I am concerned about the angry and discontented people in the world - the hate and most of all the ignorance.
Click this link - www.FactCheckOneNation.com.au.
The world seems to be running on a tide of emotion and picking on the Other - people who are different.
I set about researching the policies of One Nation for my common-sense told me they were wrong but I needed the documented proof which I found had already been done. www.FactCheckOneNation.com.au.
Thank you to whoever saved me a load of research.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
How music and moving develop new brain pathways
Science News
October 5, 2016
Concordia University
Dance and music training have even stronger effects on the brain than previously understood -- but in markedly different ways, say researchers.
NeuroImage - A team of researchers from the the International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research, proves that dance and music training have very strong and differing effects on the brain than previously understood.
The researchers used high-tech imaging techniques to compare the effects of dance and music training on the white matter structure of experts in these two disciplines. They then examined the relationship between training-induced brain changes and dance and music abilities.
"We found that dancers and musicians differed in many white matter regions, including sensory and motor pathways, both at the primary and higher cognitive levels of processing," says Chiara Giacosa, Concordia PhD candidate and the study's lead author.
In particular, dancers showed broader connections of fibre bundles linking the sensory and motor brain regions themselves, as well as broader fibre bundles connecting the brain's two hemispheres -- in the regions that process sensory and motor information --. In contrast, musicians had stronger and more coherent fibre bundles in those same pathways.
"This suggests that dance and music training affect the brain in opposite directions, increasing global connectivity and crossing of fibres in dance training, and strengthening specific pathways in music training," Giacosa explains. "Indeed, while dancers train their whole body, which has a broader representation in the neural cortex, musicians focus their training on some specific body parts, such as hands, fingers or the mouth, which have a smaller cortical representation in the brain."
'This work has major potential'
Interestingly, dancers and musicians differed more between each other than in comparison to the group of control subjects who had no extensive formal training in either field.
According to Giacosa, this can happen because a range of uncontrolled variables influenced the control subjects in different ways, making them more similar to one group or the other. "Contrary to that, our samples of dancers and musicians were specifically selected to be pure groups of experts, which makes it easier to differentiate between them."
Virginia Penhune is a professor and chair of Concordia's Department of Psychology and the study's senior author. She notes that this research deepens the current knowledge about how regions of the brain are connected in networks, and how these structural networks change with training.
"This work has major potential for being applied to the fields of education and rehabilitation," Penhune says. "Understanding how dance and music training differently affect brain networks will allow us to selectively use them to enhance their functioning or compensate for difficulties and diseases that involve those specific brain networks."
Some studies have already shown how music training at a young age can improve various cognitive skills, but dance has yet to be used in a similar way.
"Recent research has started to show some improvements with dance and music therapy in patients affected by Parkinson's disease and children with autism respectively, but much more can be done with these and other diseases," says Penhune.
________________________________________
Story Source:
Materials provided by Concordia University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
________________________________________
Journal Reference:
Chiara Giacosa, Falisha J. Karpati, Nicholas E.V. Foster, Virginia B. Penhune, Krista L. Hyde. Dance and music training have different effects on white matter diffusivity in sensorimotor pathways. NeuroImage, 2016; 135: 273 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.04.048
October 5, 2016
Concordia University
Dance and music training have even stronger effects on the brain than previously understood -- but in markedly different ways, say researchers.
NeuroImage - A team of researchers from the the International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research, proves that dance and music training have very strong and differing effects on the brain than previously understood.
The researchers used high-tech imaging techniques to compare the effects of dance and music training on the white matter structure of experts in these two disciplines. They then examined the relationship between training-induced brain changes and dance and music abilities.
"We found that dancers and musicians differed in many white matter regions, including sensory and motor pathways, both at the primary and higher cognitive levels of processing," says Chiara Giacosa, Concordia PhD candidate and the study's lead author.
