The Internet Begging Experiment is an awesome page that has just launched today. The goal is to get 1 million people to each donate $1. Once that goal is reached, half the money will be donated to a selected charity.
This is partially your average internet begging site, but with a very huge twist. Not only will half the money be donated, but any donations above and beyond the $1 million goal will be used to fund a non-profit organization that will be formed to assist individuals in the midst of financial crisis. If you've ever gotten a disconnect notice from your electric company, or needed new tires for your car, this non-profit will be able to help in situations such as those.
The key to this experiment is to reach a vast amount of people. There are buttons and links on the site to submit to Digg, Facebook, Twitter and more. You can even email the link to your friends to check out. Also, don't forget to leave your vote in the poll for your favorite charitable organization.
Another great thing that the IBE (Internet Begging Experiment) is offering is free advertising. For your donation, you can submit your 125x50 logo for display on the advertising page.
So get going. Visit the Internet Begging Experiment and donate your dollar. Then tell EVERYONE you know. This is so HUGE and has great potential to help change the world.
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Real Life Statistic on How People Are
I saw something interesting yesterday. I was engaged in a 'you buy, I'll fly' scenario that sent me to the local McDonald's. Apparently McDonald's didn't know it was breakfast time so my drive-thru order was delayed. I was sent to park in the 'we didn't know you'd come and order from us, so we had to go and raid the chicken coop for some eggs (are they even real eggs?), so you'll have to wait a while for us to take care of it' assigned parking spot. While I sat there, for nearly 15 minutes, I was blessed with an interesting observation.
Some Canadian Geese were trying to cross a busy 4 lane highway. There is a median between each of the double lanes, so at least they had only to pass two lanes and then they were safe for a moment. There were about 30 Canadian Geese trying to get across this road. As they kept starting across and then being forced to retreat, I saw approximately 20 cars pass. Of these 20 cars, only one was a complete jackass, driving quickly and as closely as possible, honking his horn radically, with absolutely no interest in whether or not he hit a goose. Thankfully he did not, and he at least slowed down some, probably so he wouldn't dent his car.
Interestingly, of these 20 cars, there was also only the last one that stopped several yards back, and waited patiently for all the geese to walk across the entire highway to safety.
The remaining 18 cars drove, while slowing down or stopping, as close to the geese as possible, no matter which direction the geese decided to run, and made a way with their cars to 'get through' and go on their merry ways.
What does this mean? I'd say, based on my observation, that only about 5% of the people in the world are complete jackasses. People who don't care one way or the other whether they run you down with their vehicles, as long as they get where they are going. Let's face it, if you can harm an animal, or come close to it without a second thought, you certainly don't care for your brothers and sisters on this planet either.
Only another 5% are really concerned with humanity and other sorts of life enough to take moments out of their hectic lives to really stop and pay attention. These are likely the peace bringers and volunteers of services and shelter to people and animals in need.
That leaves 90% of the population completely clueless. At least the jackasses know that they don't care. Surely if you asked one he'd be completely up front with you. Now don't get me wrong, 95% of the people in the cars didn't want to harm anything or anyone. They were being peaceful in their own ways, but those 18 people couldn't just stop their cars for 15 seconds while the beautiful geese waddled their ways across the road. They either had no time, or so they thought, no interest in how cool these geese were, or no interest in helping our fellow life on this planet to 'git er done.'
So, this is to you 90 percenters. WAKE UP! 15 seconds of your time to help 30 geese get safely across a road is not going to kill you, nor is it going to waste any of your precious day. You are likely racing off to a job you hate anyway, so stopping for 15 seconds to watch some birds might have given you a moment to regroup and notice something out of the ordinary from your mundane life.
Ok, this is quickly getting ugly and that wasn't my intention. I just found those self-observed statistics to be worth mentioning. The 5 percenters on the bright side, keep it up. Your efforts ARE contagious and will be observed and repeated. Don't give up and don't stop being peace and joy and love.
The jackasses of the world won't even bother reading this, so...no use to make a comment there.
Some Canadian Geese were trying to cross a busy 4 lane highway. There is a median between each of the double lanes, so at least they had only to pass two lanes and then they were safe for a moment. There were about 30 Canadian Geese trying to get across this road. As they kept starting across and then being forced to retreat, I saw approximately 20 cars pass. Of these 20 cars, only one was a complete jackass, driving quickly and as closely as possible, honking his horn radically, with absolutely no interest in whether or not he hit a goose. Thankfully he did not, and he at least slowed down some, probably so he wouldn't dent his car.
