Ace Glasner, Pet Detective: The Return

Ace Glasner, Pet Detective has returned.

Last week, I was on my way home from a late happy hour and was walking down a dark side street, when I passed by a man reaching through the window of a car and taking something out of it. At the time, I was chatting away on my cellphone, but it gradually dawned on me that the way the man was reaching into the car was a little odd: why didn't he just open the car door? So, with my reputation as the most discrete operative that the CIA has never heard of still intact, I casually crossed the street and pretended to just blab away into the phone while keeping a tab on newly identified criminal suspect numero uno. This was the first time I was actually witnessing a crime in progress. Much to my regret, I had brought nothing remotely useful to catch a car thief barehanded. Nevertheless, banking on some handy detective work to break the case I decided I could recover the stolen goods and land criminal suspect numero uno in the county lockup. Enter Ace Glasner, Pet Detective.

After the thief finished his business on the car, he took a brief look at me (I was still on the phone), glanced down both ends of the street, and started walking off very nonchalantly as if he was just a regular fella out for a 10PM stroll. With his back to me, I swung by the victimized car to confirm that yes, the window had been shattered and something (a radio? GPS?) had been taken out of it. So, lagging behind a bit, I followed criminal suspect numero uno down the street and, without even looking down at my keyboard, dialed 9-1-1. Mere mortals would, at this point, have been scared away, but Ace Glasner is no mere mortal.

When the police picked up, I was so shocked that I momentarily forgot where I was. Really, the suspense of this whole caper was killing me. Recovering my senses, I engaged in a conversation with the dispatcher. ("Hi.....Where are you calling from?.......15th and O Street.....What city? ......Oh. Sorry. Washington, DC......Where sir?....15th and O street .....where in the city is that? ......Oh. Whoops. 15th and O Street, NW.....15th and L Street?.....No, 15th and O Street.....And what's the matter?......I'mcallingtoreportthatumacarthiefhasjustbrokenintoacarandumhe'sstanding rightdownthestreetfrommeandumI'mlookingrightathim.....Say that again? What is the nature of your emergency sir?.....Sorry-getting ahead of myself there. I just witnessed someone breaking into a car and I still see the person that did it.....Ok, sir can you give a description of the individual?....Yes, African American, average hight, jeans, black coat, and backpack....Ok, sir someone will be there soon.")

About five minutes later, no police officers or SWAT teams or FBI agents or even a security guard had materialized as promised, even though criminal suspect numero uno was a sitting duck near the bus stop looking as if nothing had ever happened. At that point, I was pretty skeptical whether anybody would show and, it seemed like the thief must have read my mind, because he got up and started walking away. I went down a parallel block and slipped up on my detective work and lost the suspect. (Rule #1 for good detectiving: Don't lose the suspect when he's standing right next to you!!!) But good fortune smiled upon me and I happened upon a police officer just getting out of his cruiser. So, I approached the police officer - Officer Johnson was his name- and told him what I had just witnessed. He called in my complaint and told the dispatcher that he had the witness standing right next to him and that I could ID a suspect if the police had one.

The night then turned into a truly memorable experience. Unbelievably, the dispatcher said that a suspect had in fact been detained! So, Officer Johnson invited me to pile into the cruiser with him and off we were. This was my first ever ride in a police car!!! Front seat, on the way to catch a criminal, and (most unfortunately) no sirens on but still very very urgent. Officer Johnson decided that it would be a good time while we were in the car to discuss in depth how impressed he was that I run to exercise instead of sharing all the exciting stories he has as a 17-year member of the police force, which is really what I was interested in, but when you're two experienced crime fighters like him, and now me, you're not supposed to talk about catching criminals in the police cars, you're only supposed to talk about things like the weather, as if nothing really really exciting ever happens.

So, after about 5 minutes we get to the location where the suspect has been detained and what-do-you-know but we're at 15th and L Street, not 15th and O. Flashing a light on the windshield so that the suspect couldn't see into the police car but I could see out, I took one look at the poor guy with a backpack on who had been arrested and told Officer Johnson that it wasn't him.

