Posts Tagged ‘self-involvement in learning’

“Help artists free fellow artist Ai Weiwei.” – Alex Wilks, Avaaz.org

You can learn to add your voice (quietly) by adding your good name to good petitions for good causes. – Doc Meek
World-famous and beloved Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been “disappeared” by China’s state security forces. Every trace of Ai’s life and art have been erased from the Chinese internet, and his only hope may be a global outcry for his release.

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

“Young and Free” ~ Cheryl & Servus Credit Union

“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/

“Opposites? Man-machine interfaces & Soul care?” ~ Doc Meek

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

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

Thomas Moore (Author); (80 customer reviews)

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One of the surprises from Thomas Moore is his “Gifts of Depression” and “The Healing Power of Depression.” And here we thought that depression was to be avoided at all costs, eh?
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Here is Thomas Moore speaking for himself, in his Introduction to Care of the Soul:
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“The great malady of the twentieth century, implicated in all of our troubles and affecting us individually and socially, is “loss of soul.” When soul is neglected, it doesn’t just go away; it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence, and loss of meaning.

“Our temptation is to isolate these symptoms or try to eradicate them one by one; but the root problem is that we have lost our wisdom about the soul, even our interest in it . . . .

“[I want] to show that by caring for the soul we can find relief from our distress and discover deep satisfaction and pleasure.

“It is impossible to define precisely what the soul is. Definition is an intellectual enterprise anyway; the soul prefers to imagine.***”

– From the “Introduction” to Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life, by Thomas Moore, psychotherapist and writer who lives in New England, in the USA

(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

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 for Easter Sunday

SERENITY PRAYER

Chinook lake

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

“Not enough energy to post today.” ~ Doc Meek

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

“Above all, with glittering eyes . . . ” ~ Roald Dahl

ONALERT.jpg image by CUMMINGS105

[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

“Controversial study on cellphone hazards.” ~ Doc Meek

cell-phone-brain-tumor-713.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 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 –

Contact Pat 

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

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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

cell-phone-brain-tumor-713.png 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: 

quotemarksright.jpg 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

“Plastic good for the brain? What?” ~ Doc Meek

 

Neuronal image from: http://www.scenicreflections.com/media/249480/Neuron_in_Dual_Screen_Wallpaper/

 

 

Other images/text: http://mindsparke.com/brain-fitness-training/tag/neurogenesis/

Friday, April 15, 2011. Today I am grateful to know that we humans can grow new neurons throughout life, contrary to all previous teachings. ~ Doc Meek

Why Plastic is Good for Your Brain, by Dr. Dharma
Dear Friend,
There are at least two images conjured up in your mind when you hear the word
“plastic.”
The first could be your credit card and that’s, of course, priceless.
If you’re a movie buff then when you hear the word “plastic” perhaps you
remember the movie called The Graduate. It was Dustin Hoffman’s first big roll.
In the film, a business man tells the character Mr. Hoffman is playing that the
secret to success will be, “plastics.”
Recently modern medical research, including my own, has revealed that to be true.
But it’s a different kind of plastic.
And like the credit card that you see on TV, it really is priceless.
What I’m talking about is the idea that your brain is plastic.
What I mean by that is that your brain can change. It’s malleable.
It can change for the better. It can get younger. Your brain can even regenerate
itself and grow new brain cells. This is called neuro-genesis or plasticity.
I’ve been writing about this since 1995 and it played an important role in my
groundbreaking book, Brain Longevity.
Of course your brain can rapidly age, too. It just depends on what you do to it and
for it.
Here are 3 proven scientific ways you can use this notion of a plastic brain to your
advantage.
1. Exercise your body: Research, some of it recent and some long standing, reveals
that exercise does more than build muscles and help prevent hear disease. Science
shows that it also boosts brain power—and offers hope in the battle against
Alzheimer’s.
2. Exercise Your Mind: Mental exercise, different than your work, can prevent
Alzheimer’s disease by a whopping 70%.
3. The final way I’m going to mention in this edition of The Healing Minute is
Mind/Body exercise. This is the least researched and discussed by conventional
medical doctors, but is my main area of expertise along with the overall concept of
the prevention and reversal of memory loss and boosting your brain power now so
you don’t lose it later.
As I’ve been sharing on these pages recently, my own ongoing cutting-edge
research at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine’s Center for
Spirituality and The Mind reveals that the brain can be changed positively in only 12
minutes. This is extremely significant because older research showed it took as long
as 1 hour to create these same incredibly obvious therapeutic and curative
changes.
This is definitely undeniable healing in action.
So remember, the combination of physical, mental, and mind/body excercise can
make you smarter and younger.
You can grow new brain cells. Your brain can run faster and with more efficiency.
And without a doubt, the combination of these big three types of exercise,
especially when used together with my Longevity Line of Supplements can stave off
Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, and other cognitive disorders.
So remember, no matter what your age or stage of life you can build and rebuild a
strong, active mind. And without a doubt, that’s definitely priceless.
Best of Blessings,
Dr. Dharma
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Thank you, Dr. Dharma, for your willingness to share your brain knowledge!
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Doc Meek, Fri, Apr 15, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

“Finished my income tax returns! :o) ~ Doc Meek

Thursday, April 14, 2011. Today I am so happy and grateful to finally get my income tax returns all filled out! And thank heaven for GenuTax and TurboTax software that help make this humongous task mangeable! 😮

“Changing for Good.” ~ James Prochaska

Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward

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…

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Thank you, Drs. Prochaska, Norcross and DiClemente, for forging new ground and increasing success rates and reducing recidivism (relapse).
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Doc Meek, Mon, Apr 11, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA