14 Nov 2009

MIDWAY ISLAND



This is a photo of Midway island seen from the space (photo credit: NASA)

The NASA site has usually amazing images. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/hico_raids.html

13 Nov 2009

ABOUT DREAMS

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/health/10mind.html?_r=1&ref=science



 (photo NYT)

With the help of new techniques like brain imagery neuroscience is making new discoveries about dreaming.

12 Nov 2009

BIOLOGICAL CLOCK

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427333.000-genes-show-when-a-womans-biological-clock-will-stop.html?page=1

A new tool to know your biological clock beforehand. These are great news for women who want to program their personal and professional lives. I didn't know about it when I wrote my last post, but I'm glad to know more tools are becoming available for women who want to be in control of their lives. The article also refers to the technique for freezing your own eggs.

11 Nov 2009

WORK AND CAREER, THE OLD DILEMMA

Mika Brzezinski: Don't Forget To Have Kids

This article is a refreshing aproach to the question of career versus having kids, and when.
I won't say I fully agree with the author, but it's a good starting point for a discussion.
More and more, young women have to put themselves the question.
They study for much longer than before and getting the firts job is getting harder and harder. however, the biological clock does not stop. Science hasn't still found a way of prolonging the fertile period. In an age when some women in their sixties look as if they are in their forties, this seems a bit ironic. But it's the sad reality.
Due to the longer studies and the delayed entry into the job market, which is more and more difficult, here in Portugal its not infrequent to be in one's thirties and still live with one's parents.
On the other hand, syatistics say young girls have their first sexual experience earlier and earlier.
Dies this make any sense? Hardly.
The fact is I don't have an answer for the dilemma. I don't think though, that staying at home raising kids, even when financially that is possible, is a good decision. Not good for the mother (work is an important part of our accomplishment as humans), not a good example for the kids.
I hear some young women up to are choosing to keep their eggs before they are 35, which allows them another 5-7 years to get pregnant. it may be a good idea, not for anyone though.

10 Nov 2009

ABOUT IGNORANCE AND KNOWLEDGE

When Falls the Coliseum » The sum of human knowledge is a small and fragile oasis

A very interesting article by Frank Wilson. What's knowledge? What's ignorance?
Quoting:
"A little knowledge, a pebble from the shingle,
A drop from the oceans: who would have dreamed this infinitely little too much?"

4 Nov 2009

QUOTATION

"The specific problems we face cannot be solved using the same patterns of thought that were used to create them."
Albert Einstein



IT SEEMS WE ARE MADE FOR RUNNING

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27well.html?_r=3&em


I'm not suggesting we all start running marathons but this is a quite interesting article on the human capacity to run long distances and how important it was in the primitive ages.

1 Nov 2009

AESTHETICS


(photo: Garance Doré)

A few days ago I put a post about women's faces in painting across the centuries. A magnificent work in digital art, as you may remember.
This time, I'm bringing something quite different but that has to do also with aesthetics. I's about feet and weird ankle boots.
They say they are selling very well in france. Aesthetics has its own mysterious ways.

30 Oct 2009

ABOUT BULLYING


(photo: http://www.cbc.ca/)


According to a doctoral research carried in the towns of Oporto, Braga and Grenade, which inquired 1237 11-16 years old, the phenomenon of bullying is being more and more accepted.
It seems it's becoming banal. 84,5% of these youngsters have witnessed acts of violence among colleagues.
What's more, the victims of bullying are referred to as "passive, socially incompetent, anxious, depressive and insecure".
The aggressors are seen as "strong, extroverted, trustful, leaders".
It's no doubt alarming.
I read in the Times that in some areas of London young girls accept rape in order to be accepted by male gang (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6889829.ece)
These are sad times. We have to raise our children to be more respectful towards the other - this basic civilized notion has been more and more forgotten during the last decades.
Would we really like to go back to Neardenthal habits? I guess it was like that.

29 Oct 2009

SMILE FOR GODSAKE!


happiness hat from Lauren McCarthy on Vimeo.

