A new arrival…
A new arrival… |
- A new arrival…
- Home Trampolines Are Too Dangerous for Kids, Pediatricians' Group Says
- Hundreds create heart-shaped flash mob meditation on International Day of Peace
- Finding Peace with Uncertainty
- Civil servant fired for claiming meditation course on expenses
- Bratwurst Products Recalled
- Hayneedle Recalls Wooden Arc Hammock Stands
- Eight Tips to Decrease Public Speaking Anxiety
- Religious belief: a delusion about an elephant in the house
| Posted: 24 Sep 2012 01:00 PM PDT This handsome fellow just arrived in our office. We sell this Buddha statue, and others, plus a full range of meditation supplies, in our online store. Your making a purchase helps us to keep this site running. Read More @ Source
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| Home Trampolines Are Too Dangerous for Kids, Pediatricians' Group Says Posted: 24 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT
Trampolining is a dangerous activity for kids and should not be done at home, an influential group of doctors says. The advice, announced today (Sept. 24) by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), reaffirms earlier recommendations from the group regarding the use of trampolines. In 2009, there were about 98,000 trampoline-related injuries in the U.S., resulting in 3,100 hospitalizations, according to the AAP. Although trampoline injury rates have gone down since 2004, when an estimated 111,800 injuries occurred, "the potential for severe injury remains relatively high," the AAP says. The most common types of injuries — up to 50 percent — are to the lower extremities, including ankle sprains. Injuries to the head and neck are less common, accounting for about 10 to 17 percent of injuries, but can cause permanent neurological damage. "Many injuries occur on the mat itself," and netting or padding don't significantly decrease the risk of injury, said Dr. Michele LaBotz, one of the authors of the new AAP policy statement. "Pediatricians need to actively discourage recreational trampoline use," LaBotz said. Multiple people jumping on the trampoline at once increase the risk for injury, and smaller jumpers are 14 times more likely to be injured than heavier ones, the AAP says. Up to 40 percent of injuries occur from falls, and 20 percent from direct contact with the springs of the frame. Many injuries occur when an adult is watching. Somersaults, flipping and falls put children at increased risk for injuries of the head and spine, the AAP says. Although the rate of injury is higher among older children, younger children are more likely to experience fractures or dislocations from trampolines. Parents who decide to have a trampoline in their home despite recommendations are advised to supervise their children on the trampoline at all times, restrict use of the trampoline to one jumper at a time, prohibit somersaults and flips, and verify that their insurance covers trampoline-related injuries, the AAP says. Pass it on: Children should not use home trampolines. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.  Read More @ Source 
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| Hundreds create heart-shaped flash mob meditation on International Day of Peace Posted: 24 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT Via IndyBay: On Friday evening, September 21, the International Day of Peace, while Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney hosted a private fundraiser in Hillsborough, barring media access, over a hundred Bay Area residents gathered during rush hour for a lively flashmob meditation and yoga action in San Francisco's Union Square. The action, organized by BeThePeace and Dancing Without Borders, created a heart-shaped aerial image which was photographed from a building 36 stories high. This action was part of over 200+ organized "MedMob" events that happened on the International Day of Peace across all continents, coordinated by BeThePeace. This initiative was an opportunity for world cultures to connect to invoke peace on earth, a simple, yet powerful act in a time of deep turmoil. "Why meditate in community? When we sit together and listen deeply, we create the spaciousness within that's needed to access inner-wisdom and remember who we really are. This is key to create a life-sustaining future," said flashmob organizer Magalie Bonneau-Marcil, founder of Dancing Without Borders. "The outbreak of violence and protest in the Middle East should serve as a wake-up call for Americans to examine the impact of our society's racism, and turn within to shift consciousness," said Rae Abileah, co-director of CODEPINK. "Inspired by the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, we need to continue to build nonviolent, thoughtful people-powered uprisings for peace and justice across the world." The International Day of Peace was sanctioned by the UN in 1981, inspired by a collaboration between the Culture of Peace Initiative and Peace One Day. The action was coordinated by Dancing Without Borders and cosponsored by CODEPINK Women for Peace, MedMob, SF Chapter of National Organization of Women, Yoga Tree (who led the yoga), EarthDance, Elevate, A-List, Harmony Festival, & Earthday SF. Read More @ Source
