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November 17, 2002
Houston
Houston is one big strip mall. I enter the middle lane. I move the lever to turn off the turn signals. The clickety-clack of the turn signal dissolves into silence. The regular clip of the tires against the concrete is once again audible.
From all sides they scream out. Bright, big neon signs proclaiming similar messages in quickly digestible portions. Outback Steakhouse. Pappadeux's. Denny's. Macaroni Grill. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of a non-standard sign. Rita's Mexican Food. Vying for attention. Drowning in a sea of tran-american corporate branding.
I watch them dissappear into the Texas sunset in the rear view mirror. In a few miles the scene will form again. The same stores. Bed Bath and Beyond. Linen's and Things. Best Buy. Circuit City. Each with their distinct logo and symbols, proclaiming their desire to help in our conspicuous consumption. Capitalism's promise: to sell us what we don't need at 20% off.
Posted at November 17, 2002 10:11 PM