Deerfield Fair, New England's Oldest Family Fair and a 20 year tradition with my family. A few points I have to report.
We take the back country roads to get to the fair, it's part of a series of fall family traditions. We notice how it's becoming more built up and suburban. Passing by several houses we start to see these Russian type stars hung up on houses, garages and my wife comments, "What is with the stars".
An hour later we enter the huge free parking lot. Several football fields away out in the middle of nowhere there is a signpost, "Protest Area". No one is there. It reminded me of the PETA people holding signs at the Rodeo last year.
We could not go to rodeo this year however, cancelled apparently due to lack of interest. Anyway we enter the fair and get programs. True to most country themes there is a flag with "United we Stand!" printed boldly above it on the front page.
And on the back www.nationalanthemproject.org sponsored by Jeep. The anthem project and the Army recruiting station are both close to the entrance. I remember the Army station being crowded in 2002, today though it is dead.
Then it occurs to me that yes, America is dying, it's traditions, it's character, the very fiber that once made us great yet nobody can see it. People are sullen, moody and slightly depressed. Sure there is fun to be had but the free spirit spontaineous attitudes are missing.
For ten years we have drooled over exhibits of pellet stoves. Well this year even before the fair we finally bought one. It does work great but in my position in a high tech company I'm thinking of all these possibilities.
Do the makers and designers of these renewable energy sources have the same access or even knowledge of the things I do? Things like infrared imagery to fully optimize the heat transfer or those supercomputer modeling geeks who can predict how hot things get based on energy input. It would seem that pellet stove makers would not be able to afford the $100,000 price tag of a Cray. Oh, well, we can just turn the thermostat down.
November 13-16 Geoint comes to Orlando Florida. This massive alliance of top name companies meets to discuss how to improve the Orwellian surveillance network. I guess that would be much more important.
Oh, and the CNN "news" story about the fence on the Mexican border this morning was just perfect. How can people ever take me seriously when I say the SPPNA will form a European style common area after that story. The money to that think tank, definitely well spent George. And can I measure the effectiveness of my writing by tracking the counter stories over at little green footballs?
My wife asked someone at the fair about the stars. One of the vendors said it means good luck and good fortune.
I then turned to my wife and said " Wow, it didn't do the Russians any good now, did it!" And then, of course the real chill came over me. Specialized localization of cultural "norms".
Yes, George your "freedom" is wonderful, I can see why people would hate us for it.
