The only lubricant in this story….is social lubricant. And that’s exactly what Cognitive Neuroscience says handshakes are. According to these palm professionals, we should always shake hands when we’re meeting strangers. Why? It’s a great way for us to all do what we do best as assholes: judge each other. When we start off with contact, it’s a nice non-verbal way of being positive to a stranger. An unspoken temporary.. Read More
It’s all about the BenGenerativity, baby.
I’ll do better tomorrow. This is a lie I love telling myself when it comes to forking out funds. I don’t even know if I mean it when I’m saying it, or if I’m just trying to enjoy those few fleeting gleeful moments spent tossing my credit card at the Nordstrom cashier like she’s covered in glitter and her name’s Champagne. Mistake indeed. ’cause a few moment’s high is exactly.. Read More
The chemicals between us (sex smells)
Remember when we learned about pheromones in science class? I always thought they were some sort of super power – ’cause we can’t consciously sense them. They just penetrate us like X-rays and effect our attraction level. And when you think about it, they kind of are. The receiving end is at least – because only 30 percent of humans have that nose-base receiver (the vomeronasal organ, they call it).. Read More
What to expect when you’re expecting (to die alone)
As everyone continues to get married and have kids, I start to feel like the kid who isn’t getting picked for baseball in P.E. Except I hate baseball. And why do we have to have P.E. anyway? Thing is, I’m envious. But not that they’re married and not that they’re starting families. I’m envious that they want that stuff. That, and I feel like I’d better appreciate their trips to.. Read More
The grateful wrath
Anger is good for you? Insert eyeroll and inner monologue: “Now I’ve heard it all…” No, really. Anger apparently isn’t so bad – if you can figure out the “why” behind the wrath – and what to do about it. Ahem. Rephrase – what to productively do about it. I love wreaking havoc. In fact the empty cupboards once filled with now shattered china, are an epic testament to my.. Read More
“The wandering mind’s not always lost”
Tried to watch “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” for the second time last week. Ben, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m sure it’s a great film, but it’s next-level inception depressing just how “it’s me” the issue is. The whole movie’s concept is the “me issue” – I gave this film a second go, and ya wanna know what happened? I started… daydreaming. And missed like… all of it… Read More
The passion of the crazed
Remember the Van Gogh ear story from elementary school art class? Wait. Let’s just take a moment to acknowledge that we were told stories at age single-digit about the hewn pinnae of deranged painters. To be fair, I think they might have left out the bit about it being for the sake of a hooker. As a kind gesture the prozzy told ugly-as-sin Vincent (that’s a paraphrase of a direct.. Read More
Junkie reform – spirituality demystified
“There is a lack of scientific evidence documenting how and why 12-step programs work.” I’m Not Saying It’s Magic, But… MAGIC This was at the end of an article I read recently. And don’t get me wrong – the author added that “75 years of history provides more” and it doesn’t “need” scientific inquiry. But I’m kinda sick of mysticism where it’s not needed. To be fair, Dr. David Sack.. Read More
Natal nostalgia and dumb babies
Remember that movie from the 90’s where the babies all talked in a secret language? And were super smart? And the government found out and took them to Area 51 to perform torturous and cruel experiments? Although I may have one small part of the plot confused, I totally remember seeing this in theaters. I was just a kid myself, but I remember having an Angelica a la Rugrats meets.. Read More
Success: Spurred by satisfaction or suffering?
Does happiness lead to success? Vice versa? This thing I was watching (Fine. It was SoulPancake again. Get off me) asked a bunch of randoms to come in for an experiment. The first part was to offer half the subjects snacks and the others nada. The second involved giving them a puzzle to solve requiring critical thinking. *Okay, before we go any further, let’s see what you’d do: 1. You’re.. Read More