Thursday 22 August 2013
Vocabulary : Word of the Day : Apposite
adjective :: Very applicable; well adapted; suitable or fit; relevant;
"It is odd therefore, that the one apposite passage which recurred to me in its entirety was in hexameters and pentameters." --Hornung, E. W.
Creativity : Icebreaker: Animals
Here is an icebreaker that will test the group's creativity:
Everyone needs to stand up. Now, going around the group, each person must say the name of an animal that starts with the next letter of the alphabet (Ant, Bear, Cat, etc). When you reach the end of the alphabet, start again at the beginning, using all new animals. If someone can't think of an animal, or repeats an animal, then they are out and must sit down. Keep going around the circle until only one person is left.
You may choose to award a small prize. You may also vary this exercise by picking things other than animals (flowers, foods, movies, names, etc).
Memory : Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba
Ginseng
Ginseng is an herb that comes from the root of the ginseng plant. It has been used in China, Japan, and Korea for centuries and has been shown to improve memory and mental performance, especially if taken in combination with ginkgo biloba. Additionally, ginseng may help increase the body's resistance to stress.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is an extract taken from the leaves of the ginkgo tree. Many studies have shown it to have beneficial effects. Its most important benefit is that it increases blood flow to the brain, which improves short and long-term memory as well as reaction time and mental clarity. In addition, ginkgo biloba may help regulate neurotransmitters and oxygen levels in the brain. Ginkgo can be found in pill form and is sometimes used as an ingredient in energy drinks. Some studies also suggest that ginkgo biloba can somewhat benefit people with Alzheimer's disease.
If you have blood circulation problems or are taking anti-coagulants such as aspirin, you should probably stay away from ginkgo. People taking anti-depressant drugs known as MAOIs and pregnant women should also stay away from ginkgo biloba.
Charlie Garfinkel's Racket sports: Brain teasers to test your knowledge - Buffalo News
First 'Anchorman 2' Twitter Reactions Are Out - Get The Big Picture (blog)
Daily Monster Sudoku: Fri 23-Aug-2013
http://www.dailysudoku.com/sudoku/monster/png/2013/08/2013-08-23.pngDaily Squiggly Sudoku: Fri 23-Aug-2013
http://www.dailysudoku.com/sudoku/squiggly/png/2013/08/2013-08-23.pngProgram offers brain health tips - hngnews.com
Capital Quiz: Friday, August 23 - The Dominion Post
6 Ways to Bring Your Apartment into the 21st Century - ParamusPost.com
See A Trailer For 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'...In LEGO Form - Get The Big Picture
Monkey Puzzle Mantel
This is a project done for a friend of the family on commission. I pitched a live edge mantel using locally harvested wood and ended up picking Monkey Puzzle which is also known as Chilean Pine (although it is not technically a pine). It is both ancient since it has existed since the time of the dinosaurs and endangered since its tall, straight trunks made it very attractive as a lumber species in its native Chile and Argentina. It was planted as an ornamental tree in the St. Petersburg area and harvested by a company called Viable Lumber that specializes in urban-harvested wood.
Down here in Southern Florida, there is a dearth of quality woodworking trees. Most of what grows naturally is palm, southern yellow pine, cypress and live oak. The first two aren’t really suited for woodworking and the latter two are illegal to harvest, at least down here. As a result, almost everything is an “exotic” wood by the time it arrives here because it has to be cut elsewhere and shipped, though not necessarily across international lines. Viable Lumber attempts to fill that void and caters to a variety of furniture makers, cabinet shops, woodturners and the like.
The construction of the mantel was pretty straight forward. The triangular corbels are mortised into the slab and are mounted to the wall via a sliding dovetail. The finish is boiled linseed oil with multiple top coats of a mineral oil and beeswax mixture. In the first picture, there is a small bowl/platter I turned out of some leftover material.
http://lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/projects/418809-196x130.jpg