2:17pm Wednesday
Saint Paul
How “common” is “common sense?”
First, let’s define it. Wikipedia says,
“Common sense is ‘knowledge, judgement, and taste which is more or less universal and which is held more or less without reflection or argument.’”
So, it’s knowledge that is mostly universal, and mostly believed without questioning it.
So I ask you, is the following Einstein quote common sense?
(more…)11:51am
Saint Paul
When our kids were younger, we gave the meals fun names.
Pasta with tomatoe sauce and cottage cheese was Elsa and Ana Dinner.
Fish with rice and peas? Moana.
We had a few others too.
The hardest part was remembering what the names meant!
These names worked to persuade our kids to eat “adult” food, sure.
But naming anything—giving it an epithet—makes it more real.
(more…)9:58am
Saint Paul
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Like… the very first thing?
After a night of sleep, your morning brain produces alpha waves.
Alpha waves create a state of mental relaxation and alertness.
And because you’re relaxed… your critical, self-defensive mental guard isn’t up.
Meaning any information you feed your brain during an alpha state gets much more easily accepted by your subconscious.
(more…)10:38 am
Elsewhere in Saint Paul, Minnesota
BOOM.
And like that, my neighborhood just lost power.
I was avoiding work… ordering books from a German website that I can’t read…and now my work feels urgent… but no electricity.
(more…)8:12am
Saint Paul
Degas caused a public uproar when he showed his “Jockeys Before the Race” (completed in 1879—back when art was important).
He was known for his impressionist paintings of ballerinas and jockeys on horses.
But this painting wasn’t so much a horse as it was… a pole. With a horse behind it.
It was considered “ugly.”
(more…)11:08am
Saint Paul
Remember the J. Peterman character from the Seinfeld TV series?
Last night I was watching Seinfeld (I could say that many times each week).
In this episode, J. Peterman—who sells clothing via catalog using romantic, emotional, visual copy—is taking Elaine out to dinner.
She is afraid of the tedium of listening to Peterman’s stories, so Elaine invites Jerry to join…
(more…)10:16am Friday
Saint Paul, Minnesota
“What’s the hardest part about writing?” I ask Ruby.
“I don’t know…”
She’s eleven. And this morning, she’s picking up a short story that she’s been writing, on and off, for a few months.
12:24pm
Saint Paul
Most people hate marketing… unless it’s something they’re interested in.
Then—when it’s done right—it’s not marketing.
It’s useful.
And without a doubt, one of the most annoying methods of digital marketing is the Pop-Up.
You know what I mean. You’re on a web page, engaging with the content, when suddenly there’s something blocking your view.
Infuriating, right?
Well, marketers hate them too.
Except that… they work.
(more…)9:16am
Saint Paul
“Let me out!” the man screams.
But no one is coming.
More angry than afraid, Leo Beebe smashes the window and storms out of the room.
(more…)