Live-action faults
The other day, while doing some routine desk work, I was half-watching an online baking show streaming live on Facebook. Neither baker was known to me, but, these days, I enjoy watching true ‘live’ shows — no editing down to fit the time, no editing out of unsuitable or unfortunate comments, just the action happening in front of you: real people in real time doing the simple task of baking. Anything could happen! Nothing happened, it turned out. Well, nothing related to the cupcakes being made, that is. That part went smoothly: The ingredients were measured out and mixed, the young host asked the not-so-much-older guest baker questions along the way, as they do, as is the reason for the show, really. The questions enabled the guest to plug her latest cookbook; standard fare on a baking show. But then one of the exchanges caught my attention and I brought my focus full-on to the screen. The guest was burbling on about how unexpected her publishing success has been and how she can’t beli...