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:
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.
Debit card parking meters exist in Seattle, Washington and they are effing amazing. I love them to death. Of course, it is one machine for the whole block that prints out a sticker that you have to go back and put in your car window but it is still great.
Many “wellness” centers offer coffee enemas. Is that what you had in mind?
We have them here in Denver. Looks like a normal meter, and it takes change. If you don’t want to deal with that, you can get a rechargable “key” from the city that you stick in the meter until the desired time is purchased.
Caffeinated soap: http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/accessories/5a65/
I would *love* debit card meters.
Yep, debit/credit card meters here in Chicago, too. The midwest just started sucking a little less.
...And there was that pretty cool Lotus submarine car from the “Spy Who Loved Me” Bond movie.
http://www.automotoportal.com/media/images/vijesti/061127010.3.jpg
I stopped reading when you quit writing about hip-hop. But do yourself a favor and check out Pookey Blow’s ‘sleeper’ classic ‘Get Up (And Go To School.)’ I think you’ll like it. As far as I am concerned, if it doesn’t have guys playing kazoos and video game sounds, it ain’t hip-hop.
Yeah, credit/debit card meters in Portland, we like ‘em. But I heard New Orleans (pre Katrina) was pissed at them because they were messing up the Je ne sais quois of the French Quarter. I’m guessing parking meter aesthetics are fairly low on their priority list now.
Oh, so Ho’s in the back of the car are more socially relevant than poppin’, boy-stoppin’ lip gloss? Sez who?
Don’t.
Push.
Me.
I’m close.
To.
The Edge.
(Backs away from atmikha)
Parking meters are an abomination. IMO, their advent can be directly tied to the decline of “downtown” city areas and the rise of suburban malls where parking is free.
See Greg, this just ups my campaign for you to come to Perth, Western Australia, where we actually have debit/credit card parking meters, despite being the city the furthest away from anything in the entire universe.
Admittedly we don’t have glow worms or caves or all the other stuff you enjoyed in Kiwiland (sheep), but when it comes to miles and miles of bugger-all (studded with parking meters), we’re it!
My car does turn into a submarine. I thought they all did. Perhaps you should take yours to the shop.
You forgot the flying car. I want my flying car, dammit, and I’m not going to stop complaining until I get one. There was supposed to be a heliport on every home by the year 2001. And where’s my teleportation device for when I’m running really late? Feh. Some hotshot future THIS turned out to be.
I dont know what yall taling about lipgloss is the shit now dayz
what u know bout me
I’ve been to this coffee hot spring in Hakone, Japan:
http://www.yunessun.com/english/yunessun.html
They also have wine, but it’s not as popular:
http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/712/photo.asp