How did you "end up" in your career? - Page 4

I don't have time to read Marx -- too busy out there making money in our capitalist economy.   No, actually I read all that stuff in college a long time ago. Yawn.

Let's leave the political debates aside and instead just praise or condemn the newsmakers on their fashion sense: I do like Dubya's Oxxfords, and Bill's looked fine too. I think Dean needs a bearskin caveman thingy to go with the primordial scream he closed that speech with. Maybe a good club too. Saddam really needs a good dye-job on the beard, sad to see any world leader going with the Grunge look. Maybe a reality show "Queer eye for the deposed dictator guy" would pull a 40 share on the networks. When they pulled him outta the hole he looked like a demented Tolkien character who got cut from the final version for fear of scaring the kiddies. Tony Blair - A+++ never seen him looking anything but perfectly attired (Take a long, deep bow Savile Row), in fact, I don't think I've seen him wrinkled. Arafat? Well that whole tablecloth from a cheesy Italian restaurant thing has been overdone. I'm thinking something in a nice Fuchsia would look better with his eyes. Maybe even purple - yeah that would ease tensions and promote a kinder, gentler middle east. Kofi - Anyone know who his tailor is - I always mute the TV when he's on but the man has nice threads. Chirac - I'm thinking something in a nice bright yellow. Osama - Really needs a good tailor and stylist. Maybe a better hat to de-emphasize the horns. The robes hide his tail pretty well. Perhaps a stylish leather bag to hide the dialysis machine? Punxatawney Phil - Y'know, a good cosmetic dentist could fix your smile and make you look years younger - then maybe you'd have better self-esteem and not predict 6 more weeks of this crap weather. Let's see... who have I forgotten to offend.... Janet Reno - three words: "Lithgow in Garp" Monica Lewinsky - let's lose the beret... and toss the dress already, I'm pretty sure that stain ain't coming out at this point. Janet Jackson - silver nipple tassles are out this year, be more PC and use biodegradable ones. Kid Rock - Ok, yer a fashion disaster of epic proportions but yer married to Pam Anderson - you win. Michael Jackson - we should leave him alone, born a poor african american male he will die a rich white woman - quite a remarkable odyssey. Scott Peterson - Nice cleanup job overall for court, betting we'll see him in something more stylish next year... I'm thinkin orange jumpsuit. Andy Gilchrist - Needs a new T-shirt with "Register.com ransomed my domain and all I got was this stinkin Tee-shirt." Martha Stewart - OK, you have the nice little old lady look down but take a limo to court - flying in on the broom gives the wrong message to the jury pool. The ex-kickoff guy for Carolina - wear a disguise dude, KO out of bounds with a minute to go? Which bookie are you in deep with? Wear shades and a wig baby, take the bus - airports are being watched. Deion Sanders at the Superbowl - Dude, PLEASE lose those shirts. ME: A nice strong muzzle or one of those brain to keyboard filters would be a good investment. NOTE: Opinions stated or implied are the result of the posters inclination to inject sarcasm and humor into posts that have gone so far to left field that they are now in reach of an over-eager Cubs fan. Any reader taking me seriously should immediately put down the mouse and back slowly away from the keyboard. LIGHTEN UP FOLKS. Oh wait - this thread was careers, right??? Well if the whole fashion gig goes down the drain I'm thinking about writing Hallmark cards.

that sounds more familiar. i think what steve meant is that what's truely good for one is good for everyone and that this notion of necessary competion that people have is innately flawed. what's that famous line from the bible where the guy asks God, "am i my brother's keeper?" one can make a good case for yes or no, but ultimitely it is in everyone's best interest to care for one another. it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. now you can have a 'theoretical' argument over the relative merits of communism v.s. capitalism, but what i offer in the cuban scenario is not theory, it is real world evidence that in certain cases communism is a choice that a people can make to improve the quality of their lives.

So Banks... I'm guessing you've crossed out "Rule Cuba." from the want-ads - what else looks good to you?