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| Finding Peace with Uncertainty Posted: 24 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT Post written by Leo Babauta.Fear of an uncertain future: it can stop us from doing great things, and it can keep us holding onto things that are hurting us. For example: you might be holding onto clutter for reasons of comfort and security, even if the clutter gives you anxiety and costs a lot of money. And: you might be staying in a job you don't like, because you're afraid of taking the plunge, because you're afraid of failing. And again: you might not travel to a country that feels very unfamiliar because you don't know what will happen — and miss out on an amazing life-changing experience. This is just the start of how fear of an uncertain future affects our lives. A reader recently asked "how to be at peace with uncertainty, how to let go of fear of the future." It's a great question, because we all deal with this fear. All of us. What's Going On HereWhere does this fear of uncertainty and the future come from? It might seem like a silly question, but if you think about it, there's nothing inherently scary about the future, even if you don't know what's going to happen. It's not more likely to be painful or disastrous than the present already is — it just seems that way. Think about it: the odds of you getting into a car accident is not greater tomorrow than it is today. The odds of anything bad happening are not greater next week than they were this week. The odds of something great happening are also just as great next month as they were this month. So why is it scary? Why is not knowing so scary? If you roll a dice and don't know what it will be, is that scary? No, it's not the "not knowing" that's the problem … it's the possibility that what comes up on that dice will bring us pain, suffering, loss. And this imagined pain isn't physical pain (most of the time we're not fearing physical injury) … it's the pain of loss and change. We are comfortable in this cucoon we've built up around ourselves — these routines and possessions and people we know and places that are familiar and safe. Losing this comforting environment, and going into a place where we're vulnerable and might fail, might not be good enough, is painful and scary. We grasp, clinging to this comfortable idea of how things should be, and of course it will change, and we will feel the pain of that change. The change itself isn't the problem — it's fighting the change, fearing the change, not wanting things to be different. How to Get Good at UncertaintyAnd so we see that the answer is becoming good at change. If we are good at dealing with new things, with things as they come no matter how different they are, then we don't fear it. Then change itself becomes comfortable. If we become comfortable with change, it's not scary. We can then embrace it, find joy in it. You can see this in people who we call "adventurous" — they seek new experiences, because they know they'll be fine, and that it can be amazing. (Note that this is different than the "adventure-seeker" types who have turned excitement into their form of comfort — when the excitement is taken away, then they feel the pain and loss of this change.) So how do we get good at change? Some suggestions that are working for me (I'm still learning):
Flowing With the UnknownWhen I moved with my wife and six kids to San Francisco in 2010, it was a scary thing for us. Eva and the kids were especially scared, because we were leaving behind everything comfortable and going to a place where we had much less of a safety net, and didn't know anything. It was scary for me, because I was responsible for these young lives, and had no idea if I could make it. And yet, I also saw the joy in this new venture, and tried to frame it to Eva and the kids as an adventure. With this spirit, we embraced this scary unknown. We didn't know where we'd live, or how we'd get around, or what beds we'd sleep on. And yet, we survived — we found a place to live, and explored this new city, and found our way around. We took the changes as they came, and flowed with the new landscape of life that we discovered upon arrival. This has been a recurring theme for me: I constantly dive into unknown waters:
That's just the start of it, but as I've learned to embrace change, to become confident in my abilities to survive no matter what comes, I no longer fear it (as much). As a result, I am able to take on new challenges, create new things that I would have been afraid of creating just a few years ago. I've learned that when you're in the unknown, you don't know what might come … and so you have to flow with this change. This flexibility is one of the most important tools you can develop. When the unknown future throws something unexpected your way, you deal with it without fear, without anguish, without anger. You respond instead of reacting, with balance and calmness, and the joy of knowing that all will be fine, and in the process you will have experienced something new and beautiful. My friend Jonathan Fields wrote the book on this topic: Uncertainty: Turning Fear & Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance. Read it! Read More @ Source
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| Civil servant fired for claiming meditation course on expenses Posted: 24 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT
Dr Angelika Hibbett said she endured 'workplace stress and bullying' from bosses while working at the Home Office in London after she suffered from mental health problems. She was fired for gross misconduct after it emerged she had put in a claim for £390 to pay for a 'relaxation and meditation' training course to combat her depression. The Government has refuted the allegations and claims that Dr Hibbett who earned a salary of £63,000 was 'defensive … Read the original article » Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 24 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT Makowski's Real Sausage Co., a Chicago, Ill., establishment, in cooperation with the Federal Food Safety and Inspection Service, is recalling approximately 1,305 pounds of cooked bratwurst sausage products because of misbranding and the undeclared allergen, milk, that is not declared on the label. The following products are subject to recall:
The products also bear the establishment number "EST. 6844" inside the USDA mark of inspection and the Julian dates of: 17812, 18812, 25112, 25712 or 26512. The products were produced June 25, July 5, Sept. 6, Sept. 12, and Sept. 20, 2012 and were shipped to foodservice distributors for hotel, restaurant and other institutional use throughout Illinois. The problem was discovered by FSIS during a routine label review and may have occurred due to a misprinting of the product's label. FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the company's president, Nicole Makowski, at (312) 842-5330. Read More @ Source 
