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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
Friends, Bloggers, Countrymen ... lend your ears to these people. I come not to bury them, but praise them.
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Daily Blah for... Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Meeting the Saber-Toothed Tiger
Here I am lounging at an exit gate at SFO, watching through a giant window as the sun sets behind my plane, and feeling that marvellous sense of peace you get when all the packing is done, and if you forgot something, as you undoubtedly did, well, it's too late now. Not your responsibility any more. Alea jacta est, as they say, which roughly translates as "the suitcase has now been checked in. Please proceed to the departure lounge and buy overpriced wi-fi."
I leave with mixed feelings, many of them about the weather. The sun that just set so artistically has been gracing San Francisco with its presence nonstop ever since I booked this trip; taunting me, almost. Who knows, I suppose, it could be this nice in London. If so, I will get down on my knees and thank the gods for CFCs. But February is not a month particularly known for its beauty in my country. If March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, as the saying goes, then February spends its whole time prowling around like a saber-tooth tiger. A really, really mean one with blood on its fangs and hunger in its belly.
The other thing is, and I don't know if you've noticed this, all the fun parties and events only happen the instant you leave town. Much to my chagrin, I'm missing two great parties on 3/3 -- one for the SF Writer's Grotto, the other for people who turn 33 this year. A multiple Jesus year celebration, in other words. (Speaking of JC, you must watch this music video. Warning: you will probably go to hell for the giggle you get at the end.) When I tell SF friends my date of return, they exclaim "March 13?" in the same tone of voice they'd use if I'd just said "2013." It's only two and a bit weeks, but what with the short month, it's the calendar-based equivalent of an optical illusion.
But yes. I return March 13. Which means I get to fully experience the lion and have to skip the lamb. Shame. I do like a bit of lamb, especially on a skewer.
Don't worry, loyal Blah readers. I haven't forgotten my commitment to you. Every day, I promise.
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