About
Story of me
Welcome. I am Karri. This is the part where I should tell you how interesting I am, so you would get hooked. As we all know, everything has been already done with these intros here. That leaves me only to tell you the simple truth about myself. No show-offs, no amazing stories. Sorry. The curtain is open.
Where to begin? I have 24 years behind me and I live in Helsinki, Finland. I love music. I love art. I love creativity. I like to push myself to the limits as often as possible. I don't understand living life without your full commitment to things. Life will show you what you want it to show.
I enjoy meeting people generally. There's so many different stories waiting to be heard, many things waiting to be shared. Places, events, words and situations grow eventually into memories which will fill our lives. That will happen to all of us.
We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
Think.
All photos seen on my profile header by Sam Javanrouh and released by Creative Commons. If you like his works, please pay a visit either to his photoblog: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/ or his Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wvs/
Movies
Music
Television
Heroes, Lost, CSI: Miami, Weeds, Kill Point, House,
Likes(2)
JanuaryJan 26 Monday Mon 09
Internet Is The New 60's
It is Monday, 19th of January, 2009 and the weather in Cannes, France is just above 10 celsius. It is time for the 43rd annual Midem Music Industry Trade Fair.
Midem, that stands for March
The Inauguration
The day has finally come.
The day, that so many of us have waited for. Last year, before there was president elected, we hoped for this day. We hoped for a change. Hope and Change. The two most bright subjects in President Obama's speeches.
Today the Change arrived.
This day shall be marked to the Chronicles of Time as a historic day, a day when African-American man became the President of United States of America.
Instead of writing of the statistics of this day, the latest details of this day, I'm going to write about my thoughts on this day. This not has not only touched America, it has touched all of us, around the world. When former President Bush said in last November that President Obama will turn a whole new page in the history of and for America, he also got the rest of the world thinking what this means to them.
One of the highlights of this day was the inaugural address of the new President. In his speech, Obama said many valuable and wise things. Things that I can approve. Things that have meaning and bring inspiration and hope to this time of madness.
Even though I don't live in America nor have ever even visited the country, this day feels important. And historic. This day felt like reversed 9/11, but resembled it as people coming together, uniting for greater good.
I read an news article today where the writer said that Obama managed to influence so much with his words. And that it happened mostly with "hope" and "change", two empty words. But was this really the case there? And further, does it matter? Doesn't it only matter where those words led and where they will eventually lead?
Cynicism is powerful tool, but often both misunderstood and misused. It is mainly used for critisizing words and views of purity, truth and honest. This cynicism is born by fear. Fear, that things won't change this time, like they didn't the last time. Fear that we don't what's coming and what will happen.
I think we would be far better off when we would focus on doing something good, instead of thinking something bad.
I also think that is what Obama said in his speech.
In it's entity, here is the inaugural address of The President of United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama:
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
It is time for a new dawn.
Peace.
Hearing The Wrong Discussion
Or the right.
It goes like this: we had interviews for job applicants earlier this week. The office was flooding with people in the hall ways, walking around or sitting and waiting for their turn. Here and there I could hear distant murmur, while packing up my last tasks of the day.
I left the office at nightfall, since the darkness still arrives pretty early this time of year, and headed to the train stop to commute to home.
I saw a group of young women (or, girls, if you prefer) standing there, waiting for the train, too.
The temperature had gone below zero, not that cold, but cold enough to start to shake your limbs while waiting the ride with frustation.
So the train arrives, and on we get.
At the next stop, the same girls from the train stop come to the stand where I am. They start to discuss about the job interview.
"Oh. This is a weird place to be in," I think to myself.
I'm there listening their rants, about the company where they want to work in, without knowing, that one person from that company is sitting right next to them.
At first, the discussion seems fine.
"How did your interview go?" one girl asks another.
"Fine. I was a bit nervous at the beginning, but cooled off toward the end," the other girl replied.
"Ok. That's seems pretty normal," I thought.
But then they started to say different things. Maybe even wrong things.
