Bon Question

Since Sunday, how many times, between the bloggers and the reporters, has the phrase "the French said non to the EU" been written on the Internet?

Makes Me Laugh

V. v. funny...

Auditory Me

As I was writing the post about my inability to recall anything while listening, my brother sent me a song (Post-Paint Boy) to listen to, saying he thought I'd like it ("It's about the vapidity of the current art scene."-TW). I did...the shallow nature of many post-pop artists is a pet annoyance of mine...but it also reinforced my lack of auditory comprehension skills.

I had to stop everything else I was doing to listen to the words of the song. I'm sure this is why I don't listen to music while I do work. I can write while listening to Big Head Todd or Van Morrison - that's it (and don't ask me why those two and nothing else).

This is also probably why I am not nearly as into music as my brother or sister. I wonder how I did on the listening parts of tests when I was little.

What I'm Reading

In the last post, I mentioned my track record for finishing books (roughly 30%). I am, however, on a roll right now. Last week I read Garlic and Sapphires (Ruth Reichl) in a couple of days. Like her other two books, I thought it was amazing.

As soon as I finished it, I went to the library to try to get a book by M.F.K. Fisher - to stick with the food memoir thing. Unfortunately, the Towson library isn't exactly sophisticated in its collection of older books, so the only copy was checked out. Instead, I picked up Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton, the restaurant critic at the Times two people before Reichl. I'm about halfway finished now and it looks like I'm going to read it all the way through, even though it is so painfully obvious that Sheraton's almost 80. She just writes like an old lady would speak.

I do love the food writing these days.

Reading vs. "Reading"

Ann Althouse links to this NYT article about the debate between reading "purists" and people who listen to audiobooks in addition to or instead of reading them. The article itself is kind of interesting, just because it introduces the idea of reader snobbery and a few of the differences between how people comprehend books visually and auditorily (and yes, that is a word - I looked it up to make sure).

As usual, though, Althouse's post and her commenters add a several layers to the discussion. It's always interesting for me to recognize my own habits (most of which I've never noticed before) in someone's comments. For instance, in the comments, Althouse mentions that when she reads a book, she remembers where certain ideas are placed on the page. I'm exactly the same way - something I relied on when taking history, government and art history tests. When I didn't remember something immediately, I could work backwards from placement to content. (In my senior year in college International Organizations class, I was one of the only people to get a question about the Sullivan papers correct - entirely because the description was in a footnote, not the regular text, so I remembered where it was. Random.)

Overall, my take on the "reader snobbery" thing (as someone who reads a lot but has never listened to a book) is that it's ridiculous. I wish I could listen to books. Much like I wish I could read in the car. Or walking. Or on a treadmill (I did read a lot of Kavalier & Clay on an elliptical machine and I almost fell off more than once). Unfortunately, if I'm going to finish a book, I need to concentrate. (That said, I read most books while watching TV. But I also only finish about 30% of the books I read - no patience.)

If I listened to a book on tape, I'd literally have to take notes to understand it (unless it was a really, really simplistic book. Like a children's book. But even a simple one of those.) Not that I mind taking notes, but that would defeat the purpose of listening to a book. I certainly couldn't do it while driving.

What Is Hip-Hop, Yo?

I couldn't be happier about this news. Besides that I love KenJen, I'm just happy to see that Comedy Central is thinking in terms of Ben Stein's Money again. That show was great.

The Opposite of Retail Therapy

At the mall this afternoon, I heard some new Jack Johnson in Anthropologie, then again a few minutes later in the Gap. When I noticed it the second time, I thought, "what a perfect song for a clothing store." Then I got the chills.

To this day, I still detest the Peter Gabriel song "Red Rain" for the sole reason that it was on the tape we listened to EVERY DAY when I worked at Ann Taylor during the summer of 1995. Not only did that job suck because I couldn't wear anything sleeveless (at a time when every shirt in the store was sleeveless) or slingbacks (or any other shoe that showed the racy, racy heel) - it also sucked because I had three managers. Kim, the main manager, was nice enough and normal enough. She'd clearly come to terms with the fact that her college education wasn't going to get her farther than managing a store in Annapolis Mall. Bobbie, the first assistant, had a voice like Fran Drescher - my inability to deal with her pitch was what drove me to quit. But if I hadn't quit because of her, I would have because of Amy, the third manager. She had a habit of saying things like, "Kit, your challenge now is to fold those t-shirts!" Like she was asking me to advice on nuclear policy. Seriously. I'll get on that "challenge."

