Privacy Schmivacy
The concept of privacy is, um, really, really different in China. Over there, it seems, everyone has a right to know just about anything they want to know about you. Even the Mandarin word for privacy—yinsi—implies a menacing selfishness among those who want secrecy. As my personal stories from living in China attest (oh, man, […]
When the Funnies Aren’t Funny
If I touch an actual newspaper nowadays, it’s usually because I’m waiting a) in a doctor’s office, b) for my car’s oil to be changed or c) for a restaurant table. Last week it was “a.” And as I lamented my sore throat and killed time—why is it that doctors never have to wait on […]
Unsafe Cyberspace?
I have surprising news and I have bad news. (This isn’t a fun way to start a Tuesday. I’ll make it up to you later.) Let’s start with the surprising: A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found that, on average, kids spend seven and a half hours a day plugged into some sort of electronic […]
Taylor Swift: Why All the Hate?
It’s been several days since Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks sang their infamous duet at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards—a duet in which Swift sounded, um, a little off-key. But people are still talking about the performance—and whether all the ensuing negativity against Swift is justified or not. And we’re talking some serious negativity. Take […]
Neurocinema: Finding the Brain’s Sweet Spot
Remember when Hollywood could tell us a great story? When more movies were heavier on plot than explosives, car chases, zombies, and scantily clad women? When storylines could dawdle a bit but still swept us up in their slow, meaningful pace? Me too. But that’s changed a bit lately, and MindSign Neuromarketing might just change […]
Movie Monday: Dear John
With $32.4 million worth of box-office receipts, Dear John officially toppled Avatar after seven weeks at No. 1. Why was it Dear John and not last weekend’s Edge of Darkness? Maybe it’s the alluring power of Kleenex. A Nicholas Sparks novel-turned-movie first shocked me with its tear-duct-draining ability in Los Angeles when I saw The […]
Facebook: ‘Like’ or ‘Unlike’ Community?
Sometimes I enjoy Facebook. I’ll admit it. Social networking can enhance our regular face-to-face friendships and provide a way to stay in contact with friends who live overseas or out of state. Facebook’s fun because friendship is fun—and research even shows we’re healthiest and most fulfilled when we feel connected to others. Still, I’d be […]
Just Hold Still a Minute!
Boredom. We don’t often talk about it unless we’re, say, standing in line to get sci-fi convention tickets. (I haven’t experienced this, but a friend just went through a lot of rigmarole to get them for her fiancé. In my book, that is primo, divorce-proof love.) Nonetheless, this week’s Up Front article, “It’s Good to […]
Conveyor Belt of Love
One of my friends e-mailed the other day and said, “So … you the one who gets to review Conveyor Belt of Love?” (I could almost see her grin and chuckle at me.) Nope, I’m not reviewing it. But she did alert me to it, so of course, I watched—and lost a quarter of my […]
Gleeks of the World, Sing!
I can carry a tune in a bucket, but not far. One of my great-grandmothers was an opera singer (without the cool spear and Valkyrie horns on her head, unfortunately). Her range was upward of four octaves. My range, however, is probably a measly five or six notes and really unimpressive. And very, very unlike […]