Primrose Road

The Secret, the terrific Oprah-endorsed self-help philosophy that advocates shunning negative influences, including people who are unhappy, disenfranchised, down on their luck, or sick (who, according to the Secret followers, brought their own misfortune on themselves and are trying to bring down the rest of us with their negativity). If you haven't been able to "manifest" the man, woman, or Coach purse of your dreams, it's probably because you're still talking to your cancer-stricken friend.

Apparently now you can watch The Secret anytime on Time Warner Cable New York -- for a fee, of course -- on their On Demand channel.



It's not visible in this picture (taken on the 7 train Friday afternoon), but the ad's background is made up of names: Alexander Graham Bell, Leonardo DaVinci, Marie Curie, Thomas Jefferson, Issac Newton, Gottfried Liebnitz (sic; I've always seen it written "Leibniz"), Baruch Spinoza, Victor Hugo, etc., etc., etc ...

If I dispose of -- I mean, avoid -- unhappy people, perhaps I too can manifest myself talent, fame, and fortune. Maybe I can write a 1200-page novel, discover several new chemical elements, and invent calculus while I'm at it. Aren't you excited for me? No. Then go away, you're of no use to me and my Secret powers.

(If I haven't made myself ridiculously clear yet, I find the 'Nazi philosophy' element of The Secret justalittle disconcerting.)