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Late Summer 2011 News
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Chic Geek Web Designs
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Dear Friends and Connections
The number of possible combinations of 100 billion neurons firing or not is approximately 10 to the millionth power, or 1 followed by a million zeros. In principle, this is the number of possible states of your brain. To put this in perspective, the number of atoms in the universe is estimated to be "only" about 10 to the eightieth power. ( Buddha's Brain 2009 )
Each month, we try to bring you thought provoking ideas that promise to make life a little bit better. This month our focus is on the Mind. As we see Social Media becoming more pervasive, we are approaching an ideal of the Global Mind. Each of us has the capacity of shaping our own brain according to how we use it. The global, collective mind is the key to our survival as a species and the survival of the planet. Each of us has the chance to live a better life by taking control of how we use the power of our minds.
This month we'll be taking a look at the Neuroscience of Happiness, the Psychology of Optimism, an artist who draws upon vast amounts of data to create images reflecting Human activity and the astounding Johnny Cash Project demonstrating another level of the connected world of the internet.
Hope you find something here to improve your day.
Chic Geek
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Buddha's Brain The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom Rick Hason, PH.D. with Richard Mendius, MD 
The Buddha and other great teachers were born with brains built essentially like anyone else's - and then they changed their brains in ways that changed the world. Science is now revealing how the flow of thoughts actually sculpts the brain. By combining breakthroughs in neuroscience with insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can use your mind to shape your brain for greater happiness, love and wisdom. Buddha's Brain draws on the latest research to show how to stimulate and strengthen your brain for more fulfilling relationships, a deeper spiritual life, and a greater sense of inner confidence and worth. You'll learn how to activated the brain states of calm, joy, and compassion instead of worry, sorrow and anger. This clear, down-to-earth book is filled with practical tools and skills that you can use in daily life to tap the unused potential of your brain and rewire it over time for greater well-being and peace of mind. Impulse control, attitude management Find out more about Rick Hanson's work with links to more about Dr. Hasen's research including workshops and podcasts.. |
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Aaron Koblin:
Artfully visualizing our humanity
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19th Century culture was defined by the Novel
20th Century culture was defined by the Cinema
The culture of the 21st Century will be defined by the Interface
Artist Aaron Koblin takes vast amounts of data -- and at times vast numbers of people -- and weaves them into stunning visualizations. From elegant lines tracing airline flights to landscapes of cell phone data, from a Johnny Cash video assembled from crowd-sourced drawings to the "Wilderness Downtown" video that customizes for the user, his works brilliantly explore how modern technology can make us more human.
View this TED lecture
A unique crowd-sourced music video project honoring the legacy of Johnny Cash. Launched in celebration of American VI: Ain't No Grave, user-submitted ...
Visit the Johnny Cash Project
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Learned Optimism
How to Change Your Mind and Your Life Martin P. Seligman Ph.D.
Martin Seligman, a renowned psychologist and clinical researcher, has been studying optimists and pessimists for 25 years. Pessimists believe that bad events are their fault, will last a long time, and undermine everything. They feel helpless and may sink into depression, which is epidemic today, especially among youths. Optimists, on the other hand, believe that defeat is a temporary setback or a challenge--it doesn't knock them down. "Pessimism is escapable," asserts Seligman, by learning a new set of cognitive skills that will enable you to take charge, resist depression, and make yourself feel better and accomplish more. About two-thirds of this book is a psychological discussion of pessimism, optimism, learned helplessness (giving up because you feel unable to change things), explanatory style (how you habitually explain to yourself why events happen), and depression, and how these affect success, health, and quality of life. Seligman supports his points with animal research and human cases. He includes tests for you and your child--whose achievement may be related more to his or her level of optimism/pessimism than ability. The final chapters teach the skills of changing from pessimism to optimism, with worksheet pages to guide you and your child.
YouTube Interviews with Dr Seligman |
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About Chic Geek Web Designs
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Sincerely, Adriane Nicolaisen
Chic Geek Web Designs
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