tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9609121584773713412024-03-13T06:50:33.199-05:00L.I.F.E.L.I.F.E. workshops meet Wednesdays @ 10 a.m. in library meeting room 131 unless otherwise noted.Dorrie Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16018036054187749665noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-6436482627469187232014-11-25T14:52:00.001-06:002014-11-25T14:52:43.365-06:00War Between the Soups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9VdVIuQSQA/VHTr_JKfUHI/AAAAAAAAArM/NDkWFTT5cMc/s1600/servingthesoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9VdVIuQSQA/VHTr_JKfUHI/AAAAAAAAArM/NDkWFTT5cMc/s1600/servingthesoup.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
On November 5, 2014 we had a war between the soups: Houston vs. Saigon. Patsy Brautigam demonstrated a wonderful tortilla soup made from a turkey carcass. With a little bit of fire and spice, we all enjoyed this very Tex Mex delight topped with tortilla chips. Huyen made a famous Chao Ca from white fish. This healthful soup is often fed to those who are feeling under the weather. It is easy to digest and delicious to boot. We all enjoyed a nice helping of this yummy soup. In the end, the soups were so different and nutritious that we proclaimed a tie.<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8lVjiYvYI9VdENaUTdkVklMeVE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Vietnamese Fish Congee Recipe</a>LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-39797895562196539672014-11-20T15:10:00.001-06:002014-11-20T15:10:44.808-06:00Fish, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NEedAywDg6Q/VG5Yqn5AhtI/AAAAAAAAAq8/HdZBU11Iko8/s1600/nature%2Bdiscovery2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NEedAywDg6Q/VG5Yqn5AhtI/AAAAAAAAAq8/HdZBU11Iko8/s1600/nature%2Bdiscovery2.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
On November 19, we had a wonderful joint program with Children's and LIFE. Eric Duran, biologist from the Nature Discovery Center came to a packed house and taught the preschoolers and post schoolers (grown ups) all about vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Eric's obvious joy in teaching had the kids in awe and adults smiling and actually learning new things. One LIFEr said that she hadn't heard some of the terms since college. Did you know that hair, fur, scales and nails are made of keratin?LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-3164952671497071882014-11-20T15:04:00.000-06:002014-11-20T15:04:12.064-06:00Lie to Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjIB2kzHcOY/VG5XQNxv2UI/AAAAAAAAAqw/SPH_WhW1HkY/s1600/weiser.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjIB2kzHcOY/VG5XQNxv2UI/AAAAAAAAAqw/SPH_WhW1HkY/s1600/weiser.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
On November 12, we were graced by a handwriting expert, Alice Weiser. She gave away her book, Judge the Jury, as a door prize. Alice is both a jury consultant and a cruise entertainer so we got lots of fun and interesting insights into how to tell if someone is lying. Alice believes so profoundly in one's handwriting that she wouldn't date her current husband until she had his handwriting analyzed. She had three experts do it and one of them said if Alice didn't want Ralph, go ahead and send him to her. Ha!<br />
<br />
Did you know?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>If someone doesn't connect his o's or a's he can't keep a secret.</li>
<li>If you cross your t above the stem and it doesn't touch, you are a dreamer and you dream big. If your t's form a loop, you are vain.</li>
<li>If you are lying, you will often pull an ear, blink a lot, swallow before answering, carotid twitch, and touch your face.</li>
<li>If someone is telling the truth, eyes might shoot to the left to remember.</li>
<li>If someone is lying, eyes might shoot to the right. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Alice asked anyone in the audience who had small handwriting to come up. She spoke to one young woman with small handwriting and said that it is a sign of low self-esteem. She said that she had lots going for her and not to put herself down. We all enjoyed the humor of the program, but also the positive way Alice ended the show: Look yourself in the mirror each day and say "Darn I'm good, (elbow and knee back) YES!"</div>
LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-436686956157408582014-11-20T14:57:00.001-06:002014-11-20T14:57:31.686-06:00Black Troops in World War I and the Houston Negro Hospital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFyTxGM557A/VG5VXO9xGLI/AAAAAAAAAqk/EK1RayBT2iU/s1600/kelly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFyTxGM557A/VG5VXO9xGLI/AAAAAAAAAqk/EK1RayBT2iU/s1600/kelly.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
Joseph Stephen Cullinan, one of the founders of Texaco, built the Houston Negro Hospital (which opened in 1927) with his own funds and dedicated it to the memory of his son, John Cullinan, who had been a white officer leading black troops during the war. Professor Thomas Kelly winningly winds up our Gulf Coast Reads book <i>Remember Ben Clayton</i> by Stephen Harrigan. We were all fascinated with this interesting program containing local history and a loving philanthropist father.LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-61421771290850464442014-10-28T11:29:00.001-05:002014-10-28T11:29:48.795-05:00Experiments with Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrxxED9PYA/VE_EB9vthkI/AAAAAAAAAqU/4yCZ4STeF2k/s1600/gandhispossessions%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFrxxED9PYA/VE_EB9vthkI/AAAAAAAAAqU/4yCZ4STeF2k/s1600/gandhispossessions%2B(2).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of all of Gandhi's possessions when he died.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On October 22, we had the librarian at The Menil as our guest speaker. Eric Wolf explained that the library at The Menil is a very narrow and deep collection, unlike our own here at Lone Star College - CyFair Branch Library where we collect for a wide audience. Then he gave us a sampling of the exhibition on Gandhi at the museum. Abraham Korah liaised with The Menil to bring this program to us.<br />
