June 21st was the Summer Solstice, an important Leisure holiday. Agent Ambivalent and I, being in a relatively new and alien environment at the moment, had to get creative in order to come up with a properly Leisurely way to mark the event.
After much noggin-noodling, we hit upon the perfect plan: to host a "barbeque" for my co-workers and assorted other friends that evening, ostensibly in celebration of the end of a busy time in my office. Little did our guests know of the astronomical influences guiding them towards Leisure!
Although the weather proved inclement on the big day and we couldn't put our patio or our grill to use, we created an indoor picnic atmosphere, providing burgers, dogs, a wide variety of tempting snacks, and copious quantities of beer for our fellow revelers. With the lights low and the repast plenteous, the mood soon turned to one of contented and well-earned release. Bellies were filled, minds were set free from the cares of the workaday world, and new friendships were formed as the work and social circles mingled with unusual success.
With Agent Murray providing comic relief, Agent Ambivalent taking care of the music, and yours truly flitting hither and thither like a demented social butterfly, the night was a smashing success. Though not an overt Leisure event, there is no doubt that a perfectly Leisurely time was had by all, thus proving the old adage: "Leisure on the up and up, Leisure undercover, or Leisure underwater: it's all good."
Workers of the world, relax!
Just wanted to point out this very interesting article, The Abolition of Work, by Bob Black. He makes some interesting points about the drudgery of forced labor, the dangers inherent in accepting your job as your identity, and even makes a point about the pallid modern interpretation of Leisure:
Nor am I promoting the managed time-disciplined safety-valve called "leisure"; far from it. Leisure is nonwork for the sake of work. Leisure is the time spent recovering from work and in the frenzied but hopeless attempt to forget about work. Many people return from vacation so beat that they look forward to returning to work so they can rest up.
A lengthy and well-researched essay...very much worth the read.
As reported on Metafilter and Reuters, Ammachi, a holy woman from India, has embarked on a "hugging tour" to relieve the world of its stress and sadness.
Ammachi is putting her belief that hugging can make life better to the test in Japan, where businesspeople and others are lining up to experience a ray of hope and happiness in the midst of the country's economic crisis.
And who's to say that the Hindu leader isn't on to something? Studies show that hugs can have a measureable, positive effect on human health. The Leisure Agency supports Ammachi in her effort to bring hugs to the world, and urges you to embrace a friend (or even a stranger) today.
Don't forget: summer festivals are fast approaching! The Leisurely festival of the Solstice/Midsummer Night falls very conveniently on a weekend this year, to make your bacchanal that much easier to plan. The Solstice is officially scheduled for 6:59 p.m. on Saturday, June 21st, and Midsummer's Eve on June 23rd gives hardy revelers the chance to extend their celebrations into a long weekend.
Watch this space for further Midsummer-related developments. In the meantime, why not plan a party of your own? If you'd like to send pictures and a report on your celebrations to be published here, just e-mail Agent Hilatron.
HEALDSBURG, CA. - In a historic moment of cunning and prowess, 20-year-old Ana Martinez of Santa Rosa, Calif. became the first woman ever to sweep a major Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament at the 2003 Southwestern U.S. Rock Paper Scissors Pro-Am Invitational. Among the youngest of the (we have no idea how many) competitors, Martinez vanquished second place competitor, Jeff Johnson, with a powerful throw of Rock over Scissors.
On her final, victorious throw, Martinez commented, “I was talking to (Johnson) before the round started. He was trying to get in my head, telling me that he knew I would throw paper. Thinking he was going to go scissors, I went rock.”
For her success with this stunning final move, Martinez went home with the coveted jewel-encrusted trophy and $1000, the largest purse ever in a major Rock Paper Scissors tournament.
“I couldn’t believe it. That is so much money. I was in shock for the rest of the day,” remarked a delirious Ms. Martinez.
Martinez with her prize:
The Southwestern Pro-Am, which has been widely billed "the first jewel in the Triple Crown of RPS", was held at the Roshambo Winery, award-winning producers of Zinfandel, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Following the precedent set by the hugely successful November 2002 International RPS Championships in Toronto, the Southwestern Invitational set its sights on further popularizing the sport of Rock Paper Scissors. Several of the world’s top-seeded players participated in the event, including the sport’s oft-quoted mouthpiece, Washington D.C.’s Master Roshambollah.
Roshambo, the phonetic for the French of Rock-Paper-Scissors, is an oft-used moniker for the sport.