life’s hard-won(wän) harmony(ˈhärmənē)

heavy(ˈhevē) and green(grēn)

By Henry H. Walker

summer(ˈsəmər) lies heavy and green here:

the mountain(ˈmountn) slopes(slōp) look all soft and comforting(ˈkəmfərtiNG),
full of pleasantly(ˈplezənt) plump(pləmp) round lines,
as if a green snow has buried(ˈberē) the edges(ej),

within the forest(ˈfär-,ˈfôrəst) it can feel as a cathedral(kəˈTHēdrəl)
with the eye pulled up to lead the way for the spirit(ˈspirit),
with every view a window into a path toward the divine(diˈvīn),
from a distance(ˈdistəns) the wooded mountains pull me to them
and then up with them toward the sky,

each leaf(lēf) disciple(diˈsīpəl) to the sun,
jealous(ˈjeləs) of every other leaf,
though, together, they are a choir(ˈkwīr)
which sings the majesty(ˈmajəstē) of
design, intention(inˈtenCHən), life’s hard-won harmony,
that should be appreciated(əˈprēSHēˌāt), enjoyed, held(e) sacred(ˈsākrid).

http://henryspoetry.blogspot.com/2018/07/lifes-hard-won-harmony.html

Why is it such agony(ˈagənē) to change all my online passwords?

By Gina Clark

I shriek(SHrēk) at the computer screen, “Why are you doing this to me?!”

I am on a quest(kwest) to reset passwords on 50 websites. Why? Because of advice received from my busy out-of-town son who works in the computer field. On a recent rescue(ˈreskyo͞o) mission(ˈmiSHən), he updates my router’s firmware(ˈfərmˌwer) to foil(foil) Russian(ˈrəSHən) malware(ˈmalˌwe(ə)r). “Pretty tame(tām),” he notes. “Not like the time they disabled your anti-malware program and copied your keystrokes(ˈkēˌstrōk).” Then, his eyebrows(ˈīˌbrou) arch(ärCH) in astonishment(əˈstäniSHmənt). “Mom! You haven’t changed your e-mail password in over four years!”

When I confess(kənˈfes) to using the same one for my bank accounts and the Canada(ˈkanədə) Revenue(ˈrevəˌn(y)o͞o) Agency(ˈājənsē), he reminds me of last year’s hack(hak) which brought down the CRA website. “You need to create new passwords for all those sites. And don’t use the CRA password anywhere else!”

I neglect(niˈglekt) to tell him I’ve been using a 10-year-old password on about 40 other websites. Why so many? Well, online shopping and technology sites account for 15, followed by travel, entertainment, household accounts, health records and logons for courses(kôrs) and newspapers.

In a burst(bərst) of enthusiasm(enˈTHo͞ozēˌazəm) and ill-founded confidence(-fəˌdens,ˈkänfədəns), I begin to correct the error of my ways.

But confusion(kənˈfyo͞oZHən) reigns(rān) when organizations such as Google and Apple span(span) my PC, tablet(ˈtablit) and cell phone. Do I update the password on each device? Why does Apple think I’ve bought a new iPhone and iPad? Why does my browser(ˈbrouzər) keep remembering old passwords? And why do some websites hide(hīd) their Change Password option?

When befuddled(biˈfədl), I opt(äpt) for the “Forgot your User ID?” and “Forgot your password?” options. Sometimes, I choose both and when that fails, I face a barrage(bəˈräZH) of online security(siˈkyo͝oritē
) questions. A few times, I screw(skro͞o) up the answers I created years ago and try to remember: “Did I use an initial(iˈniSHəl) cap on my father’s middle name?” and “Did I describe both the make and the model of my first car?”

…
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-why-do-so-many-people-turn-their-noses-up-at-e-readers/

Worried(ˈwərēd) about whether(ˈ(h)weT͟Hər) your child is eating enough? Some helpful guidelines(ˈgīdˌlīn) and advice(ədˈvīs).

By Casey(ā) Seidenberg

Feeding children can be a roller(ˈrōlər)-coaster(ˈkōstər) ride(rīd). Some days, children cruise(kro͞oz) along, eating most of what you serve. Then without warning, they take a dive and consume very little. This lasts just as long as you can cope(kōp), then they rise(rīz) through a growth spurt(spərt) to empty the refrigerator(riˈfrijəˌrātər) daily(ˈdālē), only to plateau(plaˈtō) before they prepare for another dive.