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From The Menil: "Experiments with Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence is the first international project to explore the resonance of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's (1867-1948) ethics of non-violence, or "satyagraha," in the visual arts."<br />
<a href="https://www.menil.org/exhibitions.html#gandhianchor">https://www.menil.org/exhibitions.html#gandhianchor</a>LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-55481487995213129562014-10-16T18:35:00.000-05:002014-10-16T18:35:06.452-05:00Turmeric: Good for You <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehoqyAHFJw4/VEBV7gwcWMI/AAAAAAAAAqE/RxYdZ3wffJY/s1600/turmeric%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehoqyAHFJw4/VEBV7gwcWMI/AAAAAAAAAqE/RxYdZ3wffJY/s1600/turmeric%2B.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The Oct. 15, 2014 LIFE program had a large crowd excited to learn
about the spice, turmeric. Usha Dontharaju, Reference Assistant at LSC-CyFair,
in full Indian sari regalia, did not disappoint. We learned that this root
spice is in the same family as ginger and it is used as a food ingredient and
as a tonic for many ailments such as indigestion, liver detox, skin healing,
brain function, antiinflammatory, lower cholesterol, anti cancer, and much
more. Indian cooks use turmeric in small quantities while cooking, but they put
the ground spice in practically everything. It is a beautiful yellow color and
a neutral taste (it is not spicy like hot red pepper). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Usha prepared a Lemon Rice dish. She had steamed rice prepared. In
a frying pan, she put 5 teaspoons of vegetable oil. When hot she added
about a 1/2 cup of raw peanuts and 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds. When
fragrant, she added a teaspoon of chick pea flour, the juice of two limes (yes,
they still call it lemon rice), two pinches of turmeric, a handful of curry
leaves from her garden,and salt to taste. She combined the mixture with the
rice. We all got to taste this delightful dish. Usha also prepared a turmeric
facial mask (1 teaspoon turmeric and three tablespoons of homemade plain
yogurt). This will color your skin yellow so don't put it on before a big
party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Usha had everyone laughing at her witty remarks, admiring
her cooking skills and learning about this miraculous little root. Some
suggested she do a cooking program on You Tube. Bollywood here she comes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-45750251731759994802014-10-08T16:32:00.000-05:002014-10-08T16:32:59.692-05:00Latino First Responders Panel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9mUk0hXYuY/VDWtICcW8XI/AAAAAAAAAp0/turOfBmLoOg/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9mUk0hXYuY/VDWtICcW8XI/AAAAAAAAAp0/turOfBmLoOg/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" height="144" width="320" /></a></div>
Our first responders panel had our LIFE group begging for more gritty and gruesome stories from real life law enforcement. Sarah Cortez read some of her winsome poetry with such power in its simplicity. Christopher Hernandez read a passage about a mob and a homicide from his early experiences in south Texas. His tone and description is graphic and real. Hipolito Acosta of the INS described with passion some of his immigration experiences which were so dangerous and varied that Sarah exclaimed how can he possibly be alive? And the most fun was the Q&A afterwards where we could get more inside scoops.<br />
<br />
The library purchased the following books:<br />
<br />
<i>Proof of Our Resolve</i> by Chris Hernandez<br />
<i>Our Lost Border; Essays on Life Amid the Narco-Violence</i> edited by Sarah Cortez and Sergio Troncoso<br />
<i>The Shadow Catcher: A U.S. Agent Infiltrates Mexico's Deadly Crime Cartels</i> by Hipolito Acosta with Lisa PulitzerLIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-60086366966734840042014-10-07T20:37:00.001-05:002014-10-07T20:37:52.494-05:00Sculpture and Remembrance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI WPC', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, 'Microsoft Sans Serif', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI WPC', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, 'Microsoft Sans Serif', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We kicked off Gulf Coast Reads today with forensic sculptor, Amanda Danning. The book by Stephen Harrigan, <i>Remember Ben Clayton</i>, is about a father who commissions a sculpture of his son who was killed in World War I. Amanda brought her personal thoughts about being a sculptor and gave a slide show of some of her favorite pieces showing remembrance throughout history. She even told us about the tempestuous love story between Rodin and Camille Claudel, both famous sculptors. Amanda covered all the bases: love, sex, power, bravery, feelings, murder, kidnapping, and syphilis.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI WPC', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, 'Microsoft Sans Serif', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Segoe UI WPC', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, 'Microsoft Sans Serif', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What is exciting is the technology available to forensic artists today. In the TV show Bones, we have a forensic doctor who works with an artist. Amanda said that the TV show’s depiction of the technology is quite over the top, but we are getting close. Amanda showed us pictures of bone fragments and how her talent assisted by modern technology allowed her to sculpt a bust of the Marquis Sablonierre, a French settler from the Fort St. Louis settlement from 1686 in Texas. He was killed by Indians and this gruesome tale mirrored the kidnapping in our book. What a way to start our Gulf Coast Reads month.</span></span></div>
LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-44799129886031301152014-09-30T11:21:00.000-05:002014-09-30T11:21:07.102-05:00MELT Your Pain Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZBeQK8p0ik/VCrYRySmy1I/AAAAAAAAAo4/v7EhR8VhVbc/s1600/meltjoy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZBeQK8p0ik/VCrYRySmy1I/AAAAAAAAAo4/v7EhR8VhVbc/s1600/meltjoy.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
On September 24th, Joy Brown presented the MELT method of hydrating and exercising fascia or connective tissue to make us flexible, firm, and fit. The MELT Method is a book written by Sue Hitzmann. Medical science is just discovering the value and benefit of our connective tissue and Sue has developed a self treatment so anyone can MELT and feel better. Joy had us working on our hands, which can improve the whole body. We had happy face squeeze balls to squeeze and give our joints pressure points. Joy says to drink a glass of water an hour in sips (gulps are too hard on the kidneys). Do MELT three times a week. Do focus on what is right with you, not on the parts that hurt or don't work. Do eat more plants to keep your ph a bit alkaline. Joy had everyone laughing and MELTing. Invest one hour to learn the MELT method for your health and well-being.<br />
<br />
Contact Joy:<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.danceplayheal.com/">http://www.danceplayheal.com</a><br />
Email: joy@danceplayheal.com<br />
Phone: 832.567.2646LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-37047980602225006462014-09-25T18:50:00.001-05:002014-09-25T18:50:23.166-05:00Jason's Into Leather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNui4K-MIaM/VCSoUkfTHuI/AAAAAAAAAoc/vQKFf9ETFkk/s1600/finishedbillfold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNui4K-MIaM/VCSoUkfTHuI/AAAAAAAAAoc/vQKFf9ETFkk/s1600/finishedbillfold.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
Jason Moulenbelt, philosophy professor and leatherworker extraordinaire, showed the LIFErs how to make a beautiful leather card holder. What started out as knife making became leatherworking since Jason needed a sheath to put his knife in. After he began making these for himself other wanted them, and thus began a new business.<br />
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In order to make these sheaths, Jason ordered tanned pieces of leather. Later he began making card holders, billfolds, belts, and other items from leather. He cut the leather to the size needed with a ruler, awl, and cutting tool. There are numerous steps to complete this project, including abrating the outside surface of the leather before gluing. He used a tool to make a groove around the sides of the leather in order to stitch, then using two threaded needles to make saddle stitches, with backstitching to begin and finish. The edges are then sanded to complete the finishing, a process called burnishing. Sealing with beeswax, pine pitch, and mink oil, then polishing is the final step. You now have a beautiful and durable product to be proud of.<br />
<br />
Jason showed each step of the process with lots of funny stories that had the audience laughing. Everyone enjoyed the presentation, especially the winner of a card holder, Michael, whose name was drawn. Thank you, Jason, for an informative and enjoyable presentation!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-54534425585724515132014-09-11T18:02:00.001-05:002014-09-18T18:06:47.909-05:00Birding in Our Area<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX8S0Co2Gzw/VBIpRN98UzI/AAAAAAAAAoM/HICkkGGsZyI/s1600/Cardm-bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX8S0Co2Gzw/VBIpRN98UzI/AAAAAAAAAoM/HICkkGGsZyI/s1600/Cardm-bath.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Birder and wildlife enthusiast Jeff Mohamed gave a pictorial presentation of the birds at Lone Star College - CyFair. We have egrets, herons, and even bald eagles. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Jeff discussed the changing habitat of the area and how we have lost some species, but we have gained some as well. Jeff's photography is beautiful and he has his own techniques about how to get close to a bird. Some birds you have to sneak up on and others you have to talk gently to them like the egrets. Did you know that Jeff actually came here from San Francisco because of the birds? What a story.<br />
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There are 880 species of birds in the US, with 650 of these in Texas and 420 in Southeast Texas. Some birds are here all the time and some are just passing through. There are so many birds here due to the different habitats and three migration routes through Texas. Lots of people visit Texas to see the wide variety of birds which is good for our economy.<br />
<br />
Hummingbirds fly 600 miles across the gulf, sometimes hitching a ride on ships and other things to rest during their journey. They stop in our area to feed until they can make this trip, so put out your feeders and plant bright, colorful flowers for them during April-May and August-September.<br />
<br />
There are many areas to check out different bird species such as Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, Katy Prairie, Bear Creek Park, and Brazos Bend State Park. Habitat changes contribute to our area attracting new birds, some which stay year round. The invasive birds that have come here are the European Starling, the House Sparrow and Pigeons. Some birds to look for are the Cedar Waxwings, Blue Jays, Rock Pigeons, Purple Martins, Western Kingbird, Bald Eagles, White Pelicans, and Osprey, among many others. Get out and enjoy these colorful birds with their variety of songs!<br />