On our ride back, Officer Johnson was still happily chatting away about how he thinks running is a really hard way to exercise, while I stared off into space, thinking about the police medals, thank you letters, and overwhelming media attention I would have received had we just nabbed the right suspect. A caper that began with such potential ended with me having to put off my moment of glory for another day. Until then..... Ace Glasner, Pet Detective will be back.

The End of Moderate Republicanism

The news is still developing that Senator Specter (R-Pa) has decided to switch parties and become a Democrat, thereby giving the Democrats a filibuster proof majority in the Senate of 60 (assuming Al Franken wins in Minnesota, which is highly probable), but my first reaction when I saw the headline was to go outside and listen for church bells tolling the official end of moderate Republicanism.

To put Senator Specter's decision in some context: Specter's switch is first and foremost a shrewd politicial calculation, cutting off a primary challenge from former Rep. Pat Tomney, who has been outflanking Specter on the right, and dramatically improving Specter's prospects for reelection in the State. Specter's decision also earns him the title of kingmaker since he just became the Most Important Voter in the Senate.

I'm thrilled at what this could mean for the Democrats' ability to pursue a progressive reform agenda. Nevertheless, a part of me can't help but feel sad at the passing of an era when moderate Republicans helped to shape their party's agenda. With Specter's decision, conservative Republicans have officially solidified their grip controlling the GOP's destiny. Their rise to dominance was enabled in part by moderates, like Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn), losing elections to Democrats as the American public became disillusioned with the Republican party. And, prior to today, signs of moderate Republicans' diminishing role have become increasingly evident. In Virginia, for example, conservative Jim Gilmore was selected to make an exercise-in-futility run for the Senate against Mark Warner instead of moderate Tom Davis, even though Davis had a much greater chance of turning the election competitive. Michael Steele's tenure as the national chairman of the GOP has also been defined by him cowing to the party's conservative base, instead of a pursuit of his more moderate instincts to expand the GOP's ideology and membership base.

I grew up benefiting from one moderate Republican in particular. Congresswoman Connie Morella was my Congresswoman from the time I was in 5th grade until she lost to Chris Van Hollen when I was in college, and I volunteered on her campaigns and interned in her office through high school. Though I joined the Democratic party when I registered to vote, and continue to actively support the Democratic party's platform, Connie's focus on superb constituency services, her championing of women's rights and other progressive social issues, and her determination - against the odds of both her Democratic constituency and the members of her own party - to stick to her principles, reflected the trademark positions of moderate Republicans like her, and were the reasons she won election after election.

Senator Specter represented perhaps the last standard bearer of the once impressive and influential group of moderate Republican legislators and policy makers. His decision today, and its impact on the Democratic majority, will hopefully result in the passage of major health care reform and a regulatory overhaul to our ailing financial system. But it still bears mention that today, an era has passed.

Gray (Hair) Anatomy

So, I saw a picture the other day of Duke basketball coaching legend, Coach K, and thought to myself how is it possible that his hair is still jet black? I'm not a personal friend of his or anything, but I'm pretty sure this guy is in his 60s. (I then checked and it turned out I was right. Coach Krzyzewski is 62 years old).

My reaction to Coach K's picture may (just maybe), have something to do with my approaching birthday (though no gray hairs yet as near as I can tell without growing a beard out), but, it also led me to think beyond the mere snapshot and to consider the bigger picture, the "whole mop" so to speak. Our society openly embraces the idea that women should color their hair until they're elevated, at the very least, to grandmother status, but we don't really have a uniform view on men dying their hair, and we haven't expressly accepted or rejected the practice. (Granted, most people may just not care whether men or women dye their hair, and if you're one of those people you can just stop reading here.) Some men are viewed through a lens of distinction and sophistication because of their mane of gray hair, and others, like George Clooney are only considered more physically attractive (if that's possible) once they have salt'n'pepper locks.

