Slashdot Mirror
Star Trek Fragrances
An anonymous reader writes "I am a trek fan and excited about the new movie, but this is too much. From the Trek Movie Article:
'Genki Wear, known for its licensed science fiction jewelry and perfumes, has produced what might be the most unusual Star Trek product ever: Star Trek colognes and perfume based on the original 1960s television show. ... There are three fragrances planned for 2009 with the monikers 'Tiberius," "Red Shirt" and "Ponn Farr."'" Are they telling us we stink?
The United States is losing its superpower status. We are slowly exiting the development phase and becoming a "real country". By this I mean immigration rates are stabilizing and we will rely more on birthrates to grow the population.
As a population growth mechanism, immigration is one of the most ideal methods. With it, we can hand pick citizens from other countries and choose the best of the best. Overseas travel was only available to the very top citizenry of other countries until recently, so it help weed out immigrants. Because they are separated from their families and because there is only a relatively weak social safety net in the United States, they are forced to work under duress to remain here. They are in fact modern day slaves. They remain here in part because it's better here than anywhere else, but that situation may be nearing an end.
Today, we have lost control of immigration and have more people than ever staying illegally in our country. These people are not necessarily the brightest or most moral individuals, and they are less stable in terms of safety nets than the past immigrants and thus are easier to exploit. These people compete with our careers, forcing us to go through constant re-education, which combined with the ever need for ever increasing specialization (and thus ever increasing amounts of education) in our economy, takes a toll on our spirits. Most of us are treading water with excessive amounts of work and fewer opportunities.
We rely on birthrates to grow the population, and the lowest class produce more offspring than the brightest individuals. Middle class whites are reproducing at levels below replacement rate, whereas welfare mothers are producing at eye popping rates. Regardless of social class, it's impossible to hand pick children and some people, even of high class, end up with mental problems.
The United States has jumped the shark in terms of our hand-picked "uber genetics", and that means we may not remain world leader for much longer. We haven't lost our knack at subjugation foreigners (whether immigrants our outsourced labor), but like slavery in the United States, that too may come to an end.
Quite honestly, I am optimistic about living in a more civilized, if less technologized, society.
- Profit Bob
Harbinger of the truth.