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Want to know more about texbirding? Go to Jeff's blog: <a href="http://jeffincypress.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com </a>LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-70301146811645491212014-09-09T13:02:00.000-05:002014-09-09T13:02:19.158-05:00It's Written in the Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Our astrology program by expert astrologer, Lilly Roddy, was so interesting and enlightening. Here is a brief summary of her presentation. Thanks, Judye for the following summary!<br />
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Astrology is an ancient symbolic language and what people do is learn how to interpret the symbols.<br />
<br />
The 12 month calendar is 365 1/4 days per year. Seasons are Spring - March 20; Summer - June 21; Fall - September 22; and Winter - December 21. The Zodiac calendar is 360 degrees which is divided into 12 equal segments of 30 degrees each with the sun moving around it. The moon moves around the zodiac in about 28-29 days. Our days of the week are from the planets: Monday - Moon; Tuesday - Mars; Wednesday - Woden (Mercury); Thursday - Thor; Friday - Frea; Saturday - Saturn; Sunday - Sun. The moon is our emotional ego and the sun our male ego. Venus is desire (relationships, etc.)<br />
<br />
Groups of Signs:<br />
Aries - Cancer - Libra - Capricorn: Cardinal Signs (action oriented)<br />
Taurus - Leo - Scorpio - Aquarius: Fixed Signs (persistent and determined)<br />
Gemini - Virgo - Sagittarius - Pisces: Mutables (changeable, flexible, and adaptable)<br />
<br />
Saturn's real timing:<br />
7 years old - Beginning our journey<br />
14/15 - Teenage (confront authority)<br />
21 - We are legal (have a sense of authority)<br />
28/29 - Young adult<br />
35/36 - Authority figure<br />
42/43 - Mid-life crisis<br />
49 - Confront authority which is ourselves<br />
58 - Next thoughts for life<br />
<br />
The zodiac is a much more complex calendar system. By understanding how the planets are affecting your natal chart/birth chart, astrologers can help you understand the developing cycles and how to make the best use of them. Our lives are affected by so many things, and if we can understand them, it will help to adjust to life's changes. As they say, it's in the stars!LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-43835646842399622862014-08-27T15:06:00.001-05:002014-08-27T15:06:32.753-05:00Essential Oils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bennie Willis of doTerra Essential Oils came and gave us a short course in essential oils and how they are mankind's first medicine. These oils are pure and from nature, not chemicals manufactured in a lab. The over 400 compounds in lavender shows that it is a multi-useful oil, in fact, they call it the Swiss Army Knife of essential oils because it can help the body heal itself in so many ways.<br />
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Here are some oil blends and how they can help the body heal itself:<br />
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Lavender - headache, burns, better sleep, improve immune system, cure muscle spasms<br />
Frankincense - this is the father of all oils - depression, cancer deterrent<br />
Myrrh - this is the mother of all oils - circulation, menopause<br />
Peppermint - sinus, oxygenating, alertness, digestion, cooling<br />
Engard - sore throat<br />
Melissa - cognitive support, anxiety<br />
Melaluca - antibacterial (pink eye and ear ache)<br />
Lemon - detoxification<br />
<br />LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-58870771407160045072014-08-25T15:21:00.001-05:002014-08-25T15:21:37.894-05:00Discover Costa Rica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jF6r_pZs_fA/U_uZp74cDkI/AAAAAAAAAnU/tEcyhzl60Hk/s1600/costarica4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jF6r_pZs_fA/U_uZp74cDkI/AAAAAAAAAnU/tEcyhzl60Hk/s1600/costarica4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Back Country Expeditioning or KINE 1172 was why Professor Ronnie Nespeca took ten intrepid students to Costa Rica in May. Costa Rica is the most diverse geographical area on earth. We at LIFE were spellbound by all the adventures these students had in Costa Rica: swimming in a volcano crater, kayaking the river, harvesting sugar cane and processing it, tagging and cataloguing bats, eating local fare, and living the pura vida. Those were ten very strong and athletic students who had an experience of a lifetime. It's great Ronnie is so organized and talented to be able to do a study abroad with nary a hitch. Thank you for coming to LIFE to give us our vicarious thrills. We especially loved the way Ronnie imitated the howl of the howler monkey. Wish we had that on tape. There is an unsolved mystery in Costa Rica. See the huge sphere in the picture? These multi-sized spheres have existed in Costa Rica since before the 1500s, but no one really knows where or how they exist. They are a symbol of wealth and power.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujpOMCUvTBg/U_uZpfaxBOI/AAAAAAAAAnE/ZQQv5cKcF1E/s1600/Costaricaloreto.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujpOMCUvTBg/U_uZpfaxBOI/AAAAAAAAAnE/ZQQv5cKcF1E/s1600/Costaricaloreto.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cristina Loreto, one of our attendees, took this photo in <br />Costa Rica in 2007.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The library and Friends of the Library are psyched that Ronnie had <br />his students take one of our tote bags along for the ride.</td></tr>
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<br />LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-80750857577854019322014-08-13T16:25:00.000-05:002014-08-13T16:25:33.345-05:00Laughter Yoga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Certified laughter yoga instructor and founder of Houston, We've Got Laughter, came and gave us all a workout through breathing deeply from the lower belly and acting out all sorts of childlike emotions such as flying like a bird, growling like a lion, feigning anger and sadness, yawning and relaxing, and basically making fools of ourselves (oops, shouldn't have said that). "Laugh every day," says Lainie, who is also a mezzo soprano.<br />
