Play with Spatial Tools!

Have you discovered a fascinating spatial tool recently? As you play around with each, you might just discover one that brings new vibrancy your post's purpose. Here's a gallery I've assembled so far:

See what you look like on Wired Magazine. Here's Bob Hruzek in a Wired Magazine feature edition and it caught my eye. If you decide to make one, Bob says to be sure you have a digital photo of yourself ready when you... Create Your Own Wired Magazine Cover.

How about a Postage Stamp? Chris Cree asked a blogging friend Susan Reynolds to put his face on a stamp... First Class for sure!....


Ever wonder what your blog networks look like? There's a free tool available...Websites as Graphs. The graph you see when you wait about 15 minutes is an image of all your links and networks. Amazing when you consider it.... [I didn't wait that long!]

Here's a key to the color coding:
Blue: for links (the A tag)
Red: for tables (TABLE, TR and TD tags)
Green: for the DIV tag
Violet: for images (the IMG tag)
Yellow: for forms (FORM, INPUT, TEXTAREA, SELECT and OPTION tags)
Orange: for linebreaks and blockquotes (BR, P, and BLOCKQUOTE tags)
Black: the HTML tag, the root nodegray: all other tags

Image and Graphics Editor: If you need a great free graphics editor, I suggest Photobie. I use it all the time. Here's what it provides you...

Unlike other commercial and free image editing softwares, Photobie is more like a homemade cookie, which has much more flavor. Photobie developers intend to build an easy-to-use and feature-packed tool for graphics amateurs. Although, it is not yet a perfect tool for professionals, it does contain many handy tools to help professionals to achieve simple tasks quickly.

Graphs: Need a great graph to make a point. Kids Zone makes it easy for all of us! I mapped out the variety of geographical visitors to Brain Based Biz. You have a choice of five different graph styles. What an effective way to make a point numerically.




Collage: Note the glass full of favorite beverage glasses on the right. Terry Starbucker tapped his spatial creativity when he lifted a toast, with a glassful of bloggers' beverage images. Each rose to Terry's challenge. He and Sandy Renshaw teamed to make this fantastic collage...

And, if you decide to present a slideshow on your blog, Sandy has a wonderful example in a recent post: Backyard Wildlife in Iowa. You'll find amazing options to set up your own show at Picture Trail.

Do you have a spatial tool folks'd enjoy? Please do share it! We can all use a little more spatial pizazz.

How Do You Respond to Silent Treatment?

Ever hear an eternal, silent pause at work when you suggest a great idea to co-workers? Really disconcerting isn't it? When co-workers give you the cold shoulder or silent treatment, they "punish or manipulate," according to Dr. Kipling Williams. And when you get that kind of treatment, you may not fully realize all the implications. For instance silent treatment does its dirty work because people....

1. Grow more distant from extended family.
2. Lack support systems.
3. May not realize others are jealous of their talents.
4. Do not perceive it's a form of bullying.
5. Sometimes respond aggressively when they can't control a situation.

Another reason silence and ostracism do dirty work so effectively is brain related. When you doubt and feel anxious, cortisol, a chemical hormone literally floods your brain and nervous system. And, it throws you into a tizzy so you do not think clearly. Unless you are prepared with a tactic to move your mind from the immediate circumstance, cortisol adds to the effect of the perpetrator's purposes - to take you down. And, it usually takes about 20 minutes to recover without a good tactic. And there's more...

The part of the brain that detects pain, the anterior cingulate cortex is activated. However, the pain subsides, by immediately moving your mind to a new place. Strategies can actually bring calm and peace where storms originally blew on a destructive course. What strategies come to your mind? Here's a few I'd suggest:

1. Try a stategy a close friend advised
2. Take the group or person off-guard with a big smile or pass around some tic-tacs
3. Play music that inspires, such as Man from LaMancha in your mind's boom box
4. See yourself sitting at the best job of your dreams five years from now
5. Make plans to invite a supporting friend to lunch

Tactics such as these can empower you rather than disarm you immediately.

What new game plan would move your leadership forward and bring more serotonin, a brain chemical that brings calm and peace? ...

Up the Ante of Personal Development with the Brain in Mind!

Most people do not think much about the brain, and do not consider how much it influences our day to day choices. For instance, did you know that just walking by the dessert section in the CheeseCake Factory throws your brain into a tizzy - so much so that you're compelled to have that Strawberry Delight by the end of your meal?

Just catching sight of food—looking, catching the aroma, without even eating—sends your brain spinning. You know what I mean... especially if your neighbor's barbecuing right now... Scientists report that just a glimpse of food in magazines or as you walk by folks eating at outdoor restaurant tables, stimulates the part of your brain, which increases levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and reward. And these link closely to your increasing desire to have that food delight.

Knowing how your brain reacts to food helps you develop tactics. For openers, if you really want to keep your waistline trim and eradicate belly fat, you'd avoid magazines with glossy food images or strolling past restaurants with outside tables.

And, that's just one small tidbit in the vast expanse of recent research on the brain as it affects you daily. Insights about how your brain works enhance your personal development!

Thanks to Joanna Young for "chipping my name" into the Personal Development List.

In addition to the folks Priscilla Palmer currently has listed, I'm naming:

Anna Farmery at The Engaging Brand
Davers at Language Trainers Blog
Ellen Weber at Brain Based Business
Frank Roche at KnowHRBlog
Steve Roessler at All Things Workplace

Here's Priscilla's Personal Development List with my additions.

