We are driving south on 101 through the southern half of the Santa Clara--"Silicon"--Valey. In the vehicle are a bunch of ten year old girls. We are all headed for the Pfeiffer State Park Campground at Big Sur. They are playing a game: "Telecommunications Corporation Bankrupty."
"Hello. This is Cingular Wireless*. We are now bankrupt. We are shutting down. We are shutting down. Your phone service will end tomorrow. Thank you for your patronage. Goodbye."
Where else but in Silicon Valley would ten year old girls play "Telecommunications Company Bankruptcy"?
*This is an accurate transcription of ten year old dialogue. It is not meant to convey any information about the financial status or business prospects of any telecommunications company whatsoever.
Posted by DeLong at June 2, 2003 07:47 AM | TrackBack
Brad,
Ten year old girls are a hoot. Your gang remind me of when Gwyneth came home (from Grade Four in Nishi Ogikubo, in Western Tokyo) and announced "Algebra is fun. You just look at the X and figure out what it is, and that's your answer."
One suspects that Tokyo, like Silicon Valley, impresses its particularities into its ten year old girls.
Cheers,
-dlj.
Ah, it's good to be outside of the Silicon Valley Unreality Field. My theory is that it emanates from Steve Jobs.
You didn't remark on the spooky empty buldings, even entire complexes, and no parking lot more than half full.
Maybe they should rip a quarter of it out and replant the orchards.
Posted by: Andrew Lazarus on June 2, 2003 10:17 PMHmm. I do volunteer work with 10 year old girls, and they play at being mad scientists and taking over the world. I didn't know I lived in the mad scientist capital of the world, but I'll keep an eye out from now on.
Posted by: Claire Bickell on June 3, 2003 06:50 AM