Your Song – Elton John
Archive for March, 2009
New Drug For Excessive Cheeriness
March 30, 2009Priceless.
“Doctors say the new drug could reduce the number of costume or theme parties up to 40%”
Morning Music
March 30, 2009Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Or take your time don’t live to fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
Benefits of Boredom
March 29, 2009A fascinating take on the benefits of boredom and daydreams. This is oddly comforting. I love the idea of not having to rush to fill time and space…
While there’s some tantalizing evidence linking daydreaming, the default network and creativity, I think the most tangible benefit of boredom is probably social. Mostly, what we daydream about is each other, as the mind retrieves memories, contemplates “what if” scenarios, and thinks about how it should behave in the future. In this sense, the content of daydreams often resembles a soap opera, with people reflecting on social interactions both real and make-believe. We can leave behind the world as it is and start imagining the world as it might be, if only we hadn’t lost our temper, or had superpowers, or had used a different pick-up line. It is this ability to tune out the present moment and contemplate the make-believe that separates the human mind from every other.
So Brodsky was right: boredom can have important benefits. We should learn to savor the slowness of time: all those long nights and tedious drives are a great chance to slip into our “default” mode of thought. We banish boredom at our own peril.
What Would You Do?
March 28, 2009Did anyone happen to catch this clip from the ABC series, “What Would You Do?” You know me, unless its LOST or The Office, I don’t watch any TV shows live. But, luckily the power of the internet has preserved it for us minimal TV watchers.
Overall, the edited reactions leave me satisfied. The cultural progress made on this issue has been staggeringly quick in the scheme of things. It’d be interesting to see how this would have played out in say, Mississippi or Georgia. But, we’ll settle for a tolerant New Jersey for now.
Confession: what I most crave is the option to slow dance. At a wedding, a bar, a concert. Whenever the mood is right and the urge is there to get close under the dim lights and celebrate being a couple. We are not quite at the point where two people of the same sex can experience that without strange repurcussions. Or, I should say, I’m not brave enough to do that yet.
Saturday Morning Music
March 28, 2009Pass Me Not – Garrison Keillor
Perhaps better for Sunday Morning Music, but I couldn’t wait. Saturdays are ultimately superior to Sundays.
Starbucks Ready Brew
March 27, 2009Has anyone tried this stuff? Almost as pricey as an actual cup of Starbucks coffee. How will this possible fly?
