Your smile
Is the Blue Ribbon.
No other prize necessary.
5,000 More Birthday Candles for Stonehenge?
There is so much we don’t know about pre-historic civilizations… like, what their names were, their language and how they ended.
One thing seems to happen repeatedly in our quest for understanding, however – we discover that we do not credit these ancient people with the knowledge and abilities that they in fact held.
For example, recent findings suggest that Stonehenge, as a cultural location, was occupied as early as 7,5000 BCE, which is 5,000 years sooner than experts knew of. That’s almost 10,000 years ago, which is about the time people are thought to have really started using agriculture as a way of life.
Can you even imagine what a world without farming would be like? The radically different mindset these folks had? Wild.
Read more about the findings here, and never underestimate what your earliest ancestors were capable of.
Filed under History Buff
Life on My Mind
As I said to a world-weary friend on Monday: “Being an adult with access to information is exhausting.” Work, family, Korea, taxes, questionable food sources, social obligations, blasts at public events… It’s a lot to take in every day.
I don’t know about you, but I simply can’t turn it off most of the time. When there are people starving, dying, losing their homes and worse, I don’t feel right disregarding my privileged state and the information available to me. I need to do, and feel, something.
But that’s never where it starts.
Filed under Current Events, Health, History Buff, Recipes
Freelance Colleagues
Quick tip to anyone out there hoping to make their way as freelancers – find yourself a buddy. Hook up with someone who provides a service that complements yours. For me, as a writer, I have benefited greatly from knowing a local web designer.
He’s been in the game longer than I have, and has generously connected me with some super awesome clients. It’s so wonderful to have a sort of colleague who’s in town, easy to talk to and able to advance my career as I support what he’s already got going.
The situation makes me feel good about my decision to go freelance. Despite the moments of doubt, and the tougher financial stretches that do sometimes occur, I am, once again, certain that I am light years better off than if I were still punching in at the office gig I left over a year and a half ago.
Filed under I'm a Professional
Talking Primates
Somewhere along the branches of human history, we developed the ability to speak. It’s an amazing ability that I’m now watching blossom in my 12.5 month old.
Of course, we’re not the only species that uses our mouths to communicate. I’m always fascinated to hear about ways in which animals talk to each other; the non-human variety repeatedly proves to be more complex than for which we give it credit.
Until recently, there were no primates known to couple “lip smacking” facial expressions with vocalizations – an action required for human-like speech. But now, there is the gelada. This is the first primate researchers have seen that appears to communicate in much the same way we do. Perhaps this will give us some insight into how humans started using speech.
I’ve got to get back to work, but you can read all about it here.
The more I learn about primates, the more I’m amazed at how similar we really are. ..
Filed under Science
Taking a Freelance Note
Trillium Haven is a relatively new farm-to-table restaurant in the Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids. It’s somewhat upscale, and owned by the actual Trillium Haven farmer. I got a minute to check out the web site, and am now obsessed with the idea of visiting.
For those who do not visit often: I am borderline crazy about striving to eat clean, whole, local food. I fail. Often. But the goal remains, and plays a large role in my day to day life.
But this post is about the site itself. As a freelance writer who works primarily in web content creation, I couldn’t help but notice the absence of any written homepage content.
Continue reading
Filed under I'm a Professional
Ancestral Faces
Very busy, jam-packed week, but I took a few minutes to visit the faces of our grandparents and cousins – yours and mine.
I just love these reconstructions. Even though all of it is science’s educated guess, it’s fascinating to get a glimpse of what the people living on this planet 100,000 years ago might have looked like.
Plus, those vacant eyes give it a pleasant eeriness, don’t ya think?
Filed under Science
Here Comes the Sun
Can’t help but feel it creepin’ in – that sun and warmth after a long, muffled Winter. Bask, darlings. Bask.
Filed under Seasonal
Everyone Deserves What I Have
You’ve seen this image, right? It is a logo designed by the Human Rights Campaign, and signifies my support of marriage, and marital rights, equality for all adult couples.
I just need to be clear on where I stand. I’m not looking to offend any one out there, and I do not automatically equate opposition to same sex marriage with hate. But I’ve realized as I get older that it doesn’t generally pay to keep mum on a subject one feels passionately about, especially when it affects the lives of so many dear friends and relatives.
One thing at the outset: It’s way more complicated than this. Couples are not just gay or straight. Some people don’t want to commit for life, but should maybe have some benefits and recognition anyway. Some people want more than one spouse… Can’t see that one getting taken on in the mainstream any time soon, but it is another facet of the larger argument (unlike marrying one’s dog). The point is, the concept of marriage and its rights goes beyond two people, of the same or opposite sex, tying the knot and saying it’ll be for life.
Filed under Current Events, Of Family and Children
The Weekend of the Gross (but satisfied) Americans
Our weekends have been a bit crazy as of late, and the husband – thankfully – suggested that we make an effort to hang out as a family this Saturday and Sunday.
There was lots of sleep, quality time and entertainment for everyone. It was nothing short of spectacular.
Just one complaint do I have about this most excellent of weekends: Too much indulgent eating. Normally, I would have no problem with a couple days of dairy, sweets and not enough roughage. But I’m still trying to recover from the birthday/Saint Patrick’s weekend… my body wasn’t ready for round two.
I won’t go into graphic detail, but the picture up there is a good representation. My husband loves making cakes, and apparently felt that Iris’ birthday cake (which we only just finished a few days ago) hadn’t been enough. The Red Lobster bag contains a sinful quantity of Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Let’s just say that few things are more exciting to pescetarians on a budget than a full gift card and a menu with more than two options.
We certainly didn’t go as crazy as we could have. I made sure to weasel some apple and greenery onto our plates, and even did a little yoga yesterday. But today I’m determined to stick to that detox diet. Determined I tell you!
Happy Monday, loves.
Filed under AutoBio