The other "associates" were mostly pretty cool, however. My favorite was a woman who worked at Hooters right before AT. Interesting switch. She really was a nice lady. And didn't seem trashy at all. I guess the clothes can make the woman...

Guest Blogging

So how is the guest blogging going?

On the surface, it seems to be going fairly well, though there's been a considerable slowdown since the burst of first-day posts. Behind the scenes, the Waskom bloggers have been fighting a little more than usual, but that's probably not surprising given our competitive nature.

Verdict: it's too soon to tell. Assuming that the guest blogging team isn't already so bored (or annoyed) that they're not coming back, I think it'll be interesting to see how things evolve over the next few weeks.

On Happiness

Having been a part of some lengthy, though fairly shallow, research on happiness (warning: do not follow the link if you aren't sure if you can handle the ramblings of my Birkenstock-wearing, in-office meditating former boss. It'll be just as bad as you'd expect)...while also always appreciating a nice checklist, I definitely enjoyed reading this report.

As the author notes, the contents might seem like common sense, but if I learned on thing at Context, it's that people often ignore common sense/conventional wisdom until it's brought to their attention via research. The fact that it is common or conventional lets it seep into the background of life, where it stays.

This little report, written by a sort of drily funny economist type, was a good reminder that it's not actually that difficult to be happy - it's just hard to stay that way all the time.

Sunday Flower Blogging

Surprisingly enough, the orchid we gave my mother for Mother's Day is flourishing under her care. It really is one of the coolest flowers I've ever seen.

Made for Me

I like to eat. And everyone knows I certainly like to cry.

I SO wish I had video of the night Sam came over, I drank a bottle of wine before dinner and undercooked the chicken.

Chuck Klosterman Fan Site

Apparently that's what this blog is becoming.

I should note that I, like Seth Cohen, own a copy of Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. I might even have taken notes in the margins.

But that has nothing to do with me being a "hipster." It just means that I'm a dork.

Things Just Keep Getting Better

Second guy from the right is Ted from Queer Eye, isn't he? Next up: "hip tips" from Rivers.

RE: Lowbrow Culture

Is this going to turn into a less intellectual Corner? (It can't. I have a real job. Sort of. And no self control.)

But interesting thesis. Very Chuck Klosterman.

True, though. Catcher in the Rye and Story of My Life both use the flashback as a literary device: their narrators/protagonists are both safely nestled in mental hospitals, if I remember correctly. And those were just the first two books that popped into my head. I'm sure there are zillions more.

The Guest Blogging Phenomenon

And the guest blogging has begun. I'm pretty excited about this (and glad that my brother encouraged it, even though I think he mostly did so because he thinks I'm boring by myself). Not only will this take some of the pressure off me (which I really am feeling now that I have another blog that's actually work-related)...but I'm pretty sure that posts from my friends will make this blog a better reflection of "the life and times of kit."

Back when I was all about the ethno, some of my favorite (and, I think, best) analysis was on studies that included a relational piece: interviews and observations not only of the primary participant but also of people close to them. My guess is that guest blogger posts here will have the same effect. So my self-absorption and navel-gazing can be taken to the next level.

And for the other five readers, well, you'll have a little variety.

A Real Man- From a Guest Blogger

Work has been a little slow lately. Which in turn means that I have been spending A LOT of my ‘work’ day on the internet, researching things like what a ‘blog’ is and also the really important things like when Rob and Amber’s upcoming wedding special is or who was voted off American Idol last night.

Which leads me to why I am here. I told my dear friend Kit, (also my smartest friend-I do not care what any quiz says), that I would ‘guest blog’ on her blogspot. So here I am.

I do not know what kind of first impression this will leave but while Kit describes what literary geniuses people like Ann Althouse and Bill Bryson are, I am more inclined to think that Bill Simmons is.

