When I borrowed this swedish movie I was expecting a gentle movie about the power of music to transform peoples lives. I got that, but also so much more. It’s about a man who wants to make people happy through music and pays the ultimate price. It’s about people discovering, that as a unit they can be  powerful  and daring to turn down barriers that keeps them from living a life of their choice. Individual struggles unfold that lead to a path of self discovery and questions on where to go from here.

Also, the music, ‘Gabriella’s song’ in particular is a heartfelt piece of music that has the potential to empower and give people hope. The music is very melodic and the words passionate.

And here is a video with the English translation:

Story clipping:

A successful international conductor suddenly interrupts his career and returns home to Sweden’s far north to address his childhood grievances. But his remedial solace is shattered when the local church choir seeks him out for advice. He can’t say no, and from that moment, nothing in the village is the same again. As the amateur choir develops and grows, he is drawn to the people of his hometown. He makes friends and enemies, and finds love…

SEE ALL MY MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

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Photo by Kemp

It’s a favourite in our home.

Breakfast Muesli Slice
Makes 16
Preparation: 15 minutes + 30 to cool
Cooking: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups traditional rolled oats
1/3 cup self-raising flour
1/4 cup caster sugar
200g packet dried fruit, chopped (choose your favourites)
1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries (optional: replace with chocolate drops)
1/4 cup sunflower or pepitas seeds
2 tablsp flaked almonds (again choose nuts of your choice)
60g margerine
2 tblsp maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease and line a 30×20 slice pan with baking paper.

Combine oats, flour, sugar, dried fruit, cranberries, seeds and almonds in a large bowl. Place margarine in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium in 30 second bursts, stirring after each burst, until melted. Cool slightly. Stir in syrup, vanilla essence and egg until well combined.

Pour margarine mixture over oat mixture, stir to combine. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan, smooth surface. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool completely in pan (slice will firm). Serve cut into slices.

Nutrition per slice: 658kJ, 6g fat (1g sat), 3g protein, 2g fibre.

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Here are some critical questions to ask when confronted with bold claims.

Other interesting reads:

HOW TO DETECT BIAS IN NEWS MEDIA

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: CRITICAL THINKING – THE SOCRATIC METHOD

TUTORIALS FOR SUBJECT SPECIFIC INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS

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I loved reading through the responses to the questionnaire developed by bluemilk and thought I add my views too:

1. How would you describe your feminism in one sentence? When did you become a feminist? Was it before or after you became a mother?

I define my feminism as neither soft nor aggressive. I take the pragmatic approach instead. I pick my battles and only get into discussions with people I care about or that do harm to others. If someone insist on being ignorant about the cause – so be it, as long as they don’t force their Lalaland onto me.

I cannot pinpoint a time in which I realized that I was a feminist. It came to me gradually. Little comments, illogical expectations or plain stereotyping  would make me feel frustrated. Only in recent years did I become a proud feminist. I take not for granted the liberties that courages women fought so hard for to ensure a better future for following generations of women. I see it as my duty and pleasure to help maintain that momentum and continue supporting the cause for equality. How can I say I’m not a feminist when I’m expecting to be treated fairly? For once there is a label I’m happy to adhere. It only seems negative  if you allow others make it appear this way.

I became a feminist well before motherhood.

2. What has surprised you most about motherhood?

The intense feeling of anxiety for my child and my increased vulnerability as a result of this emotion.

3. How has your feminism changed over time? What is the impact of motherhood on your feminism?

Education has helped me to define my perception of feminism. When I grew up the term was tainted with being a man hater or ugly.

Motherhood had a huge impact on my feminism. I want to enable my daughter to develop an awareness of stereotypes to which all children are subjected to awfully early in life. Encouraging her to think critically and independently, being well aware that I will not always like the choices she is going to make.

4. What makes your mothering feminist? How does your approach differ from a non-feminist mother’s? How does feminism impact on your parenting?

I’m a new mother and expect my approach to be one of trial and error, with the aim to find a way that makes feminism an interesting and enjoyable subject for my daughter.

My approach will be to make her aware of stereotypes in everyday life. I wish for her to be able to make informed choices, independent of what her peers might say or parts of society expects from a girl.

