Dead Valley is known to be the hottest place on Earth.
Yet millions have traveled pass there on their way to Las Vegas.
Venture Capitalists are also well versed in what’s so called “valley of death” i.e. when a start-up moved pass its honey-moon stage, and simply cannot sustain the burnt rate.
Yet people keep trying.
Then, aside from “death” rate, we got divorce rate.
Yet people keep falling in love, and getting married.
Hint: more shopping and spending for a family of two and more.
In America, there is no shortage of imponderables.
I am starting to read Paterno bio. I could barely get through the first few pages.
Something quite imponderable there (despite the lucid prose).
After all, what happened in America, stayed in America.
Sex shops, butcher shops.
Churches and strip clubs, sometimes near each other.
Schools and parks (for homeless people) near fast-food and donuts joints.
Dental office next to candy shop.
And 24-hr gym (all you can lift) near Hometown Buffet (all you can eat). Go figure.
America spends a large chunk of change on incarceration, pornography (hard and soft e.g. NYT best-seller list, top 3 are taken by the same author who caters to women taste for escapism), guns and amos (especially amos, modeled after HP cartridge business model), medical marijuana and spirits (that get you on a downward spiral).
My name is Thang. And I am not an alcoholic. So help me God.
Somewhere somehow, the line has been moved: the incarcerated are better cared for than the non-incarcerated.
The top 1% refuses to pick up golf balls, while the rest can’t afford meat balls.
Kids aren’t learning (slipped in ranking), while workers need to but can’t get it paid for by the employers or government.
Politicians are talking, but leaders aren’t leading.
We are bidding for time, for election, for miracles, and are freezed like deers in front of approaching head lights.
Actors are either making quiet retreat (Sundance Festival), or gone overboard (Eastwood and Samuel Jackson).
It’s the best time to be in late-night comedy.
But SNL fans can’t stay up late (wrong demographic for that time slot).
Voting booths seem to always have problems in Florida. (Voters should be required to have an eye-exam). We are enjoying our time on the deck, but forgot to check the ship’s name. ( Titanic ?).
Even if it’s free, no ride lasts forever.
Every once in a while, we need to check the navigating instrument. No such thing as auto-piloting (Google unmanned car?).
Not in this age of post-innocence. Not at this time of austerity. Not now. Not ever. We need to be vigilant against those who quack like a leader, walk like a leader, but in fact, are not leaders at all. Leadership comes with a price. They come to take credits. This is the root of all imponderables: those who can’t lead, lead. Those who can, refuse to stay in the game.
Thang Nguyen 555 