tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513190696400236162024-03-12T15:41:56.675-07:00NemoNemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-82930931297995817872013-04-28T16:54:00.002-07:002013-04-28T16:54:45.510-07:00A Walk to Westfield Century CityI walked with K today to Westfield Century City mall. It was a 45 minutes walk (& 45 minutes back).<br />
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Here are some pictures:<br />
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<br />Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-27743618981948982342013-04-26T09:35:00.000-07:002013-04-26T09:35:52.175-07:00The Rooftop Bar at the Standard Hotel, Downtown LAYesterday we took the bus for the first time to downtown LA. it was the 720 Metro from Wilshire and Westwood all way to 6th and Hope. (an hour ride).<br />
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We stopped by Botega Louie to get macrons for K and then we went to the Standard Hotel.<br />
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Here are some pictures:<br />
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<br />Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-24365138250854554042011-12-31T10:39:00.000-08:002011-12-31T10:39:43.262-08:00Sunset at Santa Monica (29-Dec-11)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is my first sunset experience althu I hate all sunset pics including these, I just don't like the sunset!<br />
(photos are taken with my iphone 3gs)<br />
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</div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-71706971465287556492011-12-31T09:33:00.005-08:002011-12-31T11:04:14.619-08:002011 - The second most stressful year of my life (so far?)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Inspired by <a href="http://www.bloggylife.com/2011/12/31/resolutions-thoughts/">http://www.bloggylife.com/2011/12/31/resolutions-thoughts/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I decided to spend an hour writing this: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can’t go thru everything I have experienced and everything I’m experiencing right now but these are only "some" of the things: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A) The graduate application process is torture. (Well I guess every step is painful):<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Getting recommendation letters is the worst part I believe specially when you’re not a recent graduate.</li>
<li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Writing the statement of purpose when you don’t yet have a clear research plan is pain.</li>
<li>Waiting is the most painful part of the process. (You’d wait for 3-4 months).</li>
<li>I had a stressful situation with the school I wanted to attend. The graduate division rejected my initial department recommendation and it took me two months to convince them that I deserve a chance.</li>
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B) Leaving your job is hard:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>You’d think it’s easy but It’s not specially when you have worked really hard to reach your current position. </li>
<li>I don’t have to explain the insecurities associated with leaving a job.</li>
<li>Although graduate school is an investment but spending all your savings to go to graduate school is a bit scary. (What if it’s not worth it?).</li>
<li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Having an acceptance to the same program at KU didn’t help. (Everyone was like why are you doing this?).</li>
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C) Moving is hard:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Living alone is not easy and living with a stranger is not fun specially when she’s so annoying!</li>
<li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Meeting your colleagues who are mostly recent graduates was not encouraging.</li>
<li>Many grad students are depressed and I didn’t know that, I guess I met the wrong mix at first.</li>
<li>& I miss my family & friends. </li>
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D) Going back to school is hard:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Doing assignments, reading and listening to lectures is so hard after all these years. Nothing is easy or straight forward as it used to be. My first exam was a horrible experience, it was a disaster! </li>
<li>Having a crush on a professor doesn't help, it is a distraction! </li>
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E) Future uncertainties:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li>I need a job and I hope I get one soon otherwise I’m going to be broke next year.</li>
<li>I really want to work with professor X but I need to work so hard for it since I don’t have any background in his field. (The most stressful thing right now).</li>
<li>My classes next term are so difficult and I don’t have the prerequisites but I need to take them!</li>
<li>I need to apply for funding although I haven’t found anything I’m eligible for (coming from a rich country doesn’t help).</li>
<li>Next fall I’ll again have to apply for PhD programs, another graduate application process. I just hope I can keep a good GPA to be able to apply.</li>
<li>Also, the hair I'm losing due to stress is freaking me out, I hope it stops!</li>