Interestingly, of these 20 cars, there was also only the last one that stopped several yards back, and waited patiently for all the geese to walk across the entire highway to safety.
The remaining 18 cars drove, while slowing down or stopping, as close to the geese as possible, no matter which direction the geese decided to run, and made a way with their cars to 'get through' and go on their merry ways.
What does this mean? I'd say, based on my observation, that only about 5% of the people in the world are complete jackasses. People who don't care one way or the other whether they run you down with their vehicles, as long as they get where they are going. Let's face it, if you can harm an animal, or come close to it without a second thought, you certainly don't care for your brothers and sisters on this planet either.
Only another 5% are really concerned with humanity and other sorts of life enough to take moments out of their hectic lives to really stop and pay attention. These are likely the peace bringers and volunteers of services and shelter to people and animals in need.
That leaves 90% of the population completely clueless. At least the jackasses know that they don't care. Surely if you asked one he'd be completely up front with you. Now don't get me wrong, 95% of the people in the cars didn't want to harm anything or anyone. They were being peaceful in their own ways, but those 18 people couldn't just stop their cars for 15 seconds while the beautiful geese waddled their ways across the road. They either had no time, or so they thought, no interest in how cool these geese were, or no interest in helping our fellow life on this planet to 'git er done.'
So, this is to you 90 percenters. WAKE UP! 15 seconds of your time to help 30 geese get safely across a road is not going to kill you, nor is it going to waste any of your precious day. You are likely racing off to a job you hate anyway, so stopping for 15 seconds to watch some birds might have given you a moment to regroup and notice something out of the ordinary from your mundane life.
Ok, this is quickly getting ugly and that wasn't my intention. I just found those self-observed statistics to be worth mentioning. The 5 percenters on the bright side, keep it up. Your efforts ARE contagious and will be observed and repeated. Don't give up and don't stop being peace and joy and love.
The jackasses of the world won't even bother reading this, so...no use to make a comment there.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Wanted, Babysitter!
I know sometimes I go way off the tangent here, but this blog is about helping people. If you are looking for babysitter services and you're not sure if you can trust little Samantha's newspaper ad, I've got a website that will give you some great options for finding trustworthy and reliable babysitters and nannies.
Check out WantedBabysitter.com for some great options on fully checked out service care providers like babysitters, nannies, tutors, elder care providers and even petsitters and house sitters.
Good luck!
Check out WantedBabysitter.com for some great options on fully checked out service care providers like babysitters, nannies, tutors, elder care providers and even petsitters and house sitters.
Good luck!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Funny Story about a Palmetto Bug
So I've just moved back to Florida, and I know what to expect when it comes to humidity, traffic and gigantic flying insects. Since I have been back, I haven't had the pleasure of encountering a Palmetto Bug, until tonight. For those of you who don't know, a Palmetto bug is like a giant roach, and when I say giant, I mean it. These things are like 3 or 4 inches long, and they FLY. So, they run around, until you piss them off by trying to swat, squash, or otherwise shoo them away, and then they fly, usually at your face.
I'm here with my step-brother's two girls, 13 and 7, and my son who's 2. My son talks a bunch and smiles a lot, but hasn't yet found too many reasons to giggle his pants off. So I ask the 13 year old what she does when her dad's not home and a gigantic roach is running around the walls. She thinks she's going to save me, until she sees it! Now there are 3 of us running around the house screaming, while my son is standing in one spot, laughing his little butt off.
So I'm running for a glass to trap it, some roach spray to kill it, or anything I can find to immobilize this giant, disgusting insect until I can figure out just what to do. A shoe? Well, the thing is, these things are SO big that if you squish them on the wall, the spot of guts never goes away. I'm not even kidding. Just nasty. And the thing is, I'm not generally squeamish. I can take snakes, caterpillars, mice, and even giant spiders. All those things are neat. I don't do Palmetto bugs.
So my son is just losing it with laughter, the three of us girls are jumping around, I appoint myself the hero and go after it with spray. It flies. I scream. My son laughs. Multiply that scenario by about 4, and then it finally escapes the room I'm in to the living room. Now girls are locking themselves in bathrooms, I'm jumping around on furniture, and my son is still standing in one spot, laughing hysterically.
Finally, it disappears. Well, good. No, not good. If we can't see it, that means it will show up at any other unknown period of time, in any other unknown room. That's really just no fun. It finally runs out of it's hiding spot. The 7 year old points and screams. I chase it. I spray it. Multiply this scenario by about 4 and finally we have a dying insect, out in the open, right where I can finally trap it in a glass and chuck it outside.
