text:
Gardening and photography are two pastimes that, combined, in addition to providing us with the way to escape from everyday worries, relax us and give us the pleasure of creating a living and refined works. Even a simple camera, used with the necessary precautions, is sufficient to obtain good results, without having to resort to high-quality devices, what can be done later, when the needs increase as the photographer’s expertise increases and his sensitivity. The garden offers the amateur photographer great satisfaction. There are hundreds of ways to make a garden useful for creating compositional effects, suggestive combinations of figures, flowers and color contrasts; in it the portraits find an ideal frame, a harmonizing scenario, especially as regards the children who take on that casual attitude, unfailingly lost when they have to pose in another environment. Photographing your garden, in the splendor of spring or summer, also allows you to make comparisons, think of other accommodations for the following year; it means to see it grow.
Power of macro photography and technique that allows you to keep the subject in focus and blur the background, on which the flower stands out in all its beauty.
To understand how this happens, you first need to know how the images are formed on the sensor (on film in analog cameras). It all stems from the fact that the angle of view of a lens is different from the binocular field of vision, that is, from what the two eyes of man see.
By simplifying, we can state that, when we observe, what is outside the field of vision is not perceived by our eyes. The same thing happens with the angle of view of the lenses, which changes depending on the focal length.
For our example, among all the possible targets we have chosen the normal objective. A target is said to be normal if its focal length is even (or approximately equal) to the diagonal of the sensor. The full frame sensor (24×36 mm or Leica) is as large as a frame of the film and is, in our opinion, the format par excellence of photography, more expensive but preferable to various APS formats, which are smaller. The normal lenses for the full frame, all have a focal length of 50 mm. Photographs made with the normal lens have the property of reproducing the framed scene more or less as our eyes see it. But this does not mean that the angle of view of a normal lens is equal to the human visual field. In fact, a 50 mm lens has a field angle, both horizontal and vertical, equal to 46 °, very different from the human visual field.
After these premises, we can proceed to the discovery of how the image is formed on the image plane, which we will call PI.
Today, lenses are made up of several lenses which, however, behave substantially like a single lens. We therefore feel free to represent the lens as a single lens. And we do not do anything wrong: the first objectives of the history of photography were really composed of a single lens.
In Figure we see what happens when we look at a scene with a flower and a butterfly, where we have placed three points, all at the same distance D from the lens. We note that the lens does not see the point 3 (butterfly) that is out of its angle of field.
Therefore on the image plane (PI) we will find only the footprints (ie the images) 1 * and 2 * of the points 1 and 2. (En passant we point out that the image will result below, but we will not insist on this point).
Then we removed the flower, the butterfly, the angle of field and left only the points 1 and 2 of the flower. We have added two important elements of the goal. First of all the focus F (red dot), an important point because it is the one where the light rays reflected by a very, very distant point converge: in the language of the photographers they say “a point to infinity” (∞). Then we added the optical center C (point blue) and we have indicated the focal length 50 mm (distance of C from F). Finally we added an indispensable element of the camera, the sensor (S), which will record the fingerprints for us. Let’s go into detail.
● Imprint of point 1. Between all the beams of reflective light 1 there is the one parallel to the optical axis (red line). When this ray meets the target, it is deflected (refracted) through fire F. Let’s take another ray of light reflected from 1, the one passing through C (green line) and that is not deflected. The PI image plane is where the two rays (red and green) meet (ie in 1 *, fingerprint or image of 1) and is parallel to the lens (lens).
● Imprint of point 2. Between all the light beams, refer to 2, the one parallel to the optical axis (gray dashed line) does not meet the target. To find its footprint, consider the light ray reflected by 2 which passes through the optical center C (blue line) and which is not deflected. The impression 2 * is formed where the spoke meets the PI image plane previously found.
Why are these prints formed on the image plane? explains it. With respect to the previous one we left the PI image plane where the 1 * and 2 * impressions of points 1 and 2 are formed. These impressions are formed thanks to the sunlight reflected from 1 and 2 (photography means written with light).
It may seem a trivial question, but the answer would be enough to fill all the pages of this book. Its appeal also derives from the fact that photography has different meanings for each person. Photography is so present in our life that it would be impossible to imagine one without it. We probably could not look at a wedding photo, see the growth of children or we would not be able to go on holiday without a camera. We are continually bombarded with images: newspapers, magazines, advertising as well as on paper, even on television, on the internet. Yet we are never satisfied. What drives us to take pictures? What role does photography play, in relation to other forms of visual expression, in the communication of information and ideas? Does a photographer have any responsibility? What does it actually imply? And what makes an image a success? Throughout the book we will try to give an explanation to these questions with the awareness that photography is a combination of subjective thoughts, creative imagination, visual creation, technical competence and practical organization. With a broad circular look at all aspects of photography, you will be able to focus on your ideas in photographic terms. On the one hand you need to know the technical aspect and the camera, even if you do not need to exceed the details too early, on the other you have different approaches on how to take a picture suitable for the purpose, from documenting an event to communicating an idea to a particular audience, working by expressing their ideas or those of some other person, or by free interpretation to the public.
Perhaps you have been attracted to photography because it appears to be a quick, convenient and objective way to register reality. All the importance lies in the meaning of the subject itself and your intent is to objectively show what it is or what it is doing (the first steps of a child or the scratches on the bodywork to show to the insurer). Photography is then realism, it becomes a proof of that situation. In this case the camera is used to capture a visual memory. The other side of photography is when it is used to manipulate or to propose its own interpretation of reality, then the images will essentially bring out personal evaluations and positions. You can create unreal situations (as in advertising) or choose to resume only some aspects of an event and not others (as for internal politics news). Photography is a powerful means of persuasion and propaganda. It enjoys such a reputation for objectivity that, in shrewd hands, makes it possible to transform any reality into another. Take for example the album of your memories. What does it contain, your daily life or just happy moments? Another reason why we dedicate ourselves to photography could be the search for a means of personal expression that allows us to explore our own ideas. It may seem strange that a apparently so objective means can be used to express, for example, the object of a desire, identity, race or fantasy. Probably all of us have seen images ‘represented’ in other objects, like seeing some animals in a cloud formation, in shadows or in rust. A photograph can become intriguing, thanks to the questions we ask ourselves, allowing us to see things that do not exist. The way in which the image is presented is also important, at least as much as the subject. Other types of photographers seek only the beauty and the portray in their ‘picturesque’ style, as an art form in its own right. For many people one of the biggest attractions for photography is equipment. All an ingenious technology designed to satisfy our dexterity and the eye, in fact we feel a great satisfaction in pressing buttons, in triggering high precision mechanisms, in collecting and carrying sophisticated photographic equipment. The tools are undoubtedly of vital importance, and their perfect knowledge is absolutely necessary, but let’s not reduce ourselves to taking pictures just to test the performance of the device! Another attraction is the photographic process itself: a challenge between our technical skills and the final result of the portrait object. The results will then be judged and enjoyed on the basis of their intrinsic photographic qualities: contents of high interest, superb details, richness of tones and colors strongly expressive. The photographic process provides the means to ‘capture what we see’, to obtain images without having to work laborious designs. The camera is a kind of time machine, which ‘freezes’ any person, place or situation we want. It seems that it gives those who use it the power to dominate reality. Another aspect that fascinates is the pleasure of the visual structure of the photographs. There is a real complacency that comes from the composition of the images as such: the geometry of the lines and shapes, the balance of the tones, the ‘cut’ and the structure of the elements, whatever the subject portrayed. All this can be achieved with a change of point of view or with the choice of a certain moment to shoot. These are just some aspects of the different possibilities and the different interests connected to photography. Many then find themselves fused together in the practice of a photographer’s work. Your current interest can be based primarily on technology, on the artistic aspect or on visual communication. We can know where interest is born, but not where it evolves, so it is It is important for a beginner to maintain a certain openness in his mind. Try to equip yourself with the right bases by learning something from all the various aspects, preferably not limiting yourself to the theory, but with a good support of practical applications.