In particular, dancers showed broader connections of fibre bundles linking the sensory and motor brain regions themselves, as well as broader fibre bundles connecting the brain's two hemispheres -- in the regions that process sensory and motor information --. In contrast, musicians had stronger and more coherent fibre bundles in those same pathways.
"This suggests that dance and music training affect the brain in opposite directions, increasing global connectivity and crossing of fibres in dance training, and strengthening specific pathways in music training," Giacosa explains. "Indeed, while dancers train their whole body, which has a broader representation in the neural cortex, musicians focus their training on some specific body parts, such as hands, fingers or the mouth, which have a smaller cortical representation in the brain."
'This work has major potential'
Interestingly, dancers and musicians differed more between each other than in comparison to the group of control subjects who had no extensive formal training in either field.
According to Giacosa, this can happen because a range of uncontrolled variables influenced the control subjects in different ways, making them more similar to one group or the other. "Contrary to that, our samples of dancers and musicians were specifically selected to be pure groups of experts, which makes it easier to differentiate between them."
Virginia Penhune is a professor and chair of Concordia's Department of Psychology and the study's senior author. She notes that this research deepens the current knowledge about how regions of the brain are connected in networks, and how these structural networks change with training.
"This work has major potential for being applied to the fields of education and rehabilitation," Penhune says. "Understanding how dance and music training differently affect brain networks will allow us to selectively use them to enhance their functioning or compensate for difficulties and diseases that involve those specific brain networks."
Some studies have already shown how music training at a young age can improve various cognitive skills, but dance has yet to be used in a similar way.
"Recent research has started to show some improvements with dance and music therapy in patients affected by Parkinson's disease and children with autism respectively, but much more can be done with these and other diseases," says Penhune.
________________________________________
Story Source:
Materials provided by Concordia University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
________________________________________
Journal Reference:
Chiara Giacosa, Falisha J. Karpati, Nicholas E.V. Foster, Virginia B. Penhune, Krista L. Hyde. Dance and music training have different effects on white matter diffusivity in sensorimotor pathways. NeuroImage, 2016; 135: 273 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.04.048
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Do You Complain a Lot?
I stumbled upon this article today so I am sharing it with
the world. I have shortened it to make it easier to read.
The full article can be found here
How Complaining Rewires Your Brain for Negativity
TRAVIS BRADBERRY
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
Research shows that most people complain once a minute
during a typical conversation.
Complaining is tempting because it feels good, but like many other
things that are enjoyable - smoking or overeating - complaining isn’t good for
you.
When you repeat a behaviour, complaining, your neurons
branch out to each other to ease the flow of information to make easier to
repeat that behaviour in future. You don't realize you’re doing it
Your neurons grow
closer together, and the connections between them become more permanent.
Scientists describe this process as, “Neurons that fire together, wire
together.”
Repeated complaining
rewires your brain to make future complaining more likely. Over time, you
find it’s easier to be negative than to be positive, regardless of what’s
happening around you. This changes how people see you.
Complaining damages other areas of your brain as well.
Research from Stanford University has
shown that complaining shrinks the hippocampus - an area critical to problem
solving and intelligent thought. Damage to the hippocampus is scary, especially
when you consider that it’s one of the primary brain areas destroyed by
Alzheimer’s.
Complaining is also bad for your health
When you complain, your body releases the stress hormone
cortisol. Cortisol shifts you into fight-or-flight mode, directing oxygen,
blood and energy away from everything but the systems that are essential
to immediate survival. Cortisol, raises your blood pressure and blood sugar so
that you’ll be prepared to either escape or defend yourself.
The extra cortisol released impairs your immune system and
makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, strokes,
infections and obesity.
Complaining is infectious
Since human beings are inherently social, our brains mimic
the moods of those around us, this
process is called neuronal mirroring, and the basis for empathy. However,
this makes complaining a lot like smoking - you don’t have to do it
yourself to suffer the ill effects. You need to be cautious about spending time
with people who complain about everything.
Complainers
want people to join their pity party so that they can feel better about
themselves. Like inhaling the second-hand smoke you suffer the consequences.
The solutions to complaining
1. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Shift your attention to something that you’re grateful for. This
reduces the stress hormone cortisol by 23%. Research conducted at the
University of California, Davis, found that people who worked daily to
cultivate an attitude of gratitude experienced improved mood and energy and
substantially less anxiety due to lower cortisol levels. When you experience
negative or pessimistic thoughts think about something positive. Your positive
attitude will rewire your brain
2. Solution-oriented complaining
When you have something that is truly worth complaining
about - poor customer service - look for away to solve the problem in
solution-oriented complaining. Think of it as complaining with a purpose.
Solution-oriented complaining should do the following:
Have a clear purpose.
If you can’t identify a purpose, you probably just want to
complain for its own sake.
Start with something positive.
It may seem counterintuitive to start a complaint with a
compliment, but starting with a positive helps keep the other person from
getting defensive. For example, before launching into a complaint about poor
customer service, you could say something like, “I’ve been a customer for a
very long time and have always been pleased with your service...”
Be specific.
When
you’re complaining don't dredge up every minor annoyance from the past 20
years. Just address the current situation and be as specific as possible.
Instead of saying, “Your employee was rude to me,” describe specifically what
the employee did that seemed rude.
End on a positive.
If
you end with, “I’m never shopping here again,” the person has no motivation to
act on your complaint. You’re just venting, with no purpose but to complain.
Instead, restate your purpose, as well as your hope that the desired result can
be achieved, for example, “I’d like to work this out so that we can keep our
business relationship intact.”
Bringing It All Together
Just like smoking, drinking too much, and lying on the couch
watching TV all day, complaining is bad for you. Put my advice to use, and
you'll reap the physical, mental and performance benefits that come with a
positive frame of mind.
A version of this article appeared
on TalentSmart.
Friday, March 11, 2016
I am ashamed. Are you?
I am ashamed. Are you?
Last night I slept badly after a challenging day. Belatedly I learned the Western Australian State Gov. has made public protests illegal. This has turned us into a police state, is definitely not democratic and I am ashamed to let it happen
Then I learned NSW is doing the same. They cut down a row of 150 + year old Moreton Bay Fig trees with no regard to the taxpayers or climate change for that matter. This is not democratic either.
I watched a snippet of the debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders where they argued who was the most compassionate. It was disgusting. Meanwhile Donald Trump behaved like a 3 year old strutting about banging his chest and saying by his body language, 'look at me. Look at me.' The American people are letting one these twits be the leader of their country while still thinking they are the greatest nation in the world. It is farcical. China and Russia think they are the greatest instead.
Even Australia thinks 'We're not so bad either, mate. Oi, Oi, Oi, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.' Meanwhile we are showing little compassion or even common-sense towards asylum seekers. We are in fact causing them harm and I am doing nothing about. What we are doing is neither just nor humane.
Many of our politicians say they are Christian but from my learning during childhood what they are doing is definitely not what their leader Christ taught and it is not democratic as well. Thank their God I am an atheist. But nevertheless I am still ashamed.
On AL JAZEERA last night I saw masses of refugees living in tents in the rain and mud with little food and no hope. It is catastrophic. How these people must hate us. We send troops into their countries and bomb their homes and when they want - no, are desperate - for our help we are looking away. I am ashamed.
I climbed out of my sleepless bed last night and sent some money to Médecins Sans Frontières : a futile attempt to assuage my guilt by association to this uncaring world but it didn't work. I am still ashamed.
Last night I slept badly after a challenging day. Belatedly I learned the Western Australian State Gov. has made public protests illegal. This has turned us into a police state, is definitely not democratic and I am ashamed to let it happen
Then I learned NSW is doing the same. They cut down a row of 150 + year old Moreton Bay Fig trees with no regard to the taxpayers or climate change for that matter. This is not democratic either.
