I love “A Softer World”  ….

Thanks Zig!

Math Geek Humor #1: Crazy Eight

I’ve been exploring math humor lately.  Sorry if you don’t get it, but I feel like sharing.

Daily Squee: Lightness of Heart

Some pictures just make my heart lighter – this is one, so I share it with you.  [From the Daily Squee.]

For some reason, this picture makes me think of my mother.

Random Image of the Day – Horse Sculpture

So here I was searching for a good image to fill the request “a two-dimensional earth pic – discussion of geometry as derived from Greek for earth and measurement)” and I stumbled on this photo – which reminded me of my brother’s work:

Search term in Google Images:  earth measure

8th picture shown (right there at the top on the 2nd line)

Interestingly, this piece of sculpture is NAMED “Earth Measure.”  Huh.

Anyway, I like this artist’s work – Deborah Butterfield- Check it out.

 

I still hate to exercise-take #2 (catching up from last MAY!)

I found this post in my drafts folder from May 2nd 2011.  As it is relevant to what’s been going on with my overall attempts to get fit and develop better health habits, I thought I’d go ahead and post it first, and then follow up with a fall 2011 and current update on where I am at in the process (not great, but better!).

May 2, 2011: So, it’s been over 2 months since I posted an update for the I hate to exercise program – circuit training version. As you may have guessed that’s because I fell off the wagon. I managed to make 30 days by the end of May, but after that-poof! Nothing-no circuits at all. My efforts to create a daily exercise program fizzled out.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that I actually did OK keeping to my eating plan. And I noted that I was simply doing more active things. Many of the excuses I gave myself for not doing circuits was that I had already had 30-60 minutes of exercise that day (mowing the lawn, scrubbing a tent, hauling and loading, etc.)

But still I was feeling guilty and bad about letting it go. Then last week, while bemoaning that both my work jeans had holes in them (thus unsuitable for work and now I need to go pants shopping dang it) I also noted that the danged things wouldn’t stay up even with a belt.

Ding ding ding ding!!!

So I rummaged in the bottom drawer (the one where you store those pants one size too small that you are hanging on to ‘just in case’) and found TWO pairs of the next size smaller that fit! Whoot whoot!

Sadly these are in rough shape too, but don’t actually have HOLES. They’ll do at least until I do get a chance/$ to shop.

I still haven’t officially weighed myself since New Year’s, but this was a big milestone. And interestingly, it has helped to get me back on the bandwagon.

So that was great!  Sadly, I then slacked all summer 2011, sliding even further away from what I wanted to be doing exercise and eating-wise. Luckily I seem to have stayed ‘about the same’ in weight and measurements. 

Stay tuned for “What happened in August/Fall of 2011!”

Random Image of the Day – Folded Paper Sculpture

So, in my job right now, I have to do a lot of image searches on the internet. I am constantly surprised by what search terms result in what images, and also regularly run accross just generally way cool pics.  So, since posting to my blog has been a little thin lately (ha!) I thought I’d start posting some of them here, along with the search terms I used (and  with or without a bit of commentary).

Here is one from today to start:

Search term in Wikimedia Commons:  File Folders

Result #86 of 2146

Data says this is a CAD DRAWING – not a piece of paper art – this has never existed in the real world.  Wow.

But why the HECK did this come up under ‘file folders??!!!”

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Folder_paper_2.jpg

Whoo Hoo! I’ve been part of making change happen!

According to statistics quoted in this NYT opinion piece,  America is eating less meat!

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/were-eating-less-meat-why/?ref=opinion  (Thanks again Ed!)

The department of agriculture projects that our meat and poultry consumption will fall again this year, to about 12.2 percent less in 2012 than it was in 2007. Beef consumption has been in decline for about 20 years; the drop in chicken is even more dramatic, over the last five years or so; pork also has been steadily slipping for about five years.

12% decline in 5 years!  Whoo Hoo!

The article goes on to discuss the possible causes of this, including recession, exports, etc.  But opines that we are eating less meat because we *want* to eat less meat – because it has sunk in that eating LOTS of meat is bad for us and/or the planet.

Around 1997 I went lacto-ovo vegetarian. In 2007 I went back to eating seafood.

My child has been raised without ever eating beef, poultry or pork (but loves fish sticks).

I have quietly explained to folks my reasons when asked (better for me and the planet), and gently encouraged them to eat meat less – take even one meal off a week.  I have held fast through business lunches and dinners and family meals.

Today I feel vindicated.  I feel part of a successful movement.

Yea!!!