rich peterson posts http://richpeterson.posterous.com I read something somewhere... posterous.com Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:02:23 -0800 A visual guide to eggs http://richpeterson.posterous.com/a-visual-guide-to-eggs http://richpeterson.posterous.com/a-visual-guide-to-eggs

Egg guide partial

I can't resist. It's about food and those chickens are just so cute. View the full guide to eggs on culinaut.

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Sun, 23 Jan 2011 01:25:10 -0800 German food store offers recipe kits for individual meals http://richpeterson.posterous.com/german-food-store-offers-recipe-kits-for-indi http://richpeterson.posterous.com/german-food-store-offers-recipe-kits-for-indi

Rather than stocking everything a consumer might need at any given time, German Kochhaus — or “Cooking House” — focuses on a set number of meals each day. The store displays a series of packages that include a recipe and just the right quantities of all the necessary ingredients.

Launched in September 2010, Kochhaus — which bills itself as “the walk-in recipe book in Berlin” — typically displays some 20 recipes at any one time, each displayed on a table with the associated ingredients. Starters, salads, soups, main courses and desserts are all represented in the mix on any given day. “No dish costs more than €10, about $13, a serving; no dish takes more than one hour to prepare; there are no more than 12 steps to any recipe; there are never more than 20 recipes to choose from in the store, although two new ones are rotated in each week,” marketing director Dorothée Stöber told The New York Times recently. Kochhaus uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible, and it has hired the Berlin Workshop for the Disabled to package most of its dry goods. Most recipes, meanwhile, are in-house creations. Individual ingredients and wines are available in the shop too, as well as pans, bowls and other implements. Wine-tastings and cooking workshops are on the way. Meals are purchased by the portion, with delivery available in the local area.

Offering the opportunity for consumers to show off their culinary skills, while never stretching them too far, Kochhaus has found an innovative way to tap into dining trends. Grocery retailers around the world: how will you do likewise? (Related: Upscale meals-in-a-box feature healthy global cuisineRecipe kits bring the world to your dinner table.)

Website: www.kochhaus.de
Contact: info@Kochhaus.de

Spotted by: Martina Meng

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Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:09:49 -0800 8 GREAT INFOGRAPHICS No.11 http://richpeterson.posterous.com/8-great-infographics-no11 http://richpeterson.posterous.com/8-great-infographics-no11

Great work out there. I’m a bit behind so I’m giving you a double dose of great infographics.

Moon Flower - Dimitre Lima - InformationIsBeautiful.net

  • The Evolution Of Alphabets – Petrogylph – Heirogylph – Syllabic – Alphabet – Just awesome! (via)
  • The Who-Where-Venn of Web Censorship – Evan You’s visualization piece on Internet Censorship is worth a look. Especially for the Venn, depicting the reasons for censorship. Twin it with this piece on internet access as a human right (from FloatingSheep).
  • London On Sea – A sweet perspective on sea level rises using the tube map from PracticalAction.
  • The United State Of Health – Slick interactive site offering comparisons on the quality of health care across the US. While the subject matter doesn’t exactly grab me, I loved the comparison engine. By RockFishInteractive.
  • Data Done Right – Creative Review has a great showcase of the superb infographics featured in New York Magazine. Great examples of combining wit and info and graphics.
  • An Exoplanet Atlas – Little thing we did for Wired about planets discovered in other solar systems. Can you spot the glaring error that slipped through 2 researchers, 3 designers and various editors?
  • Breaking The Strain – Super-slow motion infovideo from GE showing the power of hybrid dynamic breaking. Not sure what information is being conveyed to me here. But I’m mesmerised.
  • and one for luck

  • An infographic magazine – A new mag with the minimum of text. Hmmm, sounds familiar… From Golden Section Graphics
  • You can follow my shares: http://www.google.com/reader/shared/david.mccandless or follow @infobeautiful

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    Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:46:58 -0800 The Granddaddy of Amazon Customer-reviewed Products http://richpeterson.posterous.com/the-granddaddy-of-amazon-customer-reviewed-pr http://richpeterson.posterous.com/the-granddaddy-of-amazon-customer-reviewed-pr

    We’ve had fun with facetious Amazon customer reviews for a number of odd products, like the TSA Security Checkpoint toy, the Three Wolf Moon Shirt, and the Table That Attaches to Your Steering Wheel (which has the world’s greatest customer images). But the granddaddy of all customer-reviewed Amazon products is Tuscan Whole Milk, which we featured back in 2006.

    One should not be intimidated by Tuscan Whole Milk. Nor should one prejudge, despite the fact that Tuscan is non-vintage and comes in such large containers. Do not be fooled: this is not a jug milk. I always find it important to taste milk using high-quality stemware — this is milk deserving of something better than a Flintstones plastic tumbler. One should pour just a small dollop and swirl it in the glass — note the coating and look for clots or discoloration. And the color — it should be opaque, and very, very white. Now, immerse your nose in the glass and take a whiff. Tuscan transports you instantly to scenic hill towns in central Italy (is that Montepulciano I detect?) — there is the loamy clay, the green grass of summer days, the towering cypress.

    Of course, the attraction was the novelty of a mail-order vendor selling fresh milk -which they don’t do anymore, but the product is available from “other sellers”, starting at $48.09. And now there are 1,240 reviews! Don’t miss the eight-stanza poem one reviewer left, along with five stars. Link -Thanks, Joe Kooman!

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    Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:54:10 -0800 Ah so this might be the future of the desktop computer. [TNW Shareables] http://richpeterson.posterous.com/ah-so-this-might-be-the-future-of-the-desktop http://richpeterson.posterous.com/ah-so-this-might-be-the-future-of-the-desktop

    With Smart TV’s, Google TV’s, Apple TV’s and whatever else round the corner, it’s no surprise that its left many questioning whether the era of the desktop computer has finally come to an end. Personally, I’ve fully backed the idea that Smart TV’s are the desktop replacement, that is until I spotted The Bend Desk over on Design Boom.

    The Bend Desk is a “prototype interactive display that takes the digital workspace from the screen to the desktop by the media computing group at RWTH aachen university. while a typical work setup combines a flat desktop with a vertical computer screen, bend desk combines the two into one single unit. bend desk is a vision for a future workspace that allows continuous interaction between both areas. using multi-touch technology, the display curves from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane. this workspace can be used to display digital content and interact with it directly using multi-touch gestures and manipulation.”

    Really has to be seen to be believed. What are your thoughts? Has this got potential?

    [Notice: this is the RSS feed for ALL stories from across The Next Web - that means a lot of stories every day - for just our top stories, subscribe to our Top Stories RSS feed here.]

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    Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:47:03 -0800 My Spaghetti http://richpeterson.posterous.com/my-spaghetti http://richpeterson.posterous.com/my-spaghetti

    "My spaghetti packaging design stemmed from a project I was set on my degree course, we had to pick one of five difficult objects to package (spaghetti, marbles, an egg, a single rose or custard powder). The reason I chose Spaghetti was because I always find myself wasting spaghetti as I'd always cook too much, so I wanted to address that problem in some way. There are already measuring devices for spaghetti on the market but nothing within the packaging itself, giving the consumer the spaghetti  in 6 equal servings to save on waste, the packaging can then be re-used and kept forever. It was my aim to create something that was visually appealing but also addressed a problem and could serve as a useful aid in any kitchen." Designed by Neal Fletcher.

