Once food enters the doors of the office, its appeal multiplies tenfold. It has now crossed from a world of vast food choices to a closed environment of vending machines. Something about the 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. tummy rumbles that make the day old donuts look so tasty. 10 seconds in the microwave softens up any pastry, right?
Office hunger stimulates an odd behavior too. No doubt, the food stash in an easily accessible drawer will be raided... slowly. So slowly that the missing goldfish crackers won't even be noticed for a few weeks or months. Not that anyone cares. Office mates typically gladly share anyway.
It's just so interesting that the enclosed work environment drives people scrounging for food in the office area, even if the food is stale and questionable.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Life in D.C.
I spent one week in D.C. and took maybe 15 pictures. I mostly bypassed the tourist hot spots and experienced the daily life in D.C., which was fantastic, aside from the nearly unbearable humidity.
I ate out a lot. A few signature places included Five Guys (burgers), Thomas Sweet Ice Cream in Georgetown, Etete (Ethiopian restaurant near Howard University), Rita's Ice Cream, and Au Bon Pain (bakery).
The metro was great. A trio of guys sang between the metro and my hotel in the afternoon rush hour that truly lifted the underground mood. I looked forward to their upbeat and talented voices on my way to my home base, but I didn't find them during my final days in D.C.
The best part of D.C. is its energy. Even if people are fighting for their one-sided issue, at least they are passionate about it. The atmosphere naturally encourages people to care about policy, economics, and all things secular. I can't help, but compare the Midwest mentality to the ones on the East Coast. Perhaps, Midwesterners feel so far removed physically from politics that they become complacent. It seems to take more effort to educate oneself in current events in the Midwest than it does on the East Coast.
I also had a personal realization during this trip. I am growing to like Modern and Contemporary Art. The Nelson-Atkins Museum and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City has planted this seed. After years of looking at the same works, I was excited to see different exhibits at the National Gallery of Art. I feel like it still wasn't enough. I'd like to find more.
I ate out a lot. A few signature places included Five Guys (burgers), Thomas Sweet Ice Cream in Georgetown, Etete (Ethiopian restaurant near Howard University), Rita's Ice Cream, and Au Bon Pain (bakery).
The metro was great. A trio of guys sang between the metro and my hotel in the afternoon rush hour that truly lifted the underground mood. I looked forward to their upbeat and talented voices on my way to my home base, but I didn't find them during my final days in D.C.
The best part of D.C. is its energy. Even if people are fighting for their one-sided issue, at least they are passionate about it. The atmosphere naturally encourages people to care about policy, economics, and all things secular. I can't help, but compare the Midwest mentality to the ones on the East Coast. Perhaps, Midwesterners feel so far removed physically from politics that they become complacent. It seems to take more effort to educate oneself in current events in the Midwest than it does on the East Coast.
I also had a personal realization during this trip. I am growing to like Modern and Contemporary Art. The Nelson-Atkins Museum and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City has planted this seed. After years of looking at the same works, I was excited to see different exhibits at the National Gallery of Art. I feel like it still wasn't enough. I'd like to find more.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
You Twit Face
"In the year 3000 YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook will merge into one super-time-wasting website called 'You Twit Face'."
-Conan O'Brien
I love using Facebook, but Conan makes a hilarious and truthful statement. These social networks have heavily impacted the communication lines. I could go on about the advantages of these networks as much as I could discuss reasons for text messaging over calling. My point today is not to mull over the debate between technologies, but to rather point out a couple of human observations.
1. People are screaming for attention.
2. People demand privacy from others, yet keep none for themselves.
Why would anyone take the time to publish a 140 word description of the menial, daily activities on a regular basis? It's a desire to be noticed by someone and anyone. It's a time-filler when a person believes their time is more valuable spent impressing others, instead of facing a brief, solitary moment to themselves.
Updates that make me cringe the most are the bragging updates.
Example 1: "Enjoying the beautiful flowers my wonderful husband surprised me with today. I love you!!!"
My Response: Why in the world would you thank your husband online? He's sitting right next to you.
Example 2: "Another 'A' on my accounting exam. It's a straight-A record."
My Response: Yay. Now what?
On the flip side, I admit I'm pulling out funny ones as I'm looking some up to write this entry.
Example 1: "Writing this thesis is like passing a kidney stone."
Example 2: "Whoever hit my car will die."
Anyway, the truth is no one needs to know everything about someone else. In fact, it is advantageous to not reveal everything about one's self. Have people forgotten the attractiveness of mystery? How about the value of effort (as in getting to know someone over time)?
