Poshdeluxe

there’s an article about boredom in the NYT today. specifically, about how even when you’re bored, yr brain is still active. or something:

“Boredom as a temporary state is another matter, and in part reflects the obvious: that the brain has concluded there is nothing new or useful it can learn from an environment, a person, an event, a paragraph. But it is far from a passive neural shrug. Using brain-imaging technology, neuroscientists have found that the brain is highly active when disengaged, consuming only about 5 percent less energy in its resting ‘default state’ than when involved in routine tasks, according to Dr. Mark Mintun, a professor of radiology at Washington University in St. Louis.”

apparently, even when i’m staring out the window or skimming yet another article about the hogan family, i’m still using my brain! wow. this goes against everything my teachers have ever taught me.

“Some experts say that people tune things out for good reasons, and that over time boredom becomes a tool for sorting information — an increasingly sensitive spam filter. In various fields including neuroscience and education, research suggests that falling into a numbed trance allows the brain to recast the outside world in ways that can be productive and creative at least as often as they are disruptive.”

you guys, this is REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR ME.

i spend at least half my day being BORED OUT OF MY MIND, and here i’ve been thinking that this is a bad thing! like my brain might fall out! but now, science has shown me that my boredom is leading me to some amazing act of creative genius!

well, obviously, this blog.

but the possibilities are endless! if i could hone and harness my boredom, who knows what creative heights i could reach? what feats of science and literature i could accomplish?

in just a few minutes, these kids will discover the cure for cancer.

after reading the article, i sat back and thought about how i usually deal with boredom. esp. in meetings, cos i hate hate HATE meetings. meetings are the, like, the brangelina of boredom breeders.

here are the typical things i do when i’m zzzz in a meeting:

1) daydream about my next meal

2) practice my telekinesis on the clock hands

3) wish i had a friend i could pass a note to about a cute boy

4) wish i remembered how i used to fold notes in junior high, cos that was really cool

5) play MASH

6) draw this pattern thingie my BFF paige taught me in the second grade

7) fantasize about how much better the meeting would be if i worked with the “office” cast

ok, so, it looks like i need to change some habits. none of these things are gonna to lead to anything amazing, except if i actually experience a success rate for #2.

how do YOU guys survive boring meetings? gimme yr survival tips!

and the next time you’re bored, give yr brain a pat on the back! er, cerebellum (HAR).

LINKS

i had no idea there was a failed attempt at a “buffy” cartoon. and, well, i’m kinda wish i still didn’t know about it, cos YIKES, it’s terrible.

FINALLY, an articulate and thoughtful defense for christian bale’s gravely batman voice. dudes. it’s a DISGUISE. case closed.

omggggg have you guys heard of “mujeres asesinas“?!!! it’s a telenovela about wronged women seeking extremely wrathful and bloody revenge. aaaawesome.

if you’re a fan of “the wire”, check out these fun facts revealed at a recent panel.

“fine lines” recently reviewed “homecoming,” which was one of my fave books as a tween. the best part? the reviewer totally focuses on the food in the book, which is EXACTLY why i loved it! ok, shocker, i know.

best snow globe, ever.

i’m still bummed about joss whedon parting ways with the “wonder woman” movie, but here’s a (small) consolation– a new animated version, with keri russell lending her voice for wonder woman!

for all of the jane austen lovers (and, actually, haters): jezebel analyzes why maureen dowd should have never, ever compared obama to mr. darcy.