I've started hearing strange music in the overtones of my air conditioner while I'm trying to go to sleep at night. Sometimes it's such that I have to triple check that my iTunes is turned off. It's usually electronica, if that's what I've been listening to last, so my mind must create the continuity. But then it can also be 70s funk brass stuff, and even some indiscernible vocals. Maybe it's some kind of Rorschach for musicians, like the way artists see things in clouds.
Or then again, maybe it's just the little green men trying to fuck with me again.
Either that or the drugs. . .
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
D-Blog to iTunes:
Hi there. Of course I love iTunes, but I have one special request for purchasing music.
Sometimes the 30 second clip you provide as a free sample is not enough to know if you want to buy the song. This is especially true in longer classical pieces (sometimes 8 or 9 minutes) where you may hear the introduction but not how the orchestra plays the main melodies later in the piece.
If you are a professional musician, say a clarinetist, who is studying the piece, the clip may not contain the big clarinet solo you're looking for. So either you wind up buying a lot of recordings you don't need or you wind up not buying any.
My solution to this would be to give the option of buying a one-time listen to any song/movement for a discounted price, say 10 or 15 cents. There could be something in the legal agreement saying that a charge for under 25 cents would not need to be authorized, so you could just click on the option to charge a dime to your account and get to listen to the song all the way through- but just once. Then if you chose to buy it, iTunes could charge the remaining 89 cents to your account. Easy.
There have been at least a dozen occasions where I have not bought recordings from you guys because I didn't get a good enough idea of the piece from the 30 second clip provided. Can you imagine buying Bohemian Rhapsody from a thirty second clip from the heavy metal segment of the song? You wouldn't even know what you were getting. Same for a lot of the late Beatles stuff and most classical music compositions which have many segments in them and all kinds of details that different instrumentalists and singers would want to pick out.
I hope you find my solution both feasible and intelligent and that you are able to implement it without too much difficulty (and that you offer me a percentage of the profits you will undoubtedly make from my idea!).
Thanks very much for listening and for a terrific product.
Sincerely,
[D-Blog]
Sometimes the 30 second clip you provide as a free sample is not enough to know if you want to buy the song. This is especially true in longer classical pieces (sometimes 8 or 9 minutes) where you may hear the introduction but not how the orchestra plays the main melodies later in the piece.
If you are a professional musician, say a clarinetist, who is studying the piece, the clip may not contain the big clarinet solo you're looking for. So either you wind up buying a lot of recordings you don't need or you wind up not buying any.
My solution to this would be to give the option of buying a one-time listen to any song/movement for a discounted price, say 10 or 15 cents. There could be something in the legal agreement saying that a charge for under 25 cents would not need to be authorized, so you could just click on the option to charge a dime to your account and get to listen to the song all the way through- but just once. Then if you chose to buy it, iTunes could charge the remaining 89 cents to your account. Easy.
There have been at least a dozen occasions where I have not bought recordings from you guys because I didn't get a good enough idea of the piece from the 30 second clip provided. Can you imagine buying Bohemian Rhapsody from a thirty second clip from the heavy metal segment of the song? You wouldn't even know what you were getting. Same for a lot of the late Beatles stuff and most classical music compositions which have many segments in them and all kinds of details that different instrumentalists and singers would want to pick out.
I hope you find my solution both feasible and intelligent and that you are able to implement it without too much difficulty (and that you offer me a percentage of the profits you will undoubtedly make from my idea!).
Thanks very much for listening and for a terrific product.
Sincerely,
[D-Blog]
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Education, cont'd
I'm going to paste this one it. It's from Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish blog, and it's a thoughtful commentary on the practical value of a Liberal Arts Education. Having received one of these myself, I take for granted a lot of the points the author makes, and in my arguing elsewhere for a more accountability-oriented education process, it may seem that I do not share these values. Obviously, as a polymath myself, I am well aware of the value of ambiguous answers and bucking conventional wisdom, and so it my admonition to make education responsive to students' real needs I see the addition of critical thinking and multi-cultural, multi-discipline courses as invaluable. Presumably, if Wallace is right, then this would be factored into the curriculum in an appropriate and balanced way.
