Thursday, September 2, 2010
Saturday, February 7, 2009
word of the day
word of the day: anomie
an emerging state of social deregulation; social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values; personal unrest, alienation, and uncertainty that comes from a lack of purpose or ideals
an emerging state of social deregulation; social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values; personal unrest, alienation, and uncertainty that comes from a lack of purpose or ideals
The Mushrooms Have Arrived!
Well, it's a basketball sized chunk of sawdust colonized with mycelium - in this case a strain of shiitake. Bears a striking resemblance to a giant marshmallow suffering radiation burns. This baby should start producing within two weeks. I'll provide updates. So, it's gotta chill in the fridge for a few days, then get soaked in water for a day, then start producing.
I feel like there's a science experiement in my fridge. This summer's project is to go balls out and inoculate a few logs with plug spawn. It's a longer process, 9-12 months before the logs are fully colonized, but then they'll produce mushrooms for years to come. The result should look something like the pic below.
Chanting with Krishna Das
Here's how I spent my Wednesday evening this week - a thousand man kirtan! How fun! Hearing so many voices joined in the reverberating 'om' was quite moving. I need to learn to play a harmonium...
Maha Mantra-hare krisha hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
deliver me god, liberate my mind from illusion and ignorance so that i may experience bliss
Friday, February 6, 2009
word of the day
word of the day: somnambulism
Technological Somnambulism is a concept used when talking about the philosophy of technology. The term was used by Langdon Winner in his essay Technology as forms of life. Winner puts forth the idea that we are simply in a state of sleepwalking in our mediations with technology. This sleepwalking is caused by a number of factors. One of the primary causes is the way we view technology as tools, something that can be put down and picked up again. Because of this view of objects as something we can easily separate ourselves from we fail to look at the long term implications of using that object. A second factor is separation of those who make the technology and those who use the technology. This division causes there to be little thought and research going into the effects of using/developing that technology. The third and most important idea is the way in which technology seems to create new worlds in which we live. These worlds are created by the restructuring of the common and seemingly everyday things around us. In most situations the changes take place with little attention or care from us because we are more focused on the menial aspects of the technology (winner 105-107).
Technological Somnambulism is a concept used when talking about the philosophy of technology. The term was used by Langdon Winner in his essay Technology as forms of life. Winner puts forth the idea that we are simply in a state of sleepwalking in our mediations with technology. This sleepwalking is caused by a number of factors. One of the primary causes is the way we view technology as tools, something that can be put down and picked up again. Because of this view of objects as something we can easily separate ourselves from we fail to look at the long term implications of using that object. A second factor is separation of those who make the technology and those who use the technology. This division causes there to be little thought and research going into the effects of using/developing that technology. The third and most important idea is the way in which technology seems to create new worlds in which we live. These worlds are created by the restructuring of the common and seemingly everyday things around us. In most situations the changes take place with little attention or care from us because we are more focused on the menial aspects of the technology (winner 105-107).
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monthly Roundup: January 2009
As a way of checking in and making sure I'm keeping up with those new year's resolutions, I'm going to do a monthly wrap-up and reflection to see where I'm at. It's the year of the Ox, symbolizing prosperity through fortitude and hard work. I'll take it! So far, I've been completely devoted to myself - personal growth and feeding my soul. Let's take a look at the past month's events and accomplishments!
Week 1 - Brought in the New Year at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas. I'm seeing that this trip was the pivotal event that has gotten the 2009 ball rolling. Though I'd done yoga here and there half-heartedly, the time was finally ripe to be engaged and connected with the practice and deeper spirituality. And I was introduced to kirtan! I came home with a commitment to a solid practice and lifestyle change. Got the monthly pass to a new-ish yoga studio right in town, and started going daily. Pretty much had no flexibility to speak of. Also, started a 3 month internal cleansing/detox program - a melange of psyllium powder, liver & colon purifying complex, herbal teas, probiotics, antioxidants, and heavy metals removers. Bought a scale for the first time ever. Weighed in at around 145 with 25% body fat. Eek.
Week 2 - Goin to yoga every day. The body surprises me daily! It's not like going to the gym, where I rarely could feel/see if I'm making progress. Every day my poses got a little deeper, my endurance a little longer. Very gratifying. Experiencing yoga bliss at the end of class, totally feeling on cloud nine. Body feeling lighter, muscles getting longer, generally more energy.
Week 3 - Started attending a meditation group, making more and more progress in yoga. Did inversions for the first time. Balance getting better. Doing a TON of reading throughout the month. Getting excited for the spring, and planning my garden. Reading through spirituality texts and stuff for personal enrichment. Reading 'the untethered soul' currently.