I watched a snippet of the debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders where they argued who was the most compassionate. It was disgusting. Meanwhile Donald Trump behaved like a 3 year old strutting about banging his chest and saying by his body language, 'look at me. Look at me.' The American people are letting one these twits be the leader of their country while still thinking they are the greatest nation in the world. It is farcical. China and Russia think they are the greatest instead.
Even Australia thinks 'We're not so bad either, mate. Oi, Oi, Oi, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.' Meanwhile we are showing little compassion or even common-sense towards asylum seekers. We are in fact causing them harm and I am doing nothing about. What we are doing is neither just nor humane.
Many of our politicians say they are Christian but from my learning during childhood what they are doing is definitely not what their leader Christ taught and it is not democratic as well. Thank their God I am an atheist. But nevertheless I am still ashamed.
On AL JAZEERA last night I saw masses of refugees living in tents in the rain and mud with little food and no hope. It is catastrophic. How these people must hate us. We send troops into their countries and bomb their homes and when they want - no, are desperate - for our help we are looking away. I am ashamed.
I climbed out of my sleepless bed last night and sent some money to Médecins Sans Frontières : a futile attempt to assuage my guilt by association to this uncaring world but it didn't work. I am still ashamed.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Get God and Politicians out of Government
The other day I wrote a blog about getting God out of
Government. I need to clarify the God bit. I meant every god that has ever been
imagined by any race of people at any time of history - all gods (and goddesses
too) as well as fairies, elves, Santa Claus and everything that goes bump in
the night. The human imagination has few limits and the fact people believe
them to be true is mind boggling. Mind you some people believe anything written
is true.
My thoughts have moved on from this and I now think politicians
and political parties should be removed from government as well.
I believe in in democracy and Power to The People.
We need a new form of democracy where there are no political
parties. The government is electronically
controlled by robots. People vote on all issues of importance by some sort of
device similar to a smartphone. Needs more thought!
Power to the people. YAY
If the above is too scary.
How about removing the Government from how people chose to
live their lives as long as they do no harm to others, others' property and the Universe.
Walk in the light and do no harm.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Get God out of Goverment
Today I participated in a survey for the Australian Secular Party which started me thinking. Their main tenet seems to be - Get God out of Government' with which I agree fully.
I voted for them in the senate election last time we had an election and had the choice of give or take 60 candidates!
The survey was all about what we, their subscribers, thought about general policies. I agreed mostly with their tenets but disagreed entirely when they mention nuclear. My feeling is leave it all in the earth where it belongs although I still need to think about the medical uses.
Below are some of their policies which I pinched from their website - https://www.secular.org.au/
Foreign policy
International Law
The Secular Party recognises that civilisation is sustained by the rule of law. Globally, we support the enhancement of the International Criminal Court as a means of dealing with problems, rather than arbitrary superpower intervention. We support the development of international corporate law as a means of addressing adverse transnational corporate behaviour. […]
Republic
The Secular Party recognises that monarchies embody the concept of hereditary privilege, and that this is incompatible with the principle of equal human rights. The British monarch is also head of the Church of England. Having the monarch as the Australian Head of State is thus a violation of the basic secular principle of separation […]
Law and Justice
Incarceration The Secular Party recognises the need for incarceration to prevent harm, to foster reform and as a deterrent. Revenge should not be a motivation in punishment. The Secular Party advocates policies that stress rehabilitation, crime prevention and harm minimisation. One law for all The rule of law is best upheld and universal human rights […]
Prayers, Pledges and Labels
Prayers, pledges and labels Oaths and prayers Oaths sworn in association with a chosen religious book have legal standing in Australia. Prayers to a particular deity are used to open parliaments and religious references are made on other ceremonial occasions. The veracity of such oaths and the solemnity of such occasions are not enhanced […]
Immigration and Population
Global population is a significant issue in dealing with many environmental problems. Australia is a dry but relatively rich country, and has a low population compared with our neighbours. Australia’s resource wealth will enable us to maintain a privileged position in the global community. The Secular Party is opposed to policies that encourage a higher […]
Welfare
The Secular Party recognises that those who have become marginalised in society, such as drug users, criminals and the mentally ill, need support and fair treatment. Our view is that unwarranted cuts to services, that push responsibilities back to carers or others, merely create further problems. Our policy is to provide incentives for individuals and […]
Taxation
Tax exemptions for religion Religious institutions receive significant advantages in terms of tax exemptions and benefits. At the same time these institutions are largely unaccountable for their receipt and distribution of funds. The policy of the Secular Party is to end these religious tax exemptions and subsidies. This will benefit the average taxpayer and a […]
Economics
The Secular Party stands for the use of balanced judgement in economics, rather than any ideology. We recognise the general need for balanced budgets, but do not accept free market fundamentalism. In cases of market failure, government intervention is required. We recognise that Australia’s role as a major resource exporter is a significant factor in […]
Health
Health funding The Secular Party recognises the need for health services to be accessible and affordable for all citizens, including dental care and prescription medicines. We recognise that multiple funding streams, together with the burden of oversight means that private health insurance, and particularly public subsidies for private health care, are an additional inefficient burden, […]
Environment and climate change
We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing ‘cap and trade’ proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required global emission reductions are equivalent to […]
Intellectual property
The Secular Party recognises that intellectual property rights protect the interests of creators and provide incentives for innovation. However property rights should not be derived from non-creative findings. Indigenous communities should maintain ownership of innovations derived from their custodial knowledge, and patents derived from the human genome, the custodial property of us all, should be […]
Censorship and freedom of expression
Blasphemy laws Christian-based blasphemy laws still exist in Australia, despite being rarely used. Islamic nations have campaigned in the United Nations to have laws banning blasphemy made mandatory worldwide. All such laws are an attempt to impose religious law, and to impose it in particular upon those who do not believe in that or any […]
Human Rights and anti-discrimination
Children The Secular Party believes that the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child should be enshrined in legislation so that children receive fair and equitable treatment, without being taken advantage of or being abused. We endorse institutions that support and educate parents in parenting issues including preschools, schools and other organisations that […]
Education Policy
Education and funding The Secular Party recognises the societal benefits of a well-funded and high-quality education system. This is best provided by teaching based on universal values and principles, and school curricula founded on reason and evidence consistent with academic expertise. Currently, funding is inequitable and fails to properly resource students with complex needs, leading […]
I voted for them in the senate election last time we had an election and had the choice of give or take 60 candidates!
The survey was all about what we, their subscribers, thought about general policies. I agreed mostly with their tenets but disagreed entirely when they mention nuclear. My feeling is leave it all in the earth where it belongs although I still need to think about the medical uses.
