Graphs on Google

Since Google has digitized millions of books published since 1800, you can type in a word or phrase or sentence and see a graph of its occurrence over time in English as well as other languages. Here is the graph of the word 'gay,' which was used frequently in the early 1800's, but apparently had a different meaning. From 1960 on, the word 'gay' has resurfaced to a peak in 2000.

Graph these case-sensitive comma-separated phrases:

between and

We can see the word 'lesbian' is not all that popular, or nonexistent until 1960. This goes along with feminist, though there are rumblings of the word as early as 1900.  Graph these case-sensitive comma-separated phrases: between and   Graph these case-sensitive comma-separated phrases: between and

Tips for Meditation

Since March I've been attempting to meditate everyday. My duration depends on the day, sometimes 45, 30, 20 or 15 minute sessions. I have a 'sacred' space in my room, with a candle and a Buddha statue. Most of the longer sessions I've completed have been in classes. I've attended several classes lately at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, such as: The Way of Awareness: An Introduction to Vipassana Meditation. 

It's motivating to hear the teachings and be with others.  

To motivate me further there is a nifty application that I downloaded on my iTouch called "Insight Timer." There are several applications to choose from, but I like Insight Timer best. You can keep data on how often you meditate, the duration per day, and the total duration over weeks and months. So far I've meditated a total of 11 hours, 42 minutes. Best of all you can connect with other people worldwide. 

Another tip is that I don't judge myself in comparison to other times I've tried to meditate. Sometimes I do think: "Oh my God. I'm so distracted!" But then I just refocus myself and bring myself back to my breath, my body sensations, or noises in the environment. Luckily my kitties have gotten used to my meditation, and don't bother too much anymore!

I also use mantras to focus. I repeat the loving kindness mantras as follows: 

"May I have mental happiness."

"May I have physical happiness." 

"May I be at peace with the comings and goings of events."

Sometimes I branch out from myself and focus on beloved others, but mostly I'm at the first stages of loving-kindness and you are instructed to begin with yourself. Sharon Salzberg's book "Loving-Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness" is a must read.

Also I find Susan Piver's books, website, and videos to be incredibly helpful.  

I am just a beginner. Here is some of my data.

Date             Duration (Minutes)       Total Days Meditating

05-21-2012 20:47,15.0,                  33 

05-20-2012 21:12,20.0,

05-19-2012 18:19,15.0,                  Average Time

05-18-2012 19:35,30.0,                  20.6 minutes

05-13-2012 19:00,30.0,

05-12-2012 22:09,15.0,                  Total Time

05-11-2012 21:13,15.0,                  11 hours, 42 minutes

05-10-2012 20:11,20.0,

05-09-2012 17:00,30.0,

05-07-2012 19:00,45.0,

05-05-2012 19:22,30.0,

05-02-2012 17:48,20.0,

04-30-2012 21:48,30.0,

04-09-2012 22:34,30.0,

04-02-2012 23:00,20.0,

04-01-2012 15:47,20.0,

03-28-2012 19:27,20.0,

03-25-2012 15:29,10.0,

03-24-2012 18:24,20.0,

03-23-2012 16:16,20.0,

03-21-2012 21:01,15.0,

03-21-2012 18:48,15.0,

03-20-2012 17:02,20.0,

03-19-2012 23:24,25.0,

03-14-2012 19:05,15.0,

03-13-2012 17:31,20.0,

03-12-2012 21:38,25.0,

03-11-2012 21:08,15.0,

03-10-2012 15:05,15.0,

03-06-2012 19:52,15.0,

03-05-2012 19:39,15.0,

03-04-2012 15:36,15.0,

03-03-2012 15:50,17.0,

Hillary Clinton on Human Rights

Here's a speech Hillary Clinton recently delivered at the International Human Rights Day Convention in Geneva, Switzerland. She talks about worldwide human rights in general, but is brave enough to address LGTB rights in particular. This woman is my heroine, and now you can see why.

Jennifer Bonardi is Famous

My friend Jennifer Bonardi was recently featured on local television, on the BNN News. She's the executive director of the Ford Hall Forum run by Suffolk University. For over 100 years, the Ford Hall Forum lecture series has invited various speakers on numerous topics, and has held panels, debates, and lectures for free. Listen to her spiel. 

What My Grandfathers Made in 1940

Grandparents Gwen & Hjalmar on left, 1930's

With the 1940 census just being released at the beginning of April, 2012, I've already perused it. Most of the information I know, like the names of my family members, and their birth dates, etc... Though it is still exciting to witness history captured in time, the census seemingly doesn't add much detail to the family story. However the 1940 census recorded salary information, so I looked up what each of my grandfathers made in 1940. 

