Top

arts

Stories

 

Trendzilla

Black Power

More proof the '70s live: first it was the return of the nylon Velcro wallet, and now—the Black Power afro pick? Kind of. This Chinese-made lint roller is way too close, stylistically, to those afro picks—the ones that had, as a handle, an arm ending in a clenched fist? Those were the coolest afro picks ever, and it is not a little unsettling that they've been resurrected as a lint roller with a tiny black kitty paw and a hole through its middle. You know: so you can hang it on a hook. Like the Man did to the Black Power movement.

Is this really what we want to be known for as a culture? Sure, we send jobs overseas all the time; and, sure, some of those jobs are making Levi's and Converse. But isn't it time we stopped the insanity while there are still a few American designs conceivably made stateside—a few aesthetic benchmarks to which we can cling, and stuff in our back pockets next to an orange nylon Velcro wallet trimmed in brown, with a huge, red Edelbrock logo silk-screened on it?

Yes. Yes, it is. Besides, this thing is the worst lint roller ever; the sheets stick together, and they're impossible to tear off one at a time. But now I'm spoiling Sunday's "A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney"—and his flying carpet graphic would've been perfect to reuse in a segment on lint rollers. Sorry about that.

 
My Voice Nation Help
 
©2013 OC Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Orange County

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city