Gaylekimball's Blog

The Millennial Generation Will Transform Our Global Future?

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:28:11 +0000

Based on replies from over 3,300 young people in 65 countries, I have good news about our future. This is for a book-in-process tentatively titled A Brighter Future: How Global Youth Will Transform The World. The Millennial Generation wants to do good, values family, is spiritual rather than religious, and understands that money and things don’t bring happiness. With their networking skills, they led the Arab Spring that led to the European Summer, US Fall and Russian Winter Youth Revolutions. The Occupy Movements have changed the political discussion in the US to focus on economic inequality.

I asked Stephen Tchudi, the director of volunteers at the Chico Peace and Justice Center, if he sees generational differences in activists:

Yes, I see great generational differences in the peace and justice movement. I’ve been especially impressed by the high school and college volunteers, who are smart, organized, well informed, and committed to action. I think they have a much greater sense of direction than my generation. I don’t know of many people of my generation who had their wealth of experience at age 17 or 18.

However, he didn’t seem the same focus in young people in the local Occupy Chico movement: “I sensed that they had little sense of the history of activism and were not much interested in learning about what has gone before.”

When asked what kind of changes they’d make if they were the heads of their governments, young people I surveyed are concerned about youth issues like better education and children’s rights, developing the economy including the infrastructure and lower taxes, helping poor people, increasing equality and having peace. If you know young people under 20 who would like to add their views to the book, contact gkimball@csuchico.edu to respond to 12 questions or see http://gaylekimball.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/questions-for-global-youth.

Questions for Global Youth

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:23:36 +0000

I’m writing a book that gives you and other young people around the world an opportunity to say what’s on your mind. This is your chance to be heard. Many of you have wonderful suggestions for how to make our world a better to live in, so I’m asking people age 19 and under to respond to 10 questions. I have translations in other language.

See www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Global-Youth-SpeakOut/160382763986923 for photos.

(I’ve written other peer-based books for youth, including The Teen Trip: The Complete Resource Guide and How to Survive Your Parents’ Divorce: Kids’ Advice to Kids.) Please also forward to kids and their teachers so they can be part of the global youth book.

Thanks, Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. gkimball@csuchico.edu

1. If you could ask a question of the wisest person in the world,

what would you ask her or him about life?

2. What bothers you in your daily life? What practice best helps you stay calm?

3. If there was one thing you could change about adults, what

would it be?

4. What would you like to change about yourself?

5. What do you like to do for fun?

6. When have you felt most loved by someone else?

7. Why do you think you’re here on earth; what’s your purpose? How are you influenced by global media (TV, Internet, advertisements, etc?)

8. On a scale of 1 to 100, how highly would you grade your

school? Why?

9. What work would you like to do when you’re an adult?

10. If you were the leader of your country, what changes would you make?

11. Imagine you get to write on a T-shirt going on a trip around the world. What do you want your T-mail to say to people?

What questions are missing that you’d like to answer? Your email. . . . . . .

What first name would you like used in the book to quote you?

How old are you?

Girl or boy?

What city and country do you live in?

Real food vs. Junk Food

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:45:17 +0000

The focus on healthy food is a way to organize youth, as in the Boston where “The Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture.”[i] They’re encouraging a national movement to organize students to lobby for “real food” in their schools and universities, as opposed to unhealthy processed food. Check out the processed junk food in schools in your area.

[i] http://thefoodproject.org/what-we-do

http://realfoodchallenge.org/network

Digital Diplomacy on Second Life

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:12:45 +0000

Rita King and Joshua Fouts created a virtual world on the Internet’s international Second Life (only 30% of users are in the US) to help viewers understand Islam, as well as a graphic novel and report. The project is called “Digital Diplomacy: Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds.” King and Fouts point out that new ideas and new leaders are arising in the virtual world, a new path for public diplomacy.

http://dancinginkproductions.com/2010/06/22/understanding-islam-through-virtual-worlds/

http://secondlife.com/whatis/

avoiding a cold

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:17:01 +0000

*For a cold, Jeanette recommends: homeopathy: Coldcalm; Nux Vomica, etc.; Sambucos (black elderberry) which stops viruses; and New Chapter’s Sinus and Respitory which clears the head/nose. I’d add hot herb tea and herbed vinegar.

Temple Grandin

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:16:14 +0000

*Temple Grandin spoke yesterday at CSUC. She believes Tesla was autistic and that Einstein had many autistic traits. She said the HBO movie about her is accurate. She explained that there are different ways of thinking: photo realistic visual (her type), verbal, auditory, etc. She has found most SSRI anti-depressant drugs (Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, and Paxil—the latter has side effects impairing memory for some) don’t work for depression but do work for anxiety and fear. A motion sickness drug works for depression, but has side effects like glaucoma if taken too long. Start with tiny doses she suggests. For natural brain balancing she recommends B6, magnesium, omega 3, exercise, music, singing, sitting on a ball and a weighted vest or blanket for anxiety. Colored glasses help some people with learning disabilities. Above all else, avoid fluorescent lights that flicker.

