Attention UK, or for that matter, any interested party anywhere in the world, or perhaps some superintelligent alien who is watching this and doubting we are above amoeboid intellect based on this spectacle, let me just say that any right-thinking American, and even many who are clearly wrong-thinking disavow any affection or even care about David Blaine.

I am not a fan of protest, but someone on a hunger strike generally at least has some cause they are trying to draw attention to. The only cause Mr. Blaine has is the fact that his “magic” act has made Doug Henning’s Vedic butt flights look really really clever by comparison. The only thing he has going for him is the nice new non-white ethnic look without being too non-white to get air time, taking the next logical step beyond Keanu Reeves, but with no more talent.

UKians, Earthlings, Ant-creature Overlords, do as you will with him.

This article in the Financial Times uses distinctions in economic theory to talk a man out of suicide.

Presumably you are contemplating suicide for the usual reason: a net-present-value calculation suggests that the future benefits of living are outweighed by the future costs.
[…]
Real option theory extends the idea beyond financial investments and into the real world. Apparently rational irreversible decisions to buy houses, build factories, or, indeed, to take one’s own life, should often be postponed to gather more information.

The sad thing is, what I got out of it was that it was OK for me not to buy a house last year from an economic theory perspective.

But really, if NPV calculations are causing you to consider suicide, you are overlooking opportunities for growth, especially that of screwing that hag out of her new lover’s money with your improper termination lawsuit. Then take the dog as part of the settlement.

Thanks to Jason Lefkowitz for the link.