Geeky Chic

I’m headed off to London in about 15 minutes, and I’m leaving my computer behind, so I expect activity here to be slow over the next week.

Toasty already pointed out to me that this article is a bit fluffy, but I think it puts forth a thought-provoking question.  If the goal of consumption is happiness and satisfaction, the study described in the article supports the idea that experiences, rather than objects provide richer rewards.  Active consumption, such as going to a concert, taking a trip, etc, provides fuller rewards than the passive act of buying that new Prada bag, because in the end, the bag ends up being an expensive purse, whereas, you can revisit the vacation or concert in your mind, and revise it with sentimentalism.

I found this article by way of Phil Greenspun.

Here’s a link to one of the most awe-inspiring photos of San Francisco that I’ve come across.  The photographer also has a gallery devoted to this week’s wedding celebrations at SF’s City Hall.

As some of you know, I am a magazine junkie, but I’m a little weird about what magazines I’ll publicly acknowledge reading.  Though, for the purpose of this post, I must admit that I sometimes pick up a copy of Vanity Fair, which is essentially the National Enquirer in nice wrapping.

But on to my main point, VF forces celebrities to answer a modified version of the Proust Questionnaire.  I’m very curious about your answers to the Proust Questionnaire, so if you’re procrastinating, and you  feel like obliging me, email me with your responses. (Warning some of you will get spammed with the questionnaire in a day or so.)

• Your most marked characteristic?
  
• The quality you most like in a man?
  
• The quality you most like in a woman?
  
• What do you most value in your friends?
  
• What is your principle defect?
  
• What is your favorite occupation?
  
• What is your dream of happiness?
  
• What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?
  
• What would you like to be? 
  
• In what country would you like to live?
  
• What is your favorite color?
  
• What is your favorite flower?
  
• What is your favorite bird?
  
• Who are your favorite prose writers?
  
• Who are your favoite poets?
  
• Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
  
• Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?
  
• Who are your favorite composers?
  
• Who are your favorite painters?
  
• Who are your heroes in real life?
  
• Who are your favorite heroines of history?
  
• What are your favorite names?
  
• What is it you most dislike?
  
• What historical figures do you most despise?
  
• What event in military history do you most admire?
  
• What reform do you most admire?
  
• What natural gift would you most like to possess?
  
• How would you like to die?
  
• What is your present state of mind?
  
• To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
  
• What is your motto?

Here’s my Valentine to you all.  It’s a day late, but I spent most of yesterday travelling in a shiny blue Acura coupe travelling between L.A. and S.F.  It should be noted that I had almost no leg room because I sat behind a 6’5″ giant.