Through this bumpy(ˈbəmpē) ride, remember that the end goal is not to get as many healthy foods as possible into your child or to keep the sugary(ˈSHo͝ogərē) foods away from them at all costs. Nor is it to count the grams of protein(ˈprōˌtēn) or calcium(ˈkalsēəm) they consume each day. Instead, the goal is to raise(rāz) children who understand their hunger(ˈhəNGgər) cues(kyo͞o) and respond appropriately(əˈprōprēətlē), know how to eat in moderation(ˌmädəˈrāSHən) even when sweets are available(əˈvāləbəl), and trust their instincts(ˈinstiNG(k)t).

The best way to do this is to maintain the division(diˈviZHən) of responsibility proposed(prəˈpōz) by author, therapist(ˈTHerəpist) and feeding expert Ellyn Satter. She thinks parents are responsible for what food is put on the table, when meals(mēl) and snacks(snak) are served, and where children eat. Children are responsible for how much they eat — and whether they eat at all.

Mealtimes should be positive and should not be a battle(ˈbatl); your relationship with your child is more important than what she eats for dinner one night. This means that when she says she isn’t hungry, you should allow her to listen to her body. Conversely(kənˈvərslē,ˈkänˌvərslē), if she wants more dinner because she feels markedly(ˈmärkidlē) hungry, you should hand her the plate(plāt) of chicken.

…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/worried-about-whether-your-child-is-eating-enough-some-helpful-guidelines-and-advice/2018/07/23/24e4c5aa-89db-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html

Simplicity(simˈplisitē) as Spiritual(ˈspiriCHo͞oəl) Practice: Declutter(ˈdēklətər) for Deep Personal Growth(grōTH)

By Leo Babauta

When we begin to declutter our lives, often it’s because we long for some kind of peace(pēs), some space(spās), some relief(riˈlēf) from the chaos(ˈkāˌäs) … or perhaps it’s to start to lead a more intentional(inˈtenCHənl), beautiful life.

But something magical(ˈmajikəl) happens when we dive(dīv) into the decluttering process.

We start to learn about ourselves.

And if we keep at it, decluttering can become a place of deep growth.

I’ve seen this in my own life and in the lives of people I’ve worked with, countless times.

Decluttering causes(kôz) us to confront(kənˈfrənt) some key relationships we have with our stuff, and with the world around us:

We learn that clutter(ˈklətər) often represents(ˌrepriˈzent) our procrastination(prō-,prəˌkrastəˈnāSHən) and avoidance patterns, and if we are to address the clutter, we must shift those patterns.

We realize that we place a lot of power in objects: the power to give us identity(īˈdentitē), a sense of value, a sense of who we are; the power to give use security(siˈkyo͝oritē), hopes for the future, memories, love, comfort(ˈkəmfərt).

But then we realize that this power is within us all along, not outside of us. This takes work, to start to see this in an experiential(ekˌspi(ə)rēˈenCHəl) (not just intellectual(ˌintlˈekCHo͞oəl)) way.

We learn about our attachments(əˈtaCHmənt) to things, and how to let go. This takes a lot of mindfulness, and some realization that we have happiness within us, and letting go of objects is simply(ˈsimplē) a practice of that realization.

We start to pay attention to what is truly important to us, and that will shift over the course of this inquiry(inˈkwī(ə)rē,ˈiNG-,ˈinkwərē,ˈinˌkwī(ə)rē). When we ask this question of what’s important, we can start to live intentionally(inˈtenCHənlē), and once we start living in line with those values, we evolve(iˈvälv) our understanding of what we really value. It changes as we take action.

We start to deal with the shame(SHām) and guilt(gilt) that come up from our clutter, from our procrastination and avoidance, from our years of mindless shopping. The shame and guilt get in the way, but they can also spur(spər) us to reconsider our patterns, to start the process of shifting them. In the end, one of the most powerful shifts is to let go of the shame and guilt while also embracing(emˈbrās) the truth of not avoiding.

These are some of the things we might explore(ikˈsplôr) while we declutter — many more possibilities exists(igˈzist), and I think you’ll find your own realizations and growth that are unique to you.

