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The Minimalists Guide to Storing Interesting Articles

Minimalists Guide to Storing Interesting ArticlesWhat do you do with all those interesting and informative blog posts, or articles you find, want to read again, but haven’t got time right now? I think I may have the solution for you.

I came across Flipboard completely by chance. I was browsing my stats page and I seemed to be getting an increasing number of referrals from this ‘thing’ called Flipboard. However, when I clicked through to the links they just failed so I thought it was spam. The following day, I had over 100 referrals just from that site, so I decided to actually Google Flipboard, and low and behold its actually pretty cool (does using the word ‘cool’ make me uncool?! I did cringe a bit writing it, and now I feel old for questioning if I was cool!)

Anyway, if you’re anything like me, you might spend hours reading other blogs or trawling the internet for story research, but where do you put it all? I never really know what to do with all the things I want to read again, it’s not like the old days when you found stuff in magazines and shoved it in a folder or scrap book – I miss getting my fingers smeared with pritt stick and having a physical project book that never quite looked right! These days I just end up clogging my laptop up with dozens of open tabs in my browser, (which stay open for weeks) and then get frustrated when my laptop does an automatic update and closes everything.

Yeah, I could bookmark pages but isn’t that so last decade?! :p Plus I must have at least a thousand bookmarks none of which are particularly well organised. Sigh.

Flipboard is a kind of Pinterest but for word oriented people rather than visual people. It works on the basis of you creating ‘Magazines’ which are effectively a storage folder. You can ‘flip’ articles, blog posts or pictures into your magazines. You can title, rearrange and organise your magazines and articles however you like. It’s basically the ideal solution to storing those interesting blogs, pictures, research or articles you want to keep. It’s minimal effort, sleek, neat and can be visual for those who want it.  But more than anything, its tidy and doesn’t require hundreds of bytes of data to store.

They also have a ‘flip it’ button you can install onto your browser so that you can flip things from anywhere. They have apps for your devices and all the mod cons of a normal social media site, like the ability to follow other peoples’ magazines or general ‘topics’, of which there are thousands.

I am only just getting to grips with this little discovery, but it appears to be a bit of an (undiscovered to me) gem.

Have you heard of Flipboard? Do you use it? Like it? Let me know in the comments.

    1. AHHH well, it’s an alternative to pinterest- im saving final judgement but for now I’m finding a useful place to store articles and research, I don’t necessarily browse what’s already on there though…. I guess it depends how much research or article reading you do…

      Liked by 2 people

  1. I looked at Flipboard a couple of years ago and decided it held nothing for me, apart from a time-drain (much as I feel about Pinterest now). That was before I started writing, though, so maybe I should look at it again.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t necessarily look at anything on it as much as I abuse it mostly for storing blogs and articles. I suppose for me it’s an alternative to pinterest as its article focused and an alternative to bookmarks. I do however ADORE pinterest so maybe it’s more of a winner to me? 😄

      Liked by 1 person

  2. It gives me a daily news feed tailored to my interests (er, sport and, um, more sport… oh and a dash of UK politics) – it came with my Galaxy phone. Not realised t could be a storage dooffie too. Will consider (that’s a great name for a character..)

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Now I BEG to differ. I had a Samsung once, I was lured to the plastic piece of crap once. And Boy was it the worst decision I could make. It was the Samsung SII or SII if I remember, it broke… Not once, not twice and not even three times. I had EIGHT brand new samsungs 8 months running. I shit you not. My phone company were doing their nut in the end. I lost all my data and pictures every month for almost a year.They gave me a galaxy note in the end because the S whatever it was kept breaking. I will NEVER ever ever stray from apple again. I am scarred! Bit like ur scarred from ur neighbours! 😜 just reading the post now. How is your memory that good? I can barely remember graduating let alone my next door neighbours!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I’m quite agnostic about phones tbh. My S4 is grand – no problems after 18mths except when I bounced it on a car park and the screen shattered; even then I used it over Christmas ok. Both kid are Apple devotees and I’ve had an ipad for yonks and love it. So quite understand where Samsung sends you into a tizzy. I’d be the same ball of gunk if that happened to me.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much for the award Whitney what an honour I was gobsmacked will respond shortly 😄

      AHHH yes word doc, I have a habit of using scraps of paper or pinterest but I find it hard to use pinterest for articles 😢

  3. Thanks for the heads up on this, Sacha.

    I tend to add everything I want to read again, or to use as a reference, to my reading list on my iMac. However, Flipboard sounds really cool for me as, as much as I have tried, I just can not get on with Pinterest. However, I’ll also have to check out Pocket, as per the recommendation from Chris.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t think I have met a single person who doesn’t like Pinterest, and now both you and Keith have said you can’t get on with it. I have to say, the one thing I didn’t put in this post, is that it is the pinterest but for boys. Everyone I know that uses it, is a boy!!! I don’t know why though?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Well now that you say that, I’m more determined to try Flipboard out now, Sacha.

        I don’t know what I have done with Pinterest but I keep getting emails from them with pin boards of ladies dresses. I wonder if they are trying to tell me something? 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Thanks Sacha, and Geoff, for alerting me to this article. Flipboard sounds good. I must be so last century. I still do use bookmarks! I’ll have to check out Pocket too. Thanks for the suggestions in your article and through the comments.

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SHS Annual General Meeting 2018

The 8th Annual General Meeting of Salcombe History Society took place on Wednesday 14th March 2018 at Salcombe Rugby Club. Around 40 members attended to hear a summary of the Society's activities over the past year. They were then treated to a talk and slideshow by Bob Hesketh on the theme of 'Nostalgia'. It proved to be an amusing evening with members sharing their anecdotes of life in the 1950s and 1960s.

Annual General Meeting 2018

The Salcombe History Society Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 14th March at 7pm (for prompt 7.30pm start) at Salcombe Rugby Club. After the business part of the meeting there will be a talk by Bob Trowbridge entitled "Nostalgia". There will also be the opportunity to view the 'Salcombe in the 1960s' video which was shown at the last meeting.

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How to pack a suitcase for a long weekend

I have packing for a long weekend down to a science.

And it’s really not rocket science. My general move is to place small, thin items on the bottom. Think socks, underwear and scarves. Then, I fold stiffer items like pants on top. My next move? Roll t-shirts and place on top of pants. If you intermix stuff like jeans and cotton tees too much, I find the shirts get wrinkled. My shoes go in last, and I always put them on top with the sole side up. Who wants the bottom of their dirty shoes messing up their clothes? Not me!

If I have a bulky sweater or coat, I’ll often just wear it as to not take up precious packing space. If you get too hot, you can always ditch heavier clothing items in the overhead bin.

It’s important to really think about what activities you’ll be partaking in on the trip and pack accordingly. Unless you’re traveling to Paris Fashion Week, you really don’t need a completely different outfit for every day. Select all your stuff from the same color pallet and mix and match. That way, you’ll still have plenty of space for souvenirs and whatever else you may want to bring back with you.

What are some of your best tips for packing?

Travel expert Samantha Brown shares how to pack a suitcase for a long weekend.

This Post Has 4 Comments
  1. Here’s another tip when packing shoes – that may give you a little more extra room = stuff your socks insides your shoes, then wrap the shoes in a plastic bag – – so the bottoms of your dirty shoes won’t mess up your clothes.

    1. Great idea,
      I always put my shoes in a plastic bag. I do not want the bottoms anywhere near anything even if it is upside down.
      This was a lot of clothes for a weekend.

  2. I won’t travel anywhere without Samantha’s luggage. Her packing cubes are the best, her suitcases have designated, protective pouches for shoes, and her doctor’s tote has a special place for wet/damp items. You can easily fit at least a week’s worth of clothing in her carryon. Her luggage line is also very stylish, with many color choices. I never miss her shows when she’s on HSN.

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God Used Her: Mattea

Mattea was my roommate for the trip. She’s one of my sisters in Christ, and I can’t help but be so grateful for her friendship. Just like the rest of my cenacolo, she can share about her faith so freely and that’s one reason for us becoming closer friends.

In order to celebrate my birthday, the first thing she did was open a packet of biscuits and we prayed together. She tried to teach me how to stay asleep for longer in the morning by giving an example and how to put on make up (even though I won’t be trying any of those any time soon).

She hurt her wrist while rollerblading, after successfully teaching me to do it first. I’m so proud of the way she took it upon herself to try to be independent anyway and also of the humble way she asked me to help her sometimes to do normal things. God has truly shown me what it’s like to always be ready for the unexpected, how to adapt in Him and to love others more!

Thanks, Mattea because God used you to get to me! Thank you Jesus for super friends like her who form part of a spiritual support system I truly need!

