For other Shangri-la diet posts, see: diet posts.
By now you should have found the level of oil (or other flavorless calories) that works for you to keep lowering your set point. It might be one tablespoon, it might be six or eight. As time passes and you lose weight, that number will probably go down (when I started, four was barely enough, now I take two tablespoons).
Once you have that working for you, the next step is to make sure you are getting enough vitamins, enough calcium and enough protein. You also want to stay fully hydrated. Don't eat when you should be drinking water.
The big thing to try at month three or four is the protein shake or smoothy. In basic form, that is a simple cold water and flavorless protein shake taken in to give you more nutrition (well, more protein) in the form of flavorless calories. In the fancy form it is a true smoothy, but with constantly changing and unusual flavors. At Seth Roberts' forums there are numerous recipes, including instructions that are basically what you need for a random flavor generator.
In addition, you should now have four months of experience with low glycemic index foods, survived the two week "blahs" or what I refer to as the boredom stage (where you just get tired of losing weight), and been through three or four plateaus. You've realized that a plateau is not a failure and you should have some skill at dealing with emotion without using food.
As long as the diet stays on track, then keep on track. You might want to look for and try some walnut oil or a similar oil that is high in Omega 3s. Many people report improved sleep and balance when they increase Omega 3s in their diets. You might want to try taking your oil in the middle of the night (a big "yes" in my personal experience for walnut oil, a big failure with drinking "the midnight oil" -- your experience may vary -- many find drinking the oil in the middle of the night a huge improvement).
But the thing to consider at this point is that you may be ready for very mild exercise. Stretching, for example, is a form of exercise you can do every day, even if you are in terribly bad shape. Water aerobics and swimming are also good gateway exercises is they are available to you, but stretching is something you can do for free. Eventually you will lose enough weight to be able to walk or do something more vigorous (I'm playing Judo these days), and if you get the chance to lift weights, I've a blog post on a method I stumbled into that gets good results with lifting once a week.
Also, keeping a weight journal, basically benchmarking your weight every Sunday morning (and writing it down so you can keep track) can really help. I know that once I got past the initial rush and loss of the first two months, keeping track really helped as I kept forgetting where my weight had been recently. After a while, it becomes a blur -- and those who are losing weight at the slower end (a pound or two a month) report that the blur is more intense.
Also, you need to make sure you are getting enough sleep. Finally, if things are really slow, you need to read a post like Jenn's at http://boards.sethroberts.net/index.php?topic=1862.45 where it took her quite a while and some very specific tweaks to start losing weight.
Those are the things to consider and keep track of at months five and six.
Next post, probably I'll discuss maintenance, unless more things develop on the boards that lead me to summarizing them all.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Clear, Concise, Complex
My daughter was asked what made a good thesis statement and she came up with that description. It occurred to me that the "three c's" also work well for what makes a good title for a blog post, I'll have to keep them in mind for future posts.
She also told me that as to school: "They told me that I could be anything when I grew up. I felt dashed when I realized I could not become a cat. I've always had a little disbelief in everything else they've told me ..."
She also told me that as to school: "They told me that I could be anything when I grew up. I felt dashed when I realized I could not become a cat. I've always had a little disbelief in everything else they've told me ..."
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Back from conference
Gas was $2.02 in Childress, Texas, much more expensive in Utah. Our general conference tickets were the casualty of a mistake by the guy in our stake who is responsible for them (but, in his defense, this is the first time he's messed up in years) so I drove to Utah and watched it on TV.
We got to see Heather, which was more than worth the trip. Rachel got to see Mesa Verde on the way back. We then drove straight through home, and I'm going to sleep. It is 6:30 a.m. and I could use a nap. ;)
BTW http://www.parkcityhelitours.com/ is run by some of the neatest people we know (the wife is teaching ethics in the BYU nursing program and the husband used to be an elite skier, now flies helicopter). Better than a visit to Six Flags.
I'll have a real blog post later. I am so glad to be home.
We got to see Heather, which was more than worth the trip. Rachel got to see Mesa Verde on the way back. We then drove straight through home, and I'm going to sleep. It is 6:30 a.m. and I could use a nap. ;)
BTW http://www.parkcityhelitours.com/ is run by some of the neatest people we know (the wife is teaching ethics in the BYU nursing program and the husband used to be an elite skier, now flies helicopter). Better than a visit to Six Flags.
