It's all the same

It's silly to attach too much significance to the Miss Universe pageant, but that won't stop me. It's sad but predictable that the US contestant would be booed; it's what we get for putting Cheney and the Chimp in office and keeping them there and we all share the blame for that. But since this pageant is, like a dog show, all about maintaining breed standards, it does point out the increasing uniformity of the modern capitalist world and the dramatic reduction of choices globalization allows us.

Want a new car to cruise the boulevard? Which off-road vehicle would you like? Want something sporty for those mountain roads, something swanky to show up at the yacht club in, something smooth and stable for the interstate? Which off-road vehicle would you like?

Who is the most beautiful woman in the world? here are some identical products to choose from. Miss Korea, Miss Brazil - they're all the same as Miss Venezuela; same hair, same build, same features. Yes, they're all attractive, but no, they don't represent the women of the world in all their varieties.

Paris Bistros close to make way for another Starbucks clone, all cities have the same architecture, people in New Guinea and Finland watch American Idol and eat at McDonalds. Welcome to planet Stepford.