Oh, you know me. I love easy targets. Today Thomas Friedman outdid himself. I think he invented a new drinking game, or at least, a new Friedman game. Check it out
Here is the first paragraph of today's (2-11) dispatch of insight and analysis from the incomparable nincompoop of the NYT, our beloved Clouseau of Columnists, Thomas Friedman:
Watching President Hosni Mubarak addressing his nation Thursday night, explaining why he would not be drummed out of office by foreigners, I felt embarrassed for him and worried for Egypt. This man is staggeringly out of touch with what is happening inside his country. This is Rip Van Winkle meets Facebook.
Ok then. Rip Van Winkle meets Facebook?? What exactly does that mean? Seriously, this hurts it is so mindlessly formulaic.
"This man is staggeringly out of touch with what is happening inside his country. This is Rumplestiltskin meets Twitter."
"This man is staggeringly out of touch with what is happening inside his country. This is The Truman Show meets Internet Explorer."
Ok, we get it. "This man" (Thomas Friedman) is staggeringly out of touch with what is happening with his similes.
So it looks like a game, eh? Just mention a situation in the world, and then say "This is [non-technological reference] meets [technological reference]."
Anyone can play!