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The increasingly inaccurately-named blog of journalist and futurist Chris Taylor. Either the most sporadically brilliant amateur blog, the most brilliantly amateur sporadic blog, or the most amateur sporadic brilliance on the Web since 2001.
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Daily Blah FAQ
Who are you?
I'm the newly-appointed Future editor at Business 2.0 and the former San Francisco correspondent for Time Magazine.
Wow, so does this mean everything you write reflects Time Inc's opinion? Or do you perhaps have some sort of standard disclaimer to the effect that it doesn't?
Naturally, the opinions contained in this blog are not those of my employers. In fact, some opinions may be the polar opposite of my employers. Some may be the same, for all I know. Hey, it's not like I ask my employers their opinions about everything in the news, okay? Let's just say that if this were a Venn diagram with one circle marked "my opinions" and the other one marked "my employers' opinions", there would doubtless be some overlap. But neither I nor my employers are able to pinpoint exactly where that overlap is.
What is this Daily Blah thing?
An experiment for a column I wrote about blogging back in December 2001. All these years later, I haven't been able to kick the habit.
Do you write any other blogs, by chance? Could that have something to do with the fact that Daily Blah isn't always Daily?
Yes -- the Future Boy blog for Business 2.0. And yes. If you want true, editorially-mandated daily coverage from me, that's probably the best place to look.
Mister, you talk funny. Are you one of them furrners?
Why yes I am, as it happens. I was born, raised and educated in Great Britain. I've been living in the U.S. since 1996 and identify as British.
I say, old chap, you forgot the "u" in "colour."
No I didn't. I may identify as British, but I am also an American journalist writing for an American audience about mostly American issues. These two different sides of me are a constant source of tension. Nevertheless, Daily Blah will adhere to American English grammar and spelling.
Praise for Daily Blah:
"It is fun to watch the author's navel-gazing joy." - Sunday Times (UK)
"It's really funny and informative." - Dave Eggers, author
"The Blah is becoming a daily destination for me." - Richard Marsh, Playwright
"I like it, and I don't." - Fiona Hogg, Teacher
"Better than Xanax." - Lessley Andersen, journalist
"Dude, lay off the crack pipe." - Souris Hong-Porretta, gamesmith
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Daily Blah for... Tuesday, January 28, 2003
C'mon, Get Angry!
I'm watching Governor Gary Locke of Washington give the Democratic response to the State of the Union. The state of Democratic opposition since the party's November drubbing is lackluster, and this is no exception. True, Locke -- as the grandson of Chinese immigrants -- has a great story. True, he's hitting all the right notes, pointing out the greatest flaws in Bush's speech: privatizing social security and Medicare, tax breaks on stocks for the wealthy. But he's as timid as a church mouse. His voice is flat and quiet, and he smiles brightly at the camera like an American Idol wannabe, just begging for a crude British judge to tear his dreams to shreds.
Democrats, or at least their style gurus, have been infected with Hollywoodism. They think that if you put on a good show of opposition, well-lit, well-made-up and -- remember loves! -- smile smile smile, then you will win the hearts of your audience, and therefore their votes. They think wrong. Sincerity wins votes. Speak from your gut. If the party in power is tearing the fabric of this country to pieces, you don't smile. You get mad. You get Hulk mad. And you allow the impression that this righteous indignation is rippling just beneath your skin, restrained only by the demands of society and courtesy. Clinton did that; remember how he'd get just a little red-faced when discussing some evil Republican policy? Audiences knew he was slick, but they also felt his outrage. That, my dear Governor Locke, is how to win friends and impress people in politics. The country will put your party back in power when your party looks lean, hungry and power-ready.
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