Paint Swatch Test, aka Swatch Staging

This one I came up with some time ago- maybe college? Actually, definitely college. Four friends and I went in on this insane turn-of-the-century mansion on campus, which we decided needed a serious interior overhaul in the form of a paint job. Somehow, we managed to select the most horrifying combination of colors, patterns, and finishes (high gloss peacock blue diamonds over flat sky blue walls, for one) imaginable. As a side note: there is a paint color floating around out there called "Skinned Knee," and yes, our living room was dressed in it.

Now I don't know about you, but I have the hardest time gauging what a color will look like when spread onto a large surface. Human minds automatically lighten colors in this type of situation, which is why house paint companies suggest selecting a shade or two lighter that what you think you want. So, when we were in the process of making these (bad) color choices, I invented a little mind trick to tell what a color would look like on the wall by simply looking at the swatch: imagine tiny furniture and people standing in front of it. Seriously, it is magical. Hasn't failed me yet.

I'm sure this same logic can be applied in other situations. If you think of anything good, don't keep it to yourself.

PS- if you are considering your own paint job, I suggest thinking on Genevieve Gordner's wonderous advice: Mother Nature is the best designer there is; what she designs never clashes. Mind explode.

The Winged Crow

My friend Amy is a genius. Straight up. She made this Oscar-worthy video recently which really sums up human interaction and crow ownership in a way never seen before. I hope for your own sake you watch it.

Yawn Test, aka Investigational Yawning

This is a very useful life tool which I came to discover while living in NYC (it must be stated that I came to this concept of my own reasoning, but in my research since, it would appear this is not an original idea, so I can only take credit as far as I can think). You probably have a pretty good idea of what this is all about simply from the title of this post, but allow me to elaborate. It's a wonderfully simple concept, that when used under optimal conditions can generate wonderful results!

As a New Yorker, you spend a gargantuan amount of time traveling from point A to point B, and guess what? You are constantly surrounded by, crowded, and smashed into a million other people doing the same thing. Many times, a number of your fellow pilgrims will be interesting enough to catch your eye (for whatever reason). I was probably checking out some hot dude when the lightning struck- a simple yawn can let you know who, in close proximity, is paying attention to you. Yawns are contagious, as we all know, and unlike other bodily functions, they can be dealt at any time!

I told several people about this fantastical discovery, and they were just as excited to test it out in the murky waters of the public transit system (of course it can be used anywhere at any time). From what I remember, there were a handful of success stories, but these were small successes, being only reactions in some form to the yawn, nothing beyond that. Now that I am back in Seattle I plan to test my theories out on the lazier (lazy equaling more yawn friendly?) Pac NW'ers. I'll let you know what develops, and you do the same. Go out into the world and be the yawn scientist!

Speaking of thinking

I do it enough that I figured why not take the plunge. Surprise surprise! Dear diary online anytime!

However, there are specific things to be covered here, and only time shall reveal them. You will just have to wait and see.