Posts Tagged ‘brain rules’

Fearful of the pro-democracy protests sweeping the world, the government has cracked down on hundreds of free thinking Chinese artists, intellectuals, students and citizens. But across the world, artists and art-lovers have begun to speak out in solidarity with Ai.

Chinese elites love buying contemporary art, and are planning a huge art fair in Beijing. If international galleries and artists withdraw from the fair, they’ll send shockwaves through the regime. Let’s build a massive global wave of support for top gallerists and artists to stop exhibiting in China until Ai Weiwei is freed. We’ll deliver it at the Venice biennale exhibition soon, and publish the reactions of major galleries and artists.

Image/text from: avaaz.org

If you would like to help free artist Ai Weiwei, try a no-cost-to-you-except-time petition addition of your name:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/artists_for_ai_weiwei/?copy

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Thursday, April 28, 2011. Today I am grateful that the world is full of artists who are willing to put their lives on the line for their art, and for their willingness to speak out against corruption and injustice, no matter where (or by whom) it is practiced! ~ Doc Meek

I joined Avaaz.org some time ago now. As I am definitely not a “joiner” this was not an easy decision for me. What made it easier was the integrity and persistence for good that exists in this mostly-volunteer worldwide organization.

Thank you, Patel Ricken, for founding Avaaz.org and for sticking with it despite many obstacles to justice in the world!

Doc Meek, Thurs, Apr 28, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

“ARE YOU THE VOICE?”

Image from: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/2011-search/

Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Today I am delighted to discover “Young and Free,” a program brilliantly created and developed to involve youth interactively in learning how money is managed in our society, and how to manage their own money more intelligently. Brilliant! ~ Doc Meek

Here is the invitation for young adults (17-25) to apply for this 2011 year, deadlined May 2.

However, remember, this is an annual contest, so you can always prepare ahead of time for next year, eh? Great learning experience to plan ahead, to actually do concrete things to prepare ahead of time. Beat the crowd for next year! 😮

“Are you between 17 and 25 years old and living in Alberta? Do you want the Young & Free Alberta Spokester title for a full year and a competitive annual salary? If you answered yes, this opportunity is for you!

“No cue cards. No scripts. Just you, being yourself, speaking for us, Servus Credit Union. Create a buzz, get people talking and take home big bucks.”

Click on this link, scroll down a little, and see the neat video on the “2011 Young and Free Spokester Search” video: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/2011-search/

Thank you, Cheryl Wiens*, for interacting with youth in positive ways that encourage them to learn to help themselves in positive ways!

Doc Meek, Tues, Apr 26, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

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*In addition to being the host of the Living Young & Free Show, Cheryl Wiens is the designated contact for all of the “Young and Free” applicants during the search phase. Send her an e-mail at youngfreealberta@gmail.com as she has all the answers! Also, feel free to add Cheryl as a friend on Facebook.

I sent Cheryl an email congratulating her on her good work.

I also asked Cheryl if we could have, in addition to her “Living Young & Free Show,” a “Living Old & Free Show?” 😮

To see entertaining and educational episodes of Cheryl’s “Living Young and Free Show,” click on: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/video-gallery-lyf-show/

Image from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/meditation/NeshebaofEspiritE/League%20of%20Black%20Women/meditation.jpg?o=4

Monday, April 25, 2011. Today I am so grateful that great minds come from seemingly totally different places and yet coalesce into a comprehensible whole if we keep our minds open and put our whole-mind learning to work! – Doc Meek

(1) Perspective One: Care of the Soul is not just about meditation.

“This book may just help you give up the futile quest for salvation and get down to the possible task of taking care of your soul. A modest, and therefore marvelous, book about the life of the spirit.” – Sam Keen, author of Fire in the Belly

CARE OF THE SOUL: A GUIDE FOR CULTIVATING DEPTH AND SACREDNESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Thomas Moore (Author); (80 customer reviews)

(2) Perspective Two: Man-machine interfaces are not just about technology and mechanics. Perhaps man-machine interfaces help us get down to the business of interfacing our life with our essence as well?

” . . . a provocative, thoughtful, and novel view of how this amazing machine called our brain processes and acts on information about our world. Always a scientist and often a poet, [Miguel] Nicolelis writes in an informative and engaging style that is accessible to specialist and layman alike.” – Thomas J. Carew, Dept of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine; former president of The Society for Neuroscience.”

BEYOND BOUNDARIES: THE NEW NEUROSCIENCE OF CONNECTING BRAINS WITH MACHINES–AND HOW IT WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES

Miguel Nicolelis (Author); (2 customer reviews)

Image/text from: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Boundaries-Neuroscience-Connecting-Machines/dp/0805090525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303713309&sr=1-1

Miguel Nicolelis and others are conducting experiments with rats and monkeys that demonstrate that machines can be controlled by brain thought processes alone, without any bodily interfaces. Further, they are planning experiments for brain to brain interfaces–thought to thought interfaces, without any bodily involvement.