Week 4 - Went to meditation group again, starting to feel a local sense of community here, meeting new people. Got a shamanic energy healing from the woman who runs the meditation group - cleared out some stagnant emotional energy channels. Started seeing an acupuncturist to get that qi flowing. Attended an anusara yoga workshop. Started this blog!
Week 5 - Started grad school! Halle came to visit for the week before she takes off for Uganda. Spent more time in the city in this week than I did in the past 6 months. Enjoyed some girl time. Went to a Dharma Mittra yoga class in the city, followed by a psychic development class, followed by kirtan, followed by some great indian food. (awesome) Went to a NYC Future Salon meetup on the Future of Food. Went to an Antibalas concert, which totally rocked!!!
whew!!! best month in a long time!!
Top 10: (i.e. i like making lists, i.e. another way to see the info; in no particular order)
1. Started yoga
2. Did side crow, headstand, handstand, solid down dog, can touch forehead to knees!
3. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat
4. Meditation group
5. Acupuncture
6. Detox program
7. Grad school
8. Antibalas concert
9. Started blogging again
10. Dharma Mittra
Already have a solid lineup for February! Main goals are going to be figuring out how to manage grad school and all the reading and writing, getting involved with stuff through school, networking with colleagues and faculty, more yoga and meditation, attending at least a few lectures/events.
Week 1 - Brought in the New Year at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas. I'm seeing that this trip was the pivotal event that has gotten the 2009 ball rolling. Though I'd done yoga here and there half-heartedly, the time was finally ripe to be engaged and connected with the practice and deeper spirituality. And I was introduced to kirtan! I came home with a commitment to a solid practice and lifestyle change. Got the monthly pass to a new-ish yoga studio right in town, and started going daily. Pretty much had no flexibility to speak of. Also, started a 3 month internal cleansing/detox program - a melange of psyllium powder, liver & colon purifying complex, herbal teas, probiotics, antioxidants, and heavy metals removers. Bought a scale for the first time ever. Weighed in at around 145 with 25% body fat. Eek.
Week 2 - Goin to yoga every day. The body surprises me daily! It's not like going to the gym, where I rarely could feel/see if I'm making progress. Every day my poses got a little deeper, my endurance a little longer. Very gratifying. Experiencing yoga bliss at the end of class, totally feeling on cloud nine. Body feeling lighter, muscles getting longer, generally more energy.
Week 3 - Started attending a meditation group, making more and more progress in yoga. Did inversions for the first time. Balance getting better. Doing a TON of reading throughout the month. Getting excited for the spring, and planning my garden. Reading through spirituality texts and stuff for personal enrichment. Reading 'the untethered soul' currently.
Week 4 - Went to meditation group again, starting to feel a local sense of community here, meeting new people. Got a shamanic energy healing from the woman who runs the meditation group - cleared out some stagnant emotional energy channels. Started seeing an acupuncturist to get that qi flowing. Attended an anusara yoga workshop. Started this blog!
Week 5 - Started grad school! Halle came to visit for the week before she takes off for Uganda. Spent more time in the city in this week than I did in the past 6 months. Enjoyed some girl time. Went to a Dharma Mittra yoga class in the city, followed by a psychic development class, followed by kirtan, followed by some great indian food. (awesome) Went to a NYC Future Salon meetup on the Future of Food. Went to an Antibalas concert, which totally rocked!!!
whew!!! best month in a long time!!
Top 10: (i.e. i like making lists, i.e. another way to see the info; in no particular order)
1. Started yoga
2. Did side crow, headstand, handstand, solid down dog, can touch forehead to knees!
3. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat
4. Meditation group
5. Acupuncture
6. Detox program
7. Grad school
8. Antibalas concert
9. Started blogging again
10. Dharma Mittra
Already have a solid lineup for February! Main goals are going to be figuring out how to manage grad school and all the reading and writing, getting involved with stuff through school, networking with colleagues and faculty, more yoga and meditation, attending at least a few lectures/events.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Himalayan Superfruit: Goji Berries
The acupuncturist recommended I pick these up. They're packed with nutrients and trace minerals, super high in antioxidants, and a great absorber of free radicals in the body. They should help with my disfunctional liver and cleanse the blood, as well as offer generally higher levels of energy and mood enhancement. I got these dried organic ones by Navitas Naturals. I drop a little handful in my tea before bed so they plump up, then just eat em at the end. Just started this week, so it'll be a while before I can say if I notice a difference. They are tasty though!
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