I'll have a real blog post later. I am so glad to be home.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Finding perspective, finding hope,
"I began to think that continuing to have inchoate questions about what went on in the world was a luxury. Not only that, but I was gathering parasites"
There are those neat moments of discovery that people have and the things they say about them.
I liked this one.
Forgiveness is sweet -- such a powerful perspective, well told. It is easy to forget that we are all children (a "child of God" is a child first).
I also liked
I am encircled…eternally in the arms of his love.
and finally
I'm actually working toward full activity. I've rearranged my work schedule so that I can go to Church again and I'm looking forward to Conference.
Yesterday marked six years of Mormondom, and I think I have at least another six left in me.
I'm always grateful to find hope in the midst of so much trial.
I'll be back from vacation, and back on the internet in about nine or ten days. Just in time to help unload my parents I suspect. Back to posting on grief, loss, love, the Shangi-la Diet, and the amazing places people find hope.
Wish you all well, with love, hope and faith.
Stephen
There are those neat moments of discovery that people have and the things they say about them.
I liked this one.
Forgiveness is sweet -- such a powerful perspective, well told. It is easy to forget that we are all children (a "child of God" is a child first).
I also liked
I am encircled…eternally in the arms of his love.
and finally
I'm actually working toward full activity. I've rearranged my work schedule so that I can go to Church again and I'm looking forward to Conference.
Yesterday marked six years of Mormondom, and I think I have at least another six left in me.
I'm always grateful to find hope in the midst of so much trial.
I'll be back from vacation, and back on the internet in about nine or ten days. Just in time to help unload my parents I suspect. Back to posting on grief, loss, love, the Shangi-la Diet, and the amazing places people find hope.
Wish you all well, with love, hope and faith.
Stephen
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Changing my mind
One of the things I do at work, that people I work with value, is I change my mind.
I will look at things and go, "hmm, this changes what I was thinking."
I hadn't even realized that others noticed until I was in a meeting Thursday with some people I work with, and one pointed out that my ability to change my mind, and to be honest about it, was something that made me valuable to work with.
I've been thinking about that since.
BTW, I'll be going on vacation at the end of the week. My parents move into town, actually move into our house while work and clean-up on their house continues, and we go on vacation.
I keep feeling like I need to post a caveat or something "just because the house is full of people, it doesn't mean we are home ..." We keep having friends borrow the house, and now we will have family here.
But, we will get to see Heather. Not sure what else, would like to take my nephew Darrell and his wife and child out to dinner while we are visiting. Will see what works out. I admire them.
At least I did. I reserve the right to change my mind. (That is a reprise on the post theme and a joke, the more I see of the kid the more I admire he and his wife).
I will look at things and go, "hmm, this changes what I was thinking."
I hadn't even realized that others noticed until I was in a meeting Thursday with some people I work with, and one pointed out that my ability to change my mind, and to be honest about it, was something that made me valuable to work with.
I've been thinking about that since.
BTW, I'll be going on vacation at the end of the week. My parents move into town, actually move into our house while work and clean-up on their house continues, and we go on vacation.
I keep feeling like I need to post a caveat or something "just because the house is full of people, it doesn't mean we are home ..." We keep having friends borrow the house, and now we will have family here.
But, we will get to see Heather. Not sure what else, would like to take my nephew Darrell and his wife and child out to dinner while we are visiting. Will see what works out. I admire them.
At least I did. I reserve the right to change my mind. (That is a reprise on the post theme and a joke, the more I see of the kid the more I admire he and his wife).
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Hearing and listening -- what is really being said
One thing that gets my attention every-so-often is when there is a rift between what is being said and what is being meant. I usually find those by reading conflicts where the people appear to be talking past each other.
For example, on the Snarkernacle (e.g. here as well as other places), if they post a parody or a snark that offends you or hurts your feelings and you send them an e-mail, they take it down. Every time, like clockwork. But, there is someone who posts as anonymous (and I suspect more than one someone) who has had their feelings hurt and is really upset about it.
The two talk past each other. For their situation, I don't have a solution.
