Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Candy
So it is now November. I am sticking to my goal, no candy yet this year. Halloween was a tough test. I am now finding that I am beginning to keep candy and save it for next year. I have a few peanut butter cups in my drawer at the house. I have some mini snickers under lock and key at the office. Is this bad? I'm afraid that I'm going to go into a diabetic coma in January due to overindulgence. I've requested that Santa fill my stocking with redvines, reeses and butterfingers. The early part of the new year could be ugly.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Phantom Itch
Do you ever feel itchy because you are thinking about itching, or bugs crawling on you or something else like that?
I do. I have noticed that if I have an itch, and I scratch it, all of a sudden, I am now itchy somewhere else, and somewhere else. I have to make a conscious decision to stop scratching and distract myself and move on.
Now scientists are trying to explain this. The following article has a few possible explanations for phantom itching. I think I side with Giesler.
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/01/7561543-spiders-ants-did-that-make-you-itchy-heres-why
"the threshold for sensation of itch is lowered by thinking about it."
Amen Glen.
Now, I'm feeling itchy.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Remembering
Shannon posted a brief memory of her experience ten years ago yesterday. It was short, but compelling.
For me, I got up that day and turned on the TV while getting dressed. The first image I saw was of the towers, already burning. The news lady was attempting to describe the seen, but there was still a lot of uncertainty. Within minutes, the first tower collapsed on the screen. That is the moment that is burned in my memory. I didn't just witness that moment, I felt it. The rest of the day, the other tower, the Pentagon, Flight 93, were moments that hit while I was already at the bottom.
For me, I got up that day and turned on the TV while getting dressed. The first image I saw was of the towers, already burning. The news lady was attempting to describe the seen, but there was still a lot of uncertainty. Within minutes, the first tower collapsed on the screen. That is the moment that is burned in my memory. I didn't just witness that moment, I felt it. The rest of the day, the other tower, the Pentagon, Flight 93, were moments that hit while I was already at the bottom.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Candy
The year is almost half over and I am sticking to my no candy thing.
1. I am eating more cookies and drinking too much soda.
2. I am suprised by what I am missing the most. I thought for sure I would miss Reese's the most. I do miss them, but I miss licorice the most. I want Red Vines.
3. I discovered/created a loophole. I eat candy if its in ice cream, or in a salad (I had a salad that is made of whipped cream, apples, and crushed snickers early in the year, and the loophole was born.) I prefer ice creams/desserts that are fruit based, not chocolate based, so this hasn't come up that much, but it has happened.
4. Still not sure I have a good reason for this, but on we go.
1. I am eating more cookies and drinking too much soda.
2. I am suprised by what I am missing the most. I thought for sure I would miss Reese's the most. I do miss them, but I miss licorice the most. I want Red Vines.
3. I discovered/created a loophole. I eat candy if its in ice cream, or in a salad (I had a salad that is made of whipped cream, apples, and crushed snickers early in the year, and the loophole was born.) I prefer ice creams/desserts that are fruit based, not chocolate based, so this hasn't come up that much, but it has happened.
4. Still not sure I have a good reason for this, but on we go.
Commercials
I think that anyone who has watched more than 20 minutes of TV in the last few months has seen the advertisements for the Shake Weight, which is the newest fitness fad for women, which promises amazing results in a six minute workout.
Near the end of the ad, the announcer says that callers can get the Shake Weight Deluxe, which includes 3 bonus DVD workouts, all for the low price of $Whatever it is.
I keep waiting for them to say "But wait there's more. Order now, and you will earn the same results in only a 3 minute workout!!"
I think that would be hilarious.
Near the end of the ad, the announcer says that callers can get the Shake Weight Deluxe, which includes 3 bonus DVD workouts, all for the low price of $Whatever it is.
I keep waiting for them to say "But wait there's more. Order now, and you will earn the same results in only a 3 minute workout!!"
I think that would be hilarious.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Value
How should we ascribe value to a particular item?