"Hey guys, what if the company would suck really bad, what if they just have these fancy interviews, but in the end your job would be something boring shit like robot-like paper stamping and stuff." the brunette said
"Yeah, that would be a shitty situation," the first blond girl said. "Do you think it could be true?" the blond asked from the other girls, and added: "Why the interview was so hard, and why there were so many of us?" "Are they trying to play some kind of stupid mind-game?"
The other girls started to laugh and rant more about the whole thing, but I couldn't do anything else but wonder why do they have to even talk like that. I mean, I know that you could think lots of things after a serious and long job interview, but do you really have to say out loud everything you're thinking? There were other people on that train, too, and I don't think they would have wanted hear that kind of bashing from the girls.
What were they thinking? I could have the owner of the company, or one of the interviewers who wasn't in the same interview as them. Doesn't people think anything what and where they're saying the things they say?
The next day I went to work, and I told about the episode to my comrades, and it turned out as a good quick laugh.
I learned a good lesson though.
Don't say everything you think. Keep some thoughts to yourself. You'll never know who's sitting next you.
I might cost you a job, a chance to start something new, and at worst, you'll continue doing that and no one will tell you shut up. And I hope someone does.
Yeah.
JanuaryJan 17 Saturday Sat 09
The Art Of Will Barras
One form of art that I haven't explored as much I've wanted to, is painting. I've never painted anything myself seriously and for many years it didn't seem so interesting to me. Mostly because there weren't no painters in Finland, that I would have been interested in. The common paintings were just pictures of summer fields and meadows, oceans and skys. Not bad subjects, but I wanted something more... controversial. Graphic.
Nowadays I've seen many amazing painters, and they just keep coming. With the internet and all, the possibilities of finding interesting art are endless. You never know, what might come up there. Today, I wanted to show some art of amazing painter, Will Barras.
"Will Barras' composition and fluid lines provide poignant detail in liquid abstraction. The subject matter is readily familiar, but captured in a manner that seems to jar time and space with psychedelic abstraction. It is his way of expressing the emotional movements of this labour. It is therapy and pleasure and necessity. Though Will is more passionate about Cricket, and even the art of the poached egg than he is of Skate or Snowboarding, he is hailed as one of the visual artists who best represents these influential creative movements. This is not only an indicator of his prolific work rate and good nature, his artwork featuring on all types of boards, clothes and mural campaigns, but more so of his unique voice, technical competency and sense of exploration." Harlan Levey, Modart Magazine.
Will is in high demand both commercially and artistically. He directs for the animation production Company Bermuda Shorts and designs for other commercial projects that excite him. Alongside his commercial work Will rarely takes a rest from painting and exhibiting. Last year he participated in the acclaimed Wooster on Spring exhibition in New York which saw people queuing for over five hours to get in. He has also exhibited as far and wide as Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Brussels, Edinburgh, Mayrhofen, Oslo, Copenhagen, Bratislava, Cologne, Budapest, Warsaw and London.
JanuaryJan 15 Thursday Thu 09
Pretty Bad News
I think the news suck these days. Mostly. When I'm writing this I'm at work, at office. I just went to get some macchiato (because I'm too cool for regular coffee) and I saw a newspaper lying on the table. Once again, it's filled with articles on murders, torture, collapsing economy and accidents with some celebrity gossip.
DecemberDec 18 Thursday Thu 08
Just Played My First Live Show
Last weekend we gathered to a restaurant with our staff to have a Christmas Party. I had really great time there, food was great, people were great, the whole night was great! I did my first live performance ever with our band, Evora, too. Boy, was I nervous.
NovemberNov 30 Sunday Sun 08
Secret Tunnel In Central London For Sale
For sale: a tunnel complex in Central London. This a article that came across my eyes when reading the New York Times the other day. For 7.4 million dollars you can buy this convenient piece of real estate to your portfolio. Return on investment could be below the market average as the ground above has lost it's market value. However, it's a one special thing for sale, the kind of you don't bump into after every corner.
