Things I've been thinking about lately:
- the relationship between stress and high blood pressure/high cholesterol/thinning hair/caffeine intake/over-eating.
- the fact that obesity in the US is on the rise; despite an increased emphasis and awareness of the importance of exercise and eating organic, whole grains, local produce, free-range eggs, hormone-free milk....
- what all that might have to do with the sagging economy; and the fact that my roommate's co-worker took a second job just to pay for the gas she uses to commute to her first job.
- and vacation, by god - apparently, (as Charles Gibson reported on ABC news the other night) - "It is estimated Americans give back 438 million vacation days a year. ... America is the only major country in the world that has no government-mandated time off. 75 percent of Americans do get paid vacation, 14 days the average. But then the average worker gives back three of those days. ...And when Americans do take time off, 60 percent of us are checking office e-mails. So you might consider moving to France. There, the government requires 31 vacation days plus holidays."
Add to that the internet, text-messaging, illiteracy, the war in Iraq, drugs, and the popularity of Thomas Kinkade (‘Painter of Light’) and you’ve got… the portrait of a blinking idiot.
2/27/08
2/15/08
accent grave
I was poking around in the blogger help section, trying to see if there's some way to add accents so my foreign words don't look so silly, when I found this post on the 'known issues' page:
"A bug that made it trivially easy to accidentally set your blog's language to Albanian has been fixed. If you notice that your blog's archives and other text appears to be in Albanian (and you don't want it to be), use Settings > Formatting to change your blog's language. — latest update on Monday, July 02, 2007 "
... if, on the other hand, your blog posts have been set to Albanian and you _don't_ notice, umm... yep... hopefully your friend will notice for you, and then make sure you get prompt medical attention.
[I particularly love the addition of the "(and you don't want it to be)"....]
"A bug that made it trivially easy to accidentally set your blog's language to Albanian has been fixed. If you notice that your blog's archives and other text appears to be in Albanian (and you don't want it to be), use Settings > Formatting to change your blog's language. — latest update on Monday, July 02, 2007 "
... if, on the other hand, your blog posts have been set to Albanian and you _don't_ notice, umm... yep... hopefully your friend will notice for you, and then make sure you get prompt medical attention.
[I particularly love the addition of the "(and you don't want it to be)"....]
a consomme of consumption
In the midst of making cookies, doing dishes, listening to a CD, cleaning off the kitchen table, repairing my backpack, while I'd left an episode of Buffy paused halfway-through in the living-room, I felt compelled to turn on the computer and check my email. As if I don't get enough multi-tasking at work.
This led me to reflect on the nature of online life... and the fact that, as much as it's a boon, it's also something that, well, can take you over.
Not an original thought, of course - I'm sure books have been written about it.
But, for the same reason that I resist doing too much of anything for any length of time - watching tv, reading, writing, being alone, being with friends - for the same reason that falling in love sorta bugs me out on some level, and [probably] that I've not yet allowed myself to pursue a career in something meaningful to me, or to settle in one place and commit to a community - in the last few weeks, I have definitely felt myself resisting the all-consuming nature of the internet.
There is something both wonderful and terrible about being consumed by something. To lose yourself in something, or someone, is the most amazing feeling... until that moment when you suddenly realize that you've lost yourself, and then it's absolutely terrifying.
Wasn't it Aristotle who was going on and on about moderation in all things?
Although, that said, I'm going to contradict myself and say that perhaps I need to consider doing moderation in moderation.
Because I truly belive that only by allowing oneself to be consumed can one reach...uhh... consummation.
This led me to reflect on the nature of online life... and the fact that, as much as it's a boon, it's also something that, well, can take you over.
Not an original thought, of course - I'm sure books have been written about it.
But, for the same reason that I resist doing too much of anything for any length of time - watching tv, reading, writing, being alone, being with friends - for the same reason that falling in love sorta bugs me out on some level, and [probably] that I've not yet allowed myself to pursue a career in something meaningful to me, or to settle in one place and commit to a community - in the last few weeks, I have definitely felt myself resisting the all-consuming nature of the internet.
There is something both wonderful and terrible about being consumed by something. To lose yourself in something, or someone, is the most amazing feeling... until that moment when you suddenly realize that you've lost yourself, and then it's absolutely terrifying.
Wasn't it Aristotle who was going on and on about moderation in all things?
Although, that said, I'm going to contradict myself and say that perhaps I need to consider doing moderation in moderation.
