iI don't even have words for this article. But I will tell you this. If you get so desperate for fitness that you purchase one of these? Call me. I'll let you schedule and pay for a pretend personal training session!
Cordless Jump Rope
If you think keeping fit is merely mind over matter, Lester Clancy has an invention for you — a cordless jump-rope. That's right, a jump-rope minus the rope. All that's left is two handles, so you jump over the pretend rope. Or if you are truly lazy, you can pretend to jump over the pretend rope.
And for that idea kicking around Clancy's head since 1988, the U.S. Patent Office this month awarded the 52-year-old Mansfield, Ohio, man a patent. Its number: 7037243.
What makes this invention work is the moving weights inside the handles. They simulate the feel of a rope moving, Clancy said. Well, it's only one handle so far because Clancy is waiting for financial backers before building its partner.
But why jump rope without a rope?
It's perfect for the clumsy, Clancy said. "If you are still jumping, you're still using your legs as well as your arms, and getting the cardiovascular workout. You just don't have to worry about tripping on the rope."
It is also good for mental institutions and prisons where rope is a suicide risk, said Clancy, who works as a laundry coordinator in a state prison. And low ceiling fans aren't a hazard any more, he said.
Daniel Wright, who features the cordless jump-rope on his Web site http://www.patentlysilly.com, can barely talk about Clancy's invention without laughing.
"What really grabbed me," Wright said, was the name the item has in its patent, Wright said.
The idea isn't all that crazy, said Mike Ernst, a professor of kinesiology at California State University in Dominguez Hills.
"I think it's silly but at the same time if somehow, some way it promotes physical activity, gets kids active, then I'm all for it," Ernst said.
The more he thought about it, the more Ernst said he could see the benefit, adding that the act of jumping, not the rope itself, is what provides exercise.
"Do you need to jump with a rope? You don't," Ernst said. "But I wouldn't buy the product, I can tell you that. I'm not an idiot."
High-tech handles aren't needed. You could even use toilet paper holders, Ernst said. On second thought, he wondered if he could patent that idea.
___
Patentlysilly: http://www.patentlysilly.com
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Happiness Makeover
I got this in an e-mail this morning. It's some pretty useful information. The article is geared toward women but men - you can apply it to you too!!
THREE STEPS TO A HAPPINESS MAKEOVER
Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is -- why you're really here? What if I told you the real purpose of your life is to enjoy it? Therefore your destiny is simply to have a happy life. I know that sounds like a fairy tale, and unless you're a Disney princess, it seems impossible, but if you watch any TV these days, you know anything is possible with the right makeover. A happiness makeover, however, is a little different than the extreme TV makeovers because it involves not only the physical but the emotional and spiritual parts of you as well. Physical well-being is anything that improves the physical: your body, your surroundings. It's what you can see. Emotional well-being is anything that makes you feel good inside. And spiritual well-being is anything that connects you with your true self -- your inner goddess. Here are three easy ways to improve these areas of your life so that you can get well on your way to achieving a happier new you:
1. Respect your body and your environment
The environment you live and work within -- your home, your car, your office, your backyard -- is a reflection of you. Fill these places with things you love to look at, like art or flowers; things you love to use, such as a CD player or colored markers; or things you love to be reminded of, like pictures of loved ones. At the same time, keep these places spacious and neat so that positive energy can always flow around and to you. This is one of the basic principles of feng shui. Besides that, you'll just feel more in control and clear-headed without so much clutter to distract you.
You must also remember to take care of your body. Honor it with nutritious food and exercise. Make exercise an integral part of your everyday life. This doesn't have to be a regimented program. It could be as simple as running up the stairs in your house instead of walking or gardening or playing with your kids outside. Think of exercise as a little extra movement you incorporate into your daily schedule. If you have time for a regular class, make sure to pick something you love to do. If you need motivation, team up with a friend, partner or personal trainer.
2. Nurture your feelings
Your feelings are part of who you are and you must acknowledge and feed them. This means not burying your negative emotions in an attempt to be happy. They'll only stir more deeply and longer if you don't accept them. You need to see them in order to release them. This also means doing things that make you feel good, inside and out. Maybe it's spending time with people you love, dancing, talking over your problems with a friend or even eating your favorite chocolate ice cream. Sometimes you need to do something totally indulgent to feel good, and that's perfectly okay once in a while. Give yourself permission to indulge in whatever it is that makes you happy. You must believe that you're worth it, whether it's time, money or calories. Do it completely guilt-free, knowing that the benefits of nurturing your innermost passions will make you a happier, giving and loving person.
3. Connect with your inner goddess
We've all heard the phrase "women's intuition," but what is it really and how can that make you happier? Intuition is that little voice inside of you that tells you things like "take that job," "stay away from that guy" or "go this way." It can save you time, or in some cases, save your life -- either of which should make you happier. Intuition gives you information without your having to think about it. It allows you to just "know." Unfortunately, in our modern society, we don't learn how to develop our intuition, and we lose it like a muscle in atrophy.
There are a number of ways to connect with your inner goddess -- the easiest being some kind of meditative practice. Meditation could be different for everyone. Not all of us like to sit cross-legged on the floor while burning incense and chanting. Meditation can be as simple as taking a walk through the park, inhaling and exhaling deeply or listening to soothing music. It's anything that helps quiet your mind, opening a space for you to connect with your inner voice.
