Has Capitalism Gone Too Far?

Ronald Bailey | January 15, 2004

"If he was proud of it, and he enjoyed sharing it with you, wouldn�t he like you to have his penis and testicles to keep, treasure, and remember him by?," asks Intimate Mementos which offers to plasticize his private parts for eternity. Cost? A bargain at only $2400.

Comments

|1.15.04 @ 2:42AM|#

At least it'll be in plastic, so none of those cannibal cult guys can get to it.

Warren|1.15.04 @ 3:57AM|#

Are you kidding me? I think I still have that, paper weight craft set, from when I was eight or nine lying around somewhere. I'll be happy to plasticize your whatevers for a tenth of that.

|1.15.04 @ 4:40AM|#

You want to do what? To my WHAT?

|1.15.04 @ 6:18AM|#

It would probably be more popular to offer plasticized lips, so your deceased not-so-loved one can kiss your ass in perpetuity.

|1.15.04 @ 6:59AM|#

What a rip-off! Get a Make Your Own Dildo Kit for only $99 right here: http://www.goodvibes.com/

|1.15.04 @ 10:28AM|#

Nah, that's nothing. I liked the character in Robert Anton Wilson's "Schrodinger Cat Trilogy" that had his penis turned into a dildo after a sex change.

Franklin Harris|1.15.04 @ 10:31AM|#

This gives new meaning to the phrase, "Go fuck yourself."

jmr|1.15.04 @ 10:41AM|#

no, capitalism IS hilarious, though.
JMR

StMack|1.15.04 @ 11:15AM|#

At $2,400 it had better come with batteries.

|1.15.04 @ 11:41AM|#

I wouldn't touch this with a 10" pole.

|1.15.04 @ 12:24PM|#

This was already done by Cynthia Plaster Caster and the "Plaster Casters" back in the 60's.

She was particularly interested in preserving the "members" of Rock & Roll bands of the era. Jimi Hendrix was one of her exhibits.

|1.16.04 @ 1:32AM|#

I would consider this "gift" for my wife after my death, but I can assure you there isn't enough room on our coffee table for such a centerpiece.

[/swagger off]

In all seriousness, such a development, if it becomes common-place, would demand a whole new category of social etiquette. How does one react to seeing the plasticized penis of a neighbor's late partner on the mantel? How does one remain polite in that situation? I'm not sure if I could go through afternoon tea and not make some mention of the risque fossil next to me on the end-table.

--VRWA

|1.16.04 @ 1:36AM|#

Cynthia Plaster Caster now has a website where you can buy casts of a variety of musicians, including Jimi Hendrix.

Dunno the URL. Google her name.