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Stop Saying, “It Is What It Is”! (repost)

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“It is what it is.”

I cannot understand why this phrase has become so popular, because it is incredibly stupid and redundant. I cringe every single time I hear someone utter it, and am dismayed by the number of people I know who have adopted this into their current communication behaviors. Why has it suddenly become so trendy to state the obvious in this manner? I can’t help but think that everyone who utters this string of words either hasn’t given much thought to the circular reasoning buried in it, or has developed a pathological and resigned attitude towards life in which circumstances are shrugged off. Come on guys, take a little responsibility, would you?

Copyright: rnl

If we look at res ipsa loquitur logic, this legal term indicates that someone is presumed to be negligent if that individual had control over what caused the injury. But since I took two years of Latin in high school, I am more intrigued by the original semantics and logic of this particular phrase. If we apply this idea of negligence to the statement, “it is what it is”, does that mean that people are blaming fate, or the lockdown, for the unraveling of society which has occurred in the past three years, or are they simply resigning themselves to fate when they utter that? All I know is that I have heard it far too often in the past couple of years, and it is raising my ire.

I truly enjoy and appreciate what Ethan Ryan from The Fiddleback has to say about this idiotic statement:

“It is what it is” is a waste of words, a waste of breath. I mean, sure, I get it. It expresses the same sentiment as the French “C’est la vie!” But still, it irks me. It’s just a repetitive series of defeatist monosyllables. Why not just say “It is,” or for that matter, “It’s”?

Of course it is what it is! How could it be anything but it?

The only context in which that phrase would be appropriate would be if somebody asked “Is it what it is?” and you said, “Yes, it is what it is.” Presumably you’d have this conversation in an assisted living home with a demented loved one attempting to categorize an ice cream cone.

When you write “It is what it is” as a mathematical algorithm it looks like this:

it = it

In logic, this is called the law of identity, which states that an object is the same as itself. “A is A” is a tautology. Here are some more:

1 = 1

pineapple = pineapple

J = J

☺ = ☺

poop = poop

X = X

Those are analytical facts, verified by their consistency within the rules of a symbol system. But they’re also stupid and irrelevant. They’re true under all possible circumstances, and they demand little of the world for their truth. You don’t need evidence to back up the claim “Poop is what poop is.”

Here’s another tautology:

Formula_Ryan

Seems logical, right? I don’t know, I’m not a logician.

What concerns me are rhetorical tautologies such as:

“I am what I am.” ~ God talking to Moses

“I yam what I yam.” ~ Popeye talking to Olive Oyl

“Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.” ~ Gertrude Stein

“A horse is a horse, of course, of course.” ~ the Mr. Ed theme song

“It is what it is what it is what it is what it is what it is what it is.” ~ this essay

It is it. A is A. But redundancies are redundant, aren’t they? Be succinct. Next time your umbrella breaks, or your toilet gets clogged, or your house burns down, just shrug and say “It’s.”

That’s obnoxious advice, I know. Defeatism gets us nowhere. Life is hard, but that’s no excuse to spout meaningless clichés. There are so many fantastic adjectives and nouns and verbs out there, humming in a deep pocket of your brain. Use your words. Don’t just say “It is what it is.” We already know that.

Wittgenstein said philosophy is the headache you get from banging your head up against the limits of language. When I came across that line I decided I was done studying philosophy. Years later, my head is still hurting. Philosophy is dangerous.

Whatever.

It’s.

——–
Ethan Ryan

Greedy Restaurants and Hidden Charges

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I went to a favorite local restaurant (Hugo’s Restaurant in Valley Village) earlier this month for brunch and was stunned by what I saw on the payment tablet and on my receipt. Things had already gone wonky because I had ordered a sparkling wine split ($12), but a server brought a carafe of orange juice for a mimosa. I had not ordered a mimosa ($15), so I did not touch the orange juice. The server also brought my friend orange juice for a mimosa, but she had ordered a hibiscus. So we had to contact our main server and ask for the correct type of juice.

Of course the restaurant charged me the 3 extra dollars for the mimosa I didn’t order, so I told the server that the charge needed to be adjusted. Nowhere on the bill did it say anything about any hidden surcharges. Then the server returned with the tablet so she could run my card. The three choices on the tablet screen for tip were 20%, 22%, and 25%. The highlighted, default tip amount was 22%. That already upset me.