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and the Moms Who Live Here

Tag Archives | movies

Your Rainy Day Guide to Free or Cheap Indoor Fun in Sarasota/Bradenton

Rain. There’s nothing a Florida mom hates more. Except maybe multiple days of rain. Where you’re stuck between the four walls of your house. And the kids ask for a snack every 15 minutes. And your efforts to give them something healthy like fruit are promptly rejected. And whines for lollipops and cookies quickly escalate to full-blown, kicking […]

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Tag Archives: spike lee

Tread Perilously — Supertrain: Hail to the Chief

Tread Perilously climbs aboard one of the worst broadcast television shows ever to air with the Supertrain episode “Hail to the Chief.” A man (guest star Roy Thinnes) replaces his twin brother as the projected winner of the upcoming presidential … Continue reading

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Hardy Kiwis

These hardy kiwis from Greenwater Farm located in Port Townsend, WA are hands down the best fruits I ate all year. Unlike the kiwi most of us are used to seeing, these kiwis were so sweet. They tasted almost like concord grapes, except without the tart skin. Last week was the first time I saw these at our farmer’s market and I was told they may or may not be at the farmer’s market tomorrow. I am crossing my fingers for the latter. If you see these at your farmer’s market, grab them while you can.

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Monday Inspiration

“People have the power to redeem the work of fools.” – Patti Smith

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Bouncing Around

Have a laughter filled weekend everyone! Some notable posts and news:

How bad are microwaves?

Wow, a four-ingredient pumpkin pie.

Advice on health from someone who recently turned 100 years old.

Stop using dryer sheets and you’ll save money and reduce toxins.

10 protein-packed plants.

Do you use umami-boosting ingredients?

We all know five-inch stilettos might do a number on our feet, but those thin and flimsy ballet flats might not be so great either.

I read things like this and cringe when I think about how much McDonald’s I used to consume.

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Living Forest Designs & A Chow Life – I Won!

Yesterday morning I looked out my window and saw blue skies and sun illuminating the gorgeous Fall trees and I knew it was going to be a good day. Well, my day got better. Robin of Seattle-based food blog A Chow Life informed me that I won her Living Forest Designs giveaway! I’ve never ever won anything in my life. Not even a bingo game. Seriously. And it doesn’t really take much to make me happy, so I was just giddy with joy. I called my husband and said “I won something!!!!” He said, “What? A trip somewhere?” Me: “No silly, bunny bookends!” That’s right folks, I scored these adorable bunny-shaped children’s bookshelf from Living Forest Designs (also based in Seattle – I’m feeling some Seattle pride right about now). What’s absolutely wonderful is the bookshelf is non-toxic and crafted from sustainable wood.

Living Forest Designs makes products and furniture that are built to last a lifetime. Think carefully crafted goods “like they used to make ’em in the old days” that can be passed on from generation to generation; thereby reducing waste and keeping family memories alive. A majority of the lumber they use is certified as sustainably harvested by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the finishes are water-based and have low levels of volatile organic compounds. Oh, and even their website is hosted on 100% solar-powered servers. They do custom work, single pieces, and small production runs, and can make everything from a pen to coffee tables. How beautiful are these food-safe bowls?

And a few other beautifully crafted pieces for the little ones.

This is a small company that just launched last year. For those that can financially afford to spend more on well-crafted investment pieces, please support local and independent businesses whenever possible! Check them out on their Facebook page.

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Basic Celery Soup Recipe: Very Light Yet Creamy & Healthy

For me, celery tastes great mixed sparingly with other things, but I’ve never been a big fan of celery as the star of a dish. It’s just one of those things that never really jived with my palate. But as of late, I’ve been looking at celery in a new light after reading about its many health benefits. For example, celery can balance the body’s blood pH, neutralizing acidity. Celery also has anti-inflammatory properties, may lower blood pressure, and has the potential to combat cancer. It’s also an excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium, B-vitamins, folic acid, and essential amino acids.

What’s also great is that the beneficial compounds of celery are said to hold up well during the cooking process. So as the farmer’s market nears its final stages (big sigh), I’ve been quickly trying to add celery to my weekly meal plan. And because it’s been so cold lately, celery soup immediately came to mind. I’d never made celery soup so I was searching for recipes that didn’t incorporate too many extras like milk or heavy cream. I decided to adapt this recipe from Chef in You. Celery as the star of this light soup dish was a success! The celery flavor gets really mellowed out, but it’s definitely there. The soup was both refreshing and comforting. And since we didn’t use too many ingredients, the soup was affordable and healthy. I served this with some lightly toasted sprouted bread. Just note that this recipe is very light on flavor (for example, I used water instead of stock), so it might not be for you if you’re used to a lot going on in your soup. But because it’s a nice basic recipe, you really can use this as a starting point to venture into different directions depending on your taste and what you have on hand.

Ingredients :

  • 7 stalks of organic celery
  • 1 onion
  • 4 medium potatoes
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 1/2 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to taste
  • Oil for cooking

  • Chop onion, clean and chop celery
  • Saute onion with curry powder and turmeric on medium heat for a few minutes until onions are translucent.
  • Add celery and potatoes, and saute for five minutes. Add salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • Add water, add more  black pepper, cover and cook until the celery and potatoes are fairly soft (15 to 20 minutes).
  • Puree the vegetable mixture in food processor (or blender) in batches – it took us about 4 batches for our small food processor. Pour back into pot and heat back up, add more black pepper, herbs or other garnish as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.
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Gift Idea: Farm Anatomy by Julia Rothman

Here’s a gift idea for the foodie, farmer’s market lover, or illustrator in your life: Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life by Brooklyn-based illustrator Julia Rothman. I suppose I’m recommending this book as a gift idea since it’s a book I wouldn’t mind receiving as a gift myself. This book is a colorful, visual tour of farm life, inspired by the author’s visits with her parents-in-law who run a small farm in Iowa. Everything from crop rotation patterns to farm tools are illustrated to give you a glimpse into the world of a small country farm. I’m sure one book can’t adequately show us just how hard farmers work to produce the food we consume, but I think it’s a fun way to peek into at least some components of the beginning of the food production cycle, and definitely would be a fun book to look over with the kids.

Images via Growing with Plants and renest.

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Roasted Purple Potatoes & Cauliflower

One of the easiest at home lunches: roasted cauliflower and purple potatoes. All you need are 1 small head of cauliflower, 3 or 4 potatoes, some herbs (I’m always partial to rosemary, thyme, and oregano), tiny dashes of black pepper and salt, and a bit of olive oil. Just put them in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees, and voila a savory lunch. Aren’t purple potatoes beautiful?

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On my 74h Birthday

I received a sweet gift from granddaughter Rita on Mother’s Day when she posted the photo below to her Facebook page.  “I keep it in my room” she said, when  told her I had

Dianne holding Connie, Christmas, 1961 (FXS)

forgotten it existed.

My Dad took the picture of my baby daughter, Connie, on her first Christmas at home with my parents. My Dad had a knack for taking the most adorable photos of children. (see the photo I posted for Mother’s Day this year).

The rest of the day, Rita’s friends posted comments such as you look like your grandmother and I wonder what your baby will look like. (Rita is nine months pregnant and ready to pop!)

I keep my paternal grandmother’s photo on my dresser, and am really pleased that at least one of my grandchildren has an interest in the past, i.e., ancestors, a group member of which I am becoming rapidly.

Brother Dunstan our Benedictine friend, handyman and friend John, and neighbor and artist friend Kathy stopped by yesterday. Dunstan was on his way out-of-town to take a flight to Korea, where he will deliver a paper on theology.  John was here to do a few repairs.

During a far-ranging conversation about philosophy, outer space and reform in the twelfth century Church, I shared my latest read, Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia’s Golden Age, from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane, by S. Frederick Starr.

Kathy and I were talking about the episode of Wallender we watched Sunday night, and agreed we were upset by the living conditions of Black South Africans depicted in several scenes.  Then we talked about NGOs and funding for development and what could we cut from the National budget so that we could better fund USAID. I’d get rid of the Space Program I volunteered.  We don’t need to fly to Mars.

Now both David and John are both engineers and worked on various aspects of the space program, so both of them became mildly defensive of the program, but I know all the arguments and I don’t buy them, so they soon wandered into a discussion of how they had spent time contemplating infinity. I told them they reminded me of the scene in Animal House where the professor and his students are smoking pot and contemplating eternity.

At this point, I mentioned how according to Starr, this was exactly what led to the Sunni / Shia split, an argument over the limits of the rational mind. Where does the rational mind end and faith begin?

Granddaughter Hannah called this morning to wish me a Happy Birthday and share her latest news.  She is working on her graduate degree in Art Education at MWC.  She is happiest pursuing art, so despite these difficult times for the millennial, I encouraged her to follow her dream.

Stick close to your dream, because if dreams die,

life is a broken-winged butterfly that cannot fly.

23 thoughts on “On my 74h Birthday

  1. Belated happy birthday wishes! Perhaps we need to keep the space program so humanity can survive since our destructive nature requires we must periodically relocate around the universe ’cause we’ve permanently soiled where we live.

    • Thanks Kay. The funny thing is, I never appreciated my looks. I knew I had some intelligence because my teachers said so. However, over my lifetime, I have encountered many many people more intelligent than me.

