Let’s play a game of Historical Anachronism. Pretend, for a moment, that we don’t have a Presidential/VP ticket. Pretend, instead, that all the candidates run for President and that the top voter-getter wins the top office, the one with the second-highest number of votes wins the Vice Presidency. The combinations are interesting to consider: President Sarah Palin and Vice President Barack Obama. President Joe Biden and Vice President John McCain. Or how about a tie between John McCain and Sarah Palin that is decided by a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives?
These various scenarios entered my head while reading the book “Adams versus Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800”, by John Ferling. The resulting election crisis led a few years later to passage and ratification of the 12th Amendment, requiring that presidential electors vote separately for president and vice president.
In the election of 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson ran against President John Adams. Jefferson teamed up with Aaron Burr, a former New York Attorney General, State Senator and Republican organizer. The Republicans identified Jefferson as their pick for president and Burr for Vice President. Four years before, Jefferson ran for president, placed second and served as Adam’s Vice President, though they came from two different parties.
Voting was an arduous process in the early days of the Republic. Election polls were few in number, requiring in some cases, two-day trips to vote. The country had a patch work quilt of different election laws, some of which didn’t call for secret ballots. In some parts, voting was done orally. And voting was prohibited, not just for women and blacks but, in some areas, Catholics, Jews and Indians. State legislators voted for presidential electors in nine states. In the others, they were chosen by popular vote.
Adams campaigned more successfully than other members of his party. But when the electoral votes were counted, he came in third in a field of five, with 65 votes. Jefferson and Burr were tied at 73 a piece. Because there was no clear winner, the Constitution required the House of Representatives to make the choice.
For four months, despite several roll call votes, the House remained deadlocked. Republicans feared Federalists would simply refuse to allow the transfer of the presidency to the other party. As March 4 approached (the original Inauguration date), threats of mob violence, and even Civil War, began to spread. Governor James Monroe of Virginia ordered the state militia to guard the arsenal so that the weapons stored there wouldn’t fall into Federalist hands.
Finally, Federalist Congressman James Bayard of Delaware offered to abstain from voting. Suspicions immediately emerged, that he had made a deal with Jefferson to soften the Republican agenda. Historians have given credence to these arguments based on Jefferson’s policies and decisions while in office.
So with the vote of one congressman, crisis was avoided and peaceful transfer of governance was made possible, a rare accomplishment at that time in history.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Health & Wellness: Retreat & Rejuvenate by Sue Grace
If I could pack a bag, throw it in the back of my car and head down the road for my ideal vacation, I would probably end up on an isolated Pacific Coast shoreline where I could hear sea lions barking and waves crashing and where the scenery is like something out of a sports car advertisement.
Instead, this summer I ended up in a less exotic, but beautiful, vacation spot along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in my hometown, Milwaukee. I found it restful and renewing; my husband, however, dragged his working world with him, complete with laptop and cell phone, mentally staying in his office-away-from-his-office for much of our trip.
His experience of our “vacation” is truly American. As a nation, we take less time off than workers in most other industrialized countries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 25 percent of American workers don’t receive paid vacation. And many who do skip the time off and bankroll the extra pay. Others skip it to avoid dealing with the piles of paperwork and backlog of emails they would face upon their return. Or, like my husband, they take “pseudo vacations.”
The devaluation of leisure has led to higher levels of stress among workers, and subsequently, cardiovascular problems. A Farmington Health Study, which examined women’s responses to questionnaires over a 20-year period, found that those who vacationed once every six years were eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than women who vacationed at least twice per year. Another nine-year study of 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease found that those who didn’t take a vacation at least once a year increased their risk of death from heart attack by 32 percent.
Vacation offers what is called “a respite effect.” Try out some of these ideas to provide a respite from the grind of daily living.
Electronics-free zones
· Pick a location that makes it easy to tune out. The Sheraton Hotel in Chicago has developed the “BlackBerry Check-In Program.” Guests who turn-over their PDAs are rewarded with various freebees such as complimentary dinners and free or upgraded accommodations.
· Find isolated, scenic destinations that make it easy to disconnect. One of my personal favorites is Chiricahua National Monument. Located in southeastern Arizona, the natural beauty of its rocky spires is greatly enhanced by its peace and quiet. Only dedicated nature lovers will travel to this remote location.
Retreat & Rejuvenate
· Try a retreat. Retreats provide the perfect environment for reflection and meditation. “Retreats are a means to look within ourselves in stillness and silence, to locate what may be missing in our lives…”, writes Lani Luciano in “Where the Spirit Moves You.”. Whether for spiritual renewal or for personal growth, retreat opportunities are abundantly available and very popular with Americans. The website Findthedevine.com is a good source of information on the subject.
· Add physical activity to your vacation. How about bicycling through Sonoma’s wine country? Or white water rafting on the Colorado River? Adding a physical element adds to your ability to truly relax and unwind. Once you get your heart working in the fresh air and sunshine, it is hard not to let go of one’s troubles, if only for a few days!
Instead, this summer I ended up in a less exotic, but beautiful, vacation spot along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in my hometown, Milwaukee. I found it restful and renewing; my husband, however, dragged his working world with him, complete with laptop and cell phone, mentally staying in his office-away-from-his-office for much of our trip.