…
https://zenhabits.net/simplespirit/

The Importance of Being Earnest(ˈərnist)

by Oscar(ˈäskər) Wilde

INT: ALGERNON’S FLAT(flat) — MORNING
Lady Bracknell, an elderly(ˈeldərlē) woman, is speaking to Algernon, who is courting her daughter.
LADY BRACKNELL
Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd(-ˈzərd,əbˈsərd). Nor do I in any way approve of the modern(ˈmädərn) sympathy(ˈsimpəTHē) with invalids(inˈvalid,ˈinvəlid). I consider it morbid(ˈmôrbəd). Illness(ˈilnis) of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. Health is the primary duty(ˈd(y)o͞otē) of life. I am always telling that to your poor uncle, but he never seems to take much notice…as far as any improvement in his ailment(ˈālmənt) goes. I should be much obliged(əˈblīj) if you would ask Mr. Bunbury, from me, to be kind enough not to have a relapse on Saturday(-dē,ˈsatərˌdā), for I rely on you to arrange my music for me. It is my last reception, and one wants something that will encourage conversation, particularly at the end of the season(ˈsēzən) when every one has practically(ˈpraktik(ə)lē) said whatever they had to say, which, in most cases, was probably not much.

https://www.instantmonologues.com/preview/Wilde_Importance_Being_Earnest

Coffee Drinkers May Live Longer

Caffeine(kaˈfēn,ˈkafˌēn) is probably not responsible for the healthful effects of coffee.

By Nicholas(ˈnik(ə)ləs) Bakalar

Drinking coffee is associated with lower mortality(môrˈtalətē) rates(rāt), and a new study suggests that caffeine is not responsible for the effect.

Researchers had demographic(ˌdeməˈgrafik) and health data(ˈdatə,ˈdātə) on 498,134 British(ˈbritiSH) people, average(ˈav(ə)rij) age 57, including information on coffee consumption(kənˈsəm(p)SHən) and on the genetic(jəˈnetik) variants(ˈve(ə)rēənt) that affect(əˈfekt,ˈafekt) caffeine metabolism(məˈtabəˌlizəm). More than three-quarters(ˈkwôrtər) were coffee drinkers.

Over 10 years of follow-up, there were 14,255 deaths. They found that the risk of death from any cause(kôz), and particularly(pə(r)ˈtikyələrlē) from cancer and cardiovascular(ˌkärdēōˈvaskyələr) disease(diˈzēz), declined(diˈklīn) steadily as coffee consumption increased. Those who drank a cup a day had a 6 percent lower risk than those who drank less than that, and people who drank eight or more cups a day had a 14 percent lower risk.

The study, in JAMA Internal Medicine(ˈmedisən), adjusted for age, race(rās), smoking, sex(seks), body mass index, alcohol(-ˌhäl,ˈalkəˌhôl) consumption and other health and behavioral factors.

The associations were similar for ground and instant coffee, and for caffeinated(ˈkafəˌnātid) and decaffeinated. Moreover, it made no difference whether people had the genetic(jəˈnetik) variants for slower or faster caffeine metabolism(məˈtabəˌlizəm).

Does this observational(ˌäbzərˈvāSHən) study mean that everyone should drink more coffee? No, said the lead author, Erikka Loftfield, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute.

“At this point, the study provides reassurance(ˌrēəˈSHo͝orəns) to coffee drinkers, not guidance(ˈgīdns). The results don’t indicate that people should begin drinking coffee for its health benefits.”

…
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/02/well/coffee-drinkers-may-live-longer.html

Drink Up! Most of Us Could Benefit From More Water

Inadequate(inˈadikwət) hydration can cause fatigue(fəˈtēg), poor appetite(ˈapiˌtīt), heat intolerance(inˈtälərəns), dizziness(ˈdizēnəs), constipation(ˌkänstəˈpāSHən), kidney(ˈkidnē) stones and a dangerous drop in blood pressure(ˈpreSHər).

By Jane E. Brody

I wonder how we all survived — and even thrived(THrīv) — in our younger years without the plethora(ˈpleTHərə) of water bottles that nearly everyone seems to carry around these days.

In reading about the risks and consequences(-ˌkwens,ˈkänsikwəns) of dehydration(dēˈhīdrāt), especially for the elderly(ˈeldərlē) and anyone who exercises vigorously(ˈvig(ə)rəslē) in hot weather, it’s nothing short of a miracle that more of us hadn’t succumbed(səˈkəm) years ago to the damaging(ˈdamijiNG) physical, cognitive(ˈkägnətiv) and health effects(əˈfekt) of inadequate(inˈadikwət) hydration.

Even with the current ubiquity(yo͞oˈbikwədē) of portable(ˈpôrtəbəl) water containers, far too many people still fail to consume enough liquid(ˈlikwid) to compensate(ˈkämpənˌsāt) for losses(läs,lôs) suffered(ˈsəfər) especially, though not exclusively(ikˈsklo͞osəvlē), during the dehydrating(dēˈhīdrāt) months of summer.