OMFG those things are nasty.
I'm here with my step-brother's two girls, 13 and 7, and my son who's 2. My son talks a bunch and smiles a lot, but hasn't yet found too many reasons to giggle his pants off. So I ask the 13 year old what she does when her dad's not home and a gigantic roach is running around the walls. She thinks she's going to save me, until she sees it! Now there are 3 of us running around the house screaming, while my son is standing in one spot, laughing his little butt off.
So I'm running for a glass to trap it, some roach spray to kill it, or anything I can find to immobilize this giant, disgusting insect until I can figure out just what to do. A shoe? Well, the thing is, these things are SO big that if you squish them on the wall, the spot of guts never goes away. I'm not even kidding. Just nasty. And the thing is, I'm not generally squeamish. I can take snakes, caterpillars, mice, and even giant spiders. All those things are neat. I don't do Palmetto bugs.
So my son is just losing it with laughter, the three of us girls are jumping around, I appoint myself the hero and go after it with spray. It flies. I scream. My son laughs. Multiply that scenario by about 4, and then it finally escapes the room I'm in to the living room. Now girls are locking themselves in bathrooms, I'm jumping around on furniture, and my son is still standing in one spot, laughing hysterically.
Finally, it disappears. Well, good. No, not good. If we can't see it, that means it will show up at any other unknown period of time, in any other unknown room. That's really just no fun. It finally runs out of it's hiding spot. The 7 year old points and screams. I chase it. I spray it. Multiply this scenario by about 4 and finally we have a dying insect, out in the open, right where I can finally trap it in a glass and chuck it outside.
OMFG those things are nasty.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Free Virtual World? New Social Networking Community Ramping Up for Just That
I've joined a new free virtual world/social networking community that is in pre-launch. This new site already has almost a half million members. How can a new free virtual world have that much interest when it's not even launched yet? I'll tell you. This new social networking platform has BIG plans. Right now, they are giving away free shares in the company just for joining. You can earn more shares by referring your friends, and soon they'll be uncovering many, many other ways to earn shares. Here's a blurb from the company...
Sign up for free right now and get excited with me!
http://www.me2everyone.com/377908
I just became a shareholder in me2everyone and I never had to pay a single penny for the shares! Pre-launched in January 2009, more than 30,000 new members are discovering me2everyone every week: and when the full site launches we are expecting a huge surge in new memberships. You can register for free and it never has to cost you a single penny!This is a unique opportunity to get in on something big! This new virtual world is going places. I've even managed to have my application accepted to be involved in the 'government' of this virtual world. I'm a Global Executive for m2e. There's still time to apply for that as well. If you're a social networking junkie, this is one you CAN'T MISS!
me2everyone is going to be a cool new virtual world where you can meet friends, chat, shop, play, watch videos, create an art gallery, open a virtual newspaper, play the free inworld lottery and make money from your own online store! You and everyone you know make the decisions, shape the world, create real incomes and share in the profits. It’s a new place where you meet new people or invite your friends. Learn new skills or expand your business. Find the love of your life or help the planet.
It will eventually become a hybrid between a 2D social network and a 3D world. There will be scope for business and there are plans to put 72,000 people into work over the next 3 years. This is something that you simply have to consider registering for. You details are 100% safe and the Company is run by professional directors. This is an excellent chance for all of us to make some real progress in 2009 and beyond! Please do not miss it.
If you are looking for something really good in 2009: something that changes your view on the world, then you really have to spend just one minute and look at this website.
Kind Regards...
Jeannie
http://www.me2everyone.com/377908
PS: The team are getting ready to launch version 1.5 of the website - but there's still a chance to get involved and benefit from the pre-launch offers. With zero cost to join, a committment to translate the website into 38 languages, from a debt-free company this is something that you really have to take a serious look at.
Sign up for free right now and get excited with me!
http://www.me2everyone.com/377908
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Complications
You know, everywhere I go I hear people making things complicated. I, too, have a tendency to make things seem more complicated than they have to be. It's really time we begin to simplify our lives. Random situations still come out of the blue and catch us off-guard, but our daily lives do not need to be so stressful.
I have just left an emotionally abusive husband and moved to another part of the country. I lived here for more than a decade and left when I hit a financial bind. Now that I'm back, I wonder why I ever left. I have friends, right now, who are suddenly finding themselves homeless, or also in abusive relationships, or who make excuses for not finding time for themselves. People say to me, 'How do you just pick up and move like that?' I even have a two-year old at this point. I tell everyone, and have always told people, it's really as easy as getting in the car and driving. You pack your stuff, get in the car with a map, and drive. It does NOT need to be more complicated than that. So many people are caught up in the what-ifs and the how-tos that they are afraid to ever make a move.