Value seems to be a very subjective thing. A thing's value in money is the amount that someone is willing to pay for it. So value depends on how badly each individual wants or needs that thing. For some things, like airline tickets or a room at a hotel, while the value may not seem to be all that different, the price that people pay can be all over the map. How late you book, the availability of a substitute, these affect the value, and therefore the price.
What drives me crazy is infomercials or commercials where the advertiser is selling a thing. And the price of the thing is $79. But wait there's more! Order now and we will include a carrying case and an extra bottle of stuff to go with your thing. A $49 value, yours free! I can only assume that the $49 is made up. If the case and bottle of stuff had a $49 value, that's how much they would make you pay for it. But the idea is that if you are considering buying the thing for $79, because you think it represents that value, and now you also get the case and bottle of stuff, for no extra charge, what a great bargain! The thing, the case and the bottle of stuff, with a value of $500, yours for $79. The value is $79, because that's how much it costs. But not really. If I don't want the thing, or at least don't want it bad enough, then the value is less than $79, because I'm not willing to pay that much for it. If I wanted the thing bad enough that I would have paid $500 for it, then $79 is a great value.
My kids are the same way. Kids will pay any amount of money for something that they want bad enough. My kid would pay $5 for a candy bar if the moment was right. I think that it is partly because they don't appreciate the value of money, but also because they are driven to get what they want as soon as possible. Of course, I might spend $50 bucks on an old coin with a face value of $0.25, so who am I to talk.
It seems like I am rambling, so to summarize: Value is subjective, and I hate those commercials.
Value seems to be a very subjective thing. A thing's value in money is the amount that someone is willing to pay for it. So value depends on how badly each individual wants or needs that thing. For some things, like airline tickets or a room at a hotel, while the value may not seem to be all that different, the price that people pay can be all over the map. How late you book, the availability of a substitute, these affect the value, and therefore the price.
What drives me crazy is infomercials or commercials where the advertiser is selling a thing. And the price of the thing is $79. But wait there's more! Order now and we will include a carrying case and an extra bottle of stuff to go with your thing. A $49 value, yours free! I can only assume that the $49 is made up. If the case and bottle of stuff had a $49 value, that's how much they would make you pay for it. But the idea is that if you are considering buying the thing for $79, because you think it represents that value, and now you also get the case and bottle of stuff, for no extra charge, what a great bargain! The thing, the case and the bottle of stuff, with a value of $500, yours for $79. The value is $79, because that's how much it costs. But not really. If I don't want the thing, or at least don't want it bad enough, then the value is less than $79, because I'm not willing to pay that much for it. If I wanted the thing bad enough that I would have paid $500 for it, then $79 is a great value.
My kids are the same way. Kids will pay any amount of money for something that they want bad enough. My kid would pay $5 for a candy bar if the moment was right. I think that it is partly because they don't appreciate the value of money, but also because they are driven to get what they want as soon as possible. Of course, I might spend $50 bucks on an old coin with a face value of $0.25, so who am I to talk.
It seems like I am rambling, so to summarize: Value is subjective, and I hate those commercials.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Magic Phone
Do you ever wish you had access to an oracle of knowledge? That you could make decisions or predict the future? My friend has a phone that spins easily if laying flat on one side. We decided to turn it into a yes or no device. Decide which direction is yes, which is no, ask a question, spin the phone, and wait for the answer.
Should I order the burger, should I order the chicken.
Will I ever own a motorcycle.
Will I get a bonus this year.
Is it going to rain on Saturday.
Will I die before age 60.
The phone knows all. Just like the Magic Eight Ball on my desk. It would be nice if I could actually rely on the answers.
Instead we have to think, plan, and act. We have to trust in a higher plan, have faith.
I suppose in some ways its better that the phone doesn't know all the answers, but sometimes I think it would be easier.
Should I order the burger, should I order the chicken.
Will I ever own a motorcycle.
Will I get a bonus this year.
Is it going to rain on Saturday.
Will I die before age 60.
The phone knows all. Just like the Magic Eight Ball on my desk. It would be nice if I could actually rely on the answers.
Instead we have to think, plan, and act. We have to trust in a higher plan, have faith.
I suppose in some ways its better that the phone doesn't know all the answers, but sometimes I think it would be easier.
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