In terms of using the degree to prove to other people that you can do unpleasant work, I find that a little less satisfying of an answer, since I feel that conforming your life around fitting other people's expectations is a little too slavish for my way of thinking. After years of prep-school, the thought of working for others became intolerable to me- whether that's a personal failing or a mark of deep entrepreneurship, I suppose, will be determined by my life. But in general, I think New Hampshire's state motto is equally applicable to wage slaves as to slaves of the state. But just my prejudice.
Here's the article:
In Defense of the Liberal Arts
By Lane Wallace
We're entering commencement time, which means all kinds of notable people (the President and First Lady included) will be giving well-crafted speeches about the importance of education and a college degree. But is one kind of degree better than another? Much has been said about the importance of science and technology degrees in terms of keeping the U.S. competitive with the rest of the world. And as the economy has worsened, and fears of joblessness have risen, the voices advocating pursuit of more "practical" degrees have grown in both number and volume.
A recent New York Times article noted that Humanities now account for only 8% of all college degrees, and that proponents are having to work harder than ever to justify the worth of a humanities, or liberal arts, course of study. The article quotes Anthony T. Kronman, a Yale law professor, as saying, reluctantly, that the essence of a humanities education may become "a great luxury that many cannot afford."
I passionately disagree.
(Full disclosure: I graduated from an Ivy League university with a liberal arts degree in Semiotics, which most people would consider a highly frivolous subject. Although I have to say, the degree did turn out to be useful in getting me job interviews in all kinds of fields, simply because nobody knew what the word meant.)
However. Three points worth considering in the debate:
First ... I figured out the true value of a college degree not in the lofty halls of Brown University, but in a corrugated cardboard factory in New Zealand. I'd taken a "leave of absence" as they call it, after my sophomore year, to figure out if I really wanted to pay all that money learn things that seemed, well ... a tad non-essential, at best. I packed a backpack and took off for the romantic frontier-land of New Zealand with nothing but $500 and a working visa in my pocket. The six months I spent there were a far cry from what I thought the adventure would be, but it was educational. Culminating in my job at the cardboard factory--where I was surrounded by people who hated their jobs but had no other viable option.
In a flash, I grasped the true value of a college degree. It didn't matter what I majored in. It didn't even matter all that much what my grades were. What mattered was that I got that rectangular piece of paper that said, "Lane Wallace never has to work in a corrugated cardboard factory again." A piece of paper that was proof to any potential future employer that I could stick with a project and complete it successfully, even if parts of it weren't all that much fun. A piece of paper that said I had learned how to process an overload of information, prioritize, sort through it intelligently, and distill all that into a coherent end product ... all while coping with stress and deadlines without imploding.
I also realized that I'd do far better at all that if I studied what I was most passionate about learning, practicality be damned. Hence my switch to Semiotics (which, for anyone wondering, is a four-dollar word for communication). If you want to be an engineer or physicist, you'd better major in the subject. But only if that's what you truly want to study and do. Pro forma dedication is discernible from 100 paces away.
Second ... In an increasingly global economy and world, more than just technical skill is required. Far more challenging is the ability to work with a multitude of viewpoints and cultures. And the liberal arts are particularly good at teaching how different arguments on the same point can be equally valid, depending on what presumptions or values you bring to the subject. The liberal arts canvas is painted not in reassuring black-and-white tones, but in maddening shades of gray.
What's the "right" solution to the conflict in Sudan? What was Shakespeare's most important work and why? Was John Locke right in his arguments about personal property? Get comfortable with the ambiguities inherent in a liberal arts education, and you're far better equipped to face the ambiguities and differing viewpoints in a complex, global world. (The late David Foster Wallace expanded on this point in his acclaimed 2005 Kenyon College commencement address, which, if you missed it at the time, is worth taking the time to read.)