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Benefits of laughter yoga are many: it relaxes you, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, strengthens the immune system, and much more. Learn more at <a href="http://www.houstonlaughteryoga.com/">www.houstonlaughteryoga.com</a><br />
<br />LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-35558549092222805402014-08-06T17:45:00.001-05:002014-08-07T10:52:07.437-05:00Dirty Tricks, Mudslinging, and October Surprises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of our all-time favorite presenters, Professor Alex Smith, filled us in on Part II of his series on dirty presidential campaigns. With his surprising anecdotes and spot-on presidential impersonations, our LIFErs can't get enough of Alex's presentations and were asking him to come back for Part III. Here are the campaigns covered today:<br />
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<b>1928: Herbert Hoover vs. Al Smith</b><br />
These two rags-to-riches millionaires couldn't have been more different. Hoover's monotone voice and failure to engage with people drove his campaigners to create buttons that read "That Man Hoover - He's Human". On the other hand, Al Smith's man of the people personality and engaging speeches sometimes made him too energetic to sit still for radio addresses. However, Al Smith's admittance that he drank during this prohibition era and his Catholicism were factors against him. Some detractors even managed to spread the rumor that Smith had built a tunnel between Washington, D.C. and the Vatican. As we all know, Hoover was the winner in this election. To add something not often remembered about Hoover, he provided a great deal of humanitarian aid and food relief to families in Eastern Europe during World War I.<br />
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<b>1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt vs. Wendell Willkie</b><br />
In this campaign, FDR was "reluctantly" running for his 3rd term in office, which he actually wanted very much. Roosevelt's situation was quite different to that of Wendell Willkie's, who had never held elected office. In this election, each party had some powerful material on the other candidate, but it was believed that FDR and Willkie had some sort of agreement not to disclose the information on the other. FDR's Vice President, Henry Wallace, had written letters to Nicholas Roerich that expressed unusual religious interests, and Willkie's supporters threatened to publish these. Willkie also left himself open to attack however, with the information that he was having an affair, and so both sides decided not to disclose this compromising information about the other.<br />
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<b>1952: Dwight Eisenhower vs. Adlai Stevenson</b><br />
At this time, Eisenhower was a beloved American war hero who actually had to pick a political party in order to run for president, so he chose the party that spends more money on the military. Adlai Stevenson was championed by the previous president, Harry Truman, and was actually reluctant to run with his support. TV had grown in popularity during the campaign, and Stevenson's rambling, 30 minute addresses stood in stark contrast to Eisenhower's down-to-earth 20 second TV spots. As rumors spread about Stevenson, one long-kept secret came to light--Adlai had killed another teen when he was thirteen years old and he and some friends were playing with a rifle. No one knows how this information was discovered, but it could have helped lead to Eisenhower's landslide victory.<br />
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<b>1960: John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon</b><br />
The Republicans caused problems for themselves in this election by having just passed the 22nd Amendment, which limited a president to serving two terms. Had this law not been in place, Eisenhower could have easily won a third term. Instead, they chose to select the next best option, Vice President Richard Nixon, who touted his experience. This proved a problem when Eisenhower showed only lukewarm support of Nixon, and expressed the view that Nixon had done very little in office. Despite the claims that JFK was too young and just a spoiled rich kid, his popularity grew quickly. The first televised debate didn't do Nixon any favors either. It took place soon after a two week hospital stay for Nixon, who stood on stage with a 100 degree fever and appeared to be melting as his sweat mixed with the makeup he was wearing on-screen. In polls conducted afterwards, radio listeners would say that Nixon won the debate while TV watchers claimed that JFK won. The results of the election were about as close as they could possibly be, and there were some very shady operations in Texas, where many dead people seemed to have voted, and Illinois, where the votes just didn't add up right. In spite of all this, Nixon accepted his defeat and even put a stop to a series of expos<span style="font-family: inherit;">é pieces being written on voter fraud in the election.</span><br />
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LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-50225839047248303772014-07-30T16:28:00.000-05:002014-08-04T14:41:23.784-05:00Experience the Chelsea Flower Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freddye did a great job photographing this 11 acre event.</td></tr>
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Master gardener Freddye Kelly went to London in May for the annual (five day) Chelsea Flower Show and competition. This year's theme is World War I since it has been 100 years this year. These are not just pretty flowers--they have a purpose. There was a ten foot tall mural of Nelson Mandela made of flowers. Flower dresses worn by models. Arrangements to make you see the world in a different way. A pottery shed abandoned by a soldier as he went to war. These are showcases for artists/designers worldwide.<br />