His experience of our “vacation” is truly American. As a nation, we take less time off than workers in most other industrialized countries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 25 percent of American workers don’t receive paid vacation. And many who do skip the time off and bankroll the extra pay. Others skip it to avoid dealing with the piles of paperwork and backlog of emails they would face upon their return. Or, like my husband, they take “pseudo vacations.”
The devaluation of leisure has led to higher levels of stress among workers, and subsequently, cardiovascular problems. A Farmington Health Study, which examined women’s responses to questionnaires over a 20-year period, found that those who vacationed once every six years were eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than women who vacationed at least twice per year. Another nine-year study of 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease found that those who didn’t take a vacation at least once a year increased their risk of death from heart attack by 32 percent.
Vacation offers what is called “a respite effect.” Try out some of these ideas to provide a respite from the grind of daily living.
Electronics-free zones
· Pick a location that makes it easy to tune out. The Sheraton Hotel in Chicago has developed the “BlackBerry Check-In Program.” Guests who turn-over their PDAs are rewarded with various freebees such as complimentary dinners and free or upgraded accommodations.
· Find isolated, scenic destinations that make it easy to disconnect. One of my personal favorites is Chiricahua National Monument. Located in southeastern Arizona, the natural beauty of its rocky spires is greatly enhanced by its peace and quiet. Only dedicated nature lovers will travel to this remote location.
Retreat & Rejuvenate
· Try a retreat. Retreats provide the perfect environment for reflection and meditation. “Retreats are a means to look within ourselves in stillness and silence, to locate what may be missing in our lives…”, writes Lani Luciano in “Where the Spirit Moves You.”. Whether for spiritual renewal or for personal growth, retreat opportunities are abundantly available and very popular with Americans. The website Findthedevine.com is a good source of information on the subject.
· Add physical activity to your vacation. How about bicycling through Sonoma’s wine country? Or white water rafting on the Colorado River? Adding a physical element adds to your ability to truly relax and unwind. Once you get your heart working in the fresh air and sunshine, it is hard not to let go of one’s troubles, if only for a few days!
Inspiration: Walking Meditation by Shavawn M. Berry
I first experienced the meditative peace of walking during the eighteen months I lived with my mother after my father’s death. My friend Cathleen and I walked the wooded pathways of a nearby park three times a week. We did it for exercise, but also saw it as a chance to talk freely about our lives. It deepened our connection, got our hearts pumping, and cleared our minds; however, it is the solace that came from those walks that has stayed with me ever since.
Whatcom Falls Park, where we took our walks, is full of ancient evergreen trees. Its woods are home to ravens, spotted owl, deer, squirrels, and a plethora of wild birds. We usually took the same route each day, crossing down to the entrance of the park, and then heading for the duck pond. Once in a while I brought bread to feed the ducks, and a large scramble of mallards and their ducklings immediately surrounded the waters in front of me, begging and squawking as bread sailed through the air. Occasionally, even a seagull who had flown up from Bellingham Bay several miles away, joined in the fun. After we fed the birds, we’d head down a pathway that led deep into the park, crossing a small bridge over Whatcom Creek to get into a large cathedral of trees that felt like sacred ground to me.
Crossing under that thicket of trees, sunlight spattering the ground, birds calling in the distance — there was nothing that could have offered me more in terms of assuaging my grief over my father’s death, and the other losses that coincided with it, including the break-up of a long term relationship with my boyfriend. It was almost as though the trees knew me, knew my sorrows, and offered themselves as living examples of how to endure. That’s why I love trees — everything from mesquite to saguaro to willow to redwood. They endure. Barring interference from human beings, most trees will outlive us. They were here before we were born, and they will likely be standing with their branches touching the sky on the day each one of us dies. The act of walking in any natural setting — whether a state park, a mountain trail, or through someplace urban and lovely like the Desert Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix — allows us to reconnect with silence, with God, with the sound of our footsteps and heartbeat, with spirituality, and with the slow grace that accompanies peace.
Walking in nature is a meditative act. Nature can truly be a balm for whatever ails us.
I remember walking through grief. I remember the way the sky looked through an umbrella of tangled branches. I remember the sound of the river and coming face-to-face with my ability to continue living, even in the face of a very real death.
In our society’s quick worship of the automobile, some people have never had the very real pleasure of taking a walk. Try it. Go down to the promenade at Tempe Town Lake or to Papago State Park. Walk at dawn or by moonlight. Reconnect with your inner life and find out how healing a walk in nature can be.
Whatcom Falls Park, where we took our walks, is full of ancient evergreen trees. Its woods are home to ravens, spotted owl, deer, squirrels, and a plethora of wild birds. We usually took the same route each day, crossing down to the entrance of the park, and then heading for the duck pond. Once in a while I brought bread to feed the ducks, and a large scramble of mallards and their ducklings immediately surrounded the waters in front of me, begging and squawking as bread sailed through the air. Occasionally, even a seagull who had flown up from Bellingham Bay several miles away, joined in the fun. After we fed the birds, we’d head down a pathway that led deep into the park, crossing a small bridge over Whatcom Creek to get into a large cathedral of trees that felt like sacred ground to me.