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</div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-9088697488404616622011-05-18T02:50:00.000-07:002011-05-18T02:50:33.950-07:00Information Is Beautiful: Evidence for Popular Dietary Supplements<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/"><img border="0" height="225" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZScqgPdul5s/TdOIfqv6P8I/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CL_RzvRqESM/s320/snakeoil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">A beautiful chart from a beautiful website. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The chart shows graphically the scientific evidence for some popular dietary supplements. Check it out: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/">http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/"><img border="0" height="228" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XGyLteZhGi4/TdOIdxFzBxI/AAAAAAAAA_U/byBebqbXncw/s320/snakeoil.mentalhealth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I have for example looked up the elements for mental health and googled the ones with strong to promising evidence: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">*According to wikipedia, "St. John's wort" is a herbal treatment for depression and PMS. (Strong Evidence)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">*Creatine which is found in meat and fish boosts brain power. <a href="http://www.creapure.com/index.php?id=47">"Vegetarians and vegans do not get any creatine from food sources. Creatine levels in blood plasma are very low in these populations."</a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">*Tyrosine is found in many food sources. <a href="http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/tyrosine-foods.html">"Low Tyrosine leads to conditions, such as muscle weakness, muscle loss, mood disorders, ...etc."</a> </div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-21146199180563130432011-05-07T02:17:00.000-07:002011-05-07T02:17:21.089-07:00Shutting Down Your Awareness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oum8AI5GeQs/TcUL5j4JvoI/AAAAAAAAA_M/cmEJPdi5-38/s1600/Gray727_anterior_cingulate_cortex.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oum8AI5GeQs/TcUL5j4JvoI/AAAAAAAAA_M/cmEJPdi5-38/s320/Gray727_anterior_cingulate_cortex.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I read this interesting piece from the book: “Mindsight” by Dr. Daniel Siegel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><u>Chapter 7: Cut Off From the Neck Down, Reconnecting the Mind and the Body. </u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The chapter starts with this patient who came saying that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">her life felt empty and meaningless</span>. She seemed disconnected and cold. In details the author talks about how the patient’s early life was filled with unfair opportunities. The turning point for the patient was when <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">she promised herself that she "would never feel anything again"</span>. She was 11.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The author explains: to cope with those difficult situations we build our own defensive mechanisms whether for example by ignoring the situation, concentrating on the positive side (optimism) or by projecting those experience on others and then hating them for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By building these defense mechanisms, we build a firewall around our awareness to protect us from those feelings, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">but </span></b><span style="color: red;">by doing that you filter out both the good and the bad feelings.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The ACC “Anterior Cingular Cortex”</span>, located in the middle prefrontal cortex in the brain, regulates our awareness. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The ACC is responsible for many things: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px;">The pain for social rejection and the physical pain are both in the ACC.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px;">“It's the area between our thinking cortex and our feeling limbic regions.”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px;">“It registers physical sensations from the body and feelings from our social interactions.”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px;">“It regulates the focus of our attention.”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px;">“It links body, emotion attention social awareness.”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17px;">It’s responsible for letting us feel connected.</span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The problem with shutting down the ACC is not only with filtering the good feelings out but with the fact that even if you removed the pain from your awareness <span style="color: red;">it still has an affect on yo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">u, y</span><span style="color: red;">our decision making and your body</span>. Feelings will still be there in our nervous system, brainstem and the limbic areas. <span style="color: red;">You’re eliminating the awareness only.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Think about it!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">*note: There are so many other details in the chapter*.</span></div><!--EndFragment--> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Krrz9YEl6qs/TcUL6o8nfuI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/ibq2oJI01kI/s1600/mindsight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Krrz9YEl6qs/TcUL6o8nfuI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/ibq2oJI01kI/s320/mindsight.jpg" width="210" /></a></div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-82731778117015446162011-04-17T05:59:00.001-07:002011-04-17T06:55:34.413-07:00Are younger generations getting shorter or taller? (Short Time)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DiKuJqVA4k/Tarj00Py9cI/AAAAAAAAA_I/cmXuRAnYj5Q/s1600/drunkards-walk-how-randomness-rules-our-lives-leonard-mlodinow-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DiKuJqVA4k/Tarj00Py9cI/AAAAAAAAA_I/cmXuRAnYj5Q/s1600/drunkards-walk-how-randomness-rules-our-lives-leonard-mlodinow-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" /></a></div><br />
If you think that kids are now shorter or taller than how your generation used to be, read this:<br />
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Galton’s experiment:<br />
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In 1875, Galton (Google Him) distributed packets of sweet pea pods of uniform size and weight to seven friends. Galton then measured the seeds of the successive generation. He noticed that the median diameter of the large seeds was less than that of the parents while the median diameter of the small seeds were greater that of the parents. <br />