lowercased:
gardening and photography are two pastimes that, combined, in addition to providing us with the way to escape from everyday worries, relax us and give us the pleasure of creating a living and refined works. even a simple camera, used with the necessary precautions, is sufficient to obtain good results, without having to resort to high-quality devices, what can be done later, when the needs increase as the photographer’s expertise increases and his sensitivity. the garden offers the amateur photographer great satisfaction. there are hundreds of ways to make a garden useful for creating compositional effects, suggestive combinations of figures, flowers and color contrasts; in it the portraits find an ideal frame, a harmonizing scenario, especially as regards the children who take on that casual attitude, unfailingly lost when they have to pose in another environment. photographing your garden, in the splendor of spring or summer, also allows you to make comparisons, think of other accommodations for the following year; it means to see it grow.
power of macro photography and technique that allows you to keep the subject in focus and blur the background, on which the flower stands out in all its beauty.
to understand how this happens, you first need to know how the images are formed on the sensor (on film in analog cameras). it all stems from the fact that the angle of view of a lens is different from the binocular field of vision, that is, from what the two eyes of man see.
by simplifying, we can state that, when we observe, what is outside the field of vision is not perceived by our eyes. the same thing happens with the angle of view of the lenses, which changes depending on the focal length.
for our example, among all the possible targets we have chosen the normal objective. a target is said to be normal if its focal length is even (or approximately equal) to the diagonal of the sensor. the full frame sensor (24×36 mm or leica) is as large as a frame of the film and is, in our opinion, the format par excellence of photography, more expensive but preferable to various aps formats, which are smaller. the normal lenses for the full frame, all have a focal length of 50 mm. photographs made with the normal lens have the property of reproducing the framed scene more or less as our eyes see it. but this does not mean that the angle of view of a normal lens is equal to the human visual field. in fact, a 50 mm lens has a field angle, both horizontal and vertical, equal to 46 °, very different from the human visual field.
after these premises, we can proceed to the discovery of how the image is formed on the image plane, which we will call pi.
today, lenses are made up of several lenses which, however, behave substantially like a single lens. we therefore feel free to represent the lens as a single lens. and we do not do anything wrong: the first objectives of the history of photography were really composed of a single lens.
in figure we see what happens when we look at a scene with a flower and a butterfly, where we have placed three points, all at the same distance d from the lens. we note that the lens does not see the point 3 (butterfly) that is out of its angle of field.
therefore on the image plane (pi) we will find only the footprints (ie the images) 1 * and 2 * of the points 1 and 2. (en passant we point out that the image will result below, but we will not insist on this point).
then we removed the flower, the butterfly, the angle of field and left only the points 1 and 2 of the flower. we have added two important elements of the goal. first of all the focus f (red dot), an important point because it is the one where the light rays reflected by a very, very distant point converge: in the language of the photographers they say “a point to infinity” (∞). then we added the optical center c (point blue) and we have indicated the focal length 50 mm (distance of c from f). finally we added an indispensable element of the camera, the sensor (s), which will record the fingerprints for us. let’s go into detail.
● imprint of point 1. between all the beams of reflective light 1 there is the one parallel to the optical axis (red line). when this ray meets the target, it is deflected (refracted) through fire f. let’s take another ray of light reflected from 1, the one passing through c (green line) and that is not deflected. the pi image plane is where the two rays (red and green) meet (ie in 1 *, fingerprint or image of 1) and is parallel to the lens (lens).
● imprint of point 2. between all the light beams, refer to 2, the one parallel to the optical axis (gray dashed line) does not meet the target. to find its footprint, consider the light ray reflected by 2 which passes through the optical center c (blue line) and which is not deflected. the impression 2 * is formed where the spoke meets the pi image plane previously found.
why are these prints formed on the image plane? explains it. with respect to the previous one we left the pi image plane where the 1 * and 2 * impressions of points 1 and 2 are formed. these impressions are formed thanks to the sunlight reflected from 1 and 2 (photography means written with light).
it may seem a trivial question, but the answer would be enough to fill all the pages of this book. its appeal also derives from the fact that photography has different meanings for each person. photography is so present in our life that it would be impossible to imagine one without it. we probably could not look at a wedding photo, see the growth of children or we would not be able to go on holiday without a camera. we are continually bombarded with images: newspapers, magazines, advertising as well as on paper, even on television, on the internet. yet we are never satisfied. what drives us to take pictures? what role does photography play, in relation to other forms of visual expression, in the communication of information and ideas? does a photographer have any responsibility? what does it actually imply? and what makes an image a success? throughout the book we will try to give an explanation to these questions with the awareness that photography is a combination of subjective thoughts, creative imagination, visual creation, technical competence and practical organization. with a broad circular look at all aspects of photography, you will be able to focus on your ideas in photographic terms. on the one hand you need to know the technical aspect and the camera, even if you do not need to exceed the details too early, on the other you have different approaches on how to take a picture suitable for the purpose, from documenting an event to communicating an idea to a particular audience, working by expressing their ideas or those of some other person, or by free interpretation to the public.
perhaps you have been attracted to photography because it appears to be a quick, convenient and objective way to register reality. all the importance lies in the meaning of the subject itself and your intent is to objectively show what it is or what it is doing (the first steps of a child or the scratches on the bodywork to show to the insurer). photography is then realism, it becomes a proof of that situation. in this case the camera is used to capture a visual memory. the other side of photography is when it is used to manipulate or to propose its own interpretation of reality, then the images will essentially bring out personal evaluations and positions. you can create unreal situations (as in advertising) or choose to resume only some aspects of an event and not others (as for internal politics news). photography is a powerful means of persuasion and propaganda. it enjoys such a reputation for objectivity that, in shrewd hands, makes it possible to transform any reality into another. take for example the album of your memories. what does it contain, your daily life or just happy moments? another reason why we dedicate ourselves to photography could be the search for a means of personal expression that allows us to explore our own ideas. it may seem strange that a apparently so objective means can be used to express, for example, the object of a desire, identity, race or fantasy. probably all of us have seen images ‘represented’ in other objects, like seeing some animals in a cloud formation, in shadows or in rust. a photograph can become intriguing, thanks to the questions we ask ourselves, allowing us to see things that do not exist. the way in which the image is presented is also important, at least as much as the subject. other types of photographers seek only the beauty and the portray in their ‘picturesque’ style, as an art form in its own right. for many people one of the biggest attractions for photography is equipment. all an ingenious technology designed to satisfy our dexterity and the eye, in fact we feel a great satisfaction in pressing buttons, in triggering high precision mechanisms, in collecting and carrying sophisticated photographic equipment. the tools are undoubtedly of vital importance, and their perfect knowledge is absolutely necessary, but let’s not reduce ourselves to taking pictures just to test the performance of the device! another attraction is the photographic process itself: a challenge between our technical skills and the final result of the portrait object. the results will then be judged and enjoyed on the basis of their intrinsic photographic qualities: contents of high interest, superb details, richness of tones and colors strongly expressive. the photographic process provides the means to ‘capture what we see’, to obtain images without having to work laborious designs. the camera is a kind of time machine, which ‘freezes’ any person, place or situation we want. it seems that it gives those who use it the power to dominate reality. another aspect that fascinates is the pleasure of the visual structure of the photographs. there is a real complacency that comes from the composition of the images as such: the geometry of the lines and shapes, the balance of the tones, the ‘cut’ and the structure of the elements, whatever the subject portrayed. all this can be achieved with a change of point of view or with the choice of a certain moment to shoot. these are just some aspects of the different possibilities and the different interests connected to photography. many then find themselves fused together in the practice of a photographer’s work. your current interest can be based primarily on technology, on the artistic aspect or on visual communication. we can know where interest is born, but not where it evolves, so it is it is important for a beginner to maintain a certain openness in his mind. try to equip yourself with the right bases by learning something from all the various aspects, preferably not limiting yourself to the theory, but with a good support of practical applications.


text: The reading from the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that we, too, bear witness to the risen Lord. The presence of Christ is within us, making us new, transforming us, turning us into stewards of the Good News. There is no more time for holding grudges, disliking others, seeking vengeance, maintaining old prejudices, tolerating bias. We are Christ’s joy and instruments of his peace. Our world is reordered. Reflect on how we are called to let Christ’s forgiveness, reconciliation and love permeate our lives. We are Easter people. Rejoice!

lowercased: the reading from the acts of the apostles reminds us that we, too, bear witness to the risen lord. the presence of christ is within us, making us new, transforming us, turning us into stewards of the good news. there is no more time for holding grudges, disliking others, seeking vengeance, maintaining old prejudices, tolerating bias. we are christ’s joy and instruments of his peace. our world is reordered. reflect on how we are called to let christ’s forgiveness, reconciliation and love permeate our lives. we are easter people. rejoice!


text: 1. What About Our Future (Radio Edit) 2. What About Our Future (Extended Mix) 3. What About O..

lowercased: 1. what about our future (radio edit) 2. what about our future (extended mix) 3. what about o..


