I was smack dab in the middle of high school in 1980 when the Rush album Permanent Waves came out.  One of my favorite songs from the album (not cd!), was and remains, Freewill.  As I was listening to it last night on my Dell Axim while working out, I thought about one of the lines in the song.  When I first heard this line, I remember struggling to make sense of it, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."  That just means you can’t opt out.  There is no abstaining in life.  Everything you do really does go on your "permanent record", just like your parents told you!

Taken in the context of mobile life, if you choose to buy a product or accessory, then you have chosen not to buy others.  You constantly make choices by not choosing.  By using or not using products and software, the same ideas apply.  And your feedback, as users of these items, is incredibly valuable.  Now more than ever.  Back in 1980, I had to go to the store to buy the Rush album.  Now I can download it.  I can buy a cd player or mp3 player online.  But before I do so, I would search for the various types of mp3 players available, like flash or hard-drive based players, then I would read reviews and user opinions before I bought anything.  Wouldn’t you?

In a broader context, the line from the song serves as a reminder that whether you take a stand or not, you ARE taking a stand.  Stand up for what you believe in.  Word of mouth is the best advertising.  If you like a product, service, software or company, join a forum or our blog, and spread the word.  If you don’t like said product, give the company a chance to fix it.  I think this is Web 3.0 or something like that.  Whatever it is, we are empowered simply because we are always making choices.  That’s just my opinion.  I dedicate this one to my former DJ friend, Mike N.

[tags]Rush, jamm, just another mobile monday[/tags]