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    Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:09:42 -0800 Kitchen Special – Only The Best Tools Will Do! http://richpeterson.posterous.com/kitchen-special-only-the-best-tools-will-do http://richpeterson.posterous.com/kitchen-special-only-the-best-tools-will-do

    The festive season is a time when your entire family comes together for the holidays. With a house full of hungry tummies to feed, the kitchen ends up being the hotspot for all to hang out. Here are some ideas to spice up your kitchen and make it feel warm, inviting and elegant. I bet you’re cooking up a handsome feast for all!

    Trinity Holder by Lisa Hilland

    Having a bowl full of savories for the munchies is a very good idea. I usually have finger foods, candies and nuts put out so that anyone passing by can easily pickup a handful. The Trinity holder is perfect for this, simply because you can have a spread of three things in one go.

    Colors: Black & White
    Price: $59

    Tom, Dick & Harry Thabto

    Tea, coffee or me? Haha! With family around, let the third jar be sugar, just this once!

    Price: $49

    Pipette Vinegar Bottles by Camilla Kropp

    This condiment container set presents a very scientific way of  flavoring your meal. I’m sure curious children will love to have it on the table.

    Price: Set of 2 for $59

    Magnetic Spice Stand by Zevro

    Besides being a space saver, the Magnetic Spice Stand does your kitchen proud by displaying all the exotic spices you’ve invested in.

    Price: $49.00

    SmartSpace Food Dispenser by Zevro

    This is such a clever way of holding grains and pasts or breakfast cereal. It can’t get smarter than this…. save space and have something interesting adorning your kitchen wall.

    Price: $47.00

    Orb Pestle & Mortar by Joseph Joseph

    This is a classy pestle & mortar that you can leave right on the countertop and ever so subtly get someone else to do the pounding and grinding. How wicked are we!

    Price: $30

    Nest 8 Nesting Set by Joseph Joseph

    What’s really attractive about this set are the colors and functionality. At one go you have bowls, sieves, measuring cups, strainers, etc. nestled together. They add a dash of vibrant energy to the room.

    Price: $50

    Elevate Utensils by Joseph Joseph

    The Elevate Utensils set keeps countertops clean and food right where they should be, the pot and your stomach. There’s a tiny kick-up joint that elevates the tool-end. Hygiene makes food taste better.

    Price: $40 for multicolor pack of 6

    Bowlboard by Ute Australian Design

    The Bowlboard has four cups embedded into the board and is quite convenient as a prep station.

    Price: $69

    Index Plus Chopping Board by Joseph Joseph

    A set of color coded knives and chopping boards keep your foods from cross-contaminating. Every professional chef has something like this except the Index Chopping Board is better designed and looks really nice in the kitchen.

    Price: $80

    ----------

    Yanko Design
    Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
    Yanko Design Store - We are about more than just concepts. See what's hot at the YD Store!

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    Thu, 09 Dec 2010 01:43:25 -0800 Taking the pulse: Australia’s top Google searches 2010 http://richpeterson.posterous.com/taking-the-pulse-australias-top-google-search http://richpeterson.posterous.com/taking-the-pulse-australias-top-google-search
    Every year the billions of search terms tapped into Google.com.au paint a picture of what’s been on Aussies’ minds -- and this year we were mad about social media, intrigued by underworld figures, glued to the federal election, and curious which of our favorite celebrities died, divorced, or otherwise landed in the headlines.

    Today we’re releasing our 2010 Google Zeitgeist results (Zeitgeist means “the spirit of our times”) and you’ll find a reminder of the year that was, plus plenty of fun oddities. (See: Justin Bieber searches.)

    Chatroulette, the chat room which lets you chat with random strangers and change conversations at will, caught the imaginations of Aussies this year -- it’s the fastest rising search term in Australia for 2010. Also featuring in this year’s top ten list are ABC3, the World Cup and WikiLeaks.

    Among the top news searches were major world events like the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti -- right next to searches for iPad and Android, revealing our love of all things cool and tech.

    Love really was in the air in 2010 -- we went online for the inside scoop on the celebrity weddings of Anna Paquin, Chelsea Clinton and Hilary Duff. AFL remained as popular as ever in sports searches, staying in the number one position followed closely by NRL and cricket. Our state loyalties remained strong though -- AFL still peaked in the Northern Territory, Tassie and Victoria. And we continued to search for our favorite TV ads online, with [ipad ad], [kfc ad], and [libra invisible ad] rising fast.

    And my personal favourite list -- top questions people ask Google -- shows that Aussies have a soft side. The number one question Australians asked Google this year?

    [What is love?]

    Here are our top search terms in Australia for 2010 -- we’ll be posting our global search terms later today, and we’ll tweet to let you know!

    Fastest-rising searches 2010
    1. chatroulette
    2. formspring
    3. ABC3
    4. world cup 2010
    5. tumblr
    6. ancestry.com.au
    7. event cinemas
    8. omegle
    9. wikileaks
    10. jetstar

    Most popular searches 2010
    1. facebook
    2. YouTube
    3. google
    4. ebay
    5. hotmail
    6. yahoo
    7. real estate
    8. maps
    9. commonwealth
    10. white pages

    Fastest-rising news stories 2010
    1. chile earthquake
    2. haiti
    3. ipad
    4. iphone 4
    5. vancouver 2010
    6. melbourne storm
    7. android
    8. volcano
    9. oil spill
    10. world cup

    Justin Bieber + searches 2010
    1. justin bieber facts
    2. justin bieber jokes
    3. justin bieber kissing
    4. justin bieber news
    5. justin bieber parody
    6. justin bieber smile
    7. justin bieber sunrise
    8. justin bieber tattoo
    9. justin bieber tickets
    10. justin bieber website

    Top questions people ask Google - ‘What is …?’
    1. What is love
    2. What is energy
    3. What is twitter
    4. What is depression
    5. What is bullying
    6. What is democracy
    7. What is Skype
    8. What is Pi
    9. What is veal
    10. What is probate

    Fastest-rising election stories 2010
    1. australia election
    2. bob katter
    3. julia gillard
    4. election results
    5. voting
    6. abc election
    7. nla newspapers
    8. greens party
    9. labor party
    10. poll bludger

    Fastest-rising people 2010
    1. Cody Simpson
    2. Andy Irons
    3. Justin Bieber
    4. Julia Gillard
    5. Lara Bingle
    6. Katy Perry
    7. Kim Kardashian
    8. Jessica Watson
    9. Andrew Bolt
    10. Kevin Rudd

    Fastest-rising advertising campaigns 2010
    1. ipad ad
    2. kfc ad
    3. libra invisible ad
    4. mazda ad
    5. old spice ad
    6. brut ad
    7. kia ad
    8. aami ad
    9. qantas ad
    10. perfect italiano ad