Crossing under that thicket of trees, sunlight spattering the ground, birds calling in the distance — there was nothing that could have offered me more in terms of assuaging my grief over my father’s death, and the other losses that coincided with it, including the break-up of a long term relationship with my boyfriend. It was almost as though the trees knew me, knew my sorrows, and offered themselves as living examples of how to endure. That’s why I love trees — everything from mesquite to saguaro to willow to redwood. They endure. Barring interference from human beings, most trees will outlive us. They were here before we were born, and they will likely be standing with their branches touching the sky on the day each one of us dies. The act of walking in any natural setting — whether a state park, a mountain trail, or through someplace urban and lovely like the Desert Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix — allows us to reconnect with silence, with God, with the sound of our footsteps and heartbeat, with spirituality, and with the slow grace that accompanies peace.
Walking in nature is a meditative act. Nature can truly be a balm for whatever ails us.
I remember walking through grief. I remember the way the sky looked through an umbrella of tangled branches. I remember the sound of the river and coming face-to-face with my ability to continue living, even in the face of a very real death.
In our society’s quick worship of the automobile, some people have never had the very real pleasure of taking a walk. Try it. Go down to the promenade at Tempe Town Lake or to Papago State Park. Walk at dawn or by moonlight. Reconnect with your inner life and find out how healing a walk in nature can be.
Mind & Soul: Spiritual Rejuvenation Through Prayer by Elaine Yoshikawa
The benefits of prayer are numerous. The act of prayer lifts us up, enriches our souls, opens our hearts, and brings us back to a conscious relationship with God (whatever you conceive God to be). In her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, St. Therese of Lisieux says: “prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy. It has a supernatural grandeur which expands the soul and unites it with God.” When prayer originates from the depths of our hearts, it is an act of love, and all acts of authentic love rejuvenate the spirit.
This is why prayer is so important. It reminds us that we are part of something universal and that we are more than what external circumstances may indicate. In the depths of our inner being, we can encounter God who infuses us with life, breath and spirit, who renews us with His eternal presence. We can experience His divine love by accessing the deep stillness within our own being for “prayer is essentially standing face to face with God, consciously striving to remain collected and absolutely still and attentive in his presence, which means standing with an undivided mind, an undivided heart and an undivided will in the presence of the Lord...” (Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh)
There are as many types of prayers as ways to pray. St. Climacus suggests that we choose any prayer, long or short, and that we repeat the prayer slowly and deliberately, with full attention on every word. As is often the case, when the mind wanders, gently redirect the attention back to the prayer. If the words you are presenting to God are not fully attended, they are not fully possessed by you, and thus, they are not yours to give as a true offering to God. You should offer to God in prayer, only what is genuinely yours.
Thomas Keating in Open Mind Open Heart writes: “prayer is not only the offering of interior acts to God: it is the offering of ourselves, of who and what we are.” In other words, in prayer we offer all that we are to God. We pray not with words alone, but with our entire being. In contemplative prayer, in which “the Spirit prays in us and we consent,” we can experience the essence of all prayers—union with God. At this level of prayer, there is no intermediary, there is no separate will – there is only God or Spirit. The individual in prayer disappears, and it is God praying through us. In this way, God gives to us, transforms us, and deepens our relationship with Him.
In the end, when we pray, we are giving and receiving through an act of pure love. As a result, the mind, soul and spirit are refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated.
Elaine Yoshikawa, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in Philosophy at ASU, Polytechnic Campus. Her current research interests are: Virtue Ethics, Christian Ethics, Buddhist Ethics, and Happiness.
This is why prayer is so important. It reminds us that we are part of something universal and that we are more than what external circumstances may indicate. In the depths of our inner being, we can encounter God who infuses us with life, breath and spirit, who renews us with His eternal presence. We can experience His divine love by accessing the deep stillness within our own being for “prayer is essentially standing face to face with God, consciously striving to remain collected and absolutely still and attentive in his presence, which means standing with an undivided mind, an undivided heart and an undivided will in the presence of the Lord...” (Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh)
There are as many types of prayers as ways to pray. St. Climacus suggests that we choose any prayer, long or short, and that we repeat the prayer slowly and deliberately, with full attention on every word. As is often the case, when the mind wanders, gently redirect the attention back to the prayer. If the words you are presenting to God are not fully attended, they are not fully possessed by you, and thus, they are not yours to give as a true offering to God. You should offer to God in prayer, only what is genuinely yours.
Thomas Keating in Open Mind Open Heart writes: “prayer is not only the offering of interior acts to God: it is the offering of ourselves, of who and what we are.” In other words, in prayer we offer all that we are to God. We pray not with words alone, but with our entire being. In contemplative prayer, in which “the Spirit prays in us and we consent,” we can experience the essence of all prayers—union with God. At this level of prayer, there is no intermediary, there is no separate will – there is only God or Spirit. The individual in prayer disappears, and it is God praying through us. In this way, God gives to us, transforms us, and deepens our relationship with Him.
In the end, when we pray, we are giving and receiving through an act of pure love. As a result, the mind, soul and spirit are refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated.
Elaine Yoshikawa, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in Philosophy at ASU, Polytechnic Campus. Her current research interests are: Virtue Ethics, Christian Ethics, Buddhist Ethics, and Happiness.
Scribbling Down Your Trials and Tribulations by Mary Powell
When most people think of relaxation, they envision themselves sitting next to a pool with a cool Pina Colada in one hand and a Danielle Steele novel in the other. But, what most people don’t envision is sitting and typing at one’s computer; however, this can be quite therapeutic and rewarding.