text:
So glad Kirstin Springmeyer and Manale Elewah were able to connect in Houston yesterday to talk about the healing power of art. Kirstin was one of my first "kids" to go into ordained ministry from my first call. She's now working on the healing power of art.
Last time I was with Dr. Elewah was in Cairo. She took me to see her work at a children's cancer hospital and we cartooned, sang, and played all day. She took me to visit one very sick child who wasn't able to join us. The boy was staring blankly at the wall. I told him I bet I could make him smile. I did everything I could think of, and no... no smile. Then I pulled out my final trick in the bag and yes, he rolled his eyes and finally smiled.
There are many medicines that don't cost a thing. Art and smiles are maybe two of the best.
We're all living next to a cliff.
How can we train our homes to be the places of stranger conversations and invitations to tea?
Can we learn to feel other’s pain?
How do we raise a child, a family, a society of true compassion and empathy? Joan Halifax has some marvelous thought on nurturing compassion in a oft-times cold and polarized world.
Great talk for Cross+Gen conversations.
Her thinking about Robotics and Digital Artificial Intelligence would especially make a marvelous conversation starter between the ages.
We're not listening to each other.
1/3 of teens send 110+ texts a day… but would much rather text than talk to a human being.
Conversational competence is the single most important skill we can teach our children and achieve ourselves today. And yet, we seem to have more and more time for tech and less and less time for talk. Without it, how can we achieve true understanding? Without the time, attention and energy, how can we hone interpersonal conversation skills?
Teaching how to talk and how to listen, Celeste Hedlee shares these 10 basic rules to be Engaged, inspired, perfectly understood.
10. Be brief - My sister said, "A good conversation is like a mini-skirt; short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover thee subject."
This Ted Talk would make a great Cross+Gen conversation.
So, how might something like FAITH5 help us get good at this, every week in a Cross+Gen community and every night in every home?
Over my years in ministry and education, I have found using theater is both attentive and retentive. And, whether you're Nathan the Prophet telling David off ("you are the man!") or Shakesphere's Hamlet ("the play's the thing whereby I'll catch the conscience of the king") or George Bernard Shaw ("If you're going to tell the truth, you'd better make them laugh or they'll kill you"), embedding a message in drama is rather brilliant neurology.
We are bombarded with billions of bits of info per second. Most of our senses have gate-keepers to keep information out. (except the sense of smell). There's just too much information! The brain uses these filters in order to focus on what's important.
But when you bombard the senses with theater - the eyes (the visual cortex processes 7 billion bits per second), the ears (they process up tp 10,000 bps), the tingling skin (when the empathetic nervous system gets involved in the story), and what story and music do to engage significantly more of the brain (the logical centers of the brain, the sense of humor or drama), you have a tool for attention and retention. Engagement and involvement.
And you get beyond the gate-keepers to encounter the audience (ie, listeners) an spectators (ie, viewers) in more than just a show.
You get to the heart of the matter... because great theater gets to the matter of the heart.
From a neurological perspective, a para (beside) bala (to throw or lob) is the most brain-engaging form of speech. It lights up the visual, logical, emotional and curiosity centers of the brain.
It is written that Rabbi Jesus only taught in parables.
Raising A Teen Who Talks Every Night?
He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents.
Imagine raising a daughter who wouldn’t think of going to bed without talking to you about her highs and lows every night, even though she’s 16.
Imagine raising a son who won’t turn out the lights without asking you about your day, praying for your highs and lows, and blessing you.
Imagine growing up in a home where everyone feels loved, valued and heard every night; a family that seeks God’s wisdom, will and Word at the center of their lives; an intimate community where every night is an experience of caring, sharing, comfort and peace. Does this sound like an impossible dream?
Does it sound like an improbable dream?
One thing is for sure: This dream is not going to magically materialize without intention, commitment and a workable plan on your part to make it happen. Having a close and caring family is a beautiful dream, but a dream without a plan isn’t worth a nickel. However, a dream with a workable plan may be worth a million bucks.
Think of your highest high and lowest low in the last five years.
• Where was God in the high?
• Where was God in the low?
• What wisdom have you gained from these two experiences?
• Shares a significant high with a trusted friend?
• Shares a significant low with a trusted friend?
• Falls asleep every night of his or her life knowing that he or she is loved, heard and valued?
• Reflect on the significant highs of the day every night?
• Reflect on the significant lows of the day every night?
• Share highs and lows, caring conversations, faith talk and reflection at the end of the day (as opposed to mornings, after school, in the car or around the dinner table)?
What if you frequently have to go out of town on business? What if you are sitting on a military base half a world away? What if you are sitting in a jail or prison cell? All the more reason to connect with your kids! Your kids need you now more than ever in order to feel loved, secure and safe.
Just because you're gone doesn't mean you have to be absent.
Do everything in your power to check in regularly with your kids, ask about their highs and lows, share your own concerns, pray for them, ask for their prayers, and offer your blessing. Don’t let physical distance create emotional distance. Leverage the technology available to Skype or FaceTime or phone them. So much of communication happens without words. The smile, the eyes, the face muscles, the visual clues say more than mere words ever could.
Let your loved ones know that even though you are away, you care too much about them to let a single day go by without building a memory they will treasure and take with them the rest of their lives. They will remember that their daddy or mommy always had time for them. You can’t buy that kind of message for a child. It will mean more to him or her than you will ever know.
We only had two rules for sharing highs and lows when our children were young. First, no interruptions. When someone was sharing, no one else was allowed to speak, except to ask clarifying questions. Second, no judgment. The first time you judge your children’s highs or lows may be the last time they risk being honest with you about what is really going on in their lives.
1. A timer: Brevity is the way to go for highs and lows, so set a time limit for the amount of sharing. Save the longer conversation for the amount of sharing. Save the longer conversation for Step 3: Talk.
2. Journaling: Writing before speaking is brilliant neurology. It connects thought to muscles, motions to emotions, and eyes to fingers. It begins the process of moving a person’s short-term memory from scratch pad (hippocampus) to hard drive (neo cortex). Writing connects the brain to the body to the environment, thus engaging the whole mind. It wires and fires and connects the new to what you already knew, setting the pieces in place for insight, problem-solving and innovation. If you want to grow reflective children into wise and thankful adults, start journaling.
3. Photographs and “emotographs”: As long as you are journaling words, why not consider adding a journal of images? Take at least one photo every day and add it to the mix.
Mental and emotional snapshots recorded in the form of simple sentences about your highs, lows and prayers serve as great mementos. Add a photo each day along with your writing and your journal will become the kind of scrapbook I call an emotograph—a rich, simple, memory- jogging tool that ensures that the day and its lessons will never be forgotten.
Setting aside 5 to 15 minutes each night for these communication practices might not merely hold a family together; it might also teach children—and adults—how to hold a marriage together.
Here's the link to "Life Moves Pretty Fast." Show it to parents, then invite them to start a nightly check in with FAITH5 (share, read, talk, pray, bless).
If all you had time for each night was five minutes of sharing highs and lows, you would be miles ahead of most families—psychologically, sociologically, neurologically and theologically. But this is just the start of the art. In the chapters that follow, we’ll get to the good stuff. In the meantime, let’s look at how this first step of FAITH5 might look in your nightly routine.
Whoever is going to bed first in your home is empowered to call the nightly home huddle. This could be, “Highs and lows!” or “Huddle up!” or “FAITH5 in five minutes!” After a little exercise to get oxygen, glucose and BDNF coursing through your children’s veins, invite each person to look back on the day. What was one high (a good thing) that happened during the last 24 hours? What was one low (one thing they didn’t consider so great)?
Go around the room. Take turns. Ask everyone to be on watch throughout the day for the highest high and the lowest low. Consider recording your highs and lows in a journal for later reflection. Think of this as a little gift to your family and yourself. Be honest. Be real. Don’t interrupt. Expect everyone to contribute.
When our children were young, our pillow fight always ended on our waterbed. We followed with highs and lows on the waves. When they hit grade school, the home huddle rotated between Kathryn’s and Joseph’s rooms. For some magical unseen reason, it shifted back to Mom and Dad’s bedroom when they hit high school. Most nights found them lying comfortably on our bed—often with Kathryn Elizabeth’s feet sticking in my face for a foot rub. Even on nights when we were angry with one another and not all that elated to be related, the act of returning to that ritual and comforting space was often all it took to bring us back “home” in our home.
"If you talk for several minutes, the other person’s brain will only recall a fraction of what you’ve said, and it might not be the part you want to convey. The solution? Brevity followed by intense listening to make sure the other person has grasped the key points of what you said. If they have, great! You can say another sentence. If not, why move on? If the other person hasn’t understood you, what good will it do?"
Here’s the other good news if you have a child or teen (or spouse) who doesn't talk much: The person who shares highs and lows in a couple sentences in 10 to 20 seconds may not only be more efficient in communicating - but they may be significantly more effective in getting messages across! Any one-way communication beyond a half-minute increases the likelihood that the message a person is trying to get across will not be registered and remembered by anyone.
You can keep pouring water in a full glass all you want, but it’s only going to hold so much. Everything else will just be a waste of water. Likewise, after 10 seconds, you can keep talking all you want, but if there is no give and take—no true conversation—everything else is just a waste of time, energy and breath.
Don't worry if highs and lows are done in a couple sentences or syllables. Worry if they aren't done at all.

