I came across story think that states that most imaginary voices are male (even for females that hear imaginary voices). This reminded me of something I pondered a few years ago when I asked my then fiancee and friends if they "think in their own voice". That is to say when you silently think your thoughts, do you hear your own voice? I also asked if they could think in other voices, such as John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, or Mr. T. I can certainly do it, but it certainly is more effort than thinking in my own voice.
Some friends thought I was nuts for asking, while others knew exactly what I was talking about. I forget what my then fiancee' thought. She probably thought I was crazy but married me anyway... So now stop reading and starting thinking some thoughts and try to determine whose voice it is. Several people wigged out and equated trying to figure out who voice it was to nails on chalkboard or trying to ponder "If God created the universe, who created God? And who was the creator of the entity that created God?" so on and so forth... It hurt their brains too much to think about.
I'm not the only one who thinks about thinking in your own voice.
This Google Groups thread is pretty funny, read this link, and read all the posts (click on links on left side): http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=a8f803...
Here are some tidbits copy/pasted:
Okay -- this is the sort of thing I waste my time thinking about.
When you thinks in spoken words -- that is, as opposed to thinking in images or in written words -- do you think in your own voice?
Now, the immediate response might be that you don't think in any voice. It's a thought, and voices are sounds. But clearly, if I were to say, "think of a particular line as said by Orson Welles, or James Stewart, or Bugs Bunny, or Marilyn Monroe, you would think of that
line *with* those particular voices attached. So we clearly can attach voices to the words that we think.
The question is -- when we don't consciously attach a voice to the words that we think -- who's "voice" is it? Do we automatically attach our own voice -- or at least our own sense of our own voice -- to words that we think?
Clearly, if we are male, and we think words, the words we think don't have a female voice. If we have a particular accent, we certainly don't "think" words in a different accent. So if one is a Southern male, one's internal voice is, I assume, the voice of a southern male. But is it the voice of that one particular southern male -- you.
And if it is -- does it change as one grows up? I honestly don't recall the thoughts of my childhood as being in a "child's" voice. Nor do I have any sense of my "internal" voice as having grown deeper in timber as I've grown older.
If one learns a foreign language fluently, one begins to think in that language. But a foreign speaker may speak with a very heavy accent. When they think in the learned language they are speaking, do they think in that accent? When Arnold Schwarzenneger thinks something in
English, does the thought have the same intonation as when he speaks? And if not -- in what accent would he "think" those words?
And if one mastered the intonation of a learned language, so that your accent was essentially cleaned up -- would you then think in the new cleaned-up accent?
I raised this subject with my twelve-year old son. He told me to stop talking about it because it was annoying him to think about it. I asked him what voice he was thinking in when he thought about it. He wasn't amused.
Anyway -- that's what I've been thinking about lately.
"Dena Jo"
> > When you thinks in spoken words -- that is, as opposed to thinking in
> > images or in written words -- do you think in your own voice?
>
> It's clearly mine own. And after watching a British film or Masterpiece
> Theatre, for about three hours, it's clearly my own but with an English
> accent. (Not a joke. That really happens to me. But I went to university
> in England, and so I slip in and out of the accent quite easily, although
> not by choice.)
Thank God I'm not the only one. I take on voices of other people or from movies for a while and I hear them in my head until I return to my own normal voice.
And speaking of which voice I think in, I think in my own voice but my own voice feels *transparent* to me, whatever that may mean. If it were a color, it'd be clear. And like someone else said, when I actually hear my own voice on tape, it's shockingly different. I'm
horrified at how annoying it is and wonder why people even bother talking to me.
I also speak another language fluently and although I usually think in English, sometimes I find that English doesn't have the precise word with the exact flavor that I want, so I insert a different word from another language. And when I switch languages, I find that my whole
way of thinking changes and I feel like a different cultural entity altogether.
So the question is, what voice do you prefer to think in? When with guy friends, I'm partial to Homer Simpson (Doh!) or Butthead (Uhhhhhhh...) - for one syllable thoughts anyway.
