Yes, I want one too

Tuesday evening, just before 9pm, I was about to leave that city which Mike Davis in New Left Review calls a "monstrous caricature of futurism". (A third trip to Dubai in a fortnight to once again interrupt the rhythm of my blogging...)

I was close to the hotel where the local Mac addicts would gather to watch on a big screen Steve Job's keynote performance many miles and twelve hours time difference distant.

For a moment I thought of joining the congregation, tempted briefly by the idea of shared real-time gnosis. But I opted for time-shifted enlightenment, well aware that the next day would bring thanks to Macworld and CES plenty to mull over.

I returned home to Abu Dhabi and before falling asleep thought that if they launch an iPhone then I'll inevitably want one.

That clarity was comforting.