After 26 hours of flying, driving, walking and waiting, we made it Uganda! Our flights began in Chicago and went to Dulles in DC. We then took Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa and from there transferred to Entebbe, which is the international airport outside of Kampala. Customs went smoothly, the only thing taken was a large bottle of Siracha hot sauce that I had in my carry on, and that was in Chicago, womp womp. Andy and Keeky, owners of SHIM and our guides to Lingira, set up a ride for us from Entebbe to a backpackers in Kampala, which took about an hour because of traffic. It has been fun being back in the African world of traffic. The lines are very seldom followed guidelines and the shoulders are space for motorbikes and more cars and buses.
Our backpackers is really cool, it's a camp and hostel with dormitories and single rooms. Paul, Karla and I are in a room of four beds without the fourth being used. Hostels never cease to amaze me in their progressive outlook and welcoming atmosphere. There is a bar and computer room for emails and whatnot, and plenty of green space for people to relax and get away from the excitement and stressfulness of Kampala.
We were picked up from the hostel by a friend of Paul's dad's, Father Vincent. Paul's dad knows Vincent through his traveling to Wisconsin where Mr. Atwell decided to sponsor four children in their school funds, to which they are now in secondary school getting strong educations. Vincent and Joseph took us to lunch at a hotel restaurant that was named after Pope John Paul VI after he visited years back. Eating out once again reminded me of the African way of things and how much more relaxed daily business is. The food took a while to cook, but to be honest none of us cared because we were off of the airplane and happy to be sitting with a slight breeze and substantial amounts of food to come. I'm pretty sure Vincent was more anxious than us to get his food.
From there, we visited an elderly home dedicated to the work of Uganda's first cardinal, Emmanuel K. Nsubuga. Here we walked throughout the grounds greeting folks and shaking hands, trying to use our Lugandan phrases but with little response. Many people were pilgrims or refugees that can no longer take of themselves. Seeing smiles on their faces from simply walking up and shaking their hands was humbling. Cardinal Nsubuga is also buried in this compound. He did a lot of work for the poor and homeless and wanted to be buried where he did his work so people would continue to visit and see the handwork of the sisters and brothers around. After this we visited the main cathedral of Kampala and then came back to the backpackers.
Our trip, though completely expected, has pulled a little audible since Andy and Keeky said we should wait to go to the island until Friday, five days from now. Since there isn't a whole lot to do in Kampala to prepare for EDGE on the island, we are taking a couple trips around the area with Joseph to visit the children Paul's dad is sponsoring. Also, we plan on stopping at a development-based organization near Musaka. They focus on school gardens, amongst other things similar to the EDGE project. It will be nice to hopefully see a well-established group do their work so we can get some insight into how to best develop the secondary school garden on Lingira.
It's nice to be back on African soil. Though Uganda is entirely different than South Africa, there is a constant atmosphere of togetherness that isn't matched anywhere else. The smells are great and the weather is much better than Wisconsin. People are so happy to greet us and shake hands, with smiles as wide as they get. Another good thing: the sun has set, it is 8:00pm, I am outside, and there aren't any lights on the grounds here. Therefore I get to go to sleep!
Until next time.
5/29/11
5/27/11
one bag.
I'm currently sitting on the bus to Chicago. Just left Madison and all of its lovely people until July, whew! My head is in about 20 different places right now. These past few days have blended together into a cacophony of packing, purchasing, talking, listening, writing, hugging, laughing, crying, drinking, walking, running, and wondering. There seems to be a lack of sleeping and showering in that list. Lingira is prominently in the front of my mind as Karla, Paul and I prepare for this trip.
This most recent weekend was a much need getaway to my cabin with some of the EDGE ladies. A little R&R before the storm of travel did me some good. Livy, Georgette, Abby, Karla and Erin joined me at my families cabin Saturday morning till Monday afternoon. Though we didn't hit the best of weather up in Birchwood, we had plenty of fun in the cabin. Georgette and Livy helped me put the dock in to start off the cabin season. It was the first time I had ever attempted putting the dock in without my dad so I was a little nervous. That, unfortunately or fortunately, is where the dock story ends because it went so smoothly! Thanks Georgiepie and Livmeister for being champions and toughing the rain and cold.
