Just a Bite 7-14-09

Quote to ponder under the apple tree

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
~ Edgar Degas (born July 19, 1834)

Resources to bite into

1. Looking at life from other angles *

This week we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Degas. He was a contentious fellow who didn’t like being associated with Impressionism (a term he despised) and indeed was different from them because his fellow artists were interested in the effects of natural outdoor light, while Degas seemed most interested in the artificial light in theatres and opera houses – and the contrast between lightness and darkness. He also took great advantage of the unusual angles from which he could view the stage – the wings, balconies, orchestra pit – whereas his contemporaries tended to view life straight on. Think about the opening quote. Does it apply to all art mediums? From what angle do you view life?

2. Eponyms *

The current Brain Aerobics Weekly has a word quiz about eponyms – common words that derive from people’s names. Some are obvious, such as when we call a very bright kid an Einstein after the genius Albert Einstein. In other cases, the originator has been long forgotten. For example, according to Lyle Larson, Etienne de Silhouette served as finance minister under Louis XIV. During only four months in office he levied such heavy marriage, income, and sales taxes that people had to get by with the barest essentials--hence the silhouette, a portrait reduced to its barest essentials. You can find many more examples at http://homepage.smc.edu/larsen_lyle/eponyms.htm.

3. A reason to celebrate Christmas in July *

Tomorrow would be the 230th birthday of Clement Moore, (born July 15, 1779) the author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” commonly known as “’Twas the Night before Christmas.”


* These items are easily adapted when working with people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Tips/ideas/insights to savor *

The current UBrain Aerobics WeeklyU features an article on learning how to be a ventriloquist, inspired by the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Convention in Fort Mitchell, KY, this week (July 15 – 18). While great ventriloquists spend years perfecting their skills and coming up with unique voices for their puppets or dummies, learning the basics is a terrific exercise for your brain, so try it:

The goal is to speak without putting your lips together, and the trick is to substitute other letters for these six:
B F M P V W

Here are the basic sounds to substitute:
• For B use the letter D. (Say “doy” instead of “boy.”)
• For F use TH. (Instead of saying “That's fun to do,” say “That's THun to do.”)
• For M use N. (Instead of saying “My dog is black,” say “Ny dog is dlack.”)
• For P use T. (Instead of “Will you play with me?” say “Will you Tlay with Ne?”)
• For V again use TH. (Instead of “Victory is mine," say “Thictory is Nine.”)
• W is only a problem when actually pronouncing the letter (double U). Again substitute the letter D. In other words, if you are talking about former President Bush, you would say, “George DudleYou Dush.”

It may seem bizarre to say “doy” for “boy,” but the audience automatically substitutes the right word, because a) we’re staring at a dummy putting its lips together, clearly making a “b” sound and b) the human brain ignores what doesn’t make sense and substitutes what does. Ventriloquists also often distract us with humor.

Have a conversation with a friend while you both try talking without moving your lips using the substitutions above. Brains thrive on new skills!

Source: http://www.backstagepassparties.com/burghers/ventriloquist_tips.html

Let the ever-ripening Wiser Now website become the apple of your eye.
-- Host a workshop, purchase materials or click on the blue print to sign up for Brain Aerobics Weekly. and Wiser Now Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Tips.

Just a Bite July 7th, 2009

Quote to ponder under the apple tree

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
~ E. B. White (born July 11, 1899)

Resources to bite into

1. Finding the balance between saving and savoring *

E. B. White, who would have been 110 this week, is one of my favorite writers, not least because I share his tension over the difficulty of being good (responsible) while also appreciating earth’s goodness (relaxing and enjoying). He wrote wonderful children’s books (Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan), one basic writer’s guide (Elements of Style with William Strunk) and hundreds of essays for the New Yorker magazine with good humor, grace, and uncommon insight into our daily lives. I encourage you to look up his writings in such books as:
• Writings from the New Yorker 1927- 1976. (To order, click here.)
• Essays of E.B. White. (To order, click here.)

2. Odd jobs *

The current Brain Aerobics Weekly has a quiz in which we ask if you can identify the early jobs of people who are now rich and famous. In some cases, they were obviously ill-suited for their early work. Here are some facts that didn’t make it into the quiz:
• Howie Mandel was fired from his job as an amusement park ride operator in Toronto for making jokes to riders about the ride's safety.
• Barry Manilow was fired from a job at a brewery, when he reportedly left the truck door open and spilled the beer all over the road.
• Sidney Poitier was reportedly fired from his job parking cars because of his poor driving skills.
Source: http://www.hardlyfamous.com/stars/.

3. Today is the beginning of Japan’s Star Festival *

Although it is celebrated in August and later in some places, Tanabata begins today in at least some places. Among other traditions, it is a day to make a wish expressing your

hopes and dreams for your future, the future of your family and friends, and the future of the world. Write those wishes on a strip of paper (decorated or not) and hang it on a tree – or freshly cut bamboo, if it’s available. Then go out and star gaze – It’s good for the savoring part of your life.

* These items are easily adapted when working with people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Tips/ideas/insights to savor *

The word quiz in the current Brain Aerobics Weekly was inspired by the book Word Fugitives by Barbara Wallraff, which describes words that don’t exist in the English language but should. For example, have you ever gone through your dirty clothes hamper to find something clean enough to wear? Shouldn’t there be a word for that? Made-up words are called neologisms and Ms. Wallraff’s book describes others’ efforts to come up with them. Among the choices for dirty hamper searching were: skivvy-dipping, snifting and dry gleaning, all of which amuse me – clever and accurate!

That creative thinking process is a good way to get groups working together and coming up with out-of-the-box suggestions. Here are a few words people suggested were needed that Ms. Wallraff did not have neologisms for. Can you come up with your own, either on your own or within a group?
• What would you call what a dog does as it turns round and round before lying down?
• What’s the male parallel to women’s gossiping when they endlessly debate the merits of different cameras, televisions or barbecue grills?
• What’s a word for hoping to get someone’s voice mail but reaching the real person instead?
• What do you call a catchy melody (like “It’s a Small World After All”) that keeps replaying in your head against your will?

What else do you need a word for?

To order Word Fugitives, click here.

Let the ever-ripening Wiser Now website become the apple of your eye.
-- Host a workshop, purchase materials or click on the blue print to sign up for Brain Aerobics Weekly. and Wiser Now Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Tips.