Grayscale on Electronics

I was watching the Today Show Monday and they were talking about not being addicted or as addicted to your smart phone.  One of the suggestions they used was to change the screen to grayscale.  And it is true:  the screen is much less interesting and does not stimulate the pleasure centers as much.

I began thinking about it.  I have begun watching the original Perry Mason shows on TV.  These are the old ones in black and white.  And, I find that even if I do not watch the show closely, by the time the show is done, I am lulled and ready for bed.  It makes sense.  First of all, it is the lateness of the night (10:30 PM.)  But it is other things:  the repetitive music, the absence of loud noise, usually, and the boring black and white scenes.  Even when the plot has twists and turns, I still am usually ready to go to bed after the show.  

Maybe grayscale does have sedative or at least, non-stimulating properties. 

I'd Rather Read

For I don't know how long, I have been addicted to playing "Words with Friends" and have accepted their challenges.  And have tried to complete the challenges.   And, I knew that as I did so, I was not attending to other interests in my life.  I justified it by thinking that sharpening my word skills was a valid endeavor. And it is.

But, I realized that playing "Words with Friends" limited my other activities.  Most recently, I have started reading again instead of playing "Words with Friends", and I realized how much more meaningful reading is to me, than playing "Words with Friends." It is not that I will not play, it is just that I will play on my own time frame, and not to complete  a challenge or otherwise be co-opted  into playing when I have better things to do.  

The Post - The Movie

I went to see the movie "The Post".  This is a movie I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to see a really good story.   Or, I should say, stories.

Of course, the major plot is The Post  trying to catch up to the news scoop by the New York Times of releasing what became known as The Pentagon Papers.  But, there is so much more.

There is the whole issue about the immorality of the Vietnam War, and sacrifices caused by the Vietnam War, as well as the conflict the war has caused in the United States society.  

There is the issue of the people in the press using a double standard to report the news based on their personal relationship with those involved, a common practice in years past(and present).

There is the major issue of deceit by the government for decades, known to those in power all that time, and not acting on the facts.  Who says we can trust the government?

Central to the plot is upholding of the first amendment, the freedom of the press, and the need to protect sources which is essential if the press does its "job" to keep society informed of events in government and politics.

There is the issue of the role of women in society, and how Kathryn Graham just accepted that her father would give The Post to her by the time of the movie deceased  husband, while she stayed home and raised the family and maintained her social life.  And the movie shows how she ran the newspaper, and maintained her social life. 

There is the issue of the relationship between President Nixon and The Post.

And, of course, the desire of The Washington Post to be more than a home town newspaper, but remain family owned, and survive financially. 

And, all the while I watched the movie, I was thinking about our current day president and his relationship with the press, his obvious attempts to present a different story than the press often presents, and his claims about "fake news" as well as his denials of things we have seen and heard from his own self while on TV.  Obviously, the nuances similarities are intentional.

Those of us who lived in that era know the history, but if the movie can hold your interest when you know the outcome, it has to be good.  And it was.

Relief - Soaking My Foot

I have had pain in my right foot since August.  Late in August, I woke up one morning, and the joint at the base of my great toe on each foot was swollen, and sore.  Eventually, the joint on the left foot became less swollen, but is still more pronounced than previously, but the joint on my right foot has never decreased, and continues to be sore.

This is not unusual to me.  The same happened many, many years ago with my thumb joints, and eventually, mostly with massaging, both decreased in size, but not ever back to normal, and the pain went away.

Well, the other day, a co-worker was talking about soaking her feet in Epsom Salt.  Well, that is a creature comfort that I enjoy, but did not even think of.  So, the other night, I soaked my right foot, and noticed immediate relief that lasted well into the next day, although the swelling did not diminish. 

Eventually, the pain returned, but I have been continuing with the soaking, and the pain has diminished, but of course, returns with use.

The other thing I noticed is that I have had a lot of broken capillaries on my ankles, and many of the ones on the right foot have disappeared from the skin surface.  There are still some higher than the area that is affected by the soaking.  Maybe I need to find a deeper container.  

The Crossover Game

This is what I sent to tonight. ESPN:

The Crossover Game

Tonight, I watched “The Crossover Game” of basketball on ESPN, between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers.  The premise of this game is that college basketball announcers comment on this game, while professional basketball announcers comment on a comparable college game.  I have to say, this premise was a bust.  The commentators spoke about so many things that had nothing to do with the game, and everything to do with their own opinions about the current and future of college and professional basketball.  These are the kind of comments that belong on a sports commentary show, not a game broadcast.  I appreciate commentary on the current players, the history of the teams, and any current news in the sports, but everything else was extraneous in my opinion.  I finally had to mute the broadcast, and just watch the game.  Which effectively also took me out of the advertising for the game ($ Chi-Ching lost).  Sorry ESPN, not a fan of this type of broadcast.

Eating Tuna Today

I fed Taki and Haiku dry food and wet food this morning, and again, later in the day.  Mid-afternoon, Haiku acted like she was hungry but did not want any of the food I had put out.  So, I gave her some tuna, and fed her on the sofa, where she was alternately lying down, and being restless.  She ate quite a bit of the tuna, then settled down, for quite a while. A bit ago, she roused, and ate some more tuna, then laid right back down on her spot on the sofa.  I hope she is contented and had enough to eat.  I worry about her because she is such a picky eater, and sometimes, acts like she cannot find her food dishes.

New Monopoly

For the last several springs, the local supermarket chain has had a Monopoly game as a customer incentive.  You collect game cards that contain four pieces you add to a collection card and you get an additional playing piece that might offer a coupon, an instant prize, or a chance to play online for a prize. I am not sure when this year's game started, but just recently, I believe.  I have won a magnet online, and am awaiting the email instructions regarding how to redeem.  Hmmm.