Did anyone else watch the Video Music Awards last night and find themselves a little disgusted with the state of popular music? After an over-the-top, but great Green Day performance at the start of the show, Diddy, né Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Sean Combs, ad naseum presided over a stupid, self-congratulatory display of excess and the sad half-baked pretenders that pass as rock and r&b stars these days. When Mr. Combs started giving away his diamond watches to members of the audience, I think I threw up a little in the back of my mouth.

I’m pushing 34 and understand that I’m an old codger in pop culture terms, but I hope that last night’s craptacular signals the increasing irrelevance of MTV in popular music. Otherwise, I’m really sad for every 14 year old who’s left with only this band of idiots to obsess over.