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
TSF12: Quality Otter Haircuts and the Pirated Music of Bjorkestra (not necessarily in that order) – NOW ONLINE!
Posted on June 29, 2010 | By Robert LaFrance | No Comments
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Slacker Factor Podcast, Episode 12: Quality Otter Haircuts and the Pirated Music of Bjorkestra (not necessarily in that order)
Tune in to see just how the words in the title actually combine to form a coherent episode of The Slacker Factor.
Links:
Meandering Rant: Business and Competition by Christian
Book Report: Music Piracy by Rob
Music Segment: Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra
TSF11: Crazy like Patty (or Snooki) – NOW ONLINE!
Posted on June 13, 2010 | By Robert LaFrance | No Comments
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Slacker Factor Podcast, Episode 11: Crazy like Patty (or Snooki)
Your crack team of Slackers explores what’s real and what’s faux and Patty decides she’s cooler than Snooki in her “Reality is
Overrated” rant. Christian ponders the future of the suprising long-time coming electric car. And we feast our ears on the alt-pop of Draz. Now that’s a show! (or is it?)
Links:
Meandering Rant: Reality Is Overrated by Patty
Book Report: Electric Cars by Christian
Music Segment: Sunday Rain by Draz
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
TSF10: Green Fairy Drink Drink – NOW ONLINE!
Posted on May 22, 2010 | By Robert LaFrance | No Comments
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Slacker Factor Podcast, Episode 10: Green Fairy Drink Drink
Absinthe, three ways. Oh, yeah, and there was also some ranting about something..um… Rob invents an economic theory on the fly and some music by Zero 7…the rest remains a bleary, blurred whirl.
Links:
Meandering Rant:
Rob invents a new economic theory on the fly (slackernomics?)
Book Report:
Absinthe Tasting – the crew downs three different Absinthes: Lucid, Absente, and La Fee, and barely makes it through the rest of the episode.
The Little Green Book of Absinthe by Paul Owens and Paul Nathan
Music Segment: Zero 7
keep looking »