Aaron Potts at Today is That Day
Adam Kayce at Monk at Work
Al at 7pproductions.com
Alan Torres at Made to Be Great
Alexander Kjerulf at The Chief Happiness Officer
Alex Shalman at AlexShalman.com
Albert Foong at urbanmonk.net
Andrea J. Lee at Money, Meaning, and Beyond
Andy Wibbels at AndyWibbels.com
Anna Farmery at The Engaging Brand
Ask Lucid at Ask Lucid Spiritual Development
Anita Pathik Law at Power of four Way
Antonio Thornton at AntonioThornton.com
Belle Wong at Abundance Journal
Blogfuse at LifeDev
Brad Isaac at Achieve It
Brian Clark at Copyblogger
Brian Kim at briankim.net
Bob at everyeveryminute
Carlon Haas at Possess Less Exist More
Christine Kane at ChristineKane.com
Clyde at Feeling Good
Conceive, Believe, Achieve at Conceive, Believe, Achieve
Craig Harper at Motivational Speaker
Curt Rosengren at Occupational Adventure
Damian Carr at Soul Terminal
Daniel Sitter at Idea Sellers
Davers at Language Trainers Blog
Dave Schoof at Engaging the Disquiet
David Allen at The David Allen Company
David Rogers at How to Have Great Self Confidence
David Seah at David Seah.com
Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com
Dean Lacono at Law of Attraction for Beginners
Debbie Call at Spirit In Gear
Des Walsh at Thinking Home Business
Dick Richards at Come Gather Round
Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer
Donna Karlin at Perspectives
Dr. Charles Parker at The Core Psych Blog
Dr. Hal at Northstar Mental fitness blog
Drew Rozell at Drew Rozell.com
Edward Mills at Evolving Times
Ellen Weber at Brain Based Business
Emmanuel Lopez at The Adventures of Motivatorman
Frank Kanu at Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership
Frank Roche at KnowHRBlog
Ellesse at Goal Setting College
Enoch Tan at Mind Reality
Eric Napier at Quotation Collection
Guy Kawasaki at How to Change the World
Gleb Reys at Personal Development Ideas
Grayson at Modern Worker Blog
Gretchen Rubin at Happiness Project
Gustav at Success-is-in-you.com
Gyanish at Diethack
Don Simkovich at Hey Don
Hilda Carroll at Living Out Loud
Henrik Edberg at The Positivity Blog
Honman at Open Your Mind to Prosperity
Inkedmn at The Cranking Widgets Blog
Itzy Sabo at Email Overloaded
Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives
Jason and Michael at Black Belt Productivity
Jason Ivers at A Miracle a Day
Jay White at dumb little man tips for life
Jean Browman at Transforming Stress Into Power and Cheerful Monk
Jeff Lilly at Druid Journal
Jeffrey Phillips at Think Faster
Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness
Jeremiah Owyang at Web Strategy by Jeremiah
Jerry Hart at Blue Print to emarketing
Jerry Lopper at Personal Growth
Joanna Young at Coaching Wizardry
John Pratt at John Pratt International
John Place at John Place Online
John Wesley at Pick The Brain
Josh Bickford at Reach For Magnificence and Reach for Magnificence
Julia Rogers Hamrick at Julia’s Blog: Journal of the Journey Home to Eden
Julie Bonner at Declutter It
Kailani at An Island Review
Kammie Kobyleski at Passion Meets Purpose
Karen at Journey with Water Learner
Karen Lynch at Live The Power
Karen Wallace at The Clearing Space
Karl Staib at Karl Staib.com
Kevin Kinchen at Creative Power of Thought
Killeris at Attitude, The Ultimate Power
Kim and Jason at Escape Adulthood
Kim George at Doing What You Can Do
Kirsten Harrell at Ipopin
K.L. Masina at Be Conscious Now
Leah Maclean at Working Solo
Laura Young at The Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life
Lee Nutter at bmindful
Leo Baruta at Zen Habits
Life Reflection at Universe in a Single Atom
Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog
Lola Fayemi at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development
Lorraine Cohen at Powerfull Living
Lyman Reed at Creating a Better Life
Maddy at Illuminated Minds Want to Know
Maria Palma at The Good Life
Mark at The Naked Soul
Mark Forster at Get Everything Done
Mark McManus at Build Your Life To Order
Mark W Shead at Productivity 501
Martin Avis at Kickstart Daily
Matthew Cornell at Matt’s Idea Blog
Merlin Mann at 43 Folders
Michelle Moore at Happiness Blog
Michael Port at The Think Big Revolution
My Everyday Planner at My Everyday Planner
Nancy Tierney at Unconditional Confidence
Neil Patel at Quick Sprout
Nick Smith at Life 2.0
Nneka at Balanced Life Center
Organize-It at Organize-It
Pamala Slim at Escape From Cubicle Nation
Pamm Larry at My Spiritual Dance
Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker
Paul at Paul’s Tips
Peter at I Will Change Your Life
Peter Aldin at Great Circle
Phil Gerbyshak at Make It Great
Priscilla Palmer at Personal Development Demands Success
Raymond Salas at Zenchill Powertools
Reg Adkins at ElementalTruths
Rick Cockrum at Shards of Consciousness
Rick Cooper at The PDA Pro
Ririan at Ririanproject
Rob at 7Breaths
Rob Cooke at Leave the Office
Robert at Compassionate Council
Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz
Rosa Say at Managing With Aloha Coaching
Ryan Marle at The Alpha Project
S.J. Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart
Sam at Aquire Wisdom and Live with Passion
Scott Adams at The Dilbert Blog
Scott Bernadot at Keeping The Secret
Scott Ginsberg at Hello, My Name Is Blog
Scott H Young at Scott H Young
Self Pursuit at Self Pursuit
Shauna Arthurs at Breathing Prosperity and Follow Your Path
Shaheen Lakhan at GNIF Brain Blogger
Simone and Mandy at Outfit Inspirations
Slade Roberson at Shift Your Spirits
Sleeping Dude at How to Wake Up Early
Spike at Organize It
Stephanie and Jeffrey at Brains on Purpose
Steve Olson at Steve-Olson.com
Steve Pavlina at stevepavlina.com
Steve Roessler at All Things Workplace
Steven Aitchison at Change Your Thoughts
Surjit at Gurushabad
Susan Sabo at Productivity Cafe
Ted Demopoulos at Blogging For Business
Thom Quinn at Qlog
Tim Ferris at 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog
Tom Spanton at TRCoach
Tim Taylor at My Agapic Life
Tony D Clark at Success From The Nest
Torlink at You Create Reality
Travis Wright at Cultivate Greatness
Trizoko at Trizoko.com
Trevor Gay at Simplicity is the Key
Troy Worman at Orbit Now!
Tupelo Kenyon at Tupelokenyon.com
Vickie at Contemplate This
Wan Qi at Meditation Forum Mantras
WildBill at PassionateBlogger
and these collaborated sites:
Daily PlanIt
Did I Get Things Done
GTD Wannabe
Life Coaches Blog Stratagies for a Greater Life
Lifehack.org