"I don't have time to read Marx -- too busy out there making money in our capitalist economy." And what exactly does that get you, Logan? Banks: I did reply before LOGAN hijacked the thread (really- I had nothing to do with it ) I know it sounds silly- but follow your heart. I know so many people, including myself, who took 20 years to discover this. Better to start now while you're young before you  begin believing the myths propagated by the population-manipulating, Madison Avenue types about all the things you need to acquire. What good is a bunch of stuff if you have to spend 40+ hours a week doing something you're not sure about, or just can't stand? PS can someone tell me how you get those cool boxes around your quotes  

Banks - see if your University helps to fund internships - you can try Dallas and help me sort through the latest Thomas Mason, D&J And., Loro Piana and C. Barbera swatch books... ...of course given your love of fine fabrics your head just might explode. FWIW - the new DJA certified sea islands (120's) are nicer than the Egyptian 2x200's. Next week we'll see the new Piana and Barbera lines and I'm anxious enough that we're getting up at 5 that day to make the train from Milan to Biella - if you have a job where you WANT to get up at 5am so you can fit more work into the day you are on to something. If you reconsider launching a coup in a worker's paradise with great cigars lets talk barter - will trade ties for Montecristo #2's.

Logan on Socialism Hmmm... sounds like someone has been taking Ayn Rand a little too much to heart. I'll submit to you that capitalism works because it requires very little from people, i.e. it appeals to the lowest common denominator. The failure of Communism is an indictment of the venality of human nature more than an affirmation of Capitalism, imo. Even if you don't agree with that statement, you'd have to recognize that there are many historical factors that must be considered in determining the underlying causes for the fall of the Soviet Bloc. Seriously, you should consider spending less time making money and more time reading and reflecting. If you read any Confucian thought, you'll find that mercantile activity does not rate very highly compared to say, scholarship. As for the success of the United States as affirmation of Individualism and Capitalism, remember that the U.S.A. is actually a very young country, and that it has to go quite a bit longer before it's as old as some Chinese dynasties.

Actually, I've never read anything by Ayn Rand. I don't watch TV much. Reading and reflecting is all I really do. In fact, reading and reflecting is what gives me an advantage in capitalism. Ideas and innovation are what make a difference in capitalism. Discovering new ways to add value in lives of people and organizations. Definitely, definitely, definitely: reading and reflecting are important. I wish more Americans would turn off the boob tube (literally now thanks to Janet Jackson) and read, read, read. It would improve their lives immensely. Less than 300 years old in fact. It's an amazing track record. Now that China is opening a little, perhaps China's best is yet to come. The Cantonese in particular are very good businesspeople.

Happiness.

When's the last time you see millions of people marching on behalf of capitalism? It is a tougher idea to sell, often more so to the people in the countries who need it the most, ie. the world's poors. Which proposal is easier to sell to people who spend their waking lives in poverty, and also to a bunch of bums and free-riders (which constitute a large portion of humanity)? One that promises to (literally) robbing the rich to pay for them? Or one that held you most accountable to your own actions? True, but there are also tons of - anecdotal if you wish - evidences of how communism failed. If it didn't work in China, a culture that prides in self reliance and hard work, how could you realistically expect it could work anywhere else? Mass starvation, that's your Great Leap Forward?

That's not right. Isn't the "current" Chinese government less than 100 years old, actually starting AFTER WWI? And their conversion to national socialism happened AFTER WWII. Sure, Europeans have only been in America a short while compared to the Chinese in China, but that has little to do with government. The U.S.A is actually pretty old, having surpassed the average life span of countries (which is, I believe, around 200 years).

Banks - Sorry to hijack the thread back to clothing :-) Yes, DJA has WISICA certified 120/2 Sea island cottons as well as ome linen (including 170's.) in the collection. I'd like to hear from Alex on these but according to the insert the Sea island are the longest fibres in the world - up to 52mm with superior breakage resistance. They seem like they'd be extremely durable fabrics - very dense. Need to make a shirt out of'm and see :-) As to the whole Capitalist/communist $$ good/$$ Evil debates? Obviously Cuba is the true worker's paradise as stated, that's why so many Floridian's board their leaky boats and risk their lives to leave this evil land and go there in search of freedom ...whoops, maybe that'd be a career option Banks? You could smuggle Americans into Cuba so that they can enjoy freedom? Here I put up a whole page of funny fashion related quips to amuse you guys and distract you from politics and whaddaya do? keep fighting - not one damned laugh. At least 3-4 of those were funny. Now I'm offended too :-)

I was talking about Confucian China. Chinese society has existed in more or less its present form for thousands of years with the same societal values and largely the same form of government throughout.