In Coach K's case, I would venture to say that people think of him as younger, more energetic and perhaps even more authoritative as a coach because he keeps his hair black, instead of allowing a few gray hairs to enter the locker room. Though his public persona may be enhanced by his hair color, Coach K's hair isn't winning any style points, nor does it merit much media attention if any (heck, I had to think awhile before I decided that it was worth this blog post). And for men in the public arena in general, the color and particular styling of their hair doesn't usually get a lot of talk time in the media unless you're a fantastically shameless governor of Illinois, your name is Donald Trump, or you choose to pay $400 for a haircut while running a populist political campaign. Women who live in the public eye, however, are routinely scrutinized for both their hairdo and their hair color, and changing either the former or the latter often generates significant discussion and publicity.

Maybe this double standard is ok. I'm not here to split hairs after all. But if anybody is asking, I vote for Coach K to let a few gray hairs make a stand and see how it affects his performance on the court. Worse comes to worse, if his team goes on a losing streak, his hair can always go back to black.

Reading of the Names

The last few weeks I've suffered from that all-too-common affliction known as writer's block. After being swamped at work upon my return from Cairo, it kind of popped up on me unawares, and before I knew it I couldn't think of anything to write about. With spring in the air however, I'm looking forward to getting my groove back.

This post is a repeat from previous years, but an important one for me nonetheless. Today marks Yom Hashoah - the day of commemoration for those people killed in the Holocaust.

For the first time in a few years, I was unable to attend a reading of names this year of some of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, though they are particularly in my thoughts today. My brother was able to attend one fortunately and read the names of the following family members. I hope that they'll be remembered so that this horrific event will never be repeated.

On my maternal grandmother's side:
-Artur Fischl, my namesake and my grandmother's father
-Tilly Fischl, my sister's namesake and my grandmother's sister
-Maria Fischl, my grandmother's mother
My grandmother's uncles: Otto, Paul and Hugo
Hugo's children: Hans, Otto and Hugo's daughter (name unknown)

On my maternal grandfather's side:
-Telsha and Volushu Baum, my grandfather's cousins
-Joseph Gerstmann, my grandfather's grandfather

Misr, the Land of Egypt

Less than 24 hours after sitting in Al Azhar Square, located in the heart of the bustling Cairo souq in the city's Islamic quarter, while eating some of the best falafel I've ever tasted, a bomb exploded about 15 yards from where I was sitting with my family, killing one French teenager and injuring more than 20 other tourists. This was the first news item I found out about upon landing at Dulles Airport from Cairo.

Until that moment, I had thoroughly enjoyed my week long excursion to Egypt, and happily reflected on it while I caught up on movies during my lengthy trip back to the States from the Middle East. Besides the highlight of spending time with my sister and future brother-in-law, Egypt was a welcome return to the comfort of the Middle East, where I've already traveled extensively (Israel, Jordan and Turkey) , combined with my experiencing, for the first time, the sites, food and culture that make Egypt unique. Cairo literally teems with people - the city is bursting at the seams with a population of 18 million inhabitants and, according to one guide book, 1,000 new immigrants a day. Cars completely ignore any sense of lane divisions, and crossing the road involves first closing your eyes, breathing deeply and saying a few prayers to your choice of higher authorities. (Surprisingly, we didn't witness any accidents during our entire stay.)

The sights and smells of Cairo are thrilling - downtown Cairo has a distinct French European feel, while the skyline of Islamic Cairo is dominated by minarets and a seemingly endless number of mosques. The Cairo souq is mostly a tourist attraction, but walking down the streets of the bazaar brought me back to the other Middle Eastern souqs I've visited in Turkey and Israel - all kinds of colorful trinkets peddled at overpriced "special tourist discounts," along with spices, clothing, and food, set to the soundtrack of Arabic music playing in various places around the bazaar. The style of dress in Cairo was also eye catching, from modern clothing to an infinite range of colorful hijabs, worn by modern Muslim women, and the more imposing burquas worn by women who adhere to more conservative Muslim values. And, of course, right outside of Cairo stand the pyramids, aptly described as one of the seven wonders of the world. Walking into the Red Pyramid at Dahshur was an Indiana Jones-esque experience and horse back riding around the Great Pyramids at Giza captured the pyramids' stark beauty and only increased my wonder that they were built so long ago, yet remain standing.