    Most popular celebrity weddings 2010
    1. anna paquin wedding
    2. chelsea clinton wedding
    3. hilary duff wedding
    4. kate ritchie wedding
    5. katy perry wedding
    6. miranda kerr wedding
    7. robbie williams wedding
    8. royal wedding
    9. megan fox wedding
    10. kyle sandilands wedding

    Most popular movies 2010
    1. the crazies
    2. resident evil afterlife
    3. ben hur
    4. percy jackson
    5. iron man 2
    6. mary poppins
    7. the avengers
    8. transformers 3
    9. breaking dawn
    10. jesse james

    Most popular Do-It-Yourself searches 2010
    1. diy bunnings
    2. diy kitchens
    3. diy fencing
    4. diy wedding invites
    5. diy super
    6. diy projects
    7. diy painting
    8. diy wardrobes
    9. diy tiles
    10. diy renovations

    Most popular diets 2010
    1. dukan diet
    2. lemon detox diet
    3. soup diet
    4. atkins diet
    5. mediterranean diet
    6. csiro diet
    7. blood type diet
    8. gluten free diet
    9. vegetarian diet
    10. low gi diet


    Fastest-rising retailers 2010
    1. woolworths online shopping
    2. urban outfitters
    3. shopbop
    4. saks fifth avenue
    5. dfo south wharf
    6. nordstrom
    7. rubi shoes
    8. graysonline
    9. zara
    10. walmart

    Posted by Kate Mason, Public Affairs Manager, Google Australia & New Zealand

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    Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:55:30 -0800 Paul Bennett, IDEO: Asking the right questions http://richpeterson.posterous.com/paul-bennett-ideo-asking-the-right-questions http://richpeterson.posterous.com/paul-bennett-ideo-asking-the-right-questions

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    Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:46:00 -0800 Are Disposable eReaders In Our Future? : TreeHugger http://richpeterson.posterous.com/are-disposable-ereaders-in-our-future-treehug http://richpeterson.posterous.com/are-disposable-ereaders-in-our-future-treehug

    ewetting technology image
    Image via University of Cincinnati

    Scientists at University of Cincinnati have figured out how to use a plain old sheet of paper as a surface for electrowetting, the technology behind e-paper such as used in e-readers and similar devices. It sounds like a dream come true because, as the researchers point out, it reduces device complexity and cost. However, it could be a huge concern since it may very well result in "disposable" one-time-use electronics.

    University of Cincinnati announced that electrical engineering professor Andrew Steckl and UC doctoral student Duk Young Kim demonstrated that paper could be used as a flexible host material for an electrowetting device. Simply put, EW is technology where colored droplets in a display are manipulated by an electric field to create images. Companies have been working hard to improve the technology for use in low-power reading devices and displays. Normally, EW is placed over glass, but the new breakthrough allows it to be placed over paper.

    "One of the main goals of e-paper is to replicate the look and feel of actual ink on paper," the researchers stated in the ACS article. "We have, therefore, investigated the use of paper as the perfect substrate for EW devices to accomplish e-paper on paper."

    The researchers say the result is essentially the same, which means flexible readers that are like a single sheet of paper holding an entire book or movie.

    "Nothing looks better than paper for reading," said Steckl, an Ohio Eminent Scholar. "We hope to have something that would actually look like paper but behave like a computer monitor in terms of its ability to store information. We would have something that is very cheap, very fast, full-color and at the end of the day or the end of the week, you could pitch it into the trash."

    However, for those with environmental concerns, there is a worrying result:

    "In general, this is an elegant method for reducing device complexity and cost, resulting in one-time-use devices that can be totally disposed after use," the researchers pointed out.

    This leads to some major questions -- what is the environmental impact of disposing of paper sporting EW technology? Exactly how would it be disposed of? Can it be recycled? What happens if people toss it in the trash? The list can go on...

    On top of all that, there is a problem with the concept of disposability in the first place -- a culture of disposable goods is what's got us into this landfill-up-to-our-ears-and-plastic-in-our-bellies situation in the first place.

    It might appear to be a breakthrough, but unless used responsibly, this is not a positive advancement at all.

    The researchers state that this technology is 3 to 5 years away from being marketable. We guess it's quite a bit farther away than that, so there are years to still address questions like these.

    Follow Jaymi on Twitter for more stories like this

    More on e-Paper
    e-Paper Getting More Paper-like with New Breakthrough
    Soaring e-Paper Market Means It's Time to be Careful
    E-ink Reveals Flexible, Extra-Tough e-Paper Display
    CES 2009: Liquavista Demos Ultra-Low Power Displays

    Buzz up!

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    http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/841685/someone_loves_you.gif http://posterous.com/users/YwMcyAqyk13 Rich Peterson richpeterson Rich Peterson
    Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:46:00 -0800 Photo Essay: What Can $250K Buy in Real Estate Around the World? http://richpeterson.posterous.com/photo-essay-what-can-250k-buy-in-real-estate http://richpeterson.posterous.com/photo-essay-what-can-250k-buy-in-real-estate
    With the economy supposedly getting better and house prices starting to level out, what will $250K get you these days?

    The global economy is slowly (but surely!) rebuilding itself. In my part of the world (Newfoundland), $250K will buy a one-room shanty on the outskirts of town… and that’s a bargain. If you’re considering becoming a homeowner, why not turn your sights abroad? Here’s where you can get the most bang for your buck.

    Fernhill, New Zealand

    USD Price: $250,000 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

    New Zealand home $250k

    1. This place is large and modern and has a balcony with epic views of the lake. It’s the kind of home I’ll swap my dingy townhouse rental for in a few years, when I want to start having babies and settling down. We’ll probably have a golden retriever named Jasper.


    Diani Beach, Kenya

    USD Price: $250,000 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5

    Kenya home $250k

    2. This property is a villa near the coast, part of a group of eight set among tropical gardens with over 200 different types of plant. There’s a huge pool with an underwater sound system (underwater aerobics, anyone?), massage jets, waterfall and waterslide. It’s pretty much a water-world dreamland.


    Thasos, Greece

    USD Price: $250,000
    Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

    Greece home $250k

    3. This residence has a fireplace and air-conditioning, a private garden, and an outdoor deck to die for. I can totally see myself curled up there with a bottle of bourbon and a good book. It’s also part of a complex, so you get all the sweet extras like a tennis court and pool. Oh, did I mention it’s in an olive grove?


    San Ignacio, Belize

    USD Price: $250,000
    Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

    Brazil home $250k

    4.This property is actually TWO buildings: a main two-storey house, and a smaller, one-storey building suitable for rentals or office space. The main house comes with air conditioning, a balcony, and a landscaped garden with one hell of a swimming pool. There’s also a two-car carport with remote control gate.


