More books!
Durham weather is capital C-r-a-z-y. Just last weekend, there was a snowpocalypse that had us snowed in for a good 4 days, and then a mere two days after that, the temperature went up to 16 degrees Celsius. Today it's a beautiful day out, with temperatures as high as 22 degrees Celsius. It's like LATE SPRING/EARLY SUMMER weather in January.
Not that I'm complaining, no sirree, I'm not. =P
Tomorrow it's going to plunge back to 7 degrees Celsius so I'd better make the most of today. Gonna air out the apartment, let Jasmine run around a little more, maybe persuade JW to come home early so that we can have a nice long walk before the sun goes down. I love warm days (in winter).
This winter hasn't been too bad. I feel like our current apartment is more humid that our previous apartments, so my eczema is practically non-existent (as long as I moisturize faithfully). I've also slowly built up my winter collection of woolly, warm knitwear and sweaters, so keeping warm isn't quite an issue anymore. When in doubt, layer up. =P February is usually the coldest month, but it's already mid-Jan and I feel optimistic about the rest of the winter. All it really takes is one warm day. =P
In other news, I read a lot during the snowpocalypse (because what else do you do when you can't drive?). I love how the Durham library has a digital collection that can be delivered straight to your Kindle account, all without lifting your butt from the couch. It just encourages me to be even more of a couch potato. =P Over the last couple of days, I finished two books - one about marketing psychology ("Brandwashed" by Martin Lindstrom) and another about the psychology of waiting in line ("Why does the other line always move faster?" by David L. Andrews). I love books on psychology and perception because they increase my awareness of economicsand how people exploit other people's subconscious to make money.
I mean, did you know that our brand preferences are formed as early as 6 years of age? Or that royal families are also a form of branding? And that supermarkets usually put flowers right in front of the entrance so that you associate their products with freshness?
Every chapter in "Brandwashed" was mind-blowing for me.
When I told JW about this book, his first concern was if we'd become overly bitter and cynical (ie salty) if we know too much. In fact, I had those very concerns myself. But I like being an educated consumer, and I think the key lies in being balanced. I believe it's important to be aware about these things, yet not let it hinder you from enjoying life.
It's not like we aren't already salty anyway. xD Part of the reason we don't make a fuss about germs or thoroughly washing vegetables is because we know that it's...futile. People do a lot of things to make themselves feel better or cleaner, but a lot of it is just perception rather than facts. Just ask the biologist who knows that doorknobs are teeming with bacteria, and it's not like we wash our hands after opening every door. Our mantra is practically "Everything in moderation, even moderation itself" and "I'm pretty sure the human body is tougher than that".
In fact, more exposure to germs equals more immunity. Like getting vaccines, yannoe. Haha. When we have babies, you can bet we're going to let them eat dirt.
Okayyy maybe not dirt but we're definitely not hyper-sterilizing our environment. =P
Not that I'm complaining, no sirree, I'm not. =P
Tomorrow it's going to plunge back to 7 degrees Celsius so I'd better make the most of today. Gonna air out the apartment, let Jasmine run around a little more, maybe persuade JW to come home early so that we can have a nice long walk before the sun goes down. I love warm days (in winter).
This winter hasn't been too bad. I feel like our current apartment is more humid that our previous apartments, so my eczema is practically non-existent (as long as I moisturize faithfully). I've also slowly built up my winter collection of woolly, warm knitwear and sweaters, so keeping warm isn't quite an issue anymore. When in doubt, layer up. =P February is usually the coldest month, but it's already mid-Jan and I feel optimistic about the rest of the winter. All it really takes is one warm day. =P
In other news, I read a lot during the snowpocalypse (because what else do you do when you can't drive?). I love how the Durham library has a digital collection that can be delivered straight to your Kindle account, all without lifting your butt from the couch. It just encourages me to be even more of a couch potato. =P Over the last couple of days, I finished two books - one about marketing psychology ("Brandwashed" by Martin Lindstrom) and another about the psychology of waiting in line ("Why does the other line always move faster?" by David L. Andrews). I love books on psychology and perception because they increase my awareness of economics
I mean, did you know that our brand preferences are formed as early as 6 years of age? Or that royal families are also a form of branding? And that supermarkets usually put flowers right in front of the entrance so that you associate their products with freshness?
Every chapter in "Brandwashed" was mind-blowing for me.
When I told JW about this book, his first concern was if we'd become overly bitter and cynical (ie salty) if we know too much. In fact, I had those very concerns myself. But I like being an educated consumer, and I think the key lies in being balanced. I believe it's important to be aware about these things, yet not let it hinder you from enjoying life.
It's not like we aren't already salty anyway. xD Part of the reason we don't make a fuss about germs or thoroughly washing vegetables is because we know that it's...futile. People do a lot of things to make themselves feel better or cleaner, but a lot of it is just perception rather than facts. Just ask the biologist who knows that doorknobs are teeming with bacteria, and it's not like we wash our hands after opening every door. Our mantra is practically "Everything in moderation, even moderation itself" and "I'm pretty sure the human body is tougher than that".
In fact, more exposure to germs equals more immunity. Like getting vaccines, yannoe. Haha. When we have babies, you can bet we're going to let them eat dirt.
Okayyy maybe not dirt but we're definitely not hyper-sterilizing our environment. =P
Ahahaha! Same sentiments here about the immunity thing. And I haven't read the book about "brandwashing" but I did come across articles and marketing classes that talk about the flowers and the produce and color theory such as how McDonald's red makes you hungry and yellow makes you happy = Eat at McDonald's and be happy. Funnily enough, I also *do* wonder if knowing too much sometimes a bad thing, but I can't really curb my curiosity so I'll need to live with it.
ReplyDelete