Post Secret

I am in love with Post Secret. It is an ongoing project by Frank Warren that I have been interested in for the past three months or so. People anonymously send in postcards on which they write a secret that they've never told anyone before, and they are published on the Post Secret Blog for the world to read. It is updated every Sunday. I actually get excited to check Post Secret every Sunday. Here's a few samples of what you'll find:





I suggest you check in every Sunday. The secrets are amazing. Someday I determined to send in my own. Post Secret

You've got to move it move it

According to an article in Boston Globe, "Don't Just Stand There, Think," everything we understand is confined to and defined by the movement that humans make. They refer to this new theory as embodied cognition. The article says:

But today, neuroscientists, linguists, and philosophers are making much bolder claims. A few argue that human characteristics like empathy, or concepts like time and space, or even the deep structure of language and some of the most profound principles of mathematics, can ultimately be traced to the idiosyncrasies of the human body.

I think that is an interesting concept, especially in linguistics. When learning a new language, one of the most confusing things is whether you are saying "I gave the pop rocks to you” or "You gave the pop rocks to me" for example. Hand motions make conceptualization a lot easier, and you would never point at yourself if you really meant 'you'. I totally believe that our understanding (at least through language) is contingent on bodily movement.

I decided to post a photo of artwork from one of my favorite artists of all time, Alexander Calder. His works are kinetic.

A penny for your thoughts

"It now costs 1.4 cents to make a penny" according to Citizens for Retiring the Penny It is a waste of money and of time to even bend over and pick up a penny.

I'm not going to lie, the thought of abolishing the penny makes me sad. Call it nostalgic, but the penny is quintessentially American.

I saw this in a Stephen J. Dubner article, "What Do You Do With Your Pennies?"

The most ridiculous pro-penny defense I’ve seen in a while appeared in a full-page ad in the Times on June 21, 2006... "New legislation will attempt to DO AWAY WITH THE PENNY. What’s next, puppies and rainbows too?"

He goes on to further criticize the quote and statistics included in the ad. But, really, I agree. I like puppies. I like rainbows. And I like pennies. Don't take away our shiney penny happiness.

Also check out the interesting NY Times article by Austan Goolsbee , "Now That a Penny Isn’t Worth Much, It’s Time to Make It Worth 5 Cents" that suggests to rebase the penny to make it worth five cents.

Can't a girl have some penny love?

Sad? Give happiness a try.

I think that the Happiness Project book/blog is a good idea. I quote from Gretchen Rubin:

THE HAPPINESS PROJECT--a memoir about the year I spent test-driving every principle, tip, theory, and scientific study I could find, whether from Aristotle or St. Therese or Martin Seligman or Oprah. THE HAPPINESS PROJECT will gather these rules for living and report on what works and what doesn’t.

The Happiness Project

I think happiness studies are so intriguing. I really think happiness has a lot to do with personality and environment or perception of relativity.

Although shifting the topic a little, one of my favorite quotes of all times is by John Tomlinson (although I think he was quoting it from Katz and Liebes) "Unhappiness is the greatest leveler."

Think about that in your social stratification, globalization, and economic welfare studies. Who cares what you've got if you are less unhappy than others? If people who have everything are still unhappy, and people who have nothing are unhappy, is it really a redistribution of wealth that is indeed needed, or something else?

Ice Fest

The Chambersburg Ice Fest was this past weekend. It is quaint little community ordeal. Fireworks and sculptures carved out of ice. I saw eskimos, a house, several half-melted things, Ben Franklin, a horse and sleigh, a snowman throne, and a train to name a few. Chainsaws and ice, bah ha ha.

Brrrr.

Super Bowl Ads

Who saw the super bowl ads yesterday? I don't think they lived up to my expectations, but I did pick a few winners.

My Favorite Five
1. Diet Pepsi Max Head Nodding
2. Fed Ex Carrier Pigeons
3. Doritos Mouse Trap
4. Tide Stain Does the Talking
5. Bridgestone Screaming Creatures

USA Today's Ad Meter tracks the second by second response of viewers watching the ads and groups the information according to age, gender, and income. I think it's interesting to look at their research data.

The USA Today test group favorited the Budweiser dog and pony one which didn't even make it on my top 10 list. Hello, been there done that, couldn't they gone for something bigger?

Some of my running commentary:
The Bridgestone Richard Simmons one, you knew everyone was screaming, hit him, hit him. And the Toyota badger one--gross, brinking on inappropriate. Garmin GPS Napoleon navagating to Paris too hard to follow, although very funny once understood. The worst ad was by far the Career Builder follow your heart one. Ugh.

A Picture Perfect World

I'm telling you, icy trees are perhaps the only redeming quality of snowy cold weather.


I can't help but think that these photographs look like Bob Ross paintings--only they're real.


I am captivated by icy tree beauty.

And Fulbright Says...

Sometimes I wonder it is possible to have too many good things happen in a lifetime? Yesterday, I got an email that my Fulbright application has been passed onto the next level of competition.

I am pleased to inform you that the National Screening Committee of the Institute of International Education (IIE) has recommended you for a grant under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the academic year 2008-09.

Now, my application will be sent to Argentina, and they will decide whether or not they want me.

It's a gorgeous day outside--beautifully icy.


I don't want to get my hopes up because passing the first round by no means guarentees a grant, although it is a significant step toward getting one. In some ways, I am surprised. I was worried that going to a relatively unknown school like Shippensburg would be harmful to me, but apparently not. I guess those laborious hours working on the application were worth it.

I am still in a pleasing shock.