But, if you find yourself repeating something and getting the same response back that seems to miss the point, assume that you are not communicating and that whatever they are saying, isn't what they mean to communicate.
Sometimes you even need to explain the difference. Such as when my wife sat our six-year-old down and explained that when many adults said "would you please do ..." they meant "do ... now!" but were being nice about it, not giving her an option (which is what she heard from the words and the word combinations they used).
Sometimes you need to figure out the difference. But in a relationship that matters to you, it is worth it. I'll write next on figuring out who is being talked to. Sometimes the words may go to you, but the person talking is talking to someone else. It helps if you figure that out.
For example, on the Snarkernacle (e.g. here as well as other places), if they post a parody or a snark that offends you or hurts your feelings and you send them an e-mail, they take it down. Every time, like clockwork. But, there is someone who posts as anonymous (and I suspect more than one someone) who has had their feelings hurt and is really upset about it.
The two talk past each other. For their situation, I don't have a solution.
But, if you find yourself repeating something and getting the same response back that seems to miss the point, assume that you are not communicating and that whatever they are saying, isn't what they mean to communicate.
Sometimes you even need to explain the difference. Such as when my wife sat our six-year-old down and explained that when many adults said "would you please do ..." they meant "do ... now!" but were being nice about it, not giving her an option (which is what she heard from the words and the word combinations they used).
Sometimes you need to figure out the difference. But in a relationship that matters to you, it is worth it. I'll write next on figuring out who is being talked to. Sometimes the words may go to you, but the person talking is talking to someone else. It helps if you figure that out.
Shangri-la Diet: moving on to months three and four
I've been reviewing the experiences others have had with the Shangri-la Diet.
At about the third month, if it is working well, you will get bored with losing weight or just feel tired of losing weight. This stage lasts about two weeks, but when it hits a number of people quit the diet and then come back after several months. So, if it works for you, just be aware that at around the third month boredom sets in and just hold on and the boredom will end.
Also be aware that for many, at the end of the second month, plateaus start to happen. Unlike a normal diet, where a plateau means the diet has failed, plateaus merely are a sign that your set point moves downward in a sine wave pattern rather than in a straight line. In losing over seventy pounds, I spent about half the time on plateaus mixed with about half the time losing weight. Lose weight, pause, lose weight, pause, all the way down. ~ is kind of a symbol for the way it goes.
On the other hand, for some, the weight loss is very slow and the plateaus are enhanced. For those, here is the next step.
First, make sure you are getting enough protein. That is one of the reasons I started eating so much fat free yogurt (amazingly, on a diet where most people add oil to what they are eating, my total fat intake went down -- fat free foods often have more protein for the calories than any other).
Second, make sure you are getting enough calcium. I'm not sure why, but many people who do not get enough calcium have trouble with weight loss, though they may get excellent appetite suppression. Yogurt again works well here (though I have a large container of calcium pills from Costco in the cupboard).
Third, consider protein powder smoothies. There are two ways to drink them, both in the place of one meal a day. The first is to have them as flavorless as possible. DesignerWhey and Nutro Soy protein are both available in a flavor free "flavor." Mix some of each together, blend with some cold water and maybe an icecube (use a blender) and drink them down while holding your nose (to reduce any remaining flavor) once a day. The second way is to open up your spice rack and use half a teaspoon of two spices, randomly chosen, blended with the protein powder and a couple tablespoons of yogurt and a little sugar or sweetener, for a "variable flavor" smoothie. As long as the flavor is different each day, that seems to work well too.
Protein powder smoothies also help with any protein issues.
Work through those additions and alternatives for the next two months. That gets you to four months on the diet. I'll go over the next two months in the future.
At about the third month, if it is working well, you will get bored with losing weight or just feel tired of losing weight. This stage lasts about two weeks, but when it hits a number of people quit the diet and then come back after several months. So, if it works for you, just be aware that at around the third month boredom sets in and just hold on and the boredom will end.
Also be aware that for many, at the end of the second month, plateaus start to happen. Unlike a normal diet, where a plateau means the diet has failed, plateaus merely are a sign that your set point moves downward in a sine wave pattern rather than in a straight line. In losing over seventy pounds, I spent about half the time on plateaus mixed with about half the time losing weight. Lose weight, pause, lose weight, pause, all the way down. ~ is kind of a symbol for the way it goes.
