Looking at ourselves and the world through the lens of the 21st century.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Heard it on the Podcast - May 29, 2024

    

Did you miss a link we mentioned on the podcast? Here's a quick post we do most Wednesdays to share any links or information from the podcast. We'll also keep a running post on the "Links from the Podcast" tab so you can refer back to any previous episode. Here are the links for this week:

29-May-2024

S4E22: PTSD and CPTSD


Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Heard it on the Podcast - May 22, 2024

   

Did you miss a link we mentioned on the podcast? Here's a quick post we do most Wednesdays to share any links or information from the podcast. We'll also keep a running post on the "Links from the Podcast" tab so you can refer back to any previous episode. Here are the links for this week:

22-May-2024

S4E21: World Goth Day

Christen and Amber mentioned some of their favorite sources for Goth clothing:

And Cindy mentioned Hell's Oddities for some cool tooth, bone, and insect jewelry and artwork:


Thursday, May 16, 2024

Are Dating Shows Game Shows?


Hello everyone! This week on the podcast, we delved into the intriguing world of game shows. This topic holds a special place in my heart, as it reminds me of the summers I spent with my grandmother, glued to the TV screen, watching game shows like “The Price is Right.” While researching game shows for the podcast and compiling a list of my favorites, I stumbled upon a fascinating trend on various game show lists across the internet – they all included shows I didn’t think of as gameshows. This led me to ponder: what exactly defines a game show?

The dictionary defines game shows as “a television program in which people compete to win prizes.” In the vast landscape of television entertainment, a genre emerges that blurs the lines between competition, romance, and entertainment: the dating show. These shows often intrigue viewers with their unique blend of structured formats, elimination rounds, and quests for love and rewards. 

Are dating shows game shows? Contestants engage in challenges or tasks that test their skills, knowledge, or abilities to outperform their competitors and emerge victorious. Shows like "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" exemplify the average game show experience, where contestants vie for cash prizes or other incentives based on their performance in various challenges. On the other hand, Dating shows introduce a twist to the traditional game show formula by intertwining elements of romance and interpersonal relationships. While contestants may still compete against each other or face elimination rounds, the primary objective shifts from winning prizes to finding love or forming meaningful connections. Shows like "The Bachelor" and "Love Island" offer contestants the opportunity to embark on romantic journeys, go on dates, forge bonds, and ultimately hope to find their perfect match.

Is it love, or is it just a game? Both traditional game shows and dating shows have overlapping elements. While dating shows may deviate from the conventional mold of game shows by prioritizing romance over competition, they still incorporate structured formats, elimination rounds, and strategic gameplay. Contestants must navigate challenges and vie for the attention of their romantic interests, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the competition.

One aspect that further blurs the distinction between dating shows and game shows is audience engagement. Both genres invite viewers to become emotionally invested in the outcomes, whether rooting for their favorite contestants to win cash prizes or hoping for love to blossom between potential couples. The interactive nature of dating shows, where audiences witness the highs and lows of romantic relationships unfolding in real time, creates a sense of suspense and anticipation similar to traditional game shows.

Ultimately, whether a dating show is considered a game show comes down to interpretation and perspective. While dating shows may diverge from the conventional definition of game shows by prioritizing romance over competition, they nevertheless share many of the same structural elements and engage viewers similarly. As television evolves and genres intersect, the boundaries between game shows and dating shows may continue to blur, challenging traditional notions of categorization and inviting audiences to explore new and exciting forms of entertainment.

We're eager to hear your thoughts on this intriguing topic. Do you consider dating shows to be game shows? What's your favorite game show? We invite you to share your views in the comments below. Remember to check out our podcast for more engaging discussions.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Heard it on the Podcast - May 15, 2024

     

Did you miss a link we mentioned on the podcast? Here's a quick post we do most Wednesdays to share any links or information from the podcast. We'll also keep a running post on the "Links from the Podcast" tab so you can refer back to any previous episode. Here are the links for this week:

15-May-2024

S4E20: Game Shows

Here are some of the game shows we mentioned in the podcast:

