‘I grit my teeth as I write this’: Very concerned about Tom. Very concerned. ... How can we ever break media members from TIC, the profound nervous reaction some members of the local media feel when the New York Times doesn’t say nice things about Boston (and by implication themselves), also known as the Times Inferiority Complex (I’ve stopped calling it the New York Inferiority Complex, since it’s been clinically proven that 99.9 percent of those with NYIC are in the media/arts -- and those who want to be working for, and/or appear in, the NYT.) ... ‘It’s almost embarrassing.’ ...

Hub Blog, obviously obsessed with other people’s obsessions, is feverishly working on a cure for TIC. Now all you members of the local media with TIC, repeat the following to yourself:

‘Comparisons to the world’s greatest city are insane. ... Comparisons to the world’s greatest city are insane.’

And: ‘Boston is to New York what Edinburgh is to London -- the two shouldn’t be compared. ... Boston is to New York what Edinburgh is to London -- the two shouldn’t be compared.’ ...

Finally: ‘I won’t be working at the New York Times in my lifetime. ... I won’t be working at the New York Times in my lifetime.’ ...

It really works. Try it. Repeat every night and every morning for a month. If unsuccessful, try moving to Springfield, Ill. for a few years to get a new perspective on life. I did it. It was hell. But it works.



The Mr. Mittster at the convention: Is he coming home now?   ¶ 9:05 PM