From the day
Perspective: The Future Historian · Tactile
I run my thumb over the synthetic, bristly fur of a Zhu Zhu Pet, marveling at how these plastic-cased rodents became the gold standard of a crumbling economy. My fingers snag on the rough denim of my oversized jeans as I check my iPhone; truly, "there’s an app for that," though it hasn’t figured out how to lower the gas prices creeping toward two dollars again. Outside the shop, the bass from a passing car thumps the steady, syncopated rhythm of "Single Ladies," the digital crispness of Beyoncé’s voice cutting through the biting January air. I tighten my polyester scarf against the chill, sensing that we are teetering on a precipice where our digital desires are far outstripping our tangible means.