use up his excess energy. I guess it’s a way of calming an excited or agitated mind. In brain scans done by the Amen clinic, a mind filled with anxiety is seen when portions of the brain would light up with activity. But it’s an act of self-awareness to be cognizant of this overactive mind and to try to control it. Vitamins like Omega 3 fish tablets are rumored to be helpful, too.

So journal writing becomes an experiment in cognitive therapy - to be able to correct the wrong thinking modes and errors in attribution. The churning cycle continues as the fevered mind seeks expression. The passages serve as a way to examine objectively the mind’s thoughts and as a form meditation that one realizes that one is not one’s mind. So thinking, like writing, is seen as divorced from one’s personality. It’s a skill that one must develop and master. Writing combines thinking and self-expression that it becomes a complete mental exercise. One loses the emotion and subjective ness that one would normally associate with his thoughts and writing. It becomes less personal. This is where one matures as a writer; where one is not emotional invested in his work and one could ruthlessly edit, delete, cut and paste his work without being defensive.

Journal writing can also contribute to more churning and confused thoughts. So it must be combined with cognitive therapy, visual thinking and perhaps actual experience like Toastmasters to remove one’s self-centeredness or ego. Improved thinking does not only come from journalizing but also from using structured thinking tools, visual methods, meditation and exercise. It means having a healthy mind with good diet and sleep. It’s taking care of the brain like one would take care of his body. When one understands the way to improve thinking (and therefore reduce stress and anxiety), then one can now move forward to creative writing. The problem is moving away from the self-centeredness towards a craft based skill like carpentry but with creativity thrown in. Creative writing is a whole different skill than journal writing or even journalism and reporting.

The first step to creative writing is reading books to understand what is out there and to develop one’s imagination. Creative writing means developing a literary sensibility, point of view or voice and a fertile imagination. One must be detached with a form of professionalism like programming computer code. It’s devoid of emotion in the writing act but one can still express effusive emotion in paper. This is the distinction from being a dilettante to a cold, detached writing professional. It’s like the character in Roman Polanski’s movie ‘The Ghost Writer.’ Someone who views writing like any other job - where one comes in do the work and leave again like some mercenary.  This is the craft of writing and combined with creativity and imagination one achieves great works like the books of Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Orhan Pamuk.

Idea Pad

 The Lenovo net book arrived yesterday. As expected, the net book is nowhere near the brilliance of the iPad. But it still provides a workable though often irritating interface. Despite the troublesome moments, one could still enjoy the Internet with the touch screen. I slept well past 1 am in the morning playing around with the gadget. The touch screen offers one an entirely different way of having a relationship with the gizmo. It is easy to use 70% of the time while the remaining 30% of the time is the slow responsiveness of Windows 7. The operating system sill needs to be tweaked to perform better with a touch screen interface. It does provide a decent job which is enough to make you enjoy surfing the net.

There is a subtle enjoyment leaning back in one’s sofa and surfing the net as compared to sitting down, hunched over a computer and pounding away at the key boards. A touch screen allows an easier interaction with the web; it’s like reading a news paper or book. But I am still inclined to buy the Sony Dash for the all day connectivity and simple Internet access to popular web sites. It gets the job done and more and more people will be using this type of device, instead of computers. A niche is being carved out by this product and one can be inclined to purchase several units to place in different rooms of a house. Constant connectivity is the name of the game but not via a computer or television. Something like a clock radio plus Internet access - like the Sony Dash device.

It feels like living in the future with all those touch screen devices and constant access to information. Teaching kids the new technology lifestyle is happening already in public schools. One needs to catch up. No wonder people lose in game show like ‘Can you beat a 15 year old?’ I was introduced to computers early in my youth when my mom bought a Commodore 64, one of the first computers that came out with the Apple II. So teaching kids today need parents who purchase high tech gizmo to introduce their kids to the future. I guess watching films like ‘Minority Report’ or ‘Inception’ can be a short cut to understand the new stuff. Most of these films where created from ideas of science fiction writers like William Gibson or Ray Bradbury.