At the cabin I had a "conference call" with the board of directors for EDGE (the founders) and some past travelers. It was largely focused on the vision the EDGE project still holds and how it has changed since the beginning. Much of what the organization strives to achieve has stayed the same over the past three years but the process has changed. The early stages of any organization go through major administrative changes that aim to work out the kinks and unnecessary baggage. With Paul and I soon to be in the driver's seat of the EDGE project, people want to make sure we lead with a recognizable and appropriate strategy and focus, but still allow us to have the opportunity to change parts of the project. Enough about admin junk, let's get to the good part!
My bag. Considering I started packing this morning, I must say I am pretty impressed with my efficiency. My goal was to pack as a minimalist to save room for letters, gifts and snacks for the island. Some of the basics that I strained to try not to forget are all necessary things like Malaria medicine, contact solution (though I forgot extra contacts.. nice job Sam!), etc. Some of the more fun things I packed include a harmonica, eucalyptus tree mint toothpicks, cards and M&Ms. Clothing and all, I am physically able to carry on my entire bag without checking but I have some things that wouldn't be allowed in a carry-on bag. Preparing for this trip has been a ballad of excitement and confusion. Elise Mann, a goddess of sorts, helped me these past two days get mentally and physically ready. We spent hours talking about the island, its people, and traveling around. Elise has been to the island twice now. She was part of the maiden voyage and also led the second trip with Karla. Her knowledge of the island and passion for good is empowering in itself. Though I wont ever be totally ready for what I am getting myself into, she has helped enormously with settling my mind and preparing myself for a total embrace with Lingira. If you get the chance to meet her, make her laugh. It will make your day.
I have worried about the impact we can actually have. It constantly eats away at my conscious. It's unfortunate that we are only traveling for a month, which really limits the amount of work we can physically and mentally pack into the trip. Only recently have I begun to see a true, realistic purpose. We can't expect to change an entire community overnight or even in three years. What we can, and what we have the ability to do, is create a sustained relationship with Lingira. We maintain a healthy relationship by providing them with our resources and knowledge. We're not trying to change their lives, because that is next to impossible. We provide the chance to learn to make some aspect of their day a little happier. People are interested to see how people react to Paul and I, as we are the first EDGE boys to travel. I hope that the presence of non-religiously affiliated guys (Paul and I) can open up a new corridor for the secondary school kids. Just to simply be able to have conversations with us is a goal of mine. I want to establish healthy communication with EDGE and the school children. For Paul and I, I optimistically envision this happening through enormous amounts of soccer.
I'm anxious to continue posting here since that will mean more and more of this will become a reality as the trip goes. Please continue reading if you like. I am going to try my hardest to keep my postings as frequent as possible but cannot promise anything. My highly divided mind seems to have been represented through this post. I am staying with Karla tonight at her home in Oak Park, outside of Chicago. Tomorrow we have plenty more shopping to do before we leave, but it's all exciting. I've gotten used to the overwhelming feeling of this trip and have begun turning into excitement. Traveling with Karla is a huge relief for Paul and I, since she knows what's up. This traveling trio is turning into a community development power team, nervously excited to get our feet on the ground and dive in head first.
Cheers friends, I'll greatly miss all of your lovely selves.
This most recent weekend was a much need getaway to my cabin with some of the EDGE ladies. A little R&R before the storm of travel did me some good. Livy, Georgette, Abby, Karla and Erin joined me at my families cabin Saturday morning till Monday afternoon. Though we didn't hit the best of weather up in Birchwood, we had plenty of fun in the cabin. Georgette and Livy helped me put the dock in to start off the cabin season. It was the first time I had ever attempted putting the dock in without my dad so I was a little nervous. That, unfortunately or fortunately, is where the dock story ends because it went so smoothly! Thanks Georgiepie and Livmeister for being champions and toughing the rain and cold.
