Timothy McSweeney's Header Image

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Just in time for Valentine's Day,
the Guardian in London has
reviewed and raved about
The Secret Language of Sleep.
And, for the rest of the week,
you can buy it for $5!

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IN THE YEAR 2030,
THE YOUNG HOTSHOT
AT MY OFFICE TRIES
TO WALK ME THROUGH
"CENTAUR," APPLE'S NEW
MIND-ORB-BASED
OPERATING SYSTEM.

BY MATTHEW DUVERNE HUTCHINSON

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ME: For some reason, I can't get this report orb to beam.

HOTSHOT: Well, go ahead and materialize the topaz orb first. That should launch your facefield preferences.

ME: OK, here goes ... Wait, remind me, how do I get to the topaz orb? Sorry, I knew how to do this just a second ago—I imagine a shape, right?

HOTSHOT: Kind of. Defocus your eyes and visualize a beam of light illuminating a rhombus. That will materialize the topaz orb.

ME: Hmm ... It's still not working.

HOTSHOT: OK, let's back up a step. Which wormhole did you do your push-up in?

ME: I'm pretty sure it was Wormhole Gamma. But I did a sit-up. Does a sit-up not work?

HOTSHOT: Oh, you did a sit-up? (Smirk.) Yeah. That's probably why it's not working. Try it again.

(I lie down and do a push-up. Immediately, a lifelike 3-D porno hologram materializes in my cubicle with the volume turned way up. Co-workers begin to gather. The hologram depicts me naked on the plank of a pirate spaceship with our company's robot intern, Suzanne. The scenario is dirty in a way not yet fully describable in our present age.)

ME: Turn it off!!

HOTSHOT: I can't. You have to double-imagine the red orb to quit out of iPerv.

(I try desperately to materialize the red orb, but instead accidentally launch a hologram chat with my late grandfather from beyond the grave.)

GRANDFATHER HOLOGRAM: Where am I? Who's moved my reading chair?

ME: Granddad, I can explain. Hold on a sec ...

(Swatting at my temples like a fevered gibbon, I accidentally materialize a mastodon diorama, Dabney Coleman, the color green, and John Coltrane's Giant Steps album.)

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OTHER McSWEENEY'S FEATURES:

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In the Year 2030, the Young Hotshot at My Office Tries to Walk Me Through "Centaur," Apple's New Mind-Orb-Based Operating System By Matthew DuVerne Hutchinson
Now Would Be a Good Time
Finally, You Don't Need to Be Funny to Be Funny
Welcome to JDate: Creating Your Profile By Eric Silver
Response to Self-Dubbed "Applicant #69" From the Elite School for Yoga Enthusiasts By Melanie Berliet

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Memories of Amanda Davis




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