IP: "Pure Drivel"

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1999 13:44:54 -0700 (PDT)
> From: John Wharton <jwharton () netcom com>
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> Subject: "Pure Drivel"
>
> Dave (et al)--
>
> Steve Martin recently published a book of essays called /Pure Drivel/ 
> (published by Hyperion; (c) 1998 40 Share Production).  There's some 
> rather clever commentary on the state of the PC industry in an essay on 
> sledgehammers and the technophobia shown by lay-person users:
>
>
>    "Many people are surprised to find out that the sledgehammer has 
>     only a single moving part: it.  Yet 'Should I buy now or wait 
>     for the new models?' is a refrain often heard from the panicky 
>     first-timer...  But don't let market confusion keep you from 
>     getting your feet wet.  The longer you wait the fewer things 
>     you will demolish."  
>
>
> And, my favorite:
>
>
>    "...  Sledgehammer king Marty Delfangio ... was recently summoned 
>     before Congress to defend his reasons for attaching a mandatory 
>     Web-browser to his market-leading product.  'I smelled money to 
>     be made,' said Delfanagio.  'The combination of a Web-browser 
>     and a sledgehammer is a natural.'  Congress disagreed, and now 
>     the Web-browser can be sold only as an option.  ..."
>
>
> Ah!  If only the US legal system could be so astute!
>
> Enough drivel.  Take care.
>
>  --john wharton