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An identity crisis
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It is strange this culture of the BRAND. It is a fight for individuality. A struggle to be identified for its difference. A cry against the cloning culture of society … ! At the same time, it perpetuates the principles of the cloning society … the Brand is the same wherever you go, whichever part of the world. Its odd, this. A struggle for individuality and attention subscribing to the principles of universality and standardization culture.

McDonald is a good example. Wherever you go in the world, the Mac is the same – the same look, the same toys, the same look-alike people. Yet, the Brand is distinctive because it has perpetuated a sameness everywhere.

I sometimes wonder why products, their feel and look cannot be subsumed within a cultural context. Can the Mac look and feel Arab-like in arabian countries? Or chinese in china? Or Indian in India? Instead of looking American wherever it is? Will it destroy its self-respect? Will it take away from its sense of identity?

Its not only McDonald. Its everywhere. Clothes, food, magazines, cars, water-bottles (!) …. A struggle for identity perpetuating a sameness.

There is no doubt that travelling by Meru is comfortable, safe and convenient. However I do not agree with you on the fact that it is too expensive. It costs a little more than the regular cab, but in comparison the services offered and the comfort is incompareable.

We spend so much time complaining and bickering about basically non-existent problems and sometimes we forget how awesome it is to be here. Sure, tragedies do exist (check out the drunk driving thread for some sad examples), but generally life is easy. If those young adults who were killed by drunk drivers were able to speak from the grave, the first thing they’d say is that life is short, so enjoy it. They really are proof of how short it can be.

Some personal examples of my life being beautifutl:

-Just spend a week in Canmore helping paint my friend’s million dollar home, while mountain biking, drinking, and getting free room and board. And I even got paid for it!

-Lost my wallet three times so far. Everytime it has been returned. One time I lost it in Edmonton with $70 cash inside, and when it was returned the cash was still in it! (minor miracle, especially in Edmonton!)

-Lost my passport in NZ while on a crazy adventurfe. Got my new passport in the mail the day before my flight back to Canada!

-The economy is finally starting to turn around. So far this week I’ve saved about $200 in travel expenses thanks to the rising Canadian dollar!

-Going to Spain in September for $116 thanks to cmyden and his amazincg travel deal!

-And we can all agree that the Flames getting Bouwmeester for nothing is something we as a group can celebrate! ltdmla

LPM/designer