International Time

Time and Date

As a result of trying to figure out the time difference between Maine and Baghdad, I found this nifty site that lets you build your own set of online “clocks”. The Time and Date site has a multitude of features including world clocks and calendars. You can build your own set of clocks if you have friends elsewhere in the world and you want to know if they are “up” or sleeping. My own constructed clock contains info for the west coast, east coast, Sweden and Tehran.

The true international date and time site is Greenwich Mean Time.

There is also the United States Naval Time Service Department (division of the US Naval Observatory):

The Official Source of Time for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Global Positioning System (GPS), and a Standard of Time for the United States.

And then of course there is Time.gov.

Making it through the holidays in one piece.

These festive tips came from the newest Jon Gordon newsletter:

1. Ho, Ho, Ho like Santa
Remember to breathe to reduce stress. When you are running around during the holidays you often forget to breathe. When we get stressed we take shorter breathes which means less oxygen and energy for our brain and body. By focusing on your breathing you will maximize your energy and keep stress from zapping you.

2. Eat like a Reindeer
- The key is to graze and eat smaller meals so you don't eat the entire appetizer table at your next holiday party. Eat smaller more frequent meals during the day to maintain your blood sugar level and optimize your energy level during the day. Too often we eat large meals during the holiday season. This zaps our energy and causes the dreaded after lunch or dinner food coma.
- Also eat soup before a party since studies show you will eat less at dinner if you start your meal with soup.
- While shopping carry around a bag of almonds and raisins so you will have a nutritious and energizing snack to keep you going as you shop, shop, shop.

3. Play like an Elf
Remember to have fun this holiday season. Remember what it felt like to be a child during the holidays and let this memory inspire you to smile, laugh and play this year. Why do children and elves always have so much fun? Because they smile, have fun and play games. Buy a red Rudolf nose and whenever you find yourself being a scrooge put the nose on and make people laugh.

Turin 2006

The XXth Olympic Winter Games take place in Turin, Italy from the 10^th through the 26^th of February. The Olympic Flame was lit, today, in Greece:

“The start of the XX Olympic Winter Games – Torino 2006 drew a step closer today as the Olympic Flame was kindled in Olympia, Greece. Ignited in the traditional way by the High Priestess, actress Theodora Siarkou, the flame was then used to light the official torch of the Turin Games. Following a short stay in Greece, the Olympic Flame will be flown to Rome, and the Torino 2006 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its Italian journey on 8 December 2005.”

A Murder of Crows

A Murder of Crows

At Thanksgiving dinner someone asked what a group of eagles would be called. None of us knew but, I had a book at home that might provide the answer.

Many years back, through Verbatim Magazine, I obtained a copy of “An Exaltation of Larks or, The Venereal Game” by James Lipton. It provides page after page of collective nouns – real and imagined.

I googled and came up with these sites for lists of collective nouns or venereal terms:

Venereal Terms

The Collective Nouns

This one is my favorite and is arranged by birds, beasts, people and things:

Collective Nouns

And the answer to our dinner question: a convocation of eagles or an aerie of eagles.

First Snow of the Season

This morning we woke up to the first snow of the season. It’s a bit brisk out. The snow is melting on the roads but sticking to the leaves. Today’s landmark is that my son will be getting his driver’s permit and wants to drive home after the last class.

For me, it’s a deep breath and the thought – how did he grow up so fast. Like any other mother, the day I birthed this baby is still firmly etched in my memory. As will today’s first time behind the wheel of the family car: an American rite of passage.

I spoke with my mom this morning. She did it, without comment, five times; once for myself and then with each of my siblings. Each time she held her breath and her tongue, which I hope I do as well.

A book and a laptop

I finally received my copy of “Perfect Digital Photography” from Overstock. In the review of the book:

"Written by photography experts--including a Pulitzer-Prize winning National Geographic photographer--this full-color book is a must-have for amateur photographers serious about improving both the quality of their photographs and their proficiency in the digital darkroom. The book is the perfect combination of a technical treatise on digital imaging and an artistic exploration of light, composition, and form, allowing you to glean the essential techniques needed for digital photography without losing sight of the artistic and aesthetic aspects of the craft. Using an easy-to-follow approach, the authors explain the image conceptualization process through shooting, editing, and image correction to finished print. In addition, top photographers from a variety of disciplines offer real-world advice on how they use digital photography to create compelling images for high-profile magazine articles, advertising campaigns, and fine art prints. Bonus tutorials at the end of the book offer step-by-step instruction in ten of the most important skills any digital photographer should know.

The authors:

Jay Kinghorn (Boulder, CO), an assignment and fine art photographer, gives training programs and lectures nationwide, and has a syndicated column on digital imaging.

Jay Dickman (Littleton, CO) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and a regular contributor to National Geographic"

I will be reading it over the long holiday.

AND

The Laptop has arrived and it is magnificent. I love the screen size (17”) and the weight of it. It came ready to use – nothing had to be downloaded (except Firefox/Mozilla). With a wireless connection, I was online almost as soon as I got it up and running. I’ve been working on the photo end of things this evening.

I am enthralled.

Meditation to Reduce the Effects of Aging

( Epcot in Florida - my photo)

Study: Meditation may boost brain activity

“Regular meditation has been touted as a stress reducer for years, but a recent study says practitioners benefit from a brain boost as well. CNN anchor Fredericka Whitfield spoke with Sara Lazar, a research scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, about the study and meditation's apparent benefits.”

And short how-to:

Steps of Mindfulness Meditation

1. Sit comfortably, with your eyes closed and your spine reasonably straight.
2. Direct your attention to your breathing.
3. When thoughts, emotions, physical sensations or external sounds occur, simply accept them, allowing them to come and go without judging or getting involved with them.
4. When you notice that your attention has drifted off and become engaged in thoughts or emotions, simply bring it back to your breathing and continue.

· Remember... it's ok and natural for thoughts to arise, and for your attention to follow them. No matter how many times this happens, just keep bringing your attention back to your breathing.

Benefits of this meditation:

• Maintaining your calm inner awareness, balance & clarity in the midst of any situation.
• A gradual shift to a higher level of consciousness... centered in the peace, joy & freedom of your Spirit.
• Increased insight & clarity... seeing things truly, as they are.
• Stress reduction.

For a longer version of how to do mindfulness meditation check here.