Random Thought #136

What's up with hazel colored eyes? What color is hazel? If you to relate it to hazelnuts, you might think golden-brown but hazel tends to be kind of a catch-all term. Specifically with eye color, you've got either brown, blue, green, or hazel. Its like someone said, what color are your eyes? Blue? Nope. Brown? Nope. Green? Nope. Hmm, I guess we'll just call them hazel. Seriously, where does this word come from? I have hazel eyes but if I were to describe them, I guess I would say a combination of brown and light green. I just find it interesting that all the other colors are very distinct, describeable, and relateable but with hazel, nobody can really tell you what that is. It just is.

Random Thought #135

This is just an interesting little fact but I had no idea how Singapore got its name. I've since learned that singa is the malaysia/indonesian word for lion. Singapore is the english word for singa pura which translates lion city or lion shrine. Apparently when an Indonesian prince went out sailing and discovered the land, the first thing he saw was a tiger running at great speed but he actually thought it was a lion so he called the place lion land. Makes sense. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the famous white statue with a lion head on a fish's body. Another story is that this same prince, upon coming to Singapore, saw a fish with a lion's head on it (catfish??) and so called the place Singa Ore or City of Lion. Apparently Singapore used to be a little fishing village. Anyways, interesting little tidbits. Here is a picture of the famous statues/fountains, now known as the Merlion. Reminds me of the computer game "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego". Anyone getting flashbacks? Huh? Huh?

Random Thought #134

This is just a quick post about a video I watched from TED which talks about the messages that get sent out from movies to our youth. A comparison between The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. I think its well done and has a great message. Enjoy. http://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood.html

Random Thought #133

Have you ever been driving down the road and seen a car in front of you with a sticker that said 13.1 or 26.2 on it? I never knew what that meant until a couple of days ago. I thought it was some military call sign or a symbol of some kind of philanthropic cause or something. Turns out I was wrong. 13.1 stands for a half-marathon. A half-marathon is approximately 13.1 miles in distance. I'm not sure if you get a sticker for competing in one or actually finishing one or for winning one but that's what it stands for. Guessing you don't need much help to guess what 26.2 stands for. Yup, a marathon. Fun fact: the marathon was actually instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. (Source: Wikipedia). One of these days I want to pull up to one of these cars that has the sticker at a stop light, roll down my window and ask "Hey, why are you driving? Wouldn't you rather run?" LOL

Random Thought #132

Why is it that comedy is actually funny? Why do we laugh? I find it interesting that we laugh because we can identify with what is being said. We've usually either experienced it or know someone who has. Somehow it has to make a connection with something we already have a knowledge or or representation for. But its not just the linkage made by the joke that makes it funny, typically the topic is something that we would never actually bring up in real life. Everyone knows its true but nobody will bring it up. Its somehow taboo. Ever wonder what happened when a joke falls flat or isn't funny? I find 1 of 2 things happened. Either 1) the link wasn't made and so the audience has no idea what you are talking about. They haven't had that shared experience or 2) it was a little too taboo for them personally. Ever been the subject of a joke? Yeah, that's reason #2 right there. Ever been the outside guy on an inside joke? Yup, that's reason #1. I'm sure there is an entire psychology to comedy and how to come up with good laughs which would be an interesting read. I was just listening to a comedian the other day and as I was laughing, I just wondered why I was laughing and now its a blog post..HAHA!