I’ve resisted writing about Haiti because, while incredibly tragic, it irks me to see our nation running to the aid of some other country when there’s so many terrible problems at home. I don’t think we should be policing the world or trying to save it, especially now. I guess the older I get, the more isolationist I become, but I can’t help thinking “why don’t celebraties have telethons to fix problems in America?”.

But I digress.

From the rubble of one of the world’s poorest countries came a story which seemed to perfectly highlight the haves and have-nots of the tragedy. And both the absurdity, and wonder, of our national obsession with technology.

An iPhone saved a man’s life in Haiti.

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I’ve been thinking about two news events which happened within 24hrs of each other on Christmas day 2009:

Two men with deeply held religious beliefs illegally traveled into other countries to spread their messages. Neither succeeded, but both made news. And though the news coverage has been very different, I can’t shake the feeling that their stories are almost exactly the same.

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Forty years ago today a man first set foot on the surface of the moon. Neil Armstrong left a boot print and uttered his immortal “One small step for man, one giant leap for Mankind.” And here I am, suddenly struck by how much this anniversary celebration spotlights where America is and isn’t in 2009. Click to continue »

GM used to be the biggest company in the US, and one of the most successful in the world. Now they’ve filed for bankruptcy protection, becoming “Government Motors” with 60% owned by Uncle Sam. Hopefully they will emerge soon and stronger. And since much has already been written about this fall, both supportive and damning, I find myself a bit nostalgic about my first love affair with the American car. Click to continue »

Unless you live in a bunker with no internet or television, you know that Swine Flu is the hot topic and disease of the moment. And in this constant barrage of updates and headlines touting “pandemic” I’m struck again by America’s #1 creation. We used to lead the world cars, computers, electronics, and freedom, but now we lead in one area: Panic and Fear.

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I just helped my In-Laws move stuff from their mountain home outside Denver, Colorado back to their home base of Dallas, Texas. Our drive across Kansas and through Oklahoma was such a striking difference to my normal life that I felt like I’d been dropped into a carnival dunk tank on a cold day.

To put this into focus let me start by saying: I live in LA. I drive a Sports Car.
But for this trip: I drive a 20,000 pound diesel truck. Through Kansas.
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One of the biggest PR success stories in history has to be the meteoric rise of the “Green” movement. 10 years ago, if you said something was “green” most of the world thought you were referring to the color. Now, not only is it a statement of efficiency and conservation, but it’s blurred right past the train stop of public consciousness and positioned itself as a goal.

Not for anyone. Not for a specific product. For Everyone. For Every product.

So I find myself laughing. I think awareness of resources and their usage is wise in every area. But putting an eco-friendly bent on many things is just asinine… Click to continue »

Like most people I know, I watched the Inauguration this week. Historic and uplifting. Two things I can’t often say about our government’s activity.

I’m excited to see what the future brings, and curious to see President Obama in action instead of as an icon on a poster.

He’s hit the ground running. And like I said before, Presidents always seem to start well.

Yet I find myself sickened by the same thing over and over. I keep trying to get past it… to hope I’ve seen the last news story, or mention, or visual. It’s like an infesting fog I can’t get away from… Click to continue »

So the election’s over, and no matter who you voted for it was pretty amazing to see the emotion and pride that seemed to sweep across the nation and the world.  Obama has inspired people, and he hasn’t done a single presidential act yet.

McCain gave a wonderfully gracious concession speech.  Obama an equally gracious victory speech.  And that’s what made me proud.  After all the absurdity of this election – the commentary and back-biting rising to deafening levels – To see both sides acting like adults and talking about the country as great…

It was like opening the doors of an old barn.  Wow.  The sun is out, the breeze is blowing.  I feel proud to be American.  And for the first time in a long time I think the rest of the world wished they were American.

And already I’ve heard people saying Obama is a great President!  That he’ll be in for eight years!  That the nation and the world will never be the same!  Folks, he hasn’t done anything yet… relax… we’ve got a long time to see how this will go, and lots of history to show these moments are like a first crush.

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So here we are… marching toward a Presidential election with both sides ramping up to a crazed din so loud my ears are bleeding.

Now it’s all just noise.

And I find myself disappointed.  Pissed off even.

All the discussion, the ads, the YouTube viral videos invading my inbox, the discussions around me…. they all have one thing in common.  No matter what side.  No matter what issue…

We’re supposed to be afraid.   We’re supposed to be cowering under the stairs in terror.

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