Former tenants include for example Britain Secret Service. It's been unused for years, forgetten beneath the vivid city streets, but is now offered for sale by the Britain's largest company, BT Group.
After few minutes, I actually did came up how this could be used, if I had the extra eight million in my back pocket. Think of a club, named "the Tunnel". Cheesy, but effective. It could fast become a place where Kate Moss would show up, standing in line with P. Diddy. We mortals would have settle in reading stories about chic-parties held in The Tunnel.
It would be a exclusive haven of clubbing place for the rich and the famous. There's already a bar with two canteens, a billiard room and functional electricity & water supplies, so why not? Although, I've heard that there only two lifts, so approval from the Fire Department could be a pain in the ass.
But anyways, think about it.
NovemberNov 29 Saturday Sat 08
Leona Lewis Covering Snow Patrol
I just watched this video yesterday on YouTube and while I listened the song, it really reminded me of some song... but I couldn't remember of what song. After a quick search I found out
Invaders Must Die
The new Prodigy single is here. For the first time after their 1997 release "The Fat Of The Land" they're again making a record together. I've been watching the YouTube where they played some of the new songs in last and this year. It seems to me they're reaching back to "Music For The Jilted Generation" era musically. The new songs appear to be very dance-able.
The new single is called "Invaders Must Die" and it's from the upcoming album that holds the same
NovemberNov 22 Saturday Sat 08
Another Megan Fox Poster
I've been experimenting the style of designer Alex Cherry with Photoshop and I came up with yet another poster of Megan Fox. This kind of minimalist print-style with textures is something new for me.
Click for download.
Again, you can use this for your projects excluding commercial stuff. Attribution is recommended as well as sharing alike works. But I hope you enjoy this and can use it in some creative way. I want to give something back to the design community, I've got so much myself stuff and inspiration
NovemberNov 18 Tuesday Tue 08
About Movie Soundtracks
Movie soundtracks are like a two-edge sword. Foremost, they are musical composition synchronized to motion picture images. On the other hand, they are individual pieces of art. They can function either way. This is the challenge for the motion picture composers we rarely notice.
When you are writing music, there usually have to be something that ignites the creative process, as in all creative doing. The moving powers for me to write this post were soundtrack of American Beauty and The Gladiator. Both soundtrack are award-winners as well as their composers; Thomas Newman for American Beauty and Hans Zimmer for Gladiator.
These films are now few years old, but their soundtracks are almost timeless. I can imagine these musical masterpieces live on for years, even decades on. It's lasting music. Well beyond trends.
I am in middle of creating music for a project called "Evora", and I feel through these soundtracks that I've gone both for musical and imaginational journey. Motion picture soundtracks take me away from everyday routines.
What other great soundtracks can I recommend? Well, in addition to the below first two there are few wonderful pieces available:
1. Gladiator by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard
2. American Beauty by Thomas Newman
3. Chronicles Of Narnia by Harry Gregson-Williams
4. The Lord Of The Rings by Howard Shore
5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by Tan Dun
6. Atonement by Dario Marianelli
7. The Fountain by Clint Mansell
8. Finding Neverland by Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
Travel The World
Since I got a hold of Tim Ferriss' book the 4-Hour Workweek, I've been thinking how I could travel. Or how I could travel at all. I haven't made many travels in my life, and I think it's about time to explore this planet while I'm on it.
I used to think that I must be rich person in order to go places. This is completely absurd thought from the start. Traveling in it's minimalism require my feet and putting them before another. Traveling with walking can be an option for
Educating Myself
I attended to one class of free course in Helsinki, called "Open Entrepreneur Course", freely translated. I spotted this course a while a go, and signed in. From my point of view it wasn't a hard decision to make: free course,
Mr. President, Surrender Your Blackberry
The first sentence I was about to write in this post, spinning in my mind, was: "Our president has a problem. He has an information addiction, and he's weapon of choice is the BlackBerry." But then I realized he's not the President of my country. But still, it can feel like he's our President.
