This could be titled 'a whole bunch of lists week.' No reason—luck of the draw.

Keeping up with the hepcats.

Of course, people who live their lives on the cutting edge aren't called 'hepcats' any more. Frankly, I don't know what they're called. Not creatives. Not beatniks. Not influencers. So overdone, influencers.

Every few months, the Wall Street Journal graces us with the WSJ., a glossy magazine. A recent offering was titled 'The Innovators Issue,' so we're going with 'innovators' being the au courant term for hipster, at least until the next issue. So what does it take to be the most au courantist, bleeding edgiest, beautifullest person this week? And what revelations will the mag make about the b.p., and ' along the way, themselves? Aand, does the WSJ make it easy for us by putting this person on the cover? Of course not! Then you might be tempted to leave the mag closed!

Things I noticed:

• The Wall Street Journal has a fascination to the point of obsession with Monday mornings. This time around, they asked Judd Apatov about '5 Monday Must-Haves.' Yes: ipad. Irish Spring Soap. No: vitamins. Egg McMuffin. Mercedes.
• Cool ad: a man standing in a room whose walls are stacks of books with columns of books placed around the room.
• Dumb ad: a man standing with his hand on the roof of a SUV, emphasizing the model name but blocking the view of half the vehicle.
• an article-ette that promises 'three ways to upgrade your days at home' offers a silver bowl, midcentury boomerang tables and other bric-a-furniture, and three books about 70s rock icons. No upgrade, or rocking my world.
• an ad for Fisher's Island living where the picture contradicts every word of copy below it.
• Oh, yeah, the innovators. The cover boy, Ben Stiller, directs and sometimes stars in movies. No plot twists or new ways of doing things. George Lucas. Yep. Spike Lee. Yep. Judd Apatow, maybe. Otherwise, meh.

Today's earworm.

I'll be there

Apologies.

I just found out that, in writing this and posting it to the internet, I may be 'selling a distinct aesthetic.'

I assure you that if I did, it was unintentional, and I apologize to those of you who bought into this aesthetic.

I will cheerfully refund your purchase price. Returns must be accompanied by a valid receipt.

Finding out what I've been selling (i.e., 'my distinct aesthetic') is now mid-way up my to-do list.

Doesn't translate well.

I just ran across a Chinese idiom: kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Don't even know where/how I'd use it.

Related question: does killing monkeys scare chickens?

Practicing the 'Art of No.'

If you let them, learning opportunities pop up everywhere. I found this out recently at the drive-thru of a Taco Bell, which had installed an automated ordering system. I offer a fair approximation of the call-response dance:

1. Did you preorder using the Taco Bell app?

2. May I take your order?
3. Is the order correct on the screen?
4. (This is where hell begins.) Will there be anything else?
5. Would you like a drink with that?
6. Would you like any hot sauce?
7. Would you like to contribute to support a local food bank?

I may have missed reporting one or two opportunities to say 'no' in my annoyance and desire to get on with my life. Finally, the order to proceed to the window arrives. Almost sorry I was craving a 'fast' burrito.

Nope. Not feeling it.

There are phrases, both new and old, that are supposed to help us define, to give meaning and direction to our lives. If you put periods between each word, it can take away some of the bite.

• Bring. your. whole. self. to. _____.
• Be. All. You. Can. Be.
• You. can. have. it. all.
• Bring. your. A. game.
• Always. give. it. your. all.
• Your. best. today. will. not. be. the. best. tomorrow.

I think my problem with statements like this is that you don't have an opportunity for trial and error, everything has to be at the razor's edge, etc. Sometimes you want to kick back and savor the moment.

Reminds me of the warning about absolutes. You know: Don't.

Repo-eco-tourism.

I've mentioned before that I don't travel much, even less following the pandemic. But there are still a couple of things I would like to see, but alas, never will. The Lascaux caves. Angkor Wat. Chaco Canyon. The Terra-Cotta Army. Watts Towers.

But I can't. It's not just the physical limitations, or time or budget constraints, although those are factors. I understand that some of the places, such as the Lascaux Caves and the Terra-Cotta Army, are closed to visitors, not because of a fear of intentional damage, but because too many visitors raise the humidity and would unintentionally damage the very artifacts they are coming to see and experience. I know about them, have seen pictures and videos of them, and will be (have to be) content with that.

But I still wonder—:what are people actually hoping to get from visiting places such as these? Bragging rights? A photo op? A cross-out on a bucket list? Some sort of spiritual connection with a common cultural ancestor? An 'experience?' An understanding of the impulses that led to its creation? And can a person form a deep psychic bond with the Mona Lisa if they're staring at her over the heads of a hundred other visitors?

And do you have to be in the presence of the original to get whatever experience you're seeking? Or would a replica have the same effect?