On the other hand, for some, the weight loss is very slow and the plateaus are enhanced. For those, here is the next step.
First, make sure you are getting enough protein. That is one of the reasons I started eating so much fat free yogurt (amazingly, on a diet where most people add oil to what they are eating, my total fat intake went down -- fat free foods often have more protein for the calories than any other).
Second, make sure you are getting enough calcium. I'm not sure why, but many people who do not get enough calcium have trouble with weight loss, though they may get excellent appetite suppression. Yogurt again works well here (though I have a large container of calcium pills from Costco in the cupboard).
Third, consider protein powder smoothies. There are two ways to drink them, both in the place of one meal a day. The first is to have them as flavorless as possible. DesignerWhey and Nutro Soy protein are both available in a flavor free "flavor." Mix some of each together, blend with some cold water and maybe an icecube (use a blender) and drink them down while holding your nose (to reduce any remaining flavor) once a day. The second way is to open up your spice rack and use half a teaspoon of two spices, randomly chosen, blended with the protein powder and a couple tablespoons of yogurt and a little sugar or sweetener, for a "variable flavor" smoothie. As long as the flavor is different each day, that seems to work well too.
Protein powder smoothies also help with any protein issues.
Work through those additions and alternatives for the next two months. That gets you to four months on the diet. I'll go over the next two months in the future.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
A completely different perspective on gay marriage
Red Family, Blue Family
I've never seen anything like it, anywhere else.
Interesting, related posts:
I will go back to grief and loss and recovery and relationships in future posts.
I've never seen anything like it, anywhere else.
Interesting, related posts:
- Cracks in the Wall I: Defining the Authoritarian Personality
- Cracks in the Wall II: Listening to the Leavers
- Cracks in the Wall III: Escape Ladders
- Tunnels & Bridges I: Divide and Conquer
- Tunnels & Bridges II: Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself
- Tunnels & Bridges III: A Bigger World
- Stereotypes, Sellouts, and Winning the Meme Wars
I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like ----ism and not like Latter day Saintism. ----ists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good not to be tramelled. It don't prove that a man is not a good man, because he errs in doctrine. (WoJS 183-184)I always wanted to write a doctrinal book or discuss a topic fraught with discord with that quote in the introduction.
I will go back to grief and loss and recovery and relationships in future posts.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Starting (or starting over) the SLD method
I've been working on different protocols to suggest to people, here is one I started to post on my site when blogger crashed and took the entire original post with it.
First you need to start with a commitment to taking a long, slow approach.
Second this approach is based on oil. When you use oil you need to realize that all oils are not the same thing. Your body metabolizes them all differently. Switching oils is the same as starting over, and for most people, switching oils means a loss of a week or two. Anyone who reports trying 4-5 types of oil in a couple months should not expect any success.
Third you will start with one tablespoon of sugar, one cup of water and one tablespoon of oil. To start use a 50/50 blend of canola oil and extra light (not extra virgin) olive oil. Dissolve the sugar in the water, pour the oil on top, swirl and drink at 10:00 a.m. every day. No flavor, no cigarettes, no mints, no snuff, no flavored lipstick, etc. from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Do this for a week. At the end of the week, if you have appetite sup presion, continue. If not, then.
Fourth, adjust. If your appetite hasn't reduced, go up to a second tablespoon of oil. Do a week at two tablespoons. If it works, stay at that level, if it doesn't, go up to three tablespoons of oil. Stay there for a week, if it works, fine, if not, go up another tablespoon.
Fifth, use a food plan to start. Check out a South Beach recipe collection from your local library. Use that as a rough guide for the first two months -- using it to avoid ditto foods, to avoid high gylcemic index foods and to make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. An easy substitution is to eat eggs and whole wheat toast (dry) for breakfast, fat free yogurt for lunch, sandwich, green beans and salad for dinner. Diet soda for a snack. May get a little boring, but what you are after is stabilization and enough bulk and enough protein in your diet.
Sixth make sure you are getting enough water and enough vitamins. Note how much tea Seth reports that he drinks. I get a lot of fluids myself, even if I don't drink tea.
Seventh Join oa.org or a similar group (OA is free, which is why I recommend it).
