The effect of listening to our MP3 in public transport

A little bit more in addition to one of the last posts about public transport: it seems like we can bear the vicinity of strangers more easily when listening to happy music through headphones. Positive music makes the borders of our personal space smaller!
Read more about this research, done by psychologists from the University of London, at:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0026083

WRITING ON THE NET AND COPYRIGHTS

For anyone who writes on the net, I would advise reading this post by Seth Godin

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/simple-thoughts-about-fair-use.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

City and Street Views

I love the pictures of German artist Michael Wolf!
http://photomichaelwolf.com/intro/index.html

His new pics of subway-travellers in Tokyo make me think....
How do we prefer to move around? Which options do we have? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option? Anyone of us makes different choices.
Walking? Bicycle? Car? Subway? ....?

Dog Phobia: a cognitive behavioral perspective

Most specific phobias (like dog phobia) arise in childhood. Modeling (seeing frightened parents for example) could be one of the causes, as well as conditioning experiences (for example, seeing a person being bitten by a dog) and receiving negative information (stories of friends/family, films, books).

When fear is interfering with daily life it's good to find help. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-known and efficient therapy to tackle fear and anxiety. It consists of 2 parts: cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. This is because in CBT, cognitions as well as behavior are thought to play a crucial role in the way we feel (for example: scared).

Our behavior can change our thoughts and feelings. Besides that, our thoughts can change our feelings and behavior.

People who are afraid of something, tend to avoid the situation or object they fear. In the short term, avoidance helps because you will feel less afraid. But in the long term, this behavior creates persistence or even an increase of the anxiety. Behavioral therapy focuses on changing behavior to overcome fear. Step by step, under professional guidance, you will start exposing yourself to the things you fear. This allows you slowly adapt to situations that you find difficult.

Cognitive therapy is all about the way of thinking. Your thoughts will be examined during treatment. You will learn to think differently about your fear. New, helping thoughts will be created that will help you overcome your fears. For example, people with anxiety disorders often think that the risk of danger is very great. The question is whether this is true? Are these thoughts realistic? What would be a more helpful, realistic thought?

Dog phobia

Our reader Anna asked for an elaboration on dog phobias. From a psychoanaltycal point of view dog phobia as other phobias is a way of expressing anxiety. The person may think along these lines (sub-consciously): if I manage to avoid dogs I won't be so anxious.
And you know what? It sometimes works.
Mind you, the phobia can be manageable up to a certain point. When it upsets your life (eg not visiting a friend because of his dog) it's time to do something about it. Cognitive therapy is quite used in these cases. I'll ask our new collaborator and cognitive therapist Esther Schuller to write about it.
Welcome Esther!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's interesting how our minds work and how we like to atribute meanings to calendar and dates. What happened between yesterday and today? Nothing or maybe a lot, it depends on the individual.
Although the international and national situations are worrying, let's face 2012 as the French philosopher Giles Deleuze wrote: "to be ethical is to live up to the circumstances".
Exits 1, enters 2: Happy New Year

HOW NICE A HOME

What a beautiful and not expensive decoration! Sometimes it takes more emotional investment than money. Which is to say: creativity.

Seen in the blog my ideal home
http://www.bloglovin.com/m/1844326/347426062/a/0/aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRm15aWRlYWxob21lLnR1bWJsci5jb20lMkZwb3N0JTJGMTQwNTk3MTM4ODQ=

ANOTHER STUNNING PICTURE

(Via Greensavers)

FLYING IN A CLOUD

To fly in a cloud...
The project of a Portuguese architect

http://www.greensavers.pt/2011/10/19/arquitecto-portugues-tiago-barros-podera-ter-criado-o-meio-de-transporte-mais-sustentavel-de-sempre/

SOCIAL NETWORKS: FACEBOOK

Interesting article about the possible impact of the extensive use of Facebook on happiness.
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/12/facebook_is_making_us_miserabl.html

GARMONIQUE, GREAT PHOTOS

Stunning photos, a great photographer!
It's so nice to find something like this in the net.

http://illusion.scene360.com/art/23918/shadow-of-a-man/#comment-15268

CULTURAL SITE

This wonderful site allows to get language lessons for free (even Chinese), movies, audiobooks.

TOO MUCH PATHOLOGIES?

An article worrying reading:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2011/11/10/the-new-mental-disorders-manual-is-crazy-making/

PORTUGAL GOLF MASTERS 2011

13th to 16th October 2011 European Tour Host: the Victoria Golf Vilamoura, Portugal Prize Money: To be confirmed. The Biggest Golf Tournament in Portugal Considered one of the leading European golf tournaments, the Masters will be held in Portugal for the 5th consecutive year from the 13th to 16th October 2011. The introduction to the Portugal Masters recognizes the quality of the golf facilities and tourism infrastructures that now exists in Portugal, enabling the country to welcome the elite of golf professionals, world-wide coverage by the international press with an expected 35,000 spectators attending the event. The Portugal Masters has been a huge success for the last three years. The event attracts a strong field and some of Europe's finest players are usually playing there. With its presence on the PGA's European Circuit assured until 2011, the Portugal Masters will further enhance Portugal's position as one of the finest golf destinations in the world.

