Posts filed under 'Sophomoric Brain Development'
Since GP is wrestling with lawns and slides and PowerPoint, I thought I’d throw something up. Um, I meant throw something up here, which sounds a bit better. And I think I’ve identified my white-blossomed tree as a hawthorne. Turns out it’s not named Fred.
Quote du jour
Spring has returned.
The earth is like a child that knows poems.
- Ranier Maria Rilke
Question: Was Rilke influenced by the fact that he did not grow up in Wisconsin? (Will spring show up in the upper midwest, or will the seasons skip directly to humid mosquito-lovin’ summer?) Discuss.
Fun links du jour:
Regifting Robin
Write or Die: putting the “prod” into productivity
April 5th, 2009
I had a terrific idea for a lovely thought-provoking post, but I have been massively busy, and then for the past few days, rather sick, so that post will have to wait for another month.
Instead, I present the following silly questions for your discussion. Or not, if you all have something more interesting to talk about.
1. Why do we press harder on the remote control when we know the batteries are going weak?
2. Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?
3. Is there ever a day that matresses aren’t on sale?
4. How do those dead bugs get into enclosed light fixtures?
5. Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
Don’t like my silly questions (which I stole from here)? Propose one or two of your own! The more the merrier!
April 2nd, 2009
I came up with this idea the last time I was going through the spam, making sure no one was lost in there. If you take the time to read any of the spam comments, you’ll find that many of them read very much like a Mad Lib. And so the idea for this blog post was born. Hopefully, it will end up being an entertaining and fun diversion! *crossing fingers*
If anyone by chance doesn’t know what a Mad Lib is, this is how Wikipedia describes them:
Mad Libs (a play on ad lib, from Latin ad libitum – as you wish) is a word game where one player prompts another for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story; these word substitutions have a humorous effect when the resulting story is then read aloud. The game is especially popular with American children and is frequently played as a party game or as a pastime.
How this will work:
Below I have listed what I need from you. I figure that you all can take turns, going round-robin, making a suggestion for one or two of the numbers in each comment. If there ends up being more than one suggestion for each number, I reserve the right to use whichever I feel will make the funniest mad lib! As this isn’t a discussion topic per se, we can just carry on in the comments with discussion as usual.
Edited to show what we have so far.
(1) ADVERB – quickly
(2) half VERB – half-whined
(3) had VERB – had blown/had returned
(4) VERB up – ascended
(5) FURNITURE ITEM – garderobe
(6) ADJECTIVE – plaid
(7) COLOR – puce
(8) COLOR – tawny
(9) ACCESSORY – handbag/tiara
(10) ADJECTIVE – mellifluous
(11) ADJECTIVAL NOUN – recalcitrantness
(12) OCCUPATION – cabana boy
(13) ADJECTIVE – adlepated
(14) NOUN and NOUN describing a person – PLETHORA AND COOK
(15) CLOTHING ITEM (plural) – galoshes
(16) PLACE – closet under the stairs
(17) his GROUP NOUN – swarm
(18) ADJECTIVAL NOUN – retribution/vindictiveness
(19) MUSICAL INSTRUMENT – piccolo/kazoo/zither
(20) ADJECTIVE – happy/wise/inebriated/obese
(21) CLOTHING ITEM (plural) – flannel shirts/socks/spats
(22) PLACE – CB Bar & Grill/Lion’s Den
(23) ADJECTIVE – sultry/loyal/maloderous
(24) LENGTH OF TIME – eons/nanosecond
(25) VERB ending in -ed – triumphed
(26) SOUND – ding dong
(27) ADJECTIVE – decisive/disgusting/obsequious
For each number, the word/word phrase that I need is given in UPPER CASE. Any additional lower case words narrow the scope a bit. For example, (2) is looking for a VERB that can follow the word half. And for an ADJECTIVAL NOUN think about nouns that can be made out of an adjective, for example, the adjective smart gives the noun smartness, from agile we get agility, and so on.
I’ve taken the first paragraph or so from a classic romantic novel to use for the mad lib. In a day or two, I’ll post the end version.
Have fun!
December 1st, 2008
We tend to think in: Either or. Left, right. Yes, no. This, that. Black, white. Senate, House of Representatives. Pres, Vice pres.
I claim this is because we are bisymmetrical: 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 arms and hands. 2 legs and feet. We are genetically programmed to think this way. This is our World View. Looking down from above at a person geometrically, consider we are basically a square or a rectangle with arms and legs sticking out.
What if we were … trisymmetrical? Looking down we would see a triangle with 3 arms and hands and 3 legs and feet sticking out. So we would have 3 eyes and 3 ears. Wouldn’t this change our World View?
So how would we think of things?
November 5th, 2008
There’s a lot going on to fear nowadays. So in honor of Halloween, just a few days away, I present a list of more things to fear. Can you figure out what they are? I’ll give you some hints.
- Phobophobia: You’d better stop reading right now.
