Somehow I missed this yesterday/last night, but BoingBoing linked to some mp3’s of taped interviews with Philip K. Dick. Subjects range from God to Vonnegut to Mussolini. Should be good. I’m going to try to burn them to a cd so I can listen to them on the way to work tomorrow.
07
Jun 04
Feeling Existential
What makes life worth living? Is it better to believe in something imaginary or to not believe in anything? What is the best way to spend your time here? Why? Why do I sit around thinking about things I have no need to know and no means to control? I need to leave the house more often. :)
07
Jun 04
Interesting find
I came across an interesting article in my daily survey of the internet on a website about Bipolar disorder and depression, Taking it Personally. I’ve trimmed it up a little but you can read the whole thing by using that link:
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It started out as whim, but turned into an eye-opener. In May 2003, I asked my Newsletter readers to take an online Myers-Briggs personality test and email the results, along with their diagnosis. Although this was strictly a readers’ poll and not a scientific study, and bearing in mind the risks inherent in pigeonholing personalities, the findings were striking enough to indicate I might be on to something. …
Approximately 150 responses were received, and of these the first 100 were analyzed (a nice even number for this maths-challenged individual). Most readers also sent in their diagnosis, nearly all depressive or bipolar. Since most people with bipolar are depressed more than manic, it is safe to conclude that this poll was dealing with a mostly-depressed population, without further breaking down the figures. Approximately three-quarters of the respondents were women, which about matched the Newsletter’s readership. …
The first eye-popping result was 83 percent of those who replied were introverts, which sharply contrasts with the 25 percent to be found in the general population. According to one reader, who had a strong extrovert score four years ago and a much weaker one when responding to this poll: “Over the last four years I’ve sunk into a very isolated existence. The mania has worsened despite changes in medication/dosages and I spend most of my time sleeping and avoiding large social functions. I do slightly better in small social gatherings, but up until just a couple of months ago I didn’t go anywhere or see anyone other than my immediate family within our house.” …
07
Jun 04
Exorcising fortunes
Scraps of fortunes from fortune cookies have been accumulating in the various folds of my wallet. Today I decided to write them down and get rid of them.
They seem to fall into two categories, admonitions and predictions.
Admonitions:
“You’ll accomplish more if you start now.”
“Promise only what you can deliver.”
“Helping a friend is like helping yourself.”
“You stand in your own light. Make it shine.”
Predictions:
“You have an ambitious nature and may make a name for yourself.”
“You have executive ability.”
“You will make a name for yourself.”
07
Jun 04
Hi, my name is Chris…
…and I am an eBay addict. I even bought a digital postage scale. This is probably a phase that will pass as soon as I unload all my junk. The good news is, it is an obsession that is making me a little money while ridding me of some unnecessary stuff. Here are a few things I’ve learned while researching and through my own experience:
- Start your auctions on the weekend since they will end on the weekend (for 7 day auctions) when most people are using eBay
- Don’t use any of the auction upgrades. They may help, but the costs are prohibitive unless you are selling expensive items. Instead of auction upgrades, add more photos (using your own image hosting) to your descriptions and spend some time writing good descriptions.
- Set your opening fee low, that way you capitalize on the lower listing fees and attract more bids.
- Figure out the shipping costs BEFORE you submit the auction. A few times I’ve either overcharged and had to refund, or undercharged and got stuck with the remaining due postage.
- Accept most forms of payment. It will bring you more bids and may save paypal fees.
- Maintain a good rating. Some people won’t buy from anyone with a less than perfect seller rating.
- Communicate with your buyers even though they can be really time-consuming with their requests.
I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff, but that’s a good start. Ebay fees suck suck suck, but where else can you sell stuff to so many people?
07
Jun 04
Compulsive Hoarding
I was listening to something this morning on NPR when I was on the way to the doctor about compulsive hoarders. The thing that stuck out to me was that most compulsive hoarders are stricken by two or three different qualities which seem to promote compulsive hoarding. Namely, a notable lack of motivation, a reluctance or inability to make decisions or a lack of decisiveness, and the lack of social intercourse.
I often think about the relationship between social influences and the individual especially since I remember reading once about how insanity and lack of social activity seem to go hand and hand. Either the insanity causing social discomfort and anxiety or the lack of social stimulation promoting neurotic thinking and extreme self-consciousness.
Anyway, why the lack of motivation? Compulsive hoarders tend to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of maintaining order and therefore psyche themselves out, ignoring the growing clutter and mess. That feeling of not knowing where to start and feeling overwhelmed effectively saps any motivation. Those feelings demotivate.
The lack of decisiveness is similarly logical as decision-making is a mode of thought requiring action. The act of making a decision is a thought, but not just a thought. It is a thought and a committment to action. Decision-making is action. Since compulsive hoarding is not based on conscious decision-making but on the shadowy compulsion of ignoring action or responsibility it makes sense.
