I know that this post will piss off a few readers. Sorry in advance. Really. Especially to Paige.
I was talking with a friend the other day about the top three locations in need of a tactical nuclear strike:
1. Vegas
2. Burning Man
3. Boulder, CO
Before everybody gets their panties in a wad thinking I hate debauchery and drugs...think again. I support those things wholeheartedly when done without shame. Why fly to Nevada when you should be able to have the guts to act out your fantasies at home? Okay, so gambling is illegal in your state. So is prostitution. Find a local indian reservation and give them your money at the Blackjack table. (The prostitution part: can't help you there) I think that Vegas gives people an excuse to harbor all their douchebaggery and let it out in one fell swoop in 4 days of striped-man-blouse-wearing-and-"bro!"-sayin on The Strip. Lame. I say embrace your tendencies. Don't be ashamed. If you are, perhaps you need to work on exorcising them instead of bottling them up.
My $.02.
And Burning Man. Don't get me started (Caveat: I've never been). But I have lived in Humboldt County, CA for two years. I'm more than qualified to have an opinion about that one. All my friends grew pot in their closets. You could smoke a joint walking down the street in Arcata. But everybody was white. Everybody was well-educated. Everybody had a liberal arts degree. Everybody recycled. And if you didn't fit that description; you were not acknowledged as a part of the culture.
Hence my dislike of Burning Man. Talk about a weekend of SameThink while wearing Crocs. How about you crawl out from under your fair-trade rock and do something outside of your comfort zone?
Bah.
So I've explained the first two. But what about the People's Republic of Boulder?
It's like living in an echo chamber, man.
"I love you"
"I love you"
"I love you" comes the reply
"I think all large corporations are evil"
"I think all large corporations are evil" your echo says
"Everybody should eat wheatgrass"
"Everybody should eat wheatgrass" you hear
Damnit, your vision of a utopic and carbon-neutral future creates boundaries. There are hick farmers in Arkansas doing more to further the cause of sustainability than the Trustafarians living in their Land Rover and rock-climbing in La Sportivas.
So get over yourselves. If you want a sustainable tomorrow, it's time to stop shutting out the rest of the world. How about a culture of inclusion, not exclusion? Let those who don't look, think, or act like you have a chance to share. Because therein lies the strength we need for a better tomorrow.
Put down your soy latte, turn off the lights in your LEED house, and think about it.
Thanks, Christof, for the perspective on that one.
10 comments:
Is there a place I can donate funds to help with carrying out this mission? Please?
I agree sounds like a great idea
Now there's a conversation starter to last an entire winter group ride!
WOW...
Like. I don't know how I somehow encouraged this stream-o'-awesomeness. But, I wholeheartedly support it.
This might win my award for most-awesome-post-of-the-year. Not just because you mentioned my name. But mostly because of that.
Vegas is still the cheapest fly-in to get to the Utah desert...so please don't nuke the airport!
I feel the same way about Vegas.
Yuck.
Went there for new years eve and got completely freaked out and disgusted.
Great post!! =)
Oh Mandy. I love the post! I did go to Vegas once, mostly because I needed to experience it all. I was bored after day 2. No need to go back. Burning Man? Never been there either, but have heard so many people talk about how great it is, and how existential, that I now know for certain, I never need to go. I'd probably not like many of the folks there. Boulder? Been there, done that, and didn't like it. I don't know why so many cyclists live there, and around there, the riding is OK, but it shouldn't be some cycling mecca. Then again, as long as more people don't move to Asheville, I'll be happy, they can stay in Boulder with their trust funds, Range Rovers, and all too expensive bicycles that their parents bought for them (you can tell I didn't grow up with lots of money). That, and there is just too much attitude out there. F' em.
OK, I thought of one more thing. There is a certain cyclist in Boulder, who has a blog (damn, who doesn't these days???), and proclaims to be some sort of elite cyclist, or dare I say, a "pro" cyclist. This person has free bikes and gear coming out the whazoo, and a high level coach, fitting at the most expensive high tech places, doctors, and everything else. Thing is, this person sucks at bike racing. Sure, I still read the blog to get my chuckles, and I hope that this person does well, but it hasn't happened yet, and probably won't. Time to give up the dream, and you know, get a job.
Rant over...
i'm afraid that blowing up Vegas will just scatter the fragments, which will regenerate (like worms or the T-1000) into mini-Vegases. baaaaaaaaaad idea.
Mandy™. Stepping on my hopes, dreams, and aspirations since 2007.
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