Barb's Blog

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Commentary on Newsweek's "31 Ways to Get Smarter in 2012"

Did you see the article in the January 9 & 16, 2012 issue of Newsweek on getting smart (pages 31-34, no author)?

1. Play WORDS with friends. Ann M showed this game to Sue S and I at the basketball game the other night. This is the game that Alec Baldwin couldn't put down on the plane.
2. Eat turmeric. It is a spice used in Thai and Indian food. While I know I've eaten it, I don't think it is in the spice cabinet and, if it is, it's probably older than Dan. I'll comment on this again once I buy some and figure out what to do with it.
3. Take tae kwon do. Put differently, do aerobic exercise often.
4. Get news from Al Jazerra (in English, of course). I book-marked their website and learned today that Cristina Kirchner (Argentine President who likes helping the poor) didn't have cancer after all.
5. Toss your smartphone. If you want to see how pervasive these gadgets are, just walk across a college campus and count the number of people who aren't "texting while walking." It's much easier to count those who aren't than those who are.
6. Sleep. A lot. Dan liked this one. He also was pleased to hear Joel's mom explain that teens need a lot of sleep so that their frontal lobes can continue to develop. But this tip isn't just for teens. Daytime naps are OK (Tom liked that one).
7. Download the TED app. Apparently we can learn what brain scientists have discovered by tuning into this application.
8. Go to a literary festival. Dan's reaction? "No Way!" Actually, all I need to do is cozy up to Dawn B and Becky B at a basketball game to hear their latest book recommendations as they are always spot on. Thanks to them my next read will be Hillenbrand's Unbroken.
9. Build a memory palace. You know, remembering stuff.
10. Learn a language. This is one thing to which I can attest is good for your noggin. This activity exercises your prefrontal cortex (according to the article).
11. Eat dark chocolate. Tom loved this one. Of course, Sherry Z told him this years ago so he didn't need reminders from Newsweek.
12. Join a knitting circle. Insert gales of laughter from teenage son. Obviously, we're talking the benefits of fine motor activity. Banjos, ukuleles, and guitars will also work.
13. Wipe the smile off your face. Sounds harsh, but frowning causes one think things through instead of simple blind belief.
14. Play violent videogames like Skyrim. Dan purred like a kitten when I said this one. "That's what I was playing until 3 this morning, Mom!"
15. Follow Nouriel Roubini, Jay Abumrad, and Colson Whitehead on Twitter. I added Jay and Colson to my Twitter list to see what they have to say. More on this soon.
16. Eat yogurt. It's good for your emotions and memory. Carolyn, my sister-in-law, loves Fage yogurt.
17. Install Supermemo. I just googled this and it looks pretty cool. Supermemo helps you memorize things that you deem important and never want to forget. Too bad it isn't free.
18. See a Shakespeare play. Dan shook his head in the negative and said, "I already did this in English. We even watched a movie!"
19. Refine your thinking. Kahneman's book Thinking fast and slow will shed light on our lazy biases so that we might change and become better people.
20. Hydrate.
21. Listen to Ivy League course lectures on iTunes and get smart.
22. Visit MOMA (the Museum Of Modern Art). Looking at art is relaxing, plus, we look smart when strolling through art galleries.
23. Play an instrument. This is one of my favorites.
24. Write by hand. Ugh, my handwriting is terrible. Apparently we remember things better when we do it by hand, plus it occupies our brain more than typing on a computer.
25. The pomodoro technique is a time management approach which uses a timer, pencil and paper that supposedly helps us work more efficiently.
26. Zone out. If you need help on how to do this, just look at your dog who is probably relaxing in the sunshine. Of course, we don't need to do this all day (like our dogs), but they can model how it is done.
27. Drink coffee. Tom loved this one, especially the part where it said, "and don't just drink one cup!" It helps ward off depression and boosts short-term memory.
28. Delay gratification.
29. Become an expert - find something you really love and do it (practice) often.
30. Write reviews on line. Dan asked if commenting on YouTube videos counts. I love writing travel reviews on TripAdvisor!
31. Get out of town. Enjoy nature to both relax and engage your brain.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Ringing in the New Year in AZ

We visited Karen and Joel in Tucson where Joel is wrapping up his masters degree in international relations at the University of Arizona.

Had a great meal together at Casa Vicente, a Spanish restaurant complete with a flamingo guitar player and singers.

Sonoran Institute

Stopping for lunch en route to Wasson Peak, 4800 ft., in Saguaro National Park.

Like a desert dork, I stubbed my toe into a prickly pear cactus!! Karen helped me remove the 8-10 small, hairlike prickles called glochids from the top part of my toe!

In this picture are 2 saguaro cacti (with Dan, Joel, and Karen in the background). Saguaros take about 75 years just to grow a side arm, and many live as long as 150 years!

The summit. It was 7 miles to the top and back.

New Year's Eve fireworks in the backyard.

Contented pyros

Wonderful hosts!!

The Christmas gift in this last picture caused a stir at the airport by the TSA. They had to extract the mud bath powder container from my backpack and conduct 2 tests to make sure the mud was void of explosive material.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Pictures from the Fall

Banjo Barb - I've been playing claw-hammer-style banjo for about 2 years. Homespun Tapes and Mike Iverson's website are my primary sources of instruction. The right hand banjo technique is so dang counter-intuitive to the guitar, but strangely enough I can switch instruments without missing a beat. Dan isn't impressed...he says the banjo just sounds all the same.

Mom and Dad celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on December 18th at the Starlight Inn. As Dad says, "57 and counting!" I got to join the celebration which was done in true George and Ann style.

This autumn picture was taken from our deck overlooking the pond and Tom's corn. We don't rake leaves on the farm because they simply blow away in good time.

Labor Day weekend.

Here is Tom playing the ever-popular "Stump" game which originated from northern California.

Karen is pretty good at the game. She has to wear sunglasses to ward off the Stump paparazzi.

I'm more of a chump at Stump.

Craig

This Stump player usually delivers lots of laughs with his style.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Fall Harvest 2011

Tom has been combining corn and soybeans these past 10 days. In just that time he has harvested roughly half of his acreage, so it has gone rather quickly.

Despite a very dry year, the crop has been about average. The corn has done a little better than expected, and the beans a little worse.

There are 6 pictures in this post. At the end is a 30 second clip of Tom combining beans and Andrew "catching on the go" with the tractor and auger wagon. He makes it look pretty easy.

This particular farm is in a place called Cropsey, IL. Fitting, huh?

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Tour de Chatsworth

A bicycle race? In Chatsworth? You bet! On 9/10/11, Gordon realized a dream he'd had for quite some time.

If you click on the picture for a closer look, you'll see he thought of everything in the organization of this event!

Bobby, Steve, and Dennis helped with race logistics.

Mark is resting up before his flight. Tom mostly trash-talked while Dan pondered entering the fray.

Here is Gordon crossing the finish line.

They had music, adult beverages, and food.

And everyone was invited.

Diane greeted the crowd as she sailed across the finish line.

I've ridden nearly 1300 miles in 2011 and this kid of mine not only jumped on my bike to do a lap, he beat my time!

Mike Leahy's great artwork: Tour de Chatsworth.