Give this regimen two months, eight to nine weeks, if you have had problems and have decided to start, or restart, the diet.
I'm still working on a second two month program.
Co-thread at: http://boards.sethroberts.net/index.php?topic=2126.0
First you need to start with a commitment to taking a long, slow approach.
Second this approach is based on oil. When you use oil you need to realize that all oils are not the same thing. Your body metabolizes them all differently. Switching oils is the same as starting over, and for most people, switching oils means a loss of a week or two. Anyone who reports trying 4-5 types of oil in a couple months should not expect any success.
Third you will start with one tablespoon of sugar, one cup of water and one tablespoon of oil. To start use a 50/50 blend of canola oil and extra light (not extra virgin) olive oil. Dissolve the sugar in the water, pour the oil on top, swirl and drink at 10:00 a.m. every day. No flavor, no cigarettes, no mints, no snuff, no flavored lipstick, etc. from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Do this for a week. At the end of the week, if you have appetite sup presion, continue. If not, then.
Fourth, adjust. If your appetite hasn't reduced, go up to a second tablespoon of oil. Do a week at two tablespoons. If it works, stay at that level, if it doesn't, go up to three tablespoons of oil. Stay there for a week, if it works, fine, if not, go up another tablespoon.
Fifth, use a food plan to start. Check out a South Beach recipe collection from your local library. Use that as a rough guide for the first two months -- using it to avoid ditto foods, to avoid high gylcemic index foods and to make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. An easy substitution is to eat eggs and whole wheat toast (dry) for breakfast, fat free yogurt for lunch, sandwich, green beans and salad for dinner. Diet soda for a snack. May get a little boring, but what you are after is stabilization and enough bulk and enough protein in your diet.
Sixth make sure you are getting enough water and enough vitamins. Note how much tea Seth reports that he drinks. I get a lot of fluids myself, even if I don't drink tea.
Seventh Join oa.org or a similar group (OA is free, which is why I recommend it).
Give this regimen two months, eight to nine weeks, if you have had problems and have decided to start, or restart, the diet.
I'm still working on a second two month program.
Co-thread at: http://boards.sethroberts.net/index.php?topic=2126.0
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
So, I'm half the man I used to be ...
Or at least that is the normal joke at Church. If you want more on the diet I used to lose the last seventy-two pounds, you can use the diet information link or read
Another Shangri-la Diet article.
I'm just grateful it isn't my mind that shrunk this time.
Shangri-la Diet Information for more if you have any questions. Or ask me. How many diets don't require buying special food or making major life changes? Even better, the on-line information lets you try the diet before you buy the book (if ever).
Another Shangri-la Diet article.
I'm just grateful it isn't my mind that shrunk this time.
Shangri-la Diet Information for more if you have any questions. Or ask me. How many diets don't require buying special food or making major life changes? Even better, the on-line information lets you try the diet before you buy the book (if ever).
Monday, September 11, 2006
Aging, my father, my life
My father is aging. He also has Parkinson's disease. About four years ago his doctor told him that most of his patients die about nine to ten years after diagnosis. The medicine lets him function, but it makes him tired and he is thinking in terms of only having five or six more years before the end.
Until the disease took hold of him he was vital. Everyone expected him to long outlive my mother. Now she prepares for a life without him and he is in a state of acceptance.
But the long years I looked forward to with him seem unlikely. August 31st I had such emotional turmoil about it. Now I move forward.
For myself, I really fell apart as my girls died, one by one. I gained weight, lost muscle and became an old man when I was in my mid-thirties. Life wrapped up on me before I knew it.
Of course I've lost over seventy pounds, added muscle mass, and now that my rotator cuff problem is resolved, I'm slowly getting stronger in the arms and shoulders. I work out, and I'm very much enjoying it, though I also very much remember that I took it up so that I would be stronger and last longer for my girls. That is why I'm home with my six year old tonight instead of working out.
A friend I really admire is now frail. She can't even do Tai chi style exercise without injury and her essay touched me.
So much about life is about being bound by time. Making decisions when decay and imperfection surround us and loss is ever present. Because we grow, because we age, because we die, we have to choose. Every day we have to choose, to make decisions, to constantly deal with a world and an environment that is never static, that we have never mastered.