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He continued to notice the same effect in the height of humans that is if one’s measurement is far from its mean, the other will closer to its mean “<strong>regression toward the mean</strong>”. <span style="color: red;">The process doesn’t go out of control</span>. People don’t get dumber or smarter over short periods of time. And the same can be applied to intelligence, artistic talent, etc.<br />
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So for example, if the parents are tall, their kids would not necessarily be as tall and if the parents are short, their kids would not be necessarily as short. <br />
<br />
Source: Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drunkards-Walk-Randomness-Rules-Vintage/dp/0307275175/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303044808&sr=8-1-fkmr0">The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives</a> by Leonard Mlodinow</div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-2989032651403293102011-04-14T10:25:00.000-07:002011-04-14T10:25:22.256-07:00Puzzle: The Monty Hall Problem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.marilynvossavant.com/">"Ask Marilyn</a>” is a famous column where Marilyn answers readers’ questions. (Marilyn is listed as the world’s highest recorded IQ: 228). One of the questions was inspired by the game show “Let’s Make Deal” hosted by Monty Hall.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyNh1Z8SyZo/Tacsrolr18I/AAAAAAAAA_E/pVvC9BdjzNw/s1600/mainimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyNh1Z8SyZo/Tacsrolr18I/AAAAAAAAA_E/pVvC9BdjzNw/s320/mainimage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the game, there are <span style="color: red;">3 doors</span> with <span style="color: red;">2 goats and 1 car</span>. You start by choosing one door; the host then opens of the “goat” doors. You are now left with 2 doors. The host asks if you would like to switch the door? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Is it better to switch or not?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You would think that it makes no difference<b>.</b> Marilyn said that it is better to switch. Almost 10,000 readers of which are 1000 PhD holders were upset with Marilyn’s answer. One of them even said, “If all those PhD holders are wrong then the country is in serious trouble”! but at the end Marilyn was right <o:p></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Easy Explanation </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Scenario One: You are lucky, you choose the door with the car and you win (probability: 1/3)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Scenario Two: You are not lucky (probability 2/3), you choose the door with the goat, at this point the host opens the “goat” door, and hence you are left with the “car” door and so it’s better to switch. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="background: #EFEFEF; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Door 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> <td style="background: #EFEFEF; border-left: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Door 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> <td style="background: #EFEFEF; border-left: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Door 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> <td style="background: #EFEFEF; border-left: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.0pt;" width="111"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">result if switching<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> <td style="background: #EFEFEF; border-left: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" width="96"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">result if staying<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-top: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Car<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.0pt;" width="111"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" width="96"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Car</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-top: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Car<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.0pt;" width="111"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Car</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" width="96"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-top: none; border: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 41.0pt;" width="41"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Car<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.0pt;" width="111"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Car</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background: #F7F7F7; border-bottom: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #9A9A9A 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" width="96"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Goat<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The table is taken from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem">Wikipedia</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Which clearly shows that if you switched, the chance of getting the car would be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2/3 or 66%) while if you didn’t switch, the chance of getting the car would be (1/3 or 33%)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Does it make sense? <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Source: Book: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drunkards-Walk-Randomness-Rules-Lives/dp/0375424040">The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives</a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-44188576457693803172011-04-05T10:28:00.000-07:002011-04-05T10:28:02.044-07:00Kuwaiti Documentary: TOKAI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hbFlrW8UWCI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Part 1: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbFlrW8UWCI&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbFlrW8UWCI&feature=related</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/31-1pieS-HI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Part 2: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31-1pieS-HI&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31-1pieS-HI&feature=related</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“There are 200,000 Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Workers from other third world countries flock to this oil rich nations in hopes of fulfilling their dreams<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The injustice goes on”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">When will this cruelty end?