Penny, From Here to There, found an interesting/fun website that lets you select a pattern, and then describes your brain pattern... I did say it was for fun!
I'm putting here the pattern I selected first, and it seemed reasonably well matched to my perception of myself, except I don't see myself as a matchmaker.
And I don't often find myself figuring things out first. Not always. But nothing is black or white with me, and I do see things as fluid and flexible.
I suppose there's something of these qualities in everyone, but of all the patterns, this one appealed to me most. I think it has something to do with the concentric circles... that appeals to me, resembling a spiral, or the inside of a nautilus shell, or even that entity on Star Trek Next Generation, the first episode called "Encounter at Far Point." It has a labyrinthine quality, and labyrinths definitely interest me.
So, click on the link to find out what your brain pattern is (just for fun!) and come back to leave a link so I can read yours!
Do you think this sounds like me?
Your Brain's Pattern
Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.
This entry is for parents and teachers, and those folks who just like to have fun experimenting with common household products. In the spirit of Halloween, I visited Steve Spangler's Science website, and wasn't disappointed at what I found there!
There is a brief video of how to make green slime from Elmer's gel glue and borax... kids will really love this one. If you want the recipe for the green slime, click here.
The teacher in the same video demonstrates how to create a screaming balloon using a hex-nut in a balloon. I didn't think it would do a thing, but they had that balloon singing... a very annoying sound that the kids will love to make and you will hate to hear any night except Halloween. I imagine if you get a few of these balloons screaming, even the dogs will leave you alone.
She also describes how to use starch-based "peanuts" (packing material) to demonstrate disappearing Ghost Poop.
Here you can find a list of links to really super cool science experiments and demonstrations tailored for the late October season.
One of the demonstrations is a way to make a "self carving" pumpkin, which involves creating a mini gas explosion, so this one definitely needs an adult in a controlled and carefully supervised location.
The key word for any celebration or event where there will be lots of kids hanging around and watching is fun with safety!
Tara, at Peach Pages, has been sick for a couple of weeks which is why I haven't heard from her lately. She has an unusual malady called Valley Fever, and a case of the Whooping Cough, so you know she's having some pretty bad chest pains. I hope she gets well now that the doctors know what is ailing her. She is blessed with two loving boys and a husband who are making her life as comfortable as possible so she can come back to being mom again.
If you haven't ever visited Tara, you will be surprised by some of the things she writes about. Her words of faith will either stir one's unbelief, or they will assure and support you. They will give you pause to think either way. I can't even imagine that they would inspire indifference.
So, if you do have some time, stop by her journal and give her a get well wish. I'm sure she would love to meet you!
Since we are capable of change and modifications, the future will be in many ways only as good as we have the courage to make it.
June Tapp (b.1929) American Psychologist and Writer
When I found this quote, it reminded me so much of what Martha (lifes2odd) at Just Visiting had written in her journal earlier today, so this is my journal response to it. The quotes are very similar indeed! If you haven't read her entry today, check it out. I find it curious that I would find this quote without even looking for it. I call it synchronicity.
How did I chance upon it? In my paper journal, Turning Points. The page I opened to and set my pen down upon had that quote printed at the top of the page.
Tell me that's not a message to pay attention to! If this seems to be a message for you, maybe you are at a turning point.
The Turning Points journal is a journal book (that's the actual title printed on the cover) where I write in at least once a year to record something that is a turning point for me. This year, that turning point was when I transferred to another school. I didn't really want to leave, but I felt the need to leave, and now, looking back already, I see that it was about changing my future, and the future of others.
Turning points don't have to involve a good event. What it does involve is changing your direction, allowing something new to happen in your life, thus changing your future, and perhaps those involved with you (friends, family, co-workers, students, etc), for the better.
Do you have a turning point in your life right now, maybe that you haven't recognized as a turning point?
Would you write about a recent turning point in the comment section? Or, write about it in your journal and come back and leave a link.
If you haven't read Dave's journal lately, check him out. He's been away for over a month, and I've missed his office humor, or I should say officer humor.
Dave is recovering from shoulder surgery, and seems to be enjoying his R&R. He'll enjoy it more when you stop by his place and wish him well. While you are there, browse through his archives. Once you get started, you'll find yourself laughing at his adventures on the job or off the job, ... or are they misadventures? A little of both, I think.
This is in response to John's weekend assignment, in which he refers to the YouTube video of an angry professor reacting to a student answering a cell phone during his lecture class.
Weekend Assignment #132: Was that professor justified in doing what he did? Have people completely lost all sense of courtesy when it comes to their cell phones?
I don't think people in general have forgotten their courtesy when it comes to their cell phones. I think, for many of us, having a cell phone is something new and we may forget to turn the ring off. Forget is the key word. Not intentional.
I haven't gotten into a familiar routine myself in regard to my cell phone. My husband and I take turns carrying it around. We determine who should keep it by which one of us is on the road, or which one of us will need the phone to make long distance phone calls, or which one of us is away from the house while the other is at the house.
Sometimes I take it to school with me, to church, shopping, a trip to a distant locale ... anytime I'm going to be away from home. So, there is no routine established, no habits about where I keep it. As a result, sometimes when I'm supposed to have it with me, I forget to bring it. Likewise, when I have it with me, I may forget I have it and forget to turn the ring off. I have found myself remembering to turn the ring off just as church service starts, or just as the kids come into class, or just as I sit down for a staff meeting or workshop. I have never had the phone ring during a workshop, class, or church service... yet. I dread the embarrassment I will feel if it rings in church or at a workshop.
Most speakers I've seen have been very patient about the annoying ring during their presentations. Most will announce a gentle reminder before they begin speaking to turn off all pagers and phones. When the ring is heard, and usually at least one phone will ring, most speakers will ignore it. I've seen only one education speaker from out of state, at my teacher orientation in 1999, actually go anywhere near ballistic... and he simply stared with effective disdain after the person who meekly left the room to answer her phone.
Sure I sympathize with the speaker, but I also sympathize with the woman who may have had to take that call, may have had kids at home, or someone in the hospital, or any number of stressful emergencies that required her to tend to the ringing phone. Maybe her phone was new and she didn't know how to cut the ringer off. There are a lot of ifs.
I don't think people are blatantly rude in these situations.
If this video is not staged, and if the professor had previously warned his students about the cell phone, his reaction may be not entirely appropriate, but perhaps understandable. I think taking the phone away was enough, but throwing it on the floor with such a display of anger was a bit over the top. The man had lost it. I understand his anger, but not his response.
Of course, we don't know the circumstances of the situation. How many times had the professor had to deal with that same student taking phone calls before this incident? I'd say he was justified in throwing it to the floor if the student had blatantly disregarded previous requests to turn off the cell phones.
Extra credit: One time I answered my phone while I was driving. This was early in my days as a new cell phone owner. I nearly ran into the back of another car because I had taken my eyes off the road trying to figure out how to answer the call. I kept pressing the wrong buttons. Fortunately, good brake technology in the car prevented the accident.
How do you respond to the weekend assignment question?
Comment here, make an entry in your journal, or leave a comment in Scalzi's journal, By The Way.
Your brain is always looking for the connections in life.
