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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.
Oh My God, the RSS Feed Actually Works!
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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My TIME articles
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Daily Blah for... Thursday, December 22, 2005
You Clicked It Here First
A whole two months after I linked to the adorable video that goes with it, that indie song about the kid in the JCB has become a surprise number one hit in the UK -- and may, if it can just hold on until Sunday, claim the coveted Christmas number one spot. The very idea of which gives me a warm, fuzzy, Christmas-style feeling. Far, far better the JCB song than some crappy corporate pop confection. After all, isn't this holiday supposed to be about a father and a son?
Daily Blah for... Friday, December 16, 2005
Today's Bouncing Meditation
Take some time out from whatever you're doing right now, no matter how busy you are, to be transfixed by 250,000 colored balls bouncing down Filbert, Kearney, Leavenworth and Sanchez streets. When you're done with that, check out this explanatory photo set on Flickr. The only crying shame about this Sony ad, shot in the now-nostalgic springtime, is that it will only be shown in the UK -- and hence residents of San Francisco will have absolutely no idea how beautiful their city is.
Daily Blah for... Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Future Man
I've known about this for a few weeks, but now it's official. The theme of Burning Man 2006 is -- drum roll, please -- The Future. From the BOrg blurb:
We take comfort in the notion that we have a past to guide us, but we reinterpret history every day according to what happens in the present. The future, too, is a projection of our hopes and fears in what is called the here and now. [Several sentences of tangential proto-Zen rumination on the nature of the present moment later ...] This year's art theme will allow us to explore how we create futurity. Express what you most hope for in the future! Express what you most fear!
And as if that weren't enough to guarantee my attendance -- hell, maybe I can even expense the entire trip this year, the future being my beat -- The Man will be kitted out with an irresistible Art Deco pavilion and a bizarre voting system:
Artists will also be invited to install various kinds of voting devices in the vestibule of the Pavilion. Some of these devices will depend on chance, like slot machines ... Voting booths will also be stationed at locations throughout Black Rock City ... All of these devices will be connected by a closed Wifi network, and linked to a secure computer equipped with a sophisticated software program ... All will offer up a stark and simple choice: Will you vote for hope, or will you vote for fear?
Hmm, tough choice. I confidently predict a 93 percent landslide for hope -- unless, of course, Diebold has been subcontracted to run the voting machine network. This being Burning Man, I further predict that so-called "secure network" will be hacked six ways to Tuesday, and that no opportunity to have fun at Diebold's expense (and let's face it, there's a lot of fun to be had there) will be missed. Hey, choir -- time for a sermon.
Daily Blah for... Friday, December 09, 2005
Clueless on the California
Missed the express bus this morning by a few minutes, but I didn't mind. In fact, I welcomed the extra time on the regular, tortoise-like 1 California. The reason? I've finally found a way to beat the bus blahs: simply download as many episodes of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue to the iPod as the thing will hold, then laugh my head off to the bemusement of fellow commuters. Wash, rinse, repeat.
ISIHAC, the "antidote to panel games," is a BBC radio comedy gem that's been running for over thirty years, or roughly as long as I have. Listening to it on Saturday mornings, no matter where the family errands and outings took us, is one of my strongest memories of childhood. These days I suppose you'd call it improv; think of it as a cleverer audio version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, only with more in-jokes. A lot more in-jokes, such as a board game based on the London Underground, the rules of which are far too complex to go into here. So many in-jokes, in fact, so much quintessentially British humor, that I wouldn't have thought many Americans would be into the thing. How would they hear it, and hear it enough times to delve fully into its idiosyncrasies?
But most of the shows I downloaded on LimeWire (catch me if you can, BBC) were from people who were up and online last night, ie. way too early in the British AM. So who where these people, a network of ex-pats keeping the home fires burning? Or do I give you Yanks too little credit? (It wouldn't be the first time.) Will things that are inherently funny seep out no matter what, and spread like a virus? Are there any American fans of ISIHAC reading this? Please identify and explain yourselves -- and send me all the episodes you have. I've got a lot of commuting to do.
Daily Blah for... Thursday, December 08, 2005
Call Off the Air Attack
The USB Air Darts have sold out, dammit! Guess I'll have to try to enjoy Christmas without the substantial benefit of laptop-powered artillery (unless they sold out because so many of you were buying one for me, that is). Never mind: here's the Gizmodo entry so you Johnny-come-latelys can at least see what they look like.
Daily Blah for... Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Ready, Fire, Aim
Looking for a last-minute gift for the unrepentant geek in your life (ie. me?) USB Powered Air Darts will do nicely. And they're from Marks and Spencers, which should make for a very refined kind of office Nerf war.
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