Check these outstanding bloggers to enhance your personal development in many areas! And remember to keep brain in mind!

Tips to Overcome Wandering Brain

Ever stop to consider how much time you're wasting through a wandering brain? New research shows our brains tend to wander during mundane tasks and boring lectures. In fact, psychologist Malia Mason discovered that daydreaming seems to be the default setting of the mind and brain regions related to it. What's behind this anyway?

The research team speculates that

when engaged in a mundane task, mind wandering allows people to remain properly aroused. Alternatively, they say, daydreams could be a conduit for uniting experiences from a person's past or present to their future. Or, the brain may just have evolved the ability to handle more than one function at once.

Good news is that by zeroing on a compelling task, the meandering stops immediately, according to Harvard Research.

So, what can one do to bring focus to a boring committee meeting if you discover your mind wanders?

Here're some tactics to spark more of your brain...

1. Listen carefully to jot down just one word, beside a person's name, to summarize ideas, when a committee member speaks. [Recognizing patterns - Logical-mathematical intelligence]

2. Doodle icons which summarize ideas presented, if you're more spatially oriented. [Translating ideas to images - Spatial intelligence]

3. Keep this question stirring in your head -- Where to from here? And in an appropriate moment, be ready to share your nugget for the committee to move forward. [Reflection - Intrapersonal intelligence]

4. Do quick research ahead of the meeting to discover an insight. Share at the right moment. [Reading articles - Verbal-linguistic intelligence]

And, all these strategies involve higher cognitive brain functions.

Just think, you can be the one to change the nature of a "boring committee" if you strategize ahead for a compelling focus by using more of your brain!

Thoughts?

Coffee Good for You?

"Coffee is actually good for you," my brother exclaimed during his visit last weekend. "Though they used to say it was bad, they've discovered the reverse." That seemed like good news since I enjoy a morning cup of coffee and my extreme curiosity led me to look into it. For openers, coffee aids in memory for older women and that's not all. Three cups of coffee a day have potential benefits. Here's how...

Benefits Memory for Older Women

Women 65 and older who drank more than three cups of coffee (or the equivalent in tea) per day had less decline over time on tests of memory than women who drank one cup or less of coffee or tea per day. The results held up even after researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect memory abilities, such as age, education, disability, depression, high blood pressure, medications, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic illnesses.

Coffee contains dietary fiber

Already recognized as a source of healthful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, coffee also contains significantly higher levels of soluble dietary fiber than other commonly consumed beverages, scientists in Spain report.

"The dietary fiber content in brewed coffee is higher than in other common beverages such as wine or orange juice."

Lower Parkinson's Risk:

The average age at onset of the disease was eight years older for people who consumed coffee compared to those who never did. Among the people with Parkinson's, 83 percent were regular coffee drinkers, while 92 percent of the controls were regular coffee drinkers.

Lowers Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital has found that participants who regularly drank coffee significantly reduced the risk of onset of type 2 diabetes, compared to non-coffee drinking participants.

Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated) has lots of antioxidants like chlorogenic acid (one of the compounds responsible for the coffee flavor) and magnesium. These ingredients can actually improve sensitivity to insulin and may contribute to lowering risk of type 2 diabetes.

Reduces Risk of Liver Cancer

At least eleven studies conducted in southern Europe and Japan have examined the relationship between coffee drinking and the risk of primary liver cancer.

The results showed a 41 percent reduction of HCC hepatocellular carcinoma risk among coffee drinkers compared to those who never drank coffee.

This is only a fraction of coffee boosts to our system. A Harvard Study also mentions that coffee's used to treat apnea, migraines and even acne. Jolts of Java may reduce the number of fatal car accidents and suicides as well. What's the other side of this? To be fair, there are some...

Risks for Some Folks

Heart - Greater for People with Gene Variation

Individuals who have a genetic variation associated with slower caffeine metabolism appear to have an increased risk of non-fatal heart attack associated with higher amounts of coffee intake, according to a study in the March 8 issue of JAMA

Folks on Depression Meds

Psychologists worry that amid the flood of praise from scientific circles, coffee's dangers will be ignored. Caffeine, they note, tricks the body into that state of alert know as" fight or flight." The heart races blood pressure jumps, and--for serious mainliners of mud--hands tremble and muscles twitch. This may be a mere annoyance in emotionally healthy folks, but it can complicate treatment for psychiatric patients, notes the University of British Columbia's Arnold Kruger, Ph.D. Chronic anxiety, panic disorders, and depressions can all be exacerbated by terfere with tranquilizers like Valium.

