Salon.com > Out of Touch

Hospitals court the 1 percent — with lobster tails

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

The U.S. Census Bureau has estimated that just over 16 percent of the population -- nearly 50 million individuals -- lacked health insurance in 2010. For people who are uninsured, the financial impact of a single illness or emergency room visit can be disastrous.

That's one reason why the luxury services available at a number of hospitals across the country -- lavishly detailed in a New York Times feature over the weekend -- seem so misguided. While lesser mortals face sometimes hellish emergency room circumstances that they often can't afford, wealthy patients can shell out thousands of dollars a night for "bed linens ... by Frette, Italian purveyors of high-thread-count sheets to popes and princes" -- not to mention "polished marble" bathrooms, multi-course menus and "Ciao Bella gelato ... available on demand."

These are not 2011′s “most fascinating” people

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:00 +0000

You'd be excused for thinking Barbara Walters' list of 2011's "most fascinating people" is some sort of bizarre joke.

Her headliners include Donald Trump, Simon Cowell and the Kardashians -- not to mention other pop-culture aristocrats like Katy Perry, Derek Jeter and Pippa Middleton. Walters' trump card, the year's single "most fascinating" figure, won't be announced until Dec. 14. But on the basis of the stars whose names have been released, things aren't looking particularly timely.

Walters' celebs may "fascinate" in the sense that they continually hijack our attention -- crowding magazine covers, newspaper headlines and TV screens. But in a year of profound social and economic turmoil -- for individuals and whole continents alike -- are they really the sort of cultural idols we need to pretend are interesting?

The most absurd red carpet ever — at the airline gate

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Airline travel is littered with indignities. Long lines, screaming children, cramped quarters, insane fees. Most ridiculous of all, however, are the tiny red carpets installed at boarding gates for "priority" passengers: the rich, the famous, the holders of frequent-flier cards.

What purpose do these gaudy, petty pieces of fabric -- awash in a larger sea of airport gray -- actually serve? It's one thing to board priority passengers first; they have likely paid through the nose for that particular privilege. But is it really necessary to physically separate them from their flight mates, herding them into a distinct but adjacent line -- and making them cross a brightly colored rug on their way out of the terminal?

In any case, it's not exactly a "red carpet," in the traditional sense. It's barely even long enough! No one stops to preen or pose, and it doesn't start or finish at any useful location. It takes you roughly three steps closer to your destination than you were before. A red carpet leading directly to the plane -- now, that would be something to see.

A $5,200 present for Beyoncé’s baby

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

"Taking a bath is a luxuary [sic] nowadays," writes designer Lori Gardner on the website for her showy Diamond Bathtub, a symbol of all that is over-the-top. And soon, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z will have one of her own.

"The Diamond Bathtub makes it easy to relax, unwind, and bask in the glow of a true indulgence" -- allowing you to loosen up in the presence of more than 45,000 "precious imported crystals," Gardner boasts. Sure, it might make some bathers nervous to "unwind" in a tub worth enough to feed a small army -- but how could you say no to something that "brings new meaning to indulgent 'me' time reserved for leisurely soaking in the tub"? And what baby doesn't need some me time after a long day of napping?

Reese Witherspoon and the $3,820 handbag

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:40:00 +0000

"Most Americans can't afford a $1,000 emergency expense," a recent CNNMoney headline proclaimed. But according to RadarOnline, Reese Witherspoon has been spotted carrying a python-skin handbag worth nearly $4,000.

It's not just the item's price tag that's raising eyebrows. A PETA spokeswoman expressed her frustration about the snakeskin accessory (the sale of which is illegal in California, where the star was spotted with her tote), telling the Mail Online: "No matter how much Reese paid for that bag, the animals paid a much higher price. ... These days, it's easy to have a look that kills without killing."

Not only would fake snakeskin be more humane -- it would also be a whole lot cheaper!

Seen something that's Out Of Touch? Send us a tip: outoftouch@salon.com.

Reality check: The shameful Kardashian divorce

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:00:00 +0000

The rumors weren't so crazy after all. It turns out that Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries -- whose August wedding was a black hole for money and media attention -- really are done.

The Kardashians and their pervasive public narrative are fueled by nothing if not the power of conspicuous consumption. (Kim herself makes no secret of the fact that she's a "business woman" -- in fact, it's first of the four adjectives she uses to describe herself on Twitter.) Here are 10 of the most shameful numbers related to the couple's dizzyingly short-lived union:

$15,000-$20,000: Estimated value of Kim & Kris's wedding cake. [New York Post]

$400,000: Total value of the champagne served at the wedding. [New York Post]

$2 million: Value of the wedding's floral arrangements. [Styleite]

Out of touch! The cluelessness of the 1 percent

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Do you have $1,000,000 to drop on a "his & hers" fountain from the outrageous Neiman Marcus Christmas Book? Would you spend $19,000 to tie your shoes with laces of pure gold? Is there a $6,390 toilet in your future? Then this feature is not for you.

As millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet -- navigating an impossible job market and attempting to provide for themselves and their families despite a still-weak economy -- some big spenders (and luxury dealers) are hopelessly out of touch. With your help, we want to start calling them out.

The following slide show highlights nine examples of extravagant purchases or over-the-top marketing that we've noticed over the past few weeks. We're going to continue shaming these examples of embarrassingly conspicuous consumption -- and want you to lend us a hand! If you notice a great example, send your tips to outoftouch@salon.com.