patrick.net

The trouble is we'll only get 15 minutes each. Then what? :-)

I thought Brollywood was larger than Hollywood though... That leaves us number one in... Fear Marketing?

Another area we might excel in is legalized corruption, Gonzalo Lira has an interesting take on it: http://gonzalolira.blogspot.com/2010/11/full-body-scan-of-american-corruption.html

But of course we're definitely not unique in that one.

The only thing in which US is indisputably the global leader (even according to our worst detractors) is military capability. That is, of course, the reflection of our past economic, industrial, scientific, and technological dominance with some 30 to 50 year lag. But as that dominance vanes, so does the military edge: watch the buildup of PRC naval and air power, for example. We'll either use that edge while it is still major to shore up our economic and financial situation, or lose it (in about a generation) and find ourselves really out of cards.

The American Dream aint over!

It's just got new rules, most of which if you just totally ignore, you'll be far better off.

It used to be location location location, now the mantra is "Get the most house for the least money!" It's more than a Mantra and more of a demand. Those that are buying are looking for the most for less. SO those with their Shacks they got stuck with are out of luck on the down stroke. Because The buyers now have their eye on more lofty goals.
Those are harder houses to finesse out of the Wolves mouth, but sooner or later the seller will squawk and lose his grip on its quarry.

In fact Dare I say, owning a house has never been in closer reach of most middle class since V-Day and the GI bill that enabled the G-Generation to be home owners.
Except Ironically it's not easier to procure 100K financing, but for those that were thoughtful enough to be savers, there's $30K-$50K houses to be had.
The smartest thing most people with more than 30K in their 401K would be to pull it out and buy a house, even if it was for income. Of course the Government wouldn't want you take your money from Uncle Store, and invest it in your own future you would be in control of.
That's why they beat the holy living shit out of you in taxes when you take out from your 401K.
In 10 years, I'd be that 30K house would be worth a hell of a lot more than that 30K worth of 401K would be, if you stopped contributing to that 401K.

One of my more interesting courses in college was by this guy:

http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Trading-State-Commerce-Conquest/dp/0465070353

he talked about the US's advantage in entertainment IP a bit. Certainly the economy of the LA basin would be a lot different without music, TV, and film biz.

Entertainment is a valid economic sector, if you can create it you are creating wealth. Unfortunately, it's a pretty weak form of marketable wealth if & when IP protections are lost.

so I think is natural if americans next gig is to become actors

similar to what I did in Japan as an English teacher, 1992-1994.