Third ... Yes, the U.S. needs technical expertise to keep pace, economically and technologically. But we also need innovators and entrepreneurs creating break-through concepts and businesses. And while knowledge in an area is important, I'd argue that the most important trait a pioneering entrepreneur needs is the confidence to buck convention; to believe he or she is right, despite what all the experts say.
Last year, I interviewed Alan Klapmeier, founder and CEO of the Cirrus Design Corporation, which revolutionized the piston-airplane manufacturing industry with its composite Cirrus aircraft (discussed at length by James Fallows both here at The Atlantic, and in his book Free Flight. I asked Klapmeier what gave him the idea, back in the mid-1980s, that he could take on an industry as conservative and entrenched as general aviation. His answer:
"I think it was my college education. I went to Ripon College, which was a liberal arts school. And that kind of school teaches you how to think for yourself. My professors didn't tell you you were wrong. They convinced you you were wrong. And if they couldn't, you might end up changing their minds on something. Figuring out for yourself what right and wrong is builds a huge bit of confidence. The kind that makes you think maybe we can take on an industry."
Worth thinking about.
In terms of using the degree to prove to other people that you can do unpleasant work, I find that a little less satisfying of an answer, since I feel that conforming your life around fitting other people's expectations is a little too slavish for my way of thinking. After years of prep-school, the thought of working for others became intolerable to me- whether that's a personal failing or a mark of deep entrepreneurship, I suppose, will be determined by my life. But in general, I think New Hampshire's state motto is equally applicable to wage slaves as to slaves of the state. But just my prejudice.
Here's the article:
In Defense of the Liberal Arts
By Lane Wallace
We're entering commencement time, which means all kinds of notable people (the President and First Lady included) will be giving well-crafted speeches about the importance of education and a college degree. But is one kind of degree better than another? Much has been said about the importance of science and technology degrees in terms of keeping the U.S. competitive with the rest of the world. And as the economy has worsened, and fears of joblessness have risen, the voices advocating pursuit of more "practical" degrees have grown in both number and volume.
A recent New York Times article noted that Humanities now account for only 8% of all college degrees, and that proponents are having to work harder than ever to justify the worth of a humanities, or liberal arts, course of study. The article quotes Anthony T. Kronman, a Yale law professor, as saying, reluctantly, that the essence of a humanities education may become "a great luxury that many cannot afford."
I passionately disagree.
(Full disclosure: I graduated from an Ivy League university with a liberal arts degree in Semiotics, which most people would consider a highly frivolous subject. Although I have to say, the degree did turn out to be useful in getting me job interviews in all kinds of fields, simply because nobody knew what the word meant.)
However. Three points worth considering in the debate:
First ... I figured out the true value of a college degree not in the lofty halls of Brown University, but in a corrugated cardboard factory in New Zealand. I'd taken a "leave of absence" as they call it, after my sophomore year, to figure out if I really wanted to pay all that money learn things that seemed, well ... a tad non-essential, at best. I packed a backpack and took off for the romantic frontier-land of New Zealand with nothing but $500 and a working visa in my pocket. The six months I spent there were a far cry from what I thought the adventure would be, but it was educational. Culminating in my job at the cardboard factory--where I was surrounded by people who hated their jobs but had no other viable option.
In a flash, I grasped the true value of a college degree. It didn't matter what I majored in. It didn't even matter all that much what my grades were. What mattered was that I got that rectangular piece of paper that said, "Lane Wallace never has to work in a corrugated cardboard factory again." A piece of paper that was proof to any potential future employer that I could stick with a project and complete it successfully, even if parts of it weren't all that much fun. A piece of paper that said I had learned how to process an overload of information, prioritize, sort through it intelligently, and distill all that into a coherent end product ... all while coping with stress and deadlines without imploding.
I also realized that I'd do far better at all that if I studied what I was most passionate about learning, practicality be damned. Hence my switch to Semiotics (which, for anyone wondering, is a four-dollar word for communication). If you want to be an engineer or physicist, you'd better major in the subject. But only if that's what you truly want to study and do. Pro forma dedication is discernible from 100 paces away.