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| Hayneedle Recalls Wooden Arc Hammock Stands Posted: 24 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT
About 131 Shorea Wooden Arc Hammock Stands were voluntarily recalled by Hayneedle Inc., of Omaha, Neb, in cooperation with the CPSC. Hazard: The layers of wood in the stand can separate and fail, causing the stand to break and posing a fall hazard. Incidents/Injuries: The firm received 18 reports of incidents, including one injury that required medical attention. Description: The recalled Shorea wood hammock stands are natural colored with an arc-shaped holder standing perpendicular to two base pieces. The stand is 14.5 feet long, 5 feet wide and 4.25 feet high. The stand is compatible with spreader bar hammocks, which are sold separately. The item/model number VFA042-1 is printed on the packaging. Sold at: Hammocks.com during June and July 2012 for about $ 380. Manufactured in: Vietnam Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hammock stand and return it to Hayneedle. Hayneedle is offering consumers a full refund, including return shipping costs, or a substitute hammock stand at no additional charge. Hayneedle has directly contacted consumers who purchased the hammock stands. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hayneedle Customer Care toll-free at (866) 508-1142 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit the firm's website at www.hammocks.com to schedule a convenient pick up time for your hammock stand and arrange a full refund or exchange. Read More @ Source 
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| Eight Tips to Decrease Public Speaking Anxiety Posted: 24 Sep 2012 04:00 AM PDT  Public speaking is one of the major phobias. But it doesn't have to be that way. By following the eight tips below, you can decrease your public speaking anxiety and give an effective speech. Let's start with the first one, which is to be adequately prepared. 1. Prepare Taking the time to prepare thoroughly will give you confidence. This means more than taking notes or doing research. You need to find out as much as possible about your audience and tailor your speech to them. Are they knowledgeable about your subject? If not, you may have to define some of your terms. Furthermore, the words you choose will be different if your audience is composed of grammar school students rather than a gathering of nurses. For every audience, you'll have to craft an attention-getting beginning, make the middle of your speech interesting, and the ending memorable. As part of your preparation, go to the place where you're going to deliver your speech. During the recent political conventions, we saw several scheduled speakers familiarize themselves with the stage and their surroundings. Walk around the room. Put your hands on the podium. Check the lighting. Doing these things will help you become familiar with your surroundings and give you some measure of control. 2. Practice Give your speech to a group of friends. Stand in front of a mirror and practice. You might also videotape your speech. Make sure your pace is right--not too fast or too slow.
3. Question Your Imaginary "What Ifs" What if you stumble and fall? What if you forget part of your speech? What if your audience laughs at you? True, each of these situations would be unpleasant, but you would survive. Do you really think people will remember that your voice trembled or your legs shook when you gave your speech? Maybe--for about five minutes. People are much more concerned about themselves than they are about your successes or failures. They probably won't even notice that you're nervous. 4. Use Guided Imagery Picture yourself, the expert, walking confidently to the podium, greeting your audience with a smile, and sharing your knowledge. Do this a few times a day. Just visualize, in your mind's eye, everything going well, but also throw in a few problems, then see yourself dealing with them. Make it realistic. 5. Focus on Your Material Concentrate on your material rather than on how you're feeling. You'll do a much better job if you train yourself to focus on your content, and you may even forget about your nervousness. Take the focus from inside to outside. Focus on helping your audience and doing your best. 6. Breathe Studies have shown that deep breathing lowers your blood pressure and helps you to relax. To begin, sit down and eliminate all distractions. Then take a deep breath while pushing out your abdomen. Hold the breath for a moment, and then exhale, letting your entire body go limp. Do this several times a day, and it will become a habit yo! u'll t urn to in times of stress. 7. Avoid Caffeine The caffeine that wakes you in the morning can give you the jitters if you drink it later in the day. Skip the coffee, and you'll feel calmer. And don't forget-- chocolate and many sodas contain caffeine. Drink water instead, or tea (without caffeine, of course). You may even want to try going without caffeine for a few days. If you're a heavy coffee drinker, you will have to take things slow at first. 8. Just Do It Avoid giving your speech, and it will be more difficult next time. If you're willing to endure a little discomfort in the short term, the next time you have to give a speech will be easier for you. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face . . . we must do that which we think we cannot." A little apprehension is a good thing. It gives you the energy to do well, and it means you care. Use these tools to control your anxiety, so that it doesn't prevent you from giving a speech or from doing anything else you want to or have to do.
