Oh, the Humannequinity!

As the holiday season approaches, and politicians and economists alike put windfall retail sales atop their Santa wish lists (at this point, not even worshipping a Golden Bull is out of the question), I think we should all remember the those oft-forgotten stalwarts of the American ConsuMonster; the little people who endure long work weeks, horrible office uniforms, and belittling condecension.  And no, I'm not talking about our friends in the elf-impersonating industry.  Love.

I'm referring to those tireless work-and-clothes horses that are our Mannequin Proletariat.  Forced to wear whatever bizarre or tasteless drapery passes for fashion, these oppressed plastic masses go the distance every year against the ravaging hordes of shoppers willing to literally buy the shirts off their backs.  And if an arm get broken here or there, what concern is that to the satisfied customer?

Having taken this about as far as it can go, let me just say that we're now T-minus 3 days from the opening salvo in this year's shop-ocalypse, and never have I felt such a palpable pulsation of consumism as I do in New York.  In a supposedly down economy, retail stores remain packed for base as well as haute cotour items.  While there is a certain tension release we all get from criticizing automakers for flying private jets, there's no less hypocrisy in a city that's facing several hundred thousand job losses in the next year due to the collapse of the financial service industry and yet which still has enough spare change to pickup a few more Armani | Exchange jogging suits.  

I'm no Trotsky, so I'm getting off the podium, but after a short roam on Broadway (where I snagged this swanky new hoodie!), i just thought the general mood (and its infectiousness) should be spread around a little further.

Good luck with your own christmas lists and mob jostling.

Weber

::(lame) Texpatriot