Late Night PC

I tried not to be fazed by new technology. I have to keep my geek cool attitude in check. But this is the first time I've tried out the notebook on the internet at the coffeeshop. I have to say I can definitely see the allure. Very much with the jet-set, like I should be in a commercial somewhere.

All it takes is free WiFi - I'm at the Coffee Exchange in Windsor, a laptop - my R3000Z, and... an idea. An idea like a blueberry fruit smoothie.

Windsor's a decent city. It has a nice nightlife. Of course that's pretty much behind me now. The city has a sort of love-hate relationship with Detroit. There are a lot of tourists, shoppers and visitors that come from the Detroit area. That contributes undeniably to both the financial success and the culture of Windsor. The problem is that there are so many that it drowns out much of the voice of the city. Windsorites aren't viewed by the rest of Canada as real Canadians. Of course we're not exactly American either. It's a subject that's been argued back and forth and sometimes it can get pretty ugly.

The culture thing isn't as big a deal to me, though, as the plain financial facts. There's no incentive for Windsor to advance in any field but gambling. It's pretty miserable. More money keeps getting poured into the Casino and less goes to the University. The truck traffic that destroys our streets and makes driving unbearable is worth too much money to move outside the city. Any small business trying to gain a foothold has to compete with those just across the border that have ten times the customers and two thirds the taxes. Meanwhile when a company wants to expand into Canada, they are welcomed in with tax incentives and begin buying up domestically owned businesses.

Maybe I should stay inside, I think the Windsor air has done something to my attitude.

On a lighter note, I suppose I'm glad I can also participate in the financial benefits of being by the border. It is too bad that I can't do it in my own country, but if capitalism is the way of the world today. If that's the way to survive, then there's little use bemoaning what you can't do. Better to pick up and do what is possible and what's best for myself. Maybe I can do more of what's best for myself in California ;) . It's capitalism with nice scenery.