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There are three major parts of the show: show gardens, artisan gardens, and fresh gardens. A history of the show is attached. Freddye's favorites are the iris and the peony. There are so many varieties from all over the world that even Freddye did not recognize half of the flowers.<br />
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Visit the Chelsea Flower Show website for more information: <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show</a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also check out <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8lVjiYvYI9VMmlWd3RaTUZwZlU/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">The History of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show</a> by the Royal Horticultural Society.</span><br />
LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-33975544405178974062014-07-23T17:27:00.000-05:002014-07-23T17:27:37.331-05:00Bead-a-Bandana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A fun, hands-on time was had by all today at LIFE, where Patsy Brautigam showed us how to make our own beaded bandanas. These stylish accessories are easily made with a bandana, some beads and Patsy's step-by-step directions. There are so many different colors and styles of bandanas and beads--this is a great way to put your craft skills to work and express your own style!<br />
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Materials:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Bandana</li>
<li>Beads</li>
<li>Tape Measure or Ruler</li>
<li>Pencil</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Stitch Witch (or other fusible bonding tape)</li>
<li>Craft Glue</li>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/37299119" style="border-width: 1px; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="427"> </iframe> <br />
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<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/CyFairLIFE/beaded-bandanas-by-patsy-brautigam" target="_blank" title="Beaded Bandanas by Patsy Brautigam">Beaded Bandanas by Patsy Brautigam</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/CyFairLIFE" target="_blank">LSC-CyFair Library, LIFE Workshops</a></strong> </div>
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<br />LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-83332829597979265552014-07-16T12:17:00.000-05:002014-07-17T10:18:34.420-05:00A Tour of Texas State Parks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Numerous side canyons drain into the mighty Rio Grande and the carved-out landscape is surrounded by a beautiful desert wilderness." src="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/seminole-canyon/gallery/p-Seminole-Canyon_7688.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of Seminole Canyon State Park from http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/seminole-canyon</td></tr>
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Our original speaker wasn't able to make it to LIFE today, so the wonderful Cheryl LeJune stepped up to introduce us to all the amazing things our State Parks have to offer. Cheryl is the chairperson for the <a href="http://www.lonestar.edu/cyfair-all.htm" target="_blank">Academy for Lifelong Learning</a> here at CyFair, and she frequently volunteers with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.<br />
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There are over 90 State Parks across Texas that offer a wide variety of activities and programs. If you plan on visiting any parks a few times a year, Cheryl recommends getting a Texas State Parks Pass, which grants unlimited free entry to any of the State Parks for you and your guests and only costs $70 for a year. The parks offer so many activities throughout the year, including birding, camping, hiking, and geocaching, to name a few. Cheryl has had the opportunity to visit many of our State Parks, and recounted recent trips to Big Bend, Seminole Canyon, and Bastrop. Bastrop State Park is still recovering from a wildfire in 2011 and while many of the Lost Pines have been destroyed, the park is open and welcoming visitors, and it's fascinating to see how nature is rebuilding itself.<br />
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife web site is a fantastic resource to discover more about the parks and make reservations, check it out here: <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us</a> Many thanks to Cheryl for stepping in on such short notice and inspiring us to get out there and discover what all our State Parks have to offer!LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-33584830461859535472014-07-09T16:23:00.000-05:002014-07-09T16:23:23.265-05:00Stronger, Healthier, Better<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jim Guillory, engineer and muscle activation specialist, amazed and astounded our LIFErs this morning. Muscle Activation Technique gets to the root of the problem whether it's pain, mobility, or strength. Every joint in the body is moved using muscle. Trauma or bad posture can cause some muscles to fail. Jim can examine the entire body and pinpoint weak or failed muscles and with gentle palpation he can reactivate those muscles. Generally he sees most patients fewer than four times depending on how long the ailment has been going on. Ideally, he would rather see healthy patients to prevent pain problems in the future, but most patients wait until they are debilitated.<br />
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Jim has been in the business for 14 years and you can visit his website: <a href="http://jimguillory.com/">jimguillory.com</a><br />