So I look at my father, his choices, his life, the good he has done and the peace he has found and I look and see my life. Having them near so we can care for them, doing what we can to be there for our children, making choices, bounded always by time, imperfection and ends.
In the progress of age, in my father, I see the shape of my life.
Until the disease took hold of him he was vital. Everyone expected him to long outlive my mother. Now she prepares for a life without him and he is in a state of acceptance.
But the long years I looked forward to with him seem unlikely. August 31st I had such emotional turmoil about it. Now I move forward.
For myself, I really fell apart as my girls died, one by one. I gained weight, lost muscle and became an old man when I was in my mid-thirties. Life wrapped up on me before I knew it.
Of course I've lost over seventy pounds, added muscle mass, and now that my rotator cuff problem is resolved, I'm slowly getting stronger in the arms and shoulders. I work out, and I'm very much enjoying it, though I also very much remember that I took it up so that I would be stronger and last longer for my girls. That is why I'm home with my six year old tonight instead of working out.
A friend I really admire is now frail. She can't even do Tai chi style exercise without injury and her essay touched me.
So much about life is about being bound by time. Making decisions when decay and imperfection surround us and loss is ever present. Because we grow, because we age, because we die, we have to choose. Every day we have to choose, to make decisions, to constantly deal with a world and an environment that is never static, that we have never mastered.
So I look at my father, his choices, his life, the good he has done and the peace he has found and I look and see my life. Having them near so we can care for them, doing what we can to be there for our children, making choices, bounded always by time, imperfection and ends.
In the progress of age, in my father, I see the shape of my life.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Her father can and does love her. But he is a guy ...
Will she have the strength to be herself and to not just take it like it is? Will she have the courage to show her true colors? Will she have the strengh and courage that I lack? I want so much for her. I want her to have a beautiful life where she decides what to do. Where she knows that her choices aren't limited. Where she finds love and accpetance and everybody can see she lives in beautful world.
Sounds like everyone's hope for their daughters. Even us guys, even when we don't fully understand.
Sounds like everyone's hope for their daughters. Even us guys, even when we don't fully understand.
Looking for Billy Joe Allgood
That is the history I have for him. Twenty-two years ago, he and Bob Smith introduced my wife and I to each other. If anyone knows where he is now, or has a phone number, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Thinking about law school?
Skaddenfreude: Not All Lawyers Are Loaded
We now proudly present the inaugural installment of a regular ATL feature, Skaddenfreude: Totally Gauche Ogling of Other Lawyers' Incomes. As explained in our introductory post, Skaddenfreude will inform you about how much different lawyers around the country are earning (and how hard they're working to earn those salaries).
We've already received a number of submissions, some of which we present below, and some of which we're saving for future editions. This week's theme: not all lawyers are making a mint -- especially those who avoid the path of Biglaw and work for the government. Here are the numbers:
(1) assistant attorney general in a state AG's office, based in a large city, specializing in criminal law, class of 2005: $48,000 (40 hrs./week);Click the link for the rest of the story.(2) legal research professor, at a top 50 law school in a mid-sized city, class of 2002: $46,000;
(3) attorney advisor for a city agency in a large city, class of 2003: $61,000 ("I only get a raise every two years, which is less than the cost of living. I work about 50-60 hours per week... last summer, I was working almost 70 hours a week...");
(4) deputy public defender, in a small city, specializing in criminal/juvenile cases, class of 1999: $48,000 ("Bonus? HA!").
Ambient Noise, Ring Tones and Things I Really Don't Like
I listen to a fair amount of NPR, or used to listen to a fair amount of NPR. One thing I really do not like is the current trend to increase the amount of ambient noise that runs with the material -- often noise that seems artificially added. When I'm driving, I do not need an extra, moving, crystal clear siren noise. Let the studio broadcast just be silent in the background.
Even worse is the growing trend of using ring tone "music" interlaced with broadcasts, as a sub-theme in theme music and in advertisements. Like a borderline personality disorder, the "music" cries out for attention, setting off people checking to see if a cell phone is ringing. While it calls for attention, it also seems to generate revulsion. Advertisements with those sub-themes are the ones most likely to trigger a changed channel rather than being patiently listened to/ignored until more news or music comes on.
