Category Archives: Back in US
Oh America (the Beautiful): Get Well Soon!
The US of A
Reflecting on my recent short Fall trip back home, I can’t get over how beaten and battered she appears.
As I was flying back over a beautiful stretch of the southeastern United States, I couldn’t help but wonder at the natural beauty and pristine, aesthetically pleasing urban landscapes below. Yet, on a more close-up view, what I see most vividly is that the country is suffering.
The list of woes is long…it’s as if the past fifteen years have taken a huge toll on the country. What am I saying? Of course, they have!
Even as the world suffers, it’s superpower appears to suffer the most.
What with…
The Worst Economic Downturn in Most People’s Lifetime
A Debt Crisis
Jobs, or the lack thereof
The dearth of consumer confidence
Politics much worse than usual, given the coming election year
Congress and its inaction (see Politics above)
Wars
Bailouts
Trade Imbalance
Occupy Wall Street
Worry about Europe
Worry about China
Worry about Iran
Etc…
A list that is long and hardly uplifting….
Ultimately, however, I think most will agree that it all comes down to one unquestionable, fundamental problem –
It’s the Economy, Stupid.
But.
If any country can pull itself out of this dip, steep as it might be, it’s the US of A.
So, from missing the country and being away for so long, while seeing it suffer like never before, this is simply a journal entry in my diary. It’s for myself, for reading later during the (inevitable!) good times.
And it also serves as a personal “Get Well Soon” card for America the Beautiful. Sigh.
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Fall Scene: By Joel יוֹאֵל from Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States (Flaming Orange Red Autumn Tree) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
American Landscape: By Luciof (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
RIP Steve Jobs – The World Will Miss You
Remember When
It’s a great loss and sad day for the world. Steve Jobs did so much to change the world and our lives – in too short a time.
Bold. Inspiring. Against the odds. Breaking all the rules.
Visionary.
School dropout. Brilliant businessman. Marketing wizard.
Showman.
- Two Giants; One Great Loss Today
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Here’s an intriguing read about the man (behind the businessman), that you may have missed:
10 Unusual Things You Didn’t Know About Steve Jobs
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And, if there’s one among you (really?) who has not heard his Stanford commencement speech from 2005, do yourself a favor and watch it. For those who have watched it and were inspired, do yourself a favor, watch it again. So much more moving and meaningful on this very sad day.
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RIP Steve Jobs.
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Photo Credits:
1.By Matthew YoheMatt Yohe at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
2. By Joi Ito from Inbamura, Japan (Steve Jobs and Bill Gates on Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 