lowercased:
so glad kirstin springmeyer and manale elewah were able to connect in houston yesterday to talk about the healing power of art. kirstin was one of my first "kids" to go into ordained ministry from my first call. she's now working on the healing power of art.
last time i was with dr. elewah was in cairo. she took me to see her work at a children's cancer hospital and we cartooned, sang, and played all day. she took me to visit one very sick child who wasn't able to join us. the boy was staring blankly at the wall. i told him i bet i could make him smile. i did everything i could think of, and no... no smile. then i pulled out my final trick in the bag and yes, he rolled his eyes and finally smiled.
there are many medicines that don't cost a thing. art and smiles are maybe two of the best.
we're all living next to a cliff.
how can we train our homes to be the places of stranger conversations and invitations to tea?
can we learn to feel other’s pain?
how do we raise a child, a family, a society of true compassion and empathy? joan halifax has some marvelous thought on nurturing compassion in a oft-times cold and polarized world.
great talk for cross+gen conversations.
her thinking about robotics and digital artificial intelligence would especially make a marvelous conversation starter between the ages.
we're not listening to each other.
1/3 of teens send 110+ texts a day… but would much rather text than talk to a human being.
conversational competence is the single most important skill we can teach our children and achieve ourselves today. and yet, we seem to have more and more time for tech and less and less time for talk. without it, how can we achieve true understanding? without the time, attention and energy, how can we hone interpersonal conversation skills?
teaching how to talk and how to listen, celeste hedlee shares these 10 basic rules to be engaged, inspired, perfectly understood.
10. be brief - my sister said, "a good conversation is like a mini-skirt; short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover thee subject."
this ted talk would make a great cross+gen conversation.
so, how might something like faith5 help us get good at this, every week in a cross+gen community and every night in every home?
over my years in ministry and education, i have found using theater is both attentive and retentive. and, whether you're nathan the prophet telling david off ("you are the man!") or shakesphere's hamlet ("the play's the thing whereby i'll catch the conscience of the king") or george bernard shaw ("if you're going to tell the truth, you'd better make them laugh or they'll kill you"), embedding a message in drama is rather brilliant neurology.
we are bombarded with billions of bits of info per second. most of our senses have gate-keepers to keep information out. (except the sense of smell). there's just too much information! the brain uses these filters in order to focus on what's important.
but when you bombard the senses with theater - the eyes (the visual cortex processes 7 billion bits per second), the ears (they process up tp 10,000 bps), the tingling skin (when the empathetic nervous system gets involved in the story), and what story and music do to engage significantly more of the brain (the logical centers of the brain, the sense of humor or drama), you have a tool for attention and retention. engagement and involvement.
and you get beyond the gate-keepers to encounter the audience (ie, listeners) an spectators (ie, viewers) in more than just a show.
you get to the heart of the matter... because great theater gets to the matter of the heart.
from a neurological perspective, a para (beside) bala (to throw or lob) is the most brain-engaging form of speech. it lights up the visual, logical, emotional and curiosity centers of the brain.
it is written that rabbi jesus only taught in parables.
raising a teen who talks every night?
he will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents.
imagine raising a daughter who wouldn’t think of going to bed without talking to you about her highs and lows every night, even though she’s 16.
imagine raising a son who won’t turn out the lights without asking you about your day, praying for your highs and lows, and blessing you.
imagine growing up in a home where everyone feels loved, valued and heard every night; a family that seeks god’s wisdom, will and word at the center of their lives; an intimate community where every night is an experience of caring, sharing, comfort and peace. does this sound like an impossible dream?
does it sound like an improbable dream?
one thing is for sure: this dream is not going to magically materialize without intention, commitment and a workable plan on your part to make it happen. having a close and caring family is a beautiful dream, but a dream without a plan isn’t worth a nickel. however, a dream with a workable plan may be worth a million bucks.
think of your highest high and lowest low in the last five years.
• where was god in the high?
• where was god in the low?
• what wisdom have you gained from these two experiences?
• shares a significant high with a trusted friend?
• shares a significant low with a trusted friend?
• falls asleep every night of his or her life knowing that he or she is loved, heard and valued?
• reflect on the significant highs of the day every night?
• reflect on the significant lows of the day every night?
• share highs and lows, caring conversations, faith talk and reflection at the end of the day (as opposed to mornings, after school, in the car or around the dinner table)?
what if you frequently have to go out of town on business? what if you are sitting on a military base half a world away? what if you are sitting in a jail or prison cell? all the more reason to connect with your kids! your kids need you now more than ever in order to feel loved, secure and safe.
just because you're gone doesn't mean you have to be absent.
do everything in your power to check in regularly with your kids, ask about their highs and lows, share your own concerns, pray for them, ask for their prayers, and offer your blessing. don’t let physical distance create emotional distance. leverage the technology available to skype or facetime or phone them. so much of communication happens without words. the smile, the eyes, the face muscles, the visual clues say more than mere words ever could.
let your loved ones know that even though you are away, you care too much about them to let a single day go by without building a memory they will treasure and take with them the rest of their lives. they will remember that their daddy or mommy always had time for them. you can’t buy that kind of message for a child. it will mean more to him or her than you will ever know.
we only had two rules for sharing highs and lows when our children were young. first, no interruptions. when someone was sharing, no one else was allowed to speak, except to ask clarifying questions. second, no judgment. the first time you judge your children’s highs or lows may be the last time they risk being honest with you about what is really going on in their lives.
1. a timer: brevity is the way to go for highs and lows, so set a time limit for the amount of sharing. save the longer conversation for the amount of sharing. save the longer conversation for step 3: talk.
2. journaling: writing before speaking is brilliant neurology. it connects thought to muscles, motions to emotions, and eyes to fingers. it begins the process of moving a person’s short-term memory from scratch pad (hippocampus) to hard drive (neo cortex). writing connects the brain to the body to the environment, thus engaging the whole mind. it wires and fires and connects the new to what you already knew, setting the pieces in place for insight, problem-solving and innovation. if you want to grow reflective children into wise and thankful adults, start journaling.
3. photographs and “emotographs”: as long as you are journaling words, why not consider adding a journal of images? take at least one photo every day and add it to the mix.
mental and emotional snapshots recorded in the form of simple sentences about your highs, lows and prayers serve as great mementos. add a photo each day along with your writing and your journal will become the kind of scrapbook i call an emotograph—a rich, simple, memory- jogging tool that ensures that the day and its lessons will never be forgotten.
setting aside 5 to 15 minutes each night for these communication practices might not merely hold a family together; it might also teach children—and adults—how to hold a marriage together.
here's the link to "life moves pretty fast." show it to parents, then invite them to start a nightly check in with faith5 (share, read, talk, pray, bless).
if all you had time for each night was five minutes of sharing highs and lows, you would be miles ahead of most families—psychologically, sociologically, neurologically and theologically. but this is just the start of the art. in the chapters that follow, we’ll get to the good stuff. in the meantime, let’s look at how this first step of faith5 might look in your nightly routine.
whoever is going to bed first in your home is empowered to call the nightly home huddle. this could be, “highs and lows!” or “huddle up!” or “faith5 in five minutes!” after a little exercise to get oxygen, glucose and bdnf coursing through your children’s veins, invite each person to look back on the day. what was one high (a good thing) that happened during the last 24 hours? what was one low (one thing they didn’t consider so great)?
go around the room. take turns. ask everyone to be on watch throughout the day for the highest high and the lowest low. consider recording your highs and lows in a journal for later reflection. think of this as a little gift to your family and yourself. be honest. be real. don’t interrupt. expect everyone to contribute.
when our children were young, our pillow fight always ended on our waterbed. we followed with highs and lows on the waves. when they hit grade school, the home huddle rotated between kathryn’s and joseph’s rooms. for some magical unseen reason, it shifted back to mom and dad’s bedroom when they hit high school. most nights found them lying comfortably on our bed—often with kathryn elizabeth’s feet sticking in my face for a foot rub. even on nights when we were angry with one another and not all that elated to be related, the act of returning to that ritual and comforting space was often all it took to bring us back “home” in our home.
"if you talk for several minutes, the other person’s brain will only recall a fraction of what you’ve said, and it might not be the part you want to convey. the solution? brevity followed by intense listening to make sure the other person has grasped the key points of what you said. if they have, great! you can say another sentence. if not, why move on? if the other person hasn’t understood you, what good will it do?"
here’s the other good news if you have a child or teen (or spouse) who doesn't talk much: the person who shares highs and lows in a couple sentences in 10 to 20 seconds may not only be more efficient in communicating - but they may be significantly more effective in getting messages across! any one-way communication beyond a half-minute increases the likelihood that the message a person is trying to get across will not be registered and remembered by anyone.
you can keep pouring water in a full glass all you want, but it’s only going to hold so much. everything else will just be a waste of water. likewise, after 10 seconds, you can keep talking all you want, but if there is no give and take—no true conversation—everything else is just a waste of time, energy and breath.
don't worry if highs and lows are done in a couple sentences or syllables. worry if they aren't done at all.


