In the TV show Bones, one of the main characters, Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, is portrayed as a genius intellect and very rational. They use the word 'rational', 'rationality', and 'hyperrational' nearly every episode, always in an attempt to show its failings along the lines of Spock; classic Straw Vulcan. In discussing this with my family (my mom and aunt watch the show), I tried to explain that what they're showing isn't rational, that emotions are capable of being part of a rational decision, that whenever they try to portray the character as being rational they're meaning something different, that social skills can be learned, that people with intelligence should be better at figuring this stuff out than others, etc. I got so frustrated that I mocked those who might enjoy such a script by assuming a 'low class' voice and saying, "Stupid smart people! Huhuh!" Everyone started laughing hysterically and agreed that I had hit the nail on the head: most people are entertained by realizing how "stupid" such "smart" people can be. I was merely frustrated. This sort of thing is why the word "rational" has such a bad image.

Music: * The complete works of Capsule. They started as annoying indie hipsters and have slowly turned into a sort of Japanese answer to Daft Punk. They appear all but unknown outside Japan, and that's just wrong. I got into them after suffering sufficient repeat exposure to "PONPONPON" (which is very big with the 4yo demographic in my house) and determining to track down the people responsible. Yasutaka Nakata also turns out utter cheese (Perfume and Coltemonikha make Kyary Pamyu Pamyu look like Motorhead), but is nevertheless clearly brilliant. * Lots of old stuff I liked in the '80s and am now listening to in high quality on decent headphones. Hearing detail I wasn't aware of from my memory and with the benefit of twenty-five more years' experience listening to music. This is why there's a market for reissues.