I see that Stephen King has published another novel. Well, it must be at least three weeks since his last one. Anyway, I saw it on the table by the door at Borders a couple of days ago. It’s called Under The Dome and like most of his books it’s a big, thick doorstop. I’ll no doubt buy it, and very likely enjoy it, when it comes out in paperback. I wonder what sort of blurb they’ll put on the paperback. It won’t be the same blurb as on the hardcover edition because there is no blurb at all. None. I’ve never seen that before. The back cover was bare, as were the inside front and back flaps. No summary of the story, no reviewer’s comment, no author bio and photo. Nothing. Maybe thy think that Stephen King’s name alone is publicity enough. Probably they are right – I’m sure the book will sell, but I do find that very pretentious indeed.
If you get a new credit card these days, one of your tasks is to choose what design you want on the front of it. Most banks offer a choice, varying from the patriotic (flags, eagles etc.) to the universal (moon, stars) by way of the environment (waterfalls, dolphins), the kitsch (kittens) and the irrational (signs of the zodiac). Some banks even allow you to have a photograph of your own on your card: yourself or a family group or you three-month old baby or your pet dog or your house. All very nice. But I just stick with the basic card with the bank’s corporate logo on it. I’m not being a curmudgeon – I just don’t see the point. Who is actually going to see the design on your card? Think about it. Your credit card sits in your wallet or purse or pocket, and when you use it you whip it out, swipe it through the reader (chip and pin technology has yet to arrive here) and then you put it back where you got it from. No one sees the picture. Yes, okay, waiters might, but since you give them your card by putting it inside the plastic folder they bring you your check in, they won’t see it till they are over at the cash desk. It’s not as though you and whoever you are paying are going to share a warm fuzzy moment as you share the pleasure of whatever design you have chosen. “Yes, I love dolphins.” “That’s right, I’m a typical Libra.” “That was a group photo taken at our family reunion last year. Not a very good one of me, because the card number goes right across my face, but you can see great-aunt Edna very well. Unfortunately, unlike the card, she has expired.” Luckily, no soul searching is needed to pick your American Express design. It’s fixed, though they do have varying backgrounds, but whether yours is green, gold or platinum is not simply a matter of your choice.
Here’s a thing. Did you know that if you pick twenty-five people at random, it is more probable than not that at least two of them will share the same birthday. In fact, even though it is not a mathematical certainty, it is a high probability. I have never understood that. With 365 possibilities (366 if you insist) I don’t see how this can be. Our mathematics teacher at school demonstrated it to us by going round the class asking our birthdates, and he hadn’t even got to the second row before he had a match. He explained to us exactly how this is so , in mathematical terms, but I am afraid that in my case it didn’t sink in. I’ll accept it, but I just don’t understand how it is so. I have come across it occasionally in books and elsewhere, and it still mystifies me. But yesterday, for fun and out of renewed curiosity, I put it to the test. I picked twenty-five of my Facebook friends at random and checked out each one’s birthday. Sure enough, I found a match long before I had examined all twenty-five profiles. Try it yourself. It will most probably work for you too, but don’t ask me how.
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It might have something to do with the fact that more people are born during a certain time of year (October-December?) I guess that some areas of the country leave little else to do during the cold months. This must be where our word nooki comes from?
Posted by: Karlo | November 17, 2009 at 06:04 PM
I need to try the birthday thing.
As for the credit card pictures, I disagree with you. If I applied your reasoning to other areas of my life I'd be walking around in belly high, greying knickers with dodgy elastic.
Sometimes having pretty things makes a person feel nice, regardless of whether they get seen.
Posted by: Elaine | November 18, 2009 at 02:23 AM
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Posted by: ali | November 18, 2009 at 04:42 AM
I have dolphins on my Discover Card! It was free so why not. Heh.
Posted by: Tina Marie | November 21, 2009 at 06:05 PM
I have a Candian Maple Leaf (yes, CAPS!) on my Mastercard. Got it while still living in Bermuda. Made me feel superior *hee*
As for that birthday thing... mine's in 10 days. Send gifts ;)
Posted by: Wylie | November 23, 2009 at 01:11 PM
1 credit card. Bank logo on it.
No blurb on back & inside flap of SK's new book = pretentious indeed.
25 peeps at random and their birthdays = cool!
:)
Posted by: Hill | November 24, 2009 at 04:26 PM