The New York Times published an article about Obama and his e-mail concerns and BlackBerry addiction on November 15th. You can and should read the whole article at here. This makes me smile. Reason is that it's nice hear from Mr.President's humanly problems. I also understood he reads blogs on regular basis? He is so right President for this time.
He is also the first President to send a Weekly Address through YouTube. Didn't he say that the Change is coming?
In these difficult times, there's still some light at the end of the tunnel. Let's go toward it.
NovemberNov 5 Wednesday Wed 08
15 Ways to Hack Your Brain For A Better Life
For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a brain must have something in it." -Sherlock Holmes - The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.
Not everyone is born with a big brain. Not everyone can say things like 'Elementary, my dear Watson' with a straight face. But that doesn't mean you can't get an edge on the competition. Remember that scene from the Matrix, where the machines are using humans as disposable AA batteries? That's not far off the mark. With over 100 billion neurons, your brain produces about 100 Watts of raw energy. The mind literally has a life of its own. And like your other muscles, the more you use it, the bigger it gets, the better it works.
If you're looking to improve mental cognition, increase your memory, and enhance your alertness, here are 15 easy ways to give your brain a six-pack.
1. Exercise: You knew it was good for your muscles, but the brain? Absolutely! More than 20% of the body's blood and oxygen go directly to the brain (without passing GO or paying $200). Exercise, particularly cardio training, effectively increases the flow to the brain, keeping it a well-oiled machine. But if you'd like something a little more Zen, try Yoga. Many of the Yoga poses, like Downward Facing Dog, are specifically engineered to get blood to your brain faster, by positioning the head below the heart. But if you're really pressed for time, something as simple as opening a window and getting fresh air can give your brain the extra juice it needs.
2. Hydrate: If you're looking for a little pick-me-up, don't reach for your usual double espresso. Instead try drinking two glasses of water. The caffeine in coffee and soda may temporarily make you feel more alert, but in the long run will make you even more tired by dehydrating your muscles and constricting your blood vessels. And in large quantities, caffeine can send you running for the bathroom with a bad case of the trots, as it stimulates the spastic contractions of the intestine. Water, on the other hand, is a simple way to keep the mind alert and refreshed. And you can't beat the price.
3. Find Stimulation: A friend of mine used to say, "I don't need caffeine, I have Motorhead." And he always got his papers in on time. Now heavy metal may not be your thing, but listening to music can increase your productivity. Just like the smell of dinner can bring on hunger pangs, engaging all five senses will stimulate brain activity. For example, the color pink is a visual aphrodisiac. The arousal will dilate your pupils, increase blood flow, and set off pleasure centers in the brain - all of which will make you more alert and focused. By decorating your work area brightly or switching your font color to something more vivid, you can work through boredom and fatigue. Aromatherapy can be enormously effective, as smell is the strongest of the senses. Lemon, peppermint, and cypress are several scents known to stimulate the brain. Or eating a peppermint candy will activate both scent and taste. Taking notes by hand instead of typing them, will help you retain the information more effectively, as the pressure points activated by holding a pen are linked to the creative and memory centers of the brain.
4. Think Happy Thoughts: We've all seen those Hitchcock thrillers, where a person does or witnesses something so terrible they completely block it from their mind. Well, on a much smaller scale, that kind of memory loss is happening all the time. The brain, particularly the memory, doesn't respond well to stress. If you're tense, overwrought, or unhappy, you're much less likely to retain information or stay alert. Try to eliminate stressful influences from your life and workplace. Practice relaxation techniques, take a hot bath, or get a massage. Or fry up some bacon. I've often found that happiness = bacon. Anyway, your body is very tuned into your emotions, and it shows way more than you think.
