#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Psychology, Health, Art, Music & Comics

Thought for the Day: Here's some interesting articles about #Alzheimer's research, #Couples & #Memory, A #Blind Artist accomplishing their dreams, #stress, & reducing the calorie count of rice along with some great #GIF's and some funny #comics & a #Multimedia, #Music, #Dance and water sculpture video. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did. Have a great weekend!  View my Flipboard Magazine.

Sunday's Comic Strips: Parenting Demands Creative Solutions

Photo from HistoricalLOLs.com

Thought for the Day: Today's Comic Strips focus on the importance of creative parenting solutions. Don't try either of these solutions at home, unless you are a photoshop or videography whizz, however, as a psychologist, I believe keeping a sense of humor while parenting should be a prerequisite for Parenting 101.
     Above is a photo that reminds me of an experience I had many years ago while living in Israel. American friend's were visiting and asked that we watch their two young daughters. As a new immigrant, I was fortunate to have a been able to purchase a washing machine without 300% taxation on the appliance (at the time not many people owned machines) in my 5th floor walk up apartment, but did not have the luxury of owning a clothes dryer. I was on the back porch when:

Sarit: "What are you doing?" 

Me: "Hanging clothes." 

Sarit: "Why are you doing that?

#FF Friday's Fab Finds: Einstein on Education, Rita F. Pierson on TEDTalks & Asperger Syndrome

Photo Found on It's A Lovely Life on Facebook

Thought for the Day: This week my finds came from various facebook pages that I follow. I decided to post them by copying them & pasting them here, which is a bit different from how I usually post my Fabulous Finds. Let me know what you think. The wonderful quote from Albert Einstein along with the cartoon gave me a theme for this week's finds. The posts loosely follow the theme of how we can bring out the best in our children regardless of their differences and challenges.

From TED on Facebook, I found a wonderful short video. The presenter's bio states:

"Rita F. Pierson, a professional educator since 1972, taught elementary school, junior high and special education. She was a counselor, a testing coordinator and an assistant principal. In each of these roles, she brought a special energy to the role -- a desire to get to know her students, show them how much they matter and support them in their growth, even if it was modest."

Here's the video:


The second find is a wonderful idea to help protect children. It is a good idea for any child, but even more so if the child is autistic or unable to speak for any reason. I found this on Momiverse on Facebook. It is easy to make one for your child and can cost under a dollar, but can save a child's life.

The Momiverse

Genius!

Like ·  · Share · 1231 · 

The last Fabulous Find for this week is a slideshow of a book called: All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome. It is a book by Kathy Hoopman. If you know anyone who is raising a child with asperger or autism, it can help them explain the disorder to their siblings in a way that will make sense and help them understand and support their sibling.

All cats have asperger's syndrome from Jo Ann Lee

Saturday's Songs for the Soul:American Pie With a Twist

Thought for the Day: I'm still on vacation mode. I skipped posting #FF Friday's Fabulous Finds yesterday & today I'm having trouble getting a video to upload from YouTube. I hope you will forgive me for simply posting a link to a very funny Thanksgivica parody video to the tune of American Pie.  I think Don McLean would like this interpretation of his song. Although the Chanuka countdown sale of my book benefiting Menorah Park is over (you can still get the book and donate 1/2 of the profits to Menorah Park), I thought this video was fitting for today.

So here's the link to the parody:

A funny Thanksgivica video   http://youtu.be/QXsxCohQNT8

Saturday's Songs for the Soul: Chanukah Dayenu for a Good Cause

Thought for the Day: Today's song is a bit different. It is my competition to Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song. Although it is also a blatant advertisement for a Chanukah Countdown Sale for my book on Amazon, I hope you will see the humor, enjoy it, & share it with all your friends & family. I wanted to have a group of senior citizens from Menorah Park sing it, but did not have time to pull it off. Instead you have my feeble singing, just imagine a group of seniors singing it instead!

There is a serious side to this effort, as well, or you would not hear me singing! Whether you just share the video or buy the book, you will be doing a Mitzvah (Good Deed) as well. Menorah Park Center for Senior Living in Beachwood OH's  D.R.E.A.M. program really makes a difference in the lives of people in their 70's, 80's & 90's. They have helped a legally blind 94 year old artist, Hy Snell, just 2 years ago by setting up an exhibit & press coverage. Now he is getting recognition from around the world. They also helped Ruth Eisner, zl., may her memory be a blessing, launch an acting career at the age of 88 making the last few years of her life truly golden. I am hoping that when people hear about Menorah Park's program it will become a shining example to other senior living facilities & start a new trend in care for the elderly.

The Chanukah Countdown Sale is going on from noon (EST) today for one week on Amazon. The sooner you purchase the book, the more you save from 30 - 50% off the retail price of $9.95). You or your gift recipient do not need to own a Kindle to download the book to your computer, ipad or smart phone. Just download the free app on the Amazon Kindle site. You can gift it to anyone who has an e-mail address. So if you are looking for gifts for this holiday I hope you will consider taking advantage of this sale & helping Menorah Park at the same time. Click here to purchase the book now.