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His colleague, Travis Westfall, can be contacted by email at travis@jimguillory.comLIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-58374079701350115162014-07-09T15:50:00.001-05:002014-07-09T15:52:11.705-05:00Dance Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1K5IAmlpEJs/U72oLe0oaMI/AAAAAAAAAlE/hdzTXkXGflk/s1600/dancesalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1K5IAmlpEJs/U72oLe0oaMI/AAAAAAAAAlE/hdzTXkXGflk/s1600/dancesalad.jpg" height="100" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday, June 25, LIFErs watched a video of Dance Salad 2013 with dancers from the <a href="http://www.teatrwielki.pl/en/polish_national_ballet.html" target="_blank">Polish National Ballet</a> (which hasn't visited the country since 1980), Italy's <a href="http://www.elsieman.org/artists/spellbound_dance.html" target="_blank">Spellbound Contemporary Ballet</a>, and Barcelona's <a href="http://www.laveronal.com/marcos-morau/?lang=en" target="_blank">La Veronal</a>. Every Easter weekend, Artistic Director Nancy Henderek and the Houston International Dance Coalition bring to Houston a rich mix of styles and imagination from all over the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The video included choreographers Krzysztof Pastor, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Mats Ek, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Mauro Astolfi, Marcos Marou, Fernando Magadan and Uri Sands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jackie Alfred, publicist for Dance Salad, gave running commentary on the eclectic and avant garde pieces. </span></div>
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LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-87052298440935714612014-06-18T15:24:00.000-05:002014-06-18T15:24:18.330-05:00Indulge in Babycakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pam Panettiere, librarian and extraordinary cupcake baker, joined us today to share the history of cupcakes--as well as bringing along a delicious sampling of some of her own creations.<br />
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Did you know that we can credit the ancient Egyptians with the first cake-like creation? The earliest cakes used honey as a sweetener instead of sugar. Another important development in the history of cake was the Mayans' use of cacao to make chocolate. And, we have the Americans to thank for cupcakes, which were invented in the late 18th century when they were actually baked in cups. So much has been done with these versatile treats, and Pam has come up with many of her own ingenious recipes. Today she shared four different recipes with a very appreciative LIFE audience!<br />
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<br />LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-17697545693672321332014-06-17T08:42:00.001-05:002014-06-17T08:42:28.620-05:00A Summer Reader's Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ7sYlgxBFo/U58D4VJnfvI/AAAAAAAAAkI/Z4xGlg91rK8/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ7sYlgxBFo/U58D4VJnfvI/AAAAAAAAAkI/Z4xGlg91rK8/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" height="393" width="400" /></a></div>
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Valerie Koehler, owner of <a href="http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/" target="_blank">Blue Willow Bookshop</a>, came to give us her recommendations for summer reading. Valerie's stories and recommendations had our crowd transfixed. Her list sounds like a super winner so enjoy your summer reading and sign up for the HCPL Adult Summer Reading Program <a href="http://www.hcpl.net/read/summer-reading-everyone" target="_blank">here</a>. You may even win a coffee cup. Check out Valerie's list of recommended reads below!<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=140292735O134.38056&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=simsion&index=.AW&term=rosie+project&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=&return_results=true&return_results=true" target="_blank">The Rosie Project</a></i> by Graeme Simsion</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=140292735O134.38056&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=mcbride&index=.AW&term=we+are+called+to+rise&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">We Are Called to Rise</a></i> by Laura McBride</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=140292735O134.38056&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=bergstrom&index=.AW&term=steal+the+north&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">Steal the North</a></i> by Heather Bergstrom</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=140292735O134.38056&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=doerr&index=.AW&term=all+the+light+we+cannot+see+&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=&return_results=true" target="_blank">All the Light We Cannot See</a></i> by Anthony Doerr</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14MAL31149928.38354&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=moriarty&index=.AW&term=husband%27s+secret&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">The Husband's Secret</a></i> by Lianne Moriarty</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=N402928028F3T.38110&profile=nhmc&uri=full%3D3100042~%211565168~%211&ri=2&term=kent&index=.AW&uindex=&oper=&term=burial+rites&index=.TW&uindex=&aspect=subtab80&menu=search&ri=2&view=PUBLISHERS_WEEKLY_REVIEW&aspect=subtab80&menu=search&source=~!horizon&enhancedcontentdata=true%0A%09%09&return_results=true" target="_blank">Burial Rites</a></i> by Hannah Kent</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=N402928028F3T.38110&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=hainey&index=.AW&term=after+visiting+friends&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">After Visiting Friends</a></i> by Michael Hainey</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=N402928028F3T.38110&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=carroll&index=.AW&term=here+is+where+&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">Here is Where</a></i> by Andrew Carroll</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14029C8Q0F031.38140&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=greene&index=.AW&term=long+man&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=&return_results=true" target="_blank">Long Man</a></i> by Amy Greene</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=14029C8Q0F031.38140&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=5&source=~%21horizon&index=.AW&term=zevin++.TW%3Dstoried+life+of+a.j.