The Txt Based Culture

I seriously doubt that I am the only one to have observed the growing reliance of our culture on text messaging. Texting has become the new medium of conversation, like the telephone, telegraph, and magic wands of yesteryear. And texting does not discriminate. Texting has become popular among more than the usual adolescent bloc. It has spread in popularity to adults, children, and even *gasp* the baby boomers. When you think about it, texting makes sense as the next step toward faster and more efficient conversation. Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of abbreviations, and how to sound out letters can achieve great success in the world of texting. However, one must ask where to draw the line? At what point does our world stop relying on texting as a way of communicating and start relying on texting as the way of communicating.

Before I launch into a semi serious tirade, allow me to make one thing clear. I have no qualms about the usage of modern technology. Quite unlike my Huguenot ancestors, I trust society to invent new ways to make life easier. Not all technology is good, and quite a lot of it can be misused, but I'm among those that believe that with a certain level of savvy and a pinch of self-righteous, human beings can be trusted to come up with some pretty cool things (like shower radios). However, text messaging as become so prevalent, so fast, that even technophiles such as myself have become unnerved. Take for example, the reliance of adolescents of text messaging to keep in touch with their friends. A recent AIM away message I promise I probably didn't make up was quite forward:

"at my grandfatherss funeral. plz txttt"

Now, I'll be the last person to suggest that a funeral might be the most happenin' place to be at any one time, but I think as a sign of respect, people could try to avoid sending any text messages for, I don't know, 5 minutes?

With that out of the way, I'd like to move on to a slighter lighter plane of discussion. Lighter, in the sense of the thrill of entrepreneurship, and the feeling of accomplishment when you make your first dollar. Yes, that's right folks, Andrew DeCoster is working with his good friend Sean Leitch to start up a small business.

"But Andrew, have you considered the facts? About 110% of all new business owners have their thumbs broken by loan sharks within the first year"

Well, you should take into account two things:
1) My incredible business sense. And by that I mean the one semester of business law I'll be taking next year.
2) The incredible strength of my bones, honed through many calcium enriched quesadillas and my local El Toreros' .

As you can see by my above outlined (and slightly simplified) business plan, our company is destined for success.

Another question that many first time business owners should ask themselves before furnishing their new luxurious office building is:

"Do you have any marketable skills or talents?"

This is really not a requisite. However, being overachievers in the metaphorical sense, Sean and I have actually decided to take the question into deep consideration. Our new start-up company, of which I won't reveal the name of here, to avoid swamping the NY Stock Exchange with expensive bids for non-existent stock, will actually sell something, a service, that Sean and I take a great deal of pride in. For now, this is all the information I am willing to disclose. Just keep your eyes open, because before you know, we're going to own this country.

Thoughts on Thunderstorms

The weatherman is a pathological liar. We all know that he's able to control the weather, that's why they make so much money. However, they still enjoy saying one thing and letting something else happen. For example, today we were supposed to be taking cover from a series of fronts rolling through this region. Thunder, lightning, rain, falling branches, biblical floods, the whole thing. However, a cursory glance out of a nearby window reveals partially sunny skies and a mild wind. Nothing apocalyptic about that. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining in anyway. I'm a big fan of not losing my house to water damage, believe me, I am. But this dang humidity is seriously driving me insane. I stepped out of a shower this morning, and immediately regretted it. It was so humid outside, after the few steps to my car, I felt like I was Aqua~man, under the ocean (except I couldn't talk to sea creatures, if I could do that, I wouldn't be blogging).

Now, as most people with a general knowledge of weather know, any good sized storm always relieves humidity for a few days afterwards. I was looking forward to this break in the slimy atmosphere of the tri-state area for at least a little while, but now I'm stuck in my house next to my air conditioner.

There's another reason I love thunderstorms. As a small youngling, I used to observe the terrifyingly dramatic thunderstorms from my aunt's garage. I used to sit in a large cardboard box with my brother with he garage door open, sucking on popsicles, and watching people lose power. It was one of those habitual experiences that defines the way I saw the world. I learned so many important lessons from those thunderstorm observation sessions. For example, I learned the electricity can kill you (Andrew if you even think about stepping out of this garage, I'll stick you in the bathroom with a can of ammonia and let you figure out how to make it shine).

So thunderstorms have always held a special spot near my cynical heart.