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Editorial reviews

My friend Allyson's entry on Amazon has been spruced up a bit with blubs from semi-famous people and the copy that will go on the back of the book.

And it's number 19,303 in books!

Anyhow, I went to see what number one was, and I was sort of surprised to find that it's The Secret. Another friend of mine is really into this, and she made me watch part of the movie of the same name. It's sort of a self-help secular mysticism process involving deciding what it is you want, concentrating on that thing, and asking the Universe to help you get it. I've only seen part of the movie (the computer we were watching it on died), so I'm not quite sure of all of the aspects of it. My friend has really bought into it, and I do have to confess that she's doing some pretty amazing things with her life right now. I don't know, though, if it's just a question of the power of positive thinking and a sort of horoscope interpretation of the random things that life hands you. Anyone else heard of this Secret?

Quote:

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Is this wrong somehow?

There will be a whole chapter in the book about people like you.

Quote:

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
My friend Allyson's entry on Amazon has been spruced up a bit with blubs from semi-famous people and the copy that will go on the back of the book.

And it's number 19,303 in books!

Anyhow, I went to see what number one was, and I was sort of surprised to find that it's The Secret. Another friend of mine is really into this, and she made me watch part of the movie of the same name. It's sort of a self-help secular mysticism process involving deciding what it is you want, concentrating on that thing, and asking the Universe to help you get it. I've only seen part of the movie (the computer we were watching it on died), so I'm not quite sure of all of the aspects of it. My friend has really bought into it, and I do have to confess that she's doing some pretty amazing things with her life right now. I don't know, though, if it's just a question of the power of positive thinking and a sort of horoscope interpretation of the random things that life hands you. Anyone else heard of this Secret?

All I know of it is this Salon article:

Link to article

Quote:

By continuing to hawk "The Secret," a mishmash of offensive self-help cliches, Oprah Winfrey is squandering her goodwill and influence, and preaching to the world that mammon is queen.

ETA this extremely incisive letter regarding the article:

Quote:

Our secular world has banished the gods. We share no common narrative that gives meaning and purpose to life, except the spectacle of celebrity gossip. Our institutions offer no direction for self-actualization, instead pushing us toward relentless buying, selling and consuming that never satisfies. On the whole, we are isolated with few intimate social connections, to say nothing of the dysfunction that exists among our close friends and family and the lack of skills and perseverence to rise to our greatest potential.

In this environment, THE SECRET is a perfect, supernatural, quick-fix solution, a post-modern "change your perception, change your reality" formula that neglects cultivating an informed, educated perspective--for example, how some choices, opportunities or luck is available to a few individuals in the social stratification and most certainly not to others. Instead, THE SECRET fosters ignorant, solipsistic, supersitious thinking--albeit, optimistic and intentional--that is as dangerous as the religious fundamentalists.

Editorial reviews

Quote:

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Anyone else heard of this Secret?

Yes. I am not getting sucked in (for now).

Quote:

Originally posted by ironweed
You have to ask yourself, "why was Larsson unmarked?" How did he manage to find space in front of goal to rise majestically, like a salmon fighting its way upstream, and hammer home one of his trademark headers like a thunderbolt from on high? Hmm? I'll tell you why - because he's a fucking genius, that's why. A salmon-like, ball-headering genius.

I agree that he's a fucking, salmon-like, ball-headering genius, but think his genius was manifested more in other goals. If I'm taking him for granted, may the ghost of Olaf Palme forgive me.

I still won't watch American Idol

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Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane? huge-ass image deleted

Ah, so that explains what Simon was talking about last night.

The thing Antonella doesn't seem to get is that the difference between her and the other girls is not merely stylistic ("we're just different"), but technical. She is awful, and her continued presence on the show is probably almost entirely due to votefortheworst.com. She and Haley (who sings like a pageant contestant) should get the boot tonight (though, of course, they might not).

From the guys, Jared and Sanjaya should likewise be gone, but again, they might not.

tm

I still won't watch American Idol

Quote:

Originally posted by tmdiva

The thing Antonella doesn't seem to get is that the difference between her and the other girls is not merely stylistic ("we're just different"), but technical.

tm

I haven't seen the other girls, but I think I know what the difference is.

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparklehorse
All I know of it is this Salon article:

Link to article

I should have known. The movie had a sort of "made on a Mac" feel about it, and I didn't think that it was slick enough to have leaped to number one. I was sort of reminded of the Dad in Little Miss Sunshine, so I figured it'd have about the same success as he did.

Editorial reviews

Quote:

Next time you see your friend, will you please smack her?

Editorial reviews

Quote:

Originally posted by Adder
Next time you see your friend, will you please smack her?

Which friend?

Editorial reviews

Quote:

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Which friend?

This one:

Quote:

Another friend of mine is really into this

I bear no hostility toward Allyson. Sorry for the confusion.

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Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
I hate jazz because this pretentious artsy guy I used to sleep with in college thought it was the only music to have sex to, and that you shouldn't make any noise, but rather "feel the music".

Yes, I fucked him more than once. No, I have no idea why.

Actually, that's not true. I do know why. He had good hair, and an endless supply of coke.

God, life was so much simpler then.

Jazz on coke? That's like Bourbon and Red Bull, with a side of oatmeal. How long before someone smashes the stereo?

I'm still grappling with the "Steely Dan is a great band when you're fucked up" thing. Steely Dan is one of the few bands that gets worse when you're all screwed up. Steely Dan sucks and if you like Steely Dan, I don't like you.

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Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I'm still grappling with the "Steely Dan is a great band when you're fucked up" thing.

What's your favorite King Crimson album?

I hate recruiters who call you up and pitch you a job in an area in which you don't practice, for about half your current salary, in a city to which you have no desire to move. Read my fucking bio and leave me alone, jerk-face.

One of these days something bad is going to happen to me for being mean to people.

I think I may be just mad because I was talking to my boyfriend on the phone (about important stuff, of course) and he was distracted because he was watching Showgirls. Showgirls, for fuck's sake.

Quote:

Originally posted by greatwhitenorthchick
..... in a city to which you have no desire to move. .......

given your failings in US geography do you really feel comfortable making this determination from a chair in your NYC office?