I reserved one of the latest of Gibson’s work ‘Pattern Recognition’ in the library. Previously, I would read non-fiction books by Alvin Toffler or John Naisbitt to try and glimpse the future. But true visionaries are science fictions writers like Jules Verne or H.G.Wells or Ray Bradbury. In current times, it’s writers like William Gibson who can discern a vision of the future. One wonders where he gets his insight. In ‘Virtual Light’, he writes about new gizmo like ‘computer sun glasses’ and insightful passages like the one about Singapore. The image is that of a wealthy nation owning futuristic services like rent a cop, and other such high concept businesses, of being ahead of the curve. After living in Singapore for 7 years, I think his impression is NOT far off the mark. One wonders how he was able to do his research.

Adapt or die is the modern truism. It’s still the unrelenting inevitability of Darwin’s ideas with the survival of the fittest. The fittest is not only the strong and healthy, but the technology adept, good at abstract reasoning and pattern recognition, with an ability to understand a large mass of information. The well-worn description is the knowledge worker - one who works with his mind but also well versed with the latest gizmo that make his mind more efficient. So I guess exposing one’s kids to this type of environment is the best way to hone them for future challenges. Maybe gizmo like the Idea Pad, Sony Dash, iPad or iPod Touch is an investment to acclimatize to an imminent reality – one with constant information via search engines (with computers) or data accumulators like Sony Dash and even television itself. Maybe one can use this argument for devices like the Wii or PlayStation 3, too.

Return to Start

I spent a few hours going over the reasons why I wanted to buy an iPad or net book. Was it tech lust for the latest gizmo? A needed appliance in the household? Could it contribute to an earning opportunity or investment? Will it help my wife and kids learn new stuff, i.e. a learning opportunity? At first, I wanted an iPad as it seemed a truly revolutionary device but instead settled on the Lenovo Ideapad due to its value for money. But later I started to wonder why I wanted to buy the gizmo in the first place. Soon all sorts of combinations went thru my head such as buying a Sony Dash and a Barnes & Noble Nook e- reader as well. Later I settled again to buying an iPad before learning about the discount offered by Lenovo which finally settled my decision.

The key idea is that an interim device was needed I thought; something mid-point between a Laptop computer and a mobile device like a smart phone but could access the Internet. A realization the web has become indispensable. Basic web tasks like checking email, Facebook, news, movie schedules and the weather are now part of every day life at home. But it seemed a waste of time to boot up a computer just for simple web activities that took less than 10- 30 minutes. So a device like Sony Dash and Nook (with basic web browsing) made sense as an ideal low cost device. But other tasks are important too like reading online journals and web surfing but still without needing the full fledged functions of a laptop or desk top.

So the ideal device seemed an entry level iPad or net book with multi-point touch screen capability. Other interesting devices like Dell Streak soon surfaced but seemed more for techies. The small screen for web surfing and high price moved Streak out of contention. So it was beginning to look like an Apple until one sees its limitations when compared to a touch screen net book. The choice became a net book as more opportunities seem possible with a keyboard and connectivity to other devices being standard components unlike the iPad. So now comes the question on how new technology can simplify one’s lifestyle. Devices like Sony Dash seem a good choice - a smart device that allows constant Internet connection for simple tasks like email but the price seemed high.

Now the bottom line. The purchase need to be seen as an investment, something that will allow some payback to the amount spent and avoid being seen as frivolous. So the work style of a writer needs to adapt to new technology. How can a writer be better with a net book? Once the strategy is defined then one is off to make millions.  Was life simplified? Sure, time is saved as more convenient to do short and a simple web task in a net book and, eventually in a Sony Dash once the price is right. I recall Alvin Toffler’s book ‘Future Shock’ where some people where living in the future. His examples were those few households at the turn of the century that had telephones; wherein it’s inhabitants where living in the future, enjoying the modern convenience of the telephone when about 80 percent of the population did not have this luxury yet.