Recently in Personal and Humor Category
Ever have to change a spare tire? Do you even know how to change a tire? Or are you one of those types that would rather wait 45 minutes to an hour for a AAA tow truck to show up and change the tire for you? Ok, I shouldn't knock AAA and other auto clubs. In fact, I am a AAA member myself but I only call AAA when my car breaks down not for a simple flat tire. I can change a tire in about 15 minutes or less, so why would I want to wait an hour for a tow truck? Unless of course it's 10 degrees below zero and snowing - then maybe I'll have a tow truck do it for me. But then again if it's 10 degrees below zero or snowing then chances are the tow truck could take hours to get to me since there will be priority accidents they must clear.
Anyway, I really don't understand why they don't teach people how to change a tire as part of driver's ed. I mean, c'mon, it's really not that difficult. First you loosen the bolts/lug nuts (but leave them on so tire doesn't fall off!), then you jack up the car, finish loosening and removing the lug nuts. Then you slip off the flat tire, put on the spare, tighten the lug nuts as much as possible, lower the jack, and then finish tightening the lug nuts.
If you're like most people, you probably never inspect the spare tire in your trunk to make sure it has air in it. Worse, if you're like me then you've probably driven on your spare tire for more than the recommended 50 miles. Now a company named Amerityre has a brand new technology that they claim solves the problem of flat spares. They claim, "Our solid polyurethane elastomer construction does not require high pressure to carry vehicle load, and provides the consumer with an “always ready” solution in the event of regular tire failure.
According to their website, "Temporary spare tires that require inflation to high pressure often lose air normally through the process of permeation. Changes in outdoor temperature can
affect the rate in which your tire loses air. This change is more pronounced in hot weather. Generally speaking, a tire may lose one or two pounds of air per month in cool weather, and even more in warmer weather. Under- inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. Underinflation or overloading creates excessive stresses and heat, and can lead to tire failure. Vehicle damage and/or serious injury or death may result from the use of a spare tire that fails due to over-inflation, under-inflation or overloading. An explosion of a tire and wheel assembly can result from improper or careless inflation or procedures."
File this under yet another ridiculous Florida ruling. What the heck is up with Florida they days? There seems to be regular occurences of legal stupidity down there.
Apparently hundreds of cases involving breath-alcohol tests have been thrown out by Seminole County judges in the past five months when the defendant asks to see the source code for the breathalyzers used on them and the test's manufacturer will not disclose the source code.
Prosecutors have said they do not know how many drunken drivers have been acquitted as a result. But Gino Feliciani, the misdemeanor division chief in the Seminole County State Attorney's Office, said the conviction rate has dropped to 50 percent or less.
Seminole judges have been following the lead of county Judge Donald Marblestone, who in January ruled that although the information may be a trade secret and controlled by a private contractor, defendants are entitled to it.
"Florida cannot contract away the statutory rights of its citizens," the judge wrote. (See full story)
SuperComm is just around the corner and there will be lots of VoIP news I am sure. Already I've been given some news scoops under NDA that I'm holding under my hat. Unfortunately, I won't make it to SuperComm this year. However, this doesn't mean TMC & Internet Telephony Magazine won't be representin' at the show.
In fact, Greg Galitzine, Editor of Internet Telephony, and Rich Tehrani, Group Publisher & President with be at SuperComm checking out and covering the latest VoIP news. Rich Tehrani will also be speaking at SuperComm at a session titled "VoIP Services & Networks", so be sure to check that out.
And most importantly, TMC is throwing a party with complimentary appetizers, cocktails and soft drinks. So if you're in the VoIP space or telecom space in general, then you need to be at this party in the Sears Tower. I'm just sorry I'm going to miss it. Those Luvabulls (Chicago Bulls cheerleaders) will be waiting for you when you get there. You can even have your picture taken with them. It's RSVP only to the party, so go to the RSVP SuperComm party link.
Lucky the Dinosaur is one of the latest attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The video of Lucky below doesn't do Lucky justice. It is an engineering marvel to see him (I mean "it") in person. On this video you will hear "bass" sounds that are in sync with his feet as they touch the ground. The bass was pretty powerful actually, simulating what a "heavy" dinosaur may have sounded like when stomping around in the Jurassic period. Of course, Lucky the Dinosaur isn't a very big dinosaur, so technically it shouldn't make this sound. But the bass effect is cool. Besides it's for kids, so what do little kids know about mass and velocity and how laws of physics determine how loud something is on impact? Anyway, it was hard to detect from my vantage point precisely where on Lucky the bass was coming from, but obviously there must be huge bass speakers in the cart Lucky is pulling.
As seen in the Lucky video above (Should autoplay in Media Player .wmv format), this is the very first animatronic robot that I am aware of that has virtual "free reign" in an amusement park. Most other animatronics are part of shows on some sort of stage. In fact, according to Disney's own PR, "Lucky the Dinosaur is the first free-roaming, self-contained Audio-Animatronic. As a part of the 50th Anniversary Happiest Celebration on Earth he'll spending some time at Dinoland in Animal Kingdom." At scheduled times throughout the day Lucky will appear with Chester and Hester and do an interactive show.
I just happened to be lucky enough (bad pun) to catch him while my wife and I were about to leave Animal Kingdom.
Pretty cool technology. Sony Aibo - eat your heart out! Lucky is the king robot!
I should add that what is really impressive about Lucky is the degree of movement in the head and neck, and the wide range of facial features. It's easy to believe that he is real as he “talks” with his dinosaur handler, or whimpers when his balloon floats away or is scolded for taking the handler's hat, or when Lucky smiles or winks at someone. Lucky's motions are incredibly smooth. He doesn't appear robotic in his steps, or the way he moves his head to observe all the people gathering around him. Of course several Disney employees keep you quite a distance from Lucky. My guess is so a small child doesn't get hit foot run over by the cart, which no doubt is filled with tons of equipment covered by silk flowers.
Here are some still photo thumbnails of Lucky the Dinosaur I took (click for larger image):
Here's a photo from my trip to Universal Studios where I climbed up next to the statue. (Click on it for a high-res shot). Take a look at the statue's face. The statue almost appears to be "perturbed" I am standing on his pedestal. Of course, maybe that's because I'm not supposed to be standing here.
There is a sign (photo to left) that reads "Please Do Not Climb". Oops! I'm such a rebel...
Well, I made it back from Disney World late last night and made the mistake of checking my email and my blog before going to bed. Over 500 Trackback spam to my blog, 3502 unread messages in my Inbox (some legit, some spam), and 1330 unread email in my Junk email folder. Yes, it is good to be back in the sea of spam. Oh how I missed you dearly on my vacation! Thank you for such a stupendous, record-setting welcome on my return! WOW! I feel so loved by all. Thank you for your refinance offers, thank you for your diet pills and valium, and thank you for all the wonderful offers of romantic encounters with beautiful women. What have I done to deserve this attention? I get choked up just thinking of how much my email address is loved by spammers.
Thanks to the love given by these spammers, I was up till past 1am last night deleting spammers' trackback and email spam. It was a time I shall never have back again. Yes, I lost some sleep reading and deleting all of this spam, but the time we shared together was worth it. Yes, I truly do love spammers with all of my heart and soul. In fact, I must repay their act of love & kindness towards me.
So if any spammers are reading this, please visit me sometime so I may repay you for your acts of kindness. Yes, please visit me at my home. Don't even bother to knock. Just come right on in, and I'm not home, just kick your shoes off and relax. And don't worry - I don't own a gun. Really... I don't...
{machine gun clip}
It's rare I go to Burger King, it's been over 2 years, but I was in a rush so I went through the drive-thru and picked up some chicken tenders, fries, and a Diet Pepsi. Burger King's french fries still suck compared to McDonald's french fries (freedom fries?). Burger King fries used to be good like 15 years ago, but then they went and changed their formula like a gazillion times to try and taste as good as McDonalds fries. Alas, their fries still fall short...
Anyway, I was reading the box on the chicken tenders and it had some amusing text, I thought I'd share:
Ah yes, the 80's and power ballads - affectionately known as "monster ballads". Life doesn't get any better than listening to some 80's monster ballads.
Further, my drink cup had some interesting text as well. I don't recall the exact text, but it said something about "cups talk", and it gave an example. It said that the sound your drink makes sucking through a straw when you reach the bottom of the cup is called "chatter".
Looks like BK is trying to be cool and hip. But their fries still suck, so I don't care how cool or hip their marketing slogans are. Burger King's famous slogan is "Have it your Way"... Well, they can have it their way which it to overcook the fries and to have this weird crunchiness on the skin, but I'll have it my way which is to hit the highway and find the next McDonalds.
Yep, I think when I'm in the mood for fast food I'll stick with my McDonalds and Duchess (Northeast chain with great fries & hot dogs), thank you very much.
Had a fun day in the Viper yesterday. Yesterday morning while commuting to work in the Viper, I ran into a twin-turbo 3000GT-VR4 Spyder convertible, which is a very rare car - only 877 of these convertible twin-turbos were ever made. By comparison, a staggering 1,875 SRT-10 Vipers were made just in 2003 alone. I caught up to the 3000GT-VR4 Spyder and we talked for a bit. I told him my 3000GT-SL was back at home.
here's my Viper at my wedding:
Then when driving home I ran into a Shelby Cobra - also a very rare car. I caught up to him and noticed iPod ear buds in his ears. As I passed him on the right approaching a light I lifted up my iPod and hung it over the driver window so he could see I was iPodding as well. Although I was using an FM transmitter to transmit my iPod songs to the FM radio instead of wearing the iPod earbuds. I wonder if wearing iPod earbuds while driving is illegal? 
We talked for a brief bit at the light and he told me it was a replica and that he built it himself. He had a license plate that read "BETSY-2". Is that like the name "Eleanor" named after a Shelby Mustang from the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds"? He mentioned that ironically he just test drove a SRT-10 Viper the day before.
He then said, “You’ve got a bigger motor than me.”
I said, “That’s OK, I’ll let you go first on the green.” (I'm all about being courteous ya know)
The light turned green and I let him go first. We had some nice open road ahead so he floored it. I was on his bumper (a safe distance) the whole time. Only gave the gas 80% power. We both enjoyed the mini-acceleration race. (up to the legal speed limit of course!) Yeah, right...
So yesterday I saw two pretty rare cars – even if one was only a replica of a Shelby Cobra it is still a swwweet looking car..
The Viper just seems to attract attention wherever it goes. Although I will say that the day before I was at Subway and a group of 4 kids on scooters were surrounding my red 3000GT admiring it. I guess because they don’t make them any more and they aren't bad looking cars either.
A friend of mine uses Yahoo Mail and just recently I noticed that when he sends me web links, the URLs get cut off and split onto two lines, thus simply clicking on the link doesn't work. What gives? The last time I remember encountering this was when I was
using <cough> <murmur> AOL's mail client several years ago.
Here's an example:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=9&u=/ap/20050420/ap_on
_re_as/elephant_escape
Notice the URL is cut? You have to click the first link then go back to the email and copy/paste the remaining/missing part. Or you can do two copy/pastes. It's such a pain in the butt to have to copy/paste the web link TWICE just to view a web page.
I believe the old UNIX mail systems were configured to split any line past the 80th character, but haven't we moved beyond the 80 character per line limit by now? I mean, c'mon already!
Interestingly, the above URL cuts out at the 77th character not the 80th.
For now, my Yahoo! buddy is emailing me links using TinyURLs which redirect to the long URL. But that puts the onus on him to go to TinyURL's site, copy/paste the weblink, create a unique TinyURL and then copy/paste than into an email. Or he can use the TinyURL Firefox plugin, but still an extra step.
Anyone else have this problem with links sent via Yahoo Mail or know how to fix it? Let me know.