    Atenas, Costa Rica

    USD Price: $230,000
    Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

    Costa Rica home $250k

    5. This house is brand new and comes with a large garden, a pool, and mad views out over the valley.


    San Pedro, Philippines

    USD Price: $164,000 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

    Philippines home $250k

    6. This home is in a gated community which includes swimming pool, club/party house, hedge gardens, and manicured lawns. It’s also been renovated twice!


    Pattaya, Thailand

    USD Price: $222,700
    Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 2

    Thailand home $250k

    7. This furnished top-floor condo already comes with all the appliances, and includes high speed Internet and a large balcony. The building has a laundry room, pool, gym/spa, 24 hour security and car parking, and a great view of the ocean. All you have to do is move in!


    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    USD Price: $250,000
    Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 4

    Brazil home $250k

    8. Villa near Rio with view of the ocean. Has a pool and sauna, and a separate caretaker house complete with resident caretaker – leaving you free to concentrate on the sunsets!


    Naxxar, Malta

    USD Price: $242,500 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

    Malta home $250k

    9. Built in the 1700s, this two-storey home has a roof top terrace for you to catch some rays, and a very open living area. Sadly, Hobbits not included.


    Davutlar, near Kusadasi, Turkey

    USD Price: $169,400 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2

    Turkey home $250k

    10.This villa is part of a village complex, not far from somewhere called Paradise Beach, and with a view of the Dilek Mountains. It’s decked with marble, has an open fireplace for the winter, and a rooftop balcony with barbecue for the (long) summer.


    Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

    USD Price: $250,000
    Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

    Mexico home $250k

    11. Newly built condo in the center of Puerto Vallarta with private balcony, and pool.


    Truckee, California, USA

    USD Price: $249,000 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4.5

    California home $250k

    12. This is actually a “shared ownership” deal, but it’s a steal. Surrounded by woods, you get access to a pool, tennis courts, golf courses, downhill skiing, and a gym.


    Cairo, Egypt

    USD Price: $217,000 (approx.)
    Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

    Egypt home $250k

    13. Whoever decorated this apartment has got some mad skills. By far my favourite piece of property on the list, how could I possibly get bored in a “Four Seasons” themed apartment? Details are sparse, but I don’t care. There’s a freaking purple couch.


    COMMUNITY CONNECTION

    Which of these would you most like to buy? Know of any good real estate deals in your part of the world? Share your comments below.

    And if you are looking for more inspiration, check out our article on What Can $150K Buy in Real Estate Around the World?

    ShareThis

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    Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:08:07 -0800 No knight, no shining armor http://richpeterson.posterous.com/no-knight-no-shining-armor http://richpeterson.posterous.com/no-knight-no-shining-armor

    "Sure, Seth can do that, because he has a popular blog."

    Some people responded to my decision to forgo traditional publishers (not traditional books, btw) by pointing out that I can do that because I have a way of reaching readers electronically.

    What they missed is that this asset is a choice, not an accident.

    Does your project depend on a miracle, a bolt of lightning, on being chosen by some arbiter of who will succeed? I think your work is too important for you to depend on a lottery ticket. In some ways, this is the work of the Resistance, an insurance policy that gives you deniability if the project doesn't succeed. "Oh, it didn't work because we didn't get featured on that blog, didn't get distribution in the right store, didn't get the right endorsement..."

    There's nothing wrong with leverage, no problem at all with an unexpected lift that changes everything. But why would you build that as the foundation of your plan?

    The magic of the tribe is that you can build it incrementally, that day by day you can earn the asset that will allow you to bring your work to people who want it. Or you can skip that and wait to get picked. Picked to be on Oprah or American Idol or at the cash register at Borders.

    Getting picked is great. Building a tribe is reliable, it's hard work and it's worth doing.

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    Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:00:36 -0800 Timelapse Video: 15 Floor Chinese hotel built in 6 days [TNW Shareables] http://richpeterson.posterous.com/timelapse-video-15-floor-chinese-hotel-built http://richpeterson.posterous.com/timelapse-video-15-floor-chinese-hotel-built

    We’re all fascinated with cool slow motion videos of major demolition projects, so, here’s the reverse, a 15 floor Shanghai hotel built in 6 days.Arch Daily

    [Notice: this is the RSS feed for ALL stories from across The Next Web - that means a lot of stories every day - for just our top stories, subscribe to our Top Stories RSS feed here.]

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    Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:42:16 -0800 Preserving The World Through Electronics Upgrades http://richpeterson.posterous.com/preserving-the-world-through-electronics-upgr http://richpeterson.posterous.com/preserving-the-world-through-electronics-upgr

    We’ve got all this tech, right? And we use lots and lots of energy to make it all. When we switch to a new phone or drop our laptop, breaking the screen, getting a whole new laptop, we waste via the new energy we’re using creating a whole new set of objects. Instead, what designer Dominic Muren hopes to do is to create an environment where not only are our minds changed on the way we interact with our devices, but the way those devices are able to be fixed and upgraded.

    Dominic Muren is working on new design methods to create products that are both easy to fix and to upgrade. It’s a design framework and it’s called Skin/Skeleton/Guts, or SSG. There’s two amazing videos, one of Muren on the street going completely excited nuts in a totally good way, then there’s his TED speech he made as a result of his awarded TED fellowship. Look at them, love them, and embrace the futuristic fantasy.

    Designer: Dominic Muren

    ----------

    Yanko Design
    Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
    Yanko Design Store - We are about more than just concepts. See what's hot at the YD Store!

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    Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:28:39 -0800 BE LINEN http://richpeterson.posterous.com/be-linen http://richpeterson.posterous.com/be-linen

    This is the movie of the production of linen - from flower to fiber...(Read...)

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    Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:05:00 -0800 6 Free Sites for Creating Your Own Animations http://richpeterson.posterous.com/6-free-sites-for-creating-your-own-animations http://richpeterson.posterous.com/6-free-sites-for-creating-your-own-animations

    Animation ImageThe long and illustrious history of moving pictures all started with the zoetrope. Then there was the thaumatrope, the flip book, and my personal favorite, the phenakistoscope. And now we have (drumroll please): The Internet.

    People have been excited about moving pictures for ages. But achieving a passable animation has never been as easy or required as little talent as it does today.

    Previously, we made some suggestions for sites where you can get your webcomic on. This week, we’re bringing you five excellent ways to tackle animation, the next step in your pseudo-artistic journey.

    1. GoAnimate

    For animators who would rather put in a little time rather than settle for a mediocre movie, GoAnimate is the way to go. The site offers enough customization to fully express creative genius, but it’s easy enough to master without any actual animation or technical skills.

    For almost every component, the website offers a choice between complete customization and a library of already configured objects. Users can either choose a character or make a completely customized one; they can choose a soundtrack or upload one; they can have the computer speak the dialogue or record it themselves. All of these components are laid out visually on an easy-to-navigate timeline.

    There’s also an interesting community feature similar to many social media sites. Users can collect followers, earn badges and send messages to one another. Personal dashboards track how many people view your animation, which is way more fun than feeling like you’re sending your brilliant clip into cyber thin air.