Being a feminist is part of my identity and will have an influence on my parenting. It’s impact will depend on my daughters response and understanding to feminist values.

5. Do you ever feel compromised as a feminist mother? Do you ever feel you’ve failed as a feminist mother?

Yes I feel compromised due to being a staying at home mum, who’s work is unpaid, taken for granted and with many disadvantages when wanting to return to work. Despite all that, having a marriage that is based on trust and an equal partnership, made it an easy choice for me to wanting to form a family.

It’s too early to say but I don’t expect to be a perfect feminist mother that will always succeed. It would be boring and unrealistic – especially if my aim is to raise a child that speaks it’s mind.

6. Has identifying as a feminist mother ever been difficult? Why?

Not so far but I expect criticism, which is fine as long it’s expressed respectfully, not behind my back  and with an openess for dialog.

7. Motherhood involves sacrifice. How do you reconcile that with being a feminist.

I took those sacrifices into account before becoming a mother.

8. If you have a partner, how does your partner feel about your feminist motherhood? What is the impact of your feminism on your partner?

He is supportive and the impact it has on him in his own rather simplifying terms: ‘You’re not ironing my shirts’.

9. If you’re an attachment parenting mother, what challenges if any does this pose for your feminism and how have you resolved them?

That my own ambitions will be on a backburner for some time. I will not loose sight of my plans though and continue to work towards them – only at a more sedate speed.

10. Do you feel feminism has failed mothers and if so how? Personally, what do you think feminism has given mothers?

No it hasn’t failed mothers in my opinion. Within every movement there will always be a broad range of opinions and if some individuals of this particular movement  don’t value motherhood than that is their own failure not that of the movement as a whole. To be clear: valuing motherhood doesn’t mean you have to be one.

Feminism has empowered mothers and provided them with insights and ideas on how to bring up autonomous children without compromising all of their own needs.

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blindfolded sculpture

Image by Gastev

Did you know that your brain profits from breaking your morning routine? Left/right exercises change the active half of the brain. E.g. The connections and brain sections normally active when brushing your teeth are resting, while the correspondent sections in the other hemisphere are suddenly dealing with the new task. New connections bring fresh associations.

So you might want to try these three easy to follow exercises:

Shower with closed eyes

Feel for the soap and shampoo for example. Your sense of touch helps your brain creating a map of  your shower. Other senses come into weight when optical stimuli are missing. The smell of your soup will appear more intensive etc.

All with your left

Brush your teeth, brush your hair and shave yourself, or take the cup of coffee with the “wrong” hand. So right handed people use the left and left handed people use the right hand.

Wake up to a different smell

Instead of waking up to the usual smell of coffee, treat yourself a different scent. You could spray some of your favourite aroma in the air when the alarm goes off.

These exercises help you to notice things that you would otherwise ignore.

Kelly from the Healthcare Administration Degree page wrote me an email with a link to a long list of exercises you might enjoy. Build Your Own brain Gym.

Related articles:

WHY A FAKED SMILE IS GOOD FOR YOU

EROTIC BRAIN EXERCISE WITH ALL SENSES: SURPRISE YOUR PARTNER

FREE TOOLS TO TEST AND IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

WHAT A BRAIN WORKOUT SHOULD INCLUDE

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Image by oddcast

Uh that’s a fun one. From Oddcast comes this cool face transformer which easily turns every angel face into a scary zombie. The results you can get are actually more scary than the one above. Set the evil face tab to as high as possible and you are even going to see some frightening yellow teeth. ARGH

Have fun!!!

TRY ALSO:

FUN TOOLS: TURN YOURSELF INTO A CARTOON CHARACTER

TRANSFORM YOUR PICTURE: CREATE YOUR OWN HAPPINESS CARD

MORPHING TOOL: WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR KID WOULD LOOK LIKE?

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By unknown artist

When I come across a fat spider or a cockroach (especially the black, monstrous Australian kind)  you can  hear me scream hysterically, with eyes wide open in horror , every single hair on my body raised to the sky and my body shivering in disgust.

In the past, when I managed not to be completely paralyzed, I would spray Hairspray on these creeps.  I tell you now, DON’T DO IT – it only makes them move in slow motion – even more spooky to look at.  The next option is to scream for your other half to fight the beast.

