I have been thinking a lot about Baudrillard's suggestion that significance requires reflection, and the idea reflection is not something that we are capable in a world that strives for perfection. It's true! History is completely lost and forgotten through the pursuit of perfection. It's almost as though we want to forget the history of some things--we want to feel as though we've come such a long way from before (especially technology wise) and we smirk at the attempts of the past. Music is a perfect example. Few would be caught dead on their morning jog with a tape player hooked to their shorts or sliding an 8-Track into their car stereo. And hence, music's history is lost. Please don't allow yourself to feel any loss, though--no one else does! We need to forget about the old and bring in the new! Adorno and Horkheimer, although very un-postmodernist, do touch on this idea. It really ties into the idea of popular culture, mass culture, and constant consumerism. We are constantly presented with endless simulacra and furthermore, the commodifcation of that endless simulacra. Planned obsolescence is the driving force of capitalist socitey today. How many new versions of the i-pod have come out in the last three years? They are really trying hard to perfect this whole music thing. And there is not a single doubt in my mind that countless people have "invested" in purchasing not only one or two but all of these "new-and-improved" versions. Our pursuit or perfection is not only making history disappear, it's costing a lot of dough (not to mention turning a huge profit for some lucky investors). Maybe if we sat back for a second and reflected, we might find a thread of significance in this hyperreality. (And save some money while we're at it).