Quote of the day
If being human is all about talking, it’s the tittle-tattle of life that makes the world go round, not the pearls of wisdom that fall from the lips of the Aristotles and the Einsteins. We are social beings, and our world–no less than that of the monkeys and apes–is cocooned in the interests and minutiae of everyday social life. They fascinate us beyond measure.
~ROBIN DUNBAR, author of Grooming, Gossip, and the Evolution of Language
PSYCHOLOGY
Five hidden benefits of gossip, Fast Company | Tweet
We’ve all been told that gossip is bad. Loose lips sink ships, as the World War II poster warned, yet relationship experts estimate that 65% to 80% of our daily conversations are about other people.
→Grooming, Gossip, and the Evolution of Language
RELATIONSHIPS
Researchers study awe and find it is good for relationships, WSJ | Tweet
Studies find the emotion of awe may make people more empathetic, trusting, generous and humble.
HEALTH
How movies influence perceptions of brain disorders, The Globe and Mail | Tweet
Spiers, a clinical neuropsychologist and associate psychology professor at Philadelphia’s Drexel University, critiques the way movies depict brain disorders on her website, NeuroPsyFi.com.
NUTRITION
We eat our veggies–when we’re eating out, Five Thirty Eight | Tweet
How will you choose what to eat today? I’d guess that however you make the decision, it will have nothing to do with rounding out your weekly intake of magnesium or potassium.
→Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure: Expert Advice And Tantalizing Recipes For Health, Energy, And Beauty
WINE
The beginner’s guide to wine tasting, Luxe Adventure Traveler
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You sit down at a nice restaurant and are presented the wine list. You might ask for a few recommendations and finally settle upon a bottle to order. Before you know it, your waiter is proudly presenting the bottle to you and pours just a tasting amount in the glass with a flourish. If you’re not a certified sommelier, you’re probably like the rest of us who swirl it, taste and nod your head that it’ll be just fine. But wine tasting doesn’t have to feel intimidating or pretentious, especially when you know what to look for.
SUCCESS
The most successful creative people constantly say no, Business Insider | Tweet
A Hungarian psychology professor once wrote to famous creators asking them to be interviewed for a book he was writing. One of the most interesting things about his project was how many people said “no.”
→How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery
SOCIAL MEDIA
5 Pinterest Image Styles that people love to share, Social Media Examiner | Tweet
Are you looking to improve your Pinterest engagement? Want to know what types of pins get attention?
→The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
TECHNOLOGY
Smartphones are all the same now–but only on the outside, Quartz | Tweet
At the Mobile World Congress this year, there were connected cars and bluetooth toothbrushes and smartwatches in spades, but above all there were phones. In every one of the the eight and a half football-field-size halls, there were hundreds upon hundreds of sexy, sleek, shiny smartphones. And they all looked exactly the same.
WRITING
Why avalanches, wolves and lightning storms aren’t a good way to begin your book, HWBA
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This week’s video cautions against opening with a type of conflict that might initially seem a good idea—and shows you how to figure out the right way to begin your book.
→Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success
Lauren Roy: Five things I learned writing grave matters, Terrible Minds | Tweet
Writing an outline did not sap my soul. Nor did it kill the fun of writing the story. In fact, it helped me figure out the next two things…
→Grave Matters: A Night Owls Novel