Thinking Meat

I'm not sure about this site: The Thinking Meat Project

It is puzzling. It may not understand itself. Her self-definition includes "It may be hard to summarize Thinking Meat, but after awhile you know it when you see it." The name is explained: We, being people, are a unique species because we think; and we are flesh and blood which is meat. Read About Thinking Meat for an official, detailed discussion, or, even better, read this essay .

The format is different than the average blog, but it is not average - it is Thinking Meat. Take a look. I think you will appreciate it. I did. The blogger is a woman, Mary, who is curious, likes to read, and obviously likes to write.

There is a lot to see.

• Book reviews, several about the brain
• Links, categorized by people and places and other stuff
• Quotes, there are some good ones here
• Long list of other cool sites

This is a fun site. Check it out. The Thinking Meat Project

technorati tags: thinkingmeat, essays, vicki'sblog

Healthy in Geneva

Everyone deserves access to health, but not everyone thinks about it. In May, local, national, and international organizations, including governmental, private sector, educational, hospital, civil, and organizations representing those who need care are meeting in Geneva.

The goal of the Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health is "to provide integrated approaches and responses to global health challenges."

Look at the Programme at a Glance for the ambitious agenda, from strengthening and financing health systems and bridging the gap between policy and practice.

Geneva is an ideal location for this forum because the World Health Organization, the United Nations health arm, is headquartered there. When the forum is finished, hopefully the world will be headed in a healthier direction.

technorati tags: genevahealthforum, worldhealthorganization, vicki'sblog

What Was the First Microwaved Food?

Why, popcorn, of course!

And how appropriate. Today is National Popcorn Day, so microwaves everywhere will be popping away. Check this popcorn trivia to find details of the first popcorn popping in a microwave. Americans eat about 17 billion quarts every year, most of it at home, so that comes in handy. See more trivia, jokes, and poems on the National Popcorn Day site.

And for the nutrition-conscious snackers among us, Orville Redenbacher’s® and Act II® have microwave popcorn that is 100% whole grain with 0 grams of trans fat. I did not know of this, but apparently it has been around for a couple of years.

Just in case you don't yet have enough popcorn information, here is the Popcorn Board's site. There are teaching tools and craft ideas, popcorn books, recipes, history and tips.

Gotta go. It's time for a snack.

technorati tags: popcorn, nationalpopcornday, vicki'sblog

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Do a search for Winston Churchill biographies and a list of 118,000 results is returned. How could someone write another one that might stand out from the rest?

Grechen Rubin wrote Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill. Rubin says Churchill's "greatest strength was his genius with words" and one humble high school teacher illustrates this in his blog as he refers to her work.

Rubin took on another popular icon (352,000 hits) with Forty Ways to Look at JFK. Select "Playing with Convention" to see her unique approach to biography.

Although it seems she has many projects going, her daily blog highlights The Happiness Project. Read through some of her quotes -- she seems to have a love affair with words. Look at the left sidebar for tips -- tips for being happy, for buying groceries on vacation, for passing time with the kids, and many, many more. The right sidebar has a long list of amazing links as well as a happiness library, all contributing to happiness.

Here's a tip:
Read a couple of biographies and just be happy.

technorati tags: thehappinessproject, jfk, winstonchurchill, biography, grechinrubin, vicki'sblog

Somewhere Over that Rainbow

This rainbow was in David's room in our first house. When I was a single mother and my two little boys were very little, we lived in an apartment and our dream was to have our very own house. I bought the house and we painted the walls, including a 5-color rainbow in David's room.

Today is Make Your Dream Come True Day and the song that goes with it is "Over the Rainbow," so I thought about that little house and David's rainbow. Look over a rainbow to find your dream.

If you have a dream, today is the day to make it come true. Can't get it done today? Take the first step. Don't know what that might be? Make a plan. J.M. Power said, "If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up." Consider today your wake-up call. Good luck.

technorati tags: makeyourdreamcometrueday, dreamsandrainbows, vicki'sblog,

Grampa's Blog

Grampa's Blog has fun things for kids, and it includes tips for parents and grandparents, too.

The latest post is a quick video made by Nick. It has been a long time since we tried to talk him into taping a quote for the camera. He wasn't interested then, but he remembered the quote he picked that day, or almost remembered it. He turned on the camera, jumped in front of it, and gave us his version of Woody Allen's quote. Short, but sweet.

This site is also a good way to remind the kids of cousins birthdays. Previous posts link to cool sites for kids who surf the Internet, links to sites that have good information for people who spend time with kids. The sidebar has an updated list of links full of fun and tips.

Check it out. Maybe you can offer suggestions for links you or your kids like. Maybe you can start your own and and link to Grampa's Blog.

technorati tags: grampa'sblog, vicki'sblog, kidssites, tipsforkids

Are You Organized Yet?

It has been a week since New Year's resolution time and one of the most popular resolutions was "to get organized." So, if that was your resolution, are you organized yet? Maybe in one room? Or just a closet?

What? Not done yet? Well, relax. It may not be your fault. There are sixteen medical conditions that may result in disorganization. Yes, sixteen! Don't panic, because you might not have one of these conditions. Wrong Diagnosis tells us "some level of disorganization is not necessarily a symptom of disease." It could be as simple as tiredness, perhaps as a consequence of an over-busy schedule.

Now remember, "to get organized" is a popular resolution, so that means many people are disorganized. In fact, there is a National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), a non-profit educational organization. Look at the fact sheets to determine if you qualify as chronically disorganized or if you have to deal with it. They provide training for effected persons or people who want to become professional organizers, as well as referrals to people they have trained or related professionals.

There has to be a less drastic solution to organize a cluttered room. There are several TV programs that show a team clearing a house or room, discarding the unnecessary items, remodeling, and replacing must-save items. Does a fresh start guarantee an organized room? At least for awhile.

My favorite is Mission: Organization on HGTV hosted by Gail O'Neil where professional organizers follow a simple formula to walk the disorganized people from chaos to order. It is only 1/2 hour, and it may be just the inspiration you need.

My desk is cluttered now and again, but I like it better when it's not. Personally, I have lived in all stages of organization. I do tend to horde, as NSGCD warns, but not much, mostly papers. I prefer clear cabinets in the kitchen, minimal or at least neat decor, less furniture instead of crowded rooms.

technorati tags: organization, disorganization, chronicdisorganization, missionorganization, vicki'sblog, clutter, unclutter

Heard It Enough?

Have you ever heard a word or phrase that you absolutely do not want to hear again? Sometimes terminology just runs away from us, and a well-turned phrase becomes a too-oft-repeated irritant. For example --

Back in the day (whichever day that was), before we were in a post 9/11(the date used to mark all time) world, when everything we ate was organic (because, after all, what food isn't?) and very few of us knew about waterboarding (which almost sounds like surfing), life was something that is what it is (whatever that is).

Lake Superior State University recognizes many words and phrases are misused, overused, or generally just useless. For the last 33 years LSSU has published a list of these words to be banished. This year, more than 2000 were nominated from which a committee produces the final list.

Have a favorite vocabulary pet peeve? See if it made the LSSU 2008 Banished Words List.

technorati tags: banishedwords, , lakesuoperiorstateuniversity, vickiwblog,