Journaling can be used as a means of relaxation and therapy. Recording stressful encounters and pent up emotions helps a person clarify and alleviate feelings that would typically stress them out. For example, recording a stressful occurrence regarding a family member or work situation can help you reassess the situation and place it into perspective. I find that while I journal, my emotions feel expurgated, as if a weight of burden has been lifted off of me. I try to envision my stress being physically transferred from my thoughts onto a sheet of paper or into the computer so that the burden is literally released.
Journaling to soothing music, or describing a peaceful photograph or painting also serves as a relaxing activity. Describing the peaceful imagery of trees, plants and other rejuvenating scenes allows you to feel transported into a stress free plane. Writing about interesting quotes also helps to serve as a therapeutic journaling exercise. Choosing a quote on a theme that may be a source of stress, such as friendship or family can allow for you to think about that experience, and release pent up emotions. Quotes of empowerment can also provide you with an encouraging writing topic.
Research shows that journaling has several health benefits, including decreased symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It also improves cognitive functioning and strengthens the immune system. One word of caution, if you are using journaling as a means of relaxation do not be too concerned about writing a perfect piece of prose or perfect penmanship as journaling can then become a means of stress. Also, when recording negative feelings it is important to add thoughts of encouragement to yourself, as well as the positive aspects of the situation so that the writing experience is not a negative, stressful one (Scott about.com).
Many women like knitting, sewing or scrap- booking as stress alleviating hobbies. But next time, try journaling instead. In the fast paced world of instant messaging, texting, My Space and blogging, you just may be surprised at how relaxing it feels to scribble down your day’s trials and tribulations.
Journaling can be used as a means of relaxation and therapy. Recording stressful encounters and pent up emotions helps a person clarify and alleviate feelings that would typically stress them out. For example, recording a stressful occurrence regarding a family member or work situation can help you reassess the situation and place it into perspective. I find that while I journal, my emotions feel expurgated, as if a weight of burden has been lifted off of me. I try to envision my stress being physically transferred from my thoughts onto a sheet of paper or into the computer so that the burden is literally released.
Journaling to soothing music, or describing a peaceful photograph or painting also serves as a relaxing activity. Describing the peaceful imagery of trees, plants and other rejuvenating scenes allows you to feel transported into a stress free plane. Writing about interesting quotes also helps to serve as a therapeutic journaling exercise. Choosing a quote on a theme that may be a source of stress, such as friendship or family can allow for you to think about that experience, and release pent up emotions. Quotes of empowerment can also provide you with an encouraging writing topic.
Research shows that journaling has several health benefits, including decreased symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It also improves cognitive functioning and strengthens the immune system. One word of caution, if you are using journaling as a means of relaxation do not be too concerned about writing a perfect piece of prose or perfect penmanship as journaling can then become a means of stress. Also, when recording negative feelings it is important to add thoughts of encouragement to yourself, as well as the positive aspects of the situation so that the writing experience is not a negative, stressful one (Scott about.com).
Many women like knitting, sewing or scrap- booking as stress alleviating hobbies. But next time, try journaling instead. In the fast paced world of instant messaging, texting, My Space and blogging, you just may be surprised at how relaxing it feels to scribble down your day’s trials and tribulations.
STUDENT INTERNS SOUGHT...
STUDENT INTERNS SOUGHT...
To work on Global Thinking Women’s Newsletter or on creating other exciting opportunities for thinking women in our area. Do you love to write, have an aptitude for editing or proofing, or enjoy graphic design? Do you love to plan events?
Do you want to gain valuable experience?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
Contact Kim Eagles at kim_eagles@msn.com
or Shavawn Berry at shavawn.berry@asu.edu
for more information
To work on Global Thinking Women’s Newsletter or on creating other exciting opportunities for thinking women in our area. Do you love to write, have an aptitude for editing or proofing, or enjoy graphic design? Do you love to plan events?
Do you want to gain valuable experience?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
Contact Kim Eagles at kim_eagles@msn.com
or Shavawn Berry at shavawn.berry@asu.edu
for more information
Travel: How to Find a Charming, Beautiful Hotel by Marcela Marenco
A trip starts with the place you choose to stay at. The view of the city will definitely be marked by this decision, so invest the time to choose right.
Many people believe that a good hotel has to belong to one of the big chains, but that is not always the case. A good hotel choice is based upon two important characteristics: service and location.
First up: Service.
A hotel can be gorgeous inside and out, but if your stay starts with a bumpy arrival, or you find yourself in a battle to get decent service, or if your checkout from said hotel was a complete fiasco — those are going to be the things you will remember about your trip. You have to feel a sense of joy when your day is over and you think of going back to your hotel. If you dread returning to your “home away from home,” the hotel is not worth what you have paid for it, no matter how many stars it may have garnered.
The other crucial element: Location
Location is a key ingredient to an enjoyable trip. The area should be safe and central. You don’t want to be taking taxis in a city you are not familiar with (for obvious reasons), so minimize your exposure to the need for an excessive amount of transportation by choosing wisely. Here in the States it might be a little more difficult to avoid taxi rides, but in Europe, for example, where everything is generally close by, there is no reason to choose a place far from town. Plus, the pleasure of leaving the hotel and being in the middle of all the wonderful movement and action of a strange city can be quite exciting!
So, how do you find a wonderful hotel?
Besides using travel books and relying on the personal recommendations of friends, you can use the Internet! We have such a wonderful cyber-tool at our fingertips, that it would be a waste not to use it! It takes time to search out the real gems, of course, but traveling is usually an investment, so do your homework.
