China was in our news analysis a lot yesterday. So I thought it time we ask what China's future is.
Economics/Geekonomics
Geeks May Save Wal-Mart
Geeks may just save Wal-Mart. Gods, I don't believe I'm saying this.
I'll get it out of the way, I'm not exactly a fan of Wal-Mart. It's a combination of business factors, quality, effects on community and so on. You know, the usual. I'm not exactly going to diss success, but I think Wal-Mart's been on a kind of a race to the bottom.
In fact, it looks like that bottom is being reached pretty fast, as this article notes: Wal-Mart shoppers are running out of money: http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/27/news/companies/walmart_ceo_consumers_under_pressure/index.htm
Geekiness And Normalization
I call myself a professional geek. I am quite proud to say that. Yet, oddly, I can remember when geek was an insulting term and not the definition–bordering–on–compliment it is today.
Or in short, I remember the 80s. If you don't, you're actually missing quite a lot, but I digress.
Now, being an old geek, I remember when the term was basically insulting, sort of a version of "egghead" and implying a kind of pathology or maladjustment. I remember when it was virtually the same as "nerd".