I'll get a shot of serotonin each morning as I grab my cuppa Starbucks... not only from a boost to my metabolism and the enticing aroma, but also knowing the benefits to memory and health. For me the advantages're promising. I'm glad my brother mentioned that coffee's good for health!

Decide in a Snap!

Do you rely on your gut or consider several options for your major decisions? While many folks agonize, others make quick choices that work for and not against them. Deadlines influence people's outcomes and here's how...

Latest research shows that snap decisions generally work best because you're forced to process quickly. Snap decisions build on intelligence stored our unconscious mind. In his recent book, Gut Feelings, Gerd Gigerenzer pinpoints why intuition trumps reason when putting together stocks for a portfolio...

Interestingly, the less financial knowledge behind choices the better. For instance, women queried by the Gigrenzer's German research team recognized fewer stocks than men, but when they created a portfolio based on familiar companies, they earned more than an equivalent group chosen by the men.

Snap decisions go awry with too much information...

Intuition, it seems, is not some sort of mystical chemical reaction but a neurologically based behavior that evolved to ensure that we humans respond quickly when faced with a dilemma. Too much data throws a monkey wrench into the process. The more variables we consider, the harder it is to make the "right" decision--as anyone who has faced an aisle full of shampoos knows.

And, Malcolm Gladwell author of Blink points out snap decision-making's fragile and easily disrupted.

Gladwell discovered, when asked to rank brands of strawberry jams from best- to worst-tasting without looking at the labels, most people give the same answers. However, when asked to describe what each jam tasted like, these line-ups vary dramatically, and lower-quality jams could be ranked higher.

So wisdom's boosted by frugality.

Are there strategies we can use to get around this? To try and trick yourself into 'snap' judgement?

Or do we just allow the processes to keep rolling in the background - without giving it undue focus - trusting that we'll make the decision when the time's right? From what Gladwell and Gigrenzer discoverd, we'll have to prevent mulling it over too much!

So, here's a tactic...

Imagine your best answer as the red dot on a target board. You mentally throw a dart at that target. No delay. No distractions. No doubts.

Simply throw the dart from the talent pools already existent in your mind and enjoy the results. And then, don't look back. Just trust it. The secret's in just letting go!

Joanna Young queried how to make a snap decision when your deadline's at the end of the week... So we'll be looking for results...

Tease Your Brain with Color!

What is there about brain teasers that draw us in and fool us? Fact is that the human brain loves surprises, puzzles and challenges, according to Eric Jensen. We thrill to intellectual challenge and adventure.

Dawud Miracle learned that color stimulates different parts of the brain so he checked into this phenomenon even more... In the process he learned that the brain's easily tricked by association. See for yourself...

Below is an example of The ColorText Brain Teaser. You do it by saying the color of each word. Be careful not to say the color named by the word. Example: if you see Blue you would say “red” because the color of the word blue is red. It’s harder than it looks. Give it a try…

How did you fare...willing to share?

Thanks, Chris Brown for alerting me to this fascinating conversation which derived from 20 Surefire Ways to Beat Writer's Block.

If you have an intriguing brain teaser, please do let us know...

Get Dirty - Build Serotonin!

Get your hands and feet into the soil and you'll activate neurons that produce more serotonin. Serotonin's a chemical in your brain that brings well-being. Hmmm... how does that happen? Bacteria in the soil trigger these neurons, according to Dr. Chris Lowry, University of Bristol. "Findings leave us wondering if we shouldn't all be spending more time playing in the dirt!"

What do you do to get dirty? Barefoot hiking can lure you into whole new worlds... but you've got to take the plunge and get your tootsies hardened! Wonders follow! Interestingly barefoot walks awakens thinking and sensory awareness. Ethan Todras-Whitehill says, "Barefoot hikers are neither ascetics nor thrill seekers. Almost universally, they say they go shoeless for a sense of communion with the earth and for the sheer pleasure of feeling more of the world with their feet." Ready to try?

How about a veggie or flower garden? Dr. Ellen Weber told me four years ago that she had a brown thumb. Don't believe it for a minute - or even about you. You build new dendrite brain cells by simply doing an activity. Start fresh ... Ellen did. First, she installed a beautiful garden space at the front of the MITA Center. Not only did she set up the stone walls, but also added soil and carefully chose bushes, perennials and annuals to add to its ambiance. Invariably Ellen goes outside daily to pull a few weeds and just soak up the radience of red, white and purple blossoms. I know that she derives great pleasure when she looks to see the work of her hands. And if you look carefully, you'll see green thumbs.

Get Past Winter Blahs! Since we have less sun in the winter, some folks are more prone to depression. Dr. Lowry initiated this research to "aid the understanding of why an imbalance in the immune system leaves some individuals vulnerable to mood disorders like depression." Since getting your hands in the soil helps lift you from depression, why not launch small with potted plants? If you've succeeded outside, next step is to move forward inside. Plants lift your spirits at work and release oxygen as a bonus!

What activities get you dirty?

Money Should Be Spread as Manure?

Money is like manure, it should be spread around Brooke Astor, New York socialite

Why is it that some people find a great deal of pleasure in giving money away? Brook Astor, rich and part of New York society, disdained pretension and devoted time and considerable resources to New York's unfortunate. Astor declared herself "nouveau pauvre." Imagine! While many on the stock exchange were busily trying to get more, Brooke Astor used money to help others.

Last week, Brooke Astor, a member of New York high society died at 105. But what a mark she left on the people of the city... When she inherited a fortune, she determined to make a difference by alleviating human misery. In the process she gave away nearly $200 million.

For decades Brooke Astor lived as the city’s unofficial first lady, described by New York Times as "one who moved effortlessly from the sumptuous apartments of Fifth Avenue to the ragged barrios of East Harlem, deploying her inherited millions to help the poor help themselves."