    2. Devolver

    Dvolver

    Devolver streamlines the animation process into a quick, six-step multiple choice project. Choose your background, characters and one of four plots; type in some dialog; choose some music; and — voila! — you have an animated movie. Despite the extremely limited customization options, it’s actually not a bad looking cartoon.

    It’s quick to e-mail your animation to a friend, but they will need to visit the Devolver site in order to watch the movie and there’s no option to download. This aspect, paired with the fact that the dialog is really the only thing you can customize, makes this site more like a more exciting way to send an e-mail message than an actual animation; much like a customized e-card. Still, there are a bunch of situations that could warrant this of animation — an inside joke, a prom date request… a marriage proposal.

    3. Animasher

    animasher

    Instead of assigning actions to characters via a drop-down menu, Animasher users just hit a record button. Any movement that they create by dragging and dropping the images will be played back. Animators can compile multiple scenes of these moving images to complete a story.

    It’s a pretty painless way to make a movie, but there are some drawbacks. The images move but aren’t actually animated, so it’s difficult to accomplish changing expressions. As a result, the animation comes out looking more like a puppet show than a movie.

    Some tools that make the site more interesting are the ability to add your own images, record dialog with a microphone and add video clips. If you like the scrapbook-like look and process, there aren’t any better, free options out there without downloading or having actual software knowledge.

    4. Xtranormal

    Xtranormal

    As far as visual quality goes, this site is impressive (which is probably the cause of the slow preview load times). The workspace is a little different than the other animation sites mentioned in this article. All character movement, sound bytes, expressions and gestures are added directly into the script where you type the dialog.

    Unfortunately, the site’s options for free use are limited. Sarah Palin is one of two default characters in the “Starz” theme, for instance, but any other choices require cash commitment before you’re able to publish your animation. The same is true for “premium objects,” like different backgrounds that you’re able to preview but not publish, unless you pay. As evidenced by the site’s YouTube channel, there are definitely opportunities to makes some pretty cool movies, but the free version seems limited.

    5. Voki

    Voki

    You can’t create much of a story with Voki, but you can create an animated speaking avatar. The site is extremely easy to use. Just choose a character base (choices range from Uncle Sam to classic normal-looking people), adjust the background and colors, and add a voice. To put words in your avatar’s mouth, you can either call a number and leave a message, type out a greeting and let the computer generate a voice with the accent of your choice, or record a message with your computer’s microphone. When you’re finished, you can embed the code in your website or e-mail your message to a friend.

    6. Zimmer Twins

    Remember those choose your-own-adventure novels? This animation site applies the same concept to short cartoons. The site partners with Teletoon, a Canadian animation channel, to give children a starter in animation.

    The site challenges you to use its animation tool to finish the stories, which chronicle the adventures of siblings Eva and Edgar. The best finished stories are then recorded by voice actors and turned into TV spots.

    Which site was your favorite? What animation sites do you use? What features would you love to see in sites like these? Let us know in the comments!

    More Design Resources from Mashable:

    - 6 Free Sites for Creating Your Own Comics
    - Top 5 Web Font Design Trends to Follow
    - 6 New Mac Apps for Designers and Developers
    - 9 Free Resources for Learning Photoshop
    - HOW TO: Score a Web Design Job

    Image courtesy of iStockphoto (iStockphoto

    )

    , sage78

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    Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:04:00 -0800 6 Free Sites for Creating Your Own Comics http://richpeterson.posterous.com/6-free-sites-for-creating-your-own-comics http://richpeterson.posterous.com/6-free-sites-for-creating-your-own-comics

    In the days of cold, hard newsprint, only people who could draw were successful comic strip authors. In some cases, this resulted in comic strips that had very nice pictures, but weren’t all that funny (cough, Blondie). Thankfully, the Internet (Internet

    )

    has taught us not to accept an inferior form of comic artistry, but a more flexible one.

    Comic strip enthusiasts who want funny but don’t care about pretty drawing can have their strips, those who want artistry have theirs, and even those with very specific tastes can find something just right.

    The best part about these developments is that they allow you, regardless of any talent as an artist or comedian, to create your very own comic strip. Depending on what you’re going for, you can use one of these six sites to help you do it.

    1. MakeBeliefsComix.com

    Make_Belief_Comix

    MakeBeliefsComix.com is easy enough for children to use, but there are enough options for adults to get a message across, too. Users can choose from 25 characters to fill a two-, three-, or four-paneled comic strip. Currently, the site supports typing in seven different languages. There are plans to add Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters in the future.

    One limiting factor is color. Though you can choose a background color, the characters remain black and white. If you’re planning on printing your comic strip, this could be a good opportunity to pull out the old-fashioned box of crayons. But if you’re planning on sharing it online, it’s a bit restricting.

    The pre-set options that make the site so easy to use can also be slightly limiting. Your comic strips will look pretty generic. There are only about four different expressions for each character. The upside of this is that you can finish a perfectly respectable online comic in about 10 minutes.

    The creator, Bill Zimmerman, is the author of 18 books — including Make Beliefs: A Gift For Your Imagination. “My hope is that by giving you a choice of characters with different moods and the chance to write words and thoughts for them,” he writes on the site, “you will tap into your creativity and explore new possibilities.”

    2. MarvelKids.com’s Create Your Own Comic

    MarvelKids

    If there’s any company that knows what it takes to build great comics, Marvel Characters does. So it’s no surprise that its DIY comic site is pretty awesome, considering its simplicity.

    Features that make it awesome include choices for different styles of panels (not into boxes? try zig zags), the set-up for creating up to a 22-page comic book, and the Photoshop-esque tool dock that moves around the page. Your character choices include the stars of the Super Hero Squad Show, including The Hulk, Falcon, and Wolverine.

    The site does have some rough patches. If you’re hoping to create an original-looking comic strip, you’re out of luck, because you are limited to Marvel characters. There are a measly five options for objects, and you can’t change the background. With no option to save your work on the site, it’s also unlikely you’ll be completing a full 22-page comic book in one sitting.

    3. Pixton

    This is the comic strip creation website for artists. The site allows for as much customization as possible without the need to build from scratch. Instead of just choosing the color of a character’s shirt, for instance, there are options to adjust the collar, shape, sleeves and size of the shirt. Instead of relying on preset poses and emotions for each character, users are able to click and drag character limbs into new postures and can customize eyes, ears, noses and hairstyles. It’s also convenient to add images from Flickr (Flickr

    )

    or Google (Google

    )

    images.

    Successful comics vie every day for a spot in the prestigious Pixton top 10.

    4. ToonDoo

    ToonDoo

    ToonDoo hits the fine balance between creative versatility and user friendliness, ensuring that the final results look sharp. While there’s still an extensive library of characters and objects to use in your comic strip, there are also tools to create your own touches. The TraitR tool allows you to create custom characters and DoodlR lets you paint freely. If you want to use your own photos or another image in your comic strip, you can manipulate it through the ImagineR photo tool.

    Unlike other sites, there’s an option to save your project mid-creation so that you can come back to it later. When you finish a handful of ToonDoos, you can compile a book. It’s easy to embed individual cartoons in a website or share them over networks, and you can buy print-quality images of your favorites.