WHAT AN WONDERFUL SHOT!

Perfect island by By&Review (via likecool.com).
Stunning.
I just love islands. I wish I knew where is this.

RESEARCH ON DREAMS

It seems that young people dream more often in colour than older people. Read this and more about dreams at:

3 Fascinating Facts About Dreams - World of Psychology
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/10/09/3-fascinating-facts-about-dreams/

BIKE CONTEST IN OREGON

Bikes are so flexible and adaptive. Not to speak of being non-polluent and good for exercise. I wish Lisbon and "Linha" will be soon bike-friendly.

StudeNt WINNER: UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

http://oregonmanifest.com/2011/09/26/the-constructors-design-challenge-winners/

GOOD IDEA INDEED

http://www.likecool.com/Disaster_Relief_Dirigible--Design--Gear.html

French FIlms

The 12^th edition of the French Cinema Festival in Lisbon begins Thursday and last to the16th of October.

The films will be shown in the Cinema St George and in the Portuguese Cinematheque.

Accompanying the Seventh Art, the Bar Goliardos and the restaurant Intra-Muros (AdLib) offer an accompaniment of the Eighth Art:

Each night will be dedicated to a specific wine region of France – after the film come and enjoy a good glass of wine each night from a different wine region, well-known and lesser well-known but all equally fascinating.

The wines are selected by Goliardos from his traveling through the different regions of France, all by exquisite small producers.

An excellent opportunity to combine two art forms!

There will be wine by the glass and also artisan cheeses from small producers.

Tursday 6^th :

Champagne in the AdLib and Goliardos

Friday 7^th :

Bourgogne, in Goliardos and AdLib

Saturday 8^th :

Languedoc, and in Goliardos AdLib

Sunday 9^th :

Loire in AdLib

Monday 10^th :

Savoie, in AdLib

Tuesday 11^th :

Rhône at AdLib

Wednesday 12^th :

Bordeaux in AdLib

Thursday 13^th :

Jura, in Goliardos and AdLib

Friday 14^th :

Alsace in Goliardos and AdLib

Saturday 15^th :

Sud-Ouest in Goliardos and AdLib

Sunday 16^th :

Roussillon, in AdLib

Hours:

Goliardos: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 19:00 to 2:00 a.m.

Bar Intra-Muros, AdLib, Avenida da Liberdade 127, from 17:00 to 1:00

AN INSPIRING MAN IS DEAD

 A tribute designed by Jonathan Mak, a Hong-Kong student.

Steve Jobs was a genius. I once posted here his terrific speech at Stanford University years ago. His views on life (and death) and his enthousiasm are truly inspiring.

RIP Steve Jobs

 

Downhearted

A sweet poem about what the heart wants............

BIKE BY THE DESIGNER RON ARAD

Soft-ride with steel tyres. How beautiful!

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665045/soft-ride-bike-has-steel-tires-and-you-can-ride-it-now

THE PLANET'S EYES

Amazing video:

http://www.likecool.com/Time_Lapse_of_Night_Sky_Over_ALMA_Observatory_on_Chilean--Video--Gear.html

ALFA-DOG ROBOT

Haaaa! The beast!

http://www.likecool.com/The_video_for_fourlegged_AlphaDog--Video--Gear.html

LANGUAGE(S)

I found this interesting small video about the importance of language.
Language and words are central to the psychoanaltycal psychotherapeutic technique. Freud used to call psychoanalys "the talking cure" and anyone who had an analysis or a psychoanalytical pychotherapy knows what he meant by that.
On the other hand, if language has been a factor of civilization, we must also be cautious with words. As much as they allow us to reach other people, they can also give way to misunderstanding.

http://bigthink.com/ideas/40320

CITIES AND BICYCLES

In 35 years Lisbon went from a quiet peaceful city, even provincial, to a city that likes to see itself as an European capital. It should therefore follow the example of capitals all over Europe and become more citizen-friendly. Bicycles are a privileged means of transportation, both cheap, healthy and eco-friendly. The Lisboetas however seem to be very much attached to their cars and value them over all things. Maybe it's a symptom of our recently acquired "wealth" that turned out to be an illusion, like having two or three mobiles, several plasmas, etc.
Have a look at how other cities have turned bike-friendly.

http://www.virgin-vacations.com/11-most-bike-friendly-cities.aspx

THE DIFFERENT FACES OF ART

Lovely trip by the little boat. Dreamlike. Enjoy.

http://www.likecool.com/Little_Boat--Video--Gear.html

LESSONS ABOUT LIFE

Now that Steve Jobs resigned from the post of Apple's CEO, one more reason to listen attentively to what he has to say on life.
A pancreatic cancer, a liver transplant... This man, who was given for adoption, is a force of nature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

RAY BRADBURY

Ray Bradbury will soon be 91. This is a video from the '70s.

http://www.openculture.com/2011/08/ray_bradbury.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OpenCulture+%28Open+Culture%29

THIS IS THE PHOTO BY BRASSAÏ

>

EXHIBITION: METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (NYC)

Night photography since 1896. This is a photo by Brassaï.

