Charlie Sykes' 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School is based on his list of 14 rules that took on a bizarre Internet life as an e-mail attributed to Bill Gates. The original 14 were thought-provoking, clever and mercifully brief. But the book ... well, what's really the difference between Rule No. 1: "Life is not fair. Get used to it," and No. 22: "You are not a victim. So stop whining." Each rule is followed by a curmudgeonly lecture, and the effect is simply exhausting. When it appears Sykes had a secret that made it worth slogging through 150 pages -- Rule No. 46: "Check the guinea pig in the basement" -- it is just a reminder to call your grandmother. The book has some worthwhile insights, but feels so repetitive and tedious, numbingly self-centered and indulgent, that you want to remind Sykes of Rule No. 8:" Your navel is not that interesting. Don't spend your life gazing at it."More on 50 Rules here.
Inspired by Jessica McBride's creative use of language, to wit:
"Good for Mark Green... whallah, by midday Doyle was following his lead...." Committed to the monitoring of the local right-wing media and exposing their lies, hypocrisies, and foibles, so that you don't have to.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sykes forgets rule No. 8
Milwaukee Magazine, of which Charlie Sykes is an editor emeritus, offers a quickie review of "50 Rules" in its November 2007 issue, by Lisa Holewa:
Xoff: Is there a rule about teaching your children about drugs? Hey, father of the year, how do you get off criticizing anybody's else's personal life?
ReplyDeleteAnon: Cheap shot.
ReplyDeleteBut then Xoff's obsession with the personal lives of others probably made this sort of thing inevitable. Why doesn't everybody just knock it off.
Wow. Xoff emerges from his slime pit. How about actually doing something positive with your life... other than covering up for slimeball politcians for pay. Your kids must be so proud.
ReplyDeleteDo you guys realize how pathetic this site is?
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You guys must be so jealous.... Why don't write a book yourself, dimwads?
ReplyDeleteAny time one of you anonymous cowards wants to put your name on your slimy comments, I'll be happy to discuss this or any other issue with you.
ReplyDeleteGee, one would think that Charlie, Jessica, Jeff, Patrick and Mark would want to leave their names on their comments...
ReplyDelete