Second ... In an increasingly global economy and world, more than just technical skill is required. Far more challenging is the ability to work with a multitude of viewpoints and cultures. And the liberal arts are particularly good at teaching how different arguments on the same point can be equally valid, depending on what presumptions or values you bring to the subject. The liberal arts canvas is painted not in reassuring black-and-white tones, but in maddening shades of gray.
What's the "right" solution to the conflict in Sudan? What was Shakespeare's most important work and why? Was John Locke right in his arguments about personal property? Get comfortable with the ambiguities inherent in a liberal arts education, and you're far better equipped to face the ambiguities and differing viewpoints in a complex, global world. (The late David Foster Wallace expanded on this point in his acclaimed 2005 Kenyon College commencement address, which, if you missed it at the time, is worth taking the time to read.)
Third ... Yes, the U.S. needs technical expertise to keep pace, economically and technologically. But we also need innovators and entrepreneurs creating break-through concepts and businesses. And while knowledge in an area is important, I'd argue that the most important trait a pioneering entrepreneur needs is the confidence to buck convention; to believe he or she is right, despite what all the experts say.
Last year, I interviewed Alan Klapmeier, founder and CEO of the Cirrus Design Corporation, which revolutionized the piston-airplane manufacturing industry with its composite Cirrus aircraft (discussed at length by James Fallows both here at The Atlantic, and in his book Free Flight. I asked Klapmeier what gave him the idea, back in the mid-1980s, that he could take on an industry as conservative and entrenched as general aviation. His answer:
"I think it was my college education. I went to Ripon College, which was a liberal arts school. And that kind of school teaches you how to think for yourself. My professors didn't tell you you were wrong. They convinced you you were wrong. And if they couldn't, you might end up changing their minds on something. Figuring out for yourself what right and wrong is builds a huge bit of confidence. The kind that makes you think maybe we can take on an industry."
Worth thinking about.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Duh
Hmmmm. . .
After 9/11 Don Rumsfeld apparently said, "Either they will have to change or we will have to change- which is impossible." It seems that we lose either way.
For what it's worth, a gentle and intelligent transition to a raw food diet solves all of these problems at once. Once one feels the benefits in one's body, the process becomes all carrot and no stick, thus obviating the need for command and control dietary strictures.
I don't think we'll make it all the way there as a culture, but the model exists already for solving all of these problems at a tiny fraction of the cost of other proposals. But maybe that's the problem. . .
After 9/11 Don Rumsfeld apparently said, "Either they will have to change or we will have to change- which is impossible." It seems that we lose either way.
For what it's worth, a gentle and intelligent transition to a raw food diet solves all of these problems at once. Once one feels the benefits in one's body, the process becomes all carrot and no stick, thus obviating the need for command and control dietary strictures.
I don't think we'll make it all the way there as a culture, but the model exists already for solving all of these problems at a tiny fraction of the cost of other proposals. But maybe that's the problem. . .
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Good-Mart
I stumbled upon this one today from a few years back.
It's a horrid, dystopic idea Scotty and I came up with once, chatting on the cell phone while I was driving through the desert. I got to my hotel room that night and jotted the whole thing down.
To me this would be the most horrendous mode of living imaginable, but I have a feeling I may be in the minority on that. So here's my Good-Mart proposal, guaranteed to turn any developer into a king.
Read at your own risk, and make sure to have one of those "comfort" bags at the ready.
D-Blog
Good-Mart and World Domination
It started with J-Mart- a small chapel in the back of the Wal-Mart where people can go for church services before they go shopping. Originally the J stood for Jesus, but in certain districts, it could stand for the other thing, or (as they do in Aspen) have a Saturday version for Jew-Mart and a Sunday version for Jesus. A little tweaking would be in order for the Muslim neighborhoods lest Jihad-Mart take off in undesirable ways. Maybe we could consider Burka-Mart embedded in Burka-King. . . lots of possibilities.
