As The World Turns

Among the relentless monotone of news about stupid, political bickering, violent law-breakers, and veiled infomercials disguised as reporting, appeared a brief announcement that the World Expo opened today in Shanghai. Yes, World Expos still exist.

Despite providing some of the most iconic structures in the world, it seems that the US has grown disinterested in participating in these expos, which is completely out of character. America not wanting to show off to the world? No way!

After watching our "too big to fail" companies literally showered with money from our government, it's completely frustrating that this same government finds attending world expos a waste of money. Um, Uncle Sam, it's time to review your priorities, because this thing we're doing now...it's not working.

To make matters worse, the constant stream of product placements, fear-mongering, and xenophobia on television make me think that people are conspiring to shield us from the progress of the rest of the world. I don't expect the coverage of the World Expo to go beyond that 10-second announcement this morning.

It frightens me that World Expos are continuing to be held, yet I've been brainwashed to believe that it's an archaic pastime, and even believed that it no longer existed.