The Circular Reference

File under Understanding the Problem

In November of 2010, the American Psychological Association published their annual report titled Stress in America that paints a grim picture of stress in our lives. Their key overarching finding was:

‘As the U.S. economy continues to struggle for the third year, findings from the 2010 Stress in America survey paint a picture of an overstressed nation. Feeling the effects of prolonged financial and other recession-related difficulties, Americans are struggling to balance work and home life and make time to engage in healthy behaviors, with stress not only taking a toll on their personal physical health, but also affecting the emotional and physical well-being of their families.”

So what are we so stressed about anyway? Not surprisingly the report quantifies these 10 significant stressors in our lives: Money, Work, the Economy, Family responsibilities, Relationships, Personal Health Concerns, Housing costs, Job Stability, Family health problems, and Personal Safety.

We even tend to not understand how our stress affects others. 69% of parents said their stress had little to no impact on their children, yet 91% of kids responded being fully aware of their parents stress levels.

But where does this stress come from? Everywhere - television, marketing, guidance counselors, your Boss, the gym, little league, college admissions, talent shows, and on and on.

One of the major findings of the report was that “…lacking willpower was cited as a barrier to adopting healthy behaviors when lifestyle changes were recommended by a health care provider. Yet the majority believes willpower can be learned as well as improved, if they only had more energy and confidence.”

Talk about a circular reference! Basically that’s saying that you could achieve change if you could only increase your willpower. And you can increase your willpower if you only had more energy and confidence. And you can increase your energy and confidence if you could only change a particular aspect of your life. Ridiculous! It’s that logic that keeps us spinning our wheels in a constant battle against stress.

Song of the Day
So i think i'm late to the Gotye party, but this song is stuck in my head.  In honor of alternative-pop crossovers, the song of the day is Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring Kimbra.

The Weekly Theory 1.24.2012

File under Useless Information

I Have a Theory...

...that the number of motivational posters or sayings you have displayed is inversely proportional to how inherently motivated you actually are.

Song of the Day
So i've liked this song by the group Starf****r for a while called "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second".  Great tune, but the other day i heard a mix of that song and the Ludacris song "Pimpin All Over the World" and had to post it.  I posted both original songs below as well.  In honor of the definition of Awesomeness, the song of the day is a mix of the two songs i just told you about.




Starf****r's "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second":


Ludacris' "Pimpin All Over the World":

The Social Network

File under Meet Yourself and Cage the Rage

I recently read a book called Connected: The surprising power of our social networks and how they shape our lives by Nicholas Christakis and James Folwer.  The book is intriguing in showing that our self-determination is often undermined by our social networks and our place in them.  The book even argues through study evidence that our friends' friends' friends' can make us fat.  Even if we don't know them.

But one of the really interesting findings through the authors' research was the fact that our happiness was less dictated by our current, transitory state, and more so by a set point for personal happiness that is not easy to change.  The authors used the evidence that for both lottery winners and paralysis patients there was little to no change in their happiness after two years compared to prior to the life-changing event, arguing that lottery winners still have annoying relatives, and paraplegics can still fall in love. 

The authors went on to argue that a transitory change in our state has less impact on our happiness than our social network does.  Surrounding ourselves with happy people has more effect than us actively trying to be happy.  And it can be inferred that surrounding ourselves with successful people has more impact than just really wanting to be successful.

This book reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies, Rushmore. The movie is essentially about an over-ambitious, under-achiever at a prep school who needs the social network of the school much more than the school needs him. 

My favorite scene of the whole movie:


Oh so many lessons from this movie! and quotes.  Highly recommend it.

Song of the Day
The main charachter, Max Fischer, was played by Jason Schwartzman, son of Talia Shire, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, and cousin of both Sofia Coppola, and Nicholas Cage, and today remains one of my favorite characters of all time, despite being Schwartzman's first acting role.  There's something in the famliy, because amazingly he is maybe an even more accomplished musician than actor. In honor of Rushmore and Max Fischer, the song of the day is Schwartzman's solo project Coconut Records' "West Coast".

The Weekly Theory 1.18.2012

File under Useless Information

This week's theory comes from JC, a loyal reader from Arlington, VA.

I Have a Theory...

...that if you're a dog owner, when you reach into the pocket of any jacket in your closet there's a 50% chance it contains a poop bag.

Just checked.  It's true.

Song of the Day
As a product shaped by mid-90s music i have always been a big skate punk/ska fan.  Good or bad, it is what it is. I heard this song on Pandora the other day and it reminded me how much I like the Dancehall Crashers.  Feel good music for the soul. Something about the dual female harmonies.  In honor of smiling, the song of the day is Dancehall Crashers' "Shelly".

The Bobby Fuller Four

File under Useless Information

I think i'm just going to feature a song of the day today.

Song of the Day
I heard this song today performed by The Clash and it had been a while.  The hopeless, lawless, desperateness of the lyrics resonate regardless of the era.  This song was written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets in 1959.  And that's the Buddy Holly Crickets sans Holly.  However it was made popular by the Bobby Fuller Four in 1964 which today remains the most recognizable version.  In 1978 The Clash recorded their version of the song, making it a punk staple.

Cliff Claven Alert!!
It's a little known fact that the Clash's version of this song was played on loud speakers outside the stronghold of Panamanian president Manuel Noriega to force him to surrender.

Cliff Claven, Part Deux
Noriega was extradited back to Panama in December of 2011.  Who knew!!

In honor of Manuel Noriega, the song of the day is "I Fought the Law" by the Bobby Fuller Four.  And in case you weren't sure, the law won.  See below for The Clash version too. 

The Quotable Antidote 1.8.2012

File under Set the Bar Low and Get a Smaller Plate

“Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” – Alexander Pope

Song of the Day
Can't believe i haven't featured these guys yet.  In honor of not being what you own, the song of the day is Fugazi's "Merchandise".  Great running song by the way.

The Presidential Playoffs

File under Useless Information

Quick caveats to this post:  First, this has nothing to do with the perfect antidote theory, but i had this idea and thought i'd share it.  Secondly, i'm rather apolitical, so i have no agenda here.

I happened to be switching back and forth between Iowa caucus coverage and NFL playoff coverage the other day and had a realization that there were just too many similarities.

IF THE AFC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS WERE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES:

1. The New England Patriots:  Mitt Romney
Very popular in the northeast, but no one gets excited about them elsewhere.  Considerd elitist and boring despite potentially having the best chance.

2. Baltimore Ravens:  Rick Santorum
A strong and rabid, but limited fan base.  Known for being conservative (on offense).  A complete team, but no one really believes they have a chance.

3.  Houston Texans: Rick Perry
Strong Texas support, and on the big stage for the first time, but too many injuries/gaffs to really make any waves.

4.  Denver Broncos: Michele Bachmann
Attractive, but ultimately kind of a mess.  Good at mobilizing the conservative right, but most likely not going to be around after the first big event.

5.  Pittsburgh Steelers: Newt Gingrich

Been around a while, and at one time were a major player.  VERY polarizing - you either hate them or love them.  Still influential but maybe ultimately past their prime.

6.  Cincinnati Bengals: John Hunstman

Just happy to be here.

We'll see who ultimately goes up against the New Orleans or Green Bay Obamas.

Song of the Day

I'm sitting here and in the background there is a show on National Geographic TV about what happens to the Earth after humans die off. For some reason it reminds me of this song. In honor of nature not skipping a beat without us, the song of the day is I Mother Earth's "So Gently We Go". (The song actually has nothing to do with that topic, it just reminded me of it.)