The same goes for making time for yourself. People have all these excuses. Kids. Money. Work. That's a bunch of BS. Your kids nap, right? You have a free park or a backyard, right? You have a lunch break, right? What is it that we are really afraid of? Are we afraid of what others might think if we took 5 minutes to hang upside down from the branch of a tree? Are we afraid if we disappear down the trail behind our house for 5 minutes that our worlds might crumble around us and become so broken we would never be able to repair all the damage? What is it? Why can't you take a break from the world and refresh? Why can't you get in the car and move to a neighborhood or a state or a country where you've always wanted to live? Why can't you get a different job? Why can't you call and disconnect your cable and use that $80 a month for something more meaningful?
Be honest. Get out some paper and write down reasons until you get to the meat of what's holding you back. The beginning of your list will be all the fluff responses that you give yourself and your friends for not doing what it is that really flips up your skirt. Once you run out of those, you'll get to reasons that might be a little more painful or seem 'stupid' to you. Write them anyway. The more you write, the closer you'll get to the REAL reason why you're not making plans right now for a 1 hour break from your family, or a 3000 mile trip to the other side of the country, or to setup the art studio in the attic where you've always wanted to paint a picture or write a best selling novel. What the HELL is holding you back?
Figure it out and then post me a comment. I'd love to know that my rants are actually helping someone out there.
BTW, your Zany Zodiacs horoscopes for March 29th to April 4th will be posted before midday tomorrow. Thanks for all your support and please send all your friends to www.zanyzodiacs.com.
You
I have just left an emotionally abusive husband and moved to another part of the country. I lived here for more than a decade and left when I hit a financial bind. Now that I'm back, I wonder why I ever left. I have friends, right now, who are suddenly finding themselves homeless, or also in abusive relationships, or who make excuses for not finding time for themselves. People say to me, 'How do you just pick up and move like that?' I even have a two-year old at this point. I tell everyone, and have always told people, it's really as easy as getting in the car and driving. You pack your stuff, get in the car with a map, and drive. It does NOT need to be more complicated than that. So many people are caught up in the what-ifs and the how-tos that they are afraid to ever make a move.
The same goes for making time for yourself. People have all these excuses. Kids. Money. Work. That's a bunch of BS. Your kids nap, right? You have a free park or a backyard, right? You have a lunch break, right? What is it that we are really afraid of? Are we afraid of what others might think if we took 5 minutes to hang upside down from the branch of a tree? Are we afraid if we disappear down the trail behind our house for 5 minutes that our worlds might crumble around us and become so broken we would never be able to repair all the damage? What is it? Why can't you take a break from the world and refresh? Why can't you get in the car and move to a neighborhood or a state or a country where you've always wanted to live? Why can't you get a different job? Why can't you call and disconnect your cable and use that $80 a month for something more meaningful?
Be honest. Get out some paper and write down reasons until you get to the meat of what's holding you back. The beginning of your list will be all the fluff responses that you give yourself and your friends for not doing what it is that really flips up your skirt. Once you run out of those, you'll get to reasons that might be a little more painful or seem 'stupid' to you. Write them anyway. The more you write, the closer you'll get to the REAL reason why you're not making plans right now for a 1 hour break from your family, or a 3000 mile trip to the other side of the country, or to setup the art studio in the attic where you've always wanted to paint a picture or write a best selling novel. What the HELL is holding you back?
Figure it out and then post me a comment. I'd love to know that my rants are actually helping someone out there.
BTW, your Zany Zodiacs horoscopes for March 29th to April 4th will be posted before midday tomorrow. Thanks for all your support and please send all your friends to www.zanyzodiacs.com.
You
Saturday, January 17, 2009
New Article Written: The Power of Words
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Most of us grew up hearing this statement, but few were able to conquer the message contained within. Why? Because words can hurt. Words can lead to stress, anguish and broken relationships. Words can ruin lives. But words can also empower, encourage, uplift, and comfort. Words can be the beginning of something great, and words can help bring about positive change. Words can produce peace.
How is it that simple words can hold so much power?
Continue Reading...
How is it that simple words can hold so much power?
Continue Reading...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Free Stuff
Do you love to get stuff for free? Of course you do! I've got something for you that you may not know about. And this isn't your average Get Free Stuff gimmick. In fact, there's no gimmick at all.
Freecycle is a great organization that allows for recycling of items to others in your area. It's a non-profit and is run through a Yahoo Group. If you've got something great you'd like to give away, or if you're looking for something, you just might find it on Freecycle.