Below are some of their policies which I pinched from their website - https://www.secular.org.au/
Foreign policy
International Law
The Secular Party recognises that civilisation is sustained by the rule of law. Globally, we support the enhancement of the International Criminal Court as a means of dealing with problems, rather than arbitrary superpower intervention. We support the development of international corporate law as a means of addressing adverse transnational corporate behaviour. […]
Republic
The Secular Party recognises that monarchies embody the concept of hereditary privilege, and that this is incompatible with the principle of equal human rights. The British monarch is also head of the Church of England. Having the monarch as the Australian Head of State is thus a violation of the basic secular principle of separation […]
Law and Justice
Incarceration The Secular Party recognises the need for incarceration to prevent harm, to foster reform and as a deterrent. Revenge should not be a motivation in punishment. The Secular Party advocates policies that stress rehabilitation, crime prevention and harm minimisation. One law for all The rule of law is best upheld and universal human rights […]
Prayers, Pledges and Labels
Prayers, pledges and labels Oaths and prayers Oaths sworn in association with a chosen religious book have legal standing in Australia. Prayers to a particular deity are used to open parliaments and religious references are made on other ceremonial occasions. The veracity of such oaths and the solemnity of such occasions are not enhanced […]
Immigration and Population
Global population is a significant issue in dealing with many environmental problems. Australia is a dry but relatively rich country, and has a low population compared with our neighbours. Australia’s resource wealth will enable us to maintain a privileged position in the global community. The Secular Party is opposed to policies that encourage a higher […]
Welfare
The Secular Party recognises that those who have become marginalised in society, such as drug users, criminals and the mentally ill, need support and fair treatment. Our view is that unwarranted cuts to services, that push responsibilities back to carers or others, merely create further problems. Our policy is to provide incentives for individuals and […]
Taxation
Tax exemptions for religion Religious institutions receive significant advantages in terms of tax exemptions and benefits. At the same time these institutions are largely unaccountable for their receipt and distribution of funds. The policy of the Secular Party is to end these religious tax exemptions and subsidies. This will benefit the average taxpayer and a […]
Economics
The Secular Party stands for the use of balanced judgement in economics, rather than any ideology. We recognise the general need for balanced budgets, but do not accept free market fundamentalism. In cases of market failure, government intervention is required. We recognise that Australia’s role as a major resource exporter is a significant factor in […]
Health
Health funding The Secular Party recognises the need for health services to be accessible and affordable for all citizens, including dental care and prescription medicines. We recognise that multiple funding streams, together with the burden of oversight means that private health insurance, and particularly public subsidies for private health care, are an additional inefficient burden, […]
Environment and climate change
We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing ‘cap and trade’ proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required global emission reductions are equivalent to […]
Intellectual property
The Secular Party recognises that intellectual property rights protect the interests of creators and provide incentives for innovation. However property rights should not be derived from non-creative findings. Indigenous communities should maintain ownership of innovations derived from their custodial knowledge, and patents derived from the human genome, the custodial property of us all, should be […]
Censorship and freedom of expression
Blasphemy laws Christian-based blasphemy laws still exist in Australia, despite being rarely used. Islamic nations have campaigned in the United Nations to have laws banning blasphemy made mandatory worldwide. All such laws are an attempt to impose religious law, and to impose it in particular upon those who do not believe in that or any […]
Human Rights and anti-discrimination
Children The Secular Party believes that the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child should be enshrined in legislation so that children receive fair and equitable treatment, without being taken advantage of or being abused. We endorse institutions that support and educate parents in parenting issues including preschools, schools and other organisations that […]
Education Policy
Education and funding The Secular Party recognises the societal benefits of a well-funded and high-quality education system. This is best provided by teaching based on universal values and principles, and school curricula founded on reason and evidence consistent with academic expertise. Currently, funding is inequitable and fails to properly resource students with complex needs, leading […]
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Democracy?
More thoughts on how we are not a Democracy.
The American Presidential Election is a circus and Donald
Trump is the leading clown.
Is this democracy?
The other day Bill Shorten said 'Under a Shorten Labor
Government...'
Is this democracy?
We are in fact ruled by political parties of this ilk or
that: groups of people with vested interests.
The other day the Busselton City Council voted down a
shopping complex proposal 5 to 4 after lobbying by some business interests in
town although it appears most of the ratepayers want the development. We were
not asked.
This is not democracy. Yes, 'The People' have a say every so
many years but that is it.
The purpose of the government is to distribute the taxes
levied for the benefit of these tax payers. They must provide infrastructure so
we can move about, eat, sleep, make sure we are educated and keep us healthy
and safe.
Governments need to concentrate solely on these things.
Simplistic perhaps, but this stops governments trying to dictate how the tax
payers live their lives.
This is all about power over us. It is not democracy.
Instead governments are selling of utilities, education and
healthcare so that these services, for which we pay taxes, are put into the hands
of people who want to make a profit from our illnesses, education our children
etc.
We need another way
Any ideas?
Walk in the light and do no harm.
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