Quick stop in NYC

I took a quick trip to NYC this week to do some work. It was way colder than I thought it would be over there. I took this pic on my iPhone at about 11:45 p.m. EST. JFK airport was surprisingly empty at that hour - I felt like I had the whole place to myself. I'll have to hit up that city again soon and spend more time not working there.

Note to self: Don't take the subways during rush hour.

5 Reasons for Why Lists Are Great

"I like lists for the same reason other people like football or pedophilia. People have their preferences." - Umberto Eco

Disturbing as the latter part of that statement is, it's true. It's just that some people need to learn to control their disagreeable preferences, but I digress. Here are 5 reasons for why lists are great:

1. It keeps anyone from really having to explain anything
2. Lists are short and very easy to read
3. Letting "x" stand for any any number between 4 and 102, "x Reasons why..." make great linkbait blogs
4. You can read lists and forget about them as soon as you visit another web page
5. Did I mention lists are great linkbait?

Generation Y likes to pay for things, but not their dues

A nice little article in The Art of Manliness talks about the younger generation and its desire for instant gratification. I like to call Gen Y "Generation Entitlement" for obvious reasons. While the article talks about the value of hard work to attain one's goals, it's also important to be realistic. I don't mean that one shouldn't aim for the stars, but that being realistic sometimes involves the sad realization that there may be a chance that you can't always get what you want. Look at the upside, though. Along the way and even in the end, even if you aren't a rock star or the CEO of some major corporation, you will have learned so much and likely be better off than when you started.

The only educational book you'll ever need

You know what really sucks? I've spent a great deal of my leisure time over the last 20-some-odd years engrossed in studying science. One day I walk into a Barnes & Noble store and see this and I feel like my life's purpose changed in an instant, and I have to start all over again.

Tastebud torture

I found this in my kitchen and thought, "What's the point?" Who wants to eat just 100 calories of yellow cake? Go big, or go home. You're only tormenting yourself by eating one of these. On the other hand, I could probably easily eat four or five of these things. They're so small, but it's that easy to consume a quarter of your day's caloric allowance by chomping on these. Mmm. Delicious.