Read about the city, and then find the hotels that are consistently recommended. Read all the reviews people post online about each place. Pay attention to where the reviewers are from. For an American, the room might have been “too small” because everything here is so big, while for others room size might have not been an issue. Every detail counts. And most importantly? Have fun with exploring your options in discovering that “charming hideaway” you have always wanted to visit! You won’t regret it!
Many people believe that a good hotel has to belong to one of the big chains, but that is not always the case. A good hotel choice is based upon two important characteristics: service and location.
First up: Service.
A hotel can be gorgeous inside and out, but if your stay starts with a bumpy arrival, or you find yourself in a battle to get decent service, or if your checkout from said hotel was a complete fiasco — those are going to be the things you will remember about your trip. You have to feel a sense of joy when your day is over and you think of going back to your hotel. If you dread returning to your “home away from home,” the hotel is not worth what you have paid for it, no matter how many stars it may have garnered.
The other crucial element: Location
Location is a key ingredient to an enjoyable trip. The area should be safe and central. You don’t want to be taking taxis in a city you are not familiar with (for obvious reasons), so minimize your exposure to the need for an excessive amount of transportation by choosing wisely. Here in the States it might be a little more difficult to avoid taxi rides, but in Europe, for example, where everything is generally close by, there is no reason to choose a place far from town. Plus, the pleasure of leaving the hotel and being in the middle of all the wonderful movement and action of a strange city can be quite exciting!
So, how do you find a wonderful hotel?
Besides using travel books and relying on the personal recommendations of friends, you can use the Internet! We have such a wonderful cyber-tool at our fingertips, that it would be a waste not to use it! It takes time to search out the real gems, of course, but traveling is usually an investment, so do your homework.
Read about the city, and then find the hotels that are consistently recommended. Read all the reviews people post online about each place. Pay attention to where the reviewers are from. For an American, the room might have been “too small” because everything here is so big, while for others room size might have not been an issue. Every detail counts. And most importantly? Have fun with exploring your options in discovering that “charming hideaway” you have always wanted to visit! You won’t regret it!
Film & Television: Confessions of a Soap Opera Addict by Julianne White
“You sound like my father.”
That was enough to shut him up. My husband hates being compared to my father. But really, he sounded just like him. Dad’s favorite thing to say to me when I sit down to watch my soaps is, “How can an educated, intelligent woman sit still for such tripe?” Shawn had just said much the same thing to me. My usual response is, “Because I like them.”
I’ve tried explaining that they are like novels that never end and that continually introduce new characters. I’ve tried explaining that they make me laugh with their ridiculousness at times. I’ve tried explaining that they are my “down time” during the day, when I can just be mindless and I don’t have to be smart or “on” (that one never works; I have a reputation for expending a great deal of mental energy analyzing the storylines and character development of soaps, sometimes publishing some of my findings in academic journals, so that argument doesn’t usually go over very well.) After nearly 40 years of watching these perpetual novels, though, I have given up trying to explain it to those around me who do not understand. I now simply say, “I’m watching. Deal with it.”
I know all the marks against them. I know that their storylines can be downright ridiculous. I know that the characters are often baffling, and that the acting is sometimes really bad. I once made a list of those things that drive the “uninitiated” away:
· Convenient attacks of amnesia, and recoveries timed to coincide with ratings “sweeps” periods;
· Melodramatic death scenes, often that are over-the-top; also, many (some would say too many) instances of characters who disappear after an accident, are declared dead, and return later (usually after Pilot Season in Los Angeles is over);
· Convenient moments of eavesdropping, hearing the absolute wrong thing, and then acting on misinformation that often leads to misunderstandings (at best) or tragedy (at worst);
· Dramatic pauses, timed for commercial breaks or weekends;
· Weddings interrupted at the altar with last-minute confessions;
· Constant paternity questions; often, on a single soap, there might be no child ever conceived of two parents who loved each other and were in an exclusive, loving, supportive relationship;
· Constant near-confessions, followed by , first, a commercial break, then an interruption (phone, doorbell, whatever), then, a change of heart and lame-sounding (to everyone except the person on the screen listening) excuse to cover up and mislead;
· Lies, lies, and more lies (no one in Soap Opera Land every tells the truth the first time);
· Character who “die,” only to return later (no one ever really dies in Soap Opera Land). This is separate from the annoyance described above about unrecovered bodies because when the story was actually written, the character really dies; following many years and, perhaps, the change of the head writer, though, the character is mysteriously brought back to life;
· And time that stretches and changes to accommodate a storyline; for example, a pregnancy that lasts for 12 months, or a school year that begins in October (this one was famously spoofed by that wonderful satire from the late 70s/early 80s, Soap).
My friend Robin and I began calling it Soap Opera Land to distinguish it from reality. Things happen there that are not possible in Real Life. Soap Opera Land is a place where the Physical Properties of the Universe Hold No Sway. (We did the same thing for watching “Star Trek,” only we called it “Definitions,” such as, a “Class M planet” means: “Looks like California.”) In order to watch and actually enjoy soap operas, therefore, one must have no qualms or hesitations about indulging in a healthy dose of what Coleridge called a “willing suspension of disbelief.” Men in general (who are represented here by my husband and my father) and all those other non-believers out there are missing this key ingredient, without which it is impossible to enjoy the genre. Next time: Why suspending disbelief is fun!