At the cabin I had a "conference call" with the board of directors for EDGE (the founders) and some past travelers. It was largely focused on the vision the EDGE project still holds and how it has changed since the beginning. Much of what the organization strives to achieve has stayed the same over the past three years but the process has changed. The early stages of any organization go through major administrative changes that aim to work out the kinks and unnecessary baggage. With Paul and I soon to be in the driver's seat of the EDGE project, people want to make sure we lead with a recognizable and appropriate strategy and focus, but still allow us to have the opportunity to change parts of the project. Enough about admin junk, let's get to the good part!
My bag. Considering I started packing this morning, I must say I am pretty impressed with my efficiency. My goal was to pack as a minimalist to save room for letters, gifts and snacks for the island. Some of the basics that I strained to try not to forget are all necessary things like Malaria medicine, contact solution (though I forgot extra contacts.. nice job Sam!), etc. Some of the more fun things I packed include a harmonica, eucalyptus tree mint toothpicks, cards and M&Ms. Clothing and all, I am physically able to carry on my entire bag without checking but I have some things that wouldn't be allowed in a carry-on bag. Preparing for this trip has been a ballad of excitement and confusion. Elise Mann, a goddess of sorts, helped me these past two days get mentally and physically ready. We spent hours talking about the island, its people, and traveling around. Elise has been to the island twice now. She was part of the maiden voyage and also led the second trip with Karla. Her knowledge of the island and passion for good is empowering in itself. Though I wont ever be totally ready for what I am getting myself into, she has helped enormously with settling my mind and preparing myself for a total embrace with Lingira. If you get the chance to meet her, make her laugh. It will make your day.
I have worried about the impact we can actually have. It constantly eats away at my conscious. It's unfortunate that we are only traveling for a month, which really limits the amount of work we can physically and mentally pack into the trip. Only recently have I begun to see a true, realistic purpose. We can't expect to change an entire community overnight or even in three years. What we can, and what we have the ability to do, is create a sustained relationship with Lingira. We maintain a healthy relationship by providing them with our resources and knowledge. We're not trying to change their lives, because that is next to impossible. We provide the chance to learn to make some aspect of their day a little happier. People are interested to see how people react to Paul and I, as we are the first EDGE boys to travel. I hope that the presence of non-religiously affiliated guys (Paul and I) can open up a new corridor for the secondary school kids. Just to simply be able to have conversations with us is a goal of mine. I want to establish healthy communication with EDGE and the school children. For Paul and I, I optimistically envision this happening through enormous amounts of soccer.
I'm anxious to continue posting here since that will mean more and more of this will become a reality as the trip goes. Please continue reading if you like. I am going to try my hardest to keep my postings as frequent as possible but cannot promise anything. My highly divided mind seems to have been represented through this post. I am staying with Karla tonight at her home in Oak Park, outside of Chicago. Tomorrow we have plenty more shopping to do before we leave, but it's all exciting. I've gotten used to the overwhelming feeling of this trip and have begun turning into excitement. Traveling with Karla is a huge relief for Paul and I, since she knows what's up. This traveling trio is turning into a community development power team, nervously excited to get our feet on the ground and dive in head first.
Cheers friends, I'll greatly miss all of your lovely selves.
5/20/11
prepare for impact
With the trip coming closer and closer and school now being out, my mind has totally switched into EDGE project and summer. Paul, Karla, and I are getting pumped about traveling but also a little nervous for our work on Lingira. Previously, the trips to the island have been with around eight people, which allowed for much more work to be completed. Despite our small number though, it seems that our work on the island is going to be narrowed down to one major project with a few on the side depending on how much time we have. With the three of us, it will be difficult to spread ourselves too thin with our work. We are mostly going to be working on the secondary school garden and tree nursery, which will be a lot of manual labor that will ideally have some visual positive impacts. The garden and trees, along with a manual water pump will hopefully resemble a well-planned project but to be honest, a lot of our work is going to resemble game time decisions and audibles. Our play-it-by-ear strategy wont work if we don't do some hard planning on this end though. We have to prepare for the worst of circumstances (i.e. we're not allowed to start the secondary school garden) but hope for better ones.