Keeping in touch is important, but people don't create memories through reading someone's wall or updates of their best friend online. Nothing would be left to talk about if the two people met up, except about what they read on each other's wall.
I wonder if people are losing the sense of privacy and self-confidence. In a way, these social networks promote people's need for validation from others. It's not the social networks' intent, but people have turned it into that. For example, I see a lot of, "Feeling down, need some cheering up." People are reaching out to the masses, instead of someone personally closer to them, such as a sibling, parent, or best friend that could offer more fulfilling encouragement.
I will be logging off next week to remind myself of life before my addiction to e-mail, Facebook, and all things google.
1. People are screaming for attention.
2. People demand privacy from others, yet keep none for themselves.
Why would anyone take the time to publish a 140 word description of the menial, daily activities on a regular basis? It's a desire to be noticed by someone and anyone. It's a time-filler when a person believes their time is more valuable spent impressing others, instead of facing a brief, solitary moment to themselves.
Updates that make me cringe the most are the bragging updates.
Example 1: "Enjoying the beautiful flowers my wonderful husband surprised me with today. I love you!!!"
My Response: Why in the world would you thank your husband online? He's sitting right next to you.
Example 2: "Another 'A' on my accounting exam. It's a straight-A record."
My Response: Yay. Now what?
On the flip side, I admit I'm pulling out funny ones as I'm looking some up to write this entry.
Example 1: "Writing this thesis is like passing a kidney stone."
Example 2: "Whoever hit my car will die."
Anyway, the truth is no one needs to know everything about someone else. In fact, it is advantageous to not reveal everything about one's self. Have people forgotten the attractiveness of mystery? How about the value of effort (as in getting to know someone over time)?
Keeping in touch is important, but people don't create memories through reading someone's wall or updates of their best friend online. Nothing would be left to talk about if the two people met up, except about what they read on each other's wall.
I wonder if people are losing the sense of privacy and self-confidence. In a way, these social networks promote people's need for validation from others. It's not the social networks' intent, but people have turned it into that. For example, I see a lot of, "Feeling down, need some cheering up." People are reaching out to the masses, instead of someone personally closer to them, such as a sibling, parent, or best friend that could offer more fulfilling encouragement.
I will be logging off next week to remind myself of life before my addiction to e-mail, Facebook, and all things google.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
"Buying Stocks Is Like Dating"
I just finished reading Rich Dad Poor Dad's Who Took My Money book. Despite Robert Kiyosaki's consistent plugs for his other books and rhetoric against mutual funds, this book offers a nice balance to the stocks steroid-injected nature of Money Magazine and its kind. The book offers a general pep talk to the masses to financially educate themselves.
I particularly liked one paragraph from the book. I have made a comment before relating the commonalities in purchasing a house and being in a relationship. Kiyosaki, or rather his Rich Dad, has done a much better job in this comparison.
Rich dad used to say, “Buying stocks is like dating. You go to a dinner and a movie, and if you do not get along, you shake hands at the door and you don’t go out again. Buying real estate is like getting married. Before getting married, first there is generally a lot of dating… personally looking at as many properties as possible. Then after you find the property of your dreams there is a big wedding ceremony at the bank, and then you settle down and see what happens. If you and your property do not get along, and the marriage becomes a nightmare, getting divorced can be a tedious and stressful transaction.” When it comes to a business, rich dad said, “Building or owning a business is by far the most rewarding but also the most stressful of all the three assets. If investing in paper assets is like dating, and acquiring real estate is like getting married, then investing in a business is like being married with kids.”
I particularly liked one paragraph from the book. I have made a comment before relating the commonalities in purchasing a house and being in a relationship. Kiyosaki, or rather his Rich Dad, has done a much better job in this comparison.
Rich dad used to say, “Buying stocks is like dating. You go to a dinner and a movie, and if you do not get along, you shake hands at the door and you don’t go out again. Buying real estate is like getting married. Before getting married, first there is generally a lot of dating… personally looking at as many properties as possible. Then after you find the property of your dreams there is a big wedding ceremony at the bank, and then you settle down and see what happens. If you and your property do not get along, and the marriage becomes a nightmare, getting divorced can be a tedious and stressful transaction.” When it comes to a business, rich dad said, “Building or owning a business is by far the most rewarding but also the most stressful of all the three assets. If investing in paper assets is like dating, and acquiring real estate is like getting married, then investing in a business is like being married with kids.”
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