That was enough to shut him up. My husband hates being compared to my father. But really, he sounded just like him. Dad’s favorite thing to say to me when I sit down to watch my soaps is, “How can an educated, intelligent woman sit still for such tripe?” Shawn had just said much the same thing to me. My usual response is, “Because I like them.”
I’ve tried explaining that they are like novels that never end and that continually introduce new characters. I’ve tried explaining that they make me laugh with their ridiculousness at times. I’ve tried explaining that they are my “down time” during the day, when I can just be mindless and I don’t have to be smart or “on” (that one never works; I have a reputation for expending a great deal of mental energy analyzing the storylines and character development of soaps, sometimes publishing some of my findings in academic journals, so that argument doesn’t usually go over very well.) After nearly 40 years of watching these perpetual novels, though, I have given up trying to explain it to those around me who do not understand. I now simply say, “I’m watching. Deal with it.”
I know all the marks against them. I know that their storylines can be downright ridiculous. I know that the characters are often baffling, and that the acting is sometimes really bad. I once made a list of those things that drive the “uninitiated” away:
· Convenient attacks of amnesia, and recoveries timed to coincide with ratings “sweeps” periods;
· Melodramatic death scenes, often that are over-the-top; also, many (some would say too many) instances of characters who disappear after an accident, are declared dead, and return later (usually after Pilot Season in Los Angeles is over);
· Convenient moments of eavesdropping, hearing the absolute wrong thing, and then acting on misinformation that often leads to misunderstandings (at best) or tragedy (at worst);
· Dramatic pauses, timed for commercial breaks or weekends;
· Weddings interrupted at the altar with last-minute confessions;
· Constant paternity questions; often, on a single soap, there might be no child ever conceived of two parents who loved each other and were in an exclusive, loving, supportive relationship;
· Constant near-confessions, followed by , first, a commercial break, then an interruption (phone, doorbell, whatever), then, a change of heart and lame-sounding (to everyone except the person on the screen listening) excuse to cover up and mislead;
· Lies, lies, and more lies (no one in Soap Opera Land every tells the truth the first time);
· Character who “die,” only to return later (no one ever really dies in Soap Opera Land). This is separate from the annoyance described above about unrecovered bodies because when the story was actually written, the character really dies; following many years and, perhaps, the change of the head writer, though, the character is mysteriously brought back to life;
· And time that stretches and changes to accommodate a storyline; for example, a pregnancy that lasts for 12 months, or a school year that begins in October (this one was famously spoofed by that wonderful satire from the late 70s/early 80s, Soap).
My friend Robin and I began calling it Soap Opera Land to distinguish it from reality. Things happen there that are not possible in Real Life. Soap Opera Land is a place where the Physical Properties of the Universe Hold No Sway. (We did the same thing for watching “Star Trek,” only we called it “Definitions,” such as, a “Class M planet” means: “Looks like California.”) In order to watch and actually enjoy soap operas, therefore, one must have no qualms or hesitations about indulging in a healthy dose of what Coleridge called a “willing suspension of disbelief.” Men in general (who are represented here by my husband and my father) and all those other non-believers out there are missing this key ingredient, without which it is impossible to enjoy the genre. Next time: Why suspending disbelief is fun!
GLOBAL THINKING WOMEN.
ARIZONA THINKING WOMEN have become GLOBAL THINKING WOMEN.
You may have noticed that our name has changed. At a meeting at the end of August it was decided to make our name more inclusive, so we chose “Global Thinking Women.” We considered just plain, “Thinking Women” but others had beaten us to the punch on that one! We are in the midst of writing up our goals and objectives, and will share them once they are solidified. In the meantime, we hope you appreciate our new moniker as a sign of our deep desire to reach out to thinking women everywhere!
You may have noticed that our name has changed. At a meeting at the end of August it was decided to make our name more inclusive, so we chose “Global Thinking Women.” We considered just plain, “Thinking Women” but others had beaten us to the punch on that one! We are in the midst of writing up our goals and objectives, and will share them once they are solidified. In the meantime, we hope you appreciate our new moniker as a sign of our deep desire to reach out to thinking women everywhere!
Foods To Help You Catch Enough Z’s...by Mary Powell
Ben Franklin once said “Fatigue is the best pillow.” But what if you are fatigued and still can’t get to sleep? There are a few healthy snacks that can help you overcome this dilemma.
According to the Sleep Aid Center, there are ten foods that aid in obtaining a healthy night’s rest. Warm milk contains tryptophan - an amino acid that acts as a sedative, as well as calcium, which helps the brain use the tryptophan. Turkey also has tryptophan, which triggers that sleepy feeling after a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Honey allows the brain to stop producing Orexin, a neurotransmitter that makes our brains alert. Try mixing some honey in a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime and you should feel sleepy. Other sleep aid foods are bananas, which contain serotonin, melatonin and magnesium; magnesium aids in muscle relaxation. Whole wheat bread, flaxseed, almonds and potatoes also aid in a good night’s rest. If you are watching your diet; however, you will not want to eat carbohydrates within three hours before bedtime as it is more difficult to burn these off while you are inactive.
The Sleep Aid Center states that spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol should all be avoided near bedtime. Although alcohol can make a person feel drowsy, it can cause sleepers to reawaken several times during the night.