Don’t get me wrong, I consistently tip at least 20%, but I didn’t like how tricky and presumptive the restaurant was. Most restaurants have suggested tip percentages of 15%, 18% and 20%. For them to have 22% as the default is sneaky and wrong. In fact, because I was upset about that, I left 20%, not 22% and certainly not 25%, on principle.

Then I got my printed receipt and noticed that the restaurant had charged a 3% surcharge for back of room staff. This was added to the total amount which meant that the tip I left was reflective of the entire bill which included that 3% surcharge. On the bottom of the receipt I saw a note that a patron can have the 3% surcharge removed by letting the restaurant know, but I had ALREADY BEEN CHARGED. I doubt anyone actually complains and gets that surcharge removed. Another greedy win for the restaurant.

Lastly, the receipt had suggested ADDITIONAL tip amounts of 2% to 7%.

I’m not sure I want to frequent this restaurant in the future now.

Learning About A Country Through Television

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Copyright: 3dgenerator

Whenever I travel to a foreign country and have access to a television, I am always compelled to watch something so that I can soak up the local language and culture. I’ve done this in Mexico, Costa Rica, Hungary, Australia, Thailand, Japan, Spain and Portugal. When I visit countries which speak a language I can understand, I make an effort to listen and understand the language. For example, I can catch bits and pieces of Japanese when watching Japanese television, because I have had a lifelong exposure to Japanese programs. When in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Spain, I understood the majority of what I watched and heard on television, and I felt that it boosted my cultural understanding of the country I was visiting.

When I was in Hungary, I got a chance to watch Family Guy with Hungarian overdubs, which was truly bizarre but also quite fascinating. Then when I visited Spain, I caught a few episodes of the Spaniard version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, as well as another Spain-based game show, and was pretty surprised when I was able to follow the shows in their entirety without any struggle. My experience watching TV in Spain made me even more courageous about speaking Spanish while I explored Barcelona and Girona. Even in Sydney, Australia, I got a kick out of the language nuances and cultural differences which were revealed in the programs I watched.

Who else has a habit of catching television shows while traveling abroad?

A Great Way To Learn About A Foreign Country You Are Visiting

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Ozeki Super Market in Sendai, Japan

Whenever I travel to a foreign country, I make an effort to visit a grocery store, because I always learn so much about the local culture, foods, language and currency by doing so. I first did this sort of by accident when I visited Budapest Hungary in September of 2014, simply because I needed to purchase drinking water. When I walked into the small market which was across the road from my hotel, I was fascinated by the different local foods which were on display. I also enjoyed observing other patrons as they conversed with the grocery store clerk.

I didn’t get a chance to visit a grocery store while abroad until 2020, when I traveled to Japan, but I managed to visit numerous grocery stores all over the country, so I was able to observe differences between prefectures. I also rather quickly noticed that bottles of sake were much cheaper than what I have seen in the States, while fresh produce was almost prohibitively expensive. As an example, I saw 4000 ml bottles of sake (that’s more than a gallon!) for 2199 yen, which is about $16.50 USD now. I also saw a baby watermelon at a market in Sendai which cost almost $12 USD (1580 Yen). Here are some fun images from my mini field trip to Ozeki Super Market.

I continued my exploration of foreign countries via visits to grocery stores when I traveled to Portugal and Thailand on separate trips in 2022. While in Portugal, I had to fend for myself for six days as a solo traveler, so I interspersed a few restaurant meals in Vila Nova de Gaia with some home-cooked meals which I prepared in the flat I rented. Once in Lisbon, however, I had to confine my grocery shopping to items which didn’t have to be cooked or heated up. I was fortunate enough to find an incredible garlic and herb goat cheese (queijo de cabra atabafado con alho y ervas) which was absolutely delicious, so I had several salads featuring arugula, cucumber, and olive oil with that magical cheese crumbled in.

I also found some delicious branzino fillets and gernika peppers which I prepared a couple of times in the flat, and also found a delightful vinho verde which was a perfect accompaniment to my meals. Though the trek to and from the grocery store was punctuated by a one mile uphill walk to the market, and a return walk encumbered by the heavy grocery bags in my hands and also in my backpack, I happily did it three times during my stay in Vila Nova de Gaia. I did struggle with the Portuguese language while at the checkstand, but somehow survived the experience and actually enjoyed the adventure.

