My Father's Golden Raven Storytelling Circle Schedule

You can see who is schedule to appear this summer.

Yet another reason to keep dancing

Not that I needed yet another reason to keep dancing, but...

The Washington Post Express had an article about how to save your brain cells, and was encouraging people to choose hip hop or Kung Fu as their exercise of choice. It turns out there is a book "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" by John Ratey where the author suggest that you either take dance or martial arts classes because you're required to position different parts of your body simultaneously and in a coordinated way along with listening to music - really working your brain.

I suppose this also means that I should keep trying different types of dance to keep the class mentally challenging, instead of taking jazz classes (which I've been taking for 24 years). So I think I'll take Brazilian Samba tonight...

Ending Women's Suffrage

This is sad. Makes me want to try to get to get signatures for some other random cause - just to see if folks always sign petitions without thinking about the cause.

More Proof that Dark Chocolate is Good For You

Ok, I have to admit that dark chocolate is one of my weaknesses, so when I see a study that promotes the benefits of consuming dark chocolate, I tend to ignore that the research was funded by the Chocolate Makers of America. :-)

Though this article in the UK Telegraph is interesting.

At the very least, it provides a reason for why after a long brain or emotionally stressing day I have a dinner of salmon, brocolli, bulgar and dark chocolate.

So for all of you who want to make me feel better when I'm feeling blue, you now know what to treat me to! Sushi, seaweed salad and chocolate ice cream for dessert also works! :-)

Scientology - A Dangerous Cult?

This amused me - Google "Dangerous Cult" and see what happens!

Another Dance Show!!! Best Dance Crew

OK. I'm officially addicted to another dance show - America's Best Dance Crew on MTV created by Randy Jackson.

I'm watching the audition show - the actual series starts Feb. 7th, and I'm thrilled to see one of the guys who auditioned (but didn't get into So You Think You Can Dance) is a part of the Boston crew Status Quo.

The guys from Indiana BreakSk8 who were doing hip hop on roller skates didn't get in. I need to find a video of them on the 'net somewhere - they were just AMAZING.

The Broadway hip hop crew Iconic was also amazing and hard to explain. "One singular sensation" with a hip hop undertone - just brilliant!

But by far one my favorites going into the competition is Fysh n Chicks. Here's to girls dancin' without showing off their bodies

The pop n' locking from this crew Kaba Modern was amazing - sharp, and all totally together.

Welcome to Australia - Answers from the Australian Tourism Website

This was an email chain I received, and I decided it was so funny that it deserved posting here.

The answers below are the actual responses by the Australian Tourism website officials, who obviously have a sense of humor.
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Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK)

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
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Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.
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Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
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Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

A: What did your last slave die of?
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Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the
middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
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Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
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Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
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Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is . oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
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Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)

A: You are a British politician, right?
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Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.
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Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
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Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

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Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)

A: Yes, gay night clubs.

Google Search Tricks

You know you're a search engine geek when you share Google search tips with your friends, but I found some of these really useful. This is from a full article by LifeHacker.

1. Get the local time anywhere

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2. Track flight status

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3. Convert currency, metrics, bytes, and more
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4. This one is a little complicated, but worth trying:

Find music and comic books

Using a combination of advanced search operators that specify music files available in an Apache directory listing, you can turn Google into your personal Napster. Go ahead, try this search for Nirvana tracks: -inurl:(htm|html|php) intitle:"index of" +"last modified" +"parent directory" +description +size +(wma|mp3) "Nirvana". (Sub out Nirvana for the band you're interested in; use this one in conjunction with number 7 to find new music, too.) The same type of search recipe can find comic books as well.
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5. Track your Shipment Directly through Google
You can also Google tracking numbers for UPS, FedEx, and USPS just by entering the number (e.g. 1Z14662R0340419XXX). This avoids going through the log in and hassle of the individual shipping company site.
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6. Find Movie Times
Find your local movie time by typing in:
Movie Name + City,State

First Human Embryo Created from Skin Cell

Ok, I have to admit that I wasn't surprised by the new development that scientist have successfully created a human embryo from stems cells created from a skin cell. When I read about the November 2007 study where they had successfully developed stem cells from skin cells, I knew this would be the next step.

However, I'm still stunned that there has not been any legislative discussion on an international level about how to regulate this science. We've successfully created a way for one person to take their own skin cells, turn it into stem cells, create an embryo and potentially create a clone of themselves.

Even weirder, since I'm a woman...in theory, I could take my own skin cell, turn it into a stem cell, then create an embryo from it and implant it into me and birth my a clone of myself.

So creepy!!

Chinese Blogger Killed for Recording Waste Dumping Protest

Items like this just amaze me. This is from an article in CNN.

A Chinese blogger was beaten to death by government authorities last week for the crime of attempting to record a protest on his mobile phone.

The blogger, Wei Wenhua, happened on a confrontation in the central Chinese province of Hubei between city inspectors and villagers protesting over the dumping of waste near their homes. When Wei took out his cell phone to record the protest, more than 50 municipal inspectors turned on him, attacking him for five minutes and eventually killing him.

According to CNN, the killing has sparked outrage in China, "with thousands expressing outrage in Chinese Internet chat rooms, often the only outlet for public criticism of the government."

