Here's an amazing trick for remembering 10 totally random words in less than a minute . . . in order.

I think I learned this from a pick up artist but have never got laid doing it.

“OMG, you have such a hot . . . hippocampus . . . TAKE ME HOME NOW!!”
 
 
 
 

So here's how you do it:

 
Get a group of friends or willing strangers to write down the numbers 1 through 10 on a piece of paper, cocktail napkin or passed out drunk guy.

Next, have them write down 10 totally random words – one for each number. Like this:
 

1. Tea
2. Foreplay
3. Intriguing
4. Twitter
5. Corn
6. Sex
7. Gaga
8. Travel
9. Puppy
10. Wizard

 
Your system is going to be based on rhyming sounds.
 

Pair “1” with “Gun”
Pair “2” with “Shoe”
Pair “3” with “Tree”
Pair “4” with “Door”
Pair “5” with “Hive”
Pair “6” with “Sticks”
Pair “7” with “Heaven”
Pair “8” with “Hate”
Pair “9” with “Wine”
Pair “10” with “Pen”

 
Which specific words you use doesn't actually matter as long as they lend themselves to absurd mental imagery (which is why object nouns work so well for this).

Once the group is done composing, they give you one minute with the paper.
 

1. Tea

 
We paired “1” with “Gun” and the word “Tea” is number “1”.

So I quickly visualize the most absurd, disgusting, offensive thing possible.

In this case – me shooting the teapot from Beauty and The Beast with a fo'-fo' to the horror of all the other anthropomorphized kitchen items.

It makes a clinking noise as I empty round after round and the rosy hue fades from her cheeks as she bleeds tea.

Mmm, Earl Grey, my (and Jean-Luc's) favorite.
 
 

( Photo by: blubenbiene )
 
 

At this point you may be thinking that I'm officially f*cked up.
 
 
But remember that:
 
a) you don't need to tell anybody about the images you use to retain the info and probably shouldn't

and

b) allowing yourself to think whatever you think without labeling it is healthy: take the lid off the steaming teapot every now and then . . . or, as in my case, shoot it in front of all its friends.
 

Let's take:
 

9. Puppy
 

“9” rhymes with “wine”, so I picture pouring my ex-roommate's dog, Gigas, a nice bowl of shiraz.

Note: This works best using real-life references (e.g. Your dog or a friend's as opposed to an imaginary puppy)

He then proceeds to get horny and start humping my leg at which point I decide to have some wine as well and see where this takes us.

 

Fire through these as quick as possible, “visualizing” with all of your senses.

Again, the more ridiculous your mental imagery is, the better you'll encode the information. I still remember numbers and words from doing this trick months ago . . . Powerful!

You can ask the group to call out a number and you'll identify the word that goes with it, or vice versa. It's schwayt like that.

This trick is useful anytime you need to remember a short list such as groceries, book titles, presents to buy, etc., or as a great parlor trick. (Who the hell hangs out in parlors??)

Check out this other sweet memory hack.
 
 

******
 
 

( Photo thanks to: d'n'c' )
 
 
I'm writing this post in Starbucks.

I don't have internet access at home right now so I've been working here all day.

And it's easy to see why. Free Wifi, you can eat relatively healthy, tasty food here, work, listen to music and chat with friendly strangers.

 
 

Sample Starbucks Diet:

 

Breakfast:

Classic egg salad with dill, mustard, celery and lettuce on whole-wheat bread. (21g Protein!) [ $5.25 ]

Tall Coffee, Tall Water [ $1.50 ]  
Lunch:

Sliced apples, dried sweetened cranberries and almonds, with Brie, Gouda and white Cheddar cheese and a whole-wheat sesame cracker [ $4.95 ]

Seasonal fruit cup with (surprisingly fresh!) kiwi, grapes, blueberries, strawberries and mango slices [ $3.45 ]

1 Cup of Green Tea w/free refill [ $1.95 ]  
Late Afternoon Snack:
 

Natural chicken breast with sour cream green chili spread, bell pepper and pepper jack cheese on flatbread. (suggestion: Lose the bread and just eat the Chicken, Cheese and Veg)
[ $5.65 ]

Tall Water [ $0 ]  

If you're looking for great coffee and espresso that doesn't taste like mocha-flavored fish oil, head over to an indy coffee shop.

If you need a surrogate apartment, however, Starbucks is the spot.

For those of you in the Bay Area, headphones are a must to muffle excruciatingly loud conversations in Cantonese!

 

Bon Appetite!
 
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