    5. Strip Generator

    The stoic characters of Strip Generators lend themselves to sarcastic commentary. There’s not a whole lot of opportunity to create a personal style — you need to work with what the site gives you — but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. The community topic-themed galleries are testimony to this (check out the current theme, “Autumn”).

    One unique capability is adjustable frames. If you need a specific cell to be a bit wider or longer, you can just drag the wall. Another stand-out trait is the personal library. When you tweak an image to get it just right, you can save it to use again later.

    6. Pikistrips

    comeeko

    Pikistrips takes your photos (er…”Pikis?”) and turns them into comic strips. Once you upload your favorites into a customizable comic cell format, you’re free to add text bubbles, speech bubbles and objects. The object gallery is pretty extensive, and its contents aren’t random. Many of the categories — like hairstyles, hats, mustaches, scars, and tattoos — wouldn’t be much fun without using your own photos as a canvas. If you miss the cartoon look, you can apply the “comic” effect to your photo or choose from seven others.

    All in all, this site is fun for tweaking your photos (also see the related Pikipimp.com), but is intended to boost the company’s custom printing business (you guessed it, “pikiprint”). On the other hand, if you want a custom mouse pad, bag or cup with your photocomic on it, this aspect works nicely.

    More Design Resources from Mashable:

    - Top 5 Web Font Design Trends to Follow
    - 6 New Mac Apps for Designers and Developers
    - 5 Free Resources for Learning Photoshop
    - 10 Captivating Time-Lapse Design Videos
    - 10 Stories Beautifully Told with Animated Typography [VIDEOS]

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    Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:03:00 -0800 NookColor Vs. iPad Vs. Dell Streak: Which of These Is Not a Tablet? | Fast Company http://richpeterson.posterous.com/nookcolor-vs-ipad-vs-dell-streak-which-of-the http://richpeterson.posterous.com/nookcolor-vs-ipad-vs-dell-streak-which-of-the

    NookColor e-reader

    There's something strange about Barnes & Noble's recently unveiled NookColor e-reader--it works as an e-reader, sure, but in many respects it's really just a tablet in disguise.

    Don't believe us? We've created a handy chart comparing the NookColor, the iPad, and the Dell Streak (a recently released Android-based tablet). There are minor differences in size, battery power, weight, and cost, but for the most part, it's hard to distinguish the NookColor as an e-reader purely by its specs.

    The one big difference: the NookColor doesn't have the full Android Marketplace--instead, Barnes & Noble is creating a developer community that will make custom reading-centric apps for the device. So far, the company is working with Lonely Planet, Dictionary.com, and Pandora on apps. But the fact that the NookColor will have a Pandora app means that the app store won't be completely reading-centric.

    The device also allows users to visit and update statuses on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter--and it has Gmail access. Which brings us back to our original question: Why isn't Barnes & Noble just calling this a tablet? And for that matter, why not give users access to the Android Market? The NookColor clearly has uses beyond a traditional e-reader--perhaps Barnes & Noble should embrace them  instead of limiting the device's functionality.

     

    ModelNookColoriPadDell Streak
    Screen Size
    7 inch diagonal backlit VividView Color Touchscreen high resolution display with 1024 x 600 delivering 169 pixels per inch, IPS technology
    9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology5 inch capacitive multi-touch WVGA (800x480) display
    Battery
    Rechargeable battery, 8 hours of reading with the Wi-Fi off25 watt-hour lithium ion battery, up to 10 hours of battery life with Wi-Fi530 mAh battery 
    Dimensions 8.1 inches wide x 5 inches high x 0.48 inches depth
    7.47 inches wide x 9.56 inches high x .5 inches depth
    6 inches wide x 3.1 inches high x .4 inches depth
    Processor/storage ARM Cortex A8-based, 45nm OMAP3621 processor, 8 GB storage built-in, micro-SD1GHz Apple A4 system-on-a-chip, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 2 GB storage built-in, 16 GB micro-SD
    Weight 15.8 ounces1.5 lbs Wi-Fi model, 1.6 lbs Wi-Fi + 3G model7.7 oz
    Wi-Fi/3GOnly Wi-Fi (Barnes & Noble may add a 3G version in the future)
    Both 3G + Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi-only models available
    Integrated 3G + Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + Bluetooth 2.1
    Cost$249From $499.99
    $299.99 with 2-year AT&T contract activation
    AppsCustom Android app store
    Apple app store
    Android Marketplace
    Operating System
    Android 2.1
    iOS 3.2.2
    Android 1.6, will receive 2.2 as an over the air update

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    Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:26:21 -0800 Boy with Leukemia Covers Treatment Costs by Selling “Aidan’s Monsters” http://richpeterson.posterous.com/boy-with-leukemia-covers-treatment-costs-by-s http://richpeterson.posterous.com/boy-with-leukemia-covers-treatment-costs-by-s
    A boy named Aidan has covered his medical treatment costs by selling hand-drawn monsters on Etsy.

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    Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:24:34 -0800 How To Lose Weight, Quit Coffee, and Stop Wearing Glasses (Part 2) http://richpeterson.posterous.com/how-to-lose-weight-quit-coffee-and-stop-weari http://richpeterson.posterous.com/how-to-lose-weight-quit-coffee-and-stop-weari

    Part 2 of an interview with Todd Becker, of Getting Stronger.

    Don’t know what this is? Read Part 1 here. (Hint: It’s awesome.)

    Julien: Todd, welcome back! Since the last section of the interview we published, I’ve gotten comments from Twitter and on the blog where people have said “I’ve been doing exercises for a week already and my vision is better,” or “I just took a cold shower– wow! I’m not stopping that anytime soon.” Since your methods seem to be simple, interesting, and functional for people, can you give us some practical starting points where people could experience it for themselves?

    Todd: I’m encouraged to see all this interest in doing hard things!  That must say something about your readers, because there is an understandable human tendency to take the easy path. Most of us will work hard at something only if we can see the benefits, so long as no superhuman effort is required. So start with a goal that motivates you.  Do you want to lose weight, get fit, or improve your eyesight?  Choose something personally important. Pick a goal that will really please you if you can achieve it.   It should be a moderately challenging goal that you know will take effort, but one that is achievable within weeks to months.  Make it specific.  It could be something physical, like reaching a goal weight, being able to walk or run a certain distance, or being able to drive without glasses.  But it could also be something behavioral — gaining control of your temper, or overcoming specific fears, obsessions or frustrations.

    Now my next recommendation is to forget about that lofty goal!  Because that’s the place where so many people fail. They often flail away at a hard goal, and make some initial progress.  But then they hit a plateau, fail to achieve their goal, and get discouraged.  One person who recognized this typical pattern of obsessive effort, followed by burnout, was George Leonard. Leonard was an aikido master and a luminary of the human potential movement of the sixties and seventies. He studied what it takes to achieve hard goals and summarized this in a wonderful little book, with the title “Mastery“. He believed in setting tough goals, but he cautioned that being too obsessively focused on goals is counterproductive.

