Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Happy Birthday

I just wanted to raise a quick toast to the birthday guest.

Today, January 24th, is the 23rd birthday of the Mac. The iconic "1984" ad introducing the Mac aired during the Super Bowl, exactly 23 years ago.

I was writing a longer post about the anniversary, but I haven't had a chance to finish it. It should be up soon. But, I wanted to post something today, what with it being the actual day and all.

If you've never seen the add, it's worth watching. A female athlete runs into a theatre occupied by mindless, monochromatic automatons watching their beloved "Big Brother" talking on a giant screen. Pursued by police in riot gear, she throws a large hammer into the screen, shattering it. The ad ends with a voice over telling us that Apple is introducing the Mac, and that "1984 won't be like 1984".



I started to write some commentary on the ad, and, wouldn't you know it, it started to turn into a longer entry. I don't have time to finish it right now, but it should go up soon. Which means that my other commentary on the birthday itself might get pushed back. Coupled with a few other ideas for articles I have percolating, I'm getting quite the backlog.

Anyway, here's a birthday Simpsons reference1 :

[At Mr. Burns birthday party:]
Smithers: Here are several fine young men who I'm sure are gonna go far. Ladies and gentlemen, the Ramones!
Burns: Ah, these minstrels will soothe my jangled nerves.
Ramone 1: I'd just like to say this gig sucks!
Ramone 2: Hey, up yours, Springfield.
Ramone 1: One, two, three, four!
[Abrasive guitar music begins]
Happy Birthday to you! (Happy Birthday!)
Happy Birthday to you! (Happy Birthday!)
Happy Birthday, Burnsey,
Happy Birthday to you!
Ramone 3: Go to hell, you old bastard.
[The curtain falls]
Ramone 4: Hey, I think they liked us!
Burns: [toward the Ramones] Have the Rolling Stones killed.
Smithers: Sir, those aren't --
Burns: Do as I say!

[Updated 2007/02/02: Fixed footnote formatting.]

No comments: