Christmas Cheer

In the darkness of winter, may your days be filled with light and good things.

Inspiration from Cornell Anthropology Faculty

[Our] ability to work between the remote past and the contemporary moment, the local and the global, the specific and the general - [this] is anthropology’s most enduring contribution to human understanding. - Adam Smith

Our uniquely skeptical, critical, and sensitive perspectives on the multiplicity of our humanity is sorely missing from important debates in our government. We need, now more than ever, anthropologically inquisitive minds to execute our government’s policies domestically and abroad. Our intellectual vocations need to be carried out from both the academy as well as within the private and public sector. Only then will our relevance make a difference.  -Saul Mercado

Cognitive Functions and Theatrical Improvisation

Ah, improv. Full engagement of all cognitive functions is always required. Here's how we use each one:

Introverted Functions:
Si - Attention to detail, fun with categories, fun with context switches. Buzzer.
Fi - Values. Character development reflecting certain attitudes and perspectives shaped by Fi.
Ti - Logic, consistency, justifying, explaining. IF/THEN and parallelisms.
Ni - Pattern recognition. Connecting vignettes, those brilliant moments when you resurrect old patterns. Finding the Game is ALL ABOUT Ni.

Extraverted Functions:
Te - Logical speaking, wit, repartee.
Se - Physicality; intent and purpose to movement.
Fe - Emoting, Reflecting your partner's emotions.
Ne - Idea generation.

Here are my Dominant, Auxiliary, Tertiary, and Inferior functions. 5th through 8th functions are Shadow functions and generally unconscious.
ISTJ: SiTeFiNe
      Opposing Senex Trickster Demonic/Devilish
      SeTiFeNi
ENFP: NeFiTeSi / NiFeTiSe

Ugh, I've realized that my Se isn't as honed as I perceive it to be. Also, I find that my ego tends to make me self-aware and censors my gut reactions, leading me to make the more conservative decision, rather than choose the more obvious or interesting one. After we finish a scene, and we get feedback from the rest of the class, I realize that everyone was able to see or sense my gut reaction and wanted me to act in a way that I had considered, but resisted (due to self-censorship). What was visible to me was also visible to everyone else. This is groupmind.

In any case, one's best work is done when one is fully present, in the moment, focused, and unhurried. Fully attune yourself to being present. The hardest part is discarding negativity and the pressure to "perform." Your essence, your true being, is the truth, and you're always ON. As an introvert, I'd like to be "On" only as I choose, but that's not the case. People are always watching you, whether you like it or not.

Triune Comedy is about engaging all levels of our triune brain:
Reptilian: Cerebellum - Slapstick, physical comedy
PaleoMammalian: Midbrain - Emotion, feelings, relationships
Neocortex - wit, repartee, longform vignettes, the Game.

Earworms for October

"Royals" Cover by Mora Mora It's pretty sad that this is the still the style of music I like. Kids today would call it "grunge." To me, it's simply the 90s style of 4-chord song that was popular back then, and what I listened to during those formative adolescent years.

I had a history teacher who told us that what you listened to in your youth would be what you listened to your whole life. It's true, for me.

The deep

Quiet mind, true silence, inner clarity.