Focusing on and nurturing all three parts of yourself -- the physical, emotional and spiritual -- will make you look and feel much healthier and happier. So go ahead and break open that box of chocolate truffles. Just remember to take a nice long walk afterward.
THREE STEPS TO A HAPPINESS MAKEOVER
Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is -- why you're really here? What if I told you the real purpose of your life is to enjoy it? Therefore your destiny is simply to have a happy life. I know that sounds like a fairy tale, and unless you're a Disney princess, it seems impossible, but if you watch any TV these days, you know anything is possible with the right makeover. A happiness makeover, however, is a little different than the extreme TV makeovers because it involves not only the physical but the emotional and spiritual parts of you as well. Physical well-being is anything that improves the physical: your body, your surroundings. It's what you can see. Emotional well-being is anything that makes you feel good inside. And spiritual well-being is anything that connects you with your true self -- your inner goddess. Here are three easy ways to improve these areas of your life so that you can get well on your way to achieving a happier new you:
1. Respect your body and your environment
The environment you live and work within -- your home, your car, your office, your backyard -- is a reflection of you. Fill these places with things you love to look at, like art or flowers; things you love to use, such as a CD player or colored markers; or things you love to be reminded of, like pictures of loved ones. At the same time, keep these places spacious and neat so that positive energy can always flow around and to you. This is one of the basic principles of feng shui. Besides that, you'll just feel more in control and clear-headed without so much clutter to distract you.
You must also remember to take care of your body. Honor it with nutritious food and exercise. Make exercise an integral part of your everyday life. This doesn't have to be a regimented program. It could be as simple as running up the stairs in your house instead of walking or gardening or playing with your kids outside. Think of exercise as a little extra movement you incorporate into your daily schedule. If you have time for a regular class, make sure to pick something you love to do. If you need motivation, team up with a friend, partner or personal trainer.
2. Nurture your feelings
Your feelings are part of who you are and you must acknowledge and feed them. This means not burying your negative emotions in an attempt to be happy. They'll only stir more deeply and longer if you don't accept them. You need to see them in order to release them. This also means doing things that make you feel good, inside and out. Maybe it's spending time with people you love, dancing, talking over your problems with a friend or even eating your favorite chocolate ice cream. Sometimes you need to do something totally indulgent to feel good, and that's perfectly okay once in a while. Give yourself permission to indulge in whatever it is that makes you happy. You must believe that you're worth it, whether it's time, money or calories. Do it completely guilt-free, knowing that the benefits of nurturing your innermost passions will make you a happier, giving and loving person.
3. Connect with your inner goddess
We've all heard the phrase "women's intuition," but what is it really and how can that make you happier? Intuition is that little voice inside of you that tells you things like "take that job," "stay away from that guy" or "go this way." It can save you time, or in some cases, save your life -- either of which should make you happier. Intuition gives you information without your having to think about it. It allows you to just "know." Unfortunately, in our modern society, we don't learn how to develop our intuition, and we lose it like a muscle in atrophy.
There are a number of ways to connect with your inner goddess -- the easiest being some kind of meditative practice. Meditation could be different for everyone. Not all of us like to sit cross-legged on the floor while burning incense and chanting. Meditation can be as simple as taking a walk through the park, inhaling and exhaling deeply or listening to soothing music. It's anything that helps quiet your mind, opening a space for you to connect with your inner voice.
Focusing on and nurturing all three parts of yourself -- the physical, emotional and spiritual -- will make you look and feel much healthier and happier. So go ahead and break open that box of chocolate truffles. Just remember to take a nice long walk afterward.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Preaching To Bears
Not much time this morning so I thought I'd leave you with this funny to start your day with..
Priest, a Pentecostal Preacher and a Rabbi, all serving as chaplains at a university, would get together two or three times a week at a coffee to chat. One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard, that a real challenge would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another and they decided to try an experiment. All would go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.
One week later, they came together to discuss the "experience."
Father Flannery, his arm in a sling, and on crutches, with various parts bandaged,
went first. "Well," he said, "I went into the woods and found a bear. I began to read to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and said, "Holy Mary Mother of God." At that, he became gentle a lamb. The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation."
Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, with an arm and both legs in
casts, with an IV drip. In his best fire and brimstone oratory he claimed, " WELL
brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And
then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted
nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled
down one hill, UP another and DOWN one more until we came to a creek. So I quickly
DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became gentle
as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus."
They both looked down at Rabbi Lipschitz, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was
in a body cast and traction, with IV's and monitors running in and out of him. He was in bad shape. He looked up and struggled to speak to the others. "Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start things out."
Priest, a Pentecostal Preacher and a Rabbi, all serving as chaplains at a university, would get together two or three times a week at a coffee to chat. One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard, that a real challenge would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another and they decided to try an experiment. All would go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.
One week later, they came together to discuss the "experience."
Father Flannery, his arm in a sling, and on crutches, with various parts bandaged,
went first. "Well," he said, "I went into the woods and found a bear. I began to read to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and said, "Holy Mary Mother of God." At that, he became gentle a lamb. The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation."
Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, with an arm and both legs in
casts, with an IV drip. In his best fire and brimstone oratory he claimed, " WELL
brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And
then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted
nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled
down one hill, UP another and DOWN one more until we came to a creek. So I quickly
DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became gentle
as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus."
They both looked down at Rabbi Lipschitz, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was
in a body cast and traction, with IV's and monitors running in and out of him. He was in bad shape. He looked up and struggled to speak to the others. "Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start things out."
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