My frist chapter

My frist chapter, that is ahcem, first chapter will be about power symbols.

Let's start with the most obvious, that of law enforcement. Many little men have discovered the power of enforcement of the law. The sherriff's badge, which I happen to have as a belt buckle today (you see I have a thing for power symbols), is a clear power symbol, one of authority and the right to do bad stuff on you. This symbol is made more powerful in today's culture by the cut jaw of Mr. Eastwood and the swaggery squinty Mr. Wayne. These badges come in more shapes and sizes than the good trusty tin pin-on five-point, but most people get the hint.

On a digressive note, I can't get over the news items, and there seeem to be more than a few lately, where people have taken the badge and uniform and paraded as cops in order to get their way, the worst case being the man who kidnapped people with it.

Still on the topic of law enforcement we have the Crown Victoria, made by the not-for-long standing Ford Motor Company, as a symbol of getting your sorry speeding shalopy pulled over and you paying money in the form of fines and increased car insurance. Hit someone in the pocket book and sure enough they jump, or in this case they jump on the brake pedal.

Speaking of catching speeders, I enjoyed the tid bit in the free ad+news paper yesterday, here (uhm, I can't find a link, don't even know if one exists... if I find it I'll come back and make the appropriate edits), and speaking of cameras, I found this tidbit.

Now back to power symbols:
I wonder if power colors should be their own chapter? I don't think so since it's been pretty well covered, and there's not much more to say other than red and black are power colors and here's some examples. (i.e. the cover of Devil's Advocate with Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino)

Now back to power symbols:
I can't really think of any more at the moment, except maybe weapons? Guns, knives, bombs, and vehicles are generally symbols of power. Yes vehicles in the 21st century are weapons, just ask NYC. I also would say the vehicle is a weapon any time someone is run over by a car, espeically if that person is in a crosswalk. Someone with a vehicle around them is clearly less vulnerable than someone without.

What else shall I include in this first chapter? Maybe tech as a symbol of power? I tend to prefer the understood and understated minimalist displays of power as effective, whereas some people prefer the macrodisplay. I think when a technology is in its infancy it tends to be gregarious and engaging, whereas when it matures it tends to become more sophisticated. I'm better at sweeping statements like that more than I am at backing up such, but I think most people would agree with me (when I can't support I just get the support of 'most people'). At any rate this is an idea for thought food and one worth exploring. If not by me, by someone at least, I'm already on to the next whim.

Till next time.