Of Ringtones and Virtual Seeds

Why do we say "Ouch" when we stub a toe or pinch a finger? Just curious.

This just in: Americans spend more on ringtones ($2 billion) and virtual seeds (another half billion) than the total Gross Domestic Product (economic output) of 71 countries in the world. What would happen if instead of buying seeds for our Farmville back forty we instead sent money to someone who is sowing real seeds in a Third World outback?

For perspective, consider that we spend 40 to 100 times this amount on legal and illegal sports gambling, and another 100 billion dollars-plus on drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, and pot.

When we buy virtual seeds we're helping folks whose life aim is surely to be in the 1%. And when we buy illegally imported drugs we're helping keep Mexico's top dogs in the 1% category.

A quick review of today's Buzz reveals that Pam Anderson has garnered the spotlight again. She's going to be playing the Virgin Mary in an upcoming Christmas special. For the record, the mother of Jesus was a teen and despite the multitude of face and body modifications and amplifications she's experienced, Ms. Anderson is currently in her mid-forties. Despite what the Washington Post proclaims, this is not the "role she was born for." Being baywatched and centerfolded gave her ample exposure. For sure we'd almost forgotten about her. The controversial role will give Letterman and Leno some fresh material for a few minutes. She might even play herself as a guest.

I'd better stop writing any further this morning lest someone conclude I got up on the wrong side of the couch. So, that's all for now.

For what it's worth, what does your ringtone sound like?

An Unreal Virtual Reality

We live in strange times. Last year's recession was devastating in its impact, yet the ringtone industry was flying high. There were more than four billion dollars spent on ringtones last year, I read somewhere.

Here's a story I find equally mind blowing, from BBC News, Sales of virtual goods boom in US.

Americans look set to spend $1bn (£600m) on virtual goods in 2009, claims a report.

The cash will be spent on add-ons for online games, digital gifts and other items that exist only as data.

Total spend on such items is expected to be up by 100% over 2008 and to double again by the end of 2010, said the analysts behind the report.

What kind of virtual goods are people buying? Well, a lot of game players want their avatars to have better gear, so they buy virtual bullet proof vests and weapons, I guess. On FaceBook people are buying virtual additions for their farms. I don't have a farm in Farmville, so I don't really know what they're getting. Maybe higher quality seed for the back forty? Maybe I can set up shop selling virtual sunblock to help farmers avoid getting a bad virtual sunburn while picking virtual corn.

My imagination runs down this path where a sixteen year son of missionaries to Zimbabwe is spending his allowance on virtual upgrades in Farmville while the village kids are starving and have no clean water. I try to imagine the conversation between Luke, he American teen abroad, and Ngugi, his village friend, who he wants to borrow money from in order to buy more virtual seeds. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around that one.

According to the article the virtual goods market has been growing rapidly in Asia and Europe for years. 2009 will be remembered as the year it came to America. Hmmm. Another import making us more dependent than ever on China? Maybe the U.S. can reverse this trend by printing more virtual money. What do you think?

Actually, if you wish to contribute to a good cause that helps feed hungry people abroad, check out Farms International. These are real people, doing real good, in a real needy world.