  2. Your family is following patterns as the generations unfold – a wonderful sense of continuity. The photo is beautiful, thanks for sharing it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I can think of several men I’d like to ship to Mars, however, the space program is nothing but a boondoggle that benefits few as far as I am concerned. Hard to justify as our infrastructure deteriorates. Plus, we need universal kindergarten and other child oriented programs before we spend more money on grown men with their toys.

      Let the private sector handle it.

  3. Happy Birthday to you! And thanks so much for your gardening advice! What a beautiful picture of mother and babe. Your dad did indeed have the “eye.” I wish your Hannah the best too. My degree is in art. Never quite made a living from it but I’ve never been sorry and I managed.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Happy Birthday and what a wonderful picture!

    As for eternity, I have a perfect example. Presidential election cycles. As soon as an election is over, the opposition starts jockeying for position on the next one. Come to think about it, it also serves as a pretty good example of infinity.

    Liked by 1 person

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Our Mission:

Schoolyard Roots builds community through food. By increasing access to fresh, locally-grown produce, we empower our community to make healthy and sustainable food choices

Our Vision:

We dream that one day every school in Alabama will have a teaching garden.

Our Plan:

Our goal is to create a network of school gardens that will build healthier communities, engage students in learning, and increase access to healthy, sustainably-grown food.

Growing gardens. Growing minds.

How we see it

What we do

At Schoolyard Roots, we are rooted in a belief in the strength of our community.

We know that people across Alabama depend on access to fresh food to lead healthy and successful lives. Without strong food systems, our communities suffer.

Our focus is to empower the next generation by connecting them with real food.

Schoolyard Roots partners with elementary schools and the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center to bring learning to life through teaching gardens.

We train school teachers on our hands-on curriculum to help bring classroom concepts to life in the real world.

In their school gardens, students dissect carrots to learn about tap roots, use recipes to understand fractions, travel on math-based scavenger hunts to unfold the secrets of the garden….

Read about our Gardens 2 Schools program here

mr rhodes

We want to set our students up to lead healthy lives. We need your help.

We dream that someday every school in Alabama will have a school garden. We need your help to make this happen. Will you partner with us in giving our students the opportunities they need to succeed? Ways to join us:

Donate Apply for the Program  Get The Curriculum

Where We Work:

We currently operate in a total of 11 Tuscaloosa-area schools, seven in Tuscaloosa City Schools (Central Elementary, Oakdale Elementary, Tuscaloosa Magnet School – Elementary, Woodland Forrest Elementary, University Place Elementary, The Alberta School of Performing Arts, and Verner Elementary) and four in the Tuscaloosa County School System (Bhul Elementary, Crestmont Elementary, Flatwoods Elementary, and Faucett-Vestavia).

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How We Measure Success:

We see lives change in the garden every day. We’re also measuring our programs by strategic measures.

View Program Results Here


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Tag Archives: schwervon europe tour

Week # 1 of European Tour: Berlin, Dresden, Krakow, Vienna, Munich, Nuremburg

Finally, got a little time to do some recaping for the first week of the tour. The flight to Berlin was fairly painless. I watched Rock of Ages and Men In Black 3 on the plane.  We got to our friend Sibi’s place in Berlin, early so we had a snack and crashed for a few hours. Then we had special treat.  A lot of our NYC family just so happend to be visiting  or staying in Berlin. Sibsi helped organize a little hang out in a really cool park that served pizza with vegetables that were grown in the park. There was also a small library and some a small stage. After lunch, we tried to play basketball but the court was locked so just had a couple of beers down by the river.  A lot of talent in this picture.
The Berlin show ended early, which was cool with us, so we got to sleep off a little more of our jet lag and have a nice breakfast around the corner.
IMG_2558Then it was off to our old stomping grounds in Dresden. We played with a really cool band called Poor Little Rich Girl. We also had a special treat when our old friends Colin and Sabine did some songs from their old band Vermont, who were the first band we ever played in Dresden with. The band apartment where we stayed in Dresden was like sleeping in a David Lynch film.
IMG_2560After Dresden was our first show ever in Poland in the City of Krakow. Krakow is a beautiful city with many nice people. Unfortunately, only about 4 of them decided to come to our show. But Cyprian, the promoter was a really cool guy and we had some delicious vegetarian food. We’d heard that Poland can be tricky for getting gear stolen and this backstage door didn’t do much to dispel that fear. But it was cool we managed a graceful exit with pride and gear in tact.
IMG_2566It rained for nearly the entire drive from Krakow to Vienna. At one point the highway just ended. Our GPS wasn’t working in Poland and not many people were speaking English so we got a little lost for a while. But, luckily Klaus our friend and driver got us to the gig with time for a quick schnitzel before the show. This is Klaus and yes, ladies, he’s single!!!
IMG_2571Vienna really made up for the light crowd in Krakow. Both openers, Ash My Love and The Happy Kids, were very cool duos as well. Our batteries were thoroughly charged. Thanks Vienna! Also nice to see our friends Steffko and Philip.
The next night was in Munich where we played the first of three shows with one of Klaus’s bands Jenny Lund. Klaus is a very good bass player. The show was at bar to help celebrate the birthday for our friend Laury, who we met the last time we were in Munich. We had just missed Octoberfest, which I am told by the locals is a good thing. But the next morning we went to a real traditional german restaurant had Weisswurst and wheat beer for breakfast.
IMG_2596Next we had our first day off in Regensburg, the home of Klaus (and the birth place of The Pope). Klaus made some zucchini soup and fish. It was kick ass. The next day we spent some time with his freind’s dog Pauli. This is Pauli after a nice long run by the river. I also saw this weird old tank that reminded me of an alien there.
IMG_2582Last night was Nurnberg. We opened for the legendary Wedding Present.  They really kicked ass. It was inspiring for both of us. We danced like we were kids again. The vodka shots from our friend Stefan helped. Here’s some of the better snaps I got of The Wedding Present’s live show.
Wedding Present
IMG_2629We’re still sort of getting our road legs but it’s been great so far. Tonight, we are in Mannheim and then 2 more shows with Jenny Lund.
XO,Nan & Matt


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Is there science in scientific writing?

Image credit: “Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Chan

As scientists, we spend a remarkably large fraction of our time writing. An obvious question immediately arises: do we apply science to our scientific writing? That is, can we (and do we) apply our scientific ways of thinking to make our scientific writing better? The question, as I say, is obvious; but the answer is not.

There are actually three different things I might mean by “is there science in scientific writing”, corresponding to three different meanings of phrase “scientific writing”. We might ask our obvious question of the product of our writing: the style and content of the text itself. We might ask it of the cultural practices that scientific writing represents: for instance, our conventions for written form (IMRaD and all that) or for review and publication. And finally, we might ask it of the process by which we write, with the focus on the behaviour of the writer producing (or struggling to produce) text.

 (1) “Scientific writing” the product. Papers (and other scientific texts) vary in content and writing style, and we might wonder whether this variation might predict a paper’s success. By “success” I might mean reader comprehension (for instance, what kinds of sentences are most easily understood by readers with a given level of scientific training?), or I might mean impact (for instance, is there a correlation between a paper’s syntactic complexity and its citation rate?).

 We know quite a bit about comprehension issues from studies in linguistics and cognitive psychology. There are data, for example, on depth and speed of comprehension for texts of different construction. We know of factors that improve clarity universally and factors that depend on the reader’s native language (for instance, English speakers prefer the familiar subject-verb-object order, but other languages use other orderings and their speakers have corresponding preferences). Little of this, though, is specific to scientific writing, and so if there are ways to make scientific writing in particular clearer to scientific readers in particular I’m not sure we know about them. This seems a bit odd, given that a paper titled “The Science of Scientific Writing” (Gopen and Swan 1990) is well known and widely read. But while that paper dispenses what’s surely good advice, none of it is particular to scientific writing, and if it’s supported by data and analysis the reader isn’t told (no experiments are reported and no scientific literature is cited)*.

 In contrast, we know very little about impact issues. Despite the fetishization of citation metrics, how writing (as opposed to content or journal placement) shapes readership and citation rates seems virtually unexplored. What little has been done lies mostly in the domain of science studies and genre analysis (see, for instance Gross et al. 2002 or Swales 1990), and this literature is poorly known by working scientists. The only study I can think of that’s had some influence on the way we write is Sagi and Yechiam (2008), which claims to demonstrate that papers with humorous titles are cited less often. Despite the weakness of its analysis, this study is used by at least one major journal in ecology and evolution to discourage authors’ attempts at levity. (I’ve discussed the possible function of humour and beauty in scientific writing in this paper, but I haven’t done proper scientific analysis either.)