5. Play Games: Not Hide n' Seek. Studies with dementia patients have shown that playing word games and puzzles can increase and even restore mental cognitive abilities. The crossword, a pub quiz, or Soduku: all these fun activities can keep your grey matter in the pink. And the best part is that you don't actually need to know anything. This is one instance where winning doesn't matter, because your brain responds to the attempt to solve the problem, not the knowledge stored in your head. Probably the best brain games are those with strategic goals like Chess, Risk, and Stratego, as the objectives are in a constant flux, and require more activity from the brain.
6. Watch Quality TV: Wouldn't it be nice if that were true. Unfortunately, studies indicate that passively sitting in front of the tube is counterproductive. But if that butt-shaped indention in your recliner calls out to you, choose a game or quiz shows like Jeopardy, and try to answer the questions. Even if you have never heard of the Federalist Papers, your brain will be stimulated in the same way as if you were playing Trivial Pursuit with your friends.
7. Surf the Net: Net-addicts unite! We've known it all along, and now we've been proven right. A recent study at the University of California Los Angeles found that searching the web stimulated centers in the brain that controlled decision-making and complex reasoning. A simple task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry. Brain scans showed that much more of the brain was activated by internet use than by simply reading a book. Not to mention, there are all sorts of lovely online brain teasers and games on the web, just waiting to make you smarter. And here's the clincher: the more you surf, the more your brain works.
8. Eat Brain Food: Don't go on one. Depriving yourself of food literally starves the brain and makes you dumb dumb dumb. But if you want to get peak mental performance from what you eat, here are a few things to remember. Protein is the main source of fuel for the brain. But don't automatically switch over to Atkins, cause your brain also needs foods rich in crucial vitamins and minerals. It's always better to get these from food rather than taking pills. Vitamin A, to protect brain cell membranes; B Vitamins, essential for neuronal growth and vitality; Vitamin C, so vital for brain function that its levels in the brain are fifteen times higher than anywhere outside the brain; Vitamin E, to prevent and actually reverse brain deterioration; Magnesium, to maintain the metabolic viability of neurons; Zinc, rids the brain of impurities such as lead to improve cognitive function; and Amino Acids, necessary to the growth and health of neurotransmitters.
9. Load Up On Fish Oil: "Jeeves takes a size 14 hat, eats tons of fish, and works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform." When creating his immortal, all-knowing valet Jeeves, author P.G. Wodehouse gave the character an enormous, bulging cranium and a steady diet of brain-enhancing fish. It was no surprise when scientists proved what we knew all along: eating fish can make you brainy. Actually, it's not the fish, but the Omega -3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that do the trick. These fatty acids keep the dopamine levels in the brain high, increase neuronal growth in the frontal cortex of the brain, and increase cerebral circulation. Which is a complicated way of saying that fatty acids make your brain work at top efficiency, kinda like a tune-up. But before you stockpile your pantry with tuna, remember that eating large amounts of fish can put you at risk to toxins and mercury poisoning. So it's better to get EPA and DHA from alternative sources and supplements.
10. Eat Weeds: Not the kind you hide from your parents, but herbal remedies. Eastern medicine is kicking ass and taking names where your brain is concerned. There are about a dozen or so 'brain-boosting' herbs, but the two most important are Ginkgo Biloba and Ginseng. As medicinal tonics go, it doesn't get more powerful than Ginkgo, by enhancing cerebral circulation, which freakishly boosts cognitive abilities. Ginseng, regarded as the 'Cadillac' of Asian herbs, has astonishing neurological effects. Once believed to re-harmonize the body's 'yang energy,' we now know that Ginseng helps the brain adapt to stress agents by heightening the productivity of the adrenal glands. The result is a balanced stimulant, that achieves brain arousal and alertness without the nervous, jittery, guy-from-Shine response of most stimulants.
11. Learn Something New: This seems pretty obvious, right? But it's not that simple. Very few people find the time to master new skills or even read a new book that isn't for work or class. Learning a foreign language, a new handcraft or recipe, or challenging yourself with an unfamiliar subject all increase brain growth, stimulating parts of the brain that may have been stagnant and untapped til now. But all this takes time, right? Wrong! Try spending 15 minutes a day on your new discovery, about the same time as all the commercials in an hour-long TV show, and you'll be surprised how much you learn.
