APPLE AND PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

Planned obsolescence is when companies plan in advance to phase out certain technologies in order to make people keep buying their new products. A few days ago my new MacBook Pro computer arrived from Apple (my 4th Apple in 5 years). Getting a new computer used to be a happy time. Now it is filled with nervous anticipation over what software won't run on the new operating system. So far just two disappointments: Microsoft Office 2004 and Final Cut Studio 2. The later is a big setback because I've heard nothing but bad things about the new Final Cut X. Hollywood used to edit movies with this software, and now it's an app you download online? Not impressed. Microsoft Office just pisses me off because I only need it for Word, and Word isn't worth $150. And lastly, Apple is phasing out iWeb and iDvd, so they don't include them on new computers. Only problem is my website for Happy Medium Studios was built and is maintained through iWeb. After two hours of fighting on the phone, the great folks over at Apple agreed to mail me the $16 DVD with those apps on it. For a fantastic look inside the world of Planned Obsolescence, click here to view a short film on the subject.

THE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN CONFLICT SOLUTION

Yes, while sitting at the computer today watching Modern Family, I've figured out a way to solve a problem that has plagued our world since 1948: the Israeli Palestinian conflict. I have to admit, I knew little about this issue until I lived for a couple of years in Jordan. Most of the people I met there were Palestinians whose families left their homeland in either 1948 or 1967 as a result of Israeli aggression. I tend to sympathise with them, and like the cartoon shows, Israel has done a fantastic job of turning sympathizers into anti-semites. It is also clear to me now that I'm back in the US how impossible it would be for a politician here to be openly pro-Palestine. But even with these obstacles, I have a solution to the problem. Israel has to revert to their 1967 borders and immediately declare Palestine an independent state. To make this happen, all the Muslim OPEC nations (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, Qatar, and Algeria) need to do is place an embargo on the exportation of oil to the US. Though the US is heavily pro-Israel, they care far more about economics. If Muslim OPEC nations banded together, it would lead to massive gas shortages in the US and would send oil prices through the roof. Washington would be forced to pressure Israel to do the right thing (as fighting a war with 8 countries wouldn't be feasible) and Palestine would become a state alongside Israel. Bloodless Middle East peace in less than a week. Will it happen? No, because when it comes down to it, the Muslim OPEC countries don't give a shit about Palestine. They have become addicted to our money. If not, this would have happened a long time ago. They have traded their solidarity for golden bidets and Bentleys.

DESTINATION MORE RELAXING THAN JOURNEY

Julie and I made it back to Portland to be reunited with all our useless-but fun to see again-crap. It is a long, long way from Atlanta. About two months ago I left Jordan and flew to Atlanta and bought a car (a Hyundai Accent). I drove it up to Virginia to liberate Julie from school (George Mason University). Then we visited my cousin Scott in Philadelphia, checked out New York City, and then visited relatives in Pennsylvania, before landing for an extended stay in Chicago at Julie's parent's house. Long haul from Chicago to Bozeman to see my friend Craig, and finally the lightning round from Bozeman to Portland. Been back in Portland a couple of weeks and found an apartment with the view shown above. In total, nearly 4,000 miles and 20 pounds put on since leaving Atlanta. Took car for an oil change; took body to the gym.

ENOUGH FAKE CREDIT CARDS

I was cleaning out a box today when I came across this rather large stack of fake credit cards, designed to lure me into debt. These came in the mail over about a one year period. I kept them because I was going to cut them up and make a mosaic of some kind, but never got around to it. They are all the same, with a generic "your name here", except for the first one I got, pictured above. It has a guys name on it and looks like a real card. I wonder how much fraud was committed on manual credit card machines before AMEX caught on? Poor J B Atkins.

NEW ART CREATION

Yes, it's time to get heavy. For a man who thought he didn't own that much stuff, I sure have a lot of stuff. As I was unpacking in Portland, I threw these four items together and liked the creation. The items include:

1. Antique holy water bottle given to me by The Duke of Mukeibeh

2. Cross purchased at the Vatican

3. A paint brush

4. An original badge worn by employees who built the first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The number 239 is also significant because plutonium 239 is the type used to make nuclear weapons.

Put it all together and I think it makes some sort of statement. Not sure what that is.

CHICAGO RIVER ARCHITECTURE TOUR

There are a lot of interesting building in Chicago thanks to architects like Louis Sullivan and Mies van der Rohe. While we were in the city for our engagement party we took a boat tour of the Chicago River, a very good way to see the city. The tour was recommended by my dad's aunt's daughter, Joanne. Still not sure what to call our relation. Great cousin? Second cousin? While I was searching for answers I came across this weird page. I don't think you should date anyone who might turn up at a family reunion.

THE PORNO FORT

I guess I was probably in 4th grade when my dad built us a plywood fort underneath the deck of our house. It was simple and crude structure, but it was a fort nonetheless. Not long after its completion, my brother and I were out riding our bikes when we came across a very interesting magazine that somebody must have thrown out their car window. It was a Penthouse. What a fascinating find! Being young and stupid I decided we should decorate the walls of our new fort with the unusual photos in the magazine. I specifically remember that the name of one article was "Going Down", and it featured a woman "servicing" a man in an elevator. Something about those pictures captured my youthful imagination. My brother and I plaster the pages all over the fort and were so proud of ourselves that we asked our mom to come take a look. Needless to say she was horrified and we were grounded. The old porno fort was never the same afterwards. A photo might be worth a thousand words, but sometimes those words don't tell the whole story.

GOODBYE VANN NATH

Cambodian artist Vann Nath passed away this Monday after suffering a heart attack. I had the privilege of meeting this remarkable man on a recent trip to Cambodia back in May of this year. I've never met a finer representative of humanity in all my time on this planet. I hope he is reborn into a more peaceful world.