 (2) “Scientific writing” the cultural practice. We’re all pretty familiar with the way we structure scientific papers and with our systems for reviewing and publishing them. What’s perhaps surprising is that many scientists aren’t very familiar with the history of these practices – the reasons we’ve come to do things the way we do – and I would claim that we don’t know much, empirically, about whether our actual practices outperform alternatives. For an example to do with history, consider my recent post about the history of the Methods section. I wrote about the reasons that we seldom provide enough detail to allow exact replication of our experiments, and I argued that knowing something of that history gives us useful perspective on what today’s so-called “reproducibility crisis”. But questions about our cultural practices could go far beyond that. Empirically, does frequent replication of studies accelerate a field’s progress (by detecting error and fraud faster) or retard it (by diverting resources from original work)? Does online commenting on published papers increase or decrease their influence? Do granting agencies’ requirements for open-access publication increase or decrease researchers’ impacts? While these questions are all open to empirical investigation, most of the discussion I’ve seen of them is philosophical (sometimes distinctly moralistic) instead.

 (3) “Scientific writing” the process. It’s this meaning of “scientific writing” that may connect us to the most actual science, because there’s lots of research in psychology and neuroscience that can be applied to a writer’s habits. For example, fMRI studies suggest that resolutions to change behaviour (e.g., to write more) are more easily kept with conscious self-reflection; TMT theory of procrastination suggests techniques for achieving writing discipline; and the phenomenon of context-dependent memory can be exploited (in reverse) to disrupt the writer’s familiarity with their own text during revisions. Granted, little of this knowledge has to do directly with scientific writing, or even with writing at all – most psychologists study tasks that are a lot easier to quantify, or that have broader social implications, than scientific writing. That means it’s an open question whether techniques that work for increasing discipline at exercise (say) also work for increasing discipline at writing. I strongly suspect that they do, but as a scientist, I itch for data to test my suspicion.

 I think the process of writing is mysterious to most scientific writers, though. We know we have to do it, and we may have systems in place (like word quotas or writing groups) to help us get it done; but we don’t know the psychology or neuroscience literature and how it can help us**. In other words, we tend not to think about our writing selves as agents that we can study scientifically, and we don’t think about how we can harness that kind of study to manipulate (improve!) our behaviour and thus the quantity and quality of our writing.

So in short: is there science in scientific writing? There could and should be, but there isn’t much, and I don’t think most scientific writers think much about it. This seems like a missed opportunity, and a big one.

© Stephen Heard ( March 26 2015

This post is based (very loosely) on material from The Scientist’s Guide to Writing, my guidebook for scientific writers. You can learn more about it here.

*There’s also a book called “The Science of Scientific Writing” (Monroe et al. 1977), which might have something to say on this, although it’s out of print and I’ haven’t yet tracked down a copy.

**An obvious hypothesis is that psychologists and neuroscientists should be more aware of this literature, and should write better or faster as a consequence. This is also an empirical question that science could answer!

4 thoughts on “Is there science in scientific writing?

  1. Pingback: How should grad students learn to write? | Scientist Sees Squirrel

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  3. Pingback: Good jargon and bad jargon | Scientist Sees Squirrel

  4. Pingback: Vaccinations, global warming, and the fork in the canning jar | Scientist Sees Squirrel

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A Taste of Gold

“All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told…”
― William Shakespeare

Tis the season

to treat yourself a little

a lot

after all

you made it through another year

and what a year this one has been

for one and all

celebrate with a

Belgian chocolate and malt eclair

from Waitrose

pictured above

glittering with gold flecks

which are edible

and rather delicious

or so I witnessed

rather than tasted

as these were bought for

special guests

tis also the season to be giving

a little

a lot

who have made it through this year too

don’t worry about me

I may have missed out on tasting gold

but I had a bite of

the raspberry and rose eclair

from Waitrose

and if fortune has a flavour

it might just be that!

“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

2 thoughts on “A Taste of Gold

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Posts Tagged ‘Sean Breadsell’

I don’t ever post family photos to my street photography blog, they are definitely not “street” type photographs…or should I say they normally aren’t street style of photograph.

We were at Sculptures by the Sea down at Cottesloe Beach today, and I was photographing a little  bit of the sculptures, a little street and generally just having a look as it was that sort of day.  I turn around and they are doing a selfie well worthy of any street shot I would normally take and here it is…bless them hahafamily photo

I am photographing many shows at @fringeworld in Perth this year, and while I am not shooting for Fringe I am shooting for me.

Last night after watching pirates fight with the general population with balloon swords, an extraordinary show took place. Mermaids no burlesque cabaret dancers no well yes to all the above, and I happened to be there with my trusty FujiFilm X100F.

Many would argue what is street photography and what it is not and to be honest I don’t care, it is what I want it to be especially on my own blog.  What I have liked in the recent times with street photography, is simplicity.  Street life, shadows, simple paths being crossed, or chance shots.  Not limiting to myself on this for sure, but it is what I am looking for more of lately.

tunnel quest

2018 man these years are coming around faster and faster, yet I don’t think I am getting any faster.  My first post for the year, as I picked up a roll of film from the lab today which was shot on my TANK of a camera Nikon F3 on Agfa Vista 400 film.

Realistically this was shot between Christmas and New Years, though I count it as when it is developed which enables me to use it in 2018 posts of course as I think it is brilliant…cough, see you around the streets of Perth.

I love this time of the year, the Christmas spirit is everywhere and there is so many people around doing their thing.  Of course this all helps when I am doing my thing, photographing anything I can and all keeping with the Christmas this is christmas

posters and peoples

I like to mix my people shots up with posters, and this looked like a great place to stop for a short time.  Trying not to make people feel uncomfortable I am pretty quick shooting and putting the camera down as they’ve walked through the scene. I captured this shot slightly too early  with the lady only entering the view but in the end I felt it had the most impact.

Summer is here, the peoples are out and about doing their thing…it is a good time to be alive.  I was shooting the streets  with my good mate Wing looking for that “decisive moment” and did we find it, well we found lots of them, here is a couple and more on my Facebook page (Sean Breadsell – Street Photographer)


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Sydney Dental Conference Weekender

4 10 2010

After finishing up my midterm exams last week, I flew down to Sydney to meet up with Tim Silegy at a dental implant convention. I was able to help Tim out with the hands-on portions of his lectures in which we showed general dentists methods for loading particular implants. If I didn’t have a big field trip coming up, I would of had the opportunity to see a cadaver course in Melbourne! After finishing up the first day of work, we hopped on a ferry and headed to a cocktail party in front of the Sydney Opera House.

Darling Harbour skyline

The venue

Opera house below the Sydney harbour bridge

The rising moon was huge and red due to the westerly winds blowing dust from the outback

On my free morning, I got to go surfing at one of the northern beaches with Hamish, a friend of Alissa and Eva’s. It was a little chilly, but it was nice to get in the water.

One response

5 10 2010

Was so great to have met up with you in Sydney. I heard about your trip back to Brisbane. What an adventure. Thanks for all of your help with the course. Enjoy the rest of your time down under!

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MUSIC: “Tomorrow Is Christmas Day” by Mindy Smith

Singer/songwriter and Long Island transplant to Nashville Mindy Smith has the kind of lyrics and voice that haunt and linger, resonating in the mind and heart long after the record has finished its spin. This year, for the holidays, she put out an EP of Christmas songs, called “SNOWED IN”, that includes this tune she wrote just for the occasion. I couldn’t think of anything more perfect to post today.

To check out the EP visit
To check out Mindy Smith’s website visit


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Musings From The Van Cave Volume One

Yes, that’s my room. Some random things I’ve been thinking of under the cut.

-The University at Buffalo sucks with how they go about purchasing and distributing textbooks. Of course they get a new edition of a textbook that I can’t find anywhere else so I have to purchase it for $75 – and probably only getting $20 back. I know probably every University does this but they can still kiss my ass. My boss from Tim Hortons and I were discussing this morning about how textbooks should be included in our tuition – which I would be okay with. Those that dorm would probably be pissed, or even those out of state. Just some food for thought.

-Zemgus Girgensons popped into work today and order a Tuscan Chicken panini. I only knew it was him because I usually look to see who ordered what so I know who to give it to for quicker service. He was obvious in his Sabres hat and Sabres t-shirt, but it didn’t look like anyone knew who the hell he was – except for me. No, I didn’t say anything to him though I’m sure my mom is going to be mad when I tell her the story and she asks why I didn’t say anything. Leave the poor kid alone and let him dwell on the fact that he won’t be recognized still for awhile in this city.

-Dear some Ontarionians who insist on spending an entire week in Buffalo to shop, WHERE DO YOU MAKE ALL THIS CASH MONEY AND WILL YOU SHARE? I could blow all that money on hockey and jerseys because that is all I seem to care about. Also, stop telling us what you guys do in the Great White North as compared to us Americans. We get it. We’re ignorant sons of bitches but it’s not my fault you didn’t knock before walking into the loo and seeing someone’s privy parts. Please get a grip and we shall too. Have a nice holiday weekend!

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Facebook: Dropping Back In

Courtesy of Dave Coverly

Last summer, I joined Facebook and then quickly became a Facebook dropout. Luckily, I decided to give the social network another try, and I am happy to say that I’ve got it down: Facebook and I are now very good friends!

