meandering

This is an incredibly self-indulgent post wherein I lead you down the path of my thoughts at present. Feel free to skip large sections.

In an effort to beckon the authentic flowers, I am making some fabric imitations.

lingering questions

1. Why is the origin of the word gingham?
Wikipedia: It comes from an Indonesian word.

Online Encyclopedia Britannica: “The name comes from the Malay word genggang, meaning ’striped,’ and thence from the French guingan, used by the Bretons to signify cloth made from striped colouring.”

2. The rye bread I buy has only one heel. Why is this?
(Haven’t found an answer. B’s theory is that we might want to see what the bread looks like inside, and the heel would block the view.)
Wikipedia: Rye bread

Online Encyclopedia Britannica: Rye bread

3. What is molasses?
Wikipedia: “Molasses (or treacle) is a thick syrup by-product from the processing of the sugarcane or sugar beet into sugar.”

Online Encyclopedia Britannica: “Syrup remaining after sugar is crystallized out of cane or beet juice.”

weighty thought

from The High Price of Materialism by Tim Kasser, page 77, third paragraph.

“…when we are intrinsically motivated, we do what we do because it is enjoyable, involving, and challenging. One of the most interesting questions researchers have asked about such experiences concerns what happens when people are rewarded for doing the things they find intrinsically motivating. If rewards are important motivators of behavior, giving people money or praise for doing something they enjoy could increase their motivation. On the other hand, it could lead people to care more about the rewards than the activity, and consequently to experience less interest and enjoyment. As such, rewards might decrease intrinsic motivation.”

I like to think I’m above letting lovely praise change that which I am intrinsically motivated to do. But I wonder. Maybe it’s a ratio: If you love the thing more than the reward, then maybe you’re immune?