Taming Leviathan

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Sonstructions: How To Be More Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps)

1.Go exploring.

Explore ideas, places, and opinions. The inside of the echo chamber is where are all the boring people hang out.

2. Share what you discover.

And be generous when you do. Not everybody went exploring with you. Let them live vicariously through your adventures.

3. Do something. Anything.

Dance. Talk. Build. Network. Play. Help. Create. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re doing it. Sitting around and complaining is not an acceptable form of ‘something,’ in case you were wondering.

4. Embrace your innate weirdness.

No one is normal. Everyone has quirks and insights unique to themselves. Don’t hide these things—they are what make you interesting.

5. Have a cause.

If you don’t give a damn about anything, no one will give a damn about you.

6. Minimize the swagger.
Egos get in the way of ideas. If your arrogance is more obvious than your expertise, you are someone other people avoid.

7. Give it a shot.
Try it out. Play around with a new idea. Do something strange. If you never leave your comfort zone, you won’t grow.

8. Hop off the bandwagon.
If everyone else is doing it, you’re already late to the party. Do your own thing, and others will hop onto the spiffy wagon you built yourself. Besides, it’s more fun to drive than it is to get pulled around.

9. Grow a pair.
Bravery is needed to have contrary opinions and to take unexpected paths. If you’re not courageous, you’re going to be hanging around the water cooler, talking about the guy who actually is.

10. Ignore the scolds.
Boring is safe, and you will be told to behave yourself. The scolds could have, would have, should have. But they didn’t. And they resent you for your adventures.

via forbes.com

a MUST read

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

When Prudence Lands on the Side of Your #Beard

Dear Prudence,
I have what seems to be a petty problem, but it's really becoming an issue in my marriage. My husband and I have been together for almost 20 years and have three kids. We are well-educated, have satisfying jobs, and still enjoy each other's company, with one exception. He has recently grown a beard. In years past he has occasionally had a beard for a short while, and each time after a few weeks he's gotten rid of it, to my relief. I hate it. I don't find it attractive, and more importantly I hate the way it feels on my skin when we kiss or do anything more intimate. This time, he's refusing to shave and has made this beard into a "love me, love my beard" situation. I finally told him not to even try to kiss me until he shaves. This led to a huge fight, and we're barely speaking. I can't help the way his beard physically makes me feel! Help!
—Close Shave
Dear Close,
Where are those crazed Amish beard cutters when you need them? It makes no sense that you and your husband are both bristling with indignation and your marriage is on a razor’s edge over some facial hair. I don’t hate beards, but generally I prefer the clean-shaven look. My husband has had a beard all his adult life. When we were dating I once asked, “So, have you ever considered shaving off your beard?” He answered, “No,” and that was the end of that discussion. Partners should be sensitive to the visual and tactile effect they have on each other. But one spouse is entitled to make a reasonable style choice that doesn’t fill the other with joy. Your “It’s me or the whiskers” approach is not working, so you should do an about-face. Apologize for escalating this disagreement, then say something like, “I can’t exactly say your beard is growing on me, but since it is growing on you, and I love you, I’m going to try to love it.” As a favor, ask that your husband get his beard professionally trimmed occasionally and that he wash it with a good quality shampoo and conditioner. All that may soften his rough edges and get you to again enjoy being close.
—Prudie

via slate.com

I have been blessed with a wife that demands facial hair, admires a beard, and tolerates its whimsy, but, men (and, lets be honest, some women) I don't think our beards should be the breaking point of any relationship. So let's remember these words probably are for us, too, when our significant others go through the phase of European bohemia and shave nothing.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Docking Bay 94: Yoda DJ T-Shirt

How bad ass is this Yoda DJ t-shirt? Too bad this t-shirt, released by Chunk in the UK, is so damn expensive due to the conversion rates. You can find the shirt on Amazon UK for £25.00, which translates to almost $36.50 before shipping in American dollars. The back of the shirt offers a list of inter galactic tour dates, with stops ranging from Dagobah to Naboo. Photo after the jump.

via slashfilm.com

Monday, December 26, 2011

1000 Words: Aqueous Floreau

<img style="margin-top:-600px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/3e64043e92b7716cf228f9d5aa9926e5.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-600px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/73cf0972c09751ee78703c6e5cb03dab.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-599px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/bbb28f62d2bc997d62f9c88fe9db3b78.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-599px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/c0755cd55d4290b4915010cabdae7c9e.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-593px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/b4dbad97e8502e8c5ddd4b8b55c13b61.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-584px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/d09f2b99a92a8136403a1b5d9dd7b67e.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-556px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/4e0010eaf077d618bb93b81498d7c566.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-600px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/f7e5bca78a45d62d2d850ea0ec17e283.jpg" />

<img style="margin-top:-600px;" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/53691/projects/2634099/816a41b623c981f3deda8160d860a2e6.jpg" />