I think the problem last time was twofold: I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know who to make friends with. This time, I went into Facebook knowing that I wanted substantial information and conversation about topics that are meaningful to me, and so I sought out friends who would provide those things. Voila! I am now better educated, better informed, and generally a happier person because of my daily dose of Facebook.

Like anything else, Facebook is an art. Choosing your Facebook friends is like planning a fabulous party: you need to decide who to invite, and you need to mingle. Unschooling, politics, current events, beautiful music, important video clips, memories of youth—I have a wonderful time partaking of these things every day, thanks to my Facebook friends.

I’m very glad I dropped back in.

6 Responses so far »

  1. 1

    Patty said,

    I, for one, am glad you dropped back in…otherwise, we never would have found each other again!

  2. 3

    Shirley said,

    Nicely stated. I’m glad you found a way for Facebook to work for you…it works well for me to have you there 🙂

  3. 5

    Tatiana said,

    I’m still a facebook fraidy-cat (still no account for me). But you make me reconsider! Also – the cartoon is great! Thanks for sharing your turnaround!

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The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Posted on March 9, 2009

I’ve always loved fortune cookies. Ever since I was that fat kid who’d pig out on chinese food (sad, but true), I’d wait for the end of the meal to the part they served up those absurdly shaped biscuits. I’d pick the one I thought held my fortune, and believe with all my heart that that cookie was meant for just me.

I still love those darned cookies. But now that i’m aware that the odds of someone else getting my fortune is quite likely, the magic’s gone. Also the fact that all the cookie ever tells you is what you already know…only in a more mysterious-seeming way.
I recall my last one stating that: “He who rushes, does not walk with dignity.” It sounds so sensai’ish when you first read it, but it’s not long before you realize the diplomat in that biscuit.

One thing I never was into was horoscopes. I never understood the thrill of living each day to see if that daily prediction came true. I never did give a hoot that I’m a Libran, neither have I shown any form of excitement when encountering another(trust me I know people who do).

What I don’t understand is how perfectly intelligent human beings can reach out for that page religiously each morning, and believe that whatever stated is what’s to be in store for the day. Do you not realize that a gazillion other Scorpio(n?)s are opening up to that same page, reading the exact same thing, and again coming to the conclusion that they’re ready for the day. Beacuse now they know what to expect.
In that case, all pisces’ are to expect to meet a tall, dark stranger at noon today. Or expect a surprise visitor at the break of dawn. Sorry..but I don’t buy it.

The scary bit, is that some are so drawn into this prediction hype that they come to sub-conciously make their prediction happen. In his/her head that surprise visitor could even be the grocery boy delivering his/her order earlier than expected. Or afore-mentioned tall, dark stranger could just turn out to be a cardboard cut-out of Will Smith.

What is it that attracts us so magnetically to needing to know what’s in store for us? Sort of like a friend leaking out the end of a perfectly good movie, (or even a terrible one at that), don’t horoscopes, fortune-tellers, etc. threathen to do just that?
Maybe it’s just human nature to be lured to the unknown..the intrigue of the mysterious. Sort of like a real-life game of cluedo.

Eitherway, I’m starting to understand how curiosity killed that infamous cat.

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Category Archives: Making money/jobs

Texas Medicaid Waivers Explained

My job for the past 4 years has been case management for a State-program for people with disabilities. I work for a non-profit agency, not the State of Texas. We are the contracted communicators between the people & the government.

Arabella got on the same program I work for (called CLASS) after 5yrs 3months on the waiting list in 2007.
Darin got on a similar program in Feb 2009…

So I’m constantly learning more about both sides – government & the people – of the funding & services.

In an attempt to organize and share the info, I’m working on a website…
I need feedback, reviews and questions. It’s impossible to see your own blind spots.

There’s a button on the sidebar:
Texas Medicaid Waivers Explained

Please be gentle, but specific in your critic… If I put too much info, left gaps, etc.

An interesting day…

After my last post, Joel said something interesting. He said that he needed time to calculate, plan and consider.
I said, “What?”
He said it was like when he asks me to make a purchase, and I have to consult with my Money software and crunch numbers.
I said, “What are you calculating?”
He said, “If we can afford for Darin to not have the impact the other kids did on our lives – to have you home for the first year with them.”

This phrase BLEW me away. He finally figured out how to say what has been dragging me down for weeks. I have tried to label it 100 ways. But it all comes back to feeling like Darin was just squished into a very full life…

So if you read Joel’s post, “Change, it is a’comin’…”, you will see the sweet, self-less plan he presented to me yesterday. For me to turn in 2 weeks notice at work, for him to withdrawal from UH and then to find a job. It is definitely the opposite extreme of our current situation.

But today, as I came to work, and took time to pray, I was able to break down my stress even farther… which I can now realized is my fault is alot of ways.

Basically, my biggest concern is a parent for Darin to be with 100% – no passing around between babysitters, etc. And Joel is able to do that EXCEPT when in class.

Well, the last week of the summer, as we looked at our schedule, Joel said, “There is no way I can do this and go to school.” And I said, “We’ve got to.” And he said, “But they don’t even have Russian Studies, which is why I was going to school.” And I said, “But we’ve got to.”

So, when I examined Joel’s new plan, to find a job and let me stay home, I found several flaws, but also an alternative with the same strengths…

  • Joel can not prepare to pastor the Basilica Community if he goes back to work. When he works, he gets home late, and he needs to spend that time with the kids. My job is perfect. Ministry, close to home, GREAT HOURS (7-3:30).

Key strength:

  • Joel quits school.

It seems like either way, Joel needs to be out of school. Either so I can be with Darin, or so he can. It makes sense… it is my fault that we didn’t see it before.

Joel withdrawals and stays home with Darin.

Today is not a good day. Darin coughed so much last night that at 2:30 am, I took him to the hospital. They suctioned out his mucus, then put him on oxygen. So, now he is being admitted to stay there for a few days.
This is icing on a bad cake. I have been having a rough week emotionally. I feel overwhelmed by my life and there is nothing to do but hope it passes. September was just a busy month… I wish it would be over.
I stayed with Darin until 6:30am, then Joel got to the hospital and I came to work.
I think the thing that is depressing me most is other people doing my job, being the mom. I feel like I have to organize childcare more than anything else. My heart is breaking.
I am asking God to help me find options that feel better.

Hurricane Katrinia evacuees

A story from the trenches…
Last Friday, I spent the day helping a man, Eugene Hamm, try to search for his wife. They were separated leaving Louisiana after the flood. His wife, Carol, went on a military rescue truck with her dad to get medical attention, and Eugene was left behind with his teenage son and the son’s girlfriend.
Starting about 7 am, we called the Red Cross, then started surfing message boards to see if she had listed her name and location on any of them. Since Eugene is currently transient and homeless, I listed by cell number as a way to contact him. Honestly, I didn’t know if we would ever cross information paths with Carol. Since just about every television station has set up a “Survivors of Katrina” message board, there are a lot of places to search. We searched until lunch, then I began to encourage him to make a plan about what he and his son would do, not dependent upon finding his wife. He was resistant.
After lunch, I went back to helping another family get in touch with scattered relatives. They were using my cell phone when it received a call. It was a lady in Pearland. She said that she read a post on the Yahoo Message board for Carol Hamm. She saw Carol on the CNN news live from Atlanta. Carol was in the studio, sending out a message to Eugene.
We tracked down the info for CNN Atlanta, then they sent us to the Red Cross Atlanta. When we called them, Carol was standing right there. We handed Eugene the phone and all started crying.
A good day in Social Work.

Hurricane Katrina

Well, since I work with the homeless population, things have really gotten busy. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we have had alot of refugees from Louisiana. It has actually been really fun to have such a fast paced work environment. I figured out about a month ago that I like my job when I am busy. I don’t like it when I am bored.
I am really trying to refocus on the goal. So what is the goal… to glorify God. But what is the practical application of this.
As a mom, I am really working on playing more, bossing less. The last 2 days have been good. We have gone in the backyard and played hard after I get home from work. The kids seem to be responding to me better and acting out less – maybe they are just too tired to misbehave! I really want my kids to see me the way I see my mom. She demonstrates who Jesus is for me all the time.
As a wife, I feel like I need a goal. We have been so busy, I don’t know who to glorify God by my interactions with Joel. I have making an effort to nag less… hopefully, that is glorifying to God. I also want to support Joel more. Right now, I am in a holding pattern, waiting for him to attend the Acts 29 Bootcamp so I can follow him in the next steps for the Basilica Community.
As a child of God and member of the body of Christ, I feel like I have lost my plan. Before Darin, I had certain things I was directed to do for our church. I need to figure out if these are still the things to do.

Well, there was a big PAUSE here while I went to do some Star of Hope work…. it was really good. I got to talk to a lady for her extension (which means I decide if she can stay another month here)… she looked very sad. And for once, I had the boldness to share the Gospel. At least sprinkle some seeds. Pray for her… for confidentiality, call her GH.

