Where We Are Today: What's In and What's Out

In: real numbers/statistics (ShadowStats)
Out: fake/massaged government statistics

In: frugality
Out: flaunting wealth, conspicuous consumption

In: cooking at home
Out: eating out

In: small cars/hybrids/used cars
Out: new vehicles/Hummers/SUVs, giant trucks

In: gardening
Out: the 3000 mile Caesar salad

In: organic fruits and vegetables
Out: hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup

In: recyclable utensils
Out: plastic

In: self-sufficiency
Out: depending on government or the "free" market to solve anything

In: farmer's markets
Out: shopping malls, strip centers

In: peacekeeping (wait, what is that? lack of war, at least)
Out: wars

In: cash
Out: houses, boats, jetskis, money parked anywhere else (especially 401k's)

In: safety
Out: gambling/risk (yes, we mean the stock market, the bond market, the real estate market, and any other market)

In: Jon Stewart
Out: Jim Cramer, CNBC

In: aluminum water bottles, tap water
Out: plastic water bottles, bottled water

In: saving
Out: spending

In: mud huts, tent cities
Out: tract house suburban "developments"

In: we suck slightly less than others
Out: American exceptionalism

Quote of the Day

"At the age of 25 most people were finished. A whole goddamned nation of assholes driving automobiles, eating, having babies, doing everything in the worst way possible, like voting for the presidential candidate who reminded them most of themselves" ---Charles Bukowski

Decline of the Empire, Chapter IX: And They Called It Puppy Love

Last week, Chaos sorta ignored the latest sign that the citizens of the world's most frivolous nation have reached new heights of silliness, having been driven crazy by the overabundance of a peak energy environment: a new pill for obese dogs. However, when the phenomenon occurs twice in a fortnight, its time for action, or, at least a few words. Here's the latest: beer for dogs. Chaos thinks that the two events are somewhat backward in time, but at least at present, your pet can sit back on the couch with you and enjoy a cold one, and later, take a pill along with you to mitigate the weight gain. As an example of "peak" everything, this is certainly a fine one, and one can only think things cannot really continue to reach higher levels of absurdity for much longer.

Cheery Message of the Season

"What are the hot gifts that will make my kids worship me?"
----direct quote from internet shopping site, 12/10/2006.