Cause this song just makes my heart happy!
Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Week and Half Late
A good read on the Morgentaler debate.
I believe people who work hard, undoubtably care, pay their incredible debt of service to their nation deserve to be honoured.
I believe people who work hard, undoubtably care, pay their incredible debt of service to their nation deserve to be honoured.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I Feel Validated!
Socially awkward? Hit the books
HAYLEY MICK
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
July 10, 2008 at 9:14 AM EDT
For a good chunk of the summer, 17-year-old Charlotte Spafford plans to hole up in her room so the words of author Toni Morrison can transport her deep into the American South. Not exactly a sure-fire way to enhance her teenage social life - or is it?
A group of Toronto researchers have compiled a body of evidence showing that bookworms have exceptionally strong people skills.
Their years of research - summed up in the current issue of New Scientist magazine - has shown readers of narrative fiction scored higher on tests of empathy and social acumen than those who read non-fiction texts. And follow-up research showed that reading fiction may help fine-tune these skills: People assigned to read a New Yorker short story did better on social reasoning tests than those who read an essay from the same magazine.
Those benefits, researchers say, may be because fiction acts as a type of simulator. Reading about make-believe people having make-believe adventures or whirlwind romances may actually help people navigate those trials in real life.
"Fiction is really about how to get around in the social world, which is not as easy as one might think," said Keith Oatley, one of the researchers and a professor in the department of human development and applied psychology at the University of Toronto. "People who read fiction give themselves quite a bit of practice in understanding that. And also, I think reading fiction sort of prompts one to think about these questions - you know, what are these people up to?"
Makes sense to Ms. Spafford, whose love of fiction began with The Cat in the Hat and graduated to an obsession with the Brontë sisters and, most recently, novels by African-American authors.
"I've always been interested in people and why they do the things they do," she said from her home in Abbotsford, B.C.
The research, published in various peer-reviewed journals over the past few years, is founded on ideas held by everyone from Aristotle to Charles Dickens, Dr. Oatley said. Throughout history, fiction has long been lauded for its benefits to the reader as a source of entertainment, understanding of the world and as a way to improve one's character.
But now researchers are using empirical methods to see whether those suspected psychological benefits are real. Their positive findings have given fiction some credit at a time when funding for some arts programs is being threatened and kids would rather grab a joystick than a Judy Blume novel, says Raymond Mar, assistant professor in psychology at Toronto's York University, who has researched the science of fiction for seven years.
"Fiction doesn't get a lot of respect," he said. "It has always been viewed as false and as a frivolous thing that had no bearing on real life. But the fact of the matter is, there are effects that continue on after we close the book."
Dr. Mar says this body of research is still in its infancy, and there are still many unanswered questions that he and his collaborators plan to tackle.
For example, most of their research has focused on fiction in general. But would they find similar effects if they looked at biographies? And do sci-fi tales about chasing aliens through the galaxy have the same benefits as Alice Munro's short stories about love and loss? And what parts of the brain are stimulated when literary simulation is in full effect?
Ms. Spafford, for one, says she's seen first-hand how reading has enhanced both her social life and her understanding of the world - "if you use it right, and you don't sit in your room all day. It's just a question of balance."
She heads to the University of Victoria in September where she plans to study psychology.
HAYLEY MICK
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
July 10, 2008 at 9:14 AM EDT
For a good chunk of the summer, 17-year-old Charlotte Spafford plans to hole up in her room so the words of author Toni Morrison can transport her deep into the American South. Not exactly a sure-fire way to enhance her teenage social life - or is it?
A group of Toronto researchers have compiled a body of evidence showing that bookworms have exceptionally strong people skills.
Their years of research - summed up in the current issue of New Scientist magazine - has shown readers of narrative fiction scored higher on tests of empathy and social acumen than those who read non-fiction texts. And follow-up research showed that reading fiction may help fine-tune these skills: People assigned to read a New Yorker short story did better on social reasoning tests than those who read an essay from the same magazine.
Those benefits, researchers say, may be because fiction acts as a type of simulator. Reading about make-believe people having make-believe adventures or whirlwind romances may actually help people navigate those trials in real life.
"Fiction is really about how to get around in the social world, which is not as easy as one might think," said Keith Oatley, one of the researchers and a professor in the department of human development and applied psychology at the University of Toronto. "People who read fiction give themselves quite a bit of practice in understanding that. And also, I think reading fiction sort of prompts one to think about these questions - you know, what are these people up to?"
Makes sense to Ms. Spafford, whose love of fiction began with The Cat in the Hat and graduated to an obsession with the Brontë sisters and, most recently, novels by African-American authors.
