Rudolph, the red-nosed Jeep?

First it was a wreath on the grill. Then it was Christmas lights on the bike rack. And now, it's just a full-fledged reindeer.

Why do people feel the urge to decorate their cars for Christmas? I drove by a Jeep the other day decked out with antlers and a red nose. And just today I saw a minivan with the same getup. Are we rolling in the dough that much that we can spend out excess cash on costumes for our car? And nothing celebrates Jesus quite like a car in a Rudolph disguise. I'm sure God's looking down on us right now, rolling his eyes.

If we've got all this excess cash, how about we spread it around a little. Maybe help out a child in need. Or give to a soup kitchen. Or support a homeless shelter.

After all, I can think of so many better ways to spend money...especially during this season that's all about giving to others.

A Sign of the Times

Flying often (very often, these days), I've noticed that some airlines are upgrading their fleet. You can tell because the seats look different, the overhead bins are smaller and the carpet is newer.

There's also another change: no more "No Smoking" signs. You know the ones...the space above each seat where two lights are illuminated - "Fasten Your Seatbelt" (also communicated with a simple seatbelt illustration) and "No Smoking" (also communicated with a cigarette with a red line through it). The "No Smoking" light has now been replaced by the "Turn off Electronic Devices" light (no cool graphic to go with this one).

I don't actually ever remember being able to smoke on a flight, but it's strange to see this icon be updated. It's what I've always seen on a plane - a bit of comfort and familiarality replaced by something new.

At the same time, it's exciting to be part of two eras - and be aware of the change. I don't think any other generation has seen - and been a part of - such rapid technological change. After all, this week marks the 25th anniversary of the Commodor 64 - I was three when it debuted, but I've watch computers change (remember DOS?), digital music descend upon us (remember Napster?), and now seen it become so embedded in our culture that it has found its way even in the small space above an airline seat. My kids will never see the "No Smoking" light on an airplane; although I'm sure the old comfort of "Turn off Electronic Devices" will one day be replaced with something newfangled.

It's pretty exciting.

Only in America...or, at least, Kentucky

I'm in Cincinnati this week, on a research project for Sears. Some of the research brought me just over the river into Florence, Kentucky. To be exact, I was at the Florence Mall.

As I drove into the city, I noticed a big, red-and-white striped water tower with "Florence Y'all" written in big block letters. I thought this was just a little southern charm. After all, Kentucky's motto is Unbridled Spirit.

Or maybe it should be Bridled Budget. One of the local Cincinnati-ites told me this trivia jewel: several years ago, the water tower actually read "Florence Mall". But then a city ordinance was passed that basically prohibited commercial names being advertised on public property. This applied to the Florence water tower. So to save a little time - and paint - they simply changed the "M" to a "Y" and added an apostrophe. Hence, "Florence Mall" became "Florence Y'all".

Pretty darn clever. And just a little darn ghetto.

So that's your trivia for the night. Enjoy!

The Windy City

I just got home from a week in Chicago (which capped off the end of our US ethnography research - yay!). Every time I go to Chicago, I realize how much I really like the city. It has such a different vibe than New York. As you walk down the street, you see people walking together, talking together. Colleagues and friends are huddled together, scurrying off to lunch. Other groups are standing outside, giving hugs and kisses goodbye or hello.

New York is so different - no groups of people, no hugs and kisses. Just people alone, scurrying off to lunch by themselves. No one looks at you. There's really no relationships, at least in the street, like there are in Chicago.

What gives a city it's own vibe? How is it that each city has it's own trademark, it's own personality? How does that get started, and how does it perpectuate itself? Is it a cycle, where once the vibe is established, it attracts people who enjoy and seek out that environment? But there's got to be more to it than that, because people move to cities for jobs and families, external reasons besides being attracted to a lifestyle.

It reminds me of a house smell, in a way. Ever notice how different houses have different smells? And even when you move into a new house, eventually, it'll take on your smell. You can identify people by that smell. How does that smell get started and what contributes to it? And despite bringing more stuff into the house, or having more people in a house, the same smell lingers.

I like Chicago. It's vibe, it's personality, and yes, it's smell.