syn·er·gy n. synergism; broadly: combined action or operation

This scribbler wrote elsewhere that "corporate synergy should follow death and taxes in the list of certainties in life" in reaction to a rumor that AOL would launch a TV music channel after its merger with Time Warner. The scenario for AOL Music was to deliver a marketing triple-whammy: showcase Time Warner artists, promote chats with them on AOL and sell the CD.

Alas, the recent state of AOL-TW may well be the epitaph of such synergy, at least for the time being. In his New York Times op-ed, Rob Walker explains the dangers of this brand of commercial interaction:

One of the more puzzling conundrums of synergy can be found in what one might call the money-to-stuff ratio. Basically, consumers want more stuff for less money; companies want to sell more stuff, but for more money. Synergy makes a vague promise to consumers that it will deliver the first scenario, and to investors that it will deliver the second.

The underlying problem certainly isn't that people are resistant to learning, and embracing, new ways of consuming music, movies, books or other digital content.

The obvious example — to the great chagrin of record label executives everywhere — is in the realm of music. Millions of music fans are enthralled with the benefits of new synergies between their computers and their stereos. Particularly for those who are ambivalent about intellectual property rights, it's proved to be a spectacular means of pumping up their money-to-stuff ratio. Unfortunately for record companies, artists and even the various newfangled start-ups that hoped to exploit this turn of events, pretty much nobody has figured out how to make a dime off of it. In fact, this form of synergy has been actively resisted.

We'll always have death and taxes.

The goal of TIPS... was to enlist patriotic Americans in the hunt for the terrorists in our midst... Ashcroft's vision was that millions of TIPSters would volunteer to look for the odd, the unusual, the suspicious among us, and would report them to the Justice Department, which would then evaluate our evidence and decide what to do with it.
— Dave Lindorff, When neighbors attack!

Adam Green, writing in the "Talk of the Town" of the August 5, 2002 New Yorker, mentions several New Yorkers who are "in a unique position" to find "the odd, the unusual, the suspicious among us:" "Last week, some of them were asked if they'd seen any potentially unusual or suspicious activity in the daily course of their work."

Andrew Kimble, Jr., Verizon repairman: "Once in a while, someone will answer the door naked, and I'll have to tell them I won't come inside until they put some clothes on. I've seen all kinds of personal things—pictures, magazines, and little gadgets and whatnot. But the thing I keep an eye out for is a big dog or some other kind of vicious pet."

...

Chris Florio, hair stylist at Daniel Scott Hair Salon: "I had a very strange-looking client once who apparently had just been released from an institution that day, and she told me that if I didn't do a good job with her hair she'd blow my fucking head off. That was quite odd."

Thanks to Omelet who gave me a heads-up on Dave Lindorff's article.

Sandbox

A friend of mine once presented me with a she-cat. Named her Ursula. Ursula was my first pet in about 10 years. The night my friend gave her to me, went to the pet store to get her the necessary supplies: a plate for water and food, a litter box, sand and a scoop, a scratching pole, cat food and treats.

Had begun living on my own place a year back. Ursula was my only company at home. Every morning before going to work, put enough food and water in her plate and left her inside my apartment. She always mewled after me when closing the door.

My next door neighbor once asked me about the sounds coming out from my place. When explained, he mentioned the complex's rules stated there were no pets alowed. Soon after, asked my landlady about keeping Ursula. She said that as long as no neighbors complained, could keep her.

Had a girlfriend in Mexico City back then. Had been asking her to come visit me at the US of A. She was about to agree, when mentioned that had brought Ursula home. My girlfriend was allergic to cat hair. Returned Ursula to the friend who gave her to me. Gave her all the supplies that had bought.

Left my girlfriend months later. She never came to visit. Never went back for Ursula.