Check out my article on eHow for more information on getting free stuff from other people right in your neighborhood! I've been a member off and on for a long time now and I've been able to recycle furniture, baby items, and coupons. You might get lucky and find something you've been seeking for a long time; maybe a car, or car parts, maybe even appliances, or craft books, craft patters, or craft accessories. You've got to check it out. The array of free items is unbelievable...and they come from people just like you and me.
Click here to read more about Freecycle Free Stuff
Freecycle is a great organization that allows for recycling of items to others in your area. It's a non-profit and is run through a Yahoo Group. If you've got something great you'd like to give away, or if you're looking for something, you just might find it on Freecycle.
Check out my article on eHow for more information on getting free stuff from other people right in your neighborhood! I've been a member off and on for a long time now and I've been able to recycle furniture, baby items, and coupons. You might get lucky and find something you've been seeking for a long time; maybe a car, or car parts, maybe even appliances, or craft books, craft patters, or craft accessories. You've got to check it out. The array of free items is unbelievable...and they come from people just like you and me.
Click here to read more about Freecycle Free Stuff
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Imagine - John Lennon
A friend send me the video and image that follow earlier today. Though I've been hearing The Beatles and their songs for as long as I can remember, something really struck me today. I was born in 1975, so the entire movement of the 60's was well before anything I remember. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and I'm not sure if we've determined yet that those decades really stood for anything. Pardon me if I missed it.
Anyway, with all the spiritual work I've been doing and the significant progress that I've made with peace in my own life and hope for peace in everyone's lives, when I decided to click play and listen to this song with brand new ears, I got an entirely new perspective. A song that has played on the radio a million times, that I know by heart already, has really been embedded into my soul today.
If you have never really LISTENED to this song, please do so now. It's amazing how these things come to me at such a moment in time to create such profound realizations. I hope that I can bring a special moment to someone else by passing it on. Enjoy.
Anyway, with all the spiritual work I've been doing and the significant progress that I've made with peace in my own life and hope for peace in everyone's lives, when I decided to click play and listen to this song with brand new ears, I got an entirely new perspective. A song that has played on the radio a million times, that I know by heart already, has really been embedded into my soul today.
If you have never really LISTENED to this song, please do so now. It's amazing how these things come to me at such a moment in time to create such profound realizations. I hope that I can bring a special moment to someone else by passing it on. Enjoy.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Renewal Zones
This passage comes from the latest book I am reading called 'Riding the Dragon: 10 lessons for inner strength in challenging times' by Robert J. Wicks.
"If there are places and people with whom we can laugh, relax, dream, and plot the future, then discouragement need not take root or flourish. People who can encourage, challenge, and be fun-loving companions can go a long way in preventing or stemming burnout. Whereas, if all the places in our life - work, home, and recreation - and the people who inhabit them are filled with worry, anxiety, anger, or angst, the interpersonal space we occupy will always be gray. When this is so, compassion fatigue and a sense that life has lost its joy will become evident."
Find people who make you happy. People who encourage and uplift you are necessary for anyone who is searching for a personal silver lining. The silver lining is there for anyone who wants it. It's a much easier journey to discovery when you surround yourself with laughter and love!
"If there are places and people with whom we can laugh, relax, dream, and plot the future, then discouragement need not take root or flourish. People who can encourage, challenge, and be fun-loving companions can go a long way in preventing or stemming burnout. Whereas, if all the places in our life - work, home, and recreation - and the people who inhabit them are filled with worry, anxiety, anger, or angst, the interpersonal space we occupy will always be gray. When this is so, compassion fatigue and a sense that life has lost its joy will become evident."
Find people who make you happy. People who encourage and uplift you are necessary for anyone who is searching for a personal silver lining. The silver lining is there for anyone who wants it. It's a much easier journey to discovery when you surround yourself with laughter and love!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thinking like Leonardo Da Vinci
I found this article on WikiHow and thought it was great! The comments there paint a much different story. Perhaps I'm as strange as he was...?!
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Leonardo da Vinci was the ultimate multi-tasker: an accomplished scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician, and writer. If you want to be a Renaissance Man (or Renaissance Woman), you can learn a lot from how Leonardo da Vinci lived and thought. Based on studying the life and work of this famous polymath[1] anyone can emulate da Vinci with the following steps.
How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Leonardo da Vinci was the ultimate multi-tasker: an accomplished scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician, and writer. If you want to be a Renaissance Man (or Renaissance Woman), you can learn a lot from how Leonardo da Vinci lived and thought. Based on studying the life and work of this famous polymath[1] anyone can emulate da Vinci with the following steps.
