31 August 2005

Have-It-All Habitat episode guide

Have-It-All Habitat is a tongue-in-cheek segment led by a fictitious sociologist (the show has gone through three different ones so far) from overseas who has come to Idaho to study the consumerist tendencies of Americans. A common theme heard in the segment is a reference to the coming demise of America's rampant indulgent consumption of fossil fuel resources. Such a scenario portends a profound alteration of lifestyle for all Americans. The notion of such a future shock is explored on Have-It-All Habitat, along with criticisms of sprawl, SUVs, fast food, etc. and how they contribute to fossil fuel depletion. Autous primus (show 1): Dr. Yuri Andropov observes SUV salesperson Eli Braggard during his daily commute in a gigantic SUV to his dealership. Most of the day is spent stuck in traffic on a hot day without air conditioning. Eli and Yuri perform a song, "Waitin' & Sweatin'." Suburbious sprawlus (shows 2 & 3): Dr. Andropov meets with Darla McKee, a homemaker who shows him around her gigantic suburban home. Presented in two parts. Machinus slavius (show 4): Dr. Zeppo Hindenberg takes over and spends the day observing Greg Smyth deal with the maintenance of his vast power tool collection. The song "Machinus Slavius" is performed. Spendus maniacus (show 5): Dr. Hindenburg follows Jeff and Lisa Jasper around on their day of rampant shopping at the mall. Jeff and Lisa sing "I Wanna Buy It." Lisa leaves Jeff for Dr. Hindenburg. Insatius appetitus (show 6): Dr. Karl Bachauser rides around with Billy Gravestone as he speeds from one fast-food drive-thru to another. The duo performs "Fast Food." Rapidus aquaeous (show 8): Dr. Bachauser takes a motorboat ride with Larry Swearengin, who enjoys displaying his high-speed watercraft to all others in its midst in the lacustrine environment. Nimbyus ridiculous (show9): Dr. Bachauser observes Hester Corninghem, a well-known Nimbyite, as the subject for this case study. She represents a neighborhood association that opposes a proposed condominium project to be built on Croissant Avenue, located on a terrace overlooking the city in the valley. This type demonstrates a peculiar resistance to almost any new change or development within or near its environment. This condition is known as “Not In My Back Yard” syndrome.