    So I think we need to do two things to get started.  First, I’m a very strong believer in gradualism. Break down your lofty goal into small steps. Pick a very small and concrete first step on the path to your goal, something you haven’t reached, but something you think you could reach within a week.  It could be a physical achievement like losing two pounds.  But it is probably more instructive to pick something that involves your emotions or sensations. For example, being able to go two afternoons next without any snacks, waiting out the hunger pangs.  Or being able to last one full minute in a cold shower. Or resolving to get through one whole day where you decide not to let traffic or quarrelsome people bother you. Whether it involves your body or your emotions, it must be somewhat unpleasant and difficult — or you won’t activate hormesis and the sustained reward you’ll get from opponent processes. Over the next two weeks, pick this one narrow aspect and focus on it like a laser beam.  If you can achieve the goal in the first week, aim for an additional increment of improvement in the second week.

    The second thing I’d advise is even more important than the first.  At then end of the second week, start focusing on the effort as an end in itself. Stick with the plan towards your goal, but forget about making progress for a while. Focus only on the care and thoroughness of the effort itself. Leonard talked about “learning to love the plateau”.  He wrote eloquently about how to turn our efforts into habitual “rituals” that we can stick with and learn to savor for the long term.  These rituals will grow on you with time, and they are your best defense against burnout. You’ll soon recognize that the most important “product” of your self-improvement efforts is not the specific goal itself!  The real “product” is the recognition that the very act of making a sustained effort will permanently change your mental and physical “machinery” in ways that train and prepare you to take on even harder tasks. In that sense, the real “mastery” is not in achieving your specific goal, but rather in becoming master of your own destiny.  So while it will help your motivation to start out with a personally meaningful goal, in the long run it not so important what specific goal you choose to work on. Because you are really working on yourself.

    J: Funny, that’s just what I started doing recently. Precisely when I’m thinking “why would I want to get into this cold shower again?” — that’s exactly when I jump in, to force the movement at the time of most resistance, for its own sake.

    I’m also starting a 24-hour fast in about two hours– any advice on getting through the tough parts?

    T: I’m actually in the middle of a 30-hour fast right now, so my mindset is right to answer your question.  I’m normally not hungry at dinner time, but I was hungry yesterday afternoon, so that was my cue to start fasting until I eat dinner tonight. Just as you realized with your shower, the best time to plunge into discomfort is precisely when your mind is rebelling.  There’s no better way than this to decondition your cravings, and I find it really does rewire my circuits and smooths the path forward.  The best way to kill cravings is never to reward them:  Eat only when you’re not hungry!

    If you’ve done some short intermittent fasts before, Julien, you’ll probably do just fine. But I wouldn’t advise a 24-hour fast for anyone getting started with intermittent fasting.  As I’ve said before, gradualism is important.  Just as you wouldn’t try to bench-press 300 pounds in your very first attempt at weightlifting, you’ve got to build up a tolerance for this sort of thing.  For someone starting out, I’d first look to cut out eating after dinner — allow 2 to 3 hours between the last bite and bedtime.  Then cut out all afternoon snacks, at least most days.  Then cut out breakfasts and go to 1 or 2 meals a day.  This sounds like heresy when we’ve been lectured on the importance of eating a big breakfast to start the day, and eating frequent small meals to keep pumping fresh glucose into our veins.  But the science tells us a different story:  Learning to adapt to long stretches of time without eating teaches our body to more quickly upregulate the hormones and enzymes that allow rapid burning of our fat and glycogen stores “on demand”.  This drives down our basal insulin levels, upregulates neuroprotective brain growth factors like BDNF, and activates the breakdown of oxidized and glycosylated waste products that accumulate in our cells.  If we are constantly eating small meals, our insulin levels never get low enough to let this happen.

    Another myth that needs to be dispelled is that if you fast for a day you’ll go into “starvation mode” and start to break down your own muscle tissues. That’s just not true. It takes 3-5 days of fasting before any significant catabolism of muscle tissue kicks in.  You have plenty of fat and glycogen on your body to get you through a few days of fasting without any problem. There are some excellent resources on this, including the Fast-5 diet (editor’s note: download their free e-book), and Leangains, the website of Martin Berkans.  Martin combines intermittent fasting with weight training to get great results with both health and looking great.

    Keep a log of your experience during your fast. If you’re like me you’ll experience long stretches of incredible clarity, lightness and energy. You’ll feel like all the cobwebs inside your head have been cleared out.  But you’ll also experience discomfort at times. When you first start fasting, it takes time for your metabolism to switch over from burning glucose to burning fat and ketones.  Your brain, heart and muscles will do just fine on fat and ketones, but many people experience cravings, light-headedness, headaches or “fogginess” during the transition.  And those episodes could last up to a few hours. The more you fast, the more rapidly you switch over to fat burning, so these problems diminish. A very small percentage of people get true hypoglycemia — with shakes and feeling like they will faint or black out.  If that happens, eat something with quick glucose like a small piece of fruit or candy bar — but keep it small.  Otherwise, drinking non-caloric beverages like water, or unsweetened coffee or herb teas is a great idea.

    You’ll also find you suddenly have all this extra time freed up by not eating, preparing food, thinking about food, or driving to eat food.  I find that these are great times to go for a walk or do something active. The light exercise will actually cause your liver to kick in and supply you with fresh glucose or fatty acids, and that will dampen your appetite and give you a fresh burst of energy.

    Good luck with the fast!

    J: Thanks, it actually went great. I do it once a week. I was traveling to a Mexico event while it was going on so I fasted around 28 hours total. I find it best when you’re busy, so you don’t even notice you’re not eating– the opposite of being on a plane, actually. But once you’re done you happy you did it. :)

    You know, it’s funny, the more I think about advising people to do this stuff, the more I feel like I’m advocating that people participate in weird, cult-like behavior for the purpose of strengthening themselves. For me it’s essential that these behaviours be self-directed, not come from outside. Their purpose is to develop self-sufficiency and health– as Erwan le Corre would say, to be “healthy, happy, and free.”

    That said, I think there could be something here, a systematic methodology, which one could use in order to help ourselves take risk, be comfortable with stress and make better, non-fear based decisions. What do you think?

    T: You’re right. From the outside, I suppose certain practices like intermittent fasting or cold showers could make Hormetism look like some bizarre ascetic cult.  But it is really not a fixed belief system or set of rituals.  It’s a versatile approach to self-improvement that is infinitely adaptable to meet individual needs–a “systematic methodology”, as you put it.  Everyone’s interests and difficulties are different, and personal change usually happens only when you are motivated and feel in control.  I think that preaching and pushing specific directives on other people using backfires.  What I’ve tried to do on “Getting Stronger” is to propose a relatively simple formula or set of tools that can be applied to virtually any aspect of self-improvement.  On the blog, I’ve described how to apply these tools to a range of very different challenges, such as improving eyesight, avoiding running injuries, extinguishing cravings for sugar or drugs, or mastering negative emotions like worry or anger.  While many people who visit the website are searching for answers to just one specific problem, what I’m hoping to get across is that all our personal challenges have something in common. There is set of universal tools that you can apply to any problem, often one that I may not have discussed or even thought about. On my forum, people have written about their own unique issues like nail-biting or addiction to specific foods, and many have come up with their own creative solutions.