12. Don't Waste Time: If your brain were a computer, how many times a day would it be flashing the hourglass sign? Albert Einstein, one of the world's greatest thinkers, gave us the Theory of Relativity, and some very good advice: "Make everything as simple as possible." You can hardly expect your brain to perform at its best if it's cluttered with non-essentials. The best way to organize your mind is to declutter your life. Maximize your time with a few personal alterations. Save time in the morning by deciding the night before what outfit you'll wear. Make and keep a list of daily and long-term priorities, and don't let your focus wander. Try multi-tasking. If you're going to be in the bathroom awhile, take along a book or some work you need to finish (you're not doing much else!) If you have a long commute or get stuck in traffic, make the most of the time by listening to an audio book. If you have to stand in line at the bank or the shops, bring along some notes you need to review or flashcards for that new language you decided to learn. Sure you may look funny, but you're getting smarter.
13. Actively Improve Your Memory: There's a new character on Grey's Anatomy who's been stunning us with her photographic memory, recalling obscure articles from turn of the century medical journals, railing off the periodic table without batting an eye. For the actress playing this character to do so convincingly, I'll bet she had to find a more efficient way of memorizing data. There are loads of different tricks and methods purporting to have the answer, but basically they all boil down to a few basic principles.
First, know how you learn. There are three basic ways of learning: visual, auditory, kinetic. You can figure out which one you are by listening, reading, and writing three different sentences to see which you remember the best. Once you know how you learn, optimize that knowledge. If you are visual, post-its will be a big help. If you are auditory, invest in a hand-held recorder.
Second, the most effective way to remember facts is by forming multiple associations. For example, you may remember the date of your dentist appointment, because that number was the age of your favorite singer when he died. Or something a little more cheerful, but you get the idea. If you're a visual person, try to form an effective mental image or snap shot. For example, if you park your car in section 4b, you may remember that by taking a snap shot of four bumblebees hovering over the roof of your car. Try forming an emotional association. If your wife asks you to pick up something at the store, think for a minute how disappointed she'll be if you forget it, and most likely you won't.
Third, rinse and repeat. Repetition is a tried and true method of memorization. Just for fun, pull out the old SAT prep book from high school and see how much vocabulary you still remember. Give your memory a workout by re-learning these forgotten gems.
14. Rest Almost nothing is as crucial to proper and efficient brain functioning as sleep. Not everybody needs the same amount of sleep, but trying to think when you're tired literally hurts. Here are some ways for your brain to get the most out of sleep. If it takes you a long time to fall asleep, don't fight it or give up and take a pill. Instead ease into sleep by reading a book. But make sure it's fiction. While you might think non-fiction would be more boring, studies show that non-fiction triggers forward thinking in the brain, which prevents sleep. If you wake up tired, it might not be because you didn't get enough sleep. It could be because your brain is starved from fasting while you slept. Trying eating a low sugar, 100 calorie snack before bed. This won't be enough to keep you awake, and it may prevent that tired-head in the morning. If, despite your best efforts, you don't get enough Z's, seriously consider a nap. Naps are not childish or European, they are a perfectly natural way to buck up your brain. A series of short naps (20-30 minutes) throughout the day won't repair hours of sleep debt, but it will stave off the exhaustion that leaves your brain utterly useless and you without a job.
15. Have Sex: Women will go weak at the knees at the thought of the size of your...brain. That's right. A lot happens to the body during sex, and much of it goes on in your head. Your brain, that is. There is no activity that increases more blood flow to the brain, enhancing cognitive capabilities. Having sex also produces hormones that dramatically improve brain functioning. One example includes the 'trust' hormone Oxytocin, which is produced during sex. This increases your ability to think of original solutions to a problem while serotonin and dopamine, which surge after sex, help a person's creative thinking and calm, logical decision-making. And if you're having any trouble falling to sleep, to give your brain the rest it needs, look no further.
[via Brainz]