So, where does the social aspect of things come in. It seems to me that if you have a person who is in general indecisive and demotivated they may remain removed from other people to a certain degree. Also, if someone is socially active they increase their chances of being affected and coerced by others into maintaining order. Anyway, I’m just thinking out loud. I still need to think about this aspect of things. It is definitely interesting stuff.
07
Jun 04
More of the weekend
This past weekend we celebrated Jody’s birthday, the crazy Gemini that she is. With the help of Sab’s organizational acumen I planned a night of dining and bar-crawling. This is more daunting than it might sound since neither Jody nor Sab really drink. Phillip, and Courtney were also in attendance. I made reservations earlier in the week at this small restaurant on Lamar, Wink. I thought it would be nice to do something different and go to a place with actual cuisine.
The restaurant was a little over-priced, but everything was good. If I ever go there again it will only be for the dessert course, which I thought was the only exceptional aspect. The entrees were exotic. Sab had rabbit, Jody had short ribs, Courtney had duck breast, and Phillip and I had the game hen with barley and green beans. We ordered a white wine, Torbreck from Australia, which made me remember that although I enjoy its novelty I am not a wine person.
As I mentioned, the dessert was a lot of fun, they brought coffee on a silver platter with a bowl of unrefined and refined sugar lumps. Jody had some sort of rich chocolate cake made without flour, Sab had a raspberry chocolate souffle, Phillip had a lemon custard tart, Courtney had a creme brulee, and I had a goat-cheese miniature cheescake. I had a taste of the creme brulee, which was subtle and creamy.
After dinner we decided to meet up at the balcony of the Stephen F. Austin for drinks. Phillip forgot his ID so he had to run home to get it. By the time he and Courtney got back we were ready to leave since there wasn’t much going on there except for the weathered, tattooed, and tanned motorcycle enthusiasts who seemed to be swarming all over downtown Austin with their ole’ ladies tagging along beside them or installed on the back of their bikes.
We walked down to 4th Street, and we all slowly aimed toward Oilcan Harry’s, the most prominent of Austin’s gay bars, in my mind the most interesting place to go, since I thought it would be neat to get Phillip (who is very conservative) and Sab (who is gay and very conservative) into a gay bar, at least just once. Actually, I think the entire group is composed of straight-laced people.
We were funnelled toward the dance floor in the back where we all stood for a while just watching the writhing dancers and trying to talk. A lot of the men had their shirts off dancing around by themselves, and there was more than one trio of men grinding into each other. Jody and I were easing into one of our simmering disagreements, so I went to the bar to get a couple of Manhattans for Phillip and Courtney. When I came back, both Phillip and Sab were out on the floor apparently dancing. Those were the two people I least expected to dance. I found out later that Sab had dragged Phillip out there, a testament to his powers of coercion. I tried to get Jody to come and dance since I knew she wanted to earlier, but she was still annoyed with me and could not be egged on. It was nice to see Sab dancing and having a good time since he had not been out in a few years.
After a while we walked a couple doors down to 219 West, a place I had never been to that Sab had suggested. I found out why a little later. After waiting in line a little while watching all the wide-chested guidos and their tiny dates stream by we got in and wedged our way to the floor near the DJ. Sab went over to the platform to say something to the DJ and then the DJ got on the microphone and said something about having a special guest in the house and asking if Sab was having a good time. It turns out that Sab is the DJ’s stylist. We all danced around for a while and got sweaty. Dancing is one of those things you do in the moment and can’t imagine or remember really doing later. That’s the way I feel about it.
We stayed there for several more songs until the place closed and the lights came on, then we all walked to Jody’s car and drove down 9th to take Phillip and Courtney back to their car. When we were driving down Red River a truck barely paused at the cross street stop sign and a guy on a bicycle who did not slow down enough ended up smacking the truck on the end as it went through the intersection, wiping out in the middle of the road. The truck didn’t stop probably because they were at least somehow at fault for not stopping completely and also probably drunk. Some people came to the bicyclist’s aid as he rolled around on the ground clutching his hip. Jody wanted my phone to call 911, but someone helping him already had their phone out and dialed, so I hesitated. As in many accidents, both parties could have done something to avoid the accident. The truck did not fully stop and the bike guy was going too fast and not paying enough attention. It was a surprising and violent event, but I felt detached, waiting for something to happen. I’m not one of those people who jump into the middle of situations like that if other people are helping, however I’m also not the type to feign concern or sympathy to soften the guilt of my own hesitancy or inaction. Does that sound like an excuse?
04
Jun 04
Quotations
I’m feeling flummoxed today. That means it’s time for quotations.
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” – Seneca
02
Jun 04
Le weekend
I went up to Oklahoma with Jody this past weekend. It was nice spending time up there. A couple noteworthy things:
- Saw several types of animals: a mole, the baby calf (Curly), blue birds, ant lions, perch, bass, red-eared sliders, some sort of greenish-brown box turtles who kept crossing the road, a lightning-quick green grass snake, a rat snake, some sort of legless lizard or snake with stripes, quail, frogs, and many different types of butterflies and insects.
- Visited graves of family members with Jody and her parents. Cemetaries are fascinating.