Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Here’s another series from his earlier TV show, A Cook’s Tour.
Part 1
Part 2

And no, as good as the food may seem, I don’t think I’ll ever dine in a hospital-themed restaurant.

Flash fiction is fiction of extreme brevity.  The standard, generally accepted length of a flash fiction piece is 1000 words or less.

In this case, the article asked these writers to tell a short story in only six words.  It was inspired by Hemingway who once wrote a piece that was simply, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”  He had bet his collegues that he could write a complete story in just six words.  My favourite on the Wired page is, “Dinosaurs return.  Want their oil back,” David Brin.  Enjoy.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/sixwords.html

 Let’s check out the list:

1.  Landline telephones – At first I scoffed at this.  Sure, more and more individuals are using their cellular telephones as their primary line.  An obvious question though is, what about businesses?  Landlines are still very practical for them.  It depends on how you define “landline” though.  Many businesses are switching to digital/IP phones in leui of going through the local phone companies.  

2.  Floppy disks – Seriously?  This even warrants discussion?  I have computers that are several years old and did not come with a floppy drive of any size.  

3.  Wristwatches – The writer’s take is that anyone can just use their cell phone/pda/ipod/etc to check the time.  First, there’s just something unsavory about checking the time that way.  It isn’t very professional looking, and there are situations where looking at your phone isn’t an option, like in the middle of a meeting.  Beyond that, watches are a fashion piece afterall.  Even if their utility is diminished, people would still buy them as part of their wardrobe.  Neckties and rings are still purchased, so why wouldn’t wristwatches?

4.  VHS tapes and VCRs – Again, this just seems too obvious.

5.  Beepers – Beepers are still used by doctors pretty widely.  Why?  Several reasons.  (1)  Pagers operate on lower radio frequencies that penetrate structures better. (2)  pagers aren’t as vulnerable to electronic interference. (3)  They also don’t interfere with other electronics as much as cell phones. That’s why doctors use pagers in hospitals. If you’re in a building where your cell phone dies, you’ll still get your pages.  (4)  Pagers typically run on common AA batteries.  If it dies, you just run to the store and buy new ones.  Cell phones need specific chargers meaning you have to be dilligent about charging them or always have a charger on your person, not very practical.

6.  Film cameras – Not surprising.  They’re even making disposable digital cameras now.

7.  Typewriters – Again, not news.

8.  Walkman, discman, minidisc players – Siiiiiiiigh.  

9.  Dial-up internet – I was actually surprised to learn that 9% of internet users still use dial-up.  The more I think about it though, that seems about right.  There are still people who really only use the internet for email correspondence or minor web surfing.  In that case, why spend the extra $250-$300 a year?  I wouldn’t be surprised if dial-up saw an increase in use recently just from people cutting their budgets.

10.  DVDs – Film mediums dying out?  How unheard of.

Not awesome: Dog gets scared and pisses in the elevator.

Baseball.  It’s been America’s favourite pasttime for over a century.  Football is a wonderful sport, but it lacks the history, accessibility, and intimacy of baseball.  Baseball’s even been described as the best of all games by John Rawls, one of the 20th century’s greatest philosophers.  

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and as such, I am a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.  The Pirates are one of the most successful franchises in baseball and have a rich and robust history.  They are tied for 5th for the most World Series won in addition to many other notable achievements.  

I came upon an article today that featured a letter from a fan of each baseball franchise describing why they support their chosen squad.  Unfortunately, being a fan of the Pirates has not been easy for almost two decades.  1992 was the last time the Pirates had a winning season.  In the time since, fans have had to deal with front office stinginess and ineptitude that is well ememplified with the product on the field.  

Nevertheless, I am not writing about the plight of a Pirates fan.  That has been done to death the past few years, and nothing I have to say has not already been said.  The more interesting question is, “Why do I continue to be a fan?”  I suppose it’s a myriad of reasons really.  The real fact is that I love baseball, and I have too much pride in Pittsburgh to cheer for anyone else.  Baseball is a wonderfully intellectual sport.  It allows for adjustments and decisions to be consciously made on every play.  Every pitch is a new chance to analyze and make changes for both sides.  

Even during my lifetime the Pirates have had a history of winning.  I was 10 years old when they almost got to the World Series.  However, that was a long time ago, and it gets a little more cloudy each season.  I really only get to relive it when I’m enjoying beers with a couple of friends and reminiscing about the better days.  Now-a-days I think part of the reason I cheer is loyalty and the belief that things can turn around.  

Plus it’s a wonderful diversion from the hot, humid summers of Pittsburgh.  One thing Pittsburghers love to do is band together and revel in their shared loyalties.  Steelers fans trumpet how the team plays with a hard-nosed stylish characteristic of the city itself with its blue-collared background.  The Pirates however make attending one of their games a condensed Pittsburgh experience.  Going to see the Pirates really gives a person a feel for what it is like to live in that wonderful city.  A game at PNC contains the hallmarks of a Pittsburgh upbringing:  yinzer accents, pierogies, Eat-n-Park cookies, Zambelli fireworks, and a view of one of America’s greatest skylines.  

An Iron City, a hot dog, and a clear sightline to home plate.  Sublime.

Boston indie rock. Been almost a year since they broke up. They played one of the funnest show I’ve been to. I also recommend you go to http://www.myspace.com/piebald and listen to Grace Kelly With Wings.

Now I’m off to ghostride the whip.

An article written by Michael Totten.  He is a very accomplished journalist covering primarily the middle east.  This isn’t a story about the middle east however.  It’s about his agonizing ordeal with Alitalia Airlines trying to make his way from Rome to Portland, Oregon.  Alitalia is the main carrier out of Italy.  The baggage handlers had gone on strike.  Flights were not leaving, but Alitalia employees refused to admit this or be helpful in even the slightest way.  They even flat-out lied to customers.  

No amount of description here can fully do this justice.  The ineptitude and audacity displayed by some of the people here was amazing.  How he managed to not physically assault someone is beyond me.  

I hate flying more and more each time I do it.  Airports are just high density zones of idiocy.  Henry Rollins pretty much hit the nail on the head.

http://www.oddee.com/item_96590.aspx