Steps
- Curiosità. Curiosità is an "insatiably curious approach to life and unrelenting quest for continuous learning". Great minds have one characteristic in common: they continuously ask questions throughout their lives. Leonardo's endless quest for truth and beauty clearly demonstrates this. What makes great minds different is the quality of their questions. You can increase your ability to solve problems by increasing your ability to ask good questions. Like da Vinci, you should cultivate an open mind that allows you to broaden your universe and increase your ability to explore it. Here are some ways to apply Curiosità:
- Keep a journal. Bring a journal wherever you go and use it often. Write your ideas and thoughts there. Try to write several statements a day that start with "I wonder why/how..."
- Observe according to a theme. Choose a theme and observe things according to the theme for a day. For example, let's say you choose "communication". For the entire day, observe every type and instance of communication you come across. You can then record your observations in your journal.
- Stream of consciousness exercise. Pick a question and write the thoughts and associations that occur to you as they are. Don't edit them. The important thing is to keep writing. This is also referred to as freewriting.
- Keep a journal. Bring a journal wherever you go and use it often. Write your ideas and thoughts there. Try to write several statements a day that start with "I wonder why/how..."
- Dimostrazione. Dimostrazione is "a commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistake". Wisdom comes from experience and the principle of Dimostrazione helps you get the most out of your experience. Here are some ways to apply Dimostrazione:
- Check your beliefs. Do you hold any beliefs that you haven't verified through experience?
- Three points of view. First, make a strong argument against your belief. Next, take a distant view of your belief (for example, as if you live in a different culture) and review it. Finally, find friends who can give you different perspectives.
- Analyze the advertisements that affect you. Look at the advertisements in your favorite magazine and analyze the strategy and tactics they use. Find the advertisements that affect you most and find out why.
- Find “anti-role models” to learn from. List the names of some people whose mistakes you want to avoid. Learn from them so that you won't encounter the same pitfalls.
- Check your beliefs. Do you hold any beliefs that you haven't verified through experience?
- Sensazione. Sensazione is "the continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to enliven experience". According to da Vinci, we can best practice Dimostrazione through our senses, particularly sight. That's why one of Leonardo's mottoes is saper vedere (knowing how to see) upon which he built his work in arts and science. Here are some ways to apply Sensazione:
- Write detailed description of an experience. For instance, describe your experience of watching a sunrise in your journal.
- Learn how to describe a smell.
- Learn to draw.
- Listen to different sounds around you. Learn to listen to different intensity of sounds from the softest (e.g. your breathing) to the loudest (e.g. traffic).
- Live in the moment. Practice mindfulness.
- Write detailed description of an experience. For instance, describe your experience of watching a sunrise in your journal.
- Sfumato. Sfumato is "a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty". An essential characteristic of da Vinci's genius is his ability to handle a sense of mystery. Here are two ways to apply Sfumato:
- Befriend ambiguity. Find some situations in your past where you faced ambiguity (e.g. waiting to hear if your application for a job you wanted was successful). Describe how you felt.
- Ask yourself questions that relate two opposites. For example, ask yourself how your happiest and saddest moments are related.
- Practice the Socratic method. The goal with the Socratic method is to examine possibilities, and that is done by asking questions, not by giving answers. Socrates was known (and criticized) for asking questions to which he didn't have answers.[2] The key to using the Socratic method is to be humble. Don't assume that you or anyone knows anything for sure. Question every premise.
- Befriend ambiguity. Find some situations in your past where you faced ambiguity (e.g. waiting to hear if your application for a job you wanted was successful). Describe how you felt.
- Arte/scienza. Arte/scienza is "the development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination". This is thinking with the “whole brain”. Mind mapping is a powerful method that can help you combine logic and imagination in your work and life. The end result of mapping should be a web-like structure of words and ideas that are somehow related in the writer's mind.
- Corporalità. Corporalità is "the cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise". Leonardo had amazing physical ability that complemented his genius in science and arts. Here are some ways to apply Corporalità:
- Develop a program for physical fitness. Your program should include three things: flexibility exercises, strength training, and aerobic conditioning.
- Develop body awareness. Study anatomy. Try yoga. Dance. Do some contact juggling. Whatever strengthens the connection between body and mind, go for it.
- Cultivate ambidexterity. Leonardo could work with both his right and left hand and regularly switched between them. You can cultivate ambidexterity by using your nondominant hand for relatively simple tasks like brushing your teeth or eating your breakfast. Later you can use your nondominant hand for writing.
