I don't know about the others who take photos, the most offensive comment I receive from time to time, is the sort that says 'Hey man, I like your photos. What camera do you use?' That's the equivalent of saying 'Hey man, your girlfriend is hot. How much did you have to pay to score that ass?' By doing that you imply that the photographer is useless without his awesome magic mirror. You think you can capture images of the same standard IF ONLY you have the same tool. Even if it's true, next time try respecting the person behind the camera first. It's not too difficult to apply some courtesy by asking 'Hey man, I like the picture with the snowman and the dog. I'm just wondering if you could spare me some tips to achieve the same effect?' You'll receive the same answer. But it leaves a less shitty after taste for people to answer the latter question.
Dan Gilbert suggests that humans are unique because we have the ability to imagine, to predict and plan for the future thanks to our highly evolved brain. But the tool is flawed as the brain often jumps to conclusion and constructs unreliable memories by default. (Did I lock my car? I'm not sure. I think I did.)
By applying similar logic, Dan explains further how our perception of happiness is no different. We often don't want the things that make us happy - and the things that we want (more money, bigger house, fancier car, admiration from friends) never do make us happy.
We even "mispredict" how things that we have already experienced will feel when they happen again. The classic example here is childbirth, which women seem to misremember as not being all that bad. We "expect the next car, the next house or the next promotion to make us happy even though the last ones didn't and even though others keep telling us that the next ones won't."
In short, imagination (or projecting ourselves into the future) is the key to our happiness, yet the problem is that we are incapable to imagine correctly.
Despite being published two years ago, it was my best read of the year. If you enjoy the likes of freakonomics and Malcolm Gladwell, give this book a go.
Ok, it's not entirely the nation's fault but what the hell is Microsoft and BK Japan thinking? How does this appeal to ANY target market? How would this ignite positive brand awareness on Windows 7, when they should've spent the money on spastic cross-promotions to fix this:
On an interesting note, at one stage the anchorwoman asked: "That's not the Chinese version, is it?" Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Nasty.
Did I buy this bag of Heinz peas purely because it has a minimal design with a nice font and semi witty uplifting copy? Yes I did. So suck this Today Tonight and A Current Affair, I don't care if the peas are made in Australia. The packaging is photoshop-free and I can see the actual peas.