Life update

My life is a very busy adventure. Joel and I have been married now for 4.33 years, and only know each other for 5 years… in that time, we have had 2 kids, adopted 1 kid, moved from 3 apartments, lived with his grandma, and bought a house. Every other year, he has worked and I have been a stay-at-home mom… then the other years, he goes to school and I work. This is my year.
My day job
While Joel and I were dating, and struggling to “stay out of trouble” if you know what I mean, we started visiting the homeless people that live under Pierce Elevated (the freeway) in downtown Houston. They were so fascinating, and appreciated what ever food or blankets we could scrounge up to bring with us. And I started wanting to know what resources existed to help them. So I applied to volunteer with the Star of Hope, who has 3 homeless shelters here. But on the interview to volunteer, they recruited me for a job.
I worked at the Star of Hope the whole time I was pregnant with Arabella (2000-2001). And I loved it. I felt like me skills in organizing and planning could really help direct people. When I quit to take care of Arabella, I was sad to leave.
So for 3 years, I tried to figure out how to come back. When I worked in 2002, I needed more flexiblity than SOH could offer, so I worked for ECI. But this year, when it came time to go back to work full-time, I was ready. I returned to the Star of Hope Women & Family Shelter in January 2005. Alot has changed since my last stint here… It has become very “business” like, specializing more in having a process than actually connecting with the homeless people. Honestly, I have trouble being here now. I am praying God will give me the direction on how I can make the new setup here feel meaningful. It doesn’t feel helpful.
But the schedule rocks
The best part of SOH is the schedule. I get off at 3:30, 2.5 miles from home, so I am home by 3:40 tops. From then on, I am 100% mom.
The real job
Like the triage nurse in the ER, I walk in and start planning which munchkin needs the most immediate care… Arabella’s fussing – get her a snack; Darin’s sleeping – throw his bigs and clothes in the washer; Holden’s bouncing off the walls – take him outside to swing. This is the work I truly love. I am exhausted and completely fulfilled.
Having babies, the pregnancy part, was hard for me. But caring for babies, daily, constantly, is not hard. I love it!
On being a wife
The job that I focus on the least, but wish I could focus on more, is being a wife. Joel is a great husband. He actually goes to school and takes care of the baby, carpools the kids to and from school, and is preparing to pastor a church. He does alot. And my usual response to him is to ask for more – more help, more time, more of him. I am a pain in his butt. But I don’t want to be… I wish we could just hang out more. That is how our love started – just spending 8-9 hours talking in a diner. We are definitely best friends.


text:
crying statue

Lately I find myself on the verge of tears.

Heart-wrenching, gut clinching tears.

Not simply sadness.

Not simply joy or thankfulness.

It’s the overwhelming flood of the emotion that comes with the recognition of how small I am in the world.

And how great.

Tears sometimes roll down my cheeks in an unwelcome surprise and then I laugh because I just can’t figure out what to do with them.

Life itself is so precious right now. Not that it hasn’t always been, but it seems that the normal everyday folks that I meet-friend and stranger alike-seem to sigh more. We’ll be in a conversation and suddenly, they’ll let out a heavy sigh. Sometimes we do it together. It’s like seeing someone yawn and then finding your own mouth open.

There’s a breath there. A moment when a portion of what we go through-whether positive or negative-is released back into the world because we must let it go to allow another emotion in.

It’s a heavy time we’re in. But truthfully, it’s always been a heavy time if you think about it. There will always be challenges in living in a broken world.

Earth is not our true home. We are only visitors here. But because we’ve been here so long, we forget what it was like to live in our Father’s house. Sometimes the burdens of life can be too much.

It’s like when you’ve been out of your parents’ house for a while. You’re used to it. You like it. Mostly.

But sometimes you yearn for the time when you were young and your folks took care of everything and you had no idea what it took to maintain the roof over your head.

But there’s joy in tears as well. Joy that can sometimes come with guilt because of the recognition that others are suffering. But that just speaks of a compassionate heart. And it’s okay to be joyful amid tears. Joy is easily shared and believe it or not, the people who are suffering want you to share a bit of your joy with them-even for a moment- so that they can bear the pain of their circumstances. Don’t be afraid to give them a bit of laughter, a smile, a hug.

We are small in the world, but great in our capacity for joy.

Even through tears.

Philippians 2:1-2 (RSV)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

One thought on “Tears”

  1. Though the storms keep on raging in my life
    And sometimes it’s hard to tell my night from day
    Still that hope that lies within is reassured
    As I keep my eyes upon the distant shore;
    I know He’ll lead me safely to that
    Blessed place He has prepared

    But if the storms don’t cease
    And if the wind keeps on blowing, (in my life)
    My soul has been anchored in the Lord

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Living Without Money

Daniel Suelo has been living without money since 2000. As he states:

I’ve been totally without cents since Autumn of 2000 (except for 1 month in 2001). I don’t use or accept money or conscious barter – don’t take food stamps or other government dole.

You can read about it here.  It’s an interesting story, but he basically lives in Moab, Utah and he basically lives in a cave:

My primary home is a cave in the desert canyon near Moab, Utah.  The latest cave I’ve been staying in is maybe 5 feet wide and 5 feet tall inside and 15 feet back.  It has a tear-drop shaped opening, part of a crevice in a cliff wall.  I cover it with plastic in the winter & it stays fairly warm even without fire.  But I built a little wood heating & cooking stove out of a large tin, with connected cans as a flew, which takes the smoke out a small hole conveniently above the entrance.  Just a couple small sticks will cook a meal & make the cave warm & toasty.  The cave is very stealth, hard to find, & doesn’t even look like a cave even when you’re close by.  The entrance is south-facing, high on a ledge, meaning it gets sun most days in the winter.  I can sunbathe naked up there in the dead of winter while the temperatures are frigid in the canyon below as well as in town!

He upkeeps a blog where he upkeeps it at the Moab Public Library.  You can also check out his philosophy on living without money on a site that he also keeps up.  An interesting fellow!

About shaunmiller

I am a Ph. D student at Marquette University. The primary purpose of this blog is to get my ideas out there, and then have other people scrutinize, critique, build upon, and systematize beliefs. This blog will sometimes pertain to what I'm learning in my classes, but it will occasionally deal with non-classroom issues that I'm thinking about as well.
This entry was posted in Economics. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Living Without Money

  1. Nick Aufdemorte says:

    This guys is interesting to say the least. I can understand wanting to live without money, however the part he is doing seems to be the easy part. Living without money is a really good survival training ,however it doesnt seem very smart. Sure spend maybe a year or more doing it that way you get that fill. However I would like to see this guy actually find some idea to make money and live like that. Then spend it actually making a difference. Instead of being a hermit in some cave somewhere..

    • aubreycierra says:

      Nick, what you say makes some sense based on the culture you live in. On the other hand it would defeat the purpose of what this man is trying to achieve. If he still works but doesn’t need any of the money then sure he can donate to a ‘worthy cause’. However, the point he is trying to make is that these people don’t need the possessions they think they do. He would hamper his point by not allowing them to figure out the uselessness of material or fiscal goods. It runs along the concept of give a man a fish. If he gives others the things they could live without then he never teaches them that these ‘needs’ aren’t needs at all. You don’t have to buy food from a grocery store and he wants to exemplify that. So while it may not seem ‘smart’ that is only because you are thinking in the realm of consumer based capitalism that you live in. People have inherent worth even if they don’t ‘contribute’ to society in such a way you find valuable. The Consumer capitalism way of viewing people is what he is turning from not work its self.

  2. Nic says:

    He sounds hot.

  3. thekillerj says:

    I don’t buy it (pun intended). I’ll bet this guy takes advantage of at least some form of living subsidized by us. He hunts everything? He never hitch hikes, uses public transportation, or anything of that matter? Maybe, but I doubt it.

    • shaunmiller says:

      Why isn’t it possible? After all, millions of people did it thousands of years ago. I guess the only thing he’s doing is going to the library to update his blog, but other than that, I think it’s possible.

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Part 2: When He Doesn’t Like You Back

“Look good, feel good, do good.”  That quote was my inspiration to gaining back confidence after my little “thing” with Calculus Boy.  I wanted to stop beating myself up over everything I’d done.  I wanted to stop being nervous every time I saw him.  I wanted to be the best version of myself.  I wanted to be confident.

So I tackled the basics, the exterior,  first.  Below are the three things I did that made me look (and eventually feel) my best.

1. I went out and bought lace underwear.  Wearing pretty things underneath your clothes gives you a secret, a confidence boost, a little pep in your step.  And if the underwear coordinates with your outfit, life gets even better.

2. I got a hair cut.  I had wanted to get bangs and layers for a while, but kept putting it off.  However, a flattering, new hair cut is very conducive to feeling your best.  Not only will a cute style make you look good, the newness of it will help you mentally start over with whatever circumstance you’re facing.  In my case, starting a friendship instead of a relationship with Calculus Boy.

