I’ve been reading a book by Daniel Pink called A Whole New Mind, which posits several theories with which I vehemently disagree.

One of them is that society is wearied by a constant onslaught of information, data, and media, and is now on a quest for meaning and personal fulfillment.

I must contest this statement.  Any society that currently features a hit song called “Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama is not on a quest for substance and meaning.

This hip hop song tackles the hot button issue of lip gloss, and how it makes the wearer look and feel good.

Sample lyrics: “My lip gloss is cool, my lip gloss is poppin’, when I’m at my locker, all the boys keep stoppin.’”

Mind you, this is a hip hop song. In my day, hip hop was about actual societal problems. Drug culture. Gang violence.  H0s in the backseats of limos.  I do not consider this song an advancement in the musical form.

The lyrical refrain goes: “Whachu know about me? Whachu whachu whachu know?”

Well, Lil Mama, I suppose I’d know all about you if I cared to browse Wikipedia.  As it stands, though, I’ll settle for knowing that your very existence belies the notion that our society is interested in profound spiritual matters.

Daniel Pink’s book also posits the fact that this so-called quest for meaning and fulfillment has come, in part, because of what the author terms abundance.  He claims that the prosperity of a material society has made luxury items so plentiful and easy to obtain that it has paradoxically encouraged society to devalue material goods in favor of “beauty and transcendence.”

Except this is patently false. We do not have an abundance of material items.  In fact, when I take a hard look at my life, I don’t see the material items that I long for with every fiber of my being.

Current material items missing in action include:

Debit card parking meters. Do you know how much I hate searching through my pockets for loose change every time I want to park on the street?  Who the hell carries change around, anyway?  Build a debit card parking meter or I’m starting over with a new U.S. constitution.

Coffee showers. No, it’s not a kinky sex act. I’m just saying that the two most important things that start my day, a shower and a cup of coffee, should be combined.  The caffeinated goodness could clean out my pores while I swallow my first pot of the day.

Abflexor. Not the one they advertise on TV, but one that will do your exercises for you while you watch TV.

Car that turns into a submarine.  Self-explanatory.

Celebutantes with hardwired expiration dates. “Hope you enjoyed your stay in prison, Ms. Hilto--” (((( BOOOOM ))))

I can’t speak for Daniel Pink, but I’m feeling materially deprived. I’m talking monk central here. He can go search for beauty and transcendence--I’m going to call Peet’s corporate headquarters about doing some remodeling in my bathroom.

Posted by Greg at 08:28 PM on 06/07/07

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