markwetzel:

bclikesyou:

I’m re-posting this because, over the past week, my tumblr feed has definitely been more negative-heavy. I’m reading too much hatin’ and too much whinin’ and too much finger pointin’. So, instead, click this link. It applies to all of you.

After you click it, go outside and make a small pyramid out of rocks. Then buy a box of Dots and jam them all in your mouth and enjoy how hard it is to chew them. Then go rake the leaves in your yard and maybe even your neighbor’s yard (someone did this for me today!).

this is from my friend bc. he knows how to do things the right way. even if you’re in the downers, living nightmares, stuck in some dank cube all day… there’s too much good out there to completely ignore. keep it posi and keep up the good work.

Jack’s Mannequin - There, There Katie

1. Tegan and Sara (26) 
2. The Rocket Summer (19) 
3. The Avett Brothers (18) 
4. Say Anything (14) 
5. Cartel (11) 

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

1. Assume that you will NEVER, EVER convince your opponent. You may actually end up doing that, and you can certainly hope for it, but do not expect it and do not argue like that’s your goal. Do not go into a discussion like it’s some kind of fight, because all that can do is create discord and friction.
2. Always remember that a primary goal of any discussion should be solidifying your own ideas, not changing the other guy’s.
3. Respond to points you disagree with by asking questions. For instance, the other day I made a (rather strong, I thought) point in a discussion, and my counterpart asked me exactly how old I was (presumably so he could discount my argument by highlighting how he has 15 years more life experience that me). So I told him my age, and asked him “And what if I were 15 years older than you?”
4. Avoid name-calling, hyperbole, interrupting, or other forms of non-logical “heat.” Keep the moral high ground, keep your composure. This is a chess match, not a street fight. When he takes your bishop, you do not put him in a headlock.
5. This is crucial: ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRENGTHS OF THE OTHER GUY’S ARGUMENT. You appear more reasonable to your opponent (and thus, a person whose opinion may matter) and you end up with a more detailed (and sound) position of your own.
6. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. Seriously. Most people just talk out of their ass, and don’t know a damned thing about what they’re talking about…and gentlemen are not immune to ignorance. For a second, imagine an argument between Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann. Now imagine a conversation between people who rely solely on those two guys for their opinions. That’s what most arguments are now, passionate opinions with no critical thinking to support them—“bumper sticker arguments.”
7. Argue like there’s an audience, a referee, or a judge. Think of the opposition as merely a means to convince someone ELSE of your opinion. You already know this, even if you’re not fully conscious of this. I mean, any argument on an internet forum is likely to have an audience, and I can tell you I will almost NEVER side with the guy who resorts to cheap shots.
8. Never inform your opponent of what he thinks. He knows damn well what he thinks. Go ahead and clarify his position by asking him, ‘Okay, so what your saying is A, B, and C, is this correct?” You want to point out an inconsistency? Go ahead and ask him, “Well, given your position that A, B, and C, what if D?”
9. It’s actually much easier to coax out of him a statement that is in line with your position. You can’t expect the other guy to say, “I agree with your point. You have bested me in this battle of wits.”
10. The FDA and drug companies are not enemies. A football coach and his team are not enemies. A book editor and an author are not enemies. The challenges posed are there to identify weaknesses so that they can be fixed, and drug companies, football players, and authors willingly undergo these trials because they want to make sure they put out the best product possible. Your opponent is there to help you fix your own argument.

via

Cooking after just having watched Top Chef is probably not the best idea. The contestants are much more capable than I am. Especially at chopping vegetables so fast and effectively. And cutting yourself and having to put constant pressure on said cut makes finishing the dish a bit troublesome.

rickyv:

azizisbored:

Subtle Sexuality - Male Primadonna

Mindy Kaling’s webshorts for “The Office” are hilarious. Check out this awesome video and go to SubtleSexuality.com for more.

Everything about this works.

Amazing.

Say Anything - Crush’d (acoustic)

New album comes out Nov. 3rd and is streaming on their Myspace.

So this past summer, I was hanging out at my parents house and my Uncle Bill was visiting as well. He was working on a new TV series for CMT Canada and was currently editing some of the pieces. He showed me part of the show (Meet the Wilsons) that included “Ball in the Face”. I remember thinking “Oh my god! … That’s AWESOME!!!” (via)

cara-ann:

We’re learning about the effects of birth order on personality and development in my Child Development class, and the teacher was referring to this website in lecture. I feel like most other things I’ve read on the topic describe me (an older sister of sisters) fairly accurately, so maybe this holds some credence after all. Please form an orderly queue, boys who are the baby of the family. That is all.

My friend Erin and I talk about this stuff all the time. Especially after I picked up “They F*** You Up” by Oliver James while at Cambridge last summer, this stuff has fascinated me. In many ways, I am very much a youngest child, but because of the age gap and many events that occurred, I am very much NOT a youngest child. Most people have a hard time pegging my order, especially compared to my closest brother, Brett (4 years older).