A cocophony of ill-blended, incoherent money.

Don't we have the most god-awful cash in the world? Back when the dollar was almighty, it was quaint, sexy, and even mysterious. Now that it's got the value of toilet paper, it looks down right shitty. And these recent attempt to half-hearted redesign it, are utterly disastrous.

Have you seen the new nickel? What was wrong with the old nickel? I don't get it. Money has gone the way of stamps. I guess the strategy is seeing as we've had to print an additional 583 Billion dollars (and issued an equal amount of securities, i.e. debt notes on the loans we've taken to pay for this war) It seems that the U.S. treasure has taken a page from the post office and figured that if you issue hundreds of different types of bills and coins, then you increase the amount that won't go into circulation as collectors add them to their collection rather than stuff them into envelopes intended for their nieces and nephews.

I guess people must be hoarding and collecting all of this ugly money. But I was thinking the other day; seeing as the money looks so horrible, why not hire actual designers to design money? I'm sure, as in everything else, the creativity of true artisans in fashion and design, could be combined with the world's pre-eminent fraud and counterfeit counter intelligence and we could flood the market with money that not only would be able to spend well, but also, look faaaabulous!

Can you imagine? What would be more appropriate to adorn Benjamin Franklins $100 image? The U.S. Mint, or Gianni (may he RIP) Versace? Can you imagine the feeling of buying your loved one a diamond (or course not a blood diamond) with Fendi designed $500 bills? or tipping a chauffeur with a D&G (Dolce & Gabanna) $50? Why we could even recruit someone as minimalist and intelligently refined as Kate Spade to design the lowly $1 bill. I think you can see the potential.

I'm sure Sean John would love to weigh in on the much needed, but previously non-existent $25 coin... Or, perhaps a special limited edition $911 dollar bill based upon the artwork of Andy Warhol to commemorate the attack upon our nation that spawned tumult about the globe?

I don't know, something needs to be done, and soon. It's getting increasingly embarrassing to pull out a cacophony of ill-blended, incoherent money when I'm exchanging dollars at the Banque Du France on the Champs D'elysee!!