4728 Overkill

 Not a bad tree. Just too much in too small a space.  Goes along perfectly with Christmas sales starting at Halloween and Christmas music all day on the radio since… well, some stations started slipping in a few on Labor Day.  And everyone who is going to do it, by now already is doing it.

Christmas music with a few exceptions is beautiful. Usually simple. Usually powerful or sentimentally evocative. But that’s not most of what we’re hearing now.  The good stuff may actually wait until the holiday, almost a month away.

 Have you not heard enough of Rudolph or Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer or “Alvin!!!!” to last you until the ghost of Christmas Future materializes, which never will happen? 

 Are you ready for the disco/dance version of Silent Night? Or the hiphop version of O, Come All Ye Faithful.

The overkill is intentional. Megamart doesn’t want to be out Chrismassed by Tangent or CostLess.  WXYD doesn’t want to be out caroled by WDYX.  Or out Alvined.

 It’s a trend that isn’t contained in one area of the culture. Look at today’s politicians. Soak the rich. Soak the poor. Get out the vote! Prevent the vote! 

 And automotives: You can’t have the high powered electric lane-warning beep unless you buy our Superluxury Package which features stuff you don’t want and will never use.

 Air travel a la cart. X inches of legroom costs extra. Fifty pounds of luggage is okay, but costs extra and doubles if --Goodness! -- your suitcase weighs 52.

 Your computer or smartphone gives you 500 ways to do everything except the one function you most need. There’s only one way to do that and it’s hard to find.  And not in the Start Up sheet. Also, you have to learn a new tech vocabulary every time you switch brands. 

 There’s also reverse overkill.  Note the weight of your former one pound box of spaghetti. It weighs 12 ounces. Including the air space that used to contain pasta. Many containers of ice cream have much more air than the churners admit.

 But the worst of it is too much of the wrong music too early.  There are two good solutions. 1. Pandora or YouTube or 2. Shoot the radio.  Some of them are fun to watch when they splinter into shards of plastic.  Wear safety goggles and ear plugs.

 I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®

Any Questions? wesrichards@gmail.com

© WR 2021