Microexpressions

While we were in DC last month, I spotted an interesting book in the gift shop of the US Spy Museum: "I Can Read You Like a Book," by Gregory Hartley and Maryann Karinch.  There were some ideas in this book that were highly amusing:

1) Latent symbols of information processing:

Eye movement signals that you are looking for answers inside your head. The visual cortex is at the back of the brain, so when recalling an image, your eyes will drift upward. The portions of the brain that process sound are located directly over the ears, so when recalling a melody or noise, your eyes will drift toward your ears, usually between the browridge and cheekbone.
Cognitive thought and problem solving occur in the frontal lobe in adults. When calculating or analyzing, you will find your eyes - and perhaps your whole head - moving down left.  A down-right movement corresponds to intense feelings.

I do this a lot. See if you can have a conversation with me (if it's an expository or work-related conversation) without me looking off into the distance at least once.

2) Wrinkling the nose in disgust is almost always a female gesture.

3) Origin of Smiles: In a chimp, a the baring of teeth means fear. It's an expression that communicates, "I'm weaker than you, don't hurt me." Smiles are meant to be disarming. I have no intention of causing harm. Put down your guard and everyone remains alive.

TJ Jagodowski's Seven Hooks for a Scene

Go into the scene…

1. Immediately after a huge event has happened, and be in the middle of reacting to this event.
2. With a mantra or catchphrase.
3. With a secret that directly affects your partner.
4. With a large assumption about your scene partner.
5. With a physicality that has consumed your character.
6. In the middle of solving an obstacle.
7. With a hugely specific want from your scene partner.

Basso Profundo

I just finished reading The Circle by Dave Eggers. Along with Her, Spike Jonze's latest film, and The Fifth Estate, both of which I also watched recently, I've had some reflections about life in the Digital Age.

1) Remember that Social Media is a Consumer Product.

"It's not that I'm not social. I'm social enough. But the tools you guys create actually manufacture unnaturally extreme social needs. No one needs the level of contact you're purveying. It improves nothing. It's not nourishing. It's like snack food. You know how they engineer this food? They scientifically determine precisely how much salt and fat they need to include to keep you eating. You're not hungry, you don't need the food, it does nothing for you, but you keep eating these empty calories. This is what you're pushing. Same thing. Endless empty calories, but the digital-social equivalent. And you calibrate it so it's equally addictive." - Mercer, The Circle

Human beings are at once the producers and consumers of social media. You - your shares, your Likes, your comments on articles, your photos - are the product, and there are companies that are profiting off of you. Exercise moderation and discipline.

2) Talk to a real live human being! Deeply!

3) Does complete transparency make a better society? I haven't formed an opinion on this yet, but am still thinking about it.

I'm trying not to be a curmudgeon like the Dowager Countess Violet in Downton Abbey, who is quite resistant to change.

"I couldn't have electricity in the house, I wouldn't sleep a wink. All those vapors floating about."