Argue and Agree

1. Long rain coats are the new symbol of weird. I’ve never watched someone cross the street or walk down the street in a long rain coat (trench style or otherwise) and thought different. There’s always a chance that person is weird, and there’s a good chance they think and do weird stuff regularly. Why wear that long coat? What is it you’re trying to hide from prying eyes? Don’t you realize those coats are long out of style, and haven’t been looked upon with envy since the early 1940’s?

2. Serious messages should be delivered verbally and directly, not via bumper stickers. I am a hater of bumper stickers. So much so, that I created a series of “anti-bumper stickers” to combat those who would profess, preach, demand and generally be annoying via printed vinyl. If you’d like some anti-bumper stickers, simply add your mailing address to a response below and I’ll gladly send you a few packs. They’ll be for sale in the future here.

3. Money is not only a necessary evil, it’s the fundamental motivator of society. Consumers are killing it, and I’m part of the driving force that’s keeping our economy out of the crapper. I can’t believe how much money we spend, and yet, it keeps coming. There’s a never-ending list of things we need today, and none of that counts things we’re going to need tomorrow! Nor does it count things we just want for the hell of it. As long as there is money to be made somehow, people will continue to make it and spend it, wisely or otherwise.

4. Portland is for everyone I know. You like burgers? We gots ‘em. Enjoy mountain biking? Best in the country is nearby. Salmon fishing? Drop a line in downtown Portland…you might just hook a sturgeon. Enjoy living on the street? By all means, as it seems far friendlier to live a slim lifestyle here than many other large cities. History buff? I’ve walked along the great wagon tracks of the western pioneers near here. Enjoy nasty strip clubs? Lord have mercy, this place is your new heaven. Donuts? 24 hours a day in every flavor under the sky. Hate driving a car? Why bother… bike lanes, public transport’s great and you can walk almost anywhere in town within an hour. Need a job? Half of my friends in Portland (and my wife) work at Nike. The other half make money freelancing for Nike. Figure it out.

5. Technology can only improve your life if you commit to it, slightly. My brother is frustrated by cell phones, websites and email. There’s a blockage in his mind that will not allow him to get past the act of learning the minimum. It’s a hump that takes a certain level of understanding and commitment. There’s also a philosophy behind the best technology that’s helpful to understand and/ or believe in. That philosophy revolves around the function of servers and databases, as well as the use of well-designed graphical interfaces. If you have a basic understanding of those concepts as well as the belief that nerds are the new jocks, you will benefit greatly from technology. Adopt Iphone.

6. The Patriots disappeared. What the hell happened? I haven’t heard or read BOO about fallout from the biggest Super Bowl loss in football history. I haven’t read any scathing “I told you so’s” in sports journals, nor have I heard morning shows make fun of Brady, comment on the ankle or berate Belichick. I really think people were so shocked and disappointed, they didn’t even want to remember what happened. It’s almost as if, in terms of society, what could have been one of the greatest stories in sports history was doused so quickly, that no one cares to consider it further. We just moved on, realizing that the Patriots will NEVER, EVER have a chance to be perfect again. And it will be many years before any team will live up to their pre-Super Bowl performances. I think it’s a new curse called the “18-game-win-streak” curse.

Bah, who cares about all this crap… it’s all about OBAMA baby!