Astounding!

Thank you, Thomas Moore and Miguel Nicolelis, for stretching our minds around both our souls and the thought-machine technologies  of our world!

Doc Meek, Mon, Apr 25, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

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*** Imagination trumps knowledge

Recognized as the father of modern physics, Albert Einstein believed that imagination was far more important than knowledge.

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
– Albert Einstein

Most of us are not educated in the best of schools, nor do we absorb all of the world’s available information. Those of us who excel even without being born to privilege have the ability to imagine beyond the knowledge that privilege provides. Creation of art, new knowledge, wealth and more lies in the capacity to imagine beyond what is currently known. As you make time to learn something new, remember to give your imagination equal time.

Image/text from: http://garryking.org/blog/2011/01/27/imagination-trumps-knowledge/

SERENITY PRAYER

Chinook Lake, by chella_2_2008, from photobucket.com*

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in the world,

And supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next.

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*Image from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/mountain%20forests/handhuura/3194670-1.jpg?o=9#!oZZ8QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fmedia.photobucket.com%2Fimage%2Fmountain%20forests%2Fchella_2_2008%2FPicture169.jpg%3Fo%3D8

Image from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/tired%20face/adi_niu/Image0-5.jpg?o=5

Wednesday, April 20, 2011. I am grateful today that I understand better what many Moms feel like when they simply do not have the energy to do one more thing! ~ Doc Meek, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

[BEAUTIFUL PET IMAGE: SOPHIE’S ALERT EYES DON’T MISS A THING]

Image from: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2784749820016090629xfkVQB

Tuesday, April 19, 2011. Today I am grateful for novelist Roald Dahl and his quote from values.com. ~ Doc Meek

“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. ”
– Roald Dahl (1916-1990); British novelist (Quote from values.com)

Thank you Roald Dahl and values.com for heighening our awareness to the everyday!

Doc Meek, Tuesday, April 19, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

 Image from: http://www.textually.org/textblog/mt_search.php?IncludeBlogs=1&search=Mobile%20Phone%20Throwing%20Championship&p=97

Monday, April 18, 2011. Today, once again, I am grateful for Pat Wyman and her HowToLearn.com website. I have long known that cellphone EMR (Electromagnetic Radiation) interferes with cell signalling and learning. Pat looks at the possibility of cancer in cellphone users. ~ Doc Meek

Today: New article on the HowToLearn.com blog –

Does Your Cellphone Cause Cancer?

We would love to hear your replies on the blog to the
question about cellphones and cancer.

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=52GBd&m=1gBsiuc4iuPI2b&b=gLK5JD3OMZIQ4wtWPjvj_w

The New York Times recently released an astonishingand extensive article on this subject.

What do you have to say?

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=52GBd&m=1gBsiuc4iuPI2b&b=gLK5JD3OMZIQ4wtWPjvj_w

Warmly,
Pat Wyman
Founder, HowToLearn.com

The Center for New Discoveries in Learning, Inc., 4535 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89102

……………………………….

Thank you Pat Wyman and HowToLearn.com for highlighting our cellphone awareness!

Doc Meek, Mon, Apr 18, 2011, Sherwood Park, AB, CANADA

ADDENDUM:

INTERPHONE study released: Heavy mobile users risk cancer

Time Online reports on the first in a series of combined data analyses of head and neck tumours published as part of the internationally coordinated INTERPHONE project, a 10-year study — the largest of its kind, compiling research from 13 countries, overseen by the World Health Organisation.

Results of the much anticipated report have been delayed over time as researchers disagreed over how to interpret the data. Below are excerpts from the report: 

People who use their mobile phones for at least 30 minutes a day for 10 years have a greater risk of developing brain cancer. The chance of suffering from a malignant tumour is increased by more than a third with prolonged use.

 The results of the study, which will be published this week, show that only those in the “heaviest user” category are at increased risk of developing glioma tumours, a type of brain cancer.

 This category, however, includes anyone who regularly uses their handset for more than 30 minutes a day.

Image/text above from: http://www.textually.org/textblog/mt_search.php?IncludeBlogs=1&search=Mobile%20Phone%20Throwing%20Championship&p=97

Prochaska, James O., John C. Norcross & Carlo C. DiClemente (1995).