Outside Cairo, we visited Aswan, the center of Egypt's Nubian culture (Nubians are a mixture of African and Arab culture; ancient Nubia is close to modern day Sudan). Getting away from the hustle and bustle of Cairo was a huge relief on our senses, and the highlight of Aswan (and a highlight of the whole week) was an afternoon spent sailing down the Nile from Aswan to the first cataract (The Nile!! I can't believe I sailed down the Nile!), while Nubian ruins glinting in the sunlight as we floated by. We also traveled to Luxor and spent a full day exploring pharaohnic tombs and temples at the the Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Bahiri, Karnak temple and Luxor Temple. Something that astounded me in particular was the Jewish connection to Egyptian temple worship, manifested by the inner sanctuary of ancient Egyptian worship temples. Just like the holy temple built by King Solomon around 1,000 B.C.E., the inner sanctuary of the temples built by Egyptian pharaohs only a couple of hundred years earlier was referred to by the Egyptians as the "Holy of Holies," and only the high priest was allowed entry to make offers to their god.

Upon our return to Cairo, we visited the Egypt museum where we experienced the eery feeling of seeing preserved mummies, most of them unwrapped, of 3,500 year-old pharaohs. The bodies are incredibly preserved, and fake eyes have been inserted so it looks like the mummies are either sleeping peacefully or staring contendedly right at you. I was especially blown away by seeing the mummies of the pharaohs most scholars point to as being responsible for the Israelites' Biblical exodus from Egypt. (Ancient Egyptian history includes one reference to Israel, but otherwise didn't document the slavery of the Israelites. However, since writing history was really an exercise in self-promotion for Egyptian pharaohs, the Israelites could simply have been off their radar screen when they decided what to document).

As a tourist on a brief visit, it was hard to dig under the sunny expressions of "everyone gets along" that most Egyptians expressed to us regarding both domestic and international politics. However, several isolated conversations, as well as the bombing in the bazaar after I left, reflect street level discontent with the government's unwavering policy of honoring its peace agreement with Israel and refusing to intervene against Israel during the recent war with in Gaza. Given the almost universal attendance of men at Friday prayers and the public broadcasting of the imam's Friday sermons on the streets of Cairo, it's understandable how easily public opinion can be swayed by the the radical or moderate views of popular imams. We were also reminded during our travels that while Egypt is a tourist friendly country, it's not a democracy. Reading a English Egyptian paper gave us a sense of the propaganda that's used to bolster Mubarak's presidency. And, though many Cairenes life comfortably, we walked through neighborhoods, and saw many more from the road, that were characterized by overwhelming poverty and terrible living conditions.

Stepping off the plane to the news of a terrorist bombing only feet away from a place where I had blissfully munched away on a falafel, the crumbs of which I could still taste, was unnerving. While the news didn't detract from my experience, it added an unwelcome postscript to a truly fantastic trip. I prefer to reflect on the friendly exchange of Ma'al Salaam ("go in peace") that we enjoyed on a regular basis with the people with whom we interacted, on the incredible history and archaeological sites that Egypt features, and on the sweet tea that we sipped as we caught our breath before heading to our next destination.

The Elephant in the Cabinet

I'm a bit mystified by President Obama's pursuit of Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) to fill the Secretary of Commerce post, left open after Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) was forced to bow out of the confirmation process thanks to that minor nuisance called a federal investigation. The only logical basis for appointing Senator Gregg to head the Commerce Department would be to enable the Democrats to get 60 votes in the Senate. (The reasoning goes as follows: If Senator Gregg were to leave his seat in the Senate, the governor of New Hampshire would get to appoint a person of his own choosing as the replacement Senator. The governor of New Hampshire is a Democrat, so he's more likely to appoint a democrat to replace Gregg. Assuming Al Franken holds off Norm Coleman for the Senate seat in Minnesota, that would give Democrats a filibuster-proof majority of 60 Democrats in the Senate.) Besides the fact that Senator Gregg is likely to insist on being replaced by a Republican in exchange for joining Obama's cabinet, there are a lot of problems with appointing Gregg to the Commerce Department, all of which trump the slim chance of the Democrats snagging that coveted 60th seat.

