The US National Debt, August 17th, 3:53PM

Ok, seriously. All joking aside, this photo reminds me of a must-watch documentary called I.O.U.S.A. (Available to stream via Netflix.) It is an absolutely petrifying look at the hideous debt situation we find ourselves in at this moment. It should be a crime. Seriously.

Well don’t just bitch about it on your blog! Tell somebody important that you’re pissed off.

August 2010 estimate by Zillow

Here’s a great article that reminded me of this little tracking project (courtesy of my boss).

Dear Google,

The mobile internet is the future. You know. I know it. The American people know it.

But pretending that it’s different from the wired internet is wrong, and you damn well know it. It’s still the same infrastructure serving everybody, except for the last couple hops. In fact, calling it the “mobile internet” is a bad mischaracterization from which I’ll refrain in the future.

The internet– no matter how it’s delivered– is the internet. And it dismays me (but does not surprise me) to see you rationalizing principles for short term gains.

Because this IS short term.

Whatever gains you make by making telcos happy today will bite you in the ass tomorrow. And just look how many enemies you’re making in the process. I’m one of them.

Take notes, because this will be important later: Should your suggestions be adopted, and the rules follow your precedent, it will become your biggest outstanding liability.

I’m not saying you made a deal with Verizon… but if Android can get special treatment, you better believe Apple can bid higher than you. And if Google can afford a little bribery, you better believe Microsoft can too. I’m not saying you made a deal with Verizon… but even if you didn’t, the other telcos are looking for allies.

And what about all the little seeds you’ve just planted? Just give them time, and sprinkle them with frustration every now and then, and they will grow into your worst nightmares.

Yeah, I’m sure you didn’t make a deal… but if you did, it doesn’t take 20 years of computer time to know that it’s going to cost you.

Sincerely,
Bryan Simonson

UPDATE 8/31/2010: This reads like a poor attempt at a pithy statement. What I really meant was this:

Dear Google,
Are you fucking kidding me?
Love,
Bryan

Here’s a neat story from her speech that we’d do well to remember:

There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years . .” The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?” Replied the Master, “Well, twenty years.” “But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the student. “Thirty years,” replied the Master. “But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?” Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”

This girl knows exactly how I felt while I was in high school.

The first night I was there we had the bachelor party for Fraz… oh MAN! The stories from that night will go down as legend. They are so legendary I can’t print them here. Let’s just say it was… sinfully good.

The second day was the Nikah– the wedding ceremoney. Before we got started, it was prayer time. So I got to see that ritual inside a mosque for my first time. It was pretty cool. During prayer, Cameron (Fraz’ nephew), was being a little irreverent and speaking during prayer. When he turned around to look at me, I put my finger on my mouth to “Shhh” him. He nodded to me as if to say, “Ok”. Thereafter, every time they stood up during the prayer, Cameron would turn around to look at me, and give the me a thumbs up to let me know, “Don’t worry. I’m being totally reverent.” I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Then the Nikah got started– right after technical difficulties were solved for broadcasting the ceremony over webcam to India. (Seriously, how cool is that?!) Because of the wonders of technology, Amrin’s brother in India got to view the wedding first hand from the other side of the world.

After the Nikah ceremony, there were a few pictures taken. Amrin’s brother (the one on the computer) was introduced to everybody by her father. I got to meet Omar (Fraz’ cousin), and liked him instantly. I was recalling the text messages that I got from Cris earlier that day, and told Fraz how Cris thinks I should be at the wedding to pick up chicks. Fraz asked me if that’s why I came, and before I had a chance to respond, Omar said, “That’s why I’m here!” We were on the exact same wavelength. It was brilliant.

After leaving the mosque, the families got together and had dinner. The food was really good, and I ate way too much of it! They served burfi for dessert, and I really liked it. After that, they made some chai tea… and it beats the hell out of Starbucks’ version of the chai tea latte. It goes without saying that, the whole time during dinner and after, the Muslim elders were trying to get me to convert to Islam and marry a Pakastani or Indian girl before I left. Well, not the whole time. I suppose they also made time to tell me about history of Chai tea, the divorce rate of arranged marriages, the utility of a camel versus a horse, and, of course, what good wives Muslim girls make.

Right after dessert, I asked the elders what was on top of the burfi. (There had been something metallic, yet edible, on top.) They told me that it was silver, pounded so thinly that it could be eaten. And, of course, it had many health benefits. I let them know that, yes, I enjoy eating precious metals.

That night Jeff arrived, and Omar took me and Fraz to see him at his hotel. It was pretty awesome, in an uneventful sort of way.

The next day, Jeff, Sophie, and I went to Joe’s Crab Shack and ate tons of crab for two hours. It was a lot of work, but delicious. After that we went on a quest for sunglasses and a swimming suit (for me). We went swimming for a couple hours, then it was time for the reception.

The reception was awesome. And had even more Indian food. I learned Fraz started college at the University of Missouri when he was only 14. I thought I’d heard that before, but damn. That’s worth repeating. I finally got to meet Amrin, who was as cool as a cucumber throughout the whole thing. She seems nice, and I hope I get a chance to get to know her better. Apparently I used up all my charm and personality the prior two days because I had no idea how to speak to her.

From left: Nadeem, Salman, Fraz, Mariam, Jawad, Amrin, (unknown), and (unknown)

Damn. I'm looking good!

Jeff enjoying that lemonade a bit too much...

...and these are shoes. And Cameron's foot.

I know you didn’t ask, but I told myself that I would keep track of the price.

I got a chance to do a little tourism after business was completed on
my trip to Ad Tech. I went on a one hour boat tour around the bay and
saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and then Pier 39. Good times!