CHANGING FOR GOOD: A REVOLUTIONARY SIX-STAGE PROGRAM FOR OVERCOMING BAD HABITS AND MOVING YOUR LIFE POSITIVELY FORWARD [Paperback]

Image/text from: http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Good-Revolutionary-Overcoming-Positively/dp/038072572X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302471141&sr=1-1

Monday, April 11, 2011. Today I am grateful for those people who work with addicts (that’s all of us, to one degree or another, maybe) and help them (us) mover forward in our lives in a positive way . . . permanently. Dr. Prochaska and his fellow Ph.D.s/colleagues are such people. ~ Doc Meek

I wrote to an ex-alcoholic friend about Dr. Prochaska’s work, as follows: 

Dear B, Drs. Prochaska, Norcross & DiClemente put forward the idea that family or corporate interventions that rush/push addicts (or any of us) into changing their (our) behavior before they (we) are ready internally to make the change, are almost certain to fail.
From what you have shared with me, you know this already. This program greatly increases the success rate and greatly reduces recidivism (relapse).

Blessings and Gratitudes, Doc ………………………………………………………………………….
SIX STEPS OR STAGES for CHANGING FOR GOOD:
1. Precontemplation
2. Contemplation
3. Preparation
4. Action
5. Maintenance
6. [Self-management] Termination [the end of official formal therapy]
– Prochaska, James O., John C. Norcross &
Carlo C. DiClemente (1995). Changing for Good …………………………………………………………………………..

This inexpensive and powerful book has been read by many; here is one reader’s comment:

5 out of 5 stars. What a nice change!

Published on July 14, 2007 by Henry

Unlike most self-help books out there, this one is actually based on research for a change. Based on this PhD’s work on how people change, this guy has uncovered the different, predictable stages of change that people go through when they attempt to get themselves to change. Although the stages are fairly predictable, not everybody goes through them in the exact same…

DANIEL’S GLOVES, by Richard Ryan, Assistant Pastor, Old Capitol United Methodist Church

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.

As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street.  There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, ‘I will work for food.’ My heart sank.

I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.

We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor.

I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car. [See the rest of the story in the P.S. below.]

Thank you, Pastor Richard Ryan, for being forthright and diligent!

Doc Meek, Fri, Apr 8, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

P.S.

Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me:  ‘Don’t go back to the office until you’ve at least driven once more around the square.’

Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square’s third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack.

I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town’s newest visitor.

‘Looking for the pastor?’ I asked.

‘Not really,’ he replied, ‘just resting.’

‘Have you eaten today?’

‘Oh, I ate something early this morning.’

‘Would you like to have lunch with me?’

‘Do you have some work I could do for you?’

‘No work,’ I replied ‘I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch.’

‘Sure,’ he replied with a smile.

As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions.  Where you headed?’

‘   St. Louis  ‘

‘Where you from?’

‘Oh, all over; mostly Florida .’

‘How long you been walking?’

‘Fourteen years,’ came the reply.

I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet  clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that  was startling He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red  T-shirt that said, ‘Jesus is The Never Ending  Story.’

Then Daniel’s story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He’d made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona.  He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.

He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God

‘Nothing’s been the same since,’ he said, ‘I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.’

‘Ever think of stopping?’ I asked.

‘Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles That’s what’s in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads.’

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: ‘What’s it like?’

‘What?’

‘To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?’

‘Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn’t make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people’s concepts of other folks like me.’

My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused He turned to me and said, ‘Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I’ve prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in.’

I felt as if we were on holy ground. ‘Could you use another Bible?’ I asked

He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. ‘I’ve read through it 14 times,’ he said.

‘I’m not sure we’ve got one of those, but let’s stop by our church and see’ I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.

‘Where are you headed from here?’ I asked.

‘Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon.’

‘Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?’

‘No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that’s where I’m going next.’

He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we’d met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.

‘Would you sign my autograph book?’ he asked. ‘I like to keep messages from folks I meet.’

I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I  left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, ‘I know the  plans I have for you, declared the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you  and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a  hope.’

Thanks, man,’ he said. ‘I know we just met and we’re really just strangers, but I love you.’

‘I know,’ I said, ‘I love you, too.’ ‘The Lord is good!’

‘Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?’ I asked.

A  long time,’ he replied

And  so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new  friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been  changed.. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, ‘See you in the New Jerusalem.’

‘I’ll be there!’ was my reply.

He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, ‘When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?’

‘You bet,’ I shouted back, ‘God bless.’

‘God bless.’ And that was the last I saw of him.

Later that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them… a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.

Then I remembered his words: ‘If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?’

Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two h ours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. ‘See you in the New Jerusalem,’ he said.  Yes, Daniel, I know I will…

‘I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I  shall not pass this way again.’

– Richard Ryan, Assistant Pastor, Old Capitol United Methodist Church, Corydon, Indiana, USA