I am sure that everyone has heard the, "Is the glass half full or half empty?" question. It is a way to differentiate between whether one has a basically "Optimistic" attitude or a basically "Pessimistic" attitude.
I am equally sure that there are many people that don't understand the difference----perhaps they are pessimistic or optimistic on a case by case basis-----or perhaps "selectively" optimistic or pessimistic depending on the "assault." In all honesty it can be very difficult at times to tell which is true. Sometimes (usually) it is a matter of perspective. For example, take this pair of pictures of a sandstone formation in New Mexico. Can you tell which is an "innie" and which is an "outie?"
If you print this page (or stand on your head) and turn it upside down you will see the images reverse to look the same way they do here. This shows how easily the mind can be fooled----and it happens to us all, on all levels of our lives everyday.
I was thinking about this the other day, when it occurred to me that perhaps it would be more productive to look at it another way. What if instead of wondering whether our lives are "half full" or "half empty," we entertained the idea that our lives are a "full half"----and play the second half when we get to it.
Just a thought.
(PS, which is the real picture----left or right?)
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
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Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.





Charles, Quit playing with my mind - please ;) I think it must be the "innie" on the right?? God bless,
Cheryl, will the "Majority" be right is the question?---lets wait and see:)
Hmmm...is there any right or wrong to the way we play on words? The glass half full is cool with me...detailed? My life is content and I am at the space, place and time I am supposed to be ... right now. Tomorrow's another day...but no matter what the day may bring....it will surely be up to me to continuously fill that glass....and look at my life as ....enough...instead of want for ...more.
The right one....only because I have an innie :)
It's been a long day and this just sent my eyesight over the edge. Very cool though. I was still able to read it and understand it, impressive for a 12 hour day.
I'm going to have to think about this one. You always have the best post.
I'm confused!
I'd better quit while I'm just a little behind.
Charles - where the hell do you come up with this stuff??? I used to think I was warped, but you take the cake (or, er, the sandstone formation) - Ray
I need to know!
I would say the picture on the right is the real picture, but they are the same picture just rotated 180 degrees.
Sean Allen
Sally----I am so happy knowing that:)
Brian, thanks----hang in there:)
Mott, recognizing our personal confusion is a good thing:)
Ray, all in a days work I guess.
Marc, need to know what?:)
Sean, very true----man this is getting complicated. So which picture is in the "correct" position as taken. One of them is rotated 180 degrees as Sean says.
I,m sooo....... confused!!!! I do not know what to say. What am I look at. The eyes of a chameleon. Charles I've notice you like playing some cool head games. Well in this game, double vision.
~Newbie
I think the left is an outie while the right is an innie, but I did spend a lot of time in the sun today and may not be even answering the right question.
Gary, I will give you "fully baked" is that OK?:)
Here is another one for you all.
Charles, on your second photo....you have the top and bottom from the rock/stone being split in half. The top picture contains the fossil and the bottom photo contains it's impression.
Sean Allen
On the original photo I believe the picture on the right is the original.
Sean----VERY nice try----but no, same picture, one is 180 degrees turned again:) And just when you thought it was safe to trust your brain again:)
rats
Rats?----actually I think fossilized squirrel bones:)
Ohhhh Gobbligoop!!!
Honestly, I know I'm right and your wrong on the second picture grouping. ...... I think!
Sean, just print them out and then cut them out individually and put them next to each other in any position and you will see they are the same picture:)
Charles, I'm sorry but I must be getting dumber. I usually understand your post and enjoy reading them. I am going to read again tomorrow morning and see if I can get it. It's got to be me...
Charles, Never trust the mind, it wil play tricks on you every time...
On first set of photos I could see it. The second set is more difficult to see. I disconnect everything to my laptop turning it all directions and still not seeing it. I also tried flipping it, but there no screen on back side of my laptop.
Hi Charles, I was looking through your paint collection the other day and would like to sumbit one of your painting to blogs happen contest. Asking for your permission, a simple YES OR NO will be fine. No explains needed. Answer respected.
~Newbie
Paul, keep trying:)
Michael, the mind can certainly fool you----not to mention be a fool:)
Roy, so are you saying the image doesn't "reverse?" They both look "inset" or "raised?" (you can use the pic)
They are both "outies" to me.
Rats?----actually I think fossilized squirrel bones:)
You are pushing the envelope and way out of line with that comment Mr B
Maybe the answer is not the important thing...maybe it is the way the question is asked. Why ask "Is the glass half full or half empty?"...try this instead: "How full is the glass?"; it doesn't give the choice of looking at it as partially empty.
Kevin, some people's "minds" don't reverse this type of image----most do.
Steve---probably:)
Scott, I like it.
OK all----in the first pair (for those of you that see "different" inages. The one on the left is the way the picture was taken originally----and is an "outie." In the second group the top one---another "outie"---is the original picture. Hope this helps:)
Charlie,
I hear through the grapevine that you are staying up to 3am writing reports these days. You will be petrified yourself at that rate. All work and no play makes Charlie B a squirrely boy.
Looks like I am keeping an eye on the squirrel whisperer:)
Quite the optical illusion, Charles. I just spent several minutes staring at those, convinced they were different photos! Keep up the great posts! :)
I like it Charles. I am a half full kind of guy! How about adding the feedburner Icon at the bottom of your post instead of the AR subscribe. I bet this will help you:) Many people miss it in the side bar.
Bill, thanks. So are you saying to ignore making it easy for AR members to sign up?
Charles, this is a common optical conclusion (sic)... the human brain is used to "sunlight" (or the light source) coming from above. And this translates into a photograph as well.
So with the light source being toward the top left of the page, shadows from an "outie" would be thrown to the bottom right outside of the image.
Shadows from an "Innie" would be thrown inside of the image (hole)...
Yes, Alan, I know----I have been fooling around with the illusion for years. What is even more interesting there is a small percentage of people that apparently don't experience the reversal----man are they weird:)