The Minority Report

Here is Thomas Friedman calling for giving more work visas to foreign nationals that graduate from American schools as well as increased educational standards across the board in efforts to stimulate more invention and innovation.

Why is he the only person shouting it from the roofs?

R.I.P. MJ

I'm still in disbelief over Michael Jackson's death.

My thoughts towards him are so dichotomous: on one side, innovative musician whose songs still sound fresh and electrifying dancer whose moves remain unmatched (Ursher and JT, sorry guys, you can't compete); and on the other, the bizarreness of Michael and the pedophilia charges. I would always say that I was a fan of Michael the musician, but not of Michael the person.

Yet, after having watched the special that aired a few years ago where MJ was interviewed by a British journalist, I did feel pangs of sympathy - it seemed like MJ was someone who needed major psychological help, and never got it. Come on - for someone to voluntarily deform themselves, and change appearance so drastically, putting up with the pain of repeated surgeries just to try to reflect how they saw themselves in their mind's eye points to a major corner case. I think a big part of me always thought that he'd get it back together and become the mid-80's Michael again - only odder looking. Rest in peace, King of Pop.

Let's See What Else This Band's Got

Two weeks ago, I was driving through my old UVA hood in Charlottesville in preparation for my five year reunion, and I heard this great song on the 'ville's indie radio station. I was nearly prepared to stop the car and listen to the whole set in hopes that they'd mention who it was, but I was going to be late to dinner, and was very hungry. I resolved that I'd never hear it again, but here it is. Let's see what else this band's got. Could be good:

Rise of the multinational as an inter-state actor

A perhaps, little-known fact, is that I (technically) got a degree in Foreign Affairs. UVA forced me to choose between a B.S. (my biz degree) and the B.A., and wouldn't give me both. I'm still pissed (and my foreign affairs work is classified as a minor).

Anyways, one of the theories I studied stated that in the future, states would begin to decrease in their power as the multinational company would begin to exert its force over the laws, cultures, and politics of the many countries it operated in... With Twitter and Google working to better enable communication within Iran, and from Iran to the outside world, perhaps this paradigm is beginning to take hold.

Coors Surprise

One of the last cases in my strategy class this past semester focused on Coors. The point of the case was in the importance of price and price warring vis a vis the perception of quality among other things.

Surprisingly, Coors used to be regarded as a very premium beer. President's had it flown into the White House and people would drive hundred of miles to get cases. Coors itself was at that time, a stickler for quality, and tightly monitored the temperature of all the trucks, trains, and wholesaler warehouses to make sure that the beer was never warm. Then, they decided to expand, drop their prices, and put out a "light" version to compete with Miller and Anheuser-Busch, and their brand perception went to pots after that.

In any case, I was curious to see what Coors' orginal brew, Coors Banquet was actually like... And actually, it's pretty good, like a cross between a Pilsner and a Lager, and it goes down smooth. What a pleasant surprise.

CNN, Seriously?

Best Omelette Ever

After a brush of culinary inspiration on Saturday afternoon, I created the best omelette I've ever made:

• Caramelized onions
• Brie
• Havarti
• Fresh thyme
• Dash of salt and pepper