So who else is stoked that Ze Frank is doing videos again? Hopefully not just me. The Show may have been a spark (along with Colbert and Stewart, go figure) to me being more concerned about politics and critical thinking. I used to think it was boring. Go figure.
Anyway. Ze’s sold out and makes his videos for TIME now, but who cares? He’s still doing his thing and I love it.
I suggest a different, even darker solution to Fermi’s Paradox. Basically, I think the aliens don’t blow themselves up; they just get addicted to computer games. They forget to send radio signals or colonize space because they’re too busy with runaway consumerism and virtual-reality narcissism. They don’t need Sentinels to enslave them in a Matrix; they do it to themselves, just as we are doing today.
This is just a snippet of a great piece of writing that I suggest you all go read right now. It’s short, I promise. It kind of makes you wonder what we’re doing to the human race when the virtual economy outweighs the physical economy. Scary, thought-provoking and encouraging in a “we can catch this before it’s too late” kind of way.
I miss Ze Frank‘s daily videos. He recently reposted this video about Valentine’s Day on his blog and I reminisced about The Show and how he seemed to make sense of things and articulate — with humor, no less — better than anyone I’d ever seen:
Having a holiday where you’re supposed to feel loved, though, is kinda tough, you know? It’s hard to do under pressure. It’s like “Have a great idea” day, or uh… “Pee! Right now!” day.
If you think about it, saying “I love you” on Valentine’s Day means less than it does on pretty much any other day of the year. It’s like there’s inflation on the currency of romance or something. If you say “I love you” on February 14th it’s kind of like walking into a doctor’s office and when he asks what’s wrong saying “I’m sick” and then handing him a balloon that says “He’s sick!” He’s gonna ask for symptoms. “Do you feel nauseous? Are you having trouble sleeping?” And if you don’t have any symptoms you probably shouldn’t be in the doctor’s office.
Maybe that’s what’s missing from Valentine’s Day: a choice. It could be like the relationship apocalypse, a once-a-year judgment day where couples could decide whether they want to stay or leave without any hard feelings. For months in advance people would be giving each other massages and chocolates and flowers, all in anticipation of getting that little card back with a check mark next to “yes” or “no.”
Happy (early) Valentine’s Day. Do something nice for someone whether you have a “someone” or not.
