Sunday, March 1, 2015

What I’ve learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0069

3401.  Apparently, storing cupcakes in the refrigerator is bad (i.e., it dries them out), but (oddly enough) storing them in the freezer is okay;
3402.  Dr. Wasink recently conducted a study in the Atlanta and D.C. metro(politan) areas that suggested nearly 60% of grocery store purchases happened within 12 inches of eye level.  That being said, most of the cheapest options are on the bottom shelf;
3403.  Alexander Ovechkin is (only) the 5th NHL player to score (at least) 30 goals in each of his first 10 seasons in the league;
3404.  Research shows (that) most people decide whether or not they like you within the first seven seconds of meeting you.  Then they spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying their initial reaction;
3405.  First impressions are tied intimately to positive body language.  Strong posture, a firm handshake, smiling and opening your shoulders to the person you’re talking to will help ensure that your first impression is a good one;
3406.  The University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team has only won seven games in Chapel Hill against the University of North Carolina;
3407.  On February 2nd, 2015, the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team beat a ranked University of North Carolina men’s basketball team in Chapel Hill for the first time since 1981;
3408.  You can’t give away what you don’t have. . . . If what you give out is self-respect and love, the universe will return the love and respect you’ve been radiating with increased abundance, happiness and opportunity. . . . If you want happiness and hope to give away (and more of the same to bequeath to your children), make sure love and respect are present in all your dealings with the world;
3409.  Stop focusing on the obstacles and start focusing on where you are going;
3410.  Tony Bennett is the only active (men’s college basketball) coach to have a win over all five active Hall of Fame coaches (i.e., Syracuse University’s Jim Boeheim, Southern Methodist University’s Larry Brown, Duke University’s Mike Krzyzewski, the University of Louisville’s Rick Pitino and the University of North Carolina’s Roy Williams . . . obviously they can’t beat themselves);
3411.  According to Dave, I’m not as shy as when we first met . . . progress;
3412.  Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence;
3413.  Mousse is basically a fluffier version of pudding;
3414.  Studying alone does you no good.  Study that does not motivate action isn’t useful.  It’s intellectual vanity.  It’s just something to make you feel better about yourself without taking any risk.  You must better yourself through action;
3415.  Six seconds of hugging is the minimum time necessary to promote the flow of oxytocin and serotonin, mood-boosting chemicals that promote bonding;
3416.  The White House has its own beer;
3417.  The Obama presidency is the first time alcohol has been brewed in the White House;
3418.  Aside from official state functions, the president pays for his own groceries at the end of every month;
3419.  By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail;
3420.  Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing;
3421.  The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself;
3422.  Well done is better than well said;
3423.  Never confuse motion with action;
3424.  Jim Morrison (the lead singer of “The Doors”) graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria (in 1961);
3425.  The first organized act of civil disobedience (of the Civil Rights movement) was a “sit in” in 1939 at the segregated Barrett Library on Queen Street in (Old Town) Alexandria;
3426.  In 1909, Orville Wright flew back and forth from Fort Meyer in Arlington to Shuter’s Hill (now the George Washington Masonic National Memorial) in (Old Town) Alexandria as a flight demonstration for the U.S. Army;
3427.  The Wright Brothers were awarded the world’s first military airplane contract (in 1909);
3428.  The Happy Hour Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon (i.e., both Canyon Road) at Virtue (Feed & Grain) are (actually) pretty good;
3429.  If you're dining out on a budget, avoid ordering (inexpensive) pasta dishes.  It's almost always a better value to order a chicken or pork entree that has substantial ingredients.  The only exception is if the restaurant specializes in pasta;
3430.  You want to approach new sushi bars carefully.  Always start by ordering some simple tuna sashimi.  This basic sashimi will give you a very accurate view of the quality of the fish (and food) at the sushi bar;
3431.  A simple way to quickly tell whether a restaurant is sanitary is to duck into the bathrooms.  If the bathrooms are a mess, then you can assume the kitchen is not as clean as you'd like;
3432.  If you want to give your oatmeal some flavor, try some (fruit) preserves;
3433.  Jamie Foxx is a decent three-point shooter;
3434.  Joe Harris (of the Cleveland Cavaliers) will get your Starbucks order;
3435.  It’s funny how some people(, in their minds,) can be so convinced that they’re right that they’ll still argue with you when the evidence to the contrary is (sitting) right before their eyes;
3436.  Freezing rain means waddling like a penguin . . . and a sore butt;
3437.  Apparently, Miss D.C. (i.e., Teresa Davis) and Miss D.C. Teen U.S.A. (i.e., Niara Iman) will show up to your condo(minium) building's Chinese New Year party;
3438.  (It’s suspected that) people have sex about three times a month in the downstairs bathroom at Murphy’s (Irish Pub);
3439.  Megan’s dad was a mailman;
3440.  Veal chops are a little fatty, but they're very tender;
3441.  If you want something bad enough, you will find a way, if not, you will always find an excuse;
3442.  The cuddling that comes before sex, it turns out, is just as important as sex itself.  In fact, science has found that initiating physical affection, whether it eventually leads to sex or not, is seriously good for our relationships;
3443.  A study, first released last year and set to be published in the Journal of Social & Personal Relationships, looked at 397 cohabiting heterosexual couples to see how initiations of physical intimacy – that is, the physical nudges we use to indicate we’re in the mood – influenced their relationship.  This could mean cuddling, kissing, spooning and even sexy massages.  While past studies have suggested that these initiating moves might be negatively coercive, the latest study found that general attempts at physical intimacy increased relationship satisfaction, relationship stability, better communication and less conflict;
3444.  Both male and female participants experienced positive outcomes of physical intimacy, the relationship particularly benefitted when men made the initiating moves, since the initiations of cuddling and touch provided women with reassurance and commitment;
3445.  Many couples naturally experience decreased sexual activity as time goes on, but this study suggests even if we think our significant other might not be in the mood, it’s still important to try.  Initiation communicates a desire to be close, have sex and create interest in the relationship.  So even when couples don’t have sex, they are strengthening the relationship by communicating desires to be close and being committed to the relationship;
3446.  Cuddling not only tells your partner you desire them; touch itself has encouraging health benefits.  All kinds of physical contact, including hugs, have been shown to reduce stress, curb anxiety/depression and strengthen the immune system;
3447.  When we’re physically close to someone, our bodies release oxytocin, the “happy chemical” that contributes to feelings of intimacy and well-being in relationships;
3448.  It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no cares who gets the credit;
3449.  Play the board as it is, not how you want it to be;
3450.  Coming into the 2014-‘15 men’s college basketball season, only three schools had won the outright, regular season, A(tlantic )C(oast )C(onference) title in back-to-back seasons: Duke University, the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University. . . . You can now add the University of Virginia to that list;