Our biggest challenge is to actually have some sort of impact on anybody, to put it bluntly. As of right now EDGE stays in contact with key members of the community but we have trouble connecting to the general population on Lingira. Earlier in the semester, Rick Brooks came to speak to us about a similar thing. Richard is an outreach program coordinator for the University of Wisconsin and talked to us about different approaches we can take when working with Lingira. He stressed how we should really try to get into contact with everyday people, those who live amongst the rest. He also presented a new type of approach to the community development world, which involves getting members of the community telling you what they like best about Lingira. He explained how so many international development projects aim to fix the bad parts of communities or the parts that people see as limiting factors to development. His ideology looks at communities in an opposite way. Through targeting communities' positive aspects, one can truly empower a person to feel good about their community. This way, the EDGE project can learn about Lingira and focus on the good in order to reduce the bad.
I have been thinking of other small projects that we can do on the island that allow for creativity from the children that allow them to express their favorite parts of their home. Following Rick's thoughts and my love of maps, I want to see how the people envision their home. I can have children draw the island and show parts that make them happy and equally interesting, parts that make them scared or angry. Showing where their homes are in relation to the school will show how many children have to walk long distances to class every day across the rocks. I basically want to see the island from the inhabitants' perspective since all I have is EDGE's perspective and Google's big brother satellite. Another event that Paul and I are hosting, is going to be a "guys night" with the secondary school guys. We plan on just simply talking about what everyone wants to talk about. Opening up the discussion to opinions and questions. We want to hold a program that is about manhood. Bringing in different and new ideas of what it is to be a man.We can read and write some poetry, dance, play some soccer, and talk about sexual awareness. Basically having a guys night and talking about the other aspects of manhood than patriarchal assumptions and dominance will open them up, and myself, to view gender and families as sensitive concepts that should be respected in every way.
As Paul and I make our way into the world of EDGE directorship, we find ourselves struggling to provide new members of the project with moral to continue working. It's difficult for anybody, including myself, to research and put enormous amounts of time into a community that you have never been to. My traveling in a couple weeks is obviously for Lingira, but also for myself. I find myself needing a way to personally cap off my work for the EDGE project and traveling to the island is the only way to do that. I would feel some sort of empty if were to simply stop working on the EDGE project without ever coming into contact with the people of Lingira. Right now, I want to make a solid video with interviews of people and other footage of Lingira to be able to show to new members and current members who haven't seen much of the island yet. It will be a good way to personalize their work for the island and hopefully keep them motivated knowing that this place is much more than a dot on a map.
This weekend, a handful of members and I are going up to my families cabin. An EDGE retreat, if you will. It will be nice to get away from Madison for a few days before we hit the books and computers next week before flying out. Peace out ninjas. Always remember, don't put the cherry on top if you haven't any whipped cream.
Our biggest challenge is to actually have some sort of impact on anybody, to put it bluntly. As of right now EDGE stays in contact with key members of the community but we have trouble connecting to the general population on Lingira. Earlier in the semester, Rick Brooks came to speak to us about a similar thing. Richard is an outreach program coordinator for the University of Wisconsin and talked to us about different approaches we can take when working with Lingira. He stressed how we should really try to get into contact with everyday people, those who live amongst the rest. He also presented a new type of approach to the community development world, which involves getting members of the community telling you what they like best about Lingira. He explained how so many international development projects aim to fix the bad parts of communities or the parts that people see as limiting factors to development. His ideology looks at communities in an opposite way. Through targeting communities' positive aspects, one can truly empower a person to feel good about their community. This way, the EDGE project can learn about Lingira and focus on the good in order to reduce the bad.