First and foremost, selecting Gregg to head Commerce sends the message that Obama has no clear platform or agenda for the economy. Bill Richardson and Judd Gregg aren't total polar opposites (Gregg is considered a moderate Republican on social issues), but in the realm of the economy, they're pretty close; Gregg is a fiscal conservative, whereas Bill Richardson is a committed liberal. Lining up Gregg as his second choice behind Richardson's failed nomination to Commerce Secretary seems to send the message that Obama has no comprehensive plan or agenda for dealing with the economy besides surrounding himself with smart people, regardless of their worldview.

Moreover, Gregg's appointment to the Commerce post will lead to his replacement as the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee by Senator Jeff Sessions of Alaska, one of the more conservative senators in the Senate. That poses a problem to Obama's ambitious reform agenda because much of the president's legislative proposals will have to get the green light from the Budget Committe in order to become reality. Having a moderate Republican like Gregg as an ally through the legislative process could prove critical to Obama's hopes of success, especially when the alternative is having someone like Sessions in place doing his best to throw up roadblocks.

While Gregg's appointment clearly adds more credibility to Obama's dogged pursuit of a bipartisan administration, Obama has already proved his bipartisan bona fides by appointing two Republican members to his cabinet (Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood). At this point, the incremental value of a third Republican appointment to his cabinet is negligible at best; Obama would be better off working to get Republican votes in Congress, which he failed to do for his stimulus bill, than more Republicans in his cabinet.

Finally, gubenatorial appointments of senators has generally made a circus of the Democrats and the Democratic process this year. We need look no farther than Governor David Patterson's messy appointment of Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Clinton in New York, and to former Governor Blagovich's even messier appointment of Ron Burris to replace Barack Obama in Illinois. Chancing another media hullabaloo around New Hamphsire Governor John Lynch's appointment to replace Gregg in the Senate puts the national Democratic party unnecessarily at risk at a time when it should instead be concentrating on solidifying its power base.

Add up all these factors and the conclusion is clear: Judd Gregg should be staying put in the Senate. Obama can fill that empty shelf in his cabinet elsewhere.

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This past weekend marked the second anniversary of a friend's sudden death, Yair Elmaleh. The posting I wrote in the wake of his passing is now the first item to come up when his name is Googled. I can attest from the number of times that the posting has been read, that hundreds, if not thousands, of people have missed Yair in the two years since his death, and that memories of his smile continue to light up the room.

Click here to read about Yair.

Is Anybody Really Looking Forward to 2009?

Rarely does the start of a new year bring with it such dramatic change to the global landscape. Virtually overnight, we have been asked to adapt to a worldwide economic crisis, massive layoffs at home, renewed turmoil in the Middle East, and a new, and path-breaking, presidential administration. Given the pace of such change, it may be hard to really predict what could happen in 2009, though suffice it to say, I hope that things only improve from here on out.

Like last year, this blog posting reflects my own predictions for the top ten trends that will take place in 2009. The trends I chose go beyond merely stating the obvious, and were arrived at through my reading of headlines and the articles behind them, my own observations, and some educated sounding guesses. None of these predictions are guaranteed to occur, but all I believe capture at least a sense of what’s in store for us over the next year.