I guess that is the educational value of these gizmo purchases - to learn and live in the future. Soon these devices would be ubiquitous and everyone would have them. A head start would be an advantage. But there maybe a danger when one loses the point and instead, these purchases are thought of as a privilege. Something like buying a gun to protect oneself as compared to buying a gun to show off. The true value is lost when sensible function is replaced with desire or envy for new stuff. I guess that’s the benefit of reflecting on why one should buy, what basic need it serves and possible changes to life and work style for the better. After thoughtful deliberations using all sorts of visual tools, one returns to the original choice. One’s instinct is right after all although the exercise did result in a better tactic, i.e. buying at a discount from the source instead of Best Buy.

Avoiding Frivolity

I changed my mind in buying the iPad. It looks more and more like a frivolous purchase after looking at the specs. It so limited compared to what is sold out there. So I decided to buy a Lenovo Ideapad; at the same price as a low end iPad. The Lenovo Ideapad is a so-called net book which is a low-end lap top. It is much smaller and cost less. The difference is that this model has a multi-point touch screen. So I had a formula in mind where:

Net book + Touch screen =  iPad

Yesterday I had already settled on the iPad after feeling this distaste for laptops which I thought the Ideapad was until I realized it was not a laptop but a net book. It was a distinction I missed which swayed me towards Apple. Another factor was the sales promotion from Lenovo which offered a $ 200 discount on their model with 2 GB memory plus Windows 7 Home Premium.

The best feature of the iPad is the lightness and slimness of the design, state of the art touch screen and operating system. But after that, the Lenovo is a much superior machine in all its features. For example, 250 GB hard drive, USB slots, data reader, connectivity via Bluetooth, connectivity to external monitors and webcam. So continuing to purchase an iPad makes no sense except to satisfy a lustful urge artificially created with clever marketing. It’s a good product but does not provide value for money. Another factor that was driving me towards Apple was my misguided dream to be an Apple developer and earn bug bucks. Stories abound of people becoming overnight millionaires by developing apps for the iPhone, iPad and the iPod. I don’t think it’s a realistic goal considering I have not programmed in any Apple or Macintosh systems before.

I guess I was in ‘hitting the lottery’ mode again. It’s a feeling like buying a lottery ticket in the hopes of striking big. It does not mean that being an overnight millionaire Apple developer is not possible but one need to be realistic of one’s talents. Perhaps the hype on millionaire programmers is just created by Apple to sell more boxes or one must really be an Apple nerd way back in his teens to get the so-called 10,000 hours of practice to be an expert. Reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Outliers’ takes out the myth of the lone successful genius. Using well known examples of people like Bill Gates, Bill Joy and the Beatles, the book shows that society’s perception of the successful entrepreneur is not realistic. In fact, success is due to 10,000 hours of diligent practice or experience and family support. With this in mind, my chances of being a millionaire Apple developer are slim.

The only experience where I can possibly claim to have about 10,000 hours of effort is that of being a writer. But being a writer does not mean having only writing experience but I think covers the following:

a.) reading (about 2400 hrs),
b.) writing (about 2500 hrs),
c.) interesting life experiences + self reflection (about 2100 hrs)
d.) creative writing craft skills

With this formula, I have about 7000 hours of so-called ‘writer’ experience. The only thing left is developing the remaining 3000 hours of ‘craft’ skills to achieve expertise. Being without a mentor or without professional writing experiences (as a journalist, for example) leaves attending creative writing seminars as the only solution left or through self-study via readings in blogs or journals in the Internet. I think I now have a pretty fair idea of the craft especially after reading Ellen Gilchrist’s book. So I guess I have a better chance of being a successful writer than being a successful Apple programmer.

