xboxmas

Today I went to Best Buy, where my family braved a 20 minute line (in which we had quality parent-son time and I explained the concept of micropayment game economies when I saw the League of Legends pre-payed cards by the checkout) and ultimately bought only some cheap headphones and a DVD of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey at my sister's half-intentional request.

As we sidled and crab-hopped our way through the christmas eve aislethrongs, I was impressed by the number of Kinects under people's arms. There are moments that remind me how I really, truly don't understand the scope and scale of what gets manufactured, bought, and sold in this world. Within the past few years I've gotten a better understanding of money, earnings, and better living through disposable income (all new information for someone who has always gotten more enjoyment out of a cardboard hat than a hundred dollar bill), but today I saw at least six $400 Kinects sold within twenty minutes, at a single Best Buy in a single New York suburb. I can't extrapolate total sales without population density information, an economics degree, and a reason to care, but goddamn capitalism is huge.

squibbidy bop dop blam

My program at Tufts seems to directly impact and address my life issues. Whether this is because I see the issues as I study them or because I choose to study issues close to home, I have spent a semester learning about creativity and motivation, and why I can't seem to lasso either of them into my personal existential corral. If there is one take-home message I've gotten from the whole thing, it is this: creativity does not come from moments of spontaneous inspiration. Waiting around for that inspiration that will lead you to write your bestselling novel and quit your shitty job at the office will not actually do either.

Which is not to say that inspiration never strikes. But like other things that strike (bowling balls; lightning; labor unions), ideas are more likely to hit you in a land where they normally dwell (bowling alleys; open fields; sandwich shops). If you want to be savaged by a pack of grizzlies, you should probably go to a grizzly den. If you want creative inspiration, you should probably spend time working and thinking in the same domain where you want inspiration.

Actually, if you want to be savaged by a pack of grizzlies, you probably shouldn't go to a grizzly den. You should probably come over here, so I can make you a sandwich and talk about why you want to be savaged by a pack of grizzlies.

They might not even come in packs.

But what DOES come in packs (segue, bam) is Five-Hour Energy. Packs of 12. Of which I bought two, platoons armed and ready to push the beachheads of academia and keep me functional. As with everything else I bring into my life, these inevitably got combined with alcohol, and I can tell you there is nothing good about this union. Chaining 5-hour energies and whiskey is the only way I've ever managed a hangover that lasted for three full days. It's good to know I have talents.

The picture accompanying was drawn for MeghanTwitch, who picked "leopard" when I asked her to pick an animal because she was folding leopard print undies at the mall at the time. Meghan has the distinction of being the only human in the world who can play the little spoon for an entire night without putting the big spoon's arm to sleep. This one's a keeper, ladies and gents.