Surprisingly, both were employed, which I guess during the Depression was a feat in itself. Not surprisingly, my grandfather Taylor (my dad's father) made more money than my grandfather Grimstad. I say 'not surprisingly' because my grandfather Taylor was a U.S. citizen. My mother's father, on the other hand, was a Norwegian immigrant and also not a U.S. citizen at the time. I'm assuming it made a difference in terms of employment opportunities. 

  

My grandfather in 1957, still at Elliott

I know my grandfather Grimstad worked as a painter, and probably received a salary 'under the table.' He made 340 dollars in the year 1940. My dad's father William worked as a printer machinist at The Elliott Addressing Machine Company in Cambridge. The building still stands in Central Sq. In fact, my grandfather William served as an auxiliary military police officer during the war from 1943-44, as a guard for the company. In 1940, he made 1,130 dollars.

Henri, the Existential Cat

Life is an absurd delusion......

Utah!

Hoodoos

Bryce Canyon Navajo Loop Trail

My recent trip to Utah was absolutely amazing. For an 'outdoor enthusiast' like me, Utah is a place of outstanding beauty and scenery. During my week there, I did a lot of driving, but I got to re-visit Zion, visit Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyon Lands, Arches National Park, and Natural Bridges National Park in the short period of time I was there. The weather was mainly good, varying in temperature and conditions from falling snow to desert. I think Bryce was my favorite, but all these parks are amazing.

Trish and Jonathan are volunteering as rangers at Natural Bridges National Park, in Blanding, Utah, and I got to stay with them one day. Highlights were a hike Jonathan and I did, in which we saw Indian ruins up on a cliff, and mating frogs making quite a racket. We also saw one of the 'natural bridges,' which has a huge crack in the middle of it. We didn't see any rattlesnakes or mountain lions, (thank goddess as far as I'm concerned) though a few days later Jonathan got to visit a rattlesnake den.  

Jonathan and I also went out that night and gazed at the stars. The Natural Bridges National Park is famous for its dark skies, and star gazing. There are little interfering city lights emanating from earth. We did see an amazing display, and I would say the clarity was similar to parts of Maine I've seen, but the vastness of the sky was far larger. Also, we saw what must have been a meteorite or comet. It shot across the sky, and was visible for about 3 to 4 seconds. Jonathan and I had our bonding moment. Sniff sniff.

Hamming It Up

I realize how much I miss Jonathan when I see this video. I laugh about every 3 1/2 seconds when I'm with him. Here we are--- Jonathan, Trish, MK and I at the Los Padres National Park in California. Johnathan makes up a song, and MK notes danger nearby.

Steph's Birthday Party!

Here is the entire recording of the "We Love Steph Show," recorded at MK studios in downtown Waltham, MA. As you can see, many local celebrities made cameo appearances. Many haikus were recited.

Now They Know How Many Holes It Takes

On the second banner day in the Los Angeles area Jonathan, Trish, MK and I headed out to Rancho Palas Verdes. This was a great walk along the ocean, right beside a huge golf course owned by Donald Trump. We were intrigued by the cacti along the trail, so close to the beach. We also saw little lizards darting about, and frolicking rabbits. 

After walking for a bit, we climbed down a series of switchbacks and sat on the beach for awhile. Twas bliss indeed. We saw some sea anemones none of us could identify, and I collected several stones with perfectly smooth, bored holes. I have seen stones affected by the current of the ocean before, but these holes seemed purposeful. Some were little tunnels right through the center of the rock, and you could just about stick your fat finger inside. 

Turns out these holes are likely made by a sea creature called the bivalve piddock mollusk. They reside inside the stone for awhile, sometimes leaving their shell behind. I did find many rocks with shells inside. Hail to these little critters for making an interesting day at the beach.

Laziness

I love Susan Piver's work. She is the author of "The Wisdom of a Broken Heart," and a member of the local Shambhala Center here in Brookline MA that I attend! She has an Open Heart Project website, which I signed up for. Everyday she emails out tips about meditation, information about Buddhist philosophy, and practice videos. I love her! Here is a video on laziness which I related to so much today. My only thought is: she doesn't talk about the antidote to laziness! (Oh, that's coming Monday)

According to the Buddhists, Laziness is:

1. Regular Laziness (inertia) 

2. Disheartened Laziness

3. Being 'too busy' laziness

The #1 Obstacle to Meditation Practice from susan piver on Vimeo.