Because I truly belive that only by allowing oneself to be consumed can one reach...uhh... consummation.
2/11/08
Springsteen
I was just poking around on my home computer, and saw a WordPad document labeled "Springsteen" over in the corner of my desktop.
I didn't have any idea what it was, so I opened it and found this.
I remember writing it, but I don't remember which song or which album I was referring to, nor why I felt compelled to write about it. So it's sorta random, and deserves to take its place in my pile of [other] random comments about random things.
__________
...I have always really liked the song, and I was listening to it again last night in the car. It sticks out among the other songs on that album - it's got a sort of simple, empty, lonely sound. Makes me think of walking around on sultry summer nights, alone; passing dark used-car dealerships and bright-lit street corners; hearing the humming transformers on telephone poles and the occasional car passing in the distance. The kind of hot-weather night that makes sex extra fun because you're already so drenched and drunk with the heat that every part of you is wet, and so you give up any attempt at control and go totally sleepily nuts with it.
I didn't have any idea what it was, so I opened it and found this.
I remember writing it, but I don't remember which song or which album I was referring to, nor why I felt compelled to write about it. So it's sorta random, and deserves to take its place in my pile of [other] random comments about random things.
__________
...I have always really liked the song, and I was listening to it again last night in the car. It sticks out among the other songs on that album - it's got a sort of simple, empty, lonely sound. Makes me think of walking around on sultry summer nights, alone; passing dark used-car dealerships and bright-lit street corners; hearing the humming transformers on telephone poles and the occasional car passing in the distance. The kind of hot-weather night that makes sex extra fun because you're already so drenched and drunk with the heat that every part of you is wet, and so you give up any attempt at control and go totally sleepily nuts with it.
Doomsday
It's Monday, February 11th, 5:34pm.
The First Day of Spring Semester.
One of our most relaxing and not-filled-with-120-students-trying-to-see-us-about-restrictions-on-their-accounts days as ever was. (if you catch my drift) (as in, NOT)
Since I'm at work, and I have on my desk 22 little pink message slips from parents who are all waiting for me to call them back before a half hour ago, this seems like a good time to write a blog post.
To give you a Very Important Update - my co-worker has switched from Dove (R) to Nestle (R) (with an accent on the latter e that this interface won't let me put there).
The Nestle people seem to be a bit more down-to-earth than the Dove people. Their chocolate heart wrappers say things like this:
"How many times have Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith been divorced from each other?"
It seems like an odd thing to put on a chocolate heart. Chocolate hearts are supposed to remind us of love and romance, happy endings, things working out.
Maybe.
Or maybe by reminding us of things not working out, they work their addictive magic and make our bodies cry out for happy chocolate chemicals. Maybe Nestle has in fact figured out the best marketing strategy!
Ok; that was a good break. Now I'll go call some parents. Wahoo.
(PS - They're not all called Wahoo. I was just using that as an example, you understand.)
The First Day of Spring Semester.
One of our most relaxing and not-filled-with-120-students-trying-to-see-us-about-restrictions-on-their-accounts days as ever was. (if you catch my drift) (as in, NOT)
Since I'm at work, and I have on my desk 22 little pink message slips from parents who are all waiting for me to call them back before a half hour ago, this seems like a good time to write a blog post.
To give you a Very Important Update - my co-worker has switched from Dove (R) to Nestle (R) (with an accent on the latter e that this interface won't let me put there).
The Nestle people seem to be a bit more down-to-earth than the Dove people. Their chocolate heart wrappers say things like this:
"How many times have Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith been divorced from each other?"
It seems like an odd thing to put on a chocolate heart. Chocolate hearts are supposed to remind us of love and romance, happy endings, things working out.
Maybe.
Or maybe by reminding us of things not working out, they work their addictive magic and make our bodies cry out for happy chocolate chemicals. Maybe Nestle has in fact figured out the best marketing strategy!
Ok; that was a good break. Now I'll go call some parents. Wahoo.
(PS - They're not all called Wahoo. I was just using that as an example, you understand.)
2/8/08
aaaahhhhh
There are a few things in life that I just can't get my brain around.
Concepts that seem stranger and more elusive the harder I think about them....
-The size and scope of the Universe
-Death
-God
-The existence (and online availability) of David Lynch Signature Cup coffee beans http://ecomm.davidlynch.com/catalog/coffee_house.php
Concepts that seem stranger and more elusive the harder I think about them....
