A flat world...and a more bimodal America?

I'm reading Thomas Friedman's latest, The World is Flat, and I'm captivated. He discusses America's standing in the global marketplace of, particularly, science and technology. Granted, I'm only in the first chapter, but Friedman has already cited several vivid examples of outsourcing of American jobs. Radiologists overseas interpreting CAT scan and xray films at a fraction of the cost of what an organization would pay to keep a large staff of full-time radiologists on board. Call centers and software developers. Accountants. Even reporters. India's cost of living is significantly less, thus companies can easily afford to pay Indian employees a fraction of what they'd pay an American. You can see the temptation.

I'm among the first to flinch when people rant about buying only American-made products, and staunch patriotism makes me edgy.

However, I can't help but wonder (ahh, Ms. Bradshaw, you clever girl!) if the outsourcing of these jobs (aka. leveling of the international playing field) isn't bad for America. Are we rendering ourselves dependent on too many others? Already, our country is funded by oil money from the Saudis (I won't proclaim to be very knowledgable about this, but Fahrenheit 9/11 was convincing in its message on this issue), so by sending valuable jobs overseas, what are we doing to middle-class America?

You can't replace the face-to-face interaction, so we'll still need radiologists back home to meet with families to discuss a diagnosis or accountants to discuss investment or retirement options in the flesh.

But, by sending the "grunt work" elsewhere, what will happen to those without college educations? Or entry-level positions (aka. college grads with a liberal arts education!)? Will we turn into a society of two classes? Upper and lower?

If the world is becoming more and more flat, where does that leave the people in America's valleys?

...Scout's lady

The proud owner of a Poang

The funny thing about Poangs is that they sound a LOT cooler than they actually are.

What is a Poang?

A Poang could be a sub-species of koala bear (maybe it's the "oa" paired together that leads to the association).

A Poang could be a kind of deadly virus, spread only by blowing on a dandelion (I don't know how that would work, exactly).

A Poang could be a new dance move (but then I would surely not be the owner of one, given that I'm not one to dance with any real frequency).

But really, a Poang is simply a chair.

From IKEA.

Land of awesome, Swedish words.

Perhaps, on my next visit, I'll go for the Ektorp Tullsta.

Or the Klackbo. Or the Klappsta. The fun never ends! Where do they get these names?

Obviously, it's my bed time.

Signing off for now...Scout's Ekeskog.

Will the real Scout Finch please stand up?

So, my name isn't *actually* Scout Finch (gasp!). But here is the real slim shady:

It's very tough to be so cute.

And no, I don't make him sleep in that damn carrier thing. He just likes it.

...Scout's lady

All hail the wonders of TiVo!

Now, I know that Anne is feeling conflicted about joining the noble ranks of cable subscribers and TiVo addicts, but I'm here to say that it's a wonderful world we live in!

My top two favorite things about TiVo:

1. You can pause, rewind, and on-the-fly record LIVE tv. So, when the phone rings, oh! Pause, please. Or if you didn't quite catch that super witty line on Family Guy, oh! Rewind, please.
   
2. TiVo suggests shows for you to watch. So, just as Miranda's TiVo got her hooked on Jules and Mimi (why doesn't that show exist?? There's definitely a market for it! Hello, interracial relationship soap opera!), my TiVo suggests fun shows for me, too. Guess what it records for me. Spanish soap operas, bull riding, and many many episodes of EXTRA. What does it say about my TV-watching tendencies that TiVo records such vile things, so certain that I'll just love the latest episode of Los Dias de Nuestra Vida?

It's okay, TiVo, I'm not offended. I could never be mad at my little buddy. Maybe it was my obsession with 90210 that led it to believe I would love ALL soap operas....

However, I must say, Anne, I agree with you - playing outdoors is much better than watching TV. And Salem's right - we should all kill our TVs.

How's THAT for contradiction?!

...Scout's lady (hee!)