text:
I know all the gestures of the palm: how to turn it away from the body or bring it close to the face, or bring it close to another's face, quickly, as in a slap, or slowly, with great tenderness. I know what can be done with the palm, the pleasure and pain it meets out. I have studied all the angles, measured all the reactions it draws. I have made a simple hand movement contain libraries of feeling. I am a repository of emotional precision, I am a manipulator of souls. I have all that in my palm.
"Director Chen wanted to go--he wanted to see the waitress with the mo gui body."
"Mo gui body, what do you mean?"
My Chinese language isn't what is should be, but it's not bad considering I'm American-born. I knew the word, but wanted to be sure I understood this perfectly.
"She supposedly has a fantastic figure."
"But what does mo gui mean?"
"Mo gui! Devil or demon--something out of this world."
"Well," I said, surprised by how excited I suddenly felt. And I imagined the crew in the restaurant ogling as she took their order and then brought their bowls of noodles to the table. I saw her moving serpent-like past the tables, her head turning hypnotically, eyes blinking, conjuring before men's eyes image upon image of a silky, twisting female body.
"I didn't think it was anything," Jin said and ripped the brown paper off the latest issue of his computer magazine.

lowercased:
i know all the gestures of the palm: how to turn it away from the body or bring it close to the face, or bring it close to another's face, quickly, as in a slap, or slowly, with great tenderness. i know what can be done with the palm, the pleasure and pain it meets out. i have studied all the angles, measured all the reactions it draws. i have made a simple hand movement contain libraries of feeling. i am a repository of emotional precision, i am a manipulator of souls. i have all that in my palm.
"director chen wanted to go--he wanted to see the waitress with the mo gui body."
"mo gui body, what do you mean?"
my chinese language isn't what is should be, but it's not bad considering i'm american-born. i knew the word, but wanted to be sure i understood this perfectly.
"she supposedly has a fantastic figure."
"but what does mo gui mean?"
"mo gui! devil or demon--something out of this world."
"well," i said, surprised by how excited i suddenly felt. and i imagined the crew in the restaurant ogling as she took their order and then brought their bowls of noodles to the table. i saw her moving serpent-like past the tables, her head turning hypnotically, eyes blinking, conjuring before men's eyes image upon image of a silky, twisting female body.
"i didn't think it was anything," jin said and ripped the brown paper off the latest issue of his computer magazine.


text:
According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times the Cubs “already have expressed interest in” Brandon McCarthy and “another buy-low candidate the Cubs are eyeing” is Shaun Marcum.
General manager Jed Hoyer indicated that the Cubs will probably try to sign some veterans to reasonably priced one- or two-year deals, like they did last offseason with Paul Maholm and David DeJesus.
It’s no surprise that the Cubs are pursuing veteran starting pitching on the free agent market considering they nearly acquired Dan Haren from the Angels for Carlos Marmol before that deal fell apart at the last minute.

lowercased:
according to gordon wittenmyer of the chicago sun times the cubs “already have expressed interest in” brandon mccarthy and “another buy-low candidate the cubs are eyeing” is shaun marcum.
general manager jed hoyer indicated that the cubs will probably try to sign some veterans to reasonably priced one- or two-year deals, like they did last offseason with paul maholm and david dejesus.
it’s no surprise that the cubs are pursuing veteran starting pitching on the free agent market considering they nearly acquired dan haren from the angels for carlos marmol before that deal fell apart at the last minute.


text: TORONTO: LEAGUE, a new digital health insurance platform, has announced it has raised $25M USD in Series A financing, led by OMERS Ventures, Canada’s largest investment firm. The team of investors also includes financing from: Infinite Potential Technologies; Real Ventures; and BDC IT Venture Fund. Strategic investments have been provided by: RBC, owner of Citi National; John Hancock’s parent company, Manulife Financial; and Power Financial Corporation.

lowercased: toronto: league, a new digital health insurance platform, has announced it has raised $25m usd in series a financing, led by omers ventures, canada’s largest investment firm. the team of investors also includes financing from: infinite potential technologies; real ventures; and bdc it venture fund. strategic investments have been provided by: rbc, owner of citi national; john hancock’s parent company, manulife financial; and power financial corporation.


text:
On April 22, 2018, around 3:00 a.m., a practically naked mass shooter with an AR-15 entered a Waffle House in Nashville and opened fire. In 42 seconds he killed four people and injured four more. The shooting was stopped by a hero – an “ordinary” guy – who refused to be a hapless victim. This man, James Shaw Jr., rushed the shooter and tore his rifle from his hands. The shooter fled. A fantastic summary of the shooting can be found here.
After the shooting it was widely reported that the shooter’s family had been directed by law enforcement to prevent his access to firearms (the father reportedly had given the shooter his AR-15 months before the shooting). A civil suit followed against not only the shooter but also his family on the theory that the did not act to prevent the shooter’s ability to harm others after the shooter’s right to possess weapons had been revoked.
As reported by the Tennessean, the father responded to the lawsuit by denying he was instructed not to return the guns to his son or that his son was prohibited from having firearms.
This will be an interesting case to watch for both its civil and criminal implications for the shooter’s family members.

lowercased:
on april 22, 2018, around 3:00 a.m., a practically naked mass shooter with an ar-15 entered a waffle house in nashville and opened fire. in 42 seconds he killed four people and injured four more. the shooting was stopped by a hero – an “ordinary” guy – who refused to be a hapless victim. this man, james shaw jr., rushed the shooter and tore his rifle from his hands. the shooter fled. a fantastic summary of the shooting can be found here.
after the shooting it was widely reported that the shooter’s family had been directed by law enforcement to prevent his access to firearms (the father reportedly had given the shooter his ar-15 months before the shooting). a civil suit followed against not only the shooter but also his family on the theory that the did not act to prevent the shooter’s ability to harm others after the shooter’s right to possess weapons had been revoked.
as reported by the tennessean, the father responded to the lawsuit by denying he was instructed not to return the guns to his son or that his son was prohibited from having firearms.
this will be an interesting case to watch for both its civil and criminal implications for the shooter’s family members.


text:
The Easter Bunny left some sweet goodies a few days early for Dublin Coffman’s girls on Monday.
The Lady Monarchs gift-wrapped the Shamrocks’ victory with an error in the bottom of the seventh that produced Coffman’s winning run during an 8-7 victory.
The Lady Monarchs (10-5 overall and 4-1 in the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division) had the game well in hand with a 7-3 lead going into Coffman’s portion of the seventh inning.
The Shamrocks got the first two runners of the frame on board against MHS relief pitcher Abby Gindelsberger.
Allie Kelly singled and Taylor Airy was issued a walk.
MHS head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell then brought starting pitcher Izzy Shroyer (who had pitched the first 3 2/3 innings) back to the circle.
A single by Maddie Luke loaded the bases.
Shroyer induced a popup to the infield for the first out, but the tension continued to mount.
Caroline Stuckey singled in a run to pull Coffman to within 7-4.
The sacks were still juiced when Ryle Anspach blasted a double that drove in three runs to tie the game at 7-7.
Marley McDonald popped out in foul territory behind first base.
Anspach tagged at second and took off for third.
She slid in safety as a throwing error sent the ball well behind the bag.
Anspach popped up out of her slide and raced home with the winning run.
The Lady Monarchs (who will host Upper Arlington on Wednesday) began the game very well.
MHS scored three runs over the visitors’ portions of the third and fourth innings.
Tayler Clabaugh singled to begin the third and with one down, Emily Daniel walked against Coffman southpaw Kelsi Anderson.
With two down, Ashley Dunn singled in the run for a 1-0 MHS edge.
The Lady Monarchs went on top 3-0 in the fourth.
Leah Potter singled and Gindlesberger reached on an error that left runners on second and third.
Anderson induced a popup and notched a strikeout before Sydney Wade’s single gave MHS a 3-0 lead.
Coffman tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth.
Shroyer hit Stukey with a pitch, but got the next two outs.
Stukey was perched on second after a grounder as Avery Ketch, Coffman’s No. 5 batter, strode to the plate.
Segner-Maxwell decided she didn’t want the bat in the hands of Coffman’s No. 5 hitter.
The strategy backfired in a big way.
Sophia Maggs ripped a triple that drove in two runs. Maggs then tied the game at 3-3 by racing home on a three-bagger by Ally Kelly.
Shroyer got a fly ball out to end the threat.
MHS responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.
Daniel singled and Hanna Moffett legged out a bunt for a base hit.
Ashley Dunn put down a sacrifice bunt which was played into an error and loaded the bases.
Shroyer was safe on a fielder’s choice that drove in a run and Moffett later scored on a botched rundown.
The Lady Monarchs added what they thought were a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Moffett singled and Dunn was safe on a bunt single.
A groundball out by Shroyer brought in a run.
Lexi Williams later singled in the run that gave Marysville what appeared to be a pretty safe 7-3 advantage.
The scenario drastically changed in the bottom of the seventh.
That’s when the wheels fell off and dashed the Lady Monarchs’ hopes for an undefeated Central Division record.
The MHS jayvees fell to Coffman, 11-4.
Jillian Smith led Marysvile with two hits.

