Theme-park nation

I read it. I found it interesting, but not particularly persuasive, in the sense of Orlando as paradigm for America, because it is pure consumption with no underlying value on one end, and low-wage labor on the other end. That makes it have its own unique issues that strike me as distinct from the Chicago suburbs, the DC suburbs, etc. I admit I like Disneyworld a lot. It's one of the greatest theatrical achievements in history. But the world around it is hard to control, absolutely. After reading the article, I still think I can move there, and be happy.

I visit WDW every couple of years. On the bus from the airport, I am always amazed by how close to the alligator-infested ponds, canals, etc. they're building houses in metro Orlando. (Most of these houses, in fact, have alligator cages over their back porches and swimming pools.) Keep an eye on those kids!

I (heart) Nat'l Geographic, and I always have. My grandfather started his first subscription in 1936, and gave my father a subscription every year at Christmas since 1955. When my grandpa died in 1976, my dad continued the Christmas tradition with me - of course, I was 7 at the time, and didn't get too into the articles until I was in high school, but OH those maps and photos! Gosh! I just thought about that - between my dad and I, we have every issue of Nat'l Geographic for over 70 years! And it keeps getting better.

James Kunstler's article on Las Vegas makes some interesting points about this: "Las Vegas - Utopia of Clowns" from "The City in Mind" http://www.kunstler.com/excerpt_lasvegas.html

That was a good article, Matt. My husband and I have been to Vegas a couple of times and it just seemed so unreal (or maybe hyper-real). We were watching a travel show on PBS the other day and it was showing the Trevi Fountain in Rome. My comment was that it didn't even look real---there was probably a bigger, better one in Vegas or Disney World.

I only wish Kunstler weren't so crass with his "ClusterF" title. I can't forward the link to everyone that should be reading his stuff! Another interesting point Kunstler makes about Disneyland in one of his books ("Geography of Nowhere", I believe) is about the failure of the Parisian Disneyland. The urban environment of France (at least the part of it built before WWII) already has the quality, charm, and "community gravitas" that Disneyland strives so hard to emulate. Because American sprawl represents aesthetic and architectural poverty, some of us make our semi-yearly pilgrimage to Disnelyand for our fix of everything lacking in our environment.