Agua con gas (sparkling water), roasted gernika peppers, baked branzino, arugula and goat cheese salad

When I went to Thailand with my cousin in September of last year, we were intent on finding grocery stores both in Chiang Mai and on Koh Samui so that we could purchase wine and snacks for our hotel suites. We were able to find two very well stocked markets in both regions, but since we had no access to microwaves or stoves, we couldn’t purchase food items which had to be cooked. I did, however, come up with an emergency meal idea while shopping for food on Koh Samui, in case we found ourselves trapped in our suite for whatever reason. As it turned out, one day presented itself with a heavy downpour, so we were indeed trapped inside our hotel room for a portion of the day. I grabbed the emergency meal items and put them together for a healthy meal, pictured below.

Cold tofu with cucumbers, soy sauce, and chili pepper flakes

After my experiences shopping in grocery stores while traveling abroad, I am firmly convinced that one’s travel experience can be greatly enhanced by going grocery shopping. It’s a fantastic way to learn a great deal about a foreign country.

How to Reach or Maintain a Healthy Weight in Your Senior Years

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Photo by Pixabay

Check out this wonderful and informative article by Camille Johnson of Bereaver.com.

When we get older, maintaining a healthy weight can be a struggle. Our metabolism slows down, and it becomes more difficult to get enough exercise. Still, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Critical aspects of your overall wellness, including your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk for diabetes can be affected, so staying a healthy weight can help you live longer. These tips courtesy of StaceyNaito.com will help you achieve your target for good health.

Get moving

One of the most important ways of losing or maintaining weight is exercise. Start slowly by walking around the block, learning tai chi, or trying a water aerobics class. If you’ve not been particularly active recently, talk to your doctor about finding a safe way to start an exercise routine. An occupational or physical therapist can help you determine your abilities, especially if you’ve suffered an illness or injury in the past. These resources are great starting points for seniors who want to adopt an exercise routine.

  • Look for ways to incorporate movement into your daily tasks.
  • Set a timer to remind you to stand up and move around a bit every hour.
  • Use the buddy system. Find a friend to walk or exercise with, for fun and accountability.
  • Mayo Clinic suggests parking farther away from the store, and enjoy the walk. Take the stairs when you can.
  • Seniors who are considering an assisted living situation should look for facilities that offer amenities like walking trails, gyms, and group fitness sessions. 

Watch what you eat

Be mindful of what you eat each day, in terms of ingredients and calorie count. Stick to whole foods as much as possible, and read food labels for processed products you buy. Avoid fatty meats, instead opting for fish, lean chicken, pork, or beef cuts. Protein is especially important for your diet, because it helps build up the calcium in your bones, so be sure you’re getting enough.  Having some protein with every meal and snack will keep you fuller for longer, which prevents you from overindulging on empty calories.

  • Greek yogurt is a great choice for a snack or part of a meal.  One serving has 17-18 grams of protein. 
  • Try ancient grains, such as teff, kamut, or quinoa.  These grains are healthy as they tend to be higher in protein, vitamins, and other nutrients, and are often lower in gluten..
  • Add some green peas to your salad, soup, or main dish.  They pack 8 grams of protein per cup, and bring other nutrients, as well as fiber to your diet.
  • Hummus is a tasty high protein dip for veggies. People trying to lose weight can enjoy it in moderation, and for those who need to gain weight, eating it more frequently is a great choice.

Get Hydrated

It’s important to stay hydrated no matter your age or fitness level, but as a senior citizen, you probably aren’t getting as much water as you need, especially if you’re active. Keeping a bottle of water with you can help you remember to sip throughout the day, and you can also add more water-dense foods to your diet to keep your bones, muscles, joints, and skin healthy.

  • Have a glass of water at certain times each day. In addition to helping you stay hydrated, it can also help prevent you from eating too much.
  • Remember that hot weather and high altitudes both increase your risk of dehydration, so increase your water intake when these conditions are affecting you.
  • Cleveland Clinic notes health issues that involve fever, vomiting, or diarrhea increase your need for water.
  • Ensure you’re drinking at least two liters of water every day.