ECONOMY
The Comeback Kid: In the wake of the economic downturn, Thomas Maynard Keynes, the poster-child economist credited with pulling this country out of the Great Depression, is going through a stunning revival. Over the next year, government economists will lean heavily on Keynesian theories, particularly the notion that deficit spending is the best way to save an economy already in shreds, from collapsing entirely. With a 10 percent unemployment rate a distinct possibility for the first time since the Great Depression, government spending has already been deployed to prop up financial institutions and will next be aimed at creating jobs through public works projects. In addition to a marked increase in name recognition, expect to see Keynes t-shirts, caps, and bumper stickers, as well as “Candy Keynes” appearing in your nearby stores very soon.

Start Spreading the News: These days, New York City is looking more like the “top of the heap” than the “king of the hill,” and not just because I’m no longer living there (though I’d like to think that’s a part of it). Manhattan’s venerable financial and legal industries are on the verge of collapse, making New York City among the worst of the areas hit by the economic crisis. The construction boom that Mayor Bloomberg oversaw the last few years has ground to a halt, and Manhattan real estate is slipping off the edge of a sizeable- looking cliff. By the end of the year, Wall Street will no longer be a corporate mecca, but rather a jumble of mostly government owned investment banks, combined with tourist traps and strip malls where stock brokers and high powered lawyers used to buy their coffee and wolf down their lunch. Plus, with a new, hip, president installed, and with at least some job openings to offer residents, Washington D.C. is jumping up the ladder of live-able cities, along with Chicago, from where the aforementioned hip president just moved. Now, if only Liza Minnelli or Frank Sinatra could write a new song....

POLITICS:
Croissant Diplomacy: While Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the presidency has inspired goodwill towards Americans abroad, don’t expect the United States to resume its position as the leader of global diplomacy overnight. Before that happens, the United States will have to repair ties damaged during the Bush years, extricate itself from at least one war (Iraq) and possibly two (Afghanistan), and revive everyone’s faith in the principles of capitalism (unlikely, given the state of our economy). In the meantime, French president Nicolas Sarkozy is busily positioning his country to become the top chef in the international diplomatic kitchen. Sarkozy has some distinct advantages working in his favor: he has managed to insert himself into virtually every major recent international crisis in the last year; he and his wife are extremely telegenic; France's economic model of democratic socialism looks more attractive to foreign countries than America's capitalism right now; and, Arab governments in the Middle East - where most of the international crises are currently taking place - are much more likely to trust France’s word over the United States. The fact that French food and wine are irresistible seals the deal for Sarkozy to become "le chef de cuisine" of global diplomacy.

The “O” Stands for Teamwork: Former President Bush strictly adhered to the concept of the strong “unitary executive,” the idea that congress cannot interfere with any executive decisions and, generally, that what the executive says, goes. President Obama has made clear from the outset that he will not rule with such presumed authority, even though he swept into office with a mandate much greater than President Bush ever enjoyed. Obama’s determined collaborative approach to governing suggests that he won’t step on as many toes as his predecessor, and that aspects of his campaign agenda — a sweeping economic stimulus bill, drastic health care reform, new education programs, and a shift in foreign policy — will not be forced onto Congress’s collective will. On the positive side, this approach could lead to widespread bipartisan support for the president’s legislative agenda. On the down side, collaboration could lead to watering down the content and impact of Obama’s planned reforms. As is clear already, Congress is testing the strength of its own hand, and individual legislators on both the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisles are jockeying for power in setting the course of future legislation. Obama’s ability to soothe egos, know when to make compromises and when to stand his ground, will ultimately determine the success or failure of his ambitious reform program for his first year in office.

The Supreme Shuffle: Because its justices serve for life, the Supreme Court is generally considered to be insulated from the daily push and pull of the political arena. Nevertheless, during his eight years in office, former President Bush appointed two justices to the Court (John Roberts and Samuel Alito), and his appointments solidified the Court’s current conservative outlook. That outlook is going to start shifting, but only slowly, in 2009. It’s improbable that any justice will retire before the 2010 term (Justices Stevens, Kennedy and Souter are the most likely candidates to retire when that happens), however, President Obama will begin to shape the kinds of cases that appear, and, perhaps more importantly, don’t appear, before the Court, through the actions of his attorney general and solicitor general and through his judicial appointments to the bench in the lower federal courts.