I know, ridiculous behaviour for a full grown, otherwise not made of sugar woman.  I’m working on it.  I have to toughen up, especially when I want to be a brave example for my daughter.  Having said that, that would only apply if there is no one else to sort the creep out.

And then there is the attractive looking, long legged crawler (haven’t got a clue what it’s name is – must be from the “stick-insect” family). Usually it’s green, like the one on the picture, with white needle point eyes on a triangular formed face that turns to you when you look at it. It is usually in no hurry to escape from you and incredibly patient if you want to make some photos of it. Unfortunately, so far my pictures didn’t turn out as good as this one.

Anyway, is this not a much more agreeable bug than a creepy cockroach???

Also see:

GOOD LOOKING CHARISMATIC HERO SEEKS…

HAPPINESS IS….HAVING SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS AND LISTENS

FUNNY STORY: SEXY OLD MAN POUNDING THE STREETS

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First of all, let me say thank you for sticking with me during the last couple of weeks, while I wasn’t writing anything (had a good reason though:-)

Now then, here are the reasons why I like to suggest this book by Julian Baggini to you:

1. If you are sometimes frustrated with the ways the media presents it’s news and would like to learn more,  from a philosophical perspective, about the issues  behind headlines such as ‘Scientists playing God’ etc.

2. It gives you the tools on how to approach shady arguments and think critically.

3. Learn about the limits and reach of philosophical analysis of current affairs.

4. The author didn’t shy away from controversial themes such as war, truth, morality, the environment, religious faith, euthanasia, and the meaning of value.

5. It challenges how we make sense both of the world around us and of our own beliefs.

I hope you have a mind stretching read!!!

READ ALL BOOK SUGGESTIONS

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Image by Kemp

Serves 6

For the Scones you would need:

225 g flour, a hint of salt, 1 Tbl baking soda, 75 g butter, 2 Tbl brown sugar, approx. 100 ml milk and some flour to role out the dough.

Mix the flour, sald and baking soda. Add pieces of soft butter until you’ve got a crumbly mass. Add sugar. Add milk bit by bit until the dough becomes smooth.

Roll out the dough until 2 cm thick. Cut out round scones (5-6 cm diameter). Place them on a with baking paper lined baking tray in a pre-heated oven for 12-15 min on 220 C.

For the Mixed berries mascarpone cream you would need:

300 g mixed berries (keep some aside for decoration)

2 Tbs castar sugar

250 g mascarpone

150 ml cream. lightly whipped

Mix the berries with the castar sugar and put them in the freezer for 2 hours.

Whisk the mascarpone with electric beaters until it softens and then fold in the cream. Take the berries mixture out of the freezer and stir it to a slush. Fold it through the mascarpone and cream. Spoon into small glasses or pots and chill. Decorate with berries to serve.

Yum Yum!!!

CHECK OUT ALL MY RECIPES

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Photo by h.koppdelaney’s

Sex the ideal “Neurobics” workout – too good to be true? But it is true: Sex demands all our senses and the inclusion of the emotional switchboard in our heads. Hearing words or only reading to oneself, reading aloud or quietly activates different parts of our switchboard.

Close your eyes and enjoy

Many “Neurobics” exercises have to do with trying to experience the world in a new sensual way.  Closing your eyes sharpens the other senses. We do this automatically during sex, to enjoy it even more.

Experience senses

Cater to your senses and the senses of your partner with something new: Use aroma oils, listen to music, use massage oil.

Menu of lust

Plan an erotic dinner with your partner, every movement, every bite; even the way you chew should convey sexuality. Use different ingredients.

Erotic bath

“Neurobics” is also easily combined with a relaxing bath – no matter if it’s either for one or two. Use a number of stimuli – aroma oils, soaps, sponges, candle light, champagne, tea or soft music.

Role-play

Read parts of a book to each other or read a role-play. It takes some time, but later you can have a discussion about the reading.

Read also:

THREE EFFECTIVE LEFT/RIGHT BRAIN EXERCISES

TIME TO RE-DISCOVER YOUR SENSUALITY

WHY A FAKED SMILE IS GOOD FOR YOU

FREE TOOLS TO TEST AND IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

WHAT A BRAIN WORKOUT SHOULD INCLUDE

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