A few people, like Brooke Astor, find pleasure through compassion and empathy for others. In some ways it's related to the brain. The medial section of the brain's prefrontal cortex has been associated with empathy and regulation of negative emotion. Researchers are learning more...

Since Brooke Astor derived pleasure in helping others, philanthropy was a serotonin builder for her. The more she gave, the more serotonin, a chemical of well-being, flooded her brain.

Do you find this true for yourself, too? Thoughts...

Messenger Post Newspapers Leave Comfort Zones in the Dust

News media's changing, so can local papers stay stuck in comfort zones? The answer's a resounding NO! And, newspaper veteran, Carl Helbig, models ways to move forward with positive change...

Carl Helbig, Publisher of Messenger Post Newspapers, leaves comfort zones in the dust as he develops exciting locally oriented newspapers, with a team of young reporters.

In a Rotary talk I attended this morning Carl said, "With national news updated frequently on the Internet, it's just not worthwhile to include it anymore since it's impossible for printing presses to keep up." And, with younger readers oriented to consume news differently, a paper likely faces bankruptcy to stay in that comfort zone.

One of Carl's forte's is to tap the deep recesses of his brain as he asks two-footed questions such as, "What do younger readers want, and how can this paper make adjustments?" And, "If younger reporters depart from traditional narrative style, the 5 W's - Who, What, When, Where, Why, How - how can I be sure they'll bring integrity to the news?" When Carl begins here, open to learn and move forward in visionary ways, he'll not be stuck in comfort zones as many other papers are.

So, what's different about the Messenger Post Newspapers and why are they prospering in the midst of a dying institution? Here's how Carl's moving Messenger Post forward as a leader in this field:

1. Local News Focus People want to know what's going on it town, in their neighborhood and how critical local issues affect them. A local paper has the ability to deliver these goods!

2. More International News Some events in today's global community are neglected by nationally focused newspapers.

3. 30 Minute Video Clips When gathering information for a story, reporters shoot 30 minute video clips that are also broadcast on Channel 10 news and also on the Messenger Post Web Site. Most reporters tap into video clips as a way to share news.

4. Web Site Small chunks of news, video clips and photo stories available for free on the Messenger Post Web Site

5. Balance Younger writers tend to include both opinion and facts in stories. Including young reporters brings balance to the whole staff.

6. Young Reporters Fresh focus on events that hook and draw in youthful readers.

7. Reverse Publishing Ability to update stories with photos, facts, or videos on the web site.

How does news look in a typical issue in a paper with this focus? Here's today's features to give you an idea... Pittsford soldier still recovering in Maryland is today's lead story, written by Bryan Roth. On the other side's Blogging: The fifth estate? Brian shows how Web sites take Congressman Randy Kuhl's pistol-packing comment regarding protesters and run with it. And, Hillary Smith's feature on locally grown celebrity Lou Gramm, A 'Foreigner' no more, Gramm loves the hometown crowd. These stories pulled me right in because they deal with folks who touch my life. That's the difference.

A two-footed question's different than ordinary questions since the answer leads to tangible evidence.

Fellow blogger, Bob Hruzek of Middle Zone Musings, challenged me to show why we need to move out of comfort zones. My answer's to begin with two-footed questions that challenge your brain and move you forward in exciting new ways. Carl Helbig leads the way with inspiration... What about you?

*** Photo from Messenger Post Newspapers.

Conquer Overthinking in Decisions

Can't make a decision? Got a major problem at work you need to solve? When critical matters weigh heavily, many folks tend to overthink, Ap Dijksterhuis at the University of Amsterdam discovered. Thinking hard about a complex decision, that rests on multiple factors, can bamboozle the conscious mind and lead to final choices that aren't satisfactory.

Joanna Young requested some tips to get past overthinking. Here's how to launch...

1. Trust your instincts - You're more likely to perform well if you do not think too hard and just trust your intuition. Snap decisions are more reliable in many cases, according to a University College London study, than decisions made using higher-level cognitive processes.

Dr Li Zhaoping, of the UCL Department of Psychology, said: "This finding seems counter-intuitive. You would expect people to make more accurate decisions when given the time to look properly. Instead they performed better when given almost no time to think. The conscious or top-level function of the brain, when active, vetoes our initial subconscious decision -- even when it is correct -- leaving us unaware or distrustful of our instincts and at an immediate disadvantage. Falling back on our inbuilt, involuntary subconscious processes for certain tasks is actually more effective than using our higher-level cognitive functions."

If you've ever second guessed yourself on a test, you'll see the wisdom in this.

2. Keep expectations in mind - Know what's expected and what you want to see or what your company expects as a result. Your target is clear then.

3. Ask a two-footed question A two-footed question, links your personal interests to the best car to buy or which new hire candidate will best do the job, leads to more satisfactory results. And if you want to engage more of your mind in the whole decision, ask the question when you put your head on the pillow at night. The question directs your mind during sleep.

4. Sleep on it -- while you're sleeping, your unconscious mind appears able to ponder all the information and produce a decision that most people remain satisfied with. You'll awake with the best choice...and it will be apparent.

If you've tended to get bogged down in decision making, why not give these a try?

Right Side of Blogging Brains - The W-List

Seems we need both the right brain and left brain mix in the blogosphere. Though we humans obviously have both, gals tend to show more of the right brain qualities - intuitive, holistic, concrete, analogic, nonverbal nontemporal, nonrational, spatial and synthetic. In this light, many gals want to see even more visibility in the blogosphere to make a truly whole rountable.

Valeria Maltoni at Conversation Agent shared the list of Women’s PR blogs that was originally pulled from ToddAnd ’s list by Kami Huyse at Communications Overtones.

Valeria's bright idea was to start a W-List to help us all discover great blogs authored by women...the kind with high quality.