Who is Bill Simmons? He is a writer aka ‘Sports Guy’ for Page 2 at ESPN.com. But I do not love him for him sports commentary. (I am no poser, I realize that I am ‘athletically-challenged’ to say the least, and therefore my interest in sports is slim to a big fat zippy.) I love him for his honesty. Finally, a man who can admit that he enjoys the occasional Bachelor episode or has watched Elimidate more than once. How can you not love a man who debates the O.C. vs. 90210 with such poignancy? What man admits that he does not just humor his wife by watching American Idol and the Real World/Road Rules Challenge, he secretly revels in the hour or so that these shows are on? In my mind he is not tall, dark and handsome but instead he puts down his Xbox controller in the middle of Halo 2, regulates his testosterone levels and gallantly gives his wife the remote. Bill Simmons, in my world, you are truly a ‘real’ man.
-SWill

This Makes Me Nervous

Considering that my parents thought learning the piano via the Suzuki Method was a form of cheating, it's no wonder that the thought of performance-enhancing drugs makes me cringe.

I never know what to think about these hypotheticals. And if I don't even know where I draw my own line, what does that say for society as a whole? Mass confusion is clearly underway.

Where's a clear cut honor code when we need one?

Disappointed in Myself

I really ought to carry a camera with me all the time, just to visually capture my fellow Baltimore-area residents. Especially the older ones. They're so funny.

And I don't mean funny like the 75-year-old lady I once saw trying on extremely low rise Earl Jeans in the open Loehmann's dressing room. That was scary funny. I wouldn't wish that image on anyone else.

But today, I was at Home Depot and parked next to an older lady wearing a neon orange faux Adidas sweatsuit. Imagine Ben Stiller and sons in The Royal Tenenbaums - but the color of a construction road sign. Maybe even brighter. As she grabbed an (orange) cart, I wondered if she dressed to coordinate with the store. If so, very hot. So much respect from me.

Then, fifteen minutes later, I was driving through the Trader Joe's parking lot when I spotted something even more ridiculous looking. A man in his late 60s or early 70s coming out of TJ with a gym bag wearing a faded jean jacket, even more faded cutoff jean shorts and a dirty white sweatband. Where was he going, I wondered? To work out? To remodel a house? To single-handedly bring jean-on-jean back to the US? Then I realized I was staring and should probably stop because he could very well have guns in his bag.

What a good morning.

Best News Ever

Bring on the hard-to-find vino.

Gone Live!

After months and months of planning and development, my new web site is finally up and running. How will the Kit Pollard Consulting blog effect the Kit Pollard blog? I have no idea. The plan is to write only about marketing-ish stuff over there, which I've almost completely abandoned here anyway. But I am sure I'll feel more obligated to post there, since it's the business and all. And since I paid for the design.

But we'll see.

In other blog news, I am taking under advisement the suggestion that I open the blog up to regular (or at least frequent) guest bloggers. Certainly would take the pressure off me to write (who knew a readership of fives could be so demanding?). Interested parties should let me know if they want to write...and we'll see how it goes from there.

One Last Thing on that List

And then I'll stop. I promise.

Schools that require an entrance exam to be admitted don't even qualify for consideration. Which makes the list totally meaningless, to me. How can you bill something as the "best" 1000 schools if you purposefully ignore a big chunk of what are sure to be good schools?

Quick Quiz

Q. In what world is it acceptable for a seven year old to sing the words "You'll take a lover in the afternoon"?

A. Apparently, in my parents' world, circa December 1982. That's when I received a copy of Branigan by Laura Branigan for Christmas. At the time, my favorite song (probably my very first "favorite song") was "Gloria." She'll marry for the money. She'll take a lover in the afternoon. Good lessons for a second grader.

I heard the song on the radio yesterday and flashed back to my Fisher-Price record player (shared w/my brother) and masterfully choreographed dance numbers. Somehow, I didn't remember the controversial lines. I must never have known what they meant. Or my parents managed to dig up an edited version of the record. That wouldn't surprise me. These same parents wouldn't let me wear Jordache jeans (too much sex in the commercials), watch Three's Company (too much innuendo...not that I would've gotten the jokes) or watch MTV (until I turned 19. Kind of backfired.)

