"Bling" is everywhere!

Okay, I can't remember the first time I saw the word "bling" and wondered what it meant, and went on that quest to know about things street. A couple of months ago at least. I remember asking the "peeps" about it at one of our spa nights, and having a joke that I pronounced it as a nerdly "bling" instead of more streetwise. But now, the word is appearing "everywhere." By "everywhere" I mean in places it shouldn't be, it just sounds wrong. Like whenever white folks try to talk like they're from the 'hood (a la Justin Timberlake). I saw it in a feature in Vogue magazine. The other night on Entertainment Tonight Mary Hart said "bling", I think in reference to Bennifer. I know I had this Ali G. fascination, but Mary Hart saying "bling" is just plain wrong.

Won't link it cuz it's probably dynamic, but today Slate features a Doonesbury cartoon on flash mobs.