Artist

Brassaï (French (born Romania), Brasov 1899–1984 Côte d'Azur)
TitleLe pilier du Métro Corvisart
Title Translation[A Pillar of the Corvisart Metro]
Date1934
Photograph by Brassaï. 

MENTAL HEALTH AND LEADERSHIP

Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, psychiatrist, published a book about the links between leadership capacities and the mental health ("A first rate madness").
His thesis is that in times of crisis it might be possible that an excess of "normality" may hinder the special leadership skills required.
I still didn't read the book but in the meantime we can have a hint by reading his blog:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mood-swings/201108/first-rate-madness

LET'S BRING THE SEA TO THE COUNTRY

S. Miguel, Azores

STAVANGER, NORWAY

I was in Norway for a weekend.
Beautiful landscape, beautiful and ivilzed people.
Sea, boats, fjords, islands, very cold water, bikes, seafood.
Out of the blue, comes that psychopath that starts killing people.
Human mind is an abyss.

A DANGEROUS SORT OF LOVE

Joanna Driscoe writing about toxic love and commitment-phobes:

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/living/Emotions/article663634.ece?CMP=EMCeb15

ART AND DESIGN

Beautiful wooden objects by Cha Jong-Rye

http://thisiscolossal.com/2011/06/the-woodwork-of-cha-jong-rye/

SAL BIGGER THAN GENGHIS?

Sal Khan, a young man graduated buy the MIT, specially gifted in terms of communicating, explaining and teaching, created the Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) where you can watch more than two thousand hors of classes about 40 different areas of knowledge.
Do have a look and see for yourself.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Many people would like to start their own business. This wish may be specially useful in the present (and I believe future) situation when jobs for life are part of the past.
We have to come to terms with the fact than the golden years that followed the II World War are past and gone. They lasted for almost sixty years (I'm speaking of course of Europe and the USA) and corresponded in a general way to the so-called baby boomers generation.
Nowadays young people have to be specially resortful in a global and competitive world where jobs are scarce. Entrepreneurship is something than can also be learnt although there are certain born with traits that may help. I already dealt with these issues in a previous post.
Creativity is no doubt a most important trait.
Someone recently told me about this site which is very helpful:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219709

BIOs AND RESUMÉs

Michael Margolis writes a very interesting article about writing bios.
In these hard times we're living it's important to distinguish yourself from the masses when you're competing for a position.
Have a read at:

http://the99percent.com/tips/7025/The-Resume-Is-Dead-The-Bio-Is-King?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=ALL&utm_campaign=MIH%20June%20%2711

I HAVE ONE TOO!

LONG LIVE SPRING

I'm currently preparing a long lecture and had not the oportunnity to go outside for the whole day. Then I realized the weather was very fine and flowers were blossoming eveywhere.
Spring is in full. As in this photo I took in another springtime:

DREAMS AND DREAMING

An interesting article about dreams and dreaming:

http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/tp/facts-about-dreams.htm

AUTHORITY WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY?

No way, Seth says. And it makes perfect sense. Have a look at a post by one of the most interesting bloggers in the world.


http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/04/headroom.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

ARE BACTERIA IN COMMAND?

According to Scientific American, bacteria that inhabit our gut may shape the way we feel, think and behave.
Sounds creepy but please read:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-neuroscience-of-gut

MUSIC FOR THE WEEKEND: BILL CALLAHAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tEnAgKDF34&feature=youtube_gdata_player

(from the Apoclypse album)

CULTURE IS UNDER THREAT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_gmtO6JnRs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

SMARTPHONES AND GOOD MANNERS

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/fashion/17TEXT.html?_r=1

HUMOUR

There's a joke circulating amongst the banks:
"I'm feeling moody, standard and poor; Socrates is not fitch"

I'm always amazed (and marvel) at the capacity to make jokes even in desperate circumstances. They say it's a symptom of mental health.

Neil Gaiman: 10 Good Writing Practices

Neil Gaiman: 10 Good Writing Practices

STRESS AND COUNSELLING

Telomeres start shortening as we age. But stress helps too. Or rather, not manaing stress.
Read this article in The Economist about chromosomes, stress and the importance of couselling.

http://www.economist.com/node/18526881