Rose's take on the quote American dream unquote pretty much echoes my own sentiments. The charm of the much talked about 'promised land' has lost its customary lustre somewhat and the efficacy of its usage too has been significantly diluted in the present day world scenario. Social dynamics would have much to answer for what apeares to be slowly declining trend - I don't have raw statistics to go with my deduction but generally speaking, that's what's happening, I think. I see one potent reason for all this: globalisation. With the ever fast pace of technological advancements which look set to reach a revolutionary proportion, the process of becoming this world one big village has begun in earnest. Sceptics dismiss this concept as a mere Romantic utopian dream. Yes a 'dream' in its literal sense perhaps, or maybe not quite so, when one considers the bigger picture. I have all the luxury of talking to you all from my cosy office with a click of a button - isn't that just one big example of how this world has come to shrink? With its power dynamics also slowly shifting towards the left, the world landscape looks set to change considerably in another decades or so. The steady rise of the 'tiger economies' in the Far East and especially China/India's fast booming economy, world's largest economy America may well have tough time holding on to its supremacy as the 'only' world player. I read elsewhere that China's GDP is set to surpass that of Great Britain and Fran in the year 2006/07 and that of America in 2041. I won't be surprised if Mandarin will one day be a global language replacing English but that's something our future generations will live to see it happen in the fullness of time. My own thoughts. Good night. Carpe diem.