Miscallaenous stuff

First, I cannot help but find Confederate flags. This time, there was some stand selling “Flags of the World,” like the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes…and soccer club’s flags…and, as you guessed from the first sentence in the graf, the Stars and Bars itself. Once a coincidence, twice a pattern, three times…? (I’m certain I’ve misremembered this aphorism.)

******

Watched some British TV today. Specifically infomercials, reality TV and a skit show. Translation: we were bored and had time. Rare enough with this seminar. Anyway, it was interesting to compare these with their American counterparts.

The infomercials were far less entertaining than their American counterparts. In fact, their sole entertainment came from comparing it unfavorably with American infomercials. American infomercials work by taking a ridiculous product with applications in a marginal niche of life, and making its utility plausible for you. They do this by such means as midgets or ridiculously dorky Asians (the better to hold yourself superior, and get you to ask the question, “If that [insert pathetic human being here] can do it, why can’t I?”) and overly-eager testimonials. They promise fantastic benefits: $7000/month from working at home with complete control of your own hours or domestic tranquility. This is highly entertaining; the artifice is so obvious.

British infomercials, on the other hand, are completely boring. They are shot (cinematography-wise) in the same style as American infomercials: there is the same film feeling (I don’t know how to describe it other than a clean realness, neither brightened nor darkened excessively) with a singleminded focus on the product, with perhaps occasional glances of happy consumers. But there are no utopias promised, nor midgets doing the promising. The products are quotidian. The first one we watched was of a paint roller, and that sums up the whole experience.

*****

I really love the Office. It is extremely well-written, for a few reasons. First, it succeeds at creating a number of interesting characters. Furthermore, it can vary its tones because, unlike many comedies on TV especially, we don’t simply laugh at the characters, but with the characters. The variation and modulation of tone in the Office allows the Steve Carrell character to be extremely frustrating and obtuse and yet not unbearable. It has both humor and wise insight. I’ve come late to the show, but I think the praise is deserved.

*****

I had a George H.W. Bush moment today. Instead of a barcode scanner, it was an automated checkout counter. It seemed so simple in practice, and yet it broke down on me (I mean they had to get a technician and everything). I guess I’m not ready for the future and should be voted out of any office I hold for this dramatic display of world-blindness.