    What makes Hormetism so different, and perhaps controversial, is that it turns the conventional wisdom about “self-improvement” on its head.  The usual approach is to try to relieve or compensate for some particular stress.  So you correct poor eyesight by using glasses, tame appetite by eating frequent snacks, treat addiction by abstinence, or control allergies with antihistamines.  I suggest you take the exact opposite approach: start by applying a small additional amount of controlled stress. Of course, at first this seems to make things harder! But, just like lifting weights, progressively increase the stress for short periods of time, allowing for rest and recovery, until you’ve adapted and become stronger.  This is a gradual process and it takes time — often weeks or months.  But at the end of the day, if you persist, your body and soul are stronger.  Not only that, you are no longer dependent on a “crutch” like a pair of glasses, a special diet, or some medication. So unlike cultists who give up their freedom to join a movement, you now have toolset you can use to get stronger in a more fundamental and permanent way, freeing yourself from continued dependency on external contrivances.

    J: Ok, so let’s move into the discussion of psychological training, to adjust to stress and be able to thrive while under pressure. If I have to make a big decision, or I am avoiding one due to fear or perceived risk, what should I be doing to make sure that fear isn’t the reason I’m avoiding the decision? This goes beyond your usual hormesis stuff (physiological adaptations) but I believe it’s probably within the same realm as the rest, am I right?

    T: Most people tend to think that physical and psychological stress are two different things, but they are surprisingly similar in some ways. Too much of either can be harmful. And for that reason, we are usually counseled to keep stress carefully in check. In the case of your example about decision making under pressure, the conventional advice would be “stress management“: take a break from the action, calm down using relaxation techniques, and get some time by yourself to carefully reflect. To the extent that the perception of risk is driven by uncertainties, gather more information. If you’ve got all the information but are still fearful, perhaps you need to probe that fear, by yourself, with close friends, or with a therapist. Sounds sensible, but how realistic is that advice? In the real world, you don’t always have the luxury of time or resources to properly chill out. Time is limited, pressure is unrelenting, and you must decide in the moment.

    Other than warning of us of immediate dangers, though, I think fear is usually counterproductive in making good decisions. What you really need is a way to toughen yourself psychologically so that fear is no longer a factor, and clear thinking can emerge. And just as gradual application of physical stresses provide hormetic benefits, there are training techniques that can help you immunize yourself from disabling emotions. Jim Loehr, a sports psychologist who worked with Olympic speed skater Dan Jansen, developed a methodology he called “toughness training“.  He used this to help elite athletes like Jansen deal with stress and fear “in the moment”. To build mental toughness, he used intense training exercises to simulate real situations, followed by periods of rest and recovery. Loehr later applied these to help “corporate athletes” make better decisions under stress.  I recommend his book, “The Power of Full Engagement“, which I’ve reviewed on my blog.

    More than two thousand years ago, the ancient Stoics developed a psychological technique which is particularly effective in banishing fear. It’s called “negative visualization“. You spend time contemplating the worst that could happen in the decision at hand. You could lose your job, or your investments might crash. You contemplate the illness or death of a loved one. This might sound morose, but it has some interesting effects. First, it increases your appreciation of what you do have. Second, you often realize that even in what you thought was the worst case, you would still be alright and could bounce back without great difficulty. Tim Ferriss, the entrepreneur and “lifestyle design” guru, found this technique liberated him from some fears that were holding him back from making a major decision to leave a job he felt trapped in, embarking on a travel adventure that changed the direction of his life. He and gave a talk about it at Google, captured in a YouTube video that I think addresses your question very well.

    J: Wow, GREAT video.

    Todd, I was just reading this stuff from what is basically my favourite blog right now. The comments seem to suggest that resistance to disease is a hormetic process. If that’s true, is the human body a hormetic machine? We do see it in other places, like getting stronger bone structure if we lift weights, etc. Or would that be generalizing?

    T: Thanks, Julien, I took a look at those comments on Whole Heath Source. I’m familiar with Stephan Guyenet and I share his perspective on a range of topics, including the benefits of low carb or paleo diets, intermittent fasting, high intensity intermittent exercise–all good examples of how hormesis can broadly stimulate good heath. Stephan’s site is not the only one in this category — there are a number of “evolutionary diet and fitness” blogs that share his perspective, including those by Art Devany, Mark Sisson, and Martin Berkhan.

    But I’m not sure that hormesis has been adequately explained, even on those sites. Sometimes hormesis is portrayed as a mysterious or surprising biological quirk that only pops up under a narrow set of circumstances. Other times it’s just thought of as a lofty philosophical generality – Nietzsche said “that which does not kill us makes us stronger”.  Hormesis has inspired a certain degree of pseudo-science, like homeopathy.  And some skeptics argue that hormesis does not even exist — there are huge debates as to whether there really is a low dose benefit to radiation sources like radon or certain chemical “toxins” in foods and the environment. Hormesis is denied or ignored by regulatory agencies such as EPA and FDA. So there is a lot of controversy and lack of consensus about what exactly hormesis is.

    My own view is that hormesis can be explained as a set of general and specific adaptive repair and defense mechanisms that exist in all organisms, on the level of both individual cells and organ systems.  These are real physiological mechanisms, involving specific proteins, enzymes and hormones that are turned on in response to environmental triggers. It’s not surprising that organisms have evolved ways to repair damage and fortify themselves against environmental stresses. Organisms that can adapt hormetically would obviously out-compete those that couldn’t repair damage or resist increased stress. Some types of hormetic adaptation are highly specific — like the way that animals grow a thicker fur coat to survive the winter, or how guitarists grow calluses on their fingers.  One of the more exciting developments I’m researching is allergen immunotherapy, which uses systematic progressive low dose exposure to allergens to strengthen the immune system and totally cure people of specific allergies. But others types of hormesis are more systemic, turning on a whole cascade of metabolic adjustments. I’d put high intensity interval training, insulin-lowering diets and low dose radiation into that category of systemic hormesis.

    There are extensive human and animal studies by scientists like Edward Calabrese and Suresh Rattan, that uncover specific hormetic repair mechanisms, and document health and longevity benefits.  But I have not seen much investigation into how to apply this knowledge usefully in our own lives. There are many practical questions to answer: What is the optimal level and frequency of any given stress like fasting, cold water immersion, or radiation?  If the optimum varies for each individual, which I think is likely, what’s the best way to experimentally figure out the right dose and timing in your individual situation? How much can you continue to increase the stress?  How much improvement in life span and health are possible?  Are there new types of hormesis that might even be more efficient or effective? Those are some of the questions I’m investigating and writing about on “Getting Stronger,” but this is really an unexplored continent, with a lot to be learned!

    End of Part 2!

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