Month: February 2002 (Page 1 of 4)

Recently saw this article by the great supernatural debunker James Randi about how he believes media psychics like John Edward (“Crossing Over”) work an audience.

I like James Randi. I think he provides a note of common sense in discussions about the paranormal. But the thing is, I also like John Edward. I think he provides entertainment for people like me who don’t believe in him (his show is great trashy TV), and he provides some comfort for people who miss their loved ones. Yes, he makes a good living at it, but so do those guys selling “Make Big Money Now” tapes on late-night infomercials, and I wouldn’t let them borrow my car either. As long as John Edward isn’t bilking people out of their savings with his “powers,” I just don’t see the harm.

I think it was a major mistake for them to mount another “Survivor” series so soon after the end of the last one. It makes it feel more played out to have it starting up again with barely a breather – no time to build up anticipation. That was definitely the case for me. I wasn’t even going to watch it tonight, but I broke down and gave it a try anyway.

Well, the no food and water thing was intriguing – for about a minute. I nicknamed the tribes “The Ugly Tribe” and “The Good-Looking Tribe” right away. Then I felt sort of numb for the rest of the hour. When we got to tribal council, I smiled a half-smile about the “tribal marker” they use to write down people’s names. Then it was over.

I don’t think I’ll be watching this one any more.

Had lunch at your basic Poor Man’s Planet Hollywood chain restaurant today. Just as we had been served our food, some unlucky sucker at the next table was having a birthday.

I think you know where this story is going.

It happened that the staff member who was bellowing out the military-themed birthday greeting, alongside 40 or so of his compadres, was standing right next to me. So he was essentially shouting into my ear. And don’t forget the clapping. Ugh. “There should be a law,” indeed.

My two reactions to this event, in order, were:

1. We should get our lunch for free.

2. If I were the guy who had to shout out birthday greetings, I would get a different job or kill myself.

Recently some friends and I have been playing Dungeons & Dragons.

[pause to let snickering die down]

Well, snicker all you want, but it’s been incredibly fun. Playing a game like this, which is all marks on paper and your own mind, makes you realize how little imagination we are called on to use in our everyday lives. We have so much entertainment in this society, we are drowning in it. But 99 percent of it requires no imagination whatsoever – it’s just poured over you like syrup on a pancake. You only have to look at the toy aisles to see what I’m talking about. There’s still a huge Lego aisle, for example, but they’re all pre-measured kits that make a Star Wars figurine or some such. Try to find just a big box of regular Legos, with maybe some of those green platforms to build things on. It’s harder than you think.

Yes, I am a grumpy old man. Let’s move on.

I played D&D a little in high school, and getting back to it has been a mind-expanding experience, especially with the imaginative group we have going. They’ve been pressuring me to be the dungeon master next time. I have some ideas about an enchanted cathedral, with a dark side (all ebony and black marble) and a light side (all glass and pearl).

After all, how bad can a game be that lets you command monsters like the black pudding and gelatinous cube?

Watched Fox’s “24” for the first time tonight (yes, I’m woefully behind the times with pop culture these days). I thought it was pretty much a standard action series, with way too many portentous looks and pounding music at every turn. Maybe I just missed my chance to enjoy it, since 12 “hours” have already gone by in the story. But does it strike anyone else that Kiefer Sutherland’s wife seems more the age of his mother, and his daughter more like his girlfriend? Just wondering.

John C. Dvorak, the Jabba the Hut of computer punditry, wrote a snarky review of “The Cluetrain Manifesto,” a book I believe is brilliant and one of the best business or technology books I’ve ever read. Chris Locke, one of Cluetrain’s authors, responded with perhaps the best use of the phrase “blow me” I’ve ever read.

I love it when things get interesting.

Finally got around to writing some editing pages for the links database you see to the right. So I updated the URLs that had moved, and added some additions. Hope you enjoy checking them out.

Apparently in Alabama, things other than Osama Bin Laden merit the designation “inherent evil.” Apparently they have an unusual interpretation of the separation of church and state there as well.

I found it interesting that even Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, not exactly the champion of the downtrodden, took it upon himself to blast the judge’s words as “way over the line” and “un-Christian,” and even went so far as to wonder if you’re gay in Alabama, will you get a fair trial?

Even Bill O’Reilly can surprise you sometimes.

My friend Mike Van Sistine is furthering his burgeoning photography career with another show, beginning Friday at Mother Fool’s coffee house, right in my neighborhood. Follow the link on his name to the portfolio site I designed for him, and while you’re there, send him some e-mail and tell him what you think of his work. Artists like that. And if you happen to be in town next week, stop by and take a look for yourself.