- Develop a program for physical fitness. Your program should include three things: flexibility exercises, strength training, and aerobic conditioning.
- Connessione. Connessione is "a recognition of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena". This, in other words, is systems thinking. One main source of Leonardo's creativity is his ability to form new patterns through connections and combinations of different elements. Here are some ways to apply Connessione:
- Find ways to link things that seem unrelated. For example, you can try to find connections between a bear and the World Wide Web, or geology and the Mona Lisa (real name "La Joconde").
- Imagine dialogues. Imagine talking with a role model to gain new perspective and insight. Or you can imagine how some role models would discuss your problem.
- Think about how things originate. Take an object and think about what elements are involved in its creation and how.
- Find ways to link things that seem unrelated. For example, you can try to find connections between a bear and the World Wide Web, or geology and the Mona Lisa (real name "La Joconde").
Tips
- Some other characteristics of da Vinci that might be worth emulating are:[3]
- charisma
- generosity
- love of nature
- love of animals
- the curiosity of a child
- charisma
Warnings
- Because of his wide variety of interests, da Vinci struggled with procrastination. On his death bed he apologized to "God and Man for leaving so much undone."[4]
Related wikiHows
- How to Exercise an Open Mind
- How to Freewrite
- How to Be a Skeptic
- How to Become a Philosopher
- How to Develop Your Creative Side
- How to Think for Yourself
- How to Think 'Outside of the Box'
Sources and Citations
- LifeOptimizer.org - Original source, shared with permission.
- ↑ Gelb, Michael J. How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. ISBN 0440508274. Main source for the ideas in this article.
- ↑ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/socrates-philosophy-and-socratic-method.html
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci%27s_personal_life#Personal_habits_and_talents
- ↑ http://www.hypatiamaze.org/leonardo/leo_vinci.html
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Racism & Barack Obama
Ok so I'm not even going to get into this. This issue of racism just gets me WAY too fired up, and as you might be able to judge by other posts on this blog, I do my best to stay away from those types of emotions...they are way too low on the vibrational scale for my liking. My significant other suggests that I can't just ignore it and it will go away, with my hippie flowers and my joy, just running around through life like these kinds of things don't exist, but I say phooey. I say phooey on the whole thing. We're about to have a great president. WE ELECTED HIM! We can't find anything better to bitch about besides the fact that the poor man lights up a cigarette once in a while, and the fact that his race doesn't quite match any one race in particular. I say GREAT NEWS! It's high time we got over ourselves anyway just friggin accepted the fact that some people are different. At least Barack Obama isn't green and blue polka dotted...what the bleep would we do then? Face your fears, people!
Ok so with that said, I did discover a blog entry today and I liked what I read. Despite the fact that the issue of racism continues because WE KEEP TALKING AND WRITING ABOUT IT, I still am glad to know that some people, black or white, are just ready to get over it. Local News and Newspapers is the blog I stumbled across. If you're interested, go check it out. He's got a viewpoint much like my own.
And for God's sake...the man is about to pick up all the pieces left behind by George W. Bush. If he wants to have a smoke once in a while, GET OVER IT!
Ok so with that said, I did discover a blog entry today and I liked what I read. Despite the fact that the issue of racism continues because WE KEEP TALKING AND WRITING ABOUT IT, I still am glad to know that some people, black or white, are just ready to get over it. Local News and Newspapers is the blog I stumbled across. If you're interested, go check it out. He's got a viewpoint much like my own.
And for God's sake...the man is about to pick up all the pieces left behind by George W. Bush. If he wants to have a smoke once in a while, GET OVER IT!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Crickets
As a writer, one of the most enjoyable (or least enjoyable; depending on my mood) things about working with the English language is homonyms. Homonyms, among other things, are words that have the same spelling but completely separate meanings. Example: duck. At the pond, you may have to duck if you startle a duck.
So imagine my surprise when I see a blog entitled All About Cricket. I'm excited because I've always been fond of the sound that crickets make, which is apparently called a 'chirp'. So imagine my surprise when I discover that All About Cricket is actually about another kind of Cricket...one that I've heard, but never given much thought!
This blog is dedicated to all cricket fans over the world, and this doesn't mean the chirpy kind. Updated with live Cricket scores, rundowns of several test matches, and cricket fan information. If you love cricket, or you're looking for a place to figure out who's where and what is when...I think you might have a good time at All About Cricket.