3. I bought myself some flattering shorts.  I’m not saying to buy shorts every time you have a crisis; they wouldn’t be very helpful in the cool seasons of fall or winter.  But do treat yourself to an attractive piece of clothing.  It could be a good pair of skinny jeans, some red high heels, or a hot leather jacket.  Whatever makes you look your best!

Keep in mind that I did all of these things away from college by leaving Baylor for a weekend and visiting my aunt in Alabama.  Having a new and uninvolved perspective from someone I trusted was incredibly helpful in starting fresh.

The next week I went back to college with a sassy hair cut, new shorts, and lace underwear.  Obviously, such materialistic things didn’t completely eliminate my nerves.  But I did feel slightly better, especially when my friends started to compliment my new look.

Life went on and things eventually got easier.  I became myself again; I started feeling better and doing things to get ahead in life, to chase my dreams.  Calculus Boy and I became close friends and helped each other pass the class by having study sessions.  A few months later, we both entered into relationships with other people.  After I started dating Patrick, I could see that while Calculus Boy was never meant for me, he taught me valuable lessons.  He taught me to be myself.  He taught me to persevere in a hard college course.  He taught me to not let life’s circumstances rule my confidence.

Thank you, Calculus Boy.  I know you’ll probably never read my blog, but I’m so grateful for our friendship and all the important things you taught me.

Readers, don’t give up!  If you’re going through a hard time, know that there is an end.  There will be a time where you figure out why things happen.  There will be a time when you can appreciate the heartbreak or the disappointment.

In the meantime, I’m always here if you need a little pep talk.  Don’t hesitate to shoot me an email!

Part 1: When He Doesn’t Like You Back

I remember the feeling like it was yesterday.  He was tall, hazel eyed, and blonde.  He sat right in front of me in our calc class during my freshman year of college.  I laughed, flirted, and talked to him after our lectures.  After a few weeks, I was sure that he liked me back.  I was on Cloud 9 envisioning our future relationship; I was a ray of sunlight, a walking bit of euphoria, a girl in love.

And then it was over.  OK, not really over, but over for me.  It was obvious he didn’t like me back.  I cried, ate a lot of chocolate chip cookies, and watched chick flicks.  I would sit for hours rethinking every action, text, and word I had said to him, wondering where I had gone wrong.  I would sit in my best friend’s dorm room recounting every single thing that had happened between us.  She would be folding laundry, sympathizing, and telling me it would be OK.  I didn’t want to believe her, but I made myself hope for the better.

A little over a week went by.  I started getting sick of cookies and being overly emotional.  My practical side took over and I made a personal commitment to just get over him.

Easier said then done.

I began to realize that my self esteem was going down the tubes.  I was beating myself up for being too forward, too flirty, or too weird.  This had to stop.  I was determined to get back my confidence.

Before I tell you what I did to gain back my confidence, let me be clear about something: If a guy doesn’t like you back, don’t push it.  You’re obviously just not meant to be together right now.  So don’t ask him out, call him, or send him desperate texts.  Stay friends, especially if you see each other often in social or work situations.

However, just because he doesn’t like you back doesn’t mean you should stop acting likable.  See how I bolded “right now” in the previous paragraph?  Just because something doesn’t work out in the present doesn’t mean it won’t come together in the future.

Pretend you briefly caught a fish, but you lost him.  The next step is to focus on not only catching him again, but reeling him in to you.

This is the approach I took to Calculus Boy.  I didn’t push anything relationship wise, but I set a personal goal of being the most likable, intelligent, witty, beautiful girl he knew.  Even if he never worked out, I was striving to be the best version of myself, and is there anything wrong with that?

No.  In fact, being the best we can be should be a daily goal; we should be trying to express ourselves to every person in every moment of our lives.  But it isn’t that simple.  Sometimes, it takes someone special, someone you really, really like, to bring out the best in you.

Check back for my follow up post where I explain HOW I gained back my lost confidence!

Have a beautiful day! ~Shellie

Flirting 101: Breaking the Touch Barrier

One of my best friends from college, Maggie, called me up yesterday needing advice:

“Shells, I have a serious dilemma.  I really like this guy who I work with, and we’ve been friends for a long time, but I have no idea how to make it obvious that I’m interested in him.”

“Well, what’s your typical interaction like?  Do you make him laugh, hug him goodbye, what?”

“Oh no, our relationship is very professional.  We talk when we see each other, but I never hug him, just a wave.”

“Mags, are you kidding me?!  You’ve never broken the touch barrier?”

“The touch what?”

And so, dear readers, this blog post will be devoted to one of the most important tactics of flirting: breaking the touch barrier.

Every time you touch someone, a chemical called oxytocin is released in your brain.  Nicknamed “the love hormone,” oxytocin is responsible for helping people bond.  For instance, after giving birth, a large amount of oxytocin is released to help the mother bond with her baby.  A large amount of oxytocin is also released during sex.  On a side note, this is why it is so hard to break up with someone you’ve had sex with; the large amount of oxytocin has made you bond to that person much more than you would have without sex.

Although merely touching or hugging someone doesn’t release as much oxytocin as sex, it does release some:

In humans, oxytocin is released during hugging and pleasant physical touch, and plays a part in the human sexual response cycle. It appears to change the brain signals related to social recognition via facial expressions, perhaps by changing the firing of the amygdala, the part of the brain that plays a primary role in the processing of important emotional stimuli. In this way, oxytocin in the brain may be a potent mediator of human social behavior.[1]

As you can see, a little oxytocin is a great tool when flirting with someone.  However, you have to make sure that you don’t touch with too much forwardness or creepiness. Below are 5 ways to break the touch barrier in a subtle yet noticeable way.

1. Hugging

This one is pretty obvious, but can only be used in certain circumstances.  If you’re like Maggie, hugging would be too forward in a work scenario.  It would look out of place and obvious for Maggie to hug Mr. Perfect goodbye when she gives waves to everyone else.  However, when in a more casual situation, hugging is key.

2. Admirable Touching

Let’s say Maggie notices Mr. Perfect has a new watch on his wrist. “Oh, I love that watch!  Is it a Tommy Hilfilger?”  Then, she can lightly touch his wrist as she ooohs and ahhhs in admiration.

3. Needing Protection

Let’s say you’re walking down the street and a car drives by really fast and close to the sidewalk.  If you’re frightened, or want to pretend to be frightened, you can grab the guy’s arm in fear.  This not only allows you to touch him, but also builds him up as a man by recognizing him as a protector.

4. Playful Punching

Again, this tactic should only be used in more casual situations.  Pretend you and your PBF (Potential Boyfriend) are joking around or playfully bantering.  If he starts to tease you, you can playfully (and gently) slap his arm in flirty, reprimanding way.  This is even more effective if he use his name while doing so.

5. Laughing

If you’re standing or sitting close to Prince Charming and happen to be laughing, try to move your head so it touches his arm or shoulder.  For instance, my friend Bridget was adorably flirty with her crush, Matt, at a dinner party this past weekend.  Someone started to tell a funny and embarrassing story about Bridget, making her throw back her head and laugh. While laughing, she touched her head against Matt’s shoulder, feigning embarrassment.

If you use these 5 tactics in the right situations, you will succeed in releasing oxytocin in both yourself and your love interest.  However, pay attention to how the guy responds; if he draws away or acts awkward, don’t push it.  He may not be interested and not meant for you.  However, if he responds enthusiastically by hugging you back, smiling, offering protection, or laughing, be encouraged and keep up the good work!

Have a wonderful rest of the week! ~Shellie

5 Ways to Develop a Fitness Routine

Salutations, readers!

As promised, here is my follow up post on exercising!  I hope the following tips help you in your fitness goals.  As always, feel free to email or comment with questions!

1. Invest in well-made, comfortable clothing.

When I first started running, I hated how much my feet hurt and how chaffed my inner thighs would be at the end of working out.  I had no idea I could’ve avoided both of those things if I had invested in good shoes and clothing!  For instance, I run in capris to prevent chaffing.  While Capris can be very expensive at stores like Nike or Adidas, you can actually find well-made and affordable ones at stores like Academy.  Price wise, shoes are a little bit different.  I recommend splurging on a good pair of Brooks or Saucony as they’ll offer more support and last longer than your typical shoes from Nike, Adidas, or Foot Locker.

2. Find a good place to work out.

Do you prefer being outside or inside?  While I prefer exercising outside, my sister prefers the gym. Do what works for you and sign up for a gym membership, find a pretty park or lake nearby, etc.

3. Sign up for an event.

If I don’t have a deadline in front of my face, I’m lost.  Signing up for an event, big or small, will serve as a reminder and motivator to stick to your routine.  It doesn’t have to be an overwhelming ordeal.  Start small and then work your way up.  For instance, I signed up for a 5k two years ago and just ran my first marathon this January.  I merely increased the distance of each race I signed up for; first the 5k, then a 10k, a 1/2 marathon, and now a whole.