Now back to technology. I guess laptops and net books are today’s tools for writers. By linking the tasks to the hardware and soft ware tools, I have a gizmo strategy:

...TASK........................................HARDWARE..........SOFTWARE
1. Write rough draft......................Laptop/Net book......LiveJournal/Google app
2. Editing......................................Net book..................LiveJournal/Google app
3. Research..................................Net book..................websites
4. Subsequent & final drafts........Laptop.....................MS Word
5. Brainstorming & Planning........Laptop / Net book...Mind Manager
.....................................................Voice Recorder.......Novel Writer/YWrite
....................................................................................Dragon Natural Speak

Of course pen, paper or a typewriter would do for some writers. But I am trying to be more efficient by using the latest technology. Hopefully this can help supplement the lack of professional experience or attending creative writing courses. But blogging has given one a certain expertise and perhaps the future is self-publishing with readers downloading content into their e-readers. I guess I have a step up in this direction if the future does move here. With all these software and hardware accoutrements, I feel that I am fully ready to earn the big bucks. Now all I need is discipline, talent and focus. If only I won’t be distracted by the technology.

Buying an iPad

Is there really a benefit for writers to use the latest technology? One wonders as the most advanced gadgets only serve to distract folks. Latest products allow us to enjoy stuff in smaller and more mobile ways. Normally one depends on the television and computers for their entertainment. But now small devices allow one to watch movies in their smart phones or smart music players. So instead of using these new tools to achieve sober goals, one has more possibilities to enjoy himself. It moves one away from the true goal of being a writer, for example, or whatever it is one wants to do. Starting a small business for instance, where one is distracted by this whiz bang stuff instead of work.

Now comes iPad from Apple and one wonders how this fits in the scheme of never ending gadgets coming to the public. It looks more like a device between a laptop computer and a smart phone. Another device is the Sony dash which allows access to the Internet. Other devices are e-readers like Nook or Kindle which allow basic web access. The Internet is becoming an indispensable landscape where one can access information, music, movies, knowledge and all sorts of entertainment. These new devices suck you in the vortex of procrastination where time flies and one get entertained with all these content from the Internet. But these are no longer computers or television but whole new devices influencing a new lifestyle.

Hot dang! Some folks would say when technology starts to look like magic with the way it works seamlessly. The good stuff is meant to empower people so one could be all one could be but often results in being obese, coach potatoes, surfing the television or the Internet, procrastinating and ending up without meaning in life. Perhaps buying all these stuff gives people meaning; makes them proud to have all the latest stuff. I gave up this temptation basically because I have no money. New investments or large purchases have to satisfy a basic rule: the gizmo must be usable by the whole family. This would remove all sorts of impulse buying from one’s side if one thinks about the rest of the family.

But it still does not answer the writer’s dilemma. The iPad for example can be used by everyone. It also allows easier surfing for folks, an e-reader to new books like a writer’s guide, online dictionaries and thesaurus and maybe a refreshing way to look at things. I guess that’s the proper charm of this device: to introduce a new way of thinking; similar to the feeling one gets going to museums and looking at great art. Some people do see Apple products have great design and past gadgets were exhibited in museums. Maybe this would help in removing ones writer’s block or exacerbate the temptation to procrastinate. At least writing and reading blogs and online journals is easier especially web sites like Poetry & Prose.

One thinks that writing blogs is a step up from journal writing. It’s the continuance of the self-teaching effort of the solitary writer. One hopes he would have achieved the 10,000 hours that one needs to be an expert. At least putting thoughts to words is an exercise toward the goal. But now new technology is here to muck it up. But blogs anyway came about thru technology so there’s hope yet. William Gibson maybe right in his mix of cyber punk, science fiction and Mickey Spillane or Dashiel Hammett style of writing in his books. I just finished listening to his book ‘Virtual Light’ and it’s a dazzling combination. Like Murakami in the future but without Kafka and surrealism. It’s an absurd world that one lives in when one reads Murakami and William Gibson but maybe a way out in understanding the new lifestyle.

Indian Democracy

 One understands democracy intellectually, gained from political science classes and history lessons. But one never really understands it but one sees it in action in every day life. It is not the political conventions of the democrats and republicans or even the independents or tea party folks. It is not the primaries and all those noise about elections and talking heads filtering down from television and movies. It is in the way people interact to one another and the way ordinary folks get about organizing themselves and doing the every day business of living and solving problems. It’s actually a very amazing and subtle thing to see that it often escapes notice. Some people would say it all boils down to being an American which connotes a pioneering, can-do spirit.