<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">When will the government do something about these companies?<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Why can’t they have their rights?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Don’t tell me that they live in much worse conditions in their countries; it doesn’t give you the right to oppress them like that.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Abdul Rahman Al Ajeel Al Askar<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Abeer Tebawi<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Vachan Sharma<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Mark for posting the short documentary<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-21093194579139108532011-04-02T02:03:00.000-07:002011-04-02T02:03:21.172-07:00More about “Left Mind vs. Right Mind”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwEcEsQMXqY/TZbkZdrAHDI/AAAAAAAAA-8/fBVh3OOrKd4/s1600/My-Stroke-of-Insight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwEcEsQMXqY/TZbkZdrAHDI/AAAAAAAAA-8/fBVh3OOrKd4/s320/My-Stroke-of-Insight.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">From the book: “My Stroke of Insight” by Jill Bolte Taylo, Chapter 16.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Right Mind: </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It’s all about right here, right now, the <span style="color: red;">richness of the moment</span>, filled with gratitude for my life and every one in it.</li>
<li>It smiles a lot and is extremely friendly.</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Compassionate</span>, nurturing and eternally optimistic</li>
<li>It observes without judgment. <span style="color: red;">No judgment </span>of good/bad or right/wrong.</li>
<li>It is sensitive to <span style="color: red;">non-verbal communication</span>, and accurately decodes emotion.</li>
<li>It is your <span style="color: red;">intuition</span> and higher consciousness.</li>
<li>Highly <span style="color: red;">creative</span>: thinks <span style="color: red;">out of the box</span>. Not limited by the rules of regulations set by the left mind.</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Free</span>, not bogged by the past or fearful of what the future may bring or not bring.</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Thinks in images</span>/pictures.</li>
<li>Looks at the <span style="color: red;">big picture</span> and how things relate to each other.</li>
<li>The Extreme Right Mind: seldom connect to a common reality and spend most of our time with head in the clouds.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Left Mind: </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Preoccupied with <span style="color: red;">details</span> and runs your life on a tight schedule.</li>
<li>The more <span style="color: red;">serious</span> side.</li>
<li>It defines <span style="color: red;">boundaries</span> and <span style="color: red;">judges</span> everything as right/wrong or good/bad.</li>
<li>Responsible for transforming all the information and possibilities into something manageable.</li>
<li>It is what you use to communicate to the external world.</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Thinks in language </span>and <span style="color: red;">speaks to you</span> constantly.</li>
<li>Your <span style="color: red;">organizer</span>: has the ability to organize, categorize, describe, judge and critically analyze everything.</li>
<li>Has the ability to <span style="color: red;">multitask.</span></li>
<li>Identifies <span style="color: red;">patterns</span>.</li>
<li>Processes large volumes of information (much faster that that the right mind).</li>
<li>The <span style="color: red;">storyteller</span>: brilliant at making up stories, filling the blanks where there are gaps in data and generating alternative scenarios.</li>
<li>Genius at generating What-if possibilities and <span style="color: red;">drawing conclusions</span>.</li>
<li>Your <span style="color: red;">ego </span>center.</li>
<li>Your <span style="color: red;">critical analytical</span> mind.</li>
<li>The Extreme Left Mind: exhibits extremely rigid thinking patterns that are analytically critical.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-73020257632751358622011-03-19T10:05:00.000-07:002011-03-19T10:05:04.206-07:00Tonight's Moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KFh3sK_eSiM/TYThzPE4rRI/AAAAAAAAA-w/-COtVecumgk/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KFh3sK_eSiM/TYThzPE4rRI/AAAAAAAAA-w/-COtVecumgk/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">"The moon will make its closest approach to <a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/earth.html" id="wwef" style="color: #044e8e; text-decoration: none;" title="Earth">Earth</a> in 18 years—making the so-called supermoon the biggest full moon in years."</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110318-supermoon-earth-japan-earthquake-tsunami-science-space-biggest-full-moon/?source=link_tw20110318news-moon</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Don't Miss It, It's Gorgeous </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</strong></span></div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-86537888922518919672011-03-15T10:03:00.000-07:002011-03-15T10:03:56.783-07:00Brain Memory and Stress ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;">Stress</span> and <span style="color: red;">depression</span> lead to long-term <span style="color: red;">memory loss</span>. How?