Remember that your body is the only one you have, and you have to take care of it at every age. The more love you show your body by feeding and hydrating it well, and exercising, the more chances you’ll have for a longer, more comfortable life.

Dr. Stacey Naito of StaceyNaito.com offers customized meal plans, exercise regimens, and natural hormone balance to people who don’t want to compete but just want to lose weight, gain weight, or get toned. Contact Dr. Naito today to learn more! 

Foot Fetishes

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https://www.livescience.com/33525-foot-fetishes-toe-suck-fairy.html

Copyright: eyescompany

What drives someone to develop a foot fetish? There have been many scientific hypotheses regarding this bizarre phenomenon, and one in particular actually makes a lot of sense. But let’s first look at the definition of podophilia, or foot fetishism. An individual with a foot fetish gains significant sexual pleasure from gazing at feet or shoes, and goes so far as to touch, kiss, and interact in other unmentionable ways with someone’s feet, provided the person whose feet are being worshipped is amenable to such transgressions.

It turns out that of all non-genital body parts, feet win the prize for being the most fetishized. This curious predilection which some people possess has prompted psychiatrists and medical researchers to investigate the underlying reasons. Perhaps the most fascinating theory behind foot fetishism comes from Dr. Vilanayar Ramachandran, a neuroscientist at University of California, San Diego. While studying the mechanisms behind phantom limb syndrome (a condition in which amputees still experience sensations in their missing limbs), he found that some amputees actually began to derive sexual pleasure in their missing feet. This likely stems from the fact that the brain areas associated with genitalia and feet are adjacent to each other on the brain’s body map (also known as a homunculus). Basically, some cross-wiring between the regions could be occurring in individuals who are not amputees. So it isn’t too far-fetched for someone to derive some sense of sexual pleasure from caressing someone’s feet or sucking on a toe or two.

My Mom’s Skin Cleansing Routine

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Copyright: marctran

When I was a child, I was always intrigued by my mother’s unusual skin cleansing routine, because it sure didn’t look like anything I saw on television commercials. She was very consistent about her routine, and it paid off because she always had fantastic skin. I never found out how she came up with her regimen, and to this day I wonder who told her about the bizarre mask she would apply each week.

My mother would begin her weekly mask regimen by removing her makeup with Pond’s Cold Cream. Then she would walk to the kitchen, grab a small Pyrex bowl, and combine about 1/4 cup of whole milk with 1/4 of corn starch, then apply the bizarre mask to her face and allow it to do its magic for10 minutes. It was always somewhat disturbing to look over at my mom every single night and see her face covered in the blotchy white mask, which would impart a spooky look to her face. By the time the mask dried, it always looked like a cracked and dessicated desert floor. My mom would then remove the mask with warm water and a round natural sponge, apply Clinique Clarifying Lotion Face Toner 2, and then apply moisturizer.

Many years later, when I began working in medical aesthetics, I learned about how cornstarch could control oil production in the skin. Since my mom had oily skin, she fought a constant battle against her skin’s own tendency to overproduce oil. When searching the internet, I was able to find cornstarch and milk mask recipes, but they all had additional ingredients like mashed strawberries or honey. The thought of putting dairy on my skin isn’t appealing at all to me for one reason, which is that I don’t like the smell of milk, so I won’t be making this mask for my own use. If I ever decide to explore the skin benefits of cornstarch, I will use water instead.

Still Addicted To K-Dramas

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Copyright: ryanking999

There are many aspects of Korean dramas, also known as K-dramas, which keep me captive as a loyal watcher. I never thought I would become hooked on one K-drama after another, but it is something I continue to experience since watching the first two back in August of 2022 (Business Proposal and Extraordinary Attorney Woo). What was interesting about Business Proposal and Extraordinary Attorney Woo was that they were so different from each other with respect to plot lines and characters, but I began to notice that both shows featured charming dialogue, good looking and interesting people, and innocent love. I think another reason why K-dramas resonate so well with me has to do with my Japanese ancestry. Though Korean and Japanese cultures are different from each other, there are similar themes, such as the use of language honorifics, the love of food, societal structure, and work ethic.

