Interesting Headlines of the Day

"Dwarf galaxies gobbled by their giant neighbors"

"Church defiant over Koran burning"

"US college offers zombie studies"

Headline I'm waiting to see: "Defiant Koran-burning churchgoers disappear after being converted into living dead by overworked, fatigued college students-- hungry neighboring galaxy declines to comment"

And because I can't help myself, click here.

I Spy with My Little Eye

If you walk around your house in your underwear with the blinds open, who's the weirdo: your neighbor(s) for looking at you or you for walking around in your unmentionables? Can a Peeping Tom really be considered to be peeping if you openly prance about in your undies? Is a Peeping Tom creepy because "peeping" sort of rhymes with "creeping"? Which Tom was first caught peeping, and how did he feel about his name being attached to such ignominious behavior?

Twice the Work and Half the Fun

Today I couldn't help thinking how sometimes technology complicates things way more than it simplifies them. Between converting Word documents to PDF files, checking if all the hyperlinks work in each document type, realizing they don't all function properly, discovering that they work on my colleague's computer but not on mine, trying to edit said document and finding that the same options don't even appear on my Adobe Acrobat toolbar because I wasn't the document's original creator (who must have been either my colleague or Satan), trying to delete images from the pre-formatted PDF document without the page numbers and footers disappearing--well, by golly there must be an easier way to do the simple task of making sure all the hyperlinks work in a document. It's no surprise that a handful of hours got sucked into doing a measly assignment that should really only take 30-60 minutes max.

Unfortunately I can't blame all of this on my computer. After all, I can be admittedly inept at times and not realize there's a handy shortcut until after the fact. But still, links that work on one computer but not another? That's just spooky--or at least a pain in the ass. There are days that I jump for joy for having a computer to do all my dirty work, and then there are days where I curse this hunk of metal, silicone and plastic for making my job twice as hard as it needs to be.

What's in the Air?

Certain types of weather and scenes outside my window are like an open invitation to take a stroll down memory lane. Today it was the bright blue sky, cool breeze filtering through the apartment windows, the bright green leaves dappled by the sun's rays, and the comfort of looking out my window at the idyllic images and knowing it was the weekend. Whatever was in the air today, like certain other days, summoned a nostalgia and remembrance of things past. I'm still not sure why this happens every once in awhile, but it usually has to do with clear days, a certain type of crisp, fresh air, and looking out the window.

A Laugh a Minute (at least!)

Someone who consistently cracks me up: Joel McHale from the E Channel's The Soup. I'm sure many people could take or leave the E Channel, including most, if not all, of its programming. But I have to say, Joel McHale consistently cracks me up with the delivery of his lines and his off-the-cuff quips, not to mention the nonverbals he weaves in like his silly facial expressions. His timing is also always on the money. That, combined with his sarcasm and quick comedic reflexes, is reminiscent of talents such as Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report. McHale might not quite have reached Colbert's level yet, or it may be that his personality lends itself to a slightly different style of comedy, but either way he delivers a good laugh--and that's what it's all about!

The "Bee-Stung" Look Gone Bad

Quick question: is there anyone whose look has exponentially benefited from lip injections? From what I can tell it never looks natural, nor does it improve one's physical appeal at all. Breast implants I can understand. Tummy tucks and lipo, okay, I can see why someone would undergo those procedures. Even botox, as damning as the trail of evidence it leaves behind is, can be rationalized. But lip injections? Better get a veil ready because you're going to want to hide those babies until kingdom come!

Chew on this

What does it mean if you can chomp practically a whole pack of gum in the course of an evening? Most likely that your gum loses flavor too fast and that if you keep those kinds of rates up you'll be paying a visit to the dentist in no time with holes in your molars. At least chewing a pack a day is less damaging to your health than smoking a pack a day, so if you're going to do one or the other, chew away!

Word for the Wise

Value what you have rather than longing for what you don't. Sounds simple, but is it really so easy to put into practice when many of our societies tell us differently? Looking at things from a distance, it's comical to think about all the products, services, and ideas that are pushed on us as various stakeholders attempt to convince us that their product will bring us one step closer to being a completely fulfilled, enlightened, sublimely happy individual. It's certainly easier to scan a credit card than to do the heavy spiritual lifting of being content with what one has and what one is--that can be pretty hard work--but it goes without saying that the payoff of the latter is much greater. Now that my PSA is almost over, I'll end this thought with a final question: how many times a day do your thoughts turn to a material thing that you don't currently have but would like to own at some point? It's hard to attend to every single thought in the course of a day, but maybe for one afternoon I'll try and count the number. Whatever it may be, with more practice and increased awareness I hope to lower it and enjoy what I already have in my life to the fullest.

