What I'm reading: Tough love

Abby Denson's Tough love: High school confidential:

This is a great manga-esque collection of comics that originally appeared in XY magazine!

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Mood: nostalgic

What I'm reading: Geek logik

From Garth Sundem's Geek Logik: 50 Foolproof Equations for Everyday Life:

This is just a funny book that (gasp) makes math useful. For example: Can you still wear a Speedo (without frightening small children)?
So I enter values such as waist size, calories consumed per day, and days per week I exercise into a formula and come up with:
S = 1.468
Since S > 1 I can still wear the Speedo!

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Mood: geeky

What I'm reading: The complete idiot's guide to Toltec wisdom

From Dr. Sheri Rosenthal's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Toltec Wisdom:

I have read Don Miguel Ruiz's books about Toltec teachings (which are very good), but wanted more background about this and a concise overview of the material he covers in several books. Dr. Rosenthal's guide does all this and goes beyond Ruiz's (her mentor) teachings, including other Toltec guides and information Ruiz has not yet written about.

Here are some of the key teachings I've taken from the book, more as a summary for me, but also a good overview if you are considering this book:

• The Toltec were skilled artisans, spiritualists, masterful architects, and powerful Warriors and sorcerers of ancient Mexico (p. 15).
• Toltecs believe we are basically living a dream and seek personal freedom through mastering our own awareness (seeking truth) (Chapter 2).
• "A Warrior endeavors to learn his or her whole life, knowing that he or she will never really know anything," (p. 37).
• A Warrior acts with purpose and respect; is detached, focused, patient, and lives in the moment (Chapter 9).
• Be impeccable with your word: be succinct, loving, clear, and positive as our word creates our reality (Chapter 12).
• Be cautious when listening to your mind/conscious: the mind is tuned to the Tonal and often uses past programming (logic, justification, and rationalization) to keep us living fear-based, limited lives (Chapter 13).
• Death is a personal adviser: people are often cavalier about their actions because they believe there is always tomorrow to change, fix, or repair their doings. Death reminds us to be impeccable in our words and deeds as there may not be the opportunity of tomorrow (p. 207).
• Impeccability is the basis of the Toltec path. Impeccable: action, communication, emotions, livelihood, love, and minds.
• Dreaming: shifting consciousness to use attention to perceive reality in different ways (meditation in other traditions)
• first attention: the Tonal worldview, puts order into a chaotic universe
• Nagual: the spiritual, Infinite part of our awareness/being, who we really are
• second attention: when we focus our attention to what is, rather than what we are taught about reality, a heightened state of consciousness
• Stalking:Becoming aware of everyday consciousness and behavior through observing and reflecting on our own habits, then considering alternate behaviors that will lead more towards the Nagual. Dr. Rosenthal recommends ten steps:
  1. Objectively watch ourselves, observing our behavior and others' reactions to us
  2. Inventory (journal) our beliefs (judgments, justifications, opinions, points of view, rationalizations)
  3. Examine our emotional reactions, and journal about what we believe about these emotions
  4. Review journal entries: are they true?
  5. Acknowledge the truth and take responsibility for helping make this reality
  6. Recapitulate our lives to see where our beliefs and agreements originated
  7. Release expectations we have in life about everything and everyone
  8. Forgive and let go of grudges, disagreements, resentments, and dislike
  9. Erase our personal history
     
  10. Become impersonal by totally detaching from the egotistical mind
      
• Tonal: the world of reason, the agreements we make with ourselves and others, a typical person's waking life

This book helped me think about a movie I once saw, Waking Life, in a different way. I wonder if the movie was a nod to Toltec Dreaming? I want to see it again soon!

Another Toltec reference in popular culture is Episode 3F24 ("El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer") of The Simpsons.

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Mood: spiritual

Quiz of the Day: Do You Have a Type A Personality?

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

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Mood: productive

Quiz of the Day: What year do you belong in

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

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You Belong in 1977

If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

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Mood: mellow

Quiz of the Day: The Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor test

CHERRY GARCIA! You scored 70% SWEET, 59% CHUNKY, and 74% UNIQUE!

cherry sweet cream base with cherries and fudge chunks Awesome...you are one of my personal favs: Cherry Garcia. You fall in the middle on all measurements- sweet, wild, and unique, but not overwhelmingly so on any of those. You make a good friend, able to share your unique perspectives on things, and able to have fun without winding up in jail or something. Good job.

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on SWEET You scored higher than 99% on CHUNKY You scored higher than 99% on UNIQUE

Link: The Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor Test written by weered1 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

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Mood: nauseated

Quiz of the Day: What color is your aura?

Your Aura is Purple

Your Personality: You're a dreamer and visionary. You believe you were put on this earth to do something great. You in Love: You're very passionate but often too busy for love. You need a man who sees your vision and adopts it as his own. Your Career: You need a job that helps you make a difference. You have a bright future as a guru, politician, teacher, or musician.

What Color Is Your Aura?

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Mood: thoughtful

Quiz of the Day: What religion do you fit in with?