I have been thinking of other small projects that we can do on the island that allow for creativity from the children that allow them to express their favorite parts of their home. Following Rick's thoughts and my love of maps, I want to see how the people envision their home. I can have children draw the island and show parts that make them happy and equally interesting, parts that make them scared or angry. Showing where their homes are in relation to the school will show how many children have to walk long distances to class every day across the rocks. I basically want to see the island from the inhabitants' perspective since all I have is EDGE's perspective and Google's big brother satellite. Another event that Paul and I are hosting, is going to be a "guys night" with the secondary school guys. We plan on just simply talking about what everyone wants to talk about. Opening up the discussion to opinions and questions. We want to hold a program that is about manhood. Bringing in different and new ideas of what it is to be a man.We can read and write some poetry, dance, play some soccer, and talk about sexual awareness. Basically having a guys night and talking about the other aspects of manhood than patriarchal assumptions and dominance will open them up, and myself, to view gender and families as sensitive concepts that should be respected in every way.
As Paul and I make our way into the world of EDGE directorship, we find ourselves struggling to provide new members of the project with moral to continue working. It's difficult for anybody, including myself, to research and put enormous amounts of time into a community that you have never been to. My traveling in a couple weeks is obviously for Lingira, but also for myself. I find myself needing a way to personally cap off my work for the EDGE project and traveling to the island is the only way to do that. I would feel some sort of empty if were to simply stop working on the EDGE project without ever coming into contact with the people of Lingira. Right now, I want to make a solid video with interviews of people and other footage of Lingira to be able to show to new members and current members who haven't seen much of the island yet. It will be a good way to personalize their work for the island and hopefully keep them motivated knowing that this place is much more than a dot on a map.
This weekend, a handful of members and I are going up to my families cabin. An EDGE retreat, if you will. It will be nice to get away from Madison for a few days before we hit the books and computers next week before flying out. Peace out ninjas. Always remember, don't put the cherry on top if you haven't any whipped cream.
5/8/11
celebrate mifflin. celebrate voice.
A couple weekends ago was the Mifflin St. block party, where more recently, students and people drink from sun-up to sun-down, and then some. The party spans the length of the 400 and 500 blocks of Mifflin St., which is only a half block from our house and perpendicular to Bassett St. For saving everyone from describing what basically was a day of intoxication and inebriation I will just talk about a particularly fun part of the day. Around 2pm, my friend Pat came over and played the banjo while I played the guitar. From there we were joined by a group that included a mandolin, ukulele, snare drum, and accordion. Basically, we were a rowdy blue-grass singing machine that didn't stop until 8:30pm when the police kicked us off the street. We were told the party was over and if they heard the snare drum one more time, they were going to write us tickets. Fuzz kill. Mizzzzz
Although I regularly hear that the Mifflin St. Block Party was originally an outdoor protest against the Vietnam War, I wanted to know a little more about the organization and choice of Mifflin Street and the time of year for the protest. Most of this information is just from wikipedia, but since I have more people viewing my blog than wikipedia, it just makes sense to put it on here. The block party's debut, in 1969, was set to coincide with the French Student Rebellion, which occurred one year prior. The student rebellion in France was a general strike that virtually put the economic market to a standstill. This call to strike focused on the progression of politics and a criticism to the modern consumer world. Largely anti-capitalist and critical to authoritarianism, the key points focused on education and employment but also incorporated newer ideals such as sexual liberation. The strike began with students and quickly incorporated almost two thirds of France's workforce. The difficulties that ensued for the government were numerous as the strike lasted for over two weeks. Though much of the violence and civil unrest was quelled, the ideals of French society had moved towards a more leftist practice.
It seems as though the Mifflin Street Block protests, almost entirely comprised of students, found its place in history along with other left-wing movements. I recently overheard a capitol protestor explaining how the Mifflin Street Block Party is a disgrace compared to what it used to be and people should focus on more important things. In many ways, he was right: there are much better things to be doing than throwing beer off balconies, binge drinking and murdering our brains for the day. But in some ways, he was wrong. Yes, the protests are now entirely a party, but it serves as a reminder how younger people in society can have an impact on the country's political movement and the block party celebrates this idea. Criticize Mifflin and it's boisterousness all you want, but consider the fact that many people recognize why it started. Albeit, there are probably many who do not recognize its roots. It's idealistic, at best, to assume this. The only way for people to know is to read and talk about it, which is the purpose to this post. You can say Mifflin is a disgrace, but I urge you to consider that fact when you are taking a three story beer bong to the face. For those who still think it's a disagree, I applaud you for probably understanding the history behind Mifflin. If I haven't made you think about its significance, just consider this: what Mifflin did was bring people together. Originally for the desire to bring peace and termination to a distinctly horrible war. If it ceased to exist, the memory of what type of voice students and community had and can have would slowly fade. Just simply celebrate coming together as people, for whatever god damn reason you want.
