About Steve, i.e., him

Stephen Stark is an award-winning novelist and bestselling ghostwriter. His fiction and nonfiction has appeared in numerous publications, including The New Yorker, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, Poets & Writers and in many other journals. He has been a fellow and taught at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference, and won an NEA Literature Fellowship in fiction. His novel, Second Son, was a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 1992, and a New and Noteworthy Paperback of 1994.

Can a “comedy” show affect an election?

Yes, The Daily Show is just a fake news show. And no, I’m not going to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. I live close enough just to hop on the Metro and go. But I’m not the rallying type, for the most part. Might watch it online, though.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Daily Show: 9/16/10 in :60 Seconds
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

The thing I’m wondering, though, is if this will have any effect on the elections next week. Yes, the Huffington Post is providing buses. But it is more Oprah’s (go to 7:57) support (her interview with him) that I find interesting.

I tend to think tat Stewart is right. There are a lot of people who are really sick of the cowardly, win-at-all-costs mentality that prevails in Washington—which leads to the kind of idiocy we’ve seen in the last two years.

I don’t really think that the rally will do anything for a specific electoral district. But I do think it might affect turnout. That can only benefit the Democrats.

Apple Customer Service

Call me a fan boy if you want, but I am really impressed with Apple’s customer service. My iPhone 4, which I waited a ridiculous amount of time in line for, developed scratches on the screen — something that never happened, and still hasn’t, with version 3. Took it in. They replaced it. I restored it from my backup. My only complaint about that process is that my “folders” disappeared and my apps were reinstalled in alphabetical order. But that prompted me to do a little housecleaning.

And the other thing was the battery door on my MacBook Pro wasn’t closing properly. This is a late 2008 model, I think. Turned out the battery was swollen. Replaced it on the spot. Cost to me? $0.00 and about an hour.

Meat in a Box

Meat in a BoxAside from the marvelous name, Meat in a Box, also has a great sign. Kind of reminds me of the old White Castle and its “buy ’em by the bag” (maybe that’s why they call little burgers “sliders” these days). Haven’t tried the food because (perhaps) the place was closed for Ramadan. The claim on the sign that it is “so much more” seems inaccurate. You can see the menu through the window and it seems like it’s all meat in a box.

Update: Meat in a Box is now closed for repairs after a car crash damaged the place. I will have to wait to Try it.