Liz Strauss from Successful blog is in search for Outstanding Women Bloggers. I'm honored that Liz Strauss added me to the list! She wanted each of us to add names of quality women bloggers. Cat added a few from the field of art and design so I've included her additions to Liz's list.

Here're my additions...

Confident Writing by Joanna Young
Priscilla Palmer: Personal Development Demands Success by Priscilla Palmer
Customers Are Always by Maria Palma

Here's the W-List as compiled by Liz Strauss and Cat with my additions:

45 Things by Anita Bruzzese
A Look at Art & Design: Lisa Mikulski
angiemckaig.com: still a great pair of legs Angie McKaig
Ask Dr. Kirk
The Artsy Asylum by Susan Reynolds
Back in Skinny Jeans by Stephanie Quilao
BlogWrite for CEOs Debbie Weil
Biz Growth News by Krishna De
Brain Based Biz by Dr. Robyn McMaster
Brain Based Business by Dr. Ellen Weber
Brand Sizzle Anne Simons
Branding & Marketing Chris Brown
Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk
Build a Solo Practice, LLC by Susan Cartier Liebel
Christine Kane by Christine Kane
CK’s Blog CK (Christina Kerley)
Communication Overtones Kami Huyse
Confident Writing by Joanna Young
Conscious Business by Anne Libby
Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni
Corporate PR Elizabeth Albrycht
Customers Are Always by Maria Palma
Customers Rock! Becky Carroll
CustServ by Meikah David
Creative Curio by Lauren Marie
Debbie Millman by Debbie Millman
Deborah Schultz by Deborah Schultz
Designers Who Blog by Cat Morley
Design Your Life Ellen and Julia Lupton, identical twins
Design Your Writing Life by Lisa Gates
Diary of Claudine Hellmuth Claudine Hellmuth
Diva Marketing Blog Toby Bloomberg
Do It Myself Blog by Glenda Watson Hyatt
Dooce by Heather B. Armstrong
Email Marketing Best Practices Tamara Gielen
Emily Chang - Strategic Designer Emily Chang
Enter the Laughter by Marti Lawrence
Escape Blog by Melissa Petri
Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim
eSoup by Sharon Sarmiento
Essential Keystrokes by Char
Every Dot Connects by Connie Reece
Fish Creek House by GP
Flooring The Consumer CB Whittemore
Forrester’s Marketing Blog Shar, Charlene, Chloe, Christine Elana, Laura and Lisa
Franke James by Franke James
Get Fresh Minds by Katie Konrath
Great Presentations Mean Business by Laura Athavale Fitton
Hey Marci by Marci Alboher
Get Shouty by Katie Chatfield
ifelse by Phu Ly
Illustration Friday Penelope Dullaghan
Inspired Business Growth by Wendy Piersall
J.T. O’Donnell Career Insights by J.T. O’Donnell
Joyful, Jubilant Learning by Rosa Say
Kinetic Ideas Wendy Maynard
Learned on Women by Andrea Learned
Lindsay Pollak by Lindsay Polla
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog by Liz Strauss
Lorelle on WordPress by Lorelle VanFossen
Making Life Work for You by April Groves
Manage to Change by Ann Michael
Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
Mandarin Design Daily:The MEG Blog Michelle Goodrich
Marketing Roadmaps Susan Getgood
Moda di Magno by Lori Magno
Modite by Rebecca Thorman
molly.com Molly E. Holzschlag
Narrative Assets by Karen Hegman
Netdiver Carole Guevin
On My Desk Linzie Hunter
Presto Vivace Blog Alice Marshall
Priscilla Palmer: Personal Development Demands Success by Priscilla Palmer
Productivity Goal by Carolyn Manning
Purse Lip Square Jaw Anne Galloway
Small Biz Survival by Becky McCray
Small Failures: Sustainability for the Rest of Us Jess Sand
swissmiss Tina Roth Eisenberg
The Brand Dame by Lyn Chamberlin
this is rachelandrew.co.uk Rachel Andrew
Sheriar Designs Mani Sheriar
Spare Change Nedra Kline Weinreich
Talk It Up Heidi Miller
Tech Kitten by Trisha Miller
The Copywriting Maven Roberta Rosenberg
The Blog Angel by Claire Raikes
The Engaging Brand by Anna Farmery
The Floozy Blog by Kate Coote
The Kiss Business Too by Karin H.
The Origin of Brands Laura Ries
The Parody by Sasha Manuel
The Podcast Sisters by Krishna De, Anna Farmery and Heather Gorringe
Veerle’s blog 2.0 Veerle
Water Cooler Wisdom by Alexandra Levit
Wealth Strategy Secrets by Nicola Cairncross
What’s Next Blog B L Ochman
That’s What She Said by Julie Elgar
Ypulse by Anastasia Goodstein

To find fresh voices with amazing ideas for us all let's get to know a few more quality women bloggers and make the most of both sides of the brain in our roundtable conversations!

Men Don't Think - Women Think Too Much?

When you think about thinkers does Roudin's sculpture of The Thinker come to mind? Traditionally men, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, signified the field of philosophy, the art of reflecting on the world through logic. But what's the other side of that, when men don't think and women think too much or vise versa?

Alvaro at Sharp Brains posted Top Ten Tips for Women Who Lead Men in response to Ellen Weber's challenge for a man to show the other view of her post Top Ten Tips for Men Who Lead Women. His list, especially tip number 2, piqued my curiosity...

"Don’t think too much-we don’t. If we do, we try to find ways to self-talk us out of that uncomfortable state."

Hmmm... What pops into your head? Here's the scene I see... the Cortisol Crank boss at work comes in and takes everyone's head off! He did and said that without thinking, People who work for him are really stressed and yes, emotions taxed. But in some cases, emotions can run rampant...