Shows that use them are why I've given up on NPR and on radio in general.
I know, on the scale of things that are annoying or dislikable, what I've mentioned is pretty trivial, but it probably annoys me more than anything else I deal with. What out there annoys you?
Even worse is the growing trend of using ring tone "music" interlaced with broadcasts, as a sub-theme in theme music and in advertisements. Like a borderline personality disorder, the "music" cries out for attention, setting off people checking to see if a cell phone is ringing. While it calls for attention, it also seems to generate revulsion. Advertisements with those sub-themes are the ones most likely to trigger a changed channel rather than being patiently listened to/ignored until more news or music comes on.
Shows that use them are why I've given up on NPR and on radio in general.
I know, on the scale of things that are annoying or dislikable, what I've mentioned is pretty trivial, but it probably annoys me more than anything else I deal with. What out there annoys you?
Monday, September 04, 2006
Heather
Ok, here is a photo.
Like everyone else, I love my kids and am proud of them. Tournament winning shooter, that's my daughter.
Too bad BYU doesn't have a Judo club any more, she had just started with that and was really enjoying it.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Grateful
I've blogged about other people's sisters, but I had the sweetest call from my own, who shows such kindness to me. I'm grateful for her and her remembrances.
Choosing, endurance, happiness, and kindness
I saw the question: "And what can we do in the midst of affliction to endure?"
In a roundabout way, there is an answer, and it comes from the nature of the human mind and the reality that we are a part of. It is interesting that the research seems to indicate (very, very strongly) that attempting to exert direct control over an emotional response has a negative effect when we try to choose to be happy.
So, if we try to choose to be happy, we are probably going to be less happy.
On the other hand, we are quite capable of choosing to be kind because there is strong support to the position that we can choose approaches to take. The choice of taking the approach of kindness will help us to endure and live well.
It is similar to the issue of choosing to endure. If you are trying to choose endurance, you are probably already in trouble. On the other hand, if you start looking for reasons to endure, you will find them, and in finding them, endure.
Live your life for others, be kind, and you will find endurance and happiness, things that everyone thinks they seek. Especially when grief attempts to overwhelm you, there is reason in the choice to find meanings as a foundation and to choose the approach of kindness. In enduring for others, in being kind to them, we find our own path and way home, in spite of every affliction.
In a roundabout way, there is an answer, and it comes from the nature of the human mind and the reality that we are a part of. It is interesting that the research seems to indicate (very, very strongly) that attempting to exert direct control over an emotional response has a negative effect when we try to choose to be happy.
So, if we try to choose to be happy, we are probably going to be less happy.
On the other hand, we are quite capable of choosing to be kind because there is strong support to the position that we can choose approaches to take. The choice of taking the approach of kindness will help us to endure and live well.
It is similar to the issue of choosing to endure. If you are trying to choose endurance, you are probably already in trouble. On the other hand, if you start looking for reasons to endure, you will find them, and in finding them, endure.
Live your life for others, be kind, and you will find endurance and happiness, things that everyone thinks they seek. Especially when grief attempts to overwhelm you, there is reason in the choice to find meanings as a foundation and to choose the approach of kindness. In enduring for others, in being kind to them, we find our own path and way home, in spite of every affliction.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
... I need a psych exception to the no weapons in the dorms policy ...
Funny story.
There is a kid, when she was young and feeling scared, her parents gave her a sword to sleep with to make her feel safe. Kind of like a teddy bear, only a bit more useful (though not much, it was a wall hanger) against prowlers and such.
So, she is in the dorm, feeling homesick and wanted to know if they would let her have a sword in her room. The exception would be the psych exception. So she could have a weapon in the dorms.
They kindly told her no, she laughed when she told my daughter and my daughter told me, which I thought was funny.
There is a kid, when she was young and feeling scared, her parents gave her a sword to sleep with to make her feel safe. Kind of like a teddy bear, only a bit more useful (though not much, it was a wall hanger) against prowlers and such.
So, she is in the dorm, feeling homesick and wanted to know if they would let her have a sword in her room. The exception would be the psych exception. So she could have a weapon in the dorms.
They kindly told her no, she laughed when she told my daughter and my daughter told me, which I thought was funny.
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