Anyway, we soon realized that once the church is part of Wal-Mart, there literally is nothing else required for life (except for those who believe in compulsory schooling), therefore it will be the end of civilization as we know it and the beginning of the Brave New World of Good-Mart, named after its founder, [D-Blog].
At Good-Mart, we combine all the convenience of Wal-Mart with the bustling metropolis atmosphere of a real city. Improving community and cutting down on waste through intelligent eco-management of resource, Good-Mart represents the future of American living.
The concept begins with the Wal-Mart, the center of everything retail. But Wal-mart, Sam’s Club, and associated strip mall retail outlets form not only the cultural foundations for the complex but the architectural ones as well. Once re-enforced, the Wal-Mart will serve as the ground floor for a series of high rise towers with elevator service leading down into the Mart itself.
We therefore are able to create an entire gated community with a Wal-mart at its base. Elevators would run up and down the 4-40 story towers. There would be a swimming pool, fitness center and other amenities. Restaurants could be provided downstairs in the style of a Las Vegas casino – buffets might work especially well. A medical facility could be “on campus” as well as any other requirements specific to the community (legal and accounting services, for example- Law-Mart).
Parking would remain street level as in a normal Wal-Mart/Mall, but it would be covered, providing protection from the sun as well as additional acreage for more towers and public spaces. Parks, fountains, jogging tracks would all be part of this “virtual city.” A light rail system (modeled on the one in the Detroit airport) would connect different parking sectors as well as different segments of the compound. Driving would be held to a minimum, and walking/rail systems would provide most of the transportation. This would increase exercise and physical fitness while diminishing carbon emissions and driving. In fact, 95% of one’s daily needs would be provided by the complex itself- especially shopping and retail needs. Of course, delivery service would be provided on demand from downstairs businesses. In fact, an optional Good-Mart card can be used to charge all expenses to the monthly rent bill. A simple card swipe or fingerprint ID is all you would need to shop “on-campus.”
There could also be ‘virtual,’ multi-purpose office space in the complex. In this way, people from most cubicle-style jobs could work close to home over the internet. Xerox/fax service would be provided as well as messenger service, and secretarial service. In this way, people from several different businesses could all work from the same office through video conferencing and email.
Retirement communities would transplant well into Good-Mart. The close proximity to neighbors and medical help would be a plus as well as the benefits of reduced driving and increased exercise. General communal sense would be improved as well- compared with traditional planned communities based around separate homes, fenced off from each other.
Also, waste would, in general, be reduced, as trash removal/recycling would be more efficient, lawn care reduced, and mass transport clean, swift, and available round the clock. If desired, solar paneling could be used on the exterior of the buildings to harness energy, and wind farms could be placed on the roofs. Electrical efficiency strategies could be employed as well, plus energy could be re-harnessed from alternators in elevators, escalators, and light rail. All energy would be fed back into the grid itself.
Public gardens may be made available in certain locations, tended to by local residents. Movie theaters, different sporting ground facilities (depending in part on Good-Mart theme, e.g. shuffle board for elderly focused residents, ‘beach’ volley ball for younger), and music and art installations would be available as well. Day care would be a given. Also, with office space so close to home, having lunch with the whole family (at one of Good-Mart’s dining establishments or prepared at home using ingredients from the downstairs Wal-Mart) could become a new tradition.
“Bulk” discount home furnishing packages and items could be available for purchase (if desired) for the units- for example, Good-Mart Living Co. could purchase 500 flat screen TVs and sell them to residents at a discounted cost. This way, state of the art home amenities could be made available at an affordable price, thus incentivising the young and trendy (or at least young and professional) to live in a Good-Mart unit rather than a private home. Ikea-style pre-set home furnishings could also be purchased in bulk and sold at discounted prices for Good-Mart residents.