Interestingly University of Michigan reasearcher, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, dug into Women Overthink and uncovered fascinating findings...

1. Overthinking is a national epidemic among young and middle aged adults but is relatively rare among older adults: 73 percent of 25-35 year-olds overthink compared to 52 percent of 45-55 year-olds and just 20 percent of 65-75 year-olds.

2. Women are significantly more likely than men to fall into overthinking and to be immobilized by it: 57 percent of women and 43 percent of men are overthinkers.

If overthinking is bad for us why do we fall into the trap of doing it? Nolen-Hoeksema shows why...

The organization of our brain sets us up for overthinking. The thoughts and memories stored in our brains don't sit there in isolation; they are woven together in intricate networks of associations.

When you are in a bad mood of some type—depressed, anxious, just altogether upset—your bad mood tends to trigger a cascade of thoughts associated with your mood. These thoughts may have nothing to do with the incident that put you into a bad mood in the first place, as when a poor job performance causes you to think about your aunt who died last year.

Men and women do think differently, where the anatomy of the brain is concerned. Men think more with their gray matter and women with white matter... Here's why... men have nearly 6.5 times the amount of gray matter related to general intelligence than women, whereas women have 10 times the white matter realted to intelligence according to University of California research. Their findings suggest that there're two different types of brains designed for equally intelligent behavior by pinpointing these gender-based intelligence areas. Here's how they're different...

In human brains, gray matter represents information processing centers, whereas white matter works to network these processing centers. Men and women typically excel at different types of tasks. For example, men tend to do better with tasks requiring more localized processing, such as mathematics, while women are better at integrating and assimilating information from distributed gray-matter regions of the brain, which aids language skills. So you see why men are more apt to tunnel down into logic and women see more how ideas relate.

Now if the boss could tame his flaring temper and the senior assistant could reign in emotional tsunami's, what's left in the soup?

Wink, Wink!

Pamela found a new passion in life, a very Southern one: sitting on the back porch, rocking the day away. With the two ceiling fans, the face-melting heat is manageable. Lately, to respect her wishes, we do whatever lessons we can outdoors. We both find it a peaceful place to learn.

Yesterday, we were reading the speech therapy script ala the Association Method. To make sure she is listening, I will occasionally say the wrong word and she finds it funny. Pamela turned the tables on me by winking as if to tell me nonverbally, "Make a mistake, Mom, because I like it when you are silly." Of course, I played a long and thought of some whoppers to put in the story.

Today's story for speech therapy involved a lamb and a blind girl. Pamela did a wonderful job of connecting the story to her memory of lambs and blind people. Then, when we headed over to my parents house, I noticed her carrying something with her. She had rummaged through her toys in her room and pulled out this sheep to take with her!

What Are You Doing?

You might be asking that about the Glasers. . . The computer is dead for good, and the Geek Squad was unable to perform the hoped-for miracle. Yesterday, we took advantage of South Carolina's Sales Tax Holiday in which school supplies are exempt from sales tax. We were delighted to discover that computers are on the list of approved items and purchased a new Dell Inspiron 1720, which is due on or about August 21. I plan to get my blogs back on track once we adjust to Vista.

I have one exciting story to share about Pamela. Last Saturday, Steve and Pamela went to Charleston (I had a prior commitment and could not go). They ran errands, ate a nice lunch, and were heading home when Steve stopped to gas up the car. He peeked in the window of the car and spotted Pamela nonchalantly making a phone call. She has never called someone on her own initiative. In fact, prior to starting RDI last March, I could barely get her to sit through, "Hi", two answers, and "Good-bye". In the past couple of months, she has gradually improving in having phone conversations.

Who was Pamela calling? Me! I picked up the phone and heard, "What are you doing?" So, I told her that I had gone to a meeting with Oma and was answering email. Then, I asked her what she was doing, and she told me the events of her day! She did not ask me what was for dinner, nor did Pamela have an ulterior motive in mind. She called simply to call and share her day!

For gentle readers without an autistic child to brighten their lives, that was a WOW moment worthy of Snoopy dancing and deep pressure hugs!

Bloggers' Multiple Intelligences Sizzle!

What are you doing with your talents as you blog? When you engage your multiple intelligences to achieve your targets, you'll engage creativity with zest. Here're bloggers who sizzle by tapping their gifts...

Naturalistic Intelligence Sara Noel shares the pure pleasures of birding. Discover the pleasure and benefits it brings to family...

Birdwatching is a frugal activity that can be a great way to connect with your family. It’s fun and builds values of appreciation and respect for nature. It’s more than simply watching birds. Birdwatching can include learning or knowing bird names and their category, range of habitat, activities, field markings, patterns, and songs too.

Interpersonal Intelligence Here's a great way to bring more laughter to your life - Laughter Clubs. Joey Guse, a former comedian, turned psychotherapist zeroes in on belly laughs as benefits! He describes his initial experience at a Laughter Club...

I left that day a true believer in the power of the laughter club, and plan to return often whenever I feel I am in need of an energizing workout, as the exercise I got that day was more than I had gotten in months. That whole next week I thought about what I had seen and done that day, and often found myself chuckling for no reason at all thinking of some silly little thing I had remembered. My experience that day had left me wanting more, and I was now reawakened to the everyday silliness of life that exists everywhere if we just take a little time to recognize it. I promised myself I would never again be "too busy" to see it, and penciled in the time slot at the laughter club as a new weekly activity.

Hey, how about starting a chapter if there's not one near you!

Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence Bob Hruzek shares a unique story about walking to exercise and muse and to tell you the truth, I'm impressed that he does 12.5 minutes a mile. That's a target I want to hit this summer! But, one day while Bob mused during his walk, he heard a tinkling sound. This is an hilarious read and I'll include just a bit to entice you to see what happens...

