Appearing Presidential

Ever wonder why cosmetics and accouterments sell so well worldwide? Appearances. Vanity. the collective human lust for this elusive of all naivety. Call it what you will but someone's external characteristic's have long been considered a proxy of what the actual individual might deliver or be - as an individual. I don't get it and don't care for it but hey, who cares what I think.

Our president travels this week to a mysterious part of the world described simply as the middle east - which in itself begs the question - how does a direction have a middle? And if so what is the early east and latest east? Is the latest east so late that it is the early west? But I digress.

The reason for his visit is literally touted by the touts aka media as to 'Appear Presidential' on the world stage. First of all who decided that the world stage is in the middle east? It is like saying the dining table is in the dining hall. Except this arrangement is totally bogus given how neither the directional guidance nor the theatrics are real.

Media chatter aside from the Appearances commentary also included other strange sounding words from the dictionary like 'Showboat', 'Grandstanding' and 'Firing'.

Hmm. Did someone say 'firing'?

Comments

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

The Palmetto state. One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back. We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination. Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old. The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago. The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

Cost of entrepreneurship

Last night I attended a guest lecture on the subject of disruptive technology and entrepreneurship. Lecture was free but it was used as a pitch by the University that hosted it to attract new customers. The speaker was somewhat respectable fellow who happened to hail from India and spoke eloquently. One of the key message was around how the professors in this university were ranked among the very best money can buy. Cost of the MBA program mere $110,000 and oh we also buy some dinner if you have late class. So now the math is simple- is learning to be entrepreneurial worth the cost of entry? That is assuming you end up being one. What of those that do not? or the ones that are not successful at being the entrepreneur? Is that being a pessimist before even being handed the glass. What I found strange is that people will bet big money on the glimmer of hope that they might just make a entrepreneurial debut and hit it big. The unive...

Brown Motion

Search This Blog