Valentine’s Day Heart and Lipstick Info

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:26:44 +0000

*From CA NOW: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics first broke the story about lead in lipstick back in 2007 when they released a report labeled “A Poison Kiss.” Now, over years later, a new report by the FDA indicates that the problem of poison kisses is worse than first thought. FDA’s new study found lead in 400 lipsticks tested, with higher lead levels than ever reported in some of the most popular brands. The worst offender was L’Oreal USA, whose Maybelline Color Sensation and L’Oreal Color Riche lipsticks were #1 and #2 on the list. In fact, L’Oreal USA makes five of the 10 most contaminated brands in the FDA study.

*The Institute of Heart Math (www.heartmath.org/free-services/tools-for-well-being/tools-for-well-being-home.html) developed stress-reduction techniques. The institute does scientific studies about the heart, showing it’s much more than a pump. Its powerful electromagnetic field influences the brain and people around us. HeartMath studies prove the effectiveness of their technique called “Freeze Frame” in making the heartbeat more coherent and peaceful.

Freeze Frame to Reduce Stress
1. Freeze frame the stressful feeling, as you would put a video on pause.
2. Shift your focus to your heart by imagining you’re breathing deeply through it, for at least 10 seconds. Keep your awareness here rather than on the problem.
3. Remember a positive time, as when you felt deep love, caring, forgiveness or appreciation, and experience that feeling. Don’t visualize, as this takes you to your head, just sense and feel. This memory causes the heart rate to move to a coherent rhythm.
4.Using your intuition and common sense, ask your heart what would be a more effective response to the situation that would reduce stress? Listen to the answer and be patient.

Difference Romantic Love and Lasting Intimacy

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:17:15 +0000

What’s the difference between romantic love and real love?

We start with adrenalin-like excitement and then endorphins kick in for comfortable bonding. Scientists discovered we’re attracted to individuals who are like our parents and ourselves, but whose pheromones are least like our own. Different immune systems ensure healthy babies. Love based on deep caring, interest, respect and common values lasts over time, while the half-life of romantic love is often 90 days. We can be infatuated with someone we don’t even like—“bad boys/girls.” It’s easy to confuse love with the intensity of sexual chemistry or of being anxious about whether the other person likes you, when it’s just sexual chemistry or tension. Couples I interviewed for my books on equal relationships talk about working at their relationship. This means hanging in through the difficult times, like illness or having a baby. The work also means regularly scheduling in time for communication and fun to maintain the spark of romantic love. These two areas are problematic for people who write into my “Ask Dr. Gayle” column for the Lotus Guide magazine. Romantic love can grow into deep intimacy and joy if it’s tended like a garden needs attention; otherwise its intensity dissipates into boredom or disappointment. For answers from others see this article:

http://www.newsreview.com/chico/what-is-love/content?oid=5104850

Your Solutions to World Problem

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:07:57 +0000

I’d like to include your observations and experiences about how to solve global problems like climate warming, extremes of riches and poverty, inequality between men and women, and so on. I’ll include your ideas in my next book. Thank you!

planting and pruning fruit trees and vines

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:37:49 +0000

Hodges nursery workshop notes on caring for fruit trees and vines

Mr. Hodges. Notes by Gayle Kimball.

Pruning:

For large cuts, don’t use the black goop, can use whitewash like you see on walnut trees. It keeps sunburn and bores out.

To prune, cut straight, as an angle is a bigger wound. It will die back so cut about 1.8 inch away from the stem. Leave an outward bud. Prune fruit trees in May and September, think Memorial Day and Labor Day. Anvil loppers are not for pruning but for cutting big suckers that come up from the ground.

Grapes and kiwis bloom on new wood

Cut suckers from citrus. They grow from below the graft.

Prune grapes and kiwis to just 2 buds, or can do 4 buds before frost in case of damage.

Planting:

Good soil additive: Dr Earth fertilizer and soil additive. Fertilize once a month in the spring. Citrus needs potassium and phosphorous, as in Epsom salts. Yellow leaves show nitrogen or iron deficiency.

Mulch is useful.

Dwarf peach trees don’t taste good. Plant semi-dwarf or regular and keep them pruned no higher than your ladder.

Black walnut leaves and nuts are toxic.

Plant trees so about 2 inches below the graft is showing. Plant major roots north and south to be stronger in winds. Prune so tree is about the length of roots or less. Water right away to get out air pockets. Add more dirt as it settles. Water 2-3 times a week until established, then at least 1 a week. Can plant 5 feet apart.

He keeps his fruit trees small, even plants 4 in the same hole, like different varieties of figs.

The hardiest avocado trees he’s found are Mexicola Stuart.

New berry is bababerry, like a big raspberry.

Can plant vines on a tall rebar.

Pest Control

Spray with copper in December and when blooms before buds push out. Spray seaweed extract and compost tea in the spring.

For peach leaf curl, and fire blight (a bacteria), spray Nature’s Solution copper and oil mixed. Cut back the black blight 2 inches below the damage and sterilize clippers with rubbing alcohol or bleach.

Scale and leaf hoppers: use canola oil

White flies and aphids: “Year Round” canola oil coats the insects and hang a sticky trap on the tree or grape vine.

Caterpillars, worms, and coddling moth: Captain Jack

Gophers: plant in cages made of 1-inch chicken wire, a 10-foot roll. There’s also “Gopher Scram” that you put on the soil to drive them away.

Frost

Cover with a blanket or garbage bag, water

Even if the leaves die, if the stems are green the tree is alive.