So imagine my surprise when I see a blog entitled All About Cricket. I'm excited because I've always been fond of the sound that crickets make, which is apparently called a 'chirp'. So imagine my surprise when I discover that All About Cricket is actually about another kind of Cricket...one that I've heard, but never given much thought!
This blog is dedicated to all cricket fans over the world, and this doesn't mean the chirpy kind. Updated with live Cricket scores, rundowns of several test matches, and cricket fan information. If you love cricket, or you're looking for a place to figure out who's where and what is when...I think you might have a good time at All About Cricket.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Save a tree; make a Funky Christmas Tree Wallhanging
Like it? I made it last year at Christmas. I couldn't actually afford to get a Christmas tree so I decided to craft one out of my imagination. Well, I stole a couple ideas here and there, but it came out pretty unique! If you'd like to take a closer and more in-depth look at how to make this Christmas Tree Craft Decoration yourself, please click the link below.
Click here for instructions
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Creating a Christmas Playlist
I got a special gift today from one of my online friends. It was a link to a Christmas playlist. What a wonderful gift that was. I may be overreacting, but I was just tickled by the fact that I can click and open up a player filled with Christmas songs. Since this is just not something I would think to take the time to do, it's been a simple pleasure for me to simply go to the page and play it whenever the mood struck me. I love music, but for some reason, I just don't think to play it. I race around the internet all day long, writing articles, and telling other people the best ways to stay upbeat, get in touch with their higher selves, and give treats to make the world a better place. Obviously, I'm not that great at following my own advice. So, this little music player was just an inspiration to me.
If you'd like to make a Christmas playlist of your own, you can find the instructions by clicking here. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
If you'd like to make a Christmas playlist of your own, you can find the instructions by clicking here. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Can I be psychic, but still be a child of God?
People have a tendency to confuse God with religion. People also have a tendency to confuse the term psychic' with the act of fortune-telling. The term God,' as defined by our trusty Merriam-Webster dictionary is the supreme or ultimate reality. We are all God's children, as we are all creations of that supreme reality. As such, we are each individual pieces of a whole, and since we come from an origin that is defined as supreme and ultimate, we then are each, by nature, instilled with the ability to use, work from, and live by the characteristics of that ultimate reality. Read the entire article here
Monday, December 1, 2008
101 Great Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas
I've created a new Squidoo page on stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas. My lens includes some ideas, and gift options for men, women, kids, old, young, rich, and not-so-rich. Come see!
101 Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas
101 Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Saturday, November 29, 2008
ALOL!
Ok, it's quite possible that 'alol' has already been around and I simply haven't heard of it. Do you know when you come up with an absolutely brilliant idea and think you've stumbled on to something for which you might gain a tad bit of recognition, only to discover that 12 people have already thought of it, you're NOT original, and they are making 14 bazillion dollars a week off the idea?
Anyway, that may, in fact, be the case with alol. Regardless, I'm writing here in an attempt to 'record' my 'invention' (alol).
Ok...what the heck is alol? Alol means actually laughing out loud. I, like many of you, am guilty of typing lol, even when I'm not l'ing ol. I understand that lol is corny and for 'avatards' (another phrase that I thought I coined, but in fact was preceded by someone as clever as, but not as slow as, myself) however, using terms like lol and brb become a way of life when a person types on the internet as much I do.
So, there you have it. Feel free to use alol as much as possible. If it shows up randomly in conversation with someone I've never talked to, at least I can choose to believe that it was I who started one of the latest internet legacies. :P
Note: I've just discovered that ALOL is NOT on the urban dictionary. I, therefore, am claiming ownership there now!
Anyway, that may, in fact, be the case with alol. Regardless, I'm writing here in an attempt to 'record' my 'invention' (alol).
Ok...what the heck is alol? Alol means actually laughing out loud. I, like many of you, am guilty of typing lol, even when I'm not l'ing ol. I understand that lol is corny and for 'avatards' (another phrase that I thought I coined, but in fact was preceded by someone as clever as, but not as slow as, myself) however, using terms like lol and brb become a way of life when a person types on the internet as much I do.
So, there you have it. Feel free to use alol as much as possible. If it shows up randomly in conversation with someone I've never talked to, at least I can choose to believe that it was I who started one of the latest internet legacies. :P
Note: I've just discovered that ALOL is NOT on the urban dictionary. I, therefore, am claiming ownership there now!
Friday, November 28, 2008
55 Ways to Save a Little Money
There are so many ways to save a little money, but there are lots more ways to spend it! Check out this page with 55 ways to cut your spending here and there. Hope you enjoy!
55 Ways to Save a Little Money
55 Ways to Save a Little Money
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