Category / psychology

by Diane Tate

The bliss of full integration


In August I lauded the attempts of my near-intellectual and aesthetic peer to graphically convey psychological phenomena. That specific example pertained to macroeconomic moods and ensuing trends; today, I’ve stumbled across a graph that depicts my very personal journey in the political realm:

Alas: after much contrarian hemming, hawing and zig-zagging, I’m at last “in.” I’m “fully integrated.”*

*though the photo at top might indicate “assimilated” 😉

Mint | Free, Simple Personal Finance Software
by Diane Tate

What language are you speaking?

Ok, there’s ‘negative’ ….and then there’s NEGATIVE. Truly, is an attack on McCain’s health care plan equivalent to character assassination?

God love the U-Wisc. Advertising Project, but it does demonstrate the degree to which I’ve always believed “social science” to be an oxymoron. Despite its best intentions, it usually does a great disservice by trying to quantify the qualitative.

(forgive the alignment on the illustration below – full graphic at this link also included above >multimedia popup on the left – which has proven elusive in posting directly here):

The New York Times
October 18, 2008
The Content of the Campaign Ads

Close Window

Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company		 Print This Image

Mint | Free, Simple Personal Finance Software
by Diane Tate

Laughing when you’re not supposed to

Financial meltdowns. Political campaigns. Global warming. Laughter feels like a guilty indulgence. Or is my remorse stemming from the fact that some of the things that have made me laugh the hardest recently may prove offensive?

But share I must. So, if you are easily offended, please stop here and just scroll down to the end of this post to watch the video. For the thicker-skinned, I’m publicly disclosing 3 items which unfailingly tickle me to the core…regardless of how many times I view…and view…and view them….:

  1. This repulsive portrayal of the male fantasy world (watch the Ferrino Mizzoni clip). Why, then, as a female, do I relish watching it? A Rebounder’s Delight (credit to my friend Amit – he’s really quite talented don’t you think??).
  2. This deliciously funny satire of Linden Labs’ bizarre yet incomprehensibly popular Second Life virtual world. Don’t get me started on how weird it is. I feel free saying this because all Second Lifers are IN Second Life and quite unlikely to be reading this “real” life blog. Of course, that means you readers out here in the real world have likely never ventured in to Second Life and will likely miss the humor… I personally only have because I interviewed there (I swear!).
  3. This I PRAY soon-to-be dated depiction of Sarah Palin’s Facebook page. Every detail is exquisite.
  4. ADDENDUM FROM 8/3/09 (couldn’t post as a video clip due to NBC litigiousness): http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/10/justin-timberlake-mother-lover/

I thank God that the human species has been specially endowed not only with reason, but with humor. I also believe that, when we get to those infamous “ledge” moments, comedy can kick in beyond our control, overtaking us as an evolutionary survival mechanism.

Such subsummation by laughter is most perfectly depicted in one of my favorite scenes, appropriately (given this electoral season we find ourselves in) from “The Candidate”…if you have ADD, fast-forward to :45:


Mint | Free, Simple Personal Finance Software