Archive for the ‘Random thoughts’ Category
12-12-12
12-12-12 is the last fully sequential day any of us will see. That’s why, today, people all over the planet are documenting something about their life and contributing their footage to a project called One Day on Earth. Check it out!
Filed under: Random thoughts | 2 Comments
Tags: 12-12-12, One Day on Earth, sequence day
I am extraordinarily lucky to get to visit Paris as often as I do. No matter how routine my trips are becoming — or how familiar the city is beginning to feel — I remind myself of my good fortune every time I hear, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Paris.” I savored the sense of […]
Filed under: Random thoughts | 11 Comments
Burning down the house
As I get older, milestones become more important. Some of them — like birthdays — mark the passage of time. Others make me think about the future. Today is one of the latter. On this day two years ago, I was told I have a brain tumor. I’ve tried very hard not to let it […]
Filed under: Brain tumor, Friends and family, Psychology, Random thoughts, Travel | 46 Comments
Tags: Brain tumor, BrandBuilder blog, Jan, Olivier Blanchard, Skype, Todd
Just fling me over the fence
My first newspaper byline was an obituary. It was 1997 and I was working on the City Desk at the Star Tribune. “We’re short an obit writer today,” my friend Pam said. “Want to fill in?” I no longer remember the name of the deceased. But I do remember having to write a correction for […]
Filed under: Attempted humor, Friends and family, Minnesota, Paris, Psychology, Random thoughts, Weird news | 15 Comments
Tags: attempted humor, cause of death, death by saguaro, death notices, editing, how we die, Johnny Depp, journalism, obituary, obituary writing, postaday2011, Psychology, Star Tribune, Utne Reader, writing
Happy End-of-the-World Day!
According to Harold Camping, today marks The End Of The World As We Know It. But, in the words of R.E.M., I feel fine. For two reasons: First, because Harold Camping has been wrong before. And second, because—if I really am about to become a crispy critter—there’s not much I can do about it. Harold […]
Filed under: Attempted humor, On this day in history, Psychology, Random thoughts, Writing | 4 Comments
Tags: Armaggeddon, end of world May 21 2011, End Times, Facebook after-rapture party, Harold Camping, Nostradamus, postaday2011, Psychology, rapture, Second Coming
In a potentially ill-advised marketing stunt, German industrial giant Henkel has decided to let the public design—and choose—the new packaging for its dish-washing liquid, Pril. I love how Henkel describes Pril on its website: If you want a lot, wash your dishes with Pril” [Willst du viel, spül mit Pril] – Often, it is the […]
Filed under: Attempted humor, Psychology, Random thoughts, Writing | Leave a Comment
Tags: advertising, consumer psychology, Henkel, marketing, Pril contest, Pril label
What color is the Eiffel Tower?
I woke up de très bonne heure (very early) this morning, so I decided to call my friend Mo in Paris. I love chatting with Mo. Apart from the fact that he’s one of the most perpetually happy people I’ve ever met (c’est vrai, Monsieur Sunshine!), it’s a joy to “accompany” him as he walks […]
Filed under: Friends and family, Paris, Photography, Random thoughts, Travel | 7 Comments
Tags: Eiffel Tower, MO 75, Paris, paris street photography, Photography, pont Bir Hakeim, postaday2011
Got a problem? This may help.
For the first time in ages, I missed work today because of a headache. It woke me up in the middle of the night and—although I managed to doze for an hour or two before dawn—I was in no condition to have a productive day at the office. My co-workers were concerned that it might […]
Filed under: Brain tumor, Friends and family, Minnesota, Psychology, Random thoughts | 10 Comments
Tags: Brain tumor, headache, migraine, postaday2011, problem flow chart, problem-solving
How to steal like an artist
I’ve blogged before about how all art is derivative. Whether we imitate classical art forms or paint-by-number portraits, there are few new ideas under the sun. But that doesn’t mean that the world is devoid of striking originality. Those were the exact words that came to mind today as I followed my friend Patrick’s link […]
Filed under: Grammar and usage, How to ..., Psychology, Random thoughts, Writing | 2 Comments
Tags: Austin Kleon, creative process, creativity, How to Steal Like an Artist, Newspaper Blackout, postaday2011, writing
Dodgeball = danger and death
My friend Tom (aka, “The Blogfodder”) sent me a link this morning: “Classic kids games like kickball deemed unsafe.” In a nutshell: The New York Health Department has rescinded its list of “dangerous” games that would have been prohibited at summer camps. Among the potential child-killer/maimers: Red Rover, dodgeball, tag, and kickball. “And what’s your […]
Filed under: Attempted humor, Politics, Psychology, Random thoughts | 1 Comment
Tags: dodgeball, New York Health Department, postaday2011, Psychology, Red Rover, risk-taking