+fikry&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80" target="_blank">The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry</a></i> by Gabrielle Zevin</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1J029285082M3.38160&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=bryson&index=.AW&term=one+summer+1927&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">One Summer: America, 1927</a></i> by Bill Bryson</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1J029285082M3.38160&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=moyes&index=.AW&term=last+letter+from+your+lover&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">The Last Letter from Your Lover</a></i> by Jojo Moyes</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1J029285082M3.38160&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=marra&index=.AW&term=constellation+of+vital+phenomena&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank">A Constellation of Vital Phenomena</a></i> by Anthony Marra</li>
<li><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1J029285082M3.38160&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=kidd&index=.AW&term=invention+of+wings&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Invention of Wings</a> by Sue Monk Kidd</li>
<li><i><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1J029285082M3.38160&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=&index=.AW&term=strange+beautiful+sorrows+ava+lavender&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=&return_results=true" target="_blank">The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender</a></i> by Elyse Walton</li>
<li><a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1J029285082M3.38160&menu=search&aspect=subtab80&npp=10&ipp=20&spp=20&profile=nhmc&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=0&y=0&aspect=subtab80&term=lockhart&index=.AW&term=we+were+liars&index=.TW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.SE&sort=" target="_blank"><i>We Were Liars</i> </a>by E. Lockhart</li>
</ul>
LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-64450276433700880312014-06-17T08:42:00.000-05:002014-06-17T08:42:05.645-05:00Codename: Operation Overlord<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NpJGTAHDZVM/U6BEs9GJxqI/AAAAAAAAAkg/q24pdzLxUxk/s1600/800px-Flickr_-_DVIDSHUB_-_Reflection_on_D-Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NpJGTAHDZVM/U6BEs9GJxqI/AAAAAAAAAkg/q24pdzLxUxk/s1600/800px-Flickr_-_DVIDSHUB_-_Reflection_on_D-Day.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of DVIDSHUB at <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_DVIDSHUB_-_Reflection_on_D-Day.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To commemorate the seventy year anniversary of D-Day when the allied forces invaded Normandy (June 6, 1944), Professor Rob Coyle gave an interesting spin on the day. It was a day of doing all the wrong things for an invasion, but it had to be done. And even some of the right things that went wrong turned out ok. Rob made this abstract day so real and so very brave and brutal. We had replicas of seven days of newspaper front pages donated by LIFEr Gene Chism. Some of the stories were priceless. One English general was demoted when he had loose lips at a cocktail party and almost divulged the secret date of the invasion.LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960912158477371341.post-13132161669412793692014-05-28T14:07:00.001-05:002014-05-28T16:11:42.106-05:00Brain Games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mVbc1G2HKs/U4YzqFVNnKI/AAAAAAAAAi0/zVwvhb5KCi0/s1600/brain.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mVbc1G2HKs/U4YzqFVNnKI/AAAAAAAAAi0/zVwvhb5KCi0/s1600/brain.png" /></a></div>
Today Claire Gunnels and Patsy Brautigam got our neurons firing with games and activities to keep our brains active and potentially increase intelligence. Claire referenced Dan Hurley's book, <a href="http://librarycatalog.lonestar.edu.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1R01299X10571.14768&profile=nhmc&source=~!horizon&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100042~!1610371~!0&ri=3&aspect=subtab80&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=hurley+dan&index=.AW&uindex=&aspect=subtab80&menu=search&ri=3" target="_blank">Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power</a>, where he went on a quest to increase his own intelligence using a variety of methods.<br />
<br />
First off, the group discussed a number of "old school" activities to increase brain power:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Crossword puzzles</li>
<li>Sudoku</li>
<li>Memorizing poetry</li>
<li>Memorizing phone numbers</li>
<li>Reading fiction</li>
<li>Learning a new language</li>
<li>Drawing or coloring</li>
<li>Exercise</li>
<li>Meditation</li>
<li>Drinking coffee</li>
<li>Learning to play a musical instrument</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
Claire and Patsy also showed us a number of online and video games available:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/brain_games/" target="_blank">Brain Games</a> at AARP.org</li>
<li><a href="http://www.brainspade.com/">Brainspade.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fitbrains.com/">Fit Brains Trainer</a> (also available as an app for Apple and Android devices)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lumosity.com/">Lumosity.com</a>- Free trial version is available, there is a monthly fee for full access</li>
<li>N-Back game at <a href="http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/">http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/</a> </li>
<li>Big Brain Academy- video game for Nintendo Wii systems</li>
</ul>
<div>
No matter which method you choose, make sure you're challenging yourself!</div>
</div>
LIFE-adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12527735493105928877noreply@blogger.com0