Sunday, 13. July 2008, 03:59:26
This morning me and my groupmates met to make a trebuchet for our ES 10. I came to the meeting place early, but soon enough they also arrived. We discussed how to make it using only popsicle sticks, and it ended up that the group was split into two and we are going to make two models. It became a mini-contest where the better model will win. It was fun because while we were making it, we were chatting and laughing a lot. It is really fun to make projects when you are enjoying it. After a few hours we made a good start for our trebuchet (see picture below). We will just continue making it next time in our class. Try making one with your friends, it is fun!
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Saturday, 12. July 2008, 08:51:36
Hi! I have this list of interesting facts that is about or related to the brain. I got it from a game that I came across in www.reflexive.com, which is "Brain Booster." I downloaded it because I liked its caption, which was "Brain Booster - the newest exercise for your mind!" Before each game starts, a professor that looks like Einstein shares these trivias. Try reading them, they are quite informative and helpful.
worst bad habits
laziness...
what can i say about this bad habit, except that i don't know of anyone who has suffered greatly from forcing themselves to get up and do something.
try something easy first.
if low energy is part of the problem,
start learning a few techniques for boosting it, like deep breathing and singing.
persuasion techniques
use words like "today" and "now" and "do this."
many subliminal experts will tell you that even using "by now" repetitively,
as in "by now you can see that this car is luxurious", is subconsciously taken as "buy now".
mind and body
schoolchildren who exercise three or four times a week
get higher than average exam grades at age 10 or 11.
the effect is strongest in boys,
and while Balding admits that the link may not be casual...
she suggests that aerobic exercise may boost mental powers
by getting extra oxygen to your energy-guzzling brain.
memory!
having two mental representations gives you a better shot at remembering what you are supposed to say.
mind and body
there's another reason why your brain loves physical exercise:
it promotes the growth of new brain cells.
until recently, received wisdom had it that we are born with a full complement of neurons
and produce no new ones during our lifetime.
strange facts
1. the heart of a blue whale is several feet across,
and the tongue of a blue whale is several meters.
2. there are more people killed by donkeys every year than are killed in plane crashes.
3. an ostrich's brain is smaller than its eye.
4. it is estimated that a snail can sleep for 3 years.
worst bad habits
impulsive behavior...
why not wait a day before taking any action that commits time, energy, or money towards something that is not a major goal in your life?
do this until it is a habit.
you'll usually change your mind by the next day.
persuasion techniques
using a person's name is a powerful persuasion technique,
but there is more subtlety and art to persuasion than just following simple rules.
people do love to hear their own name, but you have to be careful how you use it.
first of all, use it how they want to hear it.
ask how they prefer to be addressed.
a Mike may not like "Michael" and a Joseph may be irritated by you calling him "Joe".
second, use it at the right time.
unless you are great at reading people and know it is okay,
don't say "Hi Betty!" the moment she walks into your office.
wait until there is a bit of rapport, and sometimes even ask permission ("Is it okay if i call you Betty?").
positive feedback!
neurofeedback: it works by showing people a real-time measure of some seemingly uncontrollable aspect of their physiology and encouraging them to try and change it.
astonishingly, many patients found that they could, though only rarely could they describe how they did it.
you are what you eat, and that includes your brain
round off lunch with a yogurt dessert,
and you should be alert and ready to face the stresses of the afternoon.
that's because yogurt contains the amino acid tyrosine,
needed for the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenalin, among others.
concentration!
the best strategy is to sleep well, eat foods packed with slow-release sugars,
and take lots of exercise.
it also helps if you are trying to focus on something that you find interesting.
worst bad habits
blaming outside factors.
justified or not, how often does blaming someone
or something for our situation motivate us to improve it?
this is definitely one of the worst of these bad habits,
and one of the more subtle ones too.
for example, giving "reasons" for our troubles is often just a form of blaming.
exercise for your brain
do a puzzle.
some of us like jigsaw puzzles, some crossword puzzles, some logic puzzles
it really doesn't matter kind you choose to do.
doing puzzles in your free time is a great way to activate your brain
and keep it in good condition.
do the puzzle for fun, but do it knowing you are exercising your brain.
you are what you eat, and that includes your brain
brains are around 60 per cent fat,
so if tran-fats clog up the system, what should you eat to keep it well oiled?
evidence is mounting in favor of omega-3 fatty acids,
in particular docosahexaenoic acid or DHA.
in other words, your granny was right: fish is the best brain food.
not only will it feed and lubricate a developing brain,
DHA also seems to help stave off dementia (cognitive and intellectual deterioration).
Saturday, 12. July 2008, 08:39:26
This is the first time I tried My Opera, and I think it is cool, with all this blog and photo album stuffs. I am not the type of person who blogs, or uploads photos, but I think I will try these out.
