Re: Made in the USA?

[Michael Plack <metrophoto@access1.net>]

> ** Original Subject: Re: Made in the USA?
> ** Original Sender: Raphael Bustin <rafeb@channel1.com>
> ** Original Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 12:35:57 -0400 (EDT)

> ** Original Message follows... 

>
> On Thu, 15 Jul 1999, Robert L. Clemens wrote:
> 
> > Rafe said:
> > 
> > "What does America actually *manufacture* these days, anyway?  
> > *Nothing*, if not images. And *very* fast pizza delivery, I 
> > might add."
> > 
> > Rafe, I hope your tongue was very firmly in your cheek when you
> > made this sweeping statement. Otherwise, it beggars credulity.
> 
> 
> Yes and no.  Being a bit provocative, as I am wont to do.
> 
> The pizza-delivery bit is from a book by Neal Stephenson,
> called "Snow Crash."  A great read, in the "cyberpunk"
> genre.
> 
> The rest, IMO, is not in jest.  Manufacturing of "goods"
> is clearly not where the USA excels anymore.  Not in shoes,
> not in TVs, not even in steel.  Just have a look at the
> balance of trade figures, if you're still not convinced.
> 
> But the US leads the world in the entertainment industry
> (movies, TV, rock stars, music) and in the advertising/
> image industry (e.g, the Marlboro Man, in China.)  In
> this arena, the USA has no peers.
> 
> We've become a service economy.  The book value of Microsoft
> Corp exceeds that of General Motors.  Go figure.  I don't
> consider what Microsoft does to be "manufacturing."
> 
> Who buys Sun workstations these days?  Industrial Light
> and Magic.  Hollywood.  Gotta love those special-effects.
> 
> Read "Global Dreams," by Richard Barnet and John Cavanagh.
> 
> Your town (RaChaCha) is one of the few that produces a
> product recognizable around the world.  (The bright
> yellow box.)  I wonder how much longer that will last?
> 
> Personally, I've switched to green-and-gold boxes.  ;-)
> 
> How many inkjet printers are manufactured in the USA?
> 
> 
> rafe b.

Rafe and all,
 
The most powerful emerging product in the world is information.  We lead the world in information technology, from computers and software, Internet and financial and broadcast media systems.  Everything starts with an idea, and control goes to those with the greatest concentration of knowledge. Through entertainment media we influence the insecure world looking for a solid identity to latch onto.

As with so many areas of manufacture, the Japanese have taken our original ideas and perfected them.  That's why we're talking about Epson printers.  Once that cycle completes, we're free to create something new.  Or, in our case, free to use the enhancement of our original products to more beautifully express our own creative ideas.


Cheers,
Michael

Specializing in Artistic Portraiture 
                     and
      Digital Photo Restoration

Download Neoplanet at http://www.neoplanet.com

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
**   Tips on Refilling, Refill Kits, Archival Ink, Cartridges, Paper **
**   Order On-Line  http://www.missupply.com  Save $$$$     **
**   MIS ASSOCIATES, INC   800-445-8296   Kits Ship Free!   **