Smiling  is one  of the most mysterious characteristics of human behaviour. Why do we smile?
Some say that humans have always done that as a kind of apeasing gesture towards a menacing person. Science has shown that chimps also do something quite similar.
This video is about making you smile - whether you like it or not. Have fun.

27 Oct 2009

http://www.casadashistoriaspaularego.com/index_pt.html#/home/


I have been today to Casa das histórias in Cascais to see the new Paula Rego's museum. It's a work of art. Beautiful architecture, amazing paintings.
The gardens are also beautiful designed and it's opened until 10pm. Free entrance.
You'll find below the presentation about Paula Rego's work that Prof. Paul Coldwell wrote for the Shaatchi Gallery in London.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/paula_rego_about.htm

22 Oct 2009

20 Oct 2009

SELF CONSCIENCE - WHEN DOES IT START?



You'd like to read this very interesting article from BBC News about awareness. Self-conscience seems to develop between 18 and 24 months (see the video.

As Prof. Gallup says,

Death awareness is the price we pay for self awareness


19 Oct 2009

TECHNIQUE AND AESTHETICS



When technique meets aesthetics. Female faces in painting across the centuries.

17 Oct 2009

HUMOUR IS SO IMPORTANT

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1922981

Now I begin to understand why they blocked all my Google accounts for 4 days. With guys like these... Great fun. Hope you enjoy.

15 Oct 2009

THE STATE OF OUR PLANET

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7056601.stm

Very interesting graphics about the state of the planet, from the BBC site.

THE WEB 2.0 AND ITS DANGERS

Some people are afraid of the web 2.0, and maybe rightly so. I had all my Google accounts blocked for 4 days and couldn't even post. Let alone see my mail (past or present).
On the other hand, the web and the social networks allow us to connect to people and have access to information that we never had before.
Being not an expert, I think we must be very cautious, have backup programs and try to minimize the possible damages. Make the better of it. As usual.
(I tried to place a photo related to the subject but blogger doesn't allow for photos for the time being. Speak of the devil...)

11 Oct 2009

TOYS AND PLAYS

http://www.id-mag.com/toystories/?catid=8295&slide=2

Remember these toys and plays?
(it's also fun to have a look at the professions of some of the people who used to play with these toys)

8 Oct 2009

NYC 1994 The Ghost Towers

I found this photo recently. I took it in NYC in 1994. The towers look already so fuzzy, it's creepy.

7 Oct 2009

ANXIOUS BABIES: HOW THEY DEVELOP



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/magazine/04anxiety-t.html?_r=1&src=tptw


This is a very interesting article from The New York Times about anxious babies and how they develop according to circumstances and internal (mental and emotional) experiences.
Have a look. It's worth reading the full article.

30 Sept 2009

CREATIVITY/Ilana Yahav



This video by Ilana Yahav is a wonderful example of how far creativity can reach. Creativity pertains to a healthy mind open both to internal and external experiences. Freud said it was a form of sublimation of more primary impulses. Living in the human society demands creativity - and being able to communicate it.

26 Sept 2009

Music for the wekend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHMFie-BOPs

Oumou Sangaré, music from Mali!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RESILIENT

I know it's a subject I refer to quite ofen but the fact is that it's so relevant for our well being. The site PsychCentral has a very good summary of the main points. Have a look at

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/09/26

The main "steps" are:

Step One: Become Aware of Acute Stress and Toxic Situations

Step Two: Create a Self-Care, Personal Renewal Program

Step Three: Surround Yourself with Four Kinds of Friends

Step Four: Recognize and Concentrate On Signature Strengths

Step Five: Examine Oneself and Accept Shortcomings

Step Six: Practice Mindfulness and Meditation

Note the need for a balanced circle of different kinds of friends!

21 Sept 2009

20 Sept 2009

HOW'S YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR?

An hilarious news site.

http://www.theonion.com/content/index

WE SEE WITH THE EYES AND WE SEE WITH THE BRAIN

http://www.ted.com/talks/oliver_sacks_what_hallucination_reveals_about_our_minds.html

I got this most interesting video on hallucinations from the blog Salpicos http://psisalpicos.blogspot.com/.

