Of Greentech, Inkwells and Changing Times
I guess it's pretty much official. Greentech is a noun. And why not? Google is a verb. "I think I'll google some greentech." When did that become something other than nonsensical gibberish? Today it could be overheard at any corner Starbucks in America. ("The best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup"...We're just too hip for Mrs. Olson anymore, aren't we?)
You young people with your technology. Why, we used to be perfectly content to communicate the old fashioned way. Sit down, get out some stationery, dip our fountain pen in the inkwell (no, not the Mac application, Hopscotch!), write out a hand-written note, address the envelope, purchase a stamp, and seven to 10 days later a friend or loved one as far away as Fort Smith even would receive that note. In person.
You want news? We had news, Cracker Jack. Each morning, a delivery person threw (and still does in some places, I've heard) rolled up pages of newsprint right to your front doorstep (or in my case, bushes and/or roof). Every morning! News?! Just wait 12-18 hours for the next edition and you got all the news your ink-stained fingers could turn.
And on any given Saturday night, we had a plethora of television-viewing choices. At 6 p.m. it was Hee-Haw on Channel 11, Lawrence Welk on Channel 7, and well, I can't remember what was on Channel 4 (must have been Soul Train). Alas, poor ol' Channel 2, it of the PBS affiliation/affliction, wasn't considered an option, even then. But the point is we had Hee-Haw and Lawrence Welk and we didn't even care that we didn't have this new-fangled "digital" TV.
You young people with your technology...
Anyway, here's a link for all you "me, now!" instant-messaging thumb pressers to some story about greentech VCs -- there, now it's an adjective too -- and how growth might just mean scaling back. Now there's a concept.