squaretorus's Journal: Body Hacking and Consumerism

A brief update on the body hacking!
For the past month I've been off the coffee due to a cold / flu which knackered my throat. Today I'm back on the coffee and wow does it taste good. I'm toying with the idea of enforcing a coffeeless month every now and then to give me days like today - I'm on my third cafetierre at the office following an espresso breakfast at home.

Following the hols I'm going to repeat the excercise with Beer. Today I discovered that I probably only drink coffee out of habit - as I enjoyed it more today than I normally do perhaps my 'total annualised coffee enjoyment factor' could increase if I only had one coffee day a month - as its genuinely made me happier today to have a cup.

If the same could happen for Beer, Wine, The Simpsons, Super Monkey Ball, and everything else I could find myself with a wider 'experience pool' and with a more consistently high 'experience enjoyment quota'.

This could be pish - or it could be important. I will report back!!

On consumerism.
It is increasingly annoying me that TVs have become the new demonstration of wealth among just about everyone I know. I have quite an old, square, curvey TV without so much as a SCART connection. I have a £40 DVD and a £50 VCR under it - and its hooked up to my 2 speaker mixed brand seperates system for sound when watching a movie. I don't play the Simpsons through my 120 Watts set to 11. I know people who would though.

I don't feel the need to have a recording VCR, Tivo, 60 inch WEGA 15 speaker surround sound beast - not least because they are a bit instrusing for living areas and I dont want to sacrifice a room to the 'home cinema'.

However. For some reason I feel the need to upgrade - even though I hardly watch the thing - just so that I can do the old 'come round to mine and we'll watch a movie and get pissed and laugh at everyone who doesnt show up' thing without feeling the TV is letting the show down. Which is crazy! It's like avoiding offering to be the designated driver because your Ford isn't as new or shiny as someones Merc. Its defining your personal worth by your possessions. It's pathetic.

And Christmas brings out the old 'must get people good stuff so they know Im doing okay' thing. So Im considering spending hideous amounts of money on presents people probably wont even want. I skipped this this year - I bought everyone a £20 bet on wether it will snow in their city on Christmas day. My friend in Manchester stands to win £240 quid if it comes through. Or nothing if it doesn't. I think giving bets is going to be a much more popular gift in years to come! a prediction! woo!

So - no new TV for me. In fact - I'm considering tracking down the oldest Sony Trinitron I can find in a TV repair shop to swap for my current TV just to go retro. That'll piss everyone off!!