First Impressions

It's hard to know what to make of first impressions. First of all, they're often based primarily on appearance, which is problematic because appearances can be extremely misleading, especially if you're basing someone's entire personality and quality of character on how they look. On the other hand, sometimes a first impression is all you get, so it's logical that people will assume things quickly about you, even if their evaluations are based on a cursory amount of information or interaction. What's so fascinating are the times when I've completely written off people based on my first impressions of them, and after getting to know them I realized what great people they are. I'm sure that experience resonates with many other people out there. The question is, how often are first impressions correct, or at least pretty close to the mark?

Moral of the story? Do your best to make a first impression, but don't beat yourself up if others don't see the real you after a brief encounter. It's also wise to remember that even if you're not initially enamored with someone after meeting them, at least give them a second chance. It's helpful to have additional evidence before deciding what you think someone is really like.

The Basement

Yesterday I went shopping in the basement--Filene's basement, that is. After a fairly long shopping hiatus, especially for someone who thoroughly enjoys the acquisition of new clothes, it was a treat to rediscover The Basement, as I like to call it (because frankly, "Filene" is a rather odd name). It seems like there's always a sale going on and there's an abundance of items that not only fit well but they cost way less than they would elsewhere. I hate to sound like I'm endorsing Filene's (let's recall, I'm not earning a dime from this post), but as someone who loves shopping but doesn't necessarily do it all that often, it's nice to find a place that has what you're looking for and doesn't completely wreak havoc on your bank account.

The "Hello" Game

Today I played a little game: while walking down a narrow corridor at my government office, how many people will make eye contact with me, and better yet, smile or say "hello"?

Out of three people I passed, one made eye contact and said hi--a whopping 33.3%. I'm going to play again next week to try and get a bigger sample size and perhaps some more compelling results.

Too Much Effort, or Not Enough?

I've heard people talk about multiple different ways to bring about a desired result in your life. Some folks say that the way to attract things is by maintaining a relaxed state of mind and not searching too hard for what it is you want to happen. It's reverse psychology of sorts--when you try too hard, you're not relaxed, you force things to occur in an unnatural way, and as a result things don't flow correctly. Relax yourself, don't look too hard, and what you want will come your way.

Others recommend the exact opposite approach: think about what you want constantly and invoke the law of attraction, thereby sending out energy and signals into the universe calling what it is you want to you. Perhaps most often espoused is the blood, sweat and tears strategy--simple hard work to bring what you wish for most into your life.

So I have to ask, which is the best way to get what you want out of your life? Stay relaxed? Great idea. Think about what you want and attract it into your life? Why not? Work your tail off to get where you want to go? Absolutely. I can see value in any of the three strategies, both separately and in tandem, and I'm sure there are even more options than just those named here. The question also becomes when to use which strategy. This is definitely something to ponder, but I have a feeling the best option is a "combo approach": focus on what the object of desire is, put forth effort and energy to reach that goal, and always maintain an inner peace and equilibrium, which may even be the most important factor by a slight edge.

New Favorite Phrase

New favorite phrase for the moment: "It is what it is."

You can't control everything, and to not accept that which is out of your control is to create your own suffering. Instead, recognize the state of things in the present moment, accept it, and move on.

Lazy Last Days of Summer

One of my favorite seasonal transitions is the gradual shift from summer to autumn, from the lazy, lingering warmth to crisp, cool weather partnered with an array of bright colors. The close of summer is reminiscent of the final nail in the coffin of vacation, even as one grows older and is no longer in school. The last few days of summer almost resemble a call for sloth and lassitude--enjoyment of slow activity, quiet moments, and ignoring of "To Do" lists.

After hibernating in air-conditioned quarters for what seems like an eternity but which in reality is only a summer, autumn's refreshing mixture of warmth and chill is welcome and strangely both soothing and invigorating. One can comfortably wander outdoors with arms covered or bare and marvel at Nature's art show on display and crunchy, crackly auditory accompaniments. Sandwiched between two seasons of extreme temperatures, autumn carries with it an inexplicable energy and mystique equaled by no other time of year.

The Most Powerful Card on Earth?

If knowledge is power, a library card is the most valuable tool in the quest for a powerful mind.

This idea reminds me of a line from Good Will Hunting, in which Matt Damon's character Will is a brilliant, but impoverished, kid from Southie in Boston. After a heated discussion with a Harvard grad student in a bar, in which the student quotes a text and tries to pass it off as his own original thought, Will calls him out on the plagiarism and states:

"See, the sad thing about a guy like you is, in 50 years you're gonna start doin' some thinkin' on your own and you're going to come up with the fact that there are two certainties in life: one, don't do that, and two, you dropped 150 grand on a f***in' education you could have got for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library."

