Watch The Stress Melt Away
Posted on July 14, 2010 | By Patty Pino | 1 Comment
I bought a watch this weekend. Not the most provocative of things, I know, but I haven’t worn a wrist-based timepiece in years. Why? Because, who needs one?! I decided, years ago, that my computer, my cell phone, my cable box, and my car have all the clocks that I need. They keep me on time, or remind me when I’m late.
Let me stress the decision to abandon a watch was made years ago. Recently, I had a revelation; I, again, need a watch.
Learn the way of the Watch
Years ago, I simply had a cell phone; now, I have a BlackBerry. Years ago, I had a computer with email and a by-request internet connection; now, I have constant internet connectivity plus instant messenger. We have evolved to that connect-me-to-everyone-right-now stuff and instead of living in the moment, we are living outside the moment. I have become so busy responding to the immediate requests of others immediately, that I completely ignore the people I’m with and the actual conversation we’re having. To put it bluntly, I’ve become an anxious, rude, half-listener with attention deficit tendencies.
How many of you can say the same? Do you hang out with one group of people, but spend all of your time with them communicating with other people? Catch up with friends at the bar, and you’re all standing around texting friends who aren’t with you? Sitting in your living room with your family, but completely distracted from your kids conversation because you’re too busy updating your Facebook status?
Part of the problem is, when I go to check the time, I am sucked in to my email, my voicemails, my alerts, messages, tweets and the like. And, damn the moment and what I may be doing, I must reply immediately. I’m guilty if I don’t respond and I’m guilty if I do. Stress Recipe 101.
Hence, the watch and my new commitment to bringing myself back into the moment. I’m hoping it tell me what time it is – literally and figuratively. Looking at my wrist will unplug me from the device-dependant ridiculousness that has been so overwhelmingly distracting. Maybe you should consider conquering your time differently, too.
~pp
Now this is how you do a rant!
Posted on July 12, 2010 | By Christian | No Comments
I’m posting this not because I find Mel Gibson especially compelling as a person or actor, but I have to say the man knows how to rant! I could just hear him doing this from horseback with his face painted blue a la Braveheart. Mel you are an inspiration!
WARNING: This audio contains graphic and profane language.
Prince is Homeless and Deranged
Posted on July 6, 2010 | By Robert LaFrance | No Comments
The only format that Prince is releasing his new album on
I’m sure I don’t need to remind you but Prince is bat-shit crazy! In a rare interview with a UK newspaper, he had the following pearls of wisdom:
“The Internet is completely over,” Prince told the Mirror. “I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it.”
Riiiight, Mr. Symbol. If Prince had his way, all modern technological advances would suddenly cease to exist. So, the Internet is over like the airline industry is over. He would prefer we travel to other regions of our expansive country via horse and buggy while panning for gold and trying to avoid being scalped by Indians. Read more
Alms. Alms for the poor!
Posted on June 10, 2010 | By Christian | 3 Comments
Ticket Donations
Ok, this is nothing new but I think it’s something that is worth saying again. The summer is here and with it come the fun things we all enjoyed as kids and would like to do the same with our children. I remember going to baseball games as a kid and concerts (as I got a bit older) every summer. It’s a right of passage. Well, it’s a right of passage if you are wealthy anyway. Have you seen how much it costs to go to a major league baseball game?? And God help you if you want to buy a baseball hat or shirt while you are there! Rock concerts are no better. Even has-been bands that are touring, like the powerhouse combination of REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar, are ridiculously expensive!
I think I need a ticket subsidy.
Here is a great idea from the Hippodrome in Florida. ”Can’t make your regularly scheduled performance? Can’t exchange tickets? You can donate your tickets back to the Hipp and we’ll make them available for another arts patron to enjoy.”
Wired on Chris Hardwick Joke Analysis
Posted on June 4, 2010 | By Patty Pino | No Comments
- Stagetime matters big time.
A long time ago, when Madonna didn’t speak with a British accent and the US was actually cleaning up oil spilled from that Exxon DUI in Alaska, I climbed onstage in front of a bar full of strangers and attempted to make them laugh. I succeeded, and those few minutes in a red-velvet-decorated strip mall comedy club changed my life. I could write a joke.
Before and since that night, I have enjoyed and analyzed comedy. (Admittedly, I analyze everything I enjoy.) How psyched was I, then, when the May 2010 issue of WIRED magazine featured comedian and Web Soup host Chris Hardwick’s article Crafting a Joke: The Arc of an Act? Completely, and I was completely impressed. Many, many comedy professionals and feigned comedic personalities have attempted to describe their joke processes, but Hardwick, in sharing his approach and the perspective of others, boils it down to the essentials.
Want people to laugh with you instead of just at you? Read Hardwick’s advice, start thinking funny, right it down, and go.
~pp
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