lowercased:
the easter bunny left some sweet goodies a few days early for dublin coffman’s girls on monday.
the lady monarchs gift-wrapped the shamrocks’ victory with an error in the bottom of the seventh that produced coffman’s winning run during an 8-7 victory.
the lady monarchs (10-5 overall and 4-1 in the ohio capital conference central division) had the game well in hand with a 7-3 lead going into coffman’s portion of the seventh inning.
the shamrocks got the first two runners of the frame on board against mhs relief pitcher abby gindelsberger.
allie kelly singled and taylor airy was issued a walk.
mhs head coach jennifer segner-maxwell then brought starting pitcher izzy shroyer (who had pitched the first 3 2/3 innings) back to the circle.
a single by maddie luke loaded the bases.
shroyer induced a popup to the infield for the first out, but the tension continued to mount.
caroline stuckey singled in a run to pull coffman to within 7-4.
the sacks were still juiced when ryle anspach blasted a double that drove in three runs to tie the game at 7-7.
marley mcdonald popped out in foul territory behind first base.
anspach tagged at second and took off for third.
she slid in safety as a throwing error sent the ball well behind the bag.
anspach popped up out of her slide and raced home with the winning run.
the lady monarchs (who will host upper arlington on wednesday) began the game very well.
mhs scored three runs over the visitors’ portions of the third and fourth innings.
tayler clabaugh singled to begin the third and with one down, emily daniel walked against coffman southpaw kelsi anderson.
with two down, ashley dunn singled in the run for a 1-0 mhs edge.
the lady monarchs went on top 3-0 in the fourth.
leah potter singled and gindlesberger reached on an error that left runners on second and third.
anderson induced a popup and notched a strikeout before sydney wade’s single gave mhs a 3-0 lead.
coffman tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth.
shroyer hit stukey with a pitch, but got the next two outs.
stukey was perched on second after a grounder as avery ketch, coffman’s no. 5 batter, strode to the plate.
segner-maxwell decided she didn’t want the bat in the hands of coffman’s no. 5 hitter.
the strategy backfired in a big way.
sophia maggs ripped a triple that drove in two runs. maggs then tied the game at 3-3 by racing home on a three-bagger by ally kelly.
shroyer got a fly ball out to end the threat.
mhs responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.
daniel singled and hanna moffett legged out a bunt for a base hit.
ashley dunn put down a sacrifice bunt which was played into an error and loaded the bases.
shroyer was safe on a fielder’s choice that drove in a run and moffett later scored on a botched rundown.
the lady monarchs added what they thought were a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
moffett singled and dunn was safe on a bunt single.
a groundball out by shroyer brought in a run.
lexi williams later singled in the run that gave marysville what appeared to be a pretty safe 7-3 advantage.
the scenario drastically changed in the bottom of the seventh.
that’s when the wheels fell off and dashed the lady monarchs’ hopes for an undefeated central division record.
the mhs jayvees fell to coffman, 11-4.
jillian smith led marysvile with two hits.


text:
“Blow your own horn” gets a bad rap. You don’t, who will? Declare, man, and deliver! Then…don’t beat them upside the head. Let ‘em kick the tires, let ‘em judge it as they will.
Lyric dances with melody. Words falter, music picks them up. When that comes together, for me, it's an outburst of feelings, sometimes calm, sometimes storm, yet always cleanses and restores.
As storyteller and tunesmith, what turns me on and sparks the song is a narrative or source drawn from life that renders universal truth. Then I have to be my own brutal filter and dramatically differentiate myself in order hopefully to be heard.
Brand New, Comin' At You!
Because of today’s world gone whacko… when asked about my HEARD CD cover art image & title: what does it mean? Is it intended to shock? First, there is the double meaning in the album title itself – as in "Have you HEARD... any must-hear music lately?” As for the image of the group jumping off the cliff... it's not an invitation to jump, but the opposite: a warning not to follow the "HEARD." Not to succumb to herd mentality, not to surrender to group-think, to think for oneself. And yes, a singularly striking image and idea meant to provoke and inspire -- the dual aims of art -- and the signal visual note to echo the thoughts of the book: "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds," a history of popular folly by Scottish journalist Charles Mackay, first published in 1841. The book chronicles its subjects in three parts: "National Delusions", "Peculiar Follies", and "Philosophical Delusions". The subjects of Mackay's debunking include, economic bubbles, crusades, witch-hunts, mass hysteria, and the lot.
Like today’s world gone whacko?! On one inside panel of my CD cover is the quote from Charles Mackay: "Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one."

lowercased:
“blow your own horn” gets a bad rap. you don’t, who will? declare, man, and deliver! then…don’t beat them upside the head. let ‘em kick the tires, let ‘em judge it as they will.
lyric dances with melody. words falter, music picks them up. when that comes together, for me, it's an outburst of feelings, sometimes calm, sometimes storm, yet always cleanses and restores.
as storyteller and tunesmith, what turns me on and sparks the song is a narrative or source drawn from life that renders universal truth. then i have to be my own brutal filter and dramatically differentiate myself in order hopefully to be heard.
brand new, comin' at you!
because of today’s world gone whacko… when asked about my heard cd cover art image & title: what does it mean? is it intended to shock? first, there is the double meaning in the album title itself – as in "have you heard... any must-hear music lately?” as for the image of the group jumping off the cliff... it's not an invitation to jump, but the opposite: a warning not to follow the "heard." not to succumb to herd mentality, not to surrender to group-think, to think for oneself. and yes, a singularly striking image and idea meant to provoke and inspire -- the dual aims of art -- and the signal visual note to echo the thoughts of the book: "extraordinary popular delusions and the madness of crowds," a history of popular folly by scottish journalist charles mackay, first published in 1841. the book chronicles its subjects in three parts: "national delusions", "peculiar follies", and "philosophical delusions". the subjects of mackay's debunking include, economic bubbles, crusades, witch-hunts, mass hysteria, and the lot.
like today’s world gone whacko?! on one inside panel of my cd cover is the quote from charles mackay: "men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one."


text:
Is some bleeding normal when starting Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Should I continue to have a pelvic exam each year if I have had a Hysterectomy?
Can an ovarian cyst be normal?
If I am no longer having my monthly period because of menopause, when should I be worried about new onset vaginal bleeding?
Is there a screening test for ovarian cancer?
Is irregular bleeding common when starting a new birth control pill?
Is it possible to have a polyp in the uterus?
What should I do if I miss a birth control pill?
Is there an ovarian tumor with hair and teeth?
35 year old woman is thought to have a vesico-vaginal fistula. What are the main causes of vesico-vaginal fistulas?
What are the side-effects of magnesium sulphate therapy?
A 14year old woman attends with her mother because she has not started menstruating. Outline your initial assessment?
How is called the small opening of the uterus that sperm would first enter?
In scanning report of my wife at gender column it is written as III, What is the meaning?
35 year second gravida with single umbilical artery and ctev (club foot)?
34 year old woman is found to have a monochorionic twin pregnancy at 12 weeks gestation in her first pregnancy. She requests information on the antenatal risks to her and her fetuses and their management. How would you counsel her?
How would you assess and treat a 52year old woman who complains of heavy prolonged menstrual bleeding?
A 35 year old woman has been listed for hysteroscopy. What are the indications for hysteroscopy in a woman of this age?

lowercased:
is some bleeding normal when starting hormone replacement therapy?
should i continue to have a pelvic exam each year if i have had a hysterectomy?
can an ovarian cyst be normal?
if i am no longer having my monthly period because of menopause, when should i be worried about new onset vaginal bleeding?
is there a screening test for ovarian cancer?
is irregular bleeding common when starting a new birth control pill?
is it possible to have a polyp in the uterus?
what should i do if i miss a birth control pill?
is there an ovarian tumor with hair and teeth?
35 year old woman is thought to have a vesico-vaginal fistula. what are the main causes of vesico-vaginal fistulas?
what are the side-effects of magnesium sulphate therapy?
a 14year old woman attends with her mother because she has not started menstruating. outline your initial assessment?
how is called the small opening of the uterus that sperm would first enter?
in scanning report of my wife at gender column it is written as iii, what is the meaning?
35 year second gravida with single umbilical artery and ctev (club foot)?
34 year old woman is found to have a monochorionic twin pregnancy at 12 weeks gestation in her first pregnancy. she requests information on the antenatal risks to her and her fetuses and their management. how would you counsel her?
how would you assess and treat a 52year old woman who complains of heavy prolonged menstrual bleeding?
a 35 year old woman has been listed for hysteroscopy. what are the indications for hysteroscopy in a woman of this age?


text:
Hey vocalist my name is Aundre but you can call me Dre. I'm 20 years old. I'm gonna get the program for Christmas. Im reading alot of good feedbacks about it. I been taking lessons with a instructor for a year but lessons are expensive. So I'm not seeing my instructor often. Which makes me less confident. I love the way KT sounds he has a incredible voice with power and his program seems legit and fun. I can't wait to start it.
You will make great strides vocally with KTVA.
We look forward to you coming onboard and growing your voice!
Christmas is just around the corner! It won't be long, now!

