i'm reading barbarian architecture, thorsten veblen's chicago. he came when the university was still being built. he called it barbarian architecture. i wonder what he would call the obamachron. wouldn't it be cool if we could interview someone from the past about how things are getting played out now. i can readily imagine what he would say about the oligarch and his barbarian tower in the park. ok, as a matter of fact, i'm in conversation with him now.