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YHmibfGIZjw/TX-bQXRTXHI/AAAAAAAAA-s/niKA-Gy1wUo/s1600/hippocampus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YHmibfGIZjw/TX-bQXRTXHI/AAAAAAAAA-s/niKA-Gy1wUo/s200/hippocampus.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hippocampus</b> is an area in the brain that turns our short-term explicit memories into long-term explicit memories.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;">Stress</span>, <span style="color: red;">depression</span> and <span style="color: red;">childhood trauma</span> all release glucocorticoids, which <span style="color: red;">kill cells</span> in the hippocampus leading to memory loss.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The longer people are depressed, the small their hippocampus gets.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #479b3a;">But</span> …<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After <span style="color: #479b3a;">recovery</span> from stress or depression, <span style="color: #479b3a;">neurons</span> can <span style="color: #479b3a;">grow back</span> in the hippocampus. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #479b3a;">Physical exercise</span> helps re-generate new neurons in the hippocampus while <span style="color: #479b3a;">learning</span> helps keeping those new neurons alive. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Source: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brain-That-Changes-Itself-Frontiers/dp/067003830X">The Brain That Changes Itself </a>By Dr. Norman Doidge<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-7091095590484231302011-03-07T02:41:00.000-08:002011-03-07T02:41:26.022-08:00Dr. Edward Taub<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_byHa6FuyL8/TXS1wTnDSLI/AAAAAAAAA-o/8drMFp0V9Uw/s1600/taub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_byHa6FuyL8/TXS1wTnDSLI/AAAAAAAAA-o/8drMFp0V9Uw/s200/taub.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br />
<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stroke is one of the leading causes of disabilities in adults. Once the <span style="color: red;">brain damage</span> happens, there is little help that modern science can provide until Dr. Edward Taub invented his treatment (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">CI Therapy</span>). <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dr. Taub’s <span style="color: red;">treatment helped patients re-wire their brains</span>. Patients who were paralyzed for years and were told they would never walk again began to walk. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dr. Taub started working on his idea while he was a graduate student. The theory that explained our physical movement at the time was Dr. Sherrington’s Reflexological Theory of Movement.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dr. Sherrington’s experiment was to cut all the sensory nerves in a monkey’s arm (a process called Defferentation). After the experiment, the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">monkey couldn’t move his arm </span>although the sensory nerves were cut and not the motor nerves (which control the movement). Dr. Sherrington suggested that the movement must be based or initiated by the sensory part and that the monkey couldn’t move his arm because he had destroyed this part. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dr. Taub modified the experiment by <span style="color: red;">placing the good arm after the operation in a sling to restrain it</span>. The monkey was then <span style="color: red;">able to start using the affected arm</span>. This is really critical because it implies that stroke patients with treatment can use their damaged parts again. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the book Dr. Taub’s treatment is explained in details and recovery cases are also mentioned. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was hesitant to post about Dr. Taub because there are so many details that you need to read in order to get the full picture. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reference: Book: The Brain That Changes Itself By Dr. Norman Doige <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Taub">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Taub</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--> </div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-75937413016286808262011-03-04T10:19:00.001-08:002011-03-07T02:37:35.127-08:00Book: The Brain That Changes Itself, Chapter 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5aLdikFA2g0/TXEfdUcYAfI/AAAAAAAAA-k/lZoYaTc1Nng/s1600/brain.it.changes.it.self.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5aLdikFA2g0/TXEfdUcYAfI/AAAAAAAAA-k/lZoYaTc1Nng/s320/brain.it.changes.it.self.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />
I just wanted to share some very interesting things that I have learned from the book <b>"The Brain That Changes Itself"</b>- Chapter 2.<br />
<br />
(0) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">The brain is plastic.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">It can</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">change</span> its structure for better or for worse. We can change the structure of our brain and increase its capacity to learn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">(1) “If we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">stop exercising</span> our mental skills, we don’t just forget them, the brain map space used for those skills is taken over by the skills we practice”. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(2) The reason <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">why learning a new language when we get older is more difficult </span>is not because the brain can’t change itself. It’s because when we’re older our native language has already dominated our linguistic map space and hence we really need to work harder in order to master the new language. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(3) At the beginning of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">learning a new task</span> you need more neurons to do the work. After practicing, neurons become faster and more efficient and eventually fewer neurons are needed for the task.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(4) Merzenich knew that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">there is a</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">critical time or window during infancy when the brain map gets its shape</span>. During that period the brain can learn just by being exposed to the world. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">“The learning machinery”</span> is always on for them and that’s why they are able to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">pay attention to literally everything</span> around them.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(5) Levi-Montalcini discovered the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">brain-derived neurotropic factor</span>, or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span> is responsible for reinforcing plastic changes made in the brain during the critical period. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span> release <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">consolidates the connections</span> between neurons and helps wiring them so that they fire together. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span> promotes the growth of a thin layer around every neuron to<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> speed up the transmission</span> of electrical signals. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span> turns on the “<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">nucleus basalis</span>” that allows us to f<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ocus our attention</span> and keeps it on during the entire critical period. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">-Finally <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span> helps <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">close the critical period once the main connections are established</span>, hence less plasticity in the system. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(7) Merzenich argues that some external factors during the critical period lead to the “<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">massive premature release of</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">BDNF</span>” causing the critical period to close prematurely and the child is left with so many development disorders.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(8) Merzenich suggests that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">noise is a factor in the premature release of BDNF</span>. Studies have shown that kids who live near the airports or train stations had lower intelligence. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This is not everything in chapter 3, there is a lot more!<br />
Share your thoughts!</div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-15909956967955518762011-01-28T04:11:00.000-08:002011-01-28T04:11:47.926-08:00Your IMDB Page: Share Your Voting History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TUKxwUTC02I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/GF9XtJuhZzo/s1600/Movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TUKxwUTC02I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/GF9XtJuhZzo/s320/Movies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">You can now share your movies with your friends by making your "voting history" page public.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">please do so and send me your link :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My Movies:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=47167494" style="color: #136cb2;">http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=47167494</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-35402472390600705502011-01-04T05:39:00.000-08:002011-01-04T05:39:39.809-08:00Events: Solar Eclipse (January 4th 2010) [Pictures]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TSMiCs1nLCI/AAAAAAAAA98/wXozSnXhygE/s1600/IMG_2684_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TSMiCs1nLCI/AAAAAAAAA98/wXozSnXhygE/s320/IMG_2684_.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TSMiEeEjNaI/AAAAAAAAA-A/zlx9IJZh2hM/s1600/IMG_2666_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TSMiEeEjNaI/AAAAAAAAA-A/zlx9IJZh2hM/s320/IMG_2666_.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TSMiHDAG7gI/AAAAAAAAA-E/3SoeafSFkoE/s1600/IMG_2668_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TSMiHDAG7gI/AAAAAAAAA-E/3SoeafSFkoE/s320/IMG_2668_.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">These beautiful photos were taken by my colleague today at 12:10-12:15PM. (I still don't have a camera)</div><div style="text-align: center;">We used both an x-ray with the glass door to be able watch the solar eclipse.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The eclipse started at 10:44 AM</div><div style="text-align: center;">The maximum eclipse was at 12:10 PM</div><div style="text-align: center;">The eclipse ended at 13:34 PM</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy :)</div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-16334751727491341612010-08-31T12:57:00.000-07:002010-08-31T12:57:06.817-07:00Georgia's Aquarium [Pictures]<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/SjJGCeJQo1I/AAAAAAAAAsk/_VQZh8u3y38/s1600-h/Photo0902.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346412715907785554" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/SjJGCeJQo1I/AAAAAAAAAsk/_VQZh8u3y38/s400/Photo0902.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/SjJEkX_XzXI/AAAAAAAAAr0/-PhqkTrdVJ4/s1600-h/Photo0891.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346411099347996018" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/SjJEkX_XzXI/AAAAAAAAAr0/-PhqkTrdVJ4/s400/Photo0891.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/SjJEkJ2CWnI/AAAAAAAAArs/54JNfXizRRk/s1600-h/Photo0890.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346411095550745202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/SjJEkJ2CWnI/AAAAAAAAArs/54JNfXizRRk/s400/Photo0890.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div><br />