lowercased:
hey vocalist my name is aundre but you can call me dre. i'm 20 years old. i'm gonna get the program for christmas. im reading alot of good feedbacks about it. i been taking lessons with a instructor for a year but lessons are expensive. so i'm not seeing my instructor often. which makes me less confident. i love the way kt sounds he has a incredible voice with power and his program seems legit and fun. i can't wait to start it.
you will make great strides vocally with ktva.
we look forward to you coming onboard and growing your voice!
christmas is just around the corner! it won't be long, now!


text:
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 13-25 which are based on Reading Passage 149 on the following pages.
A In 1942 Allan R Holmberg, a doctoral student in anthropology from Yale University, USA, ventured deep into the jungle of Bolivian Amazonia and searched out an isolated band of Siriono Indians. The Siriono, Holmberg later wrote, led a "strikingly backward" existence. Their villages were little more than clusters of thatched huts. Life itself was a perpetual and punishing search for food: some families grew manioc and other starchy crops in small garden plots cleared from the forest, while other members of the tribe scoured the country for small game and promising fish holes. When local resources became depleted, the tribe moved on. As for technology, Holmberg noted, the Siriono "may be classified among the most handicapped peoples of the world". Other than bows, arrows and crude digging sticks, the only tools the Siriono seemed to possess were "two machetes worn to the size of pocket-knives".
B Although the lives of the Siriono have changed in the intervening decades, the image of them as Stone Age relics has endured. Indeed, in many respects the Siriono epitomize the popular conception of life in Amazonia. To casual observers, as well as to influential natural scientists and regional planners, the luxuriant forests of Amazonia seem ageless, unconquerable, a habitat totally hostile to human civilization. The apparent simplicity of Indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaptation to forest ecology, living proof that Amazonia could not - and cannot - sustain a more complex society. Archaeological traces of far more elaborate cultures have been dismissed as the ruins of invaders from outside the region, abandoned to decay in the uncompromising tropical environment.
C The popular conception of Amazonia and its native residents would be enormously consequential if it were true. But the human history of Amazonia in the past 11,000 years betrays that view as myth. Evidence gathered in recent years from anthropology and archaeology indicates that the region has supported a series of indigenous cultures for eleven thousand years; an extensive network of complex societies - some with populations perhaps as large as 100,000 - thrived there for more than 1,000 years before the arrival of Europeans. (Indeed, some contemporary tribes, including the Siriono, still live among the earthworks of earlier cultures.) Far from being evolutionarily retarded, prehistoric Amazonian people developed technologies and cultures that were advanced for their time. If the lives of Indians today seem "primitive", the appearance is not the result of some environmental adaptation or ecological barrier; rather it is a comparatively recent adaptation to centuries of economic and political pressure. Investigators who argue otherwise have unwittingly projected the present onto the past.
D The evidence for a revised view of Amazonia will take many people by surprise. Ecologists have assumed that tropical ecosystems were shaped entirely by natural forces and they have focused their research on habitats they believe have escaped human influence. But as the University of Florida ecologist, Peter Feinsinger, has noted, an approach that leaves people out of the equation is no longer tenable. The archaeological evidence shows that the natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to the activities of its prehistoric inhabitants.
E The realization comes none too soon. In June 1992 political and environmental leaders from across the world met in Rio de Janeiro to discuss how developing countries can advance their economies without destroying their natural resources. The challenge is especially difficult in Amazonia. Because the tropical forest has been depicted as ecologically unfit for large-scale human occupation, some environmentalists have opposed development of any kind. Ironically, one major casualty of that extreme position has been the environment itself. While policy makers struggle to define and implement appropriate legislation, development of the most destructive kind has continued apace over vast areas.
F The other major casualty of the "naturalism" of environmental scientists has been the indigenous Amazonians, whose habits of hunting, fishing, and slash-and-burn cultivation often have been represented as harmful to the habitat. In the clash between environmentalists and developers, the Indians, whose presence is in fact crucial to the survival of the forest, have suffered the most. The new understanding of the pre-history of Amazonia, however, points toward a middle ground. Archaeology makes clear that with judicious management selected parts of the region could support more people than anyone thought before. The long-buried past, it seems, offers hope for the future.
16 The reason for the simplicity of the Indian way of life is that Amazonia has always been unable to support a more complex society.
17 There is a crucial popular misconception about the human history of Amazonia.
18 There are lessons to be learned from similar ecosystems in other parts of the world.
19 Most ecologists were aware that the areas of Amazonia they were working in had been shaped by human settlement.
20 The indigenous Amazonian Indians are necessary to the well-being of the forest.
21 It would be possible for certain parts of Amazonia to support a higher population.

lowercased:
you should spend about 20 minutes on questions 13-25 which are based on reading passage 149 on the following pages.
a in 1942 allan r holmberg, a doctoral student in anthropology from yale university, usa, ventured deep into the jungle of bolivian amazonia and searched out an isolated band of siriono indians. the siriono, holmberg later wrote, led a "strikingly backward" existence. their villages were little more than clusters of thatched huts. life itself was a perpetual and punishing search for food: some families grew manioc and other starchy crops in small garden plots cleared from the forest, while other members of the tribe scoured the country for small game and promising fish holes. when local resources became depleted, the tribe moved on. as for technology, holmberg noted, the siriono "may be classified among the most handicapped peoples of the world". other than bows, arrows and crude digging sticks, the only tools the siriono seemed to possess were "two machetes worn to the size of pocket-knives".
b although the lives of the siriono have changed in the intervening decades, the image of them as stone age relics has endured. indeed, in many respects the siriono epitomize the popular conception of life in amazonia. to casual observers, as well as to influential natural scientists and regional planners, the luxuriant forests of amazonia seem ageless, unconquerable, a habitat totally hostile to human civilization. the apparent simplicity of indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaptation to forest ecology, living proof that amazonia could not - and cannot - sustain a more complex society. archaeological traces of far more elaborate cultures have been dismissed as the ruins of invaders from outside the region, abandoned to decay in the uncompromising tropical environment.
c the popular conception of amazonia and its native residents would be enormously consequential if it were true. but the human history of amazonia in the past 11,000 years betrays that view as myth. evidence gathered in recent years from anthropology and archaeology indicates that the region has supported a series of indigenous cultures for eleven thousand years; an extensive network of complex societies - some with populations perhaps as large as 100,000 - thrived there for more than 1,000 years before the arrival of europeans. (indeed, some contemporary tribes, including the siriono, still live among the earthworks of earlier cultures.) far from being evolutionarily retarded, prehistoric amazonian people developed technologies and cultures that were advanced for their time. if the lives of indians today seem "primitive", the appearance is not the result of some environmental adaptation or ecological barrier; rather it is a comparatively recent adaptation to centuries of economic and political pressure. investigators who argue otherwise have unwittingly projected the present onto the past.
d the evidence for a revised view of amazonia will take many people by surprise. ecologists have assumed that tropical ecosystems were shaped entirely by natural forces and they have focused their research on habitats they believe have escaped human influence. but as the university of florida ecologist, peter feinsinger, has noted, an approach that leaves people out of the equation is no longer tenable. the archaeological evidence shows that the natural history of amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to the activities of its prehistoric inhabitants.
e the realization comes none too soon. in june 1992 political and environmental leaders from across the world met in rio de janeiro to discuss how developing countries can advance their economies without destroying their natural resources. the challenge is especially difficult in amazonia. because the tropical forest has been depicted as ecologically unfit for large-scale human occupation, some environmentalists have opposed development of any kind. ironically, one major casualty of that extreme position has been the environment itself. while policy makers struggle to define and implement appropriate legislation, development of the most destructive kind has continued apace over vast areas.
f the other major casualty of the "naturalism" of environmental scientists has been the indigenous amazonians, whose habits of hunting, fishing, and slash-and-burn cultivation often have been represented as harmful to the habitat. in the clash between environmentalists and developers, the indians, whose presence is in fact crucial to the survival of the forest, have suffered the most. the new understanding of the pre-history of amazonia, however, points toward a middle ground. archaeology makes clear that with judicious management selected parts of the region could support more people than anyone thought before. the long-buried past, it seems, offers hope for the future.
16 the reason for the simplicity of the indian way of life is that amazonia has always been unable to support a more complex society.
17 there is a crucial popular misconception about the human history of amazonia.
18 there are lessons to be learned from similar ecosystems in other parts of the world.
19 most ecologists were aware that the areas of amazonia they were working in had been shaped by human settlement.
20 the indigenous amazonian indians are necessary to the well-being of the forest.
21 it would be possible for certain parts of amazonia to support a higher population.


