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A blogger over at Deadspin has his knickers all in a twist over the Williams-Sonoma holiday catalog, a publication that, "features a dazzling assortment of shit you can't afford for a house you'll never live in." Surely it can't be that bad? Who could object to a gorgeous chicken coop crafted of reclaimed, rot-resistant wood and painted with a rustic white chicken by artist Mary Lee Rybar (with "White Glove delivery") for a mere $859.95 (plus $150 shipping fee)? Or, say, a gingerbread estate (sadly, no longer available online) for $249.95 that weighs 18 pounds, features royal-icing window shutters and can be personalized with someone's name? There are many such items available for the holidays, things you didn't know you even needed, such as "hand cut and individually dusted" snowflake marshmallows.
"A thousand years ago, you could have lived in a hut and been happy because you didn't know that life could be any better," the author continues. "But in 21st century America, you are constantly being shown how much better life can be, and that is what makes your life so fucking intolerable." That life, apparently, has a chicken coop in it.
· The 2013 Hater's Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog [Deadspin via Curbed]
· "Ugly" Contents of New J.Crew Catalog Inspire Online Rant [Racked]
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