4. Use an online training schedule.

It’s really hard to know how much to train for an event since you don’t want to over exert yourself or train the wrong way.  It’s really easy to find training plans online by just using Google.  For those of you interested in running, Runners World is my favorite site for training plans.

5. Integrate music or light reading.

When I run, I love switching around my music.  By using different sources, (my iTunes Library, iTunes Radio, or Pandora) I can keep my beats fresh and fun!  When I cross train, I like to read books when I bike or use the elliptical in the gym.

“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” – Legally Blonde

Happy Thursday, readers!  I thought the quote above was appropriate for the topic of today’s post – exercise!

Now, before you roll your eyes and “x out” in an attempt to escape yet another exercise loving, adrenaline junkie post, let me tell you that I DON’T like exercising.  It is truly something that I have to push myself to complete.  I hate having to wear smelly clothes, make the time to get up early in the morning, and shower after I get all sweaty.

Despite my annoyances at exercising, I have found that the cons are extremely outweighed by the pros.  During my Baylor years, I developed a regular fitness routine and was shocked at how much of a difference it made in my daily life.  I found myself happier, sleeping better, less stressed, and able to think more clearly when studying or making hard decisions.  What I felt can be attributed to endorphins.  What are endorphins, you might ask?  See below.

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain.

Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as “euphoric.” That feeling, known as a “runner’s high,” can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.

Endorphins act as analgesics, which means they diminish the perception of pain. They also act as sedatives. They are manufactured in your brain, spinal cord, and many other parts of your body and are released in response to brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neuron receptors endorphins bind to are the same ones that bind some pain medicines. However, unlike with morphine, the activation of these receptors by the body’s endorphins does not lead to addiction or dependence.[1]

OK, so you get that exercise is important, that it will improve your life.  Now you’re probably asking yourself HOW you’ll get the motivation to commit to an actual routine.  Well, you’re in luck!  My next post will cover just that, so check back soon!

[1] WebMD – Exercise and Depression:

Flirting 101: How to Grab a Man’s Attention with Your Eyes

Thursday, January 30th, 2014

I walked into my apartment after a long day of work to find my roommate, Victoria, slouched over on the sofa, crying.  I fixed her a glass of water, sat down beside her, and waited for her to calm down.  After ten minutes or so, she began talking.  “There’s this really, REALLY good-looking guy in my sociology class.  I mean, drop-dead handsome.  He’s got gorgeous black hair, and gorgeous green eyes, and gorgeous tan skin, and he’s just so gorgeous.  He even got glasses recently, so now he looks gorgeous AND studious.  Anyway, I tried to get his attention all during class last week; I mean, I kept looking at him, and staring at him, and after the first time he saw me he literally refused to look at me again. And then today, I saw him walking to the library on campus, and he was with another girl.  He was laughing and smiling and didn’t even notice me wave.  Why don’t boys pay attention to me?!”  More sobs.  I thought for a few minutes about what to do, and then it hit me.  “Vickie, honey, it’s times for a lesson in Flirting 101.  Trust me, this will be the best ‘class’ you’ll ever take…”

Flirting Basic 101: How to Get a Man’s Attention with Eye Contact:

A good way to grab a man’s attention is with eye contact.  “Eye contact directly activates brain arousal systems and/or elicits a strong emotional response.  This raised arousal or emotional level then influences subsequent perceptual and cognitive processing.”[1]  Eye-connection can be greatly used to a girl’s advantage when it comes to the male species.  It is, however, an art that must be perfected.  The eye contact must seem natural and unforced, a moment of fate rather than a hound dog stare.  Follow the steps below and you’ll have that fateful eye contact in no time!

  1. Control your feelings.  People say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and the truth behind this saying is that the eyes often reflect your thoughts, feelings, and intentions.  In order to make the subtle, inviting eye contact, you must clear your mind of any man-hunting thoughts you have, lest your eyes make you look like a prowling lion.
  2. Connect your eyes for the right amount of time.  Connecting too briefly gives the impression you are nervous or unsure, while connecting for too long sends the signal you are creepy or intruding.  A good rule of thumb is to connect with them and think, “I like you,” then end it.  This is a good amount of time. Short enough to be friendly, long enough for them to notice.  Also, thinking, “I like you” will be reflected from your eyes.
  3. How to end eye contact?  Ladies, look slowly down and to the side.  Never jerk your eyes away.  This will make you seem like you were doing something wrong or having eye convulsions.  Never look up, as this can be mistaken for rolling your eyes.  Never look directly to the sides.  You will seem shifty.  Rather, tuck your chin, and bring your eyes down and to the side.  A small, closed-lip smile will season the moment with a dash of bashfulness, counteract the bold move of making eye-contact, and make the man’s heart beat faster.

Eye contact should be used to grab a man’s attention, not frighten him away.  After making eye contact the first time, see how he responds.  If he seems interested, try it again a few minutes later.  If he seems uninterested, don’t push it.  There are other ways to get his attention. The main point is to gain positive attention, so don’t overdo it.

Be sure to check back on my blog soon!  Eye contact is only the first of many successful flirting techniques I’ll be writing about.  Soon, you AND Vicky will be flirting pros!

[1] Senju, Atsushi, Johnson, Mark. “The Eye Contact Effect: Mechanisms and Development.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences 13.3 (2008): n. pag. Trends in Cognitive Sciences – The Eye Contact Effect: Mechanisms and Development. Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.


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A Potty Chair for Jacob

Jacob is going to be two on Moday, July 13.
So his mummy thinks its time to train him to pee on his own.
So his uncle A and antie Shih went to babyrus and found a potty chair for him.
There were many potty chairs to choose from….
Facy ones, but material wise were so so…
Finally, we decided to get this one from the BABYBJÖRN
Nothng face but very simple and very practical!
So many different colors and so cute!
But not all colors in stock, we picked….
the last one, in green.
I personally love this simple design very much!
I hope Jacob will soon mater his potty skill!
Happy Birthday, Jackie!
We love you! Red lips
This entry was posted in Jacob. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to A Potty Chair for Jacob

  1. Corinna says:

    yup~i bought this one too ne^^i chose the one that the girl was seating on it. I thought it has qualitier than others.

  2. Acha says:

    I havent started to train Ryan pee but soon has to try again…My boy still cant pee by himself, but his dad and mom have already bought him two potty chairs…… Aiiiii………………….Just dont wanna start the pee pee training la …… :(

  3. Shih says:

    Well, Jane haven’t start training Jacob yet. But she thinks its time, coz sometimes Jacob would hand a diaper to her or any of us adults around him and ask to change his diaper. So I guess he dosen’t feel comfortable wearing a wet diaper ba. By the way, how do you train a boy? I think its easier to train a girl! Good luck to all the moms out there~

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Category Archives: Explicit Lyrics

Blast from the Past: 5-2010 So you want to make some rootbeer?

Explit language within. After watching an episode of Modern Marvels on the History Channel concerning Soda and Soft Drinks, they did a great job explaining and clarifying what I tried to in the peice below. See more of my commentary … Continue reading

Posted in Blast from the Past, Explicit Lyrics | Leave a comment


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Double Opal Burst

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Petite Opal Stacking Ring Unique

Our Double Opal Burst stacking ring is created in a sturdy sterling silver to stack alongside others in your collection or to be worn alone.  Includes two matched colorful round crystal opals measuring 5+ mm and set within four prongs. On top of each in a burst of light are four bright diamonds, enhanced by our hand oxidation treatment. The open bypass band allows an adjustable fit.  Limited availability.  Ships immediately.

More information:

  • Opal: 5.0+ mm weighing .30 carat total weight
  • Diamonds: G color, VS clarity .06ct total weight
  • Sterling Silver 925
  • Created in Boston, MA

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Fatter, funnier and with bigger pictures! A chunky new edition: the same historical splattering of laughter, blood and gore. Do you know anyone called Norman? Our tip: never make them cross! The Normans were so tough that they bashed up the savage Saxons and shot an arrow through King Harold’s eye. (Remember 1066? Yuck!) But although they defended their battleships with fearsome barrels of pee, those storming Normans had a soft side too. For example, did you know Norman knights slept with a dolly? Cute. Or maybe not.

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LM.C - Strong Pop - CD

Availability : In stock

  • Additional Information

    Band LM.C
    Title Strong Pop
    Label Ganshin Records
    Generic musical style J-Pop / Visual Kei / K-Pop
    Detailed musical style Japan Rock
    Catalog # CDGS090
    Release Date 2 Feb 2015
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Septicflesh - Titan - 2CD DIGIPAK + T-shirt bundle

Availability : In stock

Septicflesh - Titan - 2CD DIGIPAK

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  • Additional Information

    Band Septicflesh
    Title Titan
    Label Season of Mist
    Generic musical style Death Metal / Grind
    Detailed musical style Symphonic Death Metal
    Catalog # SOM325DSOM325MTS
    Release Date 20 Jun 2014

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