By "active listening" I mean listening to music without doing anything else, no reading or working or talking.
I find that I rarely do any active listening these days. I used to do it when I was much younger.
Do you do it? More or less than when you were younger? If it changed, why do you think it did?
----
I'm just reading a collection of essays by William Gibson (Distrust That Particular Flavor), and the very latest bit I read today was about how Gibson really don't care about the fidelity of the equipment and channel by which he listens to music, he thinks the music is there even by the worst channel.
I think there's a danger of "knowing too much" for enjoyment of something. For example, because I photograph, I notice if the highlights are blown in a photo, and it may spoil the enjoyment for me. But for somebody who know nothing about the technical aspects, it may be a wonderful picture which he gets great enjoyment from.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Buttercups
Thanks to Mary. When I got them yesteday, they were all closed up and didn't look like nuttin'. Now they got bigger, yellow and all pretty-like.
Peter corrected me:
Daffodils, Eolake; Daffodils! ;-)
Ooops, yeah. Well, they are very early, aren't they, I thought it were only buttercups and snowdrops which came this early.
These are the mini-kind. Hardly bigger than buttercups, fingertip-sized.
(Fuji X10.)
Peter corrected me:
Daffodils, Eolake; Daffodils! ;-)
Ooops, yeah. Well, they are very early, aren't they, I thought it were only buttercups and snowdrops which came this early.
These are the mini-kind. Hardly bigger than buttercups, fingertip-sized.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Gustav's Interiority Complex
[Thanks to Anna]
"Interiority complex" is a good word. I wonder if it was a misspelling, but I like it.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Changing room "kiss" gag
If you like hidden-camera style gags, I think this one is pretty inventive.
Once I was having lunch with my older sister and her friend, and when I was getting our coffee, a beautiful waitress walked past the waitress who was taking my payment, and kissed her on the neck. I don't know the back story of that, but as she passed me, I said "me too?". She hesitated for a second and said "nah, you're too tall".
A bit later, seated at the table with my sister and friend, she walks past and without warning bends down and kisses me on the neck. I look after her and she asked quietly "was that good?" I nodded. My table compadres didn't ask for an explanation, and I didn't give one. But it did liven up the day for sure.
Once I was having lunch with my older sister and her friend, and when I was getting our coffee, a beautiful waitress walked past the waitress who was taking my payment, and kissed her on the neck. I don't know the back story of that, but as she passed me, I said "me too?". She hesitated for a second and said "nah, you're too tall".
A bit later, seated at the table with my sister and friend, she walks past and without warning bends down and kisses me on the neck. I look after her and she asked quietly "was that good?" I nodded. My table compadres didn't ask for an explanation, and I didn't give one. But it did liven up the day for sure.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Let the Robot Drive
Let the Robot Drive: The Autonomous Car of the Future Is Here, Wired article.
I'm looking forward to self-driving cars. What a waste of time to stressed out over traffic for hours daily, when you could be curled up in the back with a book, some work, or a blanket and pillow.
I'm looking forward to self-driving cars. What a waste of time to stressed out over traffic for hours daily, when you could be curled up in the back with a book, some work, or a blanket and pillow.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
"Romantic Blush"
Fakeness/bad taste alert. "Is it possible to show that your eyes are in love?" Urrrgh.
Somebody said something like: "sincerity is the most important thing, if you can fake that, you got it made."
Somebody said something like: "sincerity is the most important thing, if you can fake that, you got it made."
Shake it baby (updated)
This was parodied on South Park, but it really didn't need it, it is its own parody. Woa.
It is only missing: "the man in your life will enjoy the results as well!"
Update:
Philocalist said: This was featured quite recently on UK daytime TV - I think there was a clip on YouTube featuring Holly Willoughby (the presenter) in action ... her facial expression was priceless!:-)
Found it!:
What I find particularly interesting is that the women all seem to want to point the thing at their faces while working it...
It is only missing: "the man in your life will enjoy the results as well!"
Update:
Philocalist said: This was featured quite recently on UK daytime TV - I think there was a clip on YouTube featuring Holly Willoughby (the presenter) in action ... her facial expression was priceless!:-)
Found it!:
What I find particularly interesting is that the women all seem to want to point the thing at their faces while working it...
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Manic Pixie Dream Girls (updated)
Russ mentions Manic Pixie Dream Girls. I love them! I even know some in real life. (Hi Sally, hi Bettina.)
Unlike what they say at the link, I do think they exist in real life. It's a mis-definition to say they are "always happy". Look at Natalie Portman's character in Garden State, she is far from happy all the time.
But it may seem that way, and I think that's the reason they are rare in real life: one of the qualities of MPDGs is that they seem to float a little bit above life, it does seem to affect them as seriously as it does most people. Which is another reason we love them. We all wish we could be like that. At least unless we are *really* beaten down, to the point were unseriousness seems threatening, heretical.
Unlike what they say at the link, I do think they exist in real life. It's a mis-definition to say they are "always happy". Look at Natalie Portman's character in Garden State, she is far from happy all the time.
But it may seem that way, and I think that's the reason they are rare in real life: one of the qualities of MPDGs is that they seem to float a little bit above life, it does seem to affect them as seriously as it does most people. Which is another reason we love them. We all wish we could be like that. At least unless we are *really* beaten down, to the point were unseriousness seems threatening, heretical.
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