OPINION

An Odyssey Through Best Buy

Written by Brian Sorrell
Published March 01, 2006

Gadgets + Fashion - Freedom + Religion = Godgets, or "AC/DC indeed, young man."

Gadgets? How about God-gets?

That should be the word, because that's what they are. Newfangled electronic devices are newfangled Gods - in agnostic hands. From the iPod to the Blackberry to the sleekest of the slickest cells, we no longer wear our faiths on our sleeves: we clip them to our belts in polytheistic, plastic holsters.

I don't want to sound as though I'm down on advances. But I'm concerned about the buzz-humming, LCD-glowing, downloadable-ring-toning devices dangling off of every spare Lucky Brand Roxy thread hugging the hippest young hips all the way Westbound down the Sunset Strip. From toy dogs to tattoos, to the newly leaked nudes, we'll always have this season's Paris.

The geeks among us, in the past, looked with excluded disgust on the lifestyles of the Bitching Famous — or at least we watched with a healthy dose of dismay. Maybe I got it wrong: disposable dispositions and aloof strides past the little guys — I thought those were the sources of scorn.

Now in the Marketplace, Little Guys and Geeks drive with the same dispositions, and we're sold. On a schedule, they declare: "discard your cell phones for the new-best technology — that you can't live without — now, if you'll just please sign along this dotted line."

They stand beside life-size cardboard celebrities, whose permanently blown hair and unblinking stares repay your generous glances: Hello Moto Zeta-Jones, Kate Moss is on line one.

Kate: Virgin; Catherine: Get More? Sex sells, but stilts seduction.

Could I resist Hepburn's hands, black-gloved to the elbows, and all that they caressed? I'd smoke her cigarette and drink her martini - even eat her cruller on the sidewalk at Tiffany's.

But it's Kate: Virgin; Catherine: Get More.

For Bergman I'd learn piano: I'd kick Sam off the stool and play "As Time Goes By." And then I'd play it again.

But it's Kate: Virgin; Catherine: Get More. The cardboard celebrities with slogans painted across their thighs - they distract and detract impulsive seduction.

"The Godget is my shepherd, I shall not want. Now I lay me down with Kate, I pray the Lord ..." for free weekend minutes and mp3 downloads! White Stripes are the new Pink! One Billion iTunes: "Buddy, where have you been?"

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Brian Sorrell earns his keep as a programmer, furniture maker and web site designer. He uses his training in philosophy on bicycling, audio engineering, sculpture, writing and weekly barbecues. Some of his pursuits are documented in his philosophical works, at theBlueSmokeBand.com and at BriCycle. Share the joy. Play loud.
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An Odyssey Through Best Buy
Published: March 01, 2006
Type: Opinion
Section: Culture
Filed Under: Culture: Fashion and Beauty, Culture: Humor and Satire, Culture: Media, Culture: Society, Sci/Tech: Personal Tech
Writer: Brian Sorrell
Brian Sorrell's BC Writer page
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Comments

#1 — March 3, 2006 @ 17:54PM — Aaman [URL]

That was like a stream-of-consciousness technophiliac odyssey - wish it was longer:)

#2 — March 4, 2006 @ 22:51PM — JELIEL³ [URL]

Wicked article.

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