- Samhainophobia: You already ran away screaming in the first paragraph, didn’t you?
- Amnesiphobia: If you had what you’re afraid of, does that mean you would be cured, or simply forget that you’re afraid of it?
- Gamophobia: I suggest a name change. A true GAM would not have GAMophobia, and calling it that is an insult to GAMs.
- Ranidaphobia: I remember a conversation about Jen-T and Kermit…
- Gephyrophobia: A couple people visiting Portland suffered from this malady.
- Caligynephobia: Oh, so that’s why I scare away men?
- Logophobia: I’m pretty sure none of us have this.
- Bibliophobia: Thank Bob none of us have this.
- Arachibutyrophobia: Does it matter if it’s chunky or creamy?
- Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: Thanks, just rub salt in my wound while you’re at it why don’t you.
- Porphyrophobia: Not me; it’s my favorite color!
There doesn’t seem to be a specific phobia relating to what’s going on in the world right now. Maybe we need to coin a new one. Recessiophobia? Electophobia?
What are you afraid of?
October 27th, 2008
Memories, the stuff our lives are made of. Looking back on good memories can be a life-affirming experience. Memories are stored in our minds by many different avenues. Sight, smell, touch, emotion… The smell of wood smoke from a fireplace on a winter evening can send a kaleidoscope of pictures flipping through the mind. A familiar touch can resurrect those wonderful warm and fuzzy feelings. However, it’s quite a revelation to me* that memories can and do become skewed with time. I expect emotional memories to fade or change, but pictures in the head?
For instance, I lived in southern Oregon for 4 years from 1989 to 1993. I drove back and forth between Eagle Point, OR and Berkeley, CA several times because my Mom lived in Berkeley. I also, on an incredibly stormy night when it was raining so much I could hardly see, drove to Sacramento, CA, because my friend in Texas sent me a puppy, and it was too darn expensive to fly the little thing into Medford, OR (which used to be the most expensive city in the US to fly into). So, I had memories of the drive – steep hills, fabulous views, Shasta Lake, etc.
When it was decided that some of us would caravan from California to Oregon for summer solstice, I told edelweiss of the incredible view from the summit of the Siskiyous into the valley on the opposite side of the freeway from Ashland (Oregon) and promised that we would stop at the summit so that she could take pictures. Then I regaled OH with tales of the Oregon Highway Patrol and how they didn’t like cars with CA licenses and would pull a person over for any infraction of the rules, especially speeding (I was once pulled over for a broken tail light – mind you no one else was on the road at the time).
So, edelweiss and OH arrived at my house, we set out the next morning and drove through CA… Because the scenery between the flatlands and the mountains is uninspired, it seemed like a long time before we got to the climb up the Siskyous. Finally, we start up the mountains. Hummm..I don’t remember driving down into this canyon before we had to drive up the next hill. And… I thought the hill before the summit was one straight line on the CA side – apparently not. And… where is the view from the summit?? Ah, there it is halfway down the other side, but… ack – there’s no place to pull over to take pictures.
Meanwhile, I don’t see an Oregon Highway Patrolman anywhere. Where are those California license hating cops?? Nary a one in sight… So instead of driving the speed limit, I go faster, thus confusing OH who is still looking out for OR cops. Then, I thought I had a clear memory of the placement of certain cities (like Eugene), but my memory wasn’t as clear as I thought it was. Huh…
We all know that places change with time, that’s a given. But placement of views, hills, and entire cities usually don’t. Do you ever have what you are certain are clear memories, then revisit and find that the road doesn’t curve the way you remember, or there’s an extra hill you forgot about, or the river is on the right side of the road instead of the left?
September 19th, 2008
If we use psychology on someone to bring them around to our way of thinking, or get them to do something they don’t want to, we’re accused of messing with their heads, playing mind games, and it’s considered a bad thing. But for all that we don’t like being accused of it, everybody still does it. Yes, you do. Especially if you have kids. What? You never told your kids their face would freeze that way? Or that there were kids starving someplace so they had to eat those brussel sprouts? Maybe not those specific examples, but I’m betting on some variation of the same. For the most part it’s a tactic you want to use only for good and never for evil because eventually, probably soon than later, the kid figures out that they’ve been had and you’ve lost one of the best weapons in your arsenal.
But it’s not just with kids. Politicians use it all the time on the general public, telling us what we want to hear. We get angry when they do it, but most of the time people fall for it willingly. An old boss of mine use to have an annoying tendency to say “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Meaning, that if you once fall for something without examining the logic, maybe you can rationalize that they tricked you. But if you fall for the same trick a second time, then you pretty much deserve what you get. And boy do we ever get it!
In my opinion, though, the best use of mind games is when we use it on ourselves. For example, if you’re like me you’ve probably been faced at one time or another with an unpleasant task which, however necessary, you avoided doing until it took on mythic proportions. Like getting myself out of bed during the work week. I finally set the clock in my bedroom ahead by 10 minutes and put a small desktop clock in the bathroom which I set about 12 minutes ahead. Why? Pizzy-chology, and who knows how my mind works better than I do? Even though I know the time isn’t accurate, maybe because I know it isn’t accurate, I’m motivated to move a little faster and dawdle a little less.