-The size and scope of the Universe
-Death
-God
-The existence (and online availability) of David Lynch Signature Cup coffee beans http://ecomm.davidlynch.com/catalog/coffee_house.php
labels
Some people use labels to organize their blog posts.
I don't.
Because I figure everything I write falls under one of two categories (or sometimes both together):
a) Chocolate
2) Statements that will inevitably lead people to decide that I'm completely insane.
But perhaps some variation would be good - after all, that guy did point out the thing about foolish consistency.
I'll work on it.
I don't.
Because I figure everything I write falls under one of two categories (or sometimes both together):
a) Chocolate
2) Statements that will inevitably lead people to decide that I'm completely insane.
But perhaps some variation would be good - after all, that guy did point out the thing about foolish consistency.
I'll work on it.
2/7/08
Dove (R) shirks the sweet and goes for the gusto
My co-worker (bless her generous soul) keeps a jar on her desk filled with chocolates. Usually Dove dark chocolates - you know - the little Promises (R).
Each little wrapper has a soft, goopy saying written inside:
"Love is always the perfect gift." (Awwww!)
"The best holiday decoration is a smile." (Oh yes, how true!)
"Joy is contagious." (And gosh, I just can't wait to catch it from you!)
But apparently the Dove copywriters have had it with the mush, and are finally taking a stand.
Today's wrapper?
"GET YOUR FEET MASSAGED."
Each little wrapper has a soft, goopy saying written inside:
"Love is always the perfect gift." (Awwww!)
"The best holiday decoration is a smile." (Oh yes, how true!)
"Joy is contagious." (And gosh, I just can't wait to catch it from you!)
But apparently the Dove copywriters have had it with the mush, and are finally taking a stand.
Today's wrapper?
"GET YOUR FEET MASSAGED."
2/5/08
TMI
Ok, it's official-- I finally figured it out!
It's the dairy!
--See, I can pretty much get away with not using deodorant... unless I drink milk. If I drink milk, the next day my armpits smell like... well, like armpits generally smell if you exercise and don't use deodorant.
It's weird. I guess it's also a good thing that I very seldom drink milk!
It makes me wonder if other people are affected the same way, and don't realize it, cause they just assume armpits are supposed to smell.
And if they are [affected the same way], and people were to stop drinking milk, and stop using deodorant, how would it affect the US economy?!
Fascinating to think about. (The economy part, I mean; not the stinky pits part, of course.)
It's the dairy!
--See, I can pretty much get away with not using deodorant... unless I drink milk. If I drink milk, the next day my armpits smell like... well, like armpits generally smell if you exercise and don't use deodorant.
It's weird. I guess it's also a good thing that I very seldom drink milk!
It makes me wonder if other people are affected the same way, and don't realize it, cause they just assume armpits are supposed to smell.
And if they are [affected the same way], and people were to stop drinking milk, and stop using deodorant, how would it affect the US economy?!
Fascinating to think about. (The economy part, I mean; not the stinky pits part, of course.)
it's raining again...
(saying that always makes me start singing that Supertramp song)
YES, we had a THUNDERSTORM this morning, of all things. ??!!
On an un-related note (or perhaps not...), I've started re-watching Buffy in my spare time, starting from the first episode.
Two observations:
1) It is a hellishly good show. _Damn_ is it a good show!!
b) It's kinda crazy how far technology has come in the last ten years. -And kinda disturbing how fast we forget where we came from, and when we came from it.
I mean, she calls Giles from a _payphone_ for chrissake! And they speak of the Internet as though it's something reserved for brainy tech junkies.
And here's something else - in Twin Peaks, they were still using rotary-dial phones!
I'm not sure why I find all that so surprising. But it is.
YES, we had a THUNDERSTORM this morning, of all things. ??!!
On an un-related note (or perhaps not...), I've started re-watching Buffy in my spare time, starting from the first episode.
Two observations:
1) It is a hellishly good show. _Damn_ is it a good show!!
b) It's kinda crazy how far technology has come in the last ten years. -And kinda disturbing how fast we forget where we came from, and when we came from it.
I mean, she calls Giles from a _payphone_ for chrissake! And they speak of the Internet as though it's something reserved for brainy tech junkies.
And here's something else - in Twin Peaks, they were still using rotary-dial phones!
I'm not sure why I find all that so surprising. But it is.
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