Err,
Yet here we are, deep into the worst decade in modern US history, and its art looks great.
Because ShrimpyMcBushitlerChimp is in the White House this is the worst decade in modern American history? Worse than the 1930s with the Great Depression? Worse than the 40s, fighting Hitler and Tojo (hundreds of thousands of Americans killed)? The 60s and 70s with Vietnam (50,000 dead)?
Oh Tim, you are so touchingly sentimental. As if the mere deaths of thousands of people had any bearing on whether it was a “good” or “bad” year.. tsk.
Makes sense if you narrow the definition of modern history as being anything in the last ten years. Of course, that also makes it the best decade in modern history and the most mediocre.
30s: started off pretty shit, but also “the decade we got out of the Depression and headed into…”
The 40s! Went from being funny country with some interesting jazz to world’s biggest industrial and technological power, beating fascism along the way, and also neatly disposing of annoying competitor’s financial hegemony. Created welfare state, computers, nukes, massive infrastructure development. Moved millions out of rural poverty. Got cracking on economically-integrated western alliance to contain remaining totalitarian superpower.
60s, 70s: Went to space! At home, nobbled the Klan. Some damn good movies, artworks, books, music, science…
00s: any achievements at all? any? just one?
Tim adds: American Idol?
Imported.
When did they invent the iPod? Was that since 2000? NB mp3’s were invented by German professors as a spin-off of compressing computer files generally and Creative’s are better and cheaper, but iPod’s are still a pretty neat invention.
MP3 – Fraunhofer, or Alcatel depending on who wins the lawsuit. I refuse to accept that AAC format is an achievement.
Toshiba did the extra-thin hard disk drive.
The pretty exterior is the work of Jonathan Ive, who is British.
OK, Alex, I’ll concede on iPod, but there must be something.
Tim adds: Of course there’s something. What we’re all doing here…blogging.
Leave a Reply