Our single voice and a voice as thousands has had thunderous historical changes to societal ideals and will continue to do such. It's the silver lining to democracy, however screwed up, broken, weakened, and confusing ours may be (BMFSO to Elise Mann). People have a voice, it just needs to be heard. And our politicians have ears, they just need reason to listen in our direction.
Just a couple of images from the protests earlier this semester:
Now let's get drunk.
Although I regularly hear that the Mifflin St. Block Party was originally an outdoor protest against the Vietnam War, I wanted to know a little more about the organization and choice of Mifflin Street and the time of year for the protest. Most of this information is just from wikipedia, but since I have more people viewing my blog than wikipedia, it just makes sense to put it on here. The block party's debut, in 1969, was set to coincide with the French Student Rebellion, which occurred one year prior. The student rebellion in France was a general strike that virtually put the economic market to a standstill. This call to strike focused on the progression of politics and a criticism to the modern consumer world. Largely anti-capitalist and critical to authoritarianism, the key points focused on education and employment but also incorporated newer ideals such as sexual liberation. The strike began with students and quickly incorporated almost two thirds of France's workforce. The difficulties that ensued for the government were numerous as the strike lasted for over two weeks. Though much of the violence and civil unrest was quelled, the ideals of French society had moved towards a more leftist practice.
It seems as though the Mifflin Street Block protests, almost entirely comprised of students, found its place in history along with other left-wing movements. I recently overheard a capitol protestor explaining how the Mifflin Street Block Party is a disgrace compared to what it used to be and people should focus on more important things. In many ways, he was right: there are much better things to be doing than throwing beer off balconies, binge drinking and murdering our brains for the day. But in some ways, he was wrong. Yes, the protests are now entirely a party, but it serves as a reminder how younger people in society can have an impact on the country's political movement and the block party celebrates this idea. Criticize Mifflin and it's boisterousness all you want, but consider the fact that many people recognize why it started. Albeit, there are probably many who do not recognize its roots. It's idealistic, at best, to assume this. The only way for people to know is to read and talk about it, which is the purpose to this post. You can say Mifflin is a disgrace, but I urge you to consider that fact when you are taking a three story beer bong to the face. For those who still think it's a disagree, I applaud you for probably understanding the history behind Mifflin. If I haven't made you think about its significance, just consider this: what Mifflin did was bring people together. Originally for the desire to bring peace and termination to a distinctly horrible war. If it ceased to exist, the memory of what type of voice students and community had and can have would slowly fade. Just simply celebrate coming together as people, for whatever god damn reason you want.
Our single voice and a voice as thousands has had thunderous historical changes to societal ideals and will continue to do such. It's the silver lining to democracy, however screwed up, broken, weakened, and confusing ours may be (BMFSO to Elise Mann). People have a voice, it just needs to be heard. And our politicians have ears, they just need reason to listen in our direction.
Just a couple of images from the protests earlier this semester:
Now let's get drunk.
5/4/11
co-directing
Recently, Paul Atwell and I were nominated and elected as the future co-directors for the EDGE project. Our developing relationship has been one to remember. For contextual purposes, Paul has been helping me fix my bike and I have been looking around for some new parts. A series of emails sent today:
From Sam (3:35 PM):
just put a bid on these on ebay. Will let you know the conclusion!
[link to piece]
From Paul (3:42 PM):
I'm going to out bid you just for the hell of it. Get ready for a battle.
Sam (3:43 PM):
my max bid is at 1000 dollars... beat that
Paul (3:47 PM):
How about this. I'm going to buy the company that's selling. Then you can pay me the 1000 after you win the auction. Then we'll call it even.
