Superpowers
I've been a pretty regular listener to the radio program This American Life for a while now. One of the episodes that hooked me early on was one they did back in 2001 about superpowers. The first act (story) of the program takes on the question: Which is better, the power of flight or the power of invisibility? Jim Hodgman takes an informal survey throwing in the follow up query of why and what would you do if you had that superpower. The responses are funny and provide interesting insight into our behavior and motivations.
Meredith and I got on to the subject of superpowers one evening. I drew a comparison between her elementary teacher by day - cabaret dancer/Shanghai socialite by night existence to the Clark Kent/Superman persona. Where Clark Kent had blue spandex hidden under his shirt and tie, Meredith might have a bejeweled bikini concealed beneath her blouse. Where Superman dispensed with Kent's thick glasses to change his identity, Texas Blue applies heavy makeup, glitter, and false eyelashes to alter hers.
On the subject of superpowers, I had to bring up the aforementioned question of flight versus invisibility. Since first hearing the show I've posed the question often, usually during such conversations or as an ice breaker in new company. People seem to find talking about superpowers a comfortable and interesting subject.
"So Meredith, the power of flight or the power of invisibility?"
She chose neither. "I'd rather have the power of not having to sleep."
Getting by with seven hours or so a night I don't consider myself a huge sleeper. My sister majorly outclasses me though. She goes months and months averaging less than six hours a night with an occasional marathon repose session to catch up. Meredith also has several hobbies she actively pursues including: martial arts, guitar, reading and writing. The ability to do all those things while working two jobs can be perceived as bordering on superhuman. Meredith argued that if she could sleep even less, she'd be able to squeeze in even more pursuits.
"Wait, what is that up there? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's....
.... it's Not Sleeping Woman!"
I wonder if she'd where a cape. If you want to checkout the superpowers episode of This American Life check out the link below:
This American Life - #178 Superpowers
And here's some more video of Meredith's alter ego:
Meredith and I got on to the subject of superpowers one evening. I drew a comparison between her elementary teacher by day - cabaret dancer/Shanghai socialite by night existence to the Clark Kent/Superman persona. Where Clark Kent had blue spandex hidden under his shirt and tie, Meredith might have a bejeweled bikini concealed beneath her blouse. Where Superman dispensed with Kent's thick glasses to change his identity, Texas Blue applies heavy makeup, glitter, and false eyelashes to alter hers.
On the subject of superpowers, I had to bring up the aforementioned question of flight versus invisibility. Since first hearing the show I've posed the question often, usually during such conversations or as an ice breaker in new company. People seem to find talking about superpowers a comfortable and interesting subject.
"So Meredith, the power of flight or the power of invisibility?"
She chose neither. "I'd rather have the power of not having to sleep."
Getting by with seven hours or so a night I don't consider myself a huge sleeper. My sister majorly outclasses me though. She goes months and months averaging less than six hours a night with an occasional marathon repose session to catch up. Meredith also has several hobbies she actively pursues including: martial arts, guitar, reading and writing. The ability to do all those things while working two jobs can be perceived as bordering on superhuman. Meredith argued that if she could sleep even less, she'd be able to squeeze in even more pursuits.
"Wait, what is that up there? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's....
.... it's Not Sleeping Woman!"
I wonder if she'd where a cape. If you want to checkout the superpowers episode of This American Life check out the link below:
This American Life - #178 Superpowers
And here's some more video of Meredith's alter ego:
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