"I've always been interested in people and why they do the things they do," she said from her home in Abbotsford, B.C.
The research, published in various peer-reviewed journals over the past few years, is founded on ideas held by everyone from Aristotle to Charles Dickens, Dr. Oatley said. Throughout history, fiction has long been lauded for its benefits to the reader as a source of entertainment, understanding of the world and as a way to improve one's character.
But now researchers are using empirical methods to see whether those suspected psychological benefits are real. Their positive findings have given fiction some credit at a time when funding for some arts programs is being threatened and kids would rather grab a joystick than a Judy Blume novel, says Raymond Mar, assistant professor in psychology at Toronto's York University, who has researched the science of fiction for seven years.
"Fiction doesn't get a lot of respect," he said. "It has always been viewed as false and as a frivolous thing that had no bearing on real life. But the fact of the matter is, there are effects that continue on after we close the book."
Dr. Mar says this body of research is still in its infancy, and there are still many unanswered questions that he and his collaborators plan to tackle.
For example, most of their research has focused on fiction in general. But would they find similar effects if they looked at biographies? And do sci-fi tales about chasing aliens through the galaxy have the same benefits as Alice Munro's short stories about love and loss? And what parts of the brain are stimulated when literary simulation is in full effect?
Ms. Spafford, for one, says she's seen first-hand how reading has enhanced both her social life and her understanding of the world - "if you use it right, and you don't sit in your room all day. It's just a question of balance."
She heads to the University of Victoria in September where she plans to study psychology.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
My Left Eye is Twitching a Little Bit
So on top of my busy two months, I have had the busiest of my busy weekends this past. So I am cheaping out...here's a list of my favourite things as of late.
- Vanilla lattes
- This cardigan
- This magazine (It's my birthday July 17th!!)
- This outfit (and I have a gift certificate to spend there!)
- I desperately need a new bathing suit, and this one is oooh so perfect!
- My current summer read
- Pirate's Booty
- I think this would be the perfect little dress for any birthday celebration!
That's about all I got in me today....
Send me pretty pictures, I like pretty pictures of things I can lust after and don't have to concentrate too hard on!
- Vanilla lattes
- This cardigan
- This magazine (It's my birthday July 17th!!)
- This outfit (and I have a gift certificate to spend there!)
- I desperately need a new bathing suit, and this one is oooh so perfect!
- My current summer read
- Pirate's Booty
- I think this would be the perfect little dress for any birthday celebration!
That's about all I got in me today....
Send me pretty pictures, I like pretty pictures of things I can lust after and don't have to concentrate too hard on!
Friday, June 27, 2008
For the Last Two Months
I have been quite busy, no I haven't disappeared into a vortex, though I do often refer to my small city as one. My office has been in the throes of putting together some pretty important proposals, which has had me quite busy at work. And with summer coming up I have had more and more social responsibilities - of the awful fun variety to attend to.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Smelly's wedding reception. I knew the party would be good, I knew we would all enjoy ourselves... I didn't quite expect to feel quite so happy and overwhelmed by all the emotion we all know is in me.
The best of friends are the friends I have known all my life and boy did we party on Saturday, the best of friends are also the men and woman who propped my drunk/elated/angry/tired/giddy ass up while in university. I know people who feel awkward introducing old friends to new friends... but I have always loved that, the friends who have been my solace over the last 26 years are the friends I hope get to meet so we can be one big brady bunch family of friends! I feel lucky everyday to have such amazing friends.... one's that love with their whole hearts and souls, ones who share their stories in turn sharing their lives, ones who so willingly create connections so others don't feel so lost. My darling friends, you are the best buddies ever....
To all those friends who read this, thank you for sharing yourself with me. You all hold special places in my heart. You are the best friends a woman could ever ask for.
Muah!!!!!!
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Smelly's wedding reception. I knew the party would be good, I knew we would all enjoy ourselves... I didn't quite expect to feel quite so happy and overwhelmed by all the emotion we all know is in me.
The best of friends are the friends I have known all my life and boy did we party on Saturday, the best of friends are also the men and woman who propped my drunk/elated/angry/tired/giddy ass up while in university. I know people who feel awkward introducing old friends to new friends... but I have always loved that, the friends who have been my solace over the last 26 years are the friends I hope get to meet so we can be one big brady bunch family of friends! I feel lucky everyday to have such amazing friends.... one's that love with their whole hearts and souls, ones who share their stories in turn sharing their lives, ones who so willingly create connections so others don't feel so lost. My darling friends, you are the best buddies ever....
To all those friends who read this, thank you for sharing yourself with me. You all hold special places in my heart. You are the best friends a woman could ever ask for.
Muah!!!!!!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
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