We're looking at the big sky

On the way back from our banner day at Los Padres National Park, the day couldn't have gotten any more bannerish until Trish and I spotted these odd cloud formations off the freeway near the Pyramid Lake region. 

Trish took several photographs as well, and I wouldn't mind seeing them. Trish, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Ha Ha!

The sunset wasn't bad either.

Los Padres National Park pt. 3

As we drove around Los Padres National Park, we passed some beautiful scenery. There were plenty of pull-offs to stop and take pictures and breathe the air. All in all, friends, it was a banner day etched in the Baron's mind like none other!

MK handled those hair-pin turns with a smile; I was in the 
back seat having several heart attacks & strokes

Los Padres National Park pt. 2

Here are some action shots from our second hike the Los Padres National Park. As far as hiking goes, I'm afraid we didn't go far and brave the elements much. We walked enough, though, to get a sense of the trail. The vast blue sky is perhaps the most prominent aspect in my mind. The varied vegetation also is an experience. We saw a tree with an amazing, smooth, skin-like bark. Also, there are pine trees in the park that grow gigantic pine cones! Literally the size of a child's head! Unfortunately, we couldn't find any intact ones, though it would have been awkward to take back on the plane anyway.

A Kulig in the wilderness without much food

What kind of tree are you?

Los Padres National Park pt. 1

The wayward companions

On the first full day in Los Angeles, we all packed up and drove to the Los Padres National Park in Kern County California. Jonathan drove because I was leery about the LA freeway.

Los Padres National park is a beautiful park nestled in the Sierra Madre mountain range, among other mountain ranges. When we first arrived we saw a hummingbird feeding near the visitor center. She was a gorgeous purple and dark green color.

The park was quiet with few visitors, even though it was a Monday holiday. We went on two hikes, one short loop through the woods, and another longer jaunt more out in the open. We bravely forded several streams, and we saw many backpackers heading out of the outback from their weekend travels. 

We stopped a lot along the road to take pictures. The park reminded me a bit of Mt. Rainier.

Jonathan and El Burro

We also stopped in the nearby town of Ojai, where there was a Buddhist retreat center, and the smell of incense wafting through the air. 

Red Rock Canyon

On Thursday of last week Trish and I visited Red Rock Canyon, in the Cantil and Mojave area of California. It was a long drive, but well worth the welcome sparsity, isolation and beautiful sights seen. In a couple of hours you can escape the overwhelmingly, densely populated human hub of Los Angeles.

I do not mind the kind of driving the desert area offers--- long open horizon, vast blue sky, nothing but tumbleweeds and cacti and joshua trees on the side of the highway. It seems like driving in the desert should take hours, though I do occasionally have panicked visions of the car breaking down in the middle of no where, and lack of water.

We stopped in a visitor center in Mojave. The lovely lady there offered us tips and information. Trish got a few free posters, and I wandered around examining the book and map collection. We also ate lunch in a Subway in Mojave, which was surprisingly crowded, and visited a thrift store.

We walked around the desert, though not for very long. The heat was overbearing. The rock formations in Red Rock are extremely odd looking, in a spooky, other-worldly way. I put my hand on the 'rock' wall and discovered that it could be chipped away easily.

That's me up there yonder

Many little lizards ran around, but not much else. I did see plenty of tantalizing signs of life in the sand, though, mostly tracks of the nocturnal creatures. I stopped and looked at a rattlesnake warning poster. I kind of wanted to see a rattlesnake, but not really.

Topanga Canyon

Day three in the Los Angeles area brought me to Topanga Canyon in Calabasas Highlands, California. I dropped MK off in the morning in downtown LA, and then headed out on the freeway. It was not far. I was just about there when Jonathan called and said that he and Trish were driving out to meet me. I welcomed the company. especially in case of cougar attack.

Once again it was a beautiful day, and I had no complaints except that for some reason I wasn't feeling so well physically. The hiking and adjustment to the very hot weather seemed difficult for me.We walked out on a great trail, mostly in the sun, and it was unlike any trail at home. Lizards in the air, the distant, hazy Pacific Ocean, and mountain side bungalows in the distance. Jonathan climbed out on a very high jutting rock as Trish and I hid in the shade.

As Jonathan informed me, Topanga is quite famous for its wealthy and irreverent residents throughout the years. It has been an enclave for rich hippies and transcendentalists and philosophers.In quaint, downtown Topanga we visited a Mexican grocery store and a vintage clothing store.Cool days.