It's the combination of a lack of freedom of speech (which I would come to expect from China) AND the inability for citizens to work to have a clean environment (even just outside their homes) which seems like a recipe for environmental disaster.

How horrible does the environment in China need to be before the government changes, and how many people will they kill to keep the status quo?

Shocking Coral Reefs Provides a Jump in Biodiversity

Fascinating. Reefs in Bali which had died out due to overfishing, rising temperatures, cyanayde and other issues are being brought back to life by submerged metal structures fed by low volt electrical charges. The article provides further details.

Make my Logo Bigger Cream

I just about died when my brother showed this to me.

This is for all of my friends who work in marketing or web design. The video (and the focus of the web design company that made the video) is hilarious.

A new twist on the choreographed wedding dance

I totally love this. Looks very much like the choreographed "Baby Got Back" Dance that happened at my friends Mark & Stephanie's wedding.

Give me all sorts of devilish ideas for my future, not even yet planned, need a groom first, wedding... Gosh, I hope he dances. :-)

Enjoy!

Bored of Watching Paint Dry? Try Global Birth and Death Rate

It's sort of addicting. Check out the global clock that tracks global births, deaths, illnesses and injuries from various factors. Keep an eye on "cancer" and "cardiovascular disease" - you'll see both of them move - totally unnerving.

Amazing Pointe Technique & Acrobatic Strength

Ok. It's hard enough to do a single pirotte in point shoes. I still remember what it was like when I last attempted it (I believe I was 16). This video takes ballet to a whole new level. It starts off slow (lots of stretching and audience shots in French) but stick with it...about 5 minutes in, you'll notice that the dancer does a full pirouette in pointe shoes while balancing on her partner's shoulder, and then she executes a full backwards layout while in pointe ON HIS HEAD!!



It's totally amazing.

Save the Chocolate, Save the World

My friends know that I've always been passionate about saving the tropical rainforest due to the need to preserve genetic diversity, slow global warming, preserve indigenous cultures. I even started a rainforest preservation organization when I was in high school called The Rainforest Challenge, and created a multi-media, multi-disciplinary curriculum to educate and get kids involved in rainforest preservation.

I have hope now that perhaps there is a compelling reason to eat more chocolate to encourage more rainforest preservation. This radio episode on NPR caught my attention. A Santa Cruz professor is working to get cocoa farming included as a viable carbon credit to create added financial incentives to get farmers to raise more cocoa.

I'll have to keep an eye on this one - so that I can consume the chocolate the produce and purchase some of their carbon offsets.

Funny Anti-Drug Video

I kept thinking about my friend Scott who tested drugs on mice for his PhD...

Effects Of Drugs And Alcohol On Spider Webs - Watch more free videos

Very Cool Pop Locking Video

Fedde Le Grand - Put Your Hands Up...
Video sent by night-sounds

Viens voir mon blog : http://good-boy-69260.skyblog.com/


Viens voir d'autres clips : http://www.dailymotion.com/night-sounds/1

10 Signs you are a Search Marketing Geek

OK, I have to admit that I stole this and modified from another post.

Here is my top ten list to know if your a marketing geek:

1. You look for and point out the SEO mistakes on every site you visit.
2. Your friends and family have stopped sending you forwarded chain emails because they are tired of being accused of spamming.
3. You use acronyms for everything even if there is no reason to.
4. You forget that phone directories still exist until you see the new one on your doorstep once a year.
5. When you go out to eat you look for user reviews on the menu and can’t believe that restaurants have not embraced user generated content.
6. You want to call up every restaurant you find that doesn't have an operable website to offer your services - just so next time you can easily find their menu and phone number.
   
7. You can't understand why EVERY local business is not registered on local search - it's free people! And it will let me find your phone number and address, considering I recycle the phone book as soon as it's delivered to my door.
   
8. You get caught up in the usability of every website you visit
9. You've developed a new game with friends and family titled, "Can you tell me what this ad is selling and who is selling it?"
10. You've put your 60 something parents through search engine marketing training so that they can help you promote your family's website (yes, I've actually done this)
    

Funny Search Suggestions from Ask.com

Pulled this from Inside Google, and it made me laugh, so I had to share.

Ask’s Strange Search Suggests

Crave and Gizmodo are laughing at some of the strange search queries being suggested by Ask.com’s suggest feature, which suggests complete or longer queries as you type in the search box. They’ve got examples like:

* “is it legal to”, which suggests completing that with “marry your second cousin”, “own a penguin” or “sell a kidney
* “can you” :: “freeze cheese”, “get pregnant in a hot tub”

Clearly, some of Ask’s users have some strange things in mind. Here are some search suggestions I found, with the suggested part in bold:

• why did Jeeves retire


• why do i never see baby pigeons? (answer: because pigeons don’t leave the nest until they are almost as large as adult pigeons)



• why does my eye twitch


• why does asparagus make urine smell


• why does my belly button hurt


• why does my urine smell (perhaps you had asparagus?)


• i wanna to be anorexic



• how to knock someone unconscious


• where is my liver

Go ahead and give it a try...see what Ask.com suggest for you. :-)