I was leafing through the Feb. Bon Appetit — the magazine’s first “green” issue; more on that in a future “Edible Media” post — when I came upon an ad for something called the Chrysler Town & Country.

It shows a white suburban family standing in front of their SUV and McPalace, glowing and looking happy. Dad’s holding a football; 2.5 or so grinning brats are tossing around a basketball. You know: sports utility vehicle.

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All of that is de rigueur — the bread and butter of glossy magazines. I can handle it.

But then this prose confronted me:

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Entertainment to go

Swivel ‘n Go seating allows the kids to play games, get a jump on homework, or have a meal in comfort.

family fun!

Oh, dear. But it wasn’t over.

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A satellite TV system SIRIUS backseat TV, streams video Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network to two [not one!!!!!!] independent DVD screens.

more family fun!

Something called the MyGIG Multimedia Entertainment System also figures into this rolling barrel of laughs.

This might mean something to something to some Grist readers: the models pictured are actually a “real” family — “prime-time celebs Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek [whose grin, for what it’s worth, is bone-chilling] and their three kids.”

so much family fun!

I find myself stymied by this spectacle. What can it mean?