Finally, projecting out into the future, an interconnected network of Good-Marts would span the nation. Modeled loosely on the VOR model of aviation navigation or the interstate highway system, regional Good-Marts would serve as "hubs" of culture and civilization with light-rail ‘spokes’ connecting them all at greater distances. Bullet trains would parallel the highway system (as a reminder to drivers that alternatives exist to long highway travel- and at quicker speeds) taking families speedily and easily between Good-Mart ‘loci’ across the country. In this manner, visiting friends and families would be a cinch, with holiday commotion and travel costs kept to a minimum. (Also, as with some cell phone calling plans, this incentivises family members to become part of the Good Mart community as well- perhaps discounts/bonuses could be made available for ‘signing up' new members to the network.) Most importantly, all light rail systems on Good-Mart locations and between locations would be crystal clean- only being ridden by ‘citizens’ of Good-Mart who have an interest in preserving their quality of life.
Ideally each Good-Mart hub would have its own "Vegas-style" theme. For people who have always dreamed of living in Paris, there could be a Parisian-themed Good-Mart. A "rural" themed Good-Mart would be appropriate for gardeners. There could be Good-Marts for different tastes in food, clothing, and entertainment- Jazz-based Good-Marts, Meat-and-Potatoes-themed Good-Marts, or Trendy-Chic-based Good-Marts. The possibilities are endless. Of course, some Good-Mart communities would prefer not to be the envy of their neighbors or be visited too frequently by Good-Mart "Tourists." Exclusive or Reclusive Good-Marts could also be available for Americans desiring a quieter lifestyle.
Good-Mart will always be improving its services and efficiencies- while always maintaining the quality lifestyle desired by its residents. A new America is dawning. Wal-Mart was only the beginning. Now, Good things are happening at Good-Mart.
It's a horrid, dystopic idea Scotty and I came up with once, chatting on the cell phone while I was driving through the desert. I got to my hotel room that night and jotted the whole thing down.
To me this would be the most horrendous mode of living imaginable, but I have a feeling I may be in the minority on that. So here's my Good-Mart proposal, guaranteed to turn any developer into a king.
Read at your own risk, and make sure to have one of those "comfort" bags at the ready.
D-Blog
Good-Mart and World Domination
It started with J-Mart- a small chapel in the back of the Wal-Mart where people can go for church services before they go shopping. Originally the J stood for Jesus, but in certain districts, it could stand for the other thing, or (as they do in Aspen) have a Saturday version for Jew-Mart and a Sunday version for Jesus. A little tweaking would be in order for the Muslim neighborhoods lest Jihad-Mart take off in undesirable ways. Maybe we could consider Burka-Mart embedded in Burka-King. . . lots of possibilities.
Anyway, we soon realized that once the church is part of Wal-Mart, there literally is nothing else required for life (except for those who believe in compulsory schooling), therefore it will be the end of civilization as we know it and the beginning of the Brave New World of Good-Mart, named after its founder, [D-Blog].
At Good-Mart, we combine all the convenience of Wal-Mart with the bustling metropolis atmosphere of a real city. Improving community and cutting down on waste through intelligent eco-management of resource, Good-Mart represents the future of American living.
The concept begins with the Wal-Mart, the center of everything retail. But Wal-mart, Sam’s Club, and associated strip mall retail outlets form not only the cultural foundations for the complex but the architectural ones as well. Once re-enforced, the Wal-Mart will serve as the ground floor for a series of high rise towers with elevator service leading down into the Mart itself.
We therefore are able to create an entire gated community with a Wal-mart at its base. Elevators would run up and down the 4-40 story towers. There would be a swimming pool, fitness center and other amenities. Restaurants could be provided downstairs in the style of a Las Vegas casino – buffets might work especially well. A medical facility could be “on campus” as well as any other requirements specific to the community (legal and accounting services, for example- Law-Mart).
Parking would remain street level as in a normal Wal-Mart/Mall, but it would be covered, providing protection from the sun as well as additional acreage for more towers and public spaces. Parks, fountains, jogging tracks would all be part of this “virtual city.” A light rail system (modeled on the one in the Detroit airport) would connect different parking sectors as well as different segments of the compound. Driving would be held to a minimum, and walking/rail systems would provide most of the transportation. This would increase exercise and physical fitness while diminishing carbon emissions and driving. In fact, 95% of one’s daily needs would be provided by the complex itself- especially shopping and retail needs. Of course, delivery service would be provided on demand from downstairs businesses. In fact, an optional Good-Mart card can be used to charge all expenses to the monthly rent bill. A simple card swipe or fingerprint ID is all you would need to shop “on-campus.”