Another example is housework. I detest it; who doesn’t? But I love a clean house. It’s not so much the cleaning part I dread but rather the time-consuming ritual of taking a room apart and putting it back together, the dragging out of rags and chemicals that have to be put back. Fortunately the companies that make cleaning products know how my mind works, too. These days they make these nifty disposable thingies that can do the job in a jiffy. I can fool myself that I’m just “wiping up,” it only takes a fraction of the time, and it’s disposable so there’s nothing to put back. Is it the same as really cleaning? Of course not. The rags and noxious fumes still have to come out eventually. But it won’t be as big a job because I didn’t procratinate. Hardly. I’ve also been known to flat out bribe myself. If I’ve been putting off a task, such as cleaning out the basement, I dangle a little incentive in front of my own nose: if I get this done, I’ll have earned a treat.
I don’t know whether these little tricks mean that I’m clever or gullible. I don’t think it matters as long as it works. And I’m sure you have your own little mind game you play. What is it?
September 13th, 2008
BCB took the original picture, and a little editing helped it out. Sorta!
A good time was had by all. Of course we discussed books. And RWAs. And the impossible aunt/sister/father/you fill in the blank that so many CBs seem to have. And the perfect children CBs have. And CBs who are reading. And CBs who are writing. And reasons that writing is difficult to do. (How can a person find time if that person is also holding down 1 or more jobs?) And the CBs who are strong. No need to discuss the weak ones, since we agreed there aren’t any.
Ya’d think with only 3 of us that lunch would be shorter than when there are more. Say not so! I’d have stayed longer, but I needed to dash home between thunderstorms. Thus the need to use my telephone to check out the storm paths. I LOVE my phone. So glad McB talked me into indulging. So JenB and BCB stayed a while longer. I wonder what they talked about.
One of our topics was about competition, and how I really don’t like competitive sports because they’re, well, competitive. BCB made the observation, that I’m very competitive. Moi? Yes. Absolutely, positively, even viciously. So JenB said how could that be, if I was against such. So I admitted that having that trait doesn’t mean I’m proud of it. The good news is that I’m most fiercely competitive against myself.
Anyhoo. How about you? Care to admit to a personality defect? Or, for that matter, a personality attribute that you’re proud of?
Oh. I’m a good listener.
August 3rd, 2008
I’m a little verklempt, so, talk amongst yourselves.
Bluetooth is neither blue, nor a tooth. Discuss.
(Like I need to give you people a reason to talk amongst yourselves.)
July 25th, 2008
In romance novels, the hero and heroine see each other and get that thrill in the pit of their stomach. This is how we know they will end up with each other (usually after trials and tribulations).
To take this a step further, I know a woman. She has tended to get involved with men who have the “thrill factor.” About 3 years ago, she met a fellow who had that “thrill factor,” He liked to do the same things she does, and they hung out for a couple of years. However, he was not willing to commit further, didn’t really take her anywhere, didn’t really support her when she needed it, never made special plans (she always had to do that), and on occasion he drank too much. They broke up when she discovered that he was not monogamous – a deal breaker that my friend had made clear to him from the beginning. Then, my friend found out that many of the things he told her about himself were either half-truths or outright prevarications. The break-up was hard on her because they had seemed so compatible and did so many everyday things together. Sounds like a page from the “He’s just not that into You” book.
She is now in a relationship with a fellow who is smart, philosophical, pilots his own plane (a small one, but still…), makes plans for special weekends, and flies her to those places. He is attentive to her and never drinks too much. When visiting her house, he cooks for her (well, grills and smokes on the grill/smoker he bought her, but still…). I’m also told that he knows his way around female anatomy better than anyone. And when she had a non-life-threatening medical situation that required driving over 2 hours one-way to see a specialist, he went with her, and stayed with her to make certain she was taken care of. A real stand-up guy. BUT – for some reason known only to the depths of her mind – he doesn’t have that “thrill factor” for her. I’ve seen a picture – nice eyes, good hands, physically fit, and quite good looking. He also has a great, deadpan sense of humor. (When she mentioned to him that she admired his expertise with anatomy – he looked her straight in the eye and said, “I took it in school – twice.”) YET – no thrill factor. Sigh… Go figure…
A woman I work with who studies psychology, says that the “thrill” we feel is actually a fight-or-flight response to a person – mother nature’s way of telling us to keep our distance. But still we chase that adrenalin rush. Why do some of us need that adrenalin rush that the thrill factor brings? Is that why the trill factor is so important to some people? Are they adrenalin junkies? Could you feel that thrill for a man who doesn’t make your stomach flip, but is a good, steady, stand-up guy?
What do you think?
July 21st, 2008
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