One of the programs that apparently comes with this computer I use at work is the CD Player. This souped-up bit of software will do fancy things like show a picture of the CD cover of whatever you listen to (provided it is a CD of some big star that everybody is supposed to care about), and it will even provide a handy list of similar artists. I am tremendously amused by this: I just popped in Madonna's "Music" because I am a big homo who listens to Madonna, and the list of similar artists is as follows: Paula Abdul, Sheena Easton, Kylie Minogue, and the Pet Shop Boys.
First of all, I am amazed that Paula Abdul (American Idol notwithstanding) and Sheena Easton are still mentioned in polite company at all. And the Pet Shop Boys are not similar to Madonna in any way except for the fact that (you guessed it) homos are supposed to like them both.
I wonder who has the job of coming up with those lists. Do you think they laugh to themselves all day long?
In other news, I cannot leave my office. Apparently there is some sort of "fire" smell, resulting in the elevators being turned off. At the same time this fire-smell is being discussed, a building-wide announcement is heard: "Attention! Please disregard ALL alarms! Thank you!" I have often wondered what would happen if a real fire occurred while alarms were being tested. Would they have to make an announcement that said they were just kidding about ignoring the alarms and this one is for realsies?