Perception
Something to think about….
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.
The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.
How many other things are we missing?
(via heymissy:allthingsalishan:mzreport)
I always feel the exact same way when I see the Walkers in action!I have a strange feeling I must have been a Wasp in a past life or something. Because every time I watch one of these crazy family dinner scenes on Brothers & Sisters I am overcome with an inexplicable pang of longing.
I have just one sib. And one set of cousins. But for as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a part of some kind of big, huge messy fam filled with lots of preppily-attired kids and strangely precocious grandkids.
The kind that play competitive board games in the study and stage elaborate holiday-themed skits in the living room. Who dress for dinner in sweater sets and tweed, drink way too much good wine, and engage in the type of teeth-gritting table fights that involve eye-rolling, snarky repartee, under-the-table kicking, accusations and recriminations, and inevitably end with at least three family members throwing down their napkins and storming off just as the main course is being served.
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
And it’s not just on Brothers & Sisters. Or on TV for that matter. It happens in the movies too. Dan in Real Life. The Family Stone. Any time there are a bunch of well-dressed, well-read, liberal smart alec-y kids gathered under one traditionally-appointed roof that may or may not belong to a matriarch played to knowing perfection by one of the Diannes (Wiest or Keaton) I want in.
Bonus points for a gratuitously impromptu around-the-piano family sing-a-long led by Dane Cook.
Just got a great deal on these Cole Haan’s. Yes, they are mom shoes but who cares. They are designer mom shoes, so that makes it ok. (in my mind anyway)
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” — ―C.S. Lewis
Videos of Dogs Welcoming Home Soldiers -
(via genevieveclare)
I am totally, 100% a cat person but this makes me want a dog. Our cat,Liv,is either very excited to see us for about 5 minutes and then ignores us or skips right to ignoring us until she wants treats. When treats are involved, though, she will literally follow me everywhere (including the bathroom). I think she has been a great test run for the soon to be very mobile little boy in my house.
I am so excited about the new direction we’re moving in, but I have to admit that I will miss our sunroom. The nursery closet/laundry room, not so much.
This is the same dress on my birthday. Crazy!
The Uniform Project is a fascinating project.
Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir.
The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.
I am not great with accessories or I would totally try this. Oh and I have no time to put this much thought into my outfit everyday. Case in point - I definitely forgot to put on makeup on Friday. A coworker thought my new blonder locks were washing me out. Then I discovered that it was the lack of makeup that was making me look sick. Sadly this is a true story.
We just officially put our house on the market. Let the fun begin.
But I promise that this little face makes all those late nights and spandex worth it.