prod & ponder

Socrates’ observation that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (Apology 38a) just got some nice supporting empirical evidence, at least insofar that an examined life in dire circumstances might be far more livable.

Ok, in reality, the study seems weak. There’s plenty of reason to be skeptical of self-reported attitude shifts that aren’t triangulated with other evidence of change, and it’s only a single case study/context. Still, I liked it.

(Photo was taken taken years ago while visiting friends in Vancouver.)
p.s. The skepticism about relying solely on self-reported accounts of attitude shifts reminds of an old behaviorist joke. What did one behaviorist say to the other behaviorist after sex? …. “Was it good for me?”

I’m not always my sharpest early on the weekends. Actually, it’s more like this…

(image courtesy of the brilliant garfield minus garfield site)

So I’m indebted to friend Eric, who wrote me this morning to let me know that the blog’s domain name had gone AWOL. Fortunately, a quick call to my host fixed things up, and … we’re back.

It’s not official until I sign the contract, but as a teaser until I can say anything more: I got some very good news.

But hey, here’s good news you can use: Frisky Dingo (aka: the Funniest Show Ever) is back with new episodes.

Yes, I’m excited to see FSU ranked at 21, just ranked at all.

Ben is psyched up for his first Florida State game, the Bowden Bowl tonight against Clemson.

My friend Dave and I have been playing out the Ravens/Redskins game ad nauseum for the past several weeks, ever since Madden ‘08 was released. As the guy who’s always playing as the Ravens in this match-up, let me offer these two bits of advice that were (painfully) borne out in tonight’s game.

1. Run the ball up the center a few times before you start with the play actions. For goodness sake, bait the hook before you toss it in the water. Even then, don’t try the play action often. Accept that McNair needs to get rid of the ball quickly (I’ve nicknamed the Raven’s offensive line “Easy Pass”) and that there just isn’t going to be time for tricky theatrics.

2. Never put Boller in a position where he needs to scramble, think, take a hit, or do anything marginally critical or complicated with the football.

Giddy with my earlier technical success of the week—networking the tivos in the house to share content between themselves and with itunes—I felt compelled to share the love…

So, after much careful deliberation (read: saw one in the store, scanned over the box, started drooling, and snatched it up immediately), I bought a new Slingbox.

(more…)

There’s a blizzard forecasted, so what to do? Go skiing, of course.

Discussion during the drive:
Me: “So, you know those times you’re sitting at home, watching news reports of all the accidents happening as people try to drive through horrible storms? And you say, ‘Geeze, don’t these idiots watch the news? What are they thinking?’ Well, I think we might be those people.”
ImaginaryGirl: “Yep.”

Thankfully, and perhaps despite sketchy judgment, everything worked out. There was good hiking and surprisingly good skiing (props to Jiminy Peak). And if that sounds overly athletic, there was also plenty of time spent flopping on the couch, eating cupcakes, and watching the Purina Incredible Dog National Championship (man, that Sinjin hauled through the agility course like nothing I’d ever seen before).

(cameraphone shot there)

Also in the bad judgment somehow gone well category: my thinking that four years away from my skis was no big thing, and that I should just hop right on the black diamond slopes. Whatever the skiing equivalent of “nothing but net” is, it was like that.

Special thanks to Jen and Jon for the invitation, hospitality, and fun.

Is it just me, or is there something just not right about a big “Live Bait” sign at the Companions pet store? If nothing else, I’m positive that a sign for live bait should never be written in such a fancy script.

I ran across this on my way to the DCist Birthday Party. More photos from it below.

Site of the party (and a fine bar)

Rob, DCist’s Editor (who also runs Goodspeed Update)