I had visited Georgia's Aquarium when I was in Atlanta last year. All the pictures were taken inside The Ocean Voyager Exhibit. The viewing window inside is the second largest viewing window in the world. This is one of the most beautiful, breathtaking aquariums.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Ocean Voyager Exhibit Description:</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'MS Trebuchet', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">This exhibit was specially designed to house whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world. Schools of predatory trevally jacks, squadrons of small and large stingrays, enormous goliath grouper and hammerhead sharks all ply the waters of this ocean habitat containing more than six million gallons of saltwater. With 4,574 square feet of viewing windows, a 100-foot-long underwater tunnel, 185 tons of acrylic windows and the second largest viewing window in the world at 23 feet tall by 61 feet wide and 2 feet thick, visitors will have multiple opportunities to view all of these magnificent animals. No other aquarium in the world has ever attempted to manage the variety and size of fish in this major exhibit."</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Aquarium is a must if you ever had the chance to visit Atlanta.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/">http://www.georgiaaquarium.org</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-69909780844939639332010-08-29T12:27:00.001-07:002010-08-29T15:49:37.337-07:00Few Work Related Tips - The 4-Hour Work Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THq0NdKqKJI/AAAAAAAAA9o/_AMjveYrxHg/s1600/lazysmurf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THq0NdKqKJI/AAAAAAAAA9o/_AMjveYrxHg/s320/lazysmurf.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I'm being so unproductive, unfocused, and unmotivated (Summer started, I took my vacation and now Ramadan). I decided to read this book after seeing it on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/">Amazon bestsellers list</a>. The book is definitely <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">fun</span> to read. (still reading, finished 40%).<br />
<br />
Here are some tips that I would like try:<br />
<br />
1- Prepare a short to-do list one day ahead. use a small sticky note so you can't write more than 2-3 major items.<br />
<br />
2- Try to check your email 2-3 times per day, preferably at 11 AM and again at 3 PM <i>(if you work from 8-4)</i>. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(Less Interruption).</span></i><br />
<br />
3- Try to do step 2 with phone calls as well. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(I'll definitely try but I know that I won't be able to that, end users will keep calling until I pickup or they'll just surprise me by coming to my office).</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> </span><br />
<br />
4- Don't check email or news first thing in the morning. The first couple of hours in the morning are the best to finish major tasks.<br />
<br />
5- Set shorter deadlines for your tasks. (<a href="http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/Parkinson-s-Law.html">Parkinson's Law</a>).<br />
<br />
6- Avoid Multitasking.<br />
<br />
7- Avoid Meetings whenever possible (by using email).<br />
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<br />
Some of these tips are not new: true, but the author has included examples, tricks and tools that will help you apply those and many other tips as well.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307465357/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0307353133&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FGY7S9R94J6YKY82G5J">Amazon Link</a></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-85233393093464551972010-08-27T18:53:00.000-07:002010-08-27T18:53:40.044-07:00The New Amazon Kindle (6-inch)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THhkTsEFpUI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/WgPR_XPEraw/s1600/newkindlephotosforgale00015img2102kindle3reviewshotsgallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THhkTsEFpUI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/WgPR_XPEraw/s320/newkindlephotosforgale00015img2102kindle3reviewshotsgallery.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Kindle 3 is finally here :D</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wifi edition price: $139 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i>(I bought kindle 2 for $389 in feb 09)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Amazon Highlights:</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">* 50% better contrast than any other e-reader. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(what i'm looking for)</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* New crisper, darker fonts. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(what i'm looking for)</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* 21% smaller body while keeping the same 6" size reading area.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* Double the Storage (4 GB) ... Up to 3,500 Books.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* Built-In Wifi.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* 20% Faster Page Turns.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* Enhanced PDF Reader – With dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">The Engadget Review:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/amazon-kindle-review/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/amazon-kindle-review/</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/amazon-kindle-review/"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Pictures:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/amazon-kindle-unboxing-and-hands-on/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.engadget.com/photos/amazon-kindle-unboxing-and-hands-on/</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've already placed my order on August 15th and I'm still waiting for my kindle to be shipped, hopefully today :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-88610022782699393112010-08-25T15:56:00.000-07:002010-08-25T15:56:11.834-07:00Question on Working Hours?If you work 8 hours a day and you are able to finish your tasks in lets say half the time (by pressuring yourself, working harder, smarter and being super efficient). Is it ethical to use the time left for yourself?<br />
