Russell Baker, of course, would never write such a ham-fisted
comparison. Baker, who died last month, is much too classy for that.
I have this vintage New York Times Magazine from April 28,
1985. To date the issue and those glory years of newspapers, the cover story
was by the novelist Mario Vargas Llosa, writing about the socialist revolution
in Nicaragua. (The 112-page publication is LOADED with display ads … )
And on Page 26, Russell Baker wrote his Sunday Observer
column, this one called “Computer Passion” (with charming unself-conscious
Bakeresque illustration by Patrick McDonnell).
Presciently, in that oh-so-simpler time, Baker is riffing on how absurd the idea is that you could fall in love with personal technology.
Consider his lede:
“Many tycoons of the computer industry have written begging
me to tell them how to recover from the sales slump threatening disaster for
the personal-computer business, and I do so gladly, for it is painful to see a
tycoon in despair.”
Then the kicker:
“Sex is the solution, gentlemen. Paint those things Passion
Orange and get them into the boudoir.”
Man, I miss Russell Baker’s wry wit and humility … Call him
a throwback, but frankly, I’d gladly throw back every one of today’s poor
excuses for daily humor columnists for just one Russell Baker.
Next: Running for Your Life: A Brief History …