There could also be ‘virtual,’ multi-purpose office space in the complex. In this way, people from most cubicle-style jobs could work close to home over the internet. Xerox/fax service would be provided as well as messenger service, and secretarial service. In this way, people from several different businesses could all work from the same office through video conferencing and email.
Retirement communities would transplant well into Good-Mart. The close proximity to neighbors and medical help would be a plus as well as the benefits of reduced driving and increased exercise. General communal sense would be improved as well- compared with traditional planned communities based around separate homes, fenced off from each other.
Also, waste would, in general, be reduced, as trash removal/recycling would be more efficient, lawn care reduced, and mass transport clean, swift, and available round the clock. If desired, solar paneling could be used on the exterior of the buildings to harness energy, and wind farms could be placed on the roofs. Electrical efficiency strategies could be employed as well, plus energy could be re-harnessed from alternators in elevators, escalators, and light rail. All energy would be fed back into the grid itself.
Public gardens may be made available in certain locations, tended to by local residents. Movie theaters, different sporting ground facilities (depending in part on Good-Mart theme, e.g. shuffle board for elderly focused residents, ‘beach’ volley ball for younger), and music and art installations would be available as well. Day care would be a given. Also, with office space so close to home, having lunch with the whole family (at one of Good-Mart’s dining establishments or prepared at home using ingredients from the downstairs Wal-Mart) could become a new tradition.
“Bulk” discount home furnishing packages and items could be available for purchase (if desired) for the units- for example, Good-Mart Living Co. could purchase 500 flat screen TVs and sell them to residents at a discounted cost. This way, state of the art home amenities could be made available at an affordable price, thus incentivising the young and trendy (or at least young and professional) to live in a Good-Mart unit rather than a private home. Ikea-style pre-set home furnishings could also be purchased in bulk and sold at discounted prices for Good-Mart residents.
Finally, projecting out into the future, an interconnected network of Good-Marts would span the nation. Modeled loosely on the VOR model of aviation navigation or the interstate highway system, regional Good-Marts would serve as "hubs" of culture and civilization with light-rail ‘spokes’ connecting them all at greater distances. Bullet trains would parallel the highway system (as a reminder to drivers that alternatives exist to long highway travel- and at quicker speeds) taking families speedily and easily between Good-Mart ‘loci’ across the country. In this manner, visiting friends and families would be a cinch, with holiday commotion and travel costs kept to a minimum. (Also, as with some cell phone calling plans, this incentivises family members to become part of the Good Mart community as well- perhaps discounts/bonuses could be made available for ‘signing up' new members to the network.) Most importantly, all light rail systems on Good-Mart locations and between locations would be crystal clean- only being ridden by ‘citizens’ of Good-Mart who have an interest in preserving their quality of life.
Ideally each Good-Mart hub would have its own "Vegas-style" theme. For people who have always dreamed of living in Paris, there could be a Parisian-themed Good-Mart. A "rural" themed Good-Mart would be appropriate for gardeners. There could be Good-Marts for different tastes in food, clothing, and entertainment- Jazz-based Good-Marts, Meat-and-Potatoes-themed Good-Marts, or Trendy-Chic-based Good-Marts. The possibilities are endless. Of course, some Good-Mart communities would prefer not to be the envy of their neighbors or be visited too frequently by Good-Mart "Tourists." Exclusive or Reclusive Good-Marts could also be available for Americans desiring a quieter lifestyle.
Good-Mart will always be improving its services and efficiencies- while always maintaining the quality lifestyle desired by its residents. A new America is dawning. Wal-Mart was only the beginning. Now, Good things are happening at Good-Mart.
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