For those of you who know or suspect that you don’t drink enough to compensate for daily water losses, the good news is you don’t have to rely(riˈlī) entirely(enˈtīrlē) on your liquid intake to remain well-hydrated.

Studies in societies with limited supplies of drinking water suggest you can help to counter dehydration and, at the same time, enhance the healthfulness of your diet(ˈdī-it) by consuming nutritious(n(y)o͞oˈtriSHəs) foods that are laden(ˈlādn) with a hidden water source. Plant foods like fruits, vegetables(ˈvejtəbəl,ˈvəjətə-) and seeds are a source of so-called gel(jel) water — pure, safe, hydrating water that is slowly absorbed(-ˈsôrbd,əbˈzôrbd) into the body when the foods are consumed.

…
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/well/hydration-thirst-water.html

大脑

身体就像一个机器，一座移动的城堡，保护着大脑不受损伤。

整个身体，只有大脑是活的，所有器官都在围绕着他工作。

当有一天，机器承担了人类的一切活动，人类不再需要移动，只需要计算，或者是思考，所有器官也就不需要了。

他们会退化，大脑有了新的『肢体』，不会轻易损坏，可以更尽情的去思考。

那一天，可以飞入茫茫太空，思考着，探索着。

没有病痛的折磨。

霍金是幸运的，他的大脑没有死亡。也许应该利用冷冻技术，把他的大脑冷冻起来，送入太空，就像人类对抗三体人所做的那样。

愿上帝保佑我的大脑，继续思考，免受损伤。

What to Do When You’re Falling Behind

By Steve Pavlina

When I was a kid, it took me longer than I would have liked to learn how to ride a bike. I kept using a bike with training wheels((h)wēl) and I didn’t practice much, so of course I didn’t learn how to balance.

One day I observed(əbˈzərv) that my sister (younger by 2.5 years) was getting close to figuring out how to ride a bike. She wasn’t quite(kwīt) there yet, but she was clearly much closer to balancing than I was. I couldn’t let her beat(bēt) me to it!

So I grabbed(grab) my bike, pushed it out to the street, and decided that I was going to learn how to ride it then and there. I hopped on — sans training wheels — and swerved(swərv) all over the place like an out-of-control maniac(ˈmānēˌak). I tried to stay near the grass when I could muster some degree of control, so when I fell(fel), I’d hopefully crash onto the lawn(lôn) instead of the street or sidewalk.

After many short-lived attempts(əˈtem(p)t), I finally learned how to balance. Then I was off and riding. I rode(rōd) my bike a lot that summer and have had the skill ever since.

Up until that point, I’d been making a big deal out of the whole process. It seemed scary(ˈske(ə)rē) and daunting(ˈdänt-,ˈdôntiNG). I was afraid(əˈfrād) of falling. But once I confronted(kənˈfrənt) the fear(fi(ə)r) and mustered the courage to risk getting hurt, I quickly emerged(əˈmərj) on the other side with a whole new skill. From the moment of decision to the time I emerged with the basic(ˈbāsik) skill was probably less than an hour.

What finally motivated(ˈmōtəˌvāt) me to face the fear and take action? It was the feeling that I was falling behind. My peers were leaving me in the dust. They could ride(rīd) and I couldn’t. If my younger sister got there first, I’d no doubt(dout) be unfavorably(ˌənˈfāv(ə)rəbəl
) compared to her, and I really didn’t want to deal with that.

That build-up of pressure(ˈpreSHər) worked to my advantage(ədˈvantij). I was capable(ˈkāpəbəl) of facing the fear and developing the skill, but I’d been delaying(diˈlā). I was letting fear get the better of me. That pressure gave me a much needed kick(kik) in my complacency(kəmˈplāsənsē).

…
https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2015/04/what-to-do-when-youre-falling-behind/

Finally

By Anonymous(əˈnänəməs) author(ˈôTHər)

I’m scratching(skraCH) away my tears(te(ə)r,ti(ə)r),
I’m laughing out my pain(pān).
I’m falling to my knees(nē),
and I’m all alone(əˈlōn) again.

I’m spitting out my frustration(frəˈstrāSHən),
I’m drowning(droun) in my cries.
I’m screaming(skrēm) out my torment,
and I’m burning in your lies.

I’m living in my heartache(ˈhärtˌāk),
I’m singing out my lies.
I’m dying from the memories,
and saying our goodbyes.

I’m cleaning out my memories,
I’m going to try and start anew(əˈn(y)o͞o).
and now that you are finally gone,
I know it’s something I can do.

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/poems/730808