FireVaney's

A year ago, I pulled my TV out of the closet. I’d put it in there because I couldn’t resist switching it on. The point was to watch less and to write more. Prior to 9/11/01, my TV sat in the closet for six months. A smarter man would shove it back in there today. But then that new DVD player would’ve been a wasted purchase. So I’ll compromise. Nightly, I’ll watch Peter Jennings report the world news, and then, from time to time, I’ll rent a DVD. But nothing else, nothing more. Somewhere, Mr. Mamet mentioned that TV was the ultimate medicine show. From Webster’s: “Medicine Show: A show given by entertainers who traveled from town to town in order to sell cure-alls and nostrums.”  11 September 2002

BOB Does it matter that a guy goes his whole life thinking he’s “the shit” when he’s not—and he’ll never have a clue that he’s not?  JOE Why should it matter?  BOB Cuz he’s a loser. He’s never gonna get anywhere staying on the track he’s always been on. JOE So long as he thinks he’s “the shit,” doesn’t matter. It’s been said before, many, many times, but it’s true: Life? Perception. ‘S all about perception.    BOB But if you’re fooling yourself—  JOE Doesn’t matter. People told Hemingway he was the greatest American writer—and he still blew his brains out. Obviously he didn’t think he was “the shit.” Even though he WAS, he didn’t believe he was. Well. Maybe.  BOB I’ve never read any Hemingway.  JOE Me neither. Not the point.   13 August 2002