You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It’s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.
— Paulo Coelho
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Archive for the ‘Other’ Category
Even Tuesdays
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers on February 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Let Me Dream
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, chilling, Thoughts on February 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I know it’s only Thursday but I am so ready for the weekend. Just let me dream for a minute, ok?
. . .
Thanks:)
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Little Busy Today…
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Thoughts on February 7, 2024| 2 Comments »
… but that’s ok.
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
— Edward Everett Hale
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Forest and Chill
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, forest-bathing, mindfulness, mini-break, nature, relaxation, shinrin-yoku, Thoughts, Writers on January 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
After a number of technical issues, overlapping assignments, and a mashup of meetings, I’ve finished a big day-job project. I’ve got to say, it feels good.
Not “go out and party” good, more like “take a deep breath and shake off all that accumulated stress” good. Forest bathing good.
What’s that, you may ask?
Essentially, forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku in Japanese) is a walk in the woods designed to reconnect you with nature in ways that are beneficial for your health.
Healing in the forest: a guide to forest bathing
Spending time in nature and experiencing reduced stress levels allows you to think more clearly and creatively. It can also increase your mood, focus, and energy.
Sounds good, right? Except that there’s a coating of ice on everything thanks to last night’s storm and I still have work to do and (let’s be honest) it’s freezing out there!
So instead, I will find another way to spend a few moments in the forest.
How, you may ask? Meet Tree.fm: Tune Into Forests From Around The World.
Want a map of global forest sounds? Check out Sounds of the Forest.
Want even more chill? Do you have ten minutes or eight hours?
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Witness What’s Hidden
Posted in Other, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, art, creativity, inspiration, photography, video on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I tried to skip past this link and couldn’t.
An augmented-reality filter reveals the hidden movements all around us
This simple technique produces dazzling results, causing tree branches to shimmer as they sway in the wind, dust particles to become bold beams of light, and camouflaged insects and animals to be instantly unveiled. De Boer’s montage serves not only as a free and easy tutorial on the possibilities of this creative tool, but also as eye candy for anyone keen to witness the hidden patterns of movement that surround us.
The effect is fascinating. In some ways it’s the opposite of a time-lapse, which captures what remains still and merges motion. Here, movements that typically remain hidden are visible. Like a camouflaged deer, or blowing leaves, or even footprints.
While some examples are just pretty, it’s hard not to jump to the scientific and creative possibilities of this technique. I haven’t explored video effects, but this makes me want to start.
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L Marks the Spot
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, libraries, Thoughts on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I’ve often talked about the general excellence of libraries. Today I’d like to make a specific comment, and it’s not even about books.
Sad news: Mr Man is still not feeling great.
Good news: He was able to get a same-day appointment with our doctor.
But.
Our doctor will only see symptomatic patients if you have a negative Covid test in hand. Ok, fine, I guess. Our health care providers and system have been under massive pressure for years.
Except.
The holidays cooked up a stew of respiratory illnesses and a significant portion of Ottawa’s Capital Region is down for the count. Our wastewater numbers are right up there with the highest levels since tracking started in 2020. Finding cough medicine has become the equivalent of a treasure hunt. And finding a Covid rapid test? That’s more like the Holy Grail.
None of the pharmacies I called had any tests in stock. They’d be happy to schedule us for Covid boosters, but we already have those. Our local health unit should have tests but is halfway across the city.
Where to find a rapid test? The library came through for us. Not just a home for books and music, maker spaces and digital resources, the library is also bringing this now necessary resource into our neighborhoods.
I walked into our local branch to find a stack of rapid tests on a table by the door. The librarian couldn’t see my grin under my mask, but it was there.
And good news! Mr Man’s test is negative and now he can get the healthcare he needs.
Thanks, library. You saved the day.
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Know Better, Do Better, Be Better
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, activism, centenarians know better, inspiration, politics, quilting, Thoughts, Writers, writing on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »
How much do I love this?
101-Year-Old Grace Linn: ‘Banning Books and Burning Books Are the Same’
“Banning books and burning books are the same. Both are done for the same reason: fear of knowledge,” Linn said. “They’re afraid that people will know better than they did.”
But each generation should know better, do better, and be better, Linn said. Society can’t grow and evolve without the education and empathy-building that come from the free exchange of thoughts shared through books.
All the hearts, forever.
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Just Waiting
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, free fiction, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Bright sun, blue skies, and the sense of a storm looming just below the horizon. I’m working, watching and waiting, and maybe this latest unpredictable system will blow past us without much fuss. Or maybe, like many of you, we’ll find ourselves in the middle of an Arctic blast buried beneath many centimeters of snow.
While we wait to see how this latest example of Nature’s power manifests, here’s another dose of free fiction.
Download the Tor.com November/December 2023 Short Fiction Bundle
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Every One
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on December 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Every person on this planet needs love, dignity, and purpose.
— Rich Paul
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Annoying but True
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on December 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
— John Wooden
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