TECHNOLOGY:
Twit. Twit. Twitter: The last few years have seen an explosion of new communication mediums and social networking forums. Facebook replaced Friendster; Linked-In replaced that old-fashioned desktop fixture called a rolodex, gchat replaced AOL instant messenger, and the blogosphere is well on the way to replacing print newspapers. Next up in the on-deck circle is Twitter. Twitter, by its own description, is an online telegraph system designed for users to let their readers know the answer to the question “What Are You Doing” as often as they want. Bloggers and journalists are increasingly using the forum to telegraph running news commentary in real time. Individuals and businesses are also using it as a short hand way of keeping in touch with friends and contacts without having to resort to “old-fashioned” forms of communication like emails, letters and phone calls. At this rate, the next step after twitter will be a technology that does away with the proactive part of communication entirely, and simply transmits our brain waves to a pre-subscribed list of interested parties at set intervals.

A Worm in the Apple: IBM and Microsoft owned the 1990s. Though a small cult-like following refused to give up their beloved Macintosh computers, mainstream America settled happily for generic PCs, which licensed IBM’s hardware and came standard with a Windows operating system. After a few quiet years in PC-land’s shadow, however, Apple took increasingly large bites out of Microsoft and IBM’s turf. Apple began by manufacturing innovative and eye-catching Macintosh computers in the late 1990s. Then, the company scored a whopping hit with its iPod and accompanying iTunes music platform. Finally, Apple developed software that allowed users to switch back and forth between Windows and its own operating system on its Macintosh computers.

2009 will unfortunately reveal the worm at the core of the Apple. Apple is facing depressing news on numerous fronts. The company’s CEO, Steve Jobs, has taken a leave of absence for health related issues and it’s unclear when, if ever, he’ll be able to return. Though Jobs is considered a true visionary, he’s been shortsighted in not training a new CEO to ensure a smooth transition after his departure. Moreover, while successful, the iPhone is not nearly as ubiquitous as the iPod, and the iPhone is facing stiff competition from other, similar “smart” phones, such as Verizon’s Blackberry Storm. Perhaps symbolically, a worm virus recently attacked Macintosh computers, something that was previously considered impossible. All of these factors combined are starting to make one of the biggest players in the computer industry look like a very bruised Apple.

FASHION:
Simple Elegance: Even the high fashion world isn’t immune from the economic crisis, and celebrities are not going to want to show off extravagant wealth on the red carpet when viewers at home are struggling to decide between buying new clothes for the family or paying the electric bill. Fashion designers are left in a bind, forced to try to be creative on a tighter budget (or at least the appearance of one). The result this year will be a move towards “simple elegance” in couture fashion. Couture clothing on the red carpet and the catwalk will feature simpler outfits, solid colors, and straighter lines, and its wearers will don less makeup and jewelry. Though the trend towards simple elegance won't necessarily lead to cheaper prices, it will at least make it easier for us commoners to imagine ourselves taking that marvelous stroll down the catwalk.

Goodwill Hunting: Outside the world of couture fashion, “bargain shopping” will become as popular a catch phrase as “rad” was in the 1980s. Outlet stores are sure to benefit, and thrift shops and consignment stores, like Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, will have to hire traffic cops just to control the rush of people down their aisles.

ENTERTAINMENT:
The NWL (National Wii League): Video game consoles have been on the shelves of American home entertainment systems for years. Nintendo’s Wii console, which launched in 2006 to favorable reviews, is now becoming more than a popular console, it’s revolutionizing the video game experience. Wii players have been able to use the Wii Sensor Bar and Wii Remote to swing at tennis and ping pong balls, conduct an orchestra, and chop and mix vegetables at high speed to win a cooking competition for some time now. 2009, however, will feature the proliferation of competitive Wii games and tournaments, which are also starting to replace the real thing. By 2012, no one will be surprised if WII games are certified as official Olympic sports. Until then, expect an increasing number of Americans to get their daily regimen of exercise, food and music in front of their Wii console.