Despite the fact that I was already addicted to K-drama formats after Proposal and Woo, I had yet to experience the dazzling cinematography, set designs, and costume designs of period pieces depicting the Joseon era. When I would watch an episode of a Joseon era or Joseon era-inspired series, I found myself staring at the details of the buildings and the clothing. The hanbok , or traditional Korean clothing, which is featured in shows like The King’s Affection, is elaborate and absolutely stunning, thus providing yet another visual feast for viewers’ eyes. Even if a K-drama is set in modern times, the characters are frequently clad in expensive and beautiful designer clothing.

K-dramas characteristically have some type of love story embedded in the plot, and the development of that love story is almost agonizingly slow because it harkens back to the days when people believed more in true love. By then end of a few episodes, viewers start cheering for the male and female protagonists to realize their adoration for each other and get that first kiss over already. The kissing scenes are so refreshing, because they serve as a stark departure from the often vulgar and graphic love scenes which characterize many Western shows and movies. A lot is left to the imagination in a K-drama, yet the outcome is much more satisfying because of the fairytale romance ending which usually wraps up a show.

View at Medium.com
View at Medium.com

Chaweng Noi Beach

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Copyright: bloodua

Thailand is one of only three countries which I have visited more than once, and I will always carry a fondness for its culture, its food, and its incredibly gracious people. I visited Thailand a second time in September of 2022, and ended up staying in the same regions as I had in 2018: Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Bangkok. While on Koh Samui, I had a strong desire to go to the beach, but my cousin and I had only three days to fully explore the island, so I wasn’t sure if we could squeeze in a beach day. In addition, there was a bit of rain which, pun intended, put a damper on our beach plans for the first two days.

Then on our third and final full day on Samui, the weather cleared up, and we decided to spend the day at Chaweng Noi Beach, the beach which was a stone’s throw from the resort at which we were staying. We ended up ordering lunch right on the beach, and also managed to polish off a couple of bottles of wine over the course of several hours. When we felt ourselves overheating, we decided to go into the Gulf of Thailand’s waters, and were rewarded with crystal clear water which was the temperature of a perfect bath. We had also discovered that some previous hotel patrons had left two pool floats there for other patrons to use, so we grabbed them and went back into the water, atop which we floated for a good hour or more.

Whenever I return to Thailand, and specifically find myself on Koh Samui, I plan to visit Chaweng Noi Beach to experience the same perfect beach day that I had been so fortunate to have experienced in 2022.

My Final Night In Porto

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A nice sunset shot from my final evening in Porto, Portugal

During the spring of 2022, I traveled to Spain and Portugal on a bold solo trip which had its share of frustrations and glitches, but I was very proud of myself for enduring all the problems. Since I speak a decent amount of Spanish, Spain presented no language issues for me, but it was an entirely different story when I was in Portugal, because I only know a few Portuguese words. Nevertheless, I was bound and determined to enjoy my stay in Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto.

I stayed at a lovely AirBnB in Vila Nova de Gaia which had a beautiful view of the Douro River and the town of Porto across the river. For four days straight, I would explore the wine caves on Vila Nova de Gaia (VNdG) side, walk all over VNdG and Porto, visit the grocery store to get authentic Portuguese food items, and dine in various restaurants in VNdG. I was completely free to do whatever struck my fancy, and I loved the entire experience so much that it was hard to leave and move on to Lisbon, which I didn’t enjoy nearly as much.

On my final night in VNdG, I decided to stay out as late as possible so that I could absorb as much of the sensory stimuli as I could. That final night turned out to be extraordinary, punctuated by a fantastic meal at a riverside restaurant, some lovely vinho verde, and fun conversations with other travelers. The sun began to set around 8:20, which was incredibly late for that time of the year. Even after the sun had completely set around 8:50 pm, the sky was a very vivid cobalt blue.

Another beautiful image from that magical night…

Live music was playing at a couple of restaurants, the river water was glistening, the crisp air was refreshing, and my heart felt so full while taking it all in. That night, I honestly fell in love with VNdG and Porto, and resolved to visit again. At some point, I will definitely return to VNdG and Porto, hopefully with a romantic interest in tow, because the area is so replete with romantic energy.

One more image from one of my favorite evenings of my life…

If you are looking for an absolutely gorgeous place to visit which has plenty of fresh seafood, great wines, and interesting culture, consider visiting VNdG and Porto.