Materialistic Gorging

Our society has become gluttonous. The newspaper on Thanksgiving day had over 60 ads in it.



Sure, it's good to have lots of fun products to choose from. But there's a limit.

A couple of days ago I did a little post about TVs. Let's start there. I have a 26-inch LCD TV which I like a lot. I bought it a couple of years ago, it has a great picture, and works great.

This past month I have been considering buying a 32-inch or 37-inch TV and maybe giving my current TV to my daughter.

But if you walk into a store, well, all they can talk about is how BIG a TV you can buy. Looking for a 32-inch? Don't be crazy, dude! (I hate that term!) Check out this 60 inch plasma! LCD? Hey, dude! Can't go under 46 inches man! Get real, dude!

I am real. I know what I want. And if some 20 something calls me "dude" there may be one less "dude" working at that store! Heh! Want to go big?? Here's a picture of an 82-inch LCD TV!



But wait. You can buy a 108-inch model if you like. I think there are movie theatres with smaller screens than some of these new TVs!

How about a cell phone? My phone looks pretty much like this one. People call these clam shell phones. It works great.



Most people today buy a phone that looks like this. It does everything you can do at your computer and you know what? You can even use it as a phone!



Don't get me wrong. I think all these new and improved products are great. I would love to have a few new things, too. But what I don't like is this mentality I seem to see in so many people who feel they have to have the newest, biggest, fastest and most incredible product on the market.

I am reminded of a West Wing episode when Aimee Mann is singing a James Taylor song at the House of Blues.



Donna is talking to Josh and says

"there are 53 players on an NFL team. The University of Colorado has 130. Eighty-five are on full scholarship. I'm all for back ups and substitutes, but can't the guy who's fourth on the depth chart at right outside linebacker also be fourth on the depth chart at left outside linebacker?



If a college football team cut back to 70 scholarships they would still be 3 deep and still have a fourth string punter and place kicker. Fifteen scholarships ..... that's a wrestling team."



Well, what the heck? I love the West Wing and this is a clip from one of my favorite episodes. It's too much for a blog post but I'm going to be a glutton. Enjoy if you have the time!