Once I got past my shock, though, I was pretty impressed with myself for liking such a good song. And it is. Has a little Janis Joplin edge to it.

Which brought me to an unrelated thought: are musical tastes entirely learned or are they partially innate? Clearly my appreciation for screamy female singers comes from my father...but am I genetically predisposed to like them or did I just listen to a lot of Pearl when I was little?

And what makes me like the Janis, but hate - hate - some of my dad's other musical favorites? The Eagles, of course, I hate because of the Clockwork Orange effect: we listened to them SO much on our terrible, endless family trip out west in 1989 that I can't deal with them anymore. But why does Linda Ronstadt makes me want to break things?

More on the High Schools

So I'm a big dork and just read that entire list. I realized, too, that I was wrong: it's not just public schools. Which makes the metric even sillier. A lot of private schools don't encourage their kids to take a bunch of AP tests or offer any AP classes at all. So measurement on that sole factor is ridiculous.

I also got to check out the rankings of a lot of schools we played sports against when I was little (beyond just Dulaney). There are a TON of Maryland schools on this list overall - and lots from VA, IL, MI, NY, CA and NJ (I don't find that surprising at all).

Here are some of the other interesting schools:
#184 - Broadneck HS in AA County (and yes, this annoys me)
#321 - Ridgewood HS in NJ (Doug wins)
#367 - Wilton High School in CT (home of many Waskoms)
#386 - South River in AA County MD
#392 - Carver Center for Arts and Technology right here in Towson
#452 - Towson HS in, obviously, Towson
#557 - Annapolis HS in, obviously, Annapolis
#692 - Loch Raven High School...also in Towson
#858 - Old Mill HS in AA County

We're #336!

Newsweek has ranked the top 1000 public high schools in the country and the fabulous SPHS comes in at #336.

It's a simplistic ranking system, though, based entirely on the number of AP tests taken per capita (SP's is 1.864. Slackers.) The only other stat listed is the number of subsidized lunches at the school (SP=5).

To develop a comprehensive rank, wouldn't you need to include some other factors? Average SAT/Acheivement Test Scores? Student to teacher ratio? Something related to financial resources? Something that slightly touches on extracurriculars? I mean, you're not getting into college just because you took a bunch of AP tests. Shouldn't the ranking reflect that?

Plus, I refuse to believe that Dulaney (#249/2.104 tests per kid) is a better school than Severna Park...I just won't. Even if we do have matching subsidized lunch numbers.

Go Falcons!

My Morality

I just took this totally interesting test from Philosophers' Magazine. My results were:

Your moralising quotient is 0.37 (.01 higher than average)
Your interference factor is 0.00 (.17 lower than average)
Your universalising factor is 0.50 (.05 lower than average)

So except on the interference point, I'm pretty normal. For the people who have taken this test, at least. I wish I could've seen that demographic breakdown. Think it might skew just a little towards higher education...who reads Philosophers' Magazine anyway? (I got the link from Althouse, who got it from Bainbridge...not like the readers of those sites are probably idiots...)

Guest Bloggers

Last night I invited someone to guest blog for the very first time (and believe me, people have been beating down my door to reach my fives of readers). I asked Steve if he'd like to post here. Not permanently or anything, and not even right now.

Specifically, immediately after he returns from the upcoming Motley Crue concert. I'm expecting fantastic tales of shoplifting and silicone...

My Former Career

I know these people.

I know them well. And this is not a lie. Especially the part about age-appropriate clothing.

Are You Kidding Me?

Pat O'Brien was at Coachella? Could it be any more wrong?

More Reasons to Love Lileks

Memories of his college days. Sigh.

There just aren't that many writers who can hold an audience's attention equally with a political rant and a story about how he felt in college, brought on by his iPod.

I always wonder, too, if he's ever met Chuck Klosterman. The whole Fargo connection. Not that everyone from Fargo should necessarily know each other, but it seems odd to me that two writers so obsessed with pop culture (even if Lilek's obsession is with pop culture of the 30s and 40s) would both come from such a random city.

If I Was a College Professor...

I would really like to teach classes that involved intense analyzation of Angel episodes. I stopped watching Angel a long time ago (right around the time Cordelia died), but I loved reading this.