You fit in with: Spiritualism Your ideals are mostly spiritual, but in an individualistic way. While spirituality is very important in your life, organized religion itself may not be for you. It is best for you to seek these things on your own terms. 60% spiritual. 80% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

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Mood: spiritual

Quiz of the Day: Random

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
I am not shaving.

2. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your mobile?
Callie

6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?
"Perfect Day"

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Blue striped Express shrit

8. Do you "label" yourself?
No

9. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing
Brown Shoe Co.

10. Bright or Dark Room?
Bright

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey?
Kyle is a great source of content for my blog :)

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping

14. What did your last text message you received on your mobile say?
Something along the lines of "Vote NO on Prop 2"

15. Where is your letter box?
As you drive into the complex

16. What's a word that you say a lot? stuff

17.Who told you he/she loved you last?
Mike

18. Last furry thing you touched?
Lily

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
Three Allegra

20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
One (yes, I actually have film!)

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
All are good :)

22. Your worst enemy?
N/A

23. What is your current desktop picture?
Autumn leaves

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"Yes"

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you do?
$1,000,000 (could fly with that)

26. Do you like someone?
Uh, yeah!

27. The last song you listened to?
"Free" - Ultra Naté

28. If the last person you spoke to was getting shot at, would you jump in front of the bullet?
Yes, I'm a protector

29. If you could punch 1 person in the face who's in your life right now, who would it be?
Non-violence people! Non-violence!

30. What is the closest object to your left foot?
computer CPU

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From Kyle's blog
Mood: tired

Quiz of the Day: Johari window

This is a quiz that YOU take about me, please help complete my Johari window.

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From: James' LJ
Mood: curious

Quiz of the Day: Fours

Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Coordinator of Orientation & Welcome Programs at the University of Michigan (currently)
2. Various jobs in residence life at various colleges & universtities
3. Sports Editor for a local newspaper
4. Dairy Queen

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Gattaca
2. The Notebook
3. Beautiful Thing
4. Any Star Trek/Star Wars

Four places you have lived:
1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. Ohio (Toledo, Bowling Green, Oberlin)
3. Cape Girardeau, MO
4. Ste. Genevieve, MO

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Simpsons
2. Mama's Family
3. American Idol
4. South Park

Four favorite places you have been on vacation:
1. Disney World
2. New Orleans
3. "Up North" (I guess I am a Michigander)
4. Chicago

Four sites you visit daily on the computer:
1. my.yahoo.com
2. My RSS of everyone's blogs
3. facebook.com
4. myspace.com

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Asian foods
2. steak
3. BBQ
4. shrimp (mmmmm meat I guess)

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. At home with Mike & kitties
2. Visiting family & friends
3. Ben & Jerry's
4. London

Four people I admire:
1. Walter Cronkite
2. Stephen Covey
3. grandparents
4. teachers

Four places I like to shop:
1. Express
2. Bath & Body Works
3. IKEA
4. Trader Joe's

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From: Duane's blog
Mood: contemplative

Quiz of the Day: What Magic color are you?

Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

Mood: It's snowing!

Quizzes of the Day: What is your seduction style? What is your sexual appeal?

Happy Sweetest Day!

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Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover

You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires. And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek. You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships. It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.

What Is Your Seduction Style?

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What is your sexual appeal?

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Mood: flirty

Quiz of the Day: Names

Ah the stereotyped icons:

Your 1920's Name is:

Durwood Valentine

What's Your 1920's Name?

Your 1950s Name is:

Francis Clarence

What's your 1950s Name?

Your Sexy Brazilian Name is:

Joao Matos

What's Your Sexy Brazilian Name?

Your Elf Name Is...

Candy Mc Mini

What's Your Elf Name?

Your German Name is:

Berthold Bjorn

What's Your German Name?

Your Hawaiian Name is:

Bane Keahi

What's your Hawaiian Name?

Your Hillbilly Name Is...

Clitus Crow

Hillbilly Name Generator

Your Irish Name Is...

Dagda O'Byrne

What's your Irish Name?

Your Italian Name Is...

Ilario Costa

What's Your Italian Name?

Your Japanese Name Is...

Shino Kawashi

What's your Japanese Name?

Your Mexican Name Is...

Don Sandro

What's Your Mexican Name?

Your Old Fashioned Name Is...

Simon Marcheford

What's Your Old Fashioned Name?

Your Outrageous Name is:

Mike Hawk

Outrageous Name Generator

Your Pimp Name Is...

Professor Dogg

What's Your Pimp Name?

Your Pirate Name Is...

Surgeon Thor

What's Your Pirate Name?

Your Russian Name Is...

Pyotr Dimitre Lebedev

What's Your Russian Name?

Your Vampire Name Is...

Leonardo the Cannibal

What's Your Vampire Name?

Your Wrestler Name Is...

Sir Acrobat

What's Your Wrestler Name?

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Mood: curious

Quiz of the Day: mmmmmm Donut

You Are a Powdered Devil's Food Donut

A total sweetheart on the outside, you love to fool people with your innocent image. On the inside you're a little darker, richer, and more complex. You're a hedonist who demands more than one pleasure at a time. Decadent and daring, you test the limits of human indulgence.

What Donut Are You?

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Mood: full