There are people who brag that they don’t need much sleep; however, lack of sleep can cause devastating health consequences. Researchers, at the University of Chicago, have found a connection between deep sleep deprivation and Type 2 diabetes. As well, people gain weight from lack of sleep as Leptin and Grehlin are hormones that help the body maintain a stable body weight. When a person does not obtain enough sleep, levels of Grehlin increase, causing a greater appetite, while levels of Leptin, an appetite suppressant, decrease. This can actually lead to obesity over time (Sleep Aid Center).
So despite forewarnings about eating before bed time, do not hesitate to feast on a small piece of turkey, sip a cup of chamomile with honey, or have a handful of nuts before bedtime. Those snacks may aid in eradicating insomnia, along with type 2 diabetes and weight gain.
Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of careThe death of each day's life, sore labour's bathBalm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,Chief nourisher in life's feast.
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
According to the Sleep Aid Center, there are ten foods that aid in obtaining a healthy night’s rest. Warm milk contains tryptophan - an amino acid that acts as a sedative, as well as calcium, which helps the brain use the tryptophan. Turkey also has tryptophan, which triggers that sleepy feeling after a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Honey allows the brain to stop producing Orexin, a neurotransmitter that makes our brains alert. Try mixing some honey in a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime and you should feel sleepy. Other sleep aid foods are bananas, which contain serotonin, melatonin and magnesium; magnesium aids in muscle relaxation. Whole wheat bread, flaxseed, almonds and potatoes also aid in a good night’s rest. If you are watching your diet; however, you will not want to eat carbohydrates within three hours before bedtime as it is more difficult to burn these off while you are inactive.
The Sleep Aid Center states that spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol should all be avoided near bedtime. Although alcohol can make a person feel drowsy, it can cause sleepers to reawaken several times during the night.
There are people who brag that they don’t need much sleep; however, lack of sleep can cause devastating health consequences. Researchers, at the University of Chicago, have found a connection between deep sleep deprivation and Type 2 diabetes. As well, people gain weight from lack of sleep as Leptin and Grehlin are hormones that help the body maintain a stable body weight. When a person does not obtain enough sleep, levels of Grehlin increase, causing a greater appetite, while levels of Leptin, an appetite suppressant, decrease. This can actually lead to obesity over time (Sleep Aid Center).
So despite forewarnings about eating before bed time, do not hesitate to feast on a small piece of turkey, sip a cup of chamomile with honey, or have a handful of nuts before bedtime. Those snacks may aid in eradicating insomnia, along with type 2 diabetes and weight gain.
Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of careThe death of each day's life, sore labour's bathBalm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,Chief nourisher in life's feast.
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
Just Breathe by Kim Eagles
Breathing correctly affects our ability to maintain good health. Who knew that every breath we take impacts our brain, acts as a stress reducer, prevents mental sluggishness, and assists in good digestion and physical endurance?
Interestingly, during the recent 2008 Olympics in Beijing China announcers would elaborate and give specific details about the athlete’s performance, technique, conditioning and mastery of their individual sport. More importantly, they talked extensively about how controlling the breath was just as essential to their performance as perfecting their sporting abilities was. For some of those champions, effective breathing made the difference between winning a medal or not placing in the top three in their event. Proper breathing is also extremely important to those of us who, perhaps, are not so Olympian in our physical abilities! According to Yoga experts, breathing is important for several reasons. It is the only means to give our bodies and our various organs the supply of oxygen vital to our survival, as well as get rid of waste products and toxins. Oxygen is the most vital nutrient our bodies need. It is essential for the integrity of the brain and our nervous system. If our brain doesn't get enough good oxygen, the results are mental sluggishness, negative thoughts and depression. If our deprivation continues, eventually vision and hearing may decline. Older individuals and those whose arteries are clogged often suffer from senility as a result of oxygen deprivation to the brain. Poor oxygen supply affects all parts of the body. We feel tired, nervous, and irritable. Generally, in this state we are not very productive. It may also cause us to sleep badly at night; in addition, it lowers functioning of the immune system, making us susceptible to catching colds, flu, and other bugs.
In an article called “Keep Breathing” posted on a Respiratory Therapy blog, the author explains a bit more about the effect of breathing on our well-being: “… The truth is that breathing goes further beyond other body functions in that we can voluntarily control it. Most body functions are essential, but it’s very difficult to control the rate or speed at which blood is filtered through for good digestion. But breathing! It’s a simple matter of brain power to inhale deeply, hold your breath for a moment, and let it go. The ability to control your breathing (to an extent) gives you a lot of power over yourself. Next time you’re stressed out, stop yourself and take in a very deep breath. Fill your lungs until they feel like they’re going to explode. Close your eyes, hold it for a moment, and slowly let it out through pursed lips. Repeat this exercises a few times, making sure to breathe deeply and slowly. I can’t make you any promises, but I bet you feel a little more relaxed” (http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com). Obviously, the positive affects of breathing are far reaching. This essential, natural, bodily function is expressed deeply throughout our lifetime. We may hear the power of our breath in love songs to denote emotional affection; in tests of physical endurance; in our anticipation of a baby’s first breath; or in saying goodbye to a loved one as she expels one final breath at the end of her life. We’d be wise to remember that our next breath is not promised to us. So, let’s breathe in life as a gift, and consider our breath for its therapeutic and healing attributes every single day.