<br />
If it's not ethical => Naturally you will finish the tasks in the 8 hours that you have ... you won't pressure yourself.<br />
<br />
And even If it's ethical => You will end up with more tasks from your boss anyways.<br />
<br />
What do you think?Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-40310637047033346442010-08-25T04:25:00.000-07:002010-08-25T04:25:00.808-07:00Blogs: Q8Bookers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THT7sq8WmsI/AAAAAAAAA9I/7dTgVTTcM0Q/s1600/q8bookers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THT7sq8WmsI/AAAAAAAAA9I/7dTgVTTcM0Q/s320/q8bookers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_237378227"></span><span id="goog_237378228"></span><a href="http://q8bookers.wordpress.com/">http://q8bookers.wordpress.com </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">A new blog about books</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For anyone who likes to read</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-54397918333480136232010-08-22T13:05:00.000-07:002010-08-22T13:05:27.598-07:00Floral Mugs - Home Selection, Al Raya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THGCjlQWXyI/AAAAAAAAA84/oS6X-evUz2E/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THGCjlQWXyI/AAAAAAAAA84/oS6X-evUz2E/s320/photo-2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THGCpCv3w3I/AAAAAAAAA9A/_yeoWsWmi8Q/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/THGCpCv3w3I/AAAAAAAAA9A/_yeoWsWmi8Q/s320/photo.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Got these cute floral mugs from Home Selection, Al Raya.<br />
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price: KD 1.250Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-67963496755694540122010-07-17T11:14:00.000-07:002010-07-17T11:14:14.478-07:00Picture of the Day: Cat Tanning, Messila Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TEHyjFP15MI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Dwf_4-24u2I/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/TEHyjFP15MI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Dwf_4-24u2I/s400/IMG_1350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-58583709285359622262010-05-21T05:10:00.004-07:002010-06-28T02:58:46.166-07:00Ordering a MacBook ProSo I've decided to order a MacBook Pro and here is what I did:<br />
<br />
1- I first checked Digits, Alghanim, Electrozan and Virgin. All had the older model. (price: 640-670 KD). I wanted the newest model (intel core i5).<span style="color: red;"> (Update: The new models have arrived: </span><a href="http://www.frankom.com/?p=12535" style="color: red;">http://www.frankom.com/?p=12535</a><span style="color: red;">)</span><br />
<br />
2- I then checked kuwait-mall.com but after reading the negative reviews I decided to order it myself.<br />
<br />
3- I chose the following: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003G2ZJTG/ref=oss_product">MacBook Pro</a> (price: $1729). <br />
<br />
4- I choose DHL over Aramex since I would skip paying the New York tax ($150). <i style="color: blue;">I've placed my order on Tuesday (May 11th</i><span style="color: blue;">)</span><i style="color: blue;"> and it was delivered on May 12th using Amazon Prime)</i><span style="color: blue;">.</span><br />
<br />
4- Here are the DHL tracking details:<i style="color: blue;">(The tracking number was posted two days after my mac was delivered to my mailbox, Friday (May 14th))</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_ZyjEmVuyI/AAAAAAAAA78/vmPRIqLUxtI/s1600/dhl.macbookpro.15.tracking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_ZyjEmVuyI/AAAAAAAAA78/vmPRIqLUxtI/s320/dhl.macbookpro.15.tracking.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>5- Here is the invoice from my borderlinx account:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z0hbqMkSI/AAAAAAAAA8E/PrTjNAMezpE/s1600/borderlinx.macbookpro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z0hbqMkSI/AAAAAAAAA8E/PrTjNAMezpE/s320/borderlinx.macbookpro.png" /></a></div><br />
6- Here are the invoices from DHL:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z1M91QDII/AAAAAAAAA8M/wC-7wO71G6w/s1600/dhl.customs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z1M91QDII/AAAAAAAAA8M/wC-7wO71G6w/s320/dhl.customs.png" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z1i1dqI4I/AAAAAAAAA8U/Thab-WrGfd8/s1600/dhl.macbookpro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z1i1dqI4I/AAAAAAAAA8U/Thab-WrGfd8/s320/dhl.macbookpro.png" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z1rKUowXI/AAAAAAAAA8c/K0VETib1S6U/s1600/bayan.macbookpro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S_Z1rKUowXI/AAAAAAAAA8c/K0VETib1S6U/s320/bayan.macbookpro.png" /></a></div><br />
7- <b style="color: red;">Total</b>: <b>~570 KD</b>.Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3251319069640023616.post-16423441332762706932010-03-26T03:55:00.000-07:002010-03-26T03:55:39.289-07:00To: Marina Mall's Owner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*lesh el halaga?*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S6ySa2uQWXI/AAAAAAAAA7o/785eZdi4ix4/s1600/IMG_0491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S6ySa2uQWXI/AAAAAAAAA7o/785eZdi4ix4/s1600/IMG_0491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyhSVuuCY9Q/S6ySa2uQWXI/AAAAAAAAA7o/785eZdi4ix4/s400/IMG_0491.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nemohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666114437067013393noreply@blogger.com14