Certain hallucinations may be due to visual impairment and not psychosis.

18 Sept 2009

ABOUT BULLYING



Another awful news about bullying, this time in England.

17 Sept 2009

Photos by Robert Polidori


http://www.macm.org/en/expositions/59.html#

What a great photographer!

15 Sept 2009

ABOUT MANNERS AND VALUES

http://www.yourmindyourbody.org/

A sensible article published in the APA's journal.

13 Sept 2009

bonnie prince billy

bonnie prince billy

Shared via AddThis

Have a great song!

HAVE YOU BEEN TO SHINING LISBON?


shining Lisbon
Originally uploaded by banana's views
I have lived most of my life in this city and have been a spectator to its slow destruction by different governments and mayors.
I took this photo from my window a couple of years ago.
Long live Lisbon!

17 Aug 2009

Great song performed by Diana Krall

http://blip.fm/~bv6rx">Public Enemies Soundtrack-Bye Bye Blackbird

Great song. Better than film in fact.


1 Aug 2009

The Solipsist

The Solipsist
by Troy Jollimore

Don't be misled:
that sea-song you hear
when the shell's at your ear?
It's all in your head.
That primordial tide—
the slurp and salt-slosh
of the brain's briny wash—
is on the inside.
Truth be told, the whole place,
everything that the eye
can take in, to the sky
and beyond into space,
lives inside of your skull.
When you set your sad head
down on Procrustes' bed,
you lay down the whole
universe. You recline
on the pillow: the cosmos
grows dim. The soft ghost
in the squishy machine,
which the world is, retires.
Someday it will expire.
Then all will go silent
and dark. For the moment,
however, the black-
ness is just temporary.
The planet you carry
will shortly swing back
from the far nether regions.
And life will continue—
but only within you.
Which raises a question
that comes up again and again,
as to why
God would make ear and eye
to face outward, not in?

Source: Poetry (January 2008).

David Reekie


"A Captive Audience", Victoria and Albert Museum
David Reekie is a glass sculptor.

30 Jul 2009

How Children View And Treat Their Peers With Undesirable Characteristics

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090730111202.htm">How Children View And Treat Their Peers With Undesirable Characteristics

Shared via AddThis

Intersting findings if you're concerned with peer pressure and bullying among yougsters

24 Jul 2009

moon walkers

I took this photo a couple of years ago on the peak of a vulcano. People seem quite busy. I never knew where they were going to, crossing each other like on a busy road.
It was a very strange place.
I called the photo "moonwalkers" due to the lunar ambiance. The sunlight was very intense and white as if not permeated by any atmosphere.

11 Jul 2009

OBAMA'S SPEECH IN ACCRA, GHANA


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/11/world/AP-AF-Obama-Text.html?_r=2&pagewanted=al

7 Jul 2009

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken




The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Lee Frost (courtesy of poemhunter.com)

4 Jul 2009

Caring for physical and mental health


I was wondering about the difficulty people have with dealing with the concept of mental health. The thought came to me after reading a comment a friend of mine made on my profile in Linkedin. I had mentioned somewhere a professional link to "mental health" and he commented the reference was a bit scary.

Is it?

I always thought we should care about our mind with the same attention we dedicate to our bodies. Both are precious and both can be strong or fragile.

Being mentally healthy doesn't mean one has to be all the time happy which of course is not possible. It means to be in touch with both your emotions and your thoughts and at the same time be able to listen to your body. It's about a delicate balance of our inner self we have to build during our entire life. In fact it's a life work. A hard life's work.

3 Jul 2009

A precious song: Lay Down by Mazgani

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItXPgiWzcZQ
(the author and singer was born in Persia and grew up in Portugal Great combination.

2 Jul 2009

Randomness

http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/2009/06/15/stochasticity/

did you forget your statistics? How amazing the role played by randomness in our lives.

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