Too Beautiful to Live

I spend too much time in front of the computer, all things considered. Because (most) of that time is used productively (ahem) I tend to listen to things while I work, which is why podcasts have been such a lovely thing for me. And, I suppose because I have so much time to "screen" shows I feel like I have hit on a pretty good mix of podcasts, NPR and pandora (with some personal tunes thrown in for kicks.) I'll be glad to share more as I go along, but... Anyway, around Halloween time I heard a great segment on This American Life (sorta a weekly treat for my ears) from this show in Seattle "Too Beautiful to Live." I have been pretty much hooked since then. It is high brow enough that the maybe 30% of attention that I give to the show occasionally while it plays in the background allows me to hear an interesting nugget or two of information every hour or so, and I genuinely laugh out loud every other show. Also, it is conveniently on in three, one hour, podcasts so I can spread them out throughout the day. Anyway, they just got written up as the new wave of something good in Talk Radio. They are definitely going places, so give them a try and I think you'll like it.

I listen to Too Beautiful to Live pretty regularly, which is a radio show that is out of Seattle (its on the Friday 8-9pm show.) The show itself is great and fun, and they just read a customer review of the book "The Secret" that was one of the funniest things that I have heard in a really long time. I couldn't believe that it was a real review, but here it is:

Please allow me to share with you how "The Secret" changed my life and in a very real and substantive way allowed me to overcome a severe crisis in my personal life. It is well known that the premise of "The Secret" is the science of attracting the things in life that you desire and need and in removing from your life those things that you don't want. Before finding this book, I knew nothing of these principles, the process of positive visualization, and had actually engaged in reckless behaviors to the point of endangering my own life and well being.

At age 36, I found myself in a medium security prison serving 3-5 years for destruction of government property and public intoxication. This was stiff punishment for drunkenly defecating in a mailbox but as the judge pointed out, this was my third conviction for the exact same crime. I obviously had an alcohol problem and a deep and intense disrespect for the postal system, but even more importantly I was ignoring the very fabric of our metaphysical reality and inviting destructive influences into my life.

My fourth day in prison was the first day that I was allowed in general population and while in the recreation yard I was approached by a prisoner named Marcus who calmly informed me that as a new prisoner I had been purchased by him for three packs of Winston cigarettes and 8 ounces of Pruno (prison wine).

It only gets better from there. Its the first review for the book. Be sure to rate it!