Sam (3:51 PM):
i suppose that works. could you include a free bike that's worth 700 dollars? then this whole thing will be worth it. This way, I can sell that bike on ebay for 800 dollars.. and repeat the process until I make 10,000 dollars. With that money, I buy a small shop across the street from yours. Obviously, I outcompete your bikes with mine (mostly focused on chopper peddlers) with my good looks and approachable personality until you realize that working for me is more beneficial than having your own, failing company. You apply to work for me. I don't hire you. You move to the Netherlands and try to start up again. By this point, I have expanded on an international scale to the point where my stores are now attached to every single McDonalds. You have no choice but to find a new career and try what I did on ebay. AT THIS POINT, you realize that I own ebay AND the country that you're living in and I have put an arrest warrant up for you unless you join me in my bicycling tycoon of a business. You crack and can't deny that working for me would bring you riches and multitudes of women with huge crank sets. You work for a couple weeks. Then I fire you. But leave you with this wheel set that I originally purchased. It's there to remind you of how my knowledge in globalized trade and bicycles will always be far superior to yours. The ball is in your court.
Paul (4:11 PM):
Here's what I'm gonna to do. I'm going to stop the train before it starts. While my business quietly grows and our competition heightens, I'm going to start providing bike parts and repairs to politcal friends, primarily in Dane County. As I take out loans so that I can cover more markets, I always budget for scratching the back of the local politicos, while always maintaining a good guy reputation. So when you start to make your jump and invest heavily in your merger with Mc Donalds, I'm going to call in favors and have all of the land that you have bought for your new stores to be rezoned as environmental conservancies. Instantly all of your equity, brand and real estate, plummets in value. Then I leverage myself a little further to provide for the construction of bike paths in the conservancies so that I can grow my monopoly on the increasing amount of bikers, while improving the world. So after I've crushed your venture, I arrange to sell back all of my branches to local ownership saving only one branch for myself, and one for you. Then I'll take a nap, and start it all over. Maybe I'll buy myself new tires first.
Paul (4:28 PM):
What would happen if we applied all of this tenacity to the same cause. the same project. an EDGE project. This is the beginning of an empire.
Sam (4:29 PM):
It will begin to seem as you have won when you get to the point of giving me one of your stores. Beside the fact that our competition is seeded deep into our hearts of ice and fire, I find your compassion reconciling. We begin to meld our friendship as a welder combines metals. My entire being as a business tycoon is in shambles, so I begin to reap the benefits of being your friend. I work in the shop you graciously provided every day of the week, proving to you that I can work as a true man without a drop of the evil tycoon that once existed. I begin taking massage therapy classes along with bikrum yoga and pottery throwing on the side. I use the money I have made from the shop you gave me to extensively research the changing environment to the point where I realize the environment hasn't been changing at all. Only human perception. The environmental movement began as a scam and has planted itself in the daily lives of everyday people. Behind your back, I start convening upon your political friends, who by this time have graduated from county politics to state and federal positions. My extensive skills as a masseuse come in handy here, where I literally rub their backs to the point of extreme relaxation where they will sign any bill and believe just about anything I say. I do this for a couple of years, before their terms come to a close, and have them slowly present my ideas to the point where the UN is producing scientifically proven articles disproving climate change. All nationally and internationally environmental zones are once again rezoned for extreme development, opening up my shops once more. A global realization occurs over the next few years as schools change their philosophy and scientists focus on how we can get the global population to grow faster.
[10 years later]
There isn't enough room for cars anymore. Bicycles are needed to squeeze in between tight spaces and bike paths that you once created. All of your local stores are run out of business because I developed a bicycle out of a single piece of metal that is reproduced at a thunderous scale. Your store can't outcompete our prices. The bike paths you created now bring myself business. At this point, you realize your flaw in giving me that single shop and letting me get home 20 minutes late because I was at massage class at West Towne Mall.
Then we go to Uganda.
From Sam (3:35 PM):
just put a bid on these on ebay. Will let you know the conclusion!
[link to piece]
From Paul (3:42 PM):
I'm going to out bid you just for the hell of it. Get ready for a battle.