  • $10,000 Pyramid
  • Password
  • Let's Make a Deal
  • Concentration
  • To Tell the Truth
  • The Price is Right
  • Jeopardy
  • Match Game
  • Hollywood Squares
  • Tic-Tac-Dough
  • Family Feud
  • Wheel of Fortune
  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
  • The Dating Game
  • Name that Tune
  • Card Sharks
  • What's My Line
  • The Mole
  • Squid Games
  • Tattle Tales
  • 25 Words or Less
  • The Newlywed Game
  • Whose Line is it Anyway?
  • The Masked Singer
  • Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?
  • Win Ben Stein's Money
  • Win, Lose, or Draw
  • Wipeout
  • The Gong Show
  • Robot Wars
  • Junkyard Wars
  • Making It
  • Powerball Lottery
  • Forged in Fire
  • Hair Battle Spectacular
  • Project Runway
  • Beat Bobby Flay
  • Iron Chef

    Thursday, May 9, 2024

    The Donkey in the Well

     


    I learned a lot in the 35 years Mark and I were married. One of the first things he taught me was a lesson in stress management. When we first started dating, I was a single mom juggling college and a part-time job at a pizza parlor. I wasn’t receiving any child support, and I made too much money (yes, seriously) to receive any kind of welfare or support from the state. I was a wreck. One evening, as we sat on his sofa and I wailed about the rotten tomatoes life kept throwing at me, he told me this story:


    There was an old farmer who had a donkey. The farmer loved his donkey, and the donkey had been a faithful helper to the farmer, pulling his cart to the market for many years. While plowing a field one day, he heard the donkey crying out in distress. He searched for the sound and found that his donkey had fallen down an old well. 


    The farmer tried and tried to get the donkey out of the well, but he couldn’t. The donkey was braying so wretchedly that the farmer knew he had to do something, so he decided to fill in the well and put the donkey out of his misery. Finding a pile of dirt and rubble nearby, he grabbed a shovel and started filling in the hole.


    As he filled the hole, the donkey began to bray even louder, and the farmer felt so bad that he shoveled more and more dirt as fast as he could. Eventually, the donkey stopped his wailing, and the farmer thought perhaps he was dead. He looked over the side of the well and was amazed to see the donkey on top of all the dirt he’d shoveled!


    The farmer decided to throw in more dirt to see what would happen. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched the donkey shake the dirt and debris off his back and then step up onto the fallen mound. Each time the farmer tossed in a pile of dirt, the donkey would shake it off and take another step up. Eventually, the donkey got close enough to the edge of the well to climb out on his own.


    The moral of this story is that life will always pile a lot on top of you, and you can choose to be buried by it or shake it off and take a step up.


    When Mark told me this story, I laughed. I was so young and distressed that it only gave me a moment’s pause in my despair, but it was enough that I soon climbed out of my hole. Throughout my life, there have been things that have made me feel the same way, and it has always been my determination to rise above the adversity that has enabled me to keep going.


    I had not thought of this story for many years, but this evening, as I was reflecting on my life with Mark, my anguish at his loss, and the blessings and lessons I gleaned from our life together, the story of the donkey in the well came immediately to mind. I realized that the lesson has remained even when I am not actively thinking of that story. It has fundamentally changed who I am and helped me learn to deal with my stress.


    Does that mean I don’t have stress? Not at all. Like the donkey, I am prone to crying out in frustration and feeling sorry for myself when nothing seems to go my way. But eventually, I always realize I can shake off the dirt life throws at me, and little by little, the pile becomes something I can rise above. 


    Don’t let your stress, your worries, or your fears bury you. Shake them off and step up!


    Wednesday, May 8, 2024

    Heard it on the Podcast - May 8, 2024

        

    Did you miss a link we mentioned on the podcast? Here's a quick post we do most Wednesdays to share any links or information from the podcast. We'll also keep a running post on the "Links from the Podcast" tab so you can refer back to any previous episode. Here are the links for this week:

    8-May-2024

    S4E19: Ways to Lower Stress

       

      Wednesday, May 1, 2024

      Heard it on the Podcast - May 1, 2024

          

      Did you miss a link we mentioned on the podcast? Here's a quick post we do most Wednesdays to share any links or information from the podcast. We'll also keep a running post on the "Links from the Podcast" tab so you can refer back to any previous episode. Here are the links for this week:

      1-May-2024

      S4E18: What is Art?


        5 Ways to Manifest Your Best Life

        Hi there, and welcome back! Since we have been heavily focusing on goals and planning, I thought we should discuss manifesting. I love this ...