Welcome to Lake Anna in Bumpass, Virginia (no, that is not a joke).  I just spent a week here, and it was the most beautiful, most amazing experience I could have asked for.

Those stupid paper towel dispensers in bathrooms that are apparently “motion-activated,” but actually just spit out a new paper towel every time you take one.  This is not the definition of “motion-activated.”  It doesn’t bother me because it’s inconvenient.  It bothers me because it’s a lie.

…seen on a blackboard in a classroom at William & Mary

DoubleTake from The College of William and Mary sings their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.”

Soloists: John Anderson, Juliet Sabol

Arrangement: Kate Patterson

Beatboxing: Dan Lefler

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else—the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your  spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

thedailywhat:

Marketing Campaign of the Day: As if it weren’t enough that North Carolina already doesn’t recognize same-sex unions, the state votes next Tuesday on a ballot measure that reads: “Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized by this State.”

This ad campaign, by Winston-Salem agency The Variable, plays on segregation-era discrimination to shock voters into voting down the offensive legislation, called Amendment 1: “On May 8th, make history. Don’t repeat it.”

Yes, please.

[adsoftheworld]

(Source: carlovely)

Slaughterhouse-Five is probably one of my favorite books of all time.  And much like some of the best books of all time, some people did (still do) not react very positively towards it.  In response to the burning of many copies of his book, Vonnegut sent this letter to one school.

This is a list of “the absolute worst things in the world.”  And these things are absolutely the worst.

I’ve been watching The Office on Netflix recently.  I just spent the last 5 minutes of an episode picking Dwight’s nose with the Wiimote’s “Player 1” pointer hand that you are supposed to use to mouse through the Wii menus with.

…I need a hobby.

redscharlach:

Otters Who Look Like Benedict Cumberbatch: A Visual Examination.

All otters are from The Daily Otter, for all your ottery Tumblr needs!

The Brooklyn Bridge

alixbendicksen:

The wren in the snow

The College of William & Mary is a beautiful place. Props to Alix for the wonderful shot.

thedailywhat:

Movie Trailer of the Day: The second trailer for the third installment of the Men In Black film series, is bigger, better, and most importantly, aliener.

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprising their roles as MIB agents J and K alongside Emma Thompson, Jemaine Clement, and Josh Brolin as a young K. Bill Hader makes an appearance as Andy Warhol.

In theaters May 25.

[filmactu.]