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too!      Read More @ Source 
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| Religious belief: a delusion about an elephant in the house Posted: 24 Sep 2012 12:00 AM PDT I'm damn sure there isn't an elephant in my house. I know what elephants look like. I know how large they are. I've checked every area where an elephant would fit. So it's reasonable for me to say "There's no elephant in my house." But not if I thought like a religious believer. Because then I could argue, "Yes, there's an elephant in my house, because..." It's an invisible elephant. There are other possible delusions that follow the "because." I just listed a few to give you an idea of how religious people justify a faith-based belief in God, spirit, soul, life after death, or other supernatural stuff in the same way a deluded person might argue "there's an elephant in my house." This analogy is contained in Guy Newland's "Introduction to Emptiness," one of the best books about Buddhism I've ever read. (And I've read quite a few.) Buddhist emptiness is the entirely scientific notion that nothing has an intrinsic nature or inherent existence. Here's how Newland defines these terms. emptiness: the sheer nonexistence of intrinsic nature. For example, the table's emptiness is the table's lack of existence by way of an intrinsic nature. intrinsic nature: an essential nature whereby something comes to have an independent way of existing without being posited through the force of consciousness. The sheer absence of this is emptiness. inherent existence: the existence of something by the power of its own intrinsic or essential character. The elephant in the room, then, is akin to a deluded belief in something that is absolutely independent, eternal, unchanging, possessing intrinsic nature. Examples include traditional religious beliefs in God, soul, spirit, and such -- entities that are everlastingly separate and distinct from ever-changing material reality. Problem is, they don't exist. Just like a elephant in a house that doesn't contain an elephant. Newland writes: That cars and tables, people and schools are devoid of any trace of analytically findable nature does not mean that they do not exist. Clearly they do exist. But what kind of existence can things have when they have no shred of evidence from their own side? As we have seen, things exist as dependent arisings, phenomena that exist only through their interconnections with other (equally empty) phenomena. ...The point is that we must notice within our own experience the ignorance that is the root of our cyclic existence, our own misconception of ourselves as having intrinsic nature. Then, we have to set before ourselves a limited but comprehensive set of alternatives for how such a nature might exist if it did, in fact, exist. As an analogy, suppose someone was suffering from the delusion that there was an elephant in the house. We could make a comprehensive list of all the rooms in the house, or perhaps a list of all the spaces in the house that might in any way be large enough to contain an elephant. Then we could ask the deluded person to set it very firmly in mind that, were there an elephant in the house, it would absolutely have to be in one of those rooms. If he had some doubt, then we could add more places to the list, even if they seemed logically unnecessary, until he was able to feel decisively confident that any elephant located in the house would have to be in one of those places. Then, when a search of each room turned up no elephant, the force of his sense that, "There is simply nowhere else for an elephant to be" would be converted into the realization that, quite contrary to his delusion, there is no elephant in the house at all. Again, for Buddhism (as for modern neuroscience) the "elephant" is the mistaken belief in an enduring, independent self, known as soul in many religious faiths. More broadly, it is the belief that anything at all possesses an intrinsic nature that's divorced from interdependence with other entities. The metaphor is limited, of course. Elephants have what Newland calls a "conventional nature." Meaning, they actually exist, though not as beings with an intrinsic nature. So it is possible to find an elephant in one's house, albeit unlikely. But in the case of imaginary religious entities like God, soul, and spirit, there is no evidence that these things even exist conventionally. So there's a double delusion involved with them: first, they don't exist; second, even if they did exist, they wouldn't exist as entities with an unchanging intrinsic nature -- eternal, immortal, separate from material reality. 
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A leading civil servant who was sacked after she claimed hundreds of pounds on expenses to pay for a meditation course is suing the Government for £1m.
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