Sunday's Comic Strips: Useful Dog Tricks

Thought for the Day: I never owned a dog. When I was very young, my father took care of two Weimaraners for a few weeks. I was shorter than they were & when they tried to play with me I would be knocked down & frightened. My mother & brother were allergic to dogs & therefore, I never owned one. For all the dog lovers out there, here's a very funny video of some very useful dog tricks by Jesse. Hope you enjoy it & have a great end of the weekend!

Sunday's Comics: Best Toddler Costume of the Year!

Thought for the Day: I have not been posting as frequently as I recover from knee surgery. I promise that I will catch up & be up to speed soon! Yesterday, I actually was able to ride the stationary bike for 3 minutes! As I reported last Monday, I could not pedal all the way around even once! Above are some funny Halloween photos (from MorgueFiles.com) that I found for your enjoyment.  I also could not resist sharing a video that over 18,000,000 people have viewed of by far the year's best Halloween costume. Have a great weekend! If you have any great photos of kids or adults costumes, please share them. I plan to go on a photographing trip to Wilton CT before they take down some amazing costumed soft sculptures around town.

Friday's Fabulous Finds: MS, Valerie Harper, Body Language, Bullying & a Dancing Queen

Thought for the Day: Here are 5 Fabulous Finds from a wide range of subjects. Hope you enjoy them & have a great final week of the summer!

1) My 1st Fabulous Find is an article, MS Misdiagnosed as an Anxiety Attack, part of a series called MS Fitness Challenge by David Lyon.

2) Valerie Harper's performance on Dancing With the Stars is another tribute to the power of never giving up on dreams. Harper is contending with brain cancer & outliving the doctor's prognosis. Here's a video from the show.

3) Here's a some additional evidence on the power of "pretending" which we discussed this week in the Psychology Trivia posts. Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy demonstrates how body language affects how others see us and how it  may also change how we see ourselves. Take a look at this TED video which shows how " 'power posing' -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident -- can affect testosterone & cortisol levels in the brain, & might even have an impact on our chances for success. "   

4) My fourth Fabulous Find is Dear Santa: Make Kids Stop Bullying My Sister.

5) Finally a story about how a funny Dancing Queen video went viral and landed a job for the woman in the video.

Motivational Monday: A Bestseller on The Kindle Store: All Work No Dreams

Play the video to see what baffles her about her parents...

Thought for the Day: Have you ever realized that you should have done something a while ago? Today, I look back at my reluctance to try a free offer (See Why We Have a Love/Hate Relationahip with Free Offers) on Amazon & realize it was a mistake to avoid it for so long. Thanks to the offer, my book has already moved up to the Bestselling #1 free ebook offering on the Kindle Store in two self help categories: Happiness & Dreams!  I guess that makes me a best selling author! My ranking in the Kindle store in all book categories has also moved up significantly & I'm hoping it will rise to the top 100 free e-book before the promotion is over! In this way more people will find my book. Thank you for downloading it & for telling your friends!
     Here's another installment in my #BurmaShave style videos.

Saturday's Songs for the Soul: Unfinished Song (The Movie)

 

This week Saturday's Songs for the Soul Invites You To Go to the Movies

Thought for the Day: Last week I went to see a wonderful film, Unfinished Song. I decided to tell you about it this week. When I took a look at the movie preview, I realized that it does not do the movie justice. All I will tell you is that the acting is outstanding & the story is heartfelt & moving. There is a balance of comedy, drama & inspiration as the characters face the challenges of life, love & loss. I'm putting the trailer here, but you may enjoy the movie more if you simply go to the theater & see it 1st. The movie is all about the power of music, singing, relationships & taking second chances. Next week I will have more information to tell you about the free promotion I will be offering, so stay tuned, you do not want to miss this opportunity. Have a wonderful weekend.

Here's what the filmakers wrote about it on YouTube.com:

"Published on Jun 18, 2013

http://www.joblo.com - "Unfinished Song" - Official Trailer

UNFINISHED SONG is the funny & uplifting story of Arthur (Terence Stamp), a curmudgeonly old soul perfectly content with sticking to his dull daily routine until his beloved wife (Vanessa Redgrave) introduces him to a spirited local singing group led by the youthful & charming Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton). This unexpected friendship & his discovery of music revitalizes Arthur's passion for new adventures & shows us all life should be celebrated at any age.

Official Site: http://weinsteinco.com/sites/unfinish...

Director: Paul Andrew Williams

Cast: Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton, Vanessa Redgrave , Christopher Eccleston

Writers: Paul Andrew Williams

In theaters: June 21st, 2013

Copyright © 2013 Weinstein Company"

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4371001868/