It’s a concept that’s not fully understood with the head, in various intellectual permutations. It can only be understood with the heart, with the emotions, in the way people empathize with other people, to accept others the way they are with their weaknesses and strengths and to collectively overcome individual shortcomings to achieve a greater goal. One can equate democracy with elections and representation but the greater description is respect for others. Of course, it can be an exasperating experience where the noisy and prejudiced and the extremists are allowed an equal seat in the table. But it’s the collective that always win but without turning away those elements of dispute. They are allowed to live the way they wish in pursuit of their own happiness. 

There is a real danger of hijacking the collective will with fear and demagoguery and plain lies. So free press and education and good citizenry are important for democracy to work. There is a big difference with the Asian experience which is less democratic. Earlier this week, an Indian supplier made a crazy plan which one normally thinks would be laughed out by any sane person. But a meeting was held to discuss the crazy plan, to give every person a chance to have his say. Time was wasted but arguments were made, ideas where exchanged and everyone had his say. Now that is the most important thing to do – to speak up and be heard. It’s the foundation of living in a democracy to make sure your rights are protected – by simply speaking up.

So one participates in these meetings and so-called democracy comes into action. Letting each one have his say and let the mechanism of discussion, debate and critical thinking shape and filter the arguments and positions until a compromise is reached. It’s in these occasions that one understands the ‘concept’ of democracy. In Asia, the closest one can think of is Japan and the consensus reached by salary men in their endless meetings. One cannot make a decision in isolation, as someone would say, and all opinions have to be elicited and discussed and each one should speak up. It will not be in the marble halls of the Congress where democracy will survive but in small town halls and meeting rooms were ordinary folks meet to solve problems.   

Southern Comfort

One comes to a small city in the South working in one of the great companies in the world. But the multinational flavor is misleading. After all it’s a small city, in a laid back state, one without even a football or basketball team to represent itself in the national leagues. But it has its charm though, the lazy slow movement of life that is the epitome of the South. One does have visions of languid afternoons, sipping mint tea, watching the rolling country side where plantations once thrived on the backs of African labor. There are traces of the darkness that brought about a civil war and countless deaths. Strangely, it also resulted in strengthening the union of the greatest realm in the last century.

One works quietly in his cube, blending in with the good old boys, eating barbecue ribs and pulled pork at lunch time. One thinks that he is at the center of the world with the living standards way up in the sky when compared to most Asian cities. But the future is already mortgaged and most folks are in dire financial trouble. The leviathan is no longer what he seems, trying to live with the same bluster and bravado as in the past. Meanwhile the colossus in the East is steadily rising to the throne it once had many centuries ago. But one does not notice its decline amidst the lazy splendor of grand Southern homes with their air conditioning, carpet, dish washers, washing machines and dryers.

The politicians and talking heads keep their mouths open yapping away like wolves, aware of the malaise gripping the nation. Everyone is corrupted with the easy life, alcohol, food, movies and television getting obese with fast food and snacks and living in the couch. But the mind is a strange thing and the level of intelligence is high (i.e. Prozac for depression, Viagra for sex, etc.) despite the delusions and bias and fuzzy thinking. One guesses that it is due to the DNA of their ancestors – hard living pioneers in a rich land, fighting Indians and decimating the pristine countryside.  Today’s pioneers thrive in cyberspace and the whole industrial complex that support this structure. One guesses that it keeps them ahead in the world. Of course, there is the great military and as Southern folks say ‘one can never argue with a man with a shotgun.’

But one is happy and it’s a good life amongst the former confederates, listening to the charming Southern drawl in their accents. Nowadays the hallways are filled with young and smart Indian software engineers while the commercial places with Latinos and their Hispanic speaking Espanol. Many would say the future lies in the melting pot of cultures and ideas but some folks with dark ideas start to believe in exclusivity and elitism and racial supremacy in the twilight of their decline. Soon these folks will be the minority and the diversity seen in the new president will mark the DNA of the future. No more pure blood but the mix of various streams from the East and West, North and South. Well, one could drink to that vision, too.