Interestingly, during the recent 2008 Olympics in Beijing China announcers would elaborate and give specific details about the athlete’s performance, technique, conditioning and mastery of their individual sport. More importantly, they talked extensively about how controlling the breath was just as essential to their performance as perfecting their sporting abilities was. For some of those champions, effective breathing made the difference between winning a medal or not placing in the top three in their event. Proper breathing is also extremely important to those of us who, perhaps, are not so Olympian in our physical abilities! According to Yoga experts, breathing is important for several reasons. It is the only means to give our bodies and our various organs the supply of oxygen vital to our survival, as well as get rid of waste products and toxins. Oxygen is the most vital nutrient our bodies need. It is essential for the integrity of the brain and our nervous system. If our brain doesn't get enough good oxygen, the results are mental sluggishness, negative thoughts and depression. If our deprivation continues, eventually vision and hearing may decline. Older individuals and those whose arteries are clogged often suffer from senility as a result of oxygen deprivation to the brain. Poor oxygen supply affects all parts of the body. We feel tired, nervous, and irritable. Generally, in this state we are not very productive. It may also cause us to sleep badly at night; in addition, it lowers functioning of the immune system, making us susceptible to catching colds, flu, and other bugs.
In an article called “Keep Breathing” posted on a Respiratory Therapy blog, the author explains a bit more about the effect of breathing on our well-being: “… The truth is that breathing goes further beyond other body functions in that we can voluntarily control it. Most body functions are essential, but it’s very difficult to control the rate or speed at which blood is filtered through for good digestion. But breathing! It’s a simple matter of brain power to inhale deeply, hold your breath for a moment, and let it go. The ability to control your breathing (to an extent) gives you a lot of power over yourself. Next time you’re stressed out, stop yourself and take in a very deep breath. Fill your lungs until they feel like they’re going to explode. Close your eyes, hold it for a moment, and slowly let it out through pursed lips. Repeat this exercises a few times, making sure to breathe deeply and slowly. I can’t make you any promises, but I bet you feel a little more relaxed” (http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com). Obviously, the positive affects of breathing are far reaching. This essential, natural, bodily function is expressed deeply throughout our lifetime. We may hear the power of our breath in love songs to denote emotional affection; in tests of physical endurance; in our anticipation of a baby’s first breath; or in saying goodbye to a loved one as she expels one final breath at the end of her life. We’d be wise to remember that our next breath is not promised to us. So, let’s breathe in life as a gift, and consider our breath for its therapeutic and healing attributes every single day.
September, for me, is a time of new beginnings. From the Editor
As a kid I loved September because the days started to cool, leaves on maple and oak trees began to change color, the air took on a moist earthy tang, and a new school year began.
This month Global Thinking Women are reflecting on the subject of rest and rejuvenation. Knowing that my tendency is to overfill my cup in terms of commitments and responsibilities, it seems to appropriate to consider the real need to remind myself that just as the ocean ebbs and flows, so should my life. As human beings, we need rest. We need down time to care for our weary bodies and minds. We need peace and quiet to contemplate our spirituality and our place in the world. We cannot always be crashing like waves onto the shore; we also need to pull back, re-group, and reassess, prior to rushing forward again.
Now that I teach college, September is typically the beginning of a new academic year with all of its attendant flurry and frenzy. I always have more to do that there are hours in the day; however, a part of me enjoys the frantic aspect of the preparations, the excitement of meeting new students, and the freshness of the young minds I encounter as another year begins. The trick is to remember to incorporate time for rest into this new and exciting time. Even if it is just planning a lunch with a friend allowing yourself time to sit and talk about the detritus of life, or making time to lay in bed with a good book, doing so allows your mind to wander to new places and find sustenance in the process. We must remember that in order to be able to work and play at our optimum energy and capability, rest and renewal are crucial. Our bodies need time to dream and time to rest.
This month, let’s take time to breathe in the beauty of life. Slow down. Take a nap. Sit with a cup of green tea and read from a book of poems by Rilke or Langston Hughes or Theodore Roethke. Sleep on the couch, snuggled up with the love of your life. Admire the lovely fluff of your cat’s tail.
Slow down and savor your life.
This month Global Thinking Women are reflecting on the subject of rest and rejuvenation. Knowing that my tendency is to overfill my cup in terms of commitments and responsibilities, it seems to appropriate to consider the real need to remind myself that just as the ocean ebbs and flows, so should my life. As human beings, we need rest. We need down time to care for our weary bodies and minds. We need peace and quiet to contemplate our spirituality and our place in the world. We cannot always be crashing like waves onto the shore; we also need to pull back, re-group, and reassess, prior to rushing forward again.
Now that I teach college, September is typically the beginning of a new academic year with all of its attendant flurry and frenzy. I always have more to do that there are hours in the day; however, a part of me enjoys the frantic aspect of the preparations, the excitement of meeting new students, and the freshness of the young minds I encounter as another year begins. The trick is to remember to incorporate time for rest into this new and exciting time. Even if it is just planning a lunch with a friend allowing yourself time to sit and talk about the detritus of life, or making time to lay in bed with a good book, doing so allows your mind to wander to new places and find sustenance in the process. We must remember that in order to be able to work and play at our optimum energy and capability, rest and renewal are crucial. Our bodies need time to dream and time to rest.
This month, let’s take time to breathe in the beauty of life. Slow down. Take a nap. Sit with a cup of green tea and read from a book of poems by Rilke or Langston Hughes or Theodore Roethke. Sleep on the couch, snuggled up with the love of your life. Admire the lovely fluff of your cat’s tail.
Slow down and savor your life.
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