Opus 2026-070: New Terms: Needles

I find recently that I have been using a phrase that I don’t think I’ve frequented before.  I know it’s not original with me.  I don’t know if I heard it somewhere recently, what put it in the front of my mind or whether it just emerged from the murk of my magic eight ball.

The phrase is “move the needle”.  You can express it different ways such as “move your needle”, but the idea is the same.  The concept is that needles on seismograph’s, audio equipment VU meters and such respond to show when there’s a sudden disturbance.  Most of us are stuck somewhere in the middle and our needles just don’t move.  We need a challenge that comes from discomfort or crisis.  It seems that only that will move our needle.

Another way in which the needle moves is demonstrated by the needle of our fuel or our temperature gauge in the car.  They are bound to move.  The question is are we watching to see when we need to do something about it.

So maybe a new phrase might be, “watch your needle”. Or we could say “take care of your needle”.

Life brings change, or it should if we’re still alive.  Pay attention, fill up with gas, have your oil changed, and get on down the road.

homo unius libri