#1

Now that Moscow and Beijing have overtaken Los Vegas as the world's reigning capital(s) of excess and bad taste, and the Chinese replaced us as the most obnoxious tourists, can we rest on our laurels (or at least take a rest)?

Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Boston, Manhattan, and Miami are still capitals (of other things) in their own right, so "we" make the most expensive and violent films, our plastic surgeons can promise women the biggest silicon boobs, hip-hop and soul reign king, we win the most Olympic Medals, our research universities top the lists, Apple makes the fastest, coolest portable devices, and we produce the most carbon dioxide emissions (total and per capita).

So maybe we can.  


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