Random Thoughts for a Friday

A little late, but sad to see that Terrence Stamp passed away last week. I remember him as General Zod in the original Superman and Superman 2. He also played Chancellor Valorum in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

The Mets are driving me crazy. Sometimes they look great, and other days they don’t show up. You can’t be losing 2 of 3 to a bad Washington Nationals team. Hopefully, they show up this weekend against an equally bad Atlanta Braves team.

Don’t know how to feel about the NY Football Giants. It’s no secret I am not a big fan of coach Brian Dabol. But the team does look different this year, and I like the fact that they scored a lot of points during the pre-season. If they can keep this up, the 1st 2 games of the season (@Washington and @Dallas), it will go a long way to show me that things are treading in the right direction

Lehigh Football opens up next Saturday at home against the Richmond Spiders. Let’s see if 3rd year coach Kevin Cahill can keep things moving forward after last year’s Patriot League championship and playoff win over Richmond.

Lehigh Mountain Hawks 2025 Schedule

I am really enjoying “The Institute” on MGM+. The 1st season finally is this Sunday, and Stephen King just tweeted that it will be back for a second season. Good Stuff

Next week is also the season finale of “The Snake” on FOX. One of the few newer reality shows that kept me watching to the end. The show has simple to follow rules and stuck to them all season. Unlike shows like The Traitors and Deal or No Deal Island, where the rules were confusing, keeping things simple makes the show more enjoyable

See Survivor / Big Brother / The Amazing Race, as well as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, as shows that have simple rules that is enhanced by the players’ gameplay, and do’t feel minipulated and manufactured

Speaking of Survivor, read that 2 contestants were removed from the Survivor 49 cast a day before the show started, and 2 alternates were added at the last minute. Supposingly, they broke the rules by conversing with each other before the game started, which is not allowed.

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Still looking for a new job. Had some interviews, but so far nothing has panned out. Just have to keep on plugging along, and hope something will come along. The Computer / IT field is a mess right now, with companies navigating what can and can’t be done with AI. Saw a story where a CEO decided to go all in with AI, and ended up fireing 80% of the employees because they refused to change their old ways of thninking

Still struggling with if I want to stay in the Computer / IT world, or look into switching things up a bit.

Is anybody out there reading this in a similar situation? Let me know

Hope everybody is doing well, and is getting ready for next week’s Labor Day weekend.

#PEACE

#AverageAndy

PS – Take some time to listen to music. Studies show it’s good for your brain health

Yes, music is good for the brain. Listening to music or playing an instrument can positively impact various cognitive functions, memory, and mood. It can also help reduce stress and pain, and potentially offer benefits for those with neurodegenerative diseases. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Here’s a more detailed look:

Cognitive Benefits:

Improved cognitive function: Music can stimulate nearly every part of the brain, leading to enhanced cognitive skills. [1, 3]
Enhanced learning and memory: Music can help with spatial reasoning, language processing, and memory formation. [2, 8]
Increased focus and attention: Certain types of music, like classical, can help improve focus and attention, especially for spatial tasks. [8, 9, 10, 11, 12]
Brain plasticity: Musical training can lead to structural changes in the brain, potentially improving cognitive abilities and potentially offering long-term benefits. [8, 13]
Neuroprotection: Music may help protect against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. [4, 5, 6, 14]

Other Benefits:

Mood regulation: Music can evoke emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote feelings of well-being.
Pain management: Music can be a valuable tool for pain reduction.
Social connection: Music can facilitate social bonding and create a sense of community. [5, 6, 15]

Important Considerations:

Individual Differences: The impact of music can vary based on individual preferences, musical background, and the type of music. [1, 16]
Context Matters: The impact of music can be influenced by the context in which it is experienced (e.g., listening while studying vs. relaxing). [16, 17, 18]
Active Engagement: Playing an instrument or singing can have more significant benefits than simply listening passively. [2, 19, 20, 21, 22]