Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Riding the train: insecurity
The other day I was riding the train home from work and saw someone sad although I don't think she knew she was sad.
The person was a young woman. Hunched over a makeup bag in her lap, her blond hair hung awkwardly in her face as she tried to put on eye liner. Incredibly self-conscious, she wasn't applying it because she thought she was pretty: she felt like she needed it. The pencil bounced precariously near her eye as the train jostled back and forth. Still she persisted. It seemed as if it were an addiction, that if she applied just a little more makeup to her already heavily made-up face it would do the trick. It was heartbreaking to watch. But what could I do to help her? I had an odd, helpless feeling as I got off the train and watched it speed on into the night toward its next stop.
The person was a young woman. Hunched over a makeup bag in her lap, her blond hair hung awkwardly in her face as she tried to put on eye liner. Incredibly self-conscious, she wasn't applying it because she thought she was pretty: she felt like she needed it. The pencil bounced precariously near her eye as the train jostled back and forth. Still she persisted. It seemed as if it were an addiction, that if she applied just a little more makeup to her already heavily made-up face it would do the trick. It was heartbreaking to watch. But what could I do to help her? I had an odd, helpless feeling as I got off the train and watched it speed on into the night toward its next stop.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Welcome to TheOtherDrummer.com
You may have noticed I actually got myself my very own URL which I am quite excited about. After a year and a half of blogging it was about time. Having a URL makes my little blog seem so much more...official.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Hug-A-Writer Day
That's right. It's Hug-A-Writer Day. So do your civic duty and hug a writer, OK? They probably need it.
If you want to spread the love to those outside the writing community you could organize a Free Hug event in your area. For an example of what that is, click here.
If you want to spread the love to those outside the writing community you could organize a Free Hug event in your area. For an example of what that is, click here.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Digital v. tactile: the internal debate rages on
Journal or blog? Moleskine or Macbook? I love writing in both. Lately I've been leaning more toward my journal. I've filled 13 pages in my journal over the last three weeks. Then again, I've published 20 blog posts in the same amount of time.
There's something wonderful about the tactile nature of writing in a journal: the pen as it glides over the paper. Holding something you're creating in your hand and the exhilaration and pride I feel when I look at a well-loved, worn notebook with pages full of my thoughts, memories and ideas.
I love blogging. Being able to quickly put ideas down and the editing process of refining thoughts, sentences and words to more effectively communicate ideas to the invisible masses who I imagine read this. The ability to reference articles, pictures and current events and spout off my two cents worth about them. A blog is a platform to make your voice heard. Even if no one is listening, the perception remains: you've gone on record and published your opinion.
Why not both? The thought of having my ideas scattered across two platforms makes my quasi-OCD nature quiver in fear and discomfort.
There's something wonderful about the tactile nature of writing in a journal: the pen as it glides over the paper. Holding something you're creating in your hand and the exhilaration and pride I feel when I look at a well-loved, worn notebook with pages full of my thoughts, memories and ideas.
I love blogging. Being able to quickly put ideas down and the editing process of refining thoughts, sentences and words to more effectively communicate ideas to the invisible masses who I imagine read this. The ability to reference articles, pictures and current events and spout off my two cents worth about them. A blog is a platform to make your voice heard. Even if no one is listening, the perception remains: you've gone on record and published your opinion.
Why not both? The thought of having my ideas scattered across two platforms makes my quasi-OCD nature quiver in fear and discomfort.
Getting zero miles per gallon
If your car is idling, you're getting zero miles per gallon. Sucks, huh? I quote from Treehugger:
While older cars from the 1970s and early 1980s might have needed time to warm up, the norm since the mid-1980s has been fuel-injection vehicles which can be restarted frequently without engine damage. When you start a car’s engine, a little bit of extra gas is used to get the combustion process started. That means a good rule of thumb for conserving gas is to idle for no more than 30 seconds, except, of course, if you’re just sitting in traffic. If you have a hybrid car, it does the work of avoiding idling for you. While parked or sitting in traffic, hybrids shut off their gasoline engines automatically.
Turn 'em off folks.
While older cars from the 1970s and early 1980s might have needed time to warm up, the norm since the mid-1980s has been fuel-injection vehicles which can be restarted frequently without engine damage. When you start a car’s engine, a little bit of extra gas is used to get the combustion process started. That means a good rule of thumb for conserving gas is to idle for no more than 30 seconds, except, of course, if you’re just sitting in traffic. If you have a hybrid car, it does the work of avoiding idling for you. While parked or sitting in traffic, hybrids shut off their gasoline engines automatically.
Turn 'em off folks.
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