text:
In this age of information overload, picking the wheat from the chaff is difficult. And that is so true in the world of investing. Hot stock tips, recommendations and run of the mill research reports leave a common man clueless as to where to begin, what to follow and what to ignore.
And here to his rescue is Mr. Peter Lynch, the man who believes that 'Everyone has the brainpower to follow the stock markets. If you made it through fifth-grade math, you can do it'.
It is human nature to discount what one already knows, and put a premium to what is unknown and esoteric. That perhaps is the biggest irony as far as investing is concerned. Because this behavioral pattern makes one ignore the basic tenet of investing - Invest what you know/understand.
And it really is as simple as it sounds. The first step to investing is screening stocks. And the power of common knowledge at this stage can help you get that 'multibagger' - a term made famous by none other than Mr. Lynch. It's all about keeping eyes and using a bit of logic. Next time you visit a shopping mall, keep an eye for the products that are popular and attract mob. The next step would be to check out if the company making the product is listed. Keep an ear open for what a direct consumer has to say about a product. For every stock has a company tagged to it, and each company is associated with either the products or services. So, the starting step to stock analysis can be as simple as product/service analysis for which one needs not be a financial expert. The point is well validated when applied to stocks of companies associated with popular products such as Titan Industries (10 years CAGR is 52% versus 20% returns of Sensex) or Bata India's (10 year stock price CAGR returns 40% versus 20% CAGR returns of Sensex) or VIP Industries (10 year stock price CAGR returns 38% versus 20% CAGR returns of Sensex).
Investing is more of an art combining logic than numbers and statistics. It is the power of common knowledge that counts. And as far as that is concerned, a common investor is as good as or may be even better than a fund manager. Even if you can pick up one multibagger, it can make a huge positive difference to your small portfolio. So much so that you can afford to sleep a bit on the rest and still outdo the markets and the experts. And that's your advantage over a mutual fund manager. This is because while a multibagger can make a huge difference to your 'small' portfolio, the economies of scale are unlikely to work the same way for your fund manager.
Hence before becoming an investor, step into the shoes of a customer and try to know the potential of the product. Over a period of time, you will know what's good and what isn't, what sells and what doesn't.
The common perception is that best investment ideas are a rare commodity that gets exchanged amongst privileged people surrounded by stock quoting terminals. But the fact is - it is the ground level knowledge that counts. You just need to be alert and use common sense to make use of this knowledge.
Using this approach, you will avoid falling for recommendations blindly. And that is likely to pay off in the long run. It will also keep you shielded from the herd mentality that more often than not leads to losses, and at times when right, limits the gains .
So far, the impression that one gets is that what is popular today and has the potential to remain so could be a good option. However, there is nothing sacrosanct about it. And what can be better example to prove this than Facebook that despite being immensely popular (and holding the promise to remain so) has not been a smart investment. So how can we avoid falling for such stocks? We will know more about it in our next article.
Richa Agarwal (Research Analyst), Managing Editor, Hidden Treasure has over 7 years of experience as an equity research analyst. She routinely scours the small cap universe for fundamentally strong companies trading at attractive prices. Having degrees in both finance as well as engineering has served her well in analysing business models across the small cap space.
Equitymaster requests your view! Post a comment on "Lessons from Peter Lynch - I". Click here!

lowercased:
in this age of information overload, picking the wheat from the chaff is difficult. and that is so true in the world of investing. hot stock tips, recommendations and run of the mill research reports leave a common man clueless as to where to begin, what to follow and what to ignore.
and here to his rescue is mr. peter lynch, the man who believes that 'everyone has the brainpower to follow the stock markets. if you made it through fifth-grade math, you can do it'.
it is human nature to discount what one already knows, and put a premium to what is unknown and esoteric. that perhaps is the biggest irony as far as investing is concerned. because this behavioral pattern makes one ignore the basic tenet of investing - invest what you know/understand.
and it really is as simple as it sounds. the first step to investing is screening stocks. and the power of common knowledge at this stage can help you get that 'multibagger' - a term made famous by none other than mr. lynch. it's all about keeping eyes and using a bit of logic. next time you visit a shopping mall, keep an eye for the products that are popular and attract mob. the next step would be to check out if the company making the product is listed. keep an ear open for what a direct consumer has to say about a product. for every stock has a company tagged to it, and each company is associated with either the products or services. so, the starting step to stock analysis can be as simple as product/service analysis for which one needs not be a financial expert. the point is well validated when applied to stocks of companies associated with popular products such as titan industries (10 years cagr is 52% versus 20% returns of sensex) or bata india's (10 year stock price cagr returns 40% versus 20% cagr returns of sensex) or vip industries (10 year stock price cagr returns 38% versus 20% cagr returns of sensex).
investing is more of an art combining logic than numbers and statistics. it is the power of common knowledge that counts. and as far as that is concerned, a common investor is as good as or may be even better than a fund manager. even if you can pick up one multibagger, it can make a huge positive difference to your small portfolio. so much so that you can afford to sleep a bit on the rest and still outdo the markets and the experts. and that's your advantage over a mutual fund manager. this is because while a multibagger can make a huge difference to your 'small' portfolio, the economies of scale are unlikely to work the same way for your fund manager.
hence before becoming an investor, step into the shoes of a customer and try to know the potential of the product. over a period of time, you will know what's good and what isn't, what sells and what doesn't.
the common perception is that best investment ideas are a rare commodity that gets exchanged amongst privileged people surrounded by stock quoting terminals. but the fact is - it is the ground level knowledge that counts. you just need to be alert and use common sense to make use of this knowledge.
using this approach, you will avoid falling for recommendations blindly. and that is likely to pay off in the long run. it will also keep you shielded from the herd mentality that more often than not leads to losses, and at times when right, limits the gains .
so far, the impression that one gets is that what is popular today and has the potential to remain so could be a good option. however, there is nothing sacrosanct about it. and what can be better example to prove this than facebook that despite being immensely popular (and holding the promise to remain so) has not been a smart investment. so how can we avoid falling for such stocks? we will know more about it in our next article.
richa agarwal (research analyst), managing editor, hidden treasure has over 7 years of experience as an equity research analyst. she routinely scours the small cap universe for fundamentally strong companies trading at attractive prices. having degrees in both finance as well as engineering has served her well in analysing business models across the small cap space.
equitymaster requests your view! post a comment on "lessons from peter lynch - i". click here!


text:
Aug. 29, 2018, 10:23 a.m.
Smart homes are getting even smarter, with Internet of Things (IoT) devices rapidly coming to market to make homes more efficient and daily life more convenient. But any internet connection comes with risk attached, and IoT in homes could increase your vulnerability, warns Fortinet.
IoT takes smart home technology a step further into the future, adding smart sensors and independent internet connections to appliances and devices to take the task of controlling them out of the hands of their owners. For example, where smart fridges or air conditioners might need to be controlled using a mobile app, an IoT-enabled appliance might control itself without needing the homeowner’s input. IoT-enabled appliances measure temperature or available light, for example, to automatically trigger an action in an appliance. By using IoT sensors and connected SIMs, manufacturers are now producing heaters and air conditioners that switch on and off to maintain a constant room temperature, lights that switch themselves on when a room is dark, planters that automatically water plants when needed, or door locks that recognise the home owner and unlock without them needing keys.
“IoT-enabled appliances will certainly start arriving in the homes of African countries soon,” says Doros Hadjizenonos, regional sales director at security specialist Fortinet. “People are already moving to smart homes and embracing devices such as smart TVs and media servers. While these devices make life simpler and easier, the challenge is that not all manufacturers make security their top priority when building smart devices,” he says.
Globally, smart devices such as baby monitors and even smart vacuum cleaners have been hacked in the past, and Hadjizenonos says there is little prevent criminals from stealing passwords, monitoring the movements of homeowners, or tracking their children in future.
Fortinet’s FortiGate unified threat management solutions include routers and network security appliances suitable for home and small business use, protecting against external attacks and data theft with a simple, affordable solution that is easily managed via a single console.

lowercased:
aug. 29, 2018, 10:23 a.m.
smart homes are getting even smarter, with internet of things (iot) devices rapidly coming to market to make homes more efficient and daily life more convenient. but any internet connection comes with risk attached, and iot in homes could increase your vulnerability, warns fortinet.
iot takes smart home technology a step further into the future, adding smart sensors and independent internet connections to appliances and devices to take the task of controlling them out of the hands of their owners. for example, where smart fridges or air conditioners might need to be controlled using a mobile app, an iot-enabled appliance might control itself without needing the homeowner’s input. iot-enabled appliances measure temperature or available light, for example, to automatically trigger an action in an appliance. by using iot sensors and connected sims, manufacturers are now producing heaters and air conditioners that switch on and off to maintain a constant room temperature, lights that switch themselves on when a room is dark, planters that automatically water plants when needed, or door locks that recognise the home owner and unlock without them needing keys.
“iot-enabled appliances will certainly start arriving in the homes of african countries soon,” says doros hadjizenonos, regional sales director at security specialist fortinet. “people are already moving to smart homes and embracing devices such as smart tvs and media servers. while these devices make life simpler and easier, the challenge is that not all manufacturers make security their top priority when building smart devices,” he says.
globally, smart devices such as baby monitors and even smart vacuum cleaners have been hacked in the past, and hadjizenonos says there is little prevent criminals from stealing passwords, monitoring the movements of homeowners, or tracking their children in future.
fortinet’s fortigate unified threat management solutions include routers and network security appliances suitable for home and small business use, protecting against external attacks and data theft with a simple, affordable solution that is easily managed via a single console.