Maladapted
(Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead)

A maladaptive behavior is a behavior or trait that is not adaptive — it is counterproductive to the individual. Maladaptivity is frequently used as an indicator of abnormality or mental dysfunction, since its assessment is relatively free from subjectivity. However, many behaviors considered moral can be apparently maladaptive, such as dissent or abstinence.

I sometimes marvel at how people with such an aptitude for logic, such as computer programmers, can be so poorly adjusted socially. I mean we all know that social interactions follow the basic principles of cause and effect. Similar to programming, you know that if you're testing a case, there are a number of possible outcomes and you would prepare your responses in accordance to these outcomes. So why is it that people are constantly baffled by certain human reactions? I've seen a lot of people whose intelligence completely dwarf my own (and I mean a lot of people!) and yet somehow, in the social world, I am so much more competent.

I think it has to do with exposure. I mean if you're not exposed to these reactions, and you haven't had any cause to create these types of responses, then surely you wouldn't be able to handle them at first encounter. But how is it possible that people go through their lives without experiencing these situations? Were they somehow too sheltered by their parents? Too focused on other traits that seemed far more desirable? And is there a certain prime age of learning these social skills? I mean similar to learning languages, is there somehow a diminishing learning/adaptive capacity as you get older?

I can't say I'm perfectly adapted or adaptive. I mean, ironically, I still do not know how to handle a crying woman. Though this is something I've witnessed and have been the cause of many times in my life.

These are things and questions that as I get older, I'd like to understand as to better prepare the kids I might have in the future.

Seriously...is this woman going to answer a damn question for once?

Best. Catch. Ever.
(Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches)

This is by far the best catch I've ever seen. I defy anyone to show me something better!

Genetic Gene Found in Women for Wedding Planning
(Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's)

So I went to the bridal show the other week and I'll tell you this much; I've never seen so many happy women and at the same time so many miserable men in one room in my entire life. To top that all off, I felt like bait in a shark tank during their feeding frenzy. Oh god, I would never wish this sort of punishment on anyone. Forget prison and the death penalty, I think we should send all of our inmates to bridal shows.

That being said, I suppose we got some deals on clothing, make-up (I'm going to look so friggin hawt in eyeliner) and got some ideas for our wedding.

A few details we've got out of the way so far...

Date : July 25, 2009
Venue : Grand Baccus
Photographers : Dave Biesse and Charlotte Leonard (check them out, they're fantastic)
Cost to offset the energy consumption used during our wedding : ~$135 to put green energy back into the grid.
Groomsmen : 4
Bridesmaids : 4
Ring Bearers : 1-2

And now I wait the next wave of pain from this thing called "wedding planning".

Fantasy Season
(Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)

This is the best commercial ever...

NFL.com Fantasy Rule #32 - There's no excuse for absence.

"You will take what we give you!"

For those who care about the environment and doing every little thing possible to help make a difference...

Challenge Me Green

For those who don't...

I heart GWB

Buried Treasure
(February Air - Lights)



If you know me, you know I like to rummage through racks of used cd's, old movies and bargain bins. It's not because I like to find a deal. It's because I like the feeling of finding buried treasure.

One of the best feelings in the world is finding something special in the mediocre.

Dating
(Drive My Soul - Lights)

Recently I've been helping a friend with his love life by creating an online dating profile on one of those free dating sites. I guess when it comes to online personas, mine is maybe a little more charismatic than his. So in the three or four days that I've been on the site I've created more leads with women than he's created in three months on the same site previously before giving up. So I gave him probably one of the most important tips for attracting the opposite sex.



And I'm no expert on dating or anything but I think I understand the human condition. Every human being whether that's a 32 year old woman or an 18 year old guy wants and needs inspiration. When people see others with a passion, a gift, or a talent, they feel like they can feed off of it. Somehow living vicariously off of it.



So how do you translate that into a successful online dating profile? Create something that inspires people. Write something that provokes deeper thought. Write something that someone else could relate to but never had the ability to put into words. This is the starting point for a conversation that's bound to happen as people look to you to inspire that next provocative thought.



Once you've established first contact my rule of thumb is this. You need to end every exhange with at least a question that creates an opening for people to open up to you. People naturally want to share intimate details with others to generate empathy. Everyone needs to feel like they aren't alone in whatever battles they might be fighting. You in return also need to share an intimate detail. Show some vulnerability but don't come off as some sort of pity case. No one wants to carry your baggage. They just need to know that you are also an imperfect human striving to find something better.



Hopefully after sharing intimate details back and forth you'll create a bond based on understanding and can inspire each other to something better. Maybe a happy existence.
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Heinous Villain
(Bohemia - Mae Moore)

So my friends and I have started giving each other supervillain/superhero names based upon our perceived "super powers". For example, I call my friend Stan Professor Moist because he sweats profusely when we do anything remotely active. His power is simply making things wet or slightly damp. I call my friend Garry Dr. Impulsive because he buys things on a whim (e.g. expensive kitchen cabinets, electronic devices, engagement rings). His power is singlehandedly keeping the economy steady with his unrelenting purchasing power. I call Sonia Ms. Green because of her penchant for saving the Earth one kilojoule and one recycled paper at a time.

My supervillain name happens to be Mr. Passive Aggressive or Mr. PA for short. My superpower involves not dealing with my problems directly but instead funneling off that anger in my everyday interactions with people. For example, letting air out of the tire of the HR lady's tire because of her pissy attitude towards me. Or shitting on her windshield, then breaking into her car and turning on the wipers.

As an evil genius and supervillain one of the things I came up with was the acronym "jkso". I often use it when I'm making a joke about someone that I secretly hate. Like, "Can you get any sluttier?...haha...jkso". Which basically translates to, "Can you get any sluttier?...haha...just kidding, sort of...bitch." It's my thinly veiled passive aggressive joke.

What's your superpower?

Save the date! July 25th is when I join club ball and chain!
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