Nutrition Tips That Make Me Laugh

Nutritional tips that don't quite add up: replace sweets and candy with nuts. Don't get me wrong, nuts are fabulous and excellent for maintaining a healthy diet. But here's a newsflash: nuts are not sweet, nor are they a satisfying substitute for sweets. Fruit, maybe. But a fruit, no matter how hard it tries, will never successfully imitate a nice, delicious square of chocolate. My nutritional tip? Everything in moderation. = )

Back to the Basics

Talk about a trip down memory lane--this morning I discovered my old textbooks from my very first Spanish courses in college. As I thumbed through the colorful pages filled to the brim with words, structures, stories and pictures, I realized what a journey I've taken in learning the language and becoming immersed in it. The process of learning a language is interesting because it's so fluid and can be approached in such a variety of ways. For example, textbooks are helpful because they present vocabulary, expressions, and explain grammatical structures so that a student can better understand why the language behaves as it does. On the other hand, being immersed in a culture and learning the language through active listening and talking is essential. One can capture a language in leaps and bounds through living it, and many aspects of grammar and expressions are absorbed unconsciously as the ear becomes more attuned to what sounds "correct" and "not quite right". In reviewing my texts this morning it became clear that while my abilities reached unforeseen levels while living abroad, texts and formal classes set the stage for more advanced language learning and provide a physical, conceptual reference that can serve a student of language for the rest of their life.

Musical Moods

What kind of music makes me feel increasingly intelligent just by listening to it? Classical music. What kind of music makes me want to get up and kick someone's ass? Hard rock. What kind of music makes me want to relax or dance with my man? Jazz. What kind of music makes me want to shake my butt? Reggaeton. What kind of music makes me want to drive, do exercise, dance alone, or just even nod my head to the beat? Hiphop. What kind of music makes me want to take a road trip? Classic rock. What kind of music makes me want to have a cookout, lie in a field, or go out on the backroads? Country music. What kind of music makes me want to grab a partner and tear up the dance floor with lots of "hippy" moves? Salsa, merengue, or bachata. What kind of music makes me want to get up and move my body, no matter how ridiculous I may look? Techno.

What am I listening to right now? I'll give you a hint--I feel as though my brain is expanding by the moment...

How do these types of music make you feel?

Three Plus is a Crowd

There's a reason someone came up with the phrase "Three's a crowd"--possibly because, well, it can be. I've never been able to wrap my head--or tastes, perhaps--around certain practices when it comes to getting together with friends. When I think of comfortable reunions with friends or small gatherings, I tend to envision hanging out, maybe over coffee, with my friend to chat and catch up one on one. If a few of us decide to hang out, thhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4672213590103447155at's also fine, as long as those involved already know each other, and preferably if we all share established friendships. What I can't seem to get are those friends of mine who, when they bounce into town for a quick visit before jetting off to wherever they're living, try to reunite every possible friend in their address book that still lives in the area. Mind you, that's super convenient because you're hitting about ten birds with one stone, but it can result in a gathering that's terribly awkward and what's even worse--boring as all hell.

One particular friend of mine has an awful habit of doing this. She's friends with many people and does a fairly good job of keeping in touch with all of them. Of this group, however, none of us are in contact with each other, and I think we're just fine with that. So, when my friend decided to do a coffee outing with 8-10 of her random assortment of friends, it ended up being quite a dull event in which everyone vied for her attention and then turned to rely on whomever they came with for idle chatter while my friend was occupied with others in the group. Now, if this were a party setting, perhaps it would be slightly more acceptable to be thrown in with a bunch of strangers, since sometimes that's what a party is all about. But when I think of coffee talk, I don't think of lumping all my friends together in one place so I can claim I saw and talked to all of them, almost reminiscent of a speed dating event.

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose, is the only conclusion that comes to mind when trying to understand why my friend's style and my own are so different. And by different strokes for different folks, I mean our personalities and styles are completely different--and you know what? That's just fine by me.

Multicultural Relationships

What's nice about having a significant other who shares your cultural background? A sense of understanding and commonality when it comes to certain topics, like religion, customs, child-rearing philosophies, gender roles, and ease of communication. What's great about being with someone from a different culture? Constant discovery about different ways of thinking and being, which can keep things interesting and "spicy." Working together to overcome cultural differences of opinion or flaws in the lines of communication can also prove good practice at resolving issues in general, while for other multicultural couples it may sink them before they have a chance of floating ahead towards the horizon of marital bliss.

One thing is certain: no matter what cultures people come from and regardless of whether their backgrounds are the same or radically divergent, trust, respect and open communication are the cornerstones of a marriage that has a chance of going anywhere.