Sam (3:43 PM):
my max bid is at 1000 dollars... beat that
Paul (3:47 PM):
How about this. I'm going to buy the company that's selling. Then you can pay me the 1000 after you win the auction. Then we'll call it even.
Sam (3:51 PM):
i suppose that works. could you include a free bike that's worth 700 dollars? then this whole thing will be worth it. This way, I can sell that bike on ebay for 800 dollars.. and repeat the process until I make 10,000 dollars. With that money, I buy a small shop across the street from yours. Obviously, I outcompete your bikes with mine (mostly focused on chopper peddlers) with my good looks and approachable personality until you realize that working for me is more beneficial than having your own, failing company. You apply to work for me. I don't hire you. You move to the Netherlands and try to start up again. By this point, I have expanded on an international scale to the point where my stores are now attached to every single McDonalds. You have no choice but to find a new career and try what I did on ebay. AT THIS POINT, you realize that I own ebay AND the country that you're living in and I have put an arrest warrant up for you unless you join me in my bicycling tycoon of a business. You crack and can't deny that working for me would bring you riches and multitudes of women with huge crank sets. You work for a couple weeks. Then I fire you. But leave you with this wheel set that I originally purchased. It's there to remind you of how my knowledge in globalized trade and bicycles will always be far superior to yours. The ball is in your court.
Paul (4:11 PM):
Here's what I'm gonna to do. I'm going to stop the train before it starts. While my business quietly grows and our competition heightens, I'm going to start providing bike parts and repairs to politcal friends, primarily in Dane County. As I take out loans so that I can cover more markets, I always budget for scratching the back of the local politicos, while always maintaining a good guy reputation. So when you start to make your jump and invest heavily in your merger with Mc Donalds, I'm going to call in favors and have all of the land that you have bought for your new stores to be rezoned as environmental conservancies. Instantly all of your equity, brand and real estate, plummets in value. Then I leverage myself a little further to provide for the construction of bike paths in the conservancies so that I can grow my monopoly on the increasing amount of bikers, while improving the world. So after I've crushed your venture, I arrange to sell back all of my branches to local ownership saving only one branch for myself, and one for you. Then I'll take a nap, and start it all over. Maybe I'll buy myself new tires first.
Paul (4:28 PM):
What would happen if we applied all of this tenacity to the same cause. the same project. an EDGE project. This is the beginning of an empire.
Sam (4:29 PM):
It will begin to seem as you have won when you get to the point of giving me one of your stores. Beside the fact that our competition is seeded deep into our hearts of ice and fire, I find your compassion reconciling. We begin to meld our friendship as a welder combines metals. My entire being as a business tycoon is in shambles, so I begin to reap the benefits of being your friend. I work in the shop you graciously provided every day of the week, proving to you that I can work as a true man without a drop of the evil tycoon that once existed. I begin taking massage therapy classes along with bikrum yoga and pottery throwing on the side. I use the money I have made from the shop you gave me to extensively research the changing environment to the point where I realize the environment hasn't been changing at all. Only human perception. The environmental movement began as a scam and has planted itself in the daily lives of everyday people. Behind your back, I start convening upon your political friends, who by this time have graduated from county politics to state and federal positions. My extensive skills as a masseuse come in handy here, where I literally rub their backs to the point of extreme relaxation where they will sign any bill and believe just about anything I say. I do this for a couple of years, before their terms come to a close, and have them slowly present my ideas to the point where the UN is producing scientifically proven articles disproving climate change. All nationally and internationally environmental zones are once again rezoned for extreme development, opening up my shops once more. A global realization occurs over the next few years as schools change their philosophy and scientists focus on how we can get the global population to grow faster.
[10 years later]
There isn't enough room for cars anymore. Bicycles are needed to squeeze in between tight spaces and bike paths that you once created. All of your local stores are run out of business because I developed a bicycle out of a single piece of metal that is reproduced at a thunderous scale. Your store can't outcompete our prices. The bike paths you created now bring myself business. At this point, you realize your flaw in giving me that single shop and letting me get home 20 minutes late because I was at massage class at West Towne Mall.
Then we go to Uganda.
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