Of course, I'd still like to do one.
Someone should do for a TED talk on proper dental care. I just found out that I've been brushing my teeth all wrong for 30+ years. Keep in mind I used to date a dental hygienist. Clearly she was taking her frustrations out about our relationship by not telling me how to properly brush. Wicked.
Here's what you're supposed to do: use a soft or ultra-soft bristled toothbrush and then go up and down on each tooth. Don't run across them like train tracks. Maybe move in little circles, but the key is to be gentle. You don't need to hear the rough scritch-scritch swish-swish sound. If you do, that's too hard. If you've been brushing with fury for too many years, there's a good chance your gums are in danger of receding -- like mine apparently are -- and that is no bueno.
From listening to a recent episode of Double X Gabfest, I got turned onto this article from Barbara Ehrenreich, "Pathologies of Hope (2007)," about the depressing Cult of Positivity surrounding well, America. She hones in specifically on cancer and how the constant exhortations to think positively and remain unflinchingly upbeat leaves little room to complain or express anger, which in turn creates an "empathy deficit."
From listening to a recent episode of Double X Gabfest, I got turned onto this article from Barbara Ehrenreich, "Pathologies of Hope (2007)," about the depressing Cult of Positivity surrounding well, America. She hones in specifically on cancer and how the constant exhortations to think positively and remain unflinchingly upbeat leaves little room to complain or express anger, which in turn creates an "empathy deficit."
She also makes a great point in "Welcome to Cancerland (2001)" about how the marketplace of breast cancer products are infantilizing. All those teddy bears, all those cutesy things, all those pink ribbons. All those walks. Okay, the walking is not childish, it's just annoying. Just donate your damn money already, no need to walk about it.
I was out on Ehrenreich after her underlying uppity attitudes expressed in Nickel and Dimed but now I'm back in after these articles. Overly positive people confuse me. I'm not good at matching that optimism and energy. I'm the guy people call to moan and complain, and I'm more than happy to throw in my bitchy two cents alongside. Of course this has to fit within five to seven minutes because that's how much time I have for phone calls. If you're willing to have your anger recorded however, I've got an hour via Skype.
Things I'd like to opine about: Invisible Children (vehemently anti), Redskins trading three first-rounders to move up four spots in the draft (insane), Love Inks (recommended band), a number of popular blogs about white people in foreign lands and how interesting these new cultures are (seriously?), Touré's Never Drank the Kool-Aid (totally forgot about it and now need to re-read), Terence McKenna (a drug addled kook but I should keep my mind open), The Wanted and One Direction (boy bands are back!), The Notebook (laughable and not a single tear shed), John Carter (I reiterate that Lynn Collins is one of the most versatile/beautiful people on Earth), Sara Blakely and her story of Spanx (I read and watched everything Blakely-related for at least an hour the other day), vasectomies (should be mandatory for everyone).
Tomorrow I'm going to Staples to watch Celtics versus Clippers. Barring a miracle, it's the last time I'll get to see Paul, Ray, KG, and Rondo together again. Oh sadness. I hope one of them will wave back at me.
I was out on Ehrenreich after her underlying uppity attitudes expressed in Nickel and Dimed but now I'm back in after these articles. Overly positive people confuse me. I'm not good at matching that optimism and energy. I'm the guy people call to moan and complain, and I'm more than happy to throw in my bitchy two cents alongside. Of course this has to fit within five to seven minutes because that's how much time I have for phone calls. If you're willing to have your anger recorded however, I've got an hour via Skype.
Things I'd like to opine about: Invisible Children (vehemently anti), Redskins trading three first-rounders to move up four spots in the draft (insane), Love Inks (recommended band), a number of popular blogs about white people in foreign lands and how interesting these new cultures are (seriously?), Touré's Never Drank the Kool-Aid (totally forgot about it and now need to re-read), Terence McKenna (a drug addled kook but I should keep my mind open), The Wanted and One Direction (boy bands are back!), The Notebook (laughable and not a single tear shed), John Carter (I reiterate that Lynn Collins is one of the most versatile/beautiful people on Earth), Sara Blakely and her story of Spanx (I read and watched everything Blakely-related for at least an hour the other day), vasectomies (should be mandatory for everyone).
Tomorrow I'm going to Staples to watch Celtics versus Clippers. Barring a miracle, it's the last time I'll get to see Paul, Ray, KG, and Rondo together again. Oh sadness. I hope one of them will wave back at me.
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