Gradually, the sound got louder and louder, still sounding exactly like a small tinkling bell. It slowly got louder. I kept walking. It got even louder. Now I’m starting to wonder what the heck it was, but I didn’t want to break my pace to turn around and look. Louder. Ah, I knew what it was now – a set of tags from some jogger’s dog (a jogdog? Er, sorry.)

Well, whatever it was, it would pass me within a few minutes; by now I could hardly wait to see what the dog looked like. I pictured in my mind a German shepherd, or possibly a Beagle (both of which I’d seen before on other mornings).

I need insprations like 12.5 minutes per mile and fun encounters to pick up my speed, Bob!...

Spatial Intelligence The Artful Life blog shows why Flickr can add some sizzle to your blog. Want inspiration? Check out amazing images in Flickr groups that'll inspire you. Here's two to start...

The collage group

art studio groups

Musical Intelligence Would you believe that Steve Roesler attended Chubby Checker's wedding and that he was Duke of Doo-Wop? Steve sang doo-wop on the streets of Philly in the 60's. Take time to listen... dukesofdoowop.mp3. All Things Workplace is a great site for smart leaders and managers to find practical ways to be extraordinary! Steve, do you build on music as you help folks discover practical ways to be extraordinary? Just curious...

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence Counting how much sleep you get? If you're not getting enough, you could be depriving your brain... Ellen Weber tells how the number of zzzz's nightly impacts your ability to "Connect the Dots" at work!

Interpersonal Intelligence Ever considered interviewing an expert for your blog? One of the ways we grow smarter is to ask other folks questions that'll bring out their best. Then you'll get the chance to share their wisdom with your readers. Phil Gerbyshank's recent interview with Penelope Trunk shows how he zeroed in on his blogging interests to learn more. Penelope's recent book, Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success

blows up many of the old thoughts for success and turns today's new workforce thinking on its ear. She's been through a LOT of change in her life, and has some amazing ideas we can all use to improve our lives and make it great.

How might interviews build more community and added value to your blog?

Verbal Linguistic What would it take to build a better blog? Darren Rowse advises bloggers to review their "About Me" text. Just think...

One of the key pages on a blog is the about page. This page is often used by new readers to a blog to gather information about you and your blog and based upon what they find on this page they could be making a decision as to whether they’ll subscribe to your blog or not.

As a result, your About Page is a key conversion page on your blog and it therefore needs to be reworked regularly.

Have you reviewed yours since you created your blog? If not, Darren's post offers tips to update plus a link describing exactly what to include. You'll find a major toolbox to build a better blog in the next 31 days in ProBlogger's new series!

Are you moving your talents in blogging? If not, you're wasting a valuable resource that helps distinguish your site. Ellen Weber shows how new solutions can come through your multiple intelligences...

Throughout the process of simply doing something you have not done, you begin to use and grow your stronger gifts creatively. It’s actually quite simple.

Why not approach your blog by tapping into a "smart" you've neglected? Check out Ellen's tactics! Don't waste your gifts and stagnate.

Intuition's Unwieldy!

Had any experiences when you realized first impressions were way off target? David G. Myers concludes that "while intuition can provide us with useful—and often amazing—insights, it can also dangerously mislead us." Here's just one example...

In July 2002, a Russian airliner's computer-guidance system instructed its pilot to ascend as another jet approached in the sky over Switzerland. At the same time, a Swiss air-traffic controller—whose computerized system was down—offered a human judgment: descend. Faced with conflicting advice, the pilot's intuitive response was to trust another human's intuition. Tragically, the two planes collided midair, killing everyone onboard.

And there's even more to this... Consider former President, Warren Harding, a man extraordinarily handsome and distinguished looking. People's appearance, their size or shape or color or sex, can trigger powerful associations, according to Malcom Gladwell author of Blink. Stereotyping, then, can shape first impressions. Not too surprisingly, Harding's looks led many to believe he was a man of integrity, intelligence and courage. Gladwell claims, "The way he looked carried so many powerful connotations that it stopped the normal process of thinking dead in its tracks." Could that enter in to your decisions about a new hire? Let's take this one step further since it greatly affects your intuitions...

Psychologists have developed IAT [Implicit Association Tests] to determine how past associations stored in the unconscious affect our beliefs and behavior. We sort out connections faster that're already stored in our brain than those new and unfamiliar. Speed is key. Here's how it works... "When there's a strong prior association, people answer in between four hundred and six hundred milliseconds," test developers discovered. "When there isn't, they might take two hundred to three hundred milliseconds longer than that -- which in the realm of these kinds of effects is huge."

For example, most of us think we are not racist, but is that really true? Try a demonstration IAT at the Harvard University Research site and see how you fare. Malcom Gladwell, author of Blink concludes that "our unconscious attitudes may be utterly incompatible with our stated conscious values." Would you agree?

Now you can see why you need the logical side of your brain, the left brain, to help you sort out your "gut feelings." That’s where the left brain organizer steps in. You could see it as a mental master of sorts – equipped to corral and tame.

Leaders' left brains help them analyze, judge, organize and choose between one good and another.

After all you might miss hiring that once in a lifetime "genius" for your position if past associations wrongly influence you.

"I'm a great believer in the power of using intuition as a powerful analysis tool and support to decision making," Dean Bennett commented in Question Train for Brain and Mind. "In this context I am interested in your thoughts on developing and actively using our intuition." Now you can see why it's necessary for leaders to consider the logic, too.

I think we might conclude then, Dean, that intuition's unwieldy since past associations influence it. Managers might want to include logic in decision making for best results. Pays to look deeper... Agree?

How does intuition affect your choices as you manage? I'd like to hear from your experiences...