Demolition Man? All the resturants were Taco Bell? This got me thinking. Okay so 50% of the women in the US walk around (me included) with these nice nails: 
They are all the rage — mine are rounded not square like the young chicks, but like most I got to the salon every two weeks and have this done. And most salons are owned by the Vietnamese. I don’t understand a word they say as they chatter amongst themselves, which is fine by me. I get my toes done as well.
Then there’s 
Starbucks — on every freaking corner, at least in my neck of the woods. Gone are the neat little Espresso stands, they have all been gobbled up by Corporate Starbucks. Scary.
You can’t go anywhere without seeing either an 
IPOD or an 
IPHONE
It’s just freaks me out the trends we have embraced. We chat with our friends online — all.the.time. We have the capability to shop for food, groceries, clothes, jewlery, — you name it we got it on line.
I wonder what would happen if we went back to simple living — even if for just a month?
I agree with you, but, I love that we have immigrants who come to this country and work hard doing something that may be silly, but they work hard at it AND they push their kids at school, pull no punches and take no crap. I love that we have a corporation like Starbucks that provides health insurance to even part time employees and has a commitment to serve horrible coffee made from fair trade beans something mom and pops tend to be unable to do. Finally, back up off my iPod cause I love, love, love that unlike when I was a kid with the boomboxes on shoulders I don’t have to hear anyones “B!^&% better have my money” “music” and without iPods we wouldn’t have people singing along to them and dancing along to them.
What is funnier than someone busting a move in the subway on their iPod? I submit that nothing is.
For just a month… I think we’d hate it. But once we got used to it, maybe it would work.
But what would our kids do without constant bombardment of entertainment? DVD’s in the cars, in their rooms, Playstations in the cars, in their rooms, iPods plugged into their ears constantly, computer games, cell phones, chatting, iTunes. Holy crap! They might have to read. Or write. Or pretend. Or *think*!
Here’s the thing… I think all that stuff is wonderful. In moderation. Except Starbucks. Bring me more froo froo coffee drinks, thank you! Heh. I do worry about the future. What are kids today going to grow up to be? Will they be able to think for themselves or will they just want to always be entertained and be plugged into electronics day and night? It’s great! It’s handy. I have friends I’d never have known if it weren’t for the Internet. But it’s addicting as hell. All things in moderation, and I think we’ll be fine.
I used to get a pedicure now and then, and the Vietnamese have even found their way to Alaska to grace us with their skills in acrylic nails. But it irritates the hell out of me when they talk *about* me in their language and I have no clue what they are saying and yet they don’t take the time to learn my language so we can communicate what service I want! I think it’s rude. But where else can you get a pedicure for $20.00? It’s a trade off.
Man, you really hit on all of my pet peeves! Sorry for babbling! Hah!