Archive for 2024
Couch potato
In the United States, we use the phrase “couch potato” to describe someone who spends a significant amount of time sitting around, consuming content via a screen, and otherwise doing little else. In other countries, couch potatoes are referred to as: House cockerel (Ghanaian Ewe) House mouse (Finnish) One who squats in the parlor (German)…
Read MoreYou are not for everyone
You are not for everyone. Nor should you be. The common adage goes: “When you try to please everyone, you please none.” While this may be true, I prefer this own twist on this well-worn phrase: “When you try to please everyone, you’ll never please yourself.” Pleasing others is great, but unless you’re content with…
Read MoreGolfers are tough
Professional golfer Akshay Bhatia won the Valero Texas Open last month by beating Denny McCarthy on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. And he did it playing hurt. Despite entering the back nine with a six-shot lead, Bhatia needed to birdie the 18th hole of the final round to force a playoff after McCarthy…
Read MoreNavigating the world
A recent study examined why some people seem to have an innate sense of direction while others do not. The study found that people tend to fall into three groups: Those who make good mental maps (and can improvise between known routes) Those who have good route knowledge (excellent in known territory but not-so-good outside…
Read MoreSans CGI
Peter Parker’s iconic tray catch scene from 2002’s Spider-Man took 156 takes, but it was done without CGI. The old-fashioned way. It’s odd how twenty years ago, you’d think, “Of course, it was done without the assistance of computer animation,” but today, it’s almost unbelievable.
Read MoreYou never know what might happen when you make stuff
I was speaking to a young person about the importance of making stuff. She’s an artist who one day hopes to make her living making art, but she’s plagued with worries about investing time in a project that won’t ultimately pay off. I told her to put those thoughts aside and just work. Find inspiration.…
Read MoreWe may be doomed.
According to a recent Cash App Taxes survey, a whopping 25% of Gen Z taxpayers said they’d need a therapist to deal with the stress of tax-filing season. Additionally, 54% said filing taxes has either brought them to tears in the past or expects to be brought to tears this year. I’m frightened for the world…
Read MoreBest names I have been called
Every now and then, my school’s cafeteria serves “Nachos Grande.” When I announce this meal option to my students, I add that “Nachos Grande” might be an excellent nickname for me that they might want to consider. None do. Most groan. I can’t imagine why. While I continue to try to convince my students to…
Read MoreBig, fat religious liars
The National Bureau of Economic Research has made a shocking discovery. Polling data routinely indicates that about 22 percent of Americans report attending religious services on a weekly basis. However, by analyzing geodata from the smartphones of more than two million people in 2019, researchers found that just five percent of Americans attended religious services…
Read MoreOnly $250?
I was teaching a storytelling workshop last month when one of the participants lamented that his parents had “only given $250 in pocket money” per month while he was attending college. And this was in 2005 when $250 could be stretched considerably further than today. My instant reaction was to recoil. I have not received…
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