From Animal Bones to Water: Furniture Can Be Fascinating

The concept of furniture first appeared around 30,000 years ago according to archaeological research. 

Our early ancestors used wood, stone, and animal bone to make themselves more comfortable. 

I can just imagine early cave dwellers reclining on bone rocking chairs and comparing kills. Rock tables were all the rage back then.

The first furniture for the masses showed up in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Chinese homes. The Chinese are currently keeping up the tradition by being the world's largest furniture exporter, accounting for 38% of global furniture production.

The thing I love about furniture is its dual design for comfort and creativity. The wackier, the better.

Can you imagine having a couch inspired by Bigfoot? (Left) It looks menacing to me, but it's probably comfy.

Furniture designers have gotten more creative over the centuries and we're at a point where nothing is impossible to construct if it can be imagined. 

The furniture you choose defines your home's personality. It's important to understand that the color of your furniture can significantly impact your lifestyle.

For instance, those designing workplaces understand that bright colors can inspire creativity and brainstorming. Dark colors, however, can have the opposite effect. 

Furniture in blue and green hues evokes serenity and calm, while orange furniture communicates energy, power, and confidence.

Yellow encourages feelings of happiness and optimism, but too much yellow can cause subconscious anxiety. The time you spend in getting the right combination will be well worth it.

Unusual Furniture Designs

This is what I'm talking about. (Left) Would the teenager in your life love having this bed or what?

When it comes to fresh furniture designs for kids' rooms nothing says wacky like a carrot dresser for their clothes.

If that doesn't tickle your kids fantasy how about this wavy dresser (below) that looks like it was plucked out of a cartoon?

My advice for furniture in your home is simple; let it reflect your personality and you'll be a happy camper. Allow function and creativity to be your guide and you won't go wrong.

As it Stands,

I still remember waterbeds. My wife and I had one in the 70s. 

I don't recommend getting one unless you are prepared to worry about leaks and getting seasick after a big meal!

Do You Listen to Your Inner Voice?

According to most religions and many scholars people have a conscience. 

An inner voice or feeling that guides rightness or wrongness. Kind of like having the Disney character Jiminy Crickett perched on each shoulder. Good Jiminy and bad Jiminy.

"The concept of "conscience" as commonly used in the moral sense, is the inherent ability of every healthy human being to perceive what is right or wrong and, on the strength of this perception, to control, monitor, evaluate and execute their actions," according to a study from the National Institutes of Health.

I discovered that there are three types of conscience. "Certain conscience" is the complete absence of doubt in whether our decision is good or bad. Doubtful conscience limits our ability to make a choice between good or bad. Then there's the Delicate conscience which is very meticulous and careful about our decisions.

Apparently, we aren't born with a conscience which experts say is shaped by our experiences, interactions with others, and reflections on our actions. It's a lifelong process.

The answer to where is your conscience lodged... the brain or the heart will probably surprise you. A 2004 study conducted by McCraty, Atkinson & Bradley determined that the heart receives intuitive information BEFORE the brain. That certainly adds a new dimension to the definition of conscience. It comes straight from the heart. 

So why doesn't everyone have a conscience? 

The simple answer is while we may be capable of knowing right from wrong there are other factors to consider. 

Like greed. It makes people set aside their values to obtain wealth. The lust for power makes even the so-called moral man ignore the warning from his good Jiminy who is jumping up and down frantically on his shoulder.

I've wrestled with my conscience numerous times in the last seven decades. It's been a win-lose situation (like most people I suspect) but I like to think I do have a good heart, and I do know right from wrong. Not everyone is guided by their heart/conscience. I'll bet you know some people like that.

As it Stands, I think a lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience!

Bald and Proud of It!

I can remember a time in America when men went to great lengths to conceal their balding heads. 

Balding men used all sorts of transparently fake means to disguise the fact until several things happened.

By the mid-sixties bald heads became a staple of ridicule by stand-up comedians. 

We had a generation that revolted against all things fake.

Finally, TV ads began appearing with solutions for baldness. Bald was not cool. Long flowing locks were in. Before this happened, most men wore dress hats, and it was impossible to tell if they were going bald.

Then a hatless President Kennedy changed all of that and men began shedding their dress hats. 

They also sought more ways to conceal their shiny domes, like combovers and snake doctor cures which came in pills and ointments. Many actors just wore toupees.

Today a shaved head is very much in fashion. Two of my three sons shave their heads rather than deal with pattern baldness. All of those old rock stars with long hair are now electing to go bald while they try to extend their careers into another generation.

Caution. Not all men have a head that looks good bald. (Photo of Marc Andreessen) 

In Army bootcamp they shaved all of our heads. That's when I discovered my head looked like an egg!

Pointed heads (think Saturday Night Live's Coneheads) need to have hair. Lots of hair. But these day's actors like that bad boy bald image.  

Take Vin Diesel (right) for example. He's famous for his shiny head and sunglasses.

There was one actor back in the day who managed to pull off going bald before it was popular. 

Yul Brynner, a Russian-born actor, director, and author became a Hollywood icon with his live performances of the King and I. 

He's also remembered for his many movie appearances like Future World, Westworld, Anna and the King, Adios, Sabata, Death Rage, The Serpent, Catlow, Fuzz, and The Light at the Edge of the World.

It's interesting that Yul Brynner was brave enough to carve out a look in Hollywood when men were busy concealing their baldness.

As it Stands, I would prefer to shave my head these days, but my wife won't have any of it because I still have a full head of hair. Maybe she's right. My dome isn't a pretty sight!