theatlantic:

Study: No News is Better Than Fox News

A survey by Farleigh Dickinson University asked 1,185 random people about their news consumption and also random questions about domestic and current events like whether Bashar al-Assad was still in power, the American unemployment rate, and which party holds the most seats in the House of Representatives right now. And this is what they found:

The largest effect is that of Fox News: all else being equal, someone who watched only Fox News would be expected to answer just 1.04 domestic questions correctly — a figure which is significantly worse than if they had reported watching no media at all.

[Image: Reuters]

Diet Tips From Scott Jurek, Ultrarunner And Vegan

One of the biggest questions I get as a runner is “what can I do to be a more efficient runner?” Whether you are getting ready for your annual Memorial Day Fun Run or make a living running Ultramarathons, what you put in your body is the most important aspect to your training regimen.

Here are 5 Diet Tips To Optimize Your Running.

1. Lentils and beans. Packed with protein and carbs, they
are a staple in almost every culture around the globe. Try making a Lentil-Mushroom Burger. An alternative is a dense Pea Protein Powder.

2. Grains. While some give grains a bad rap, whole grains have been consumed for thousands of years and were used as a calorie source that traveled well for nomadic tribes and warriors going into battle. Quinoa was a staple of the Incas and is technically a seed, not a grain, and has all essential amino acids. Brown rice is another option.

3. Tempeh. This super dense veggie protein has one gram of fat to three grams of protein. It’s my go-to when I feel I need a protein punch.

4. Kale/Lacinato. Kale is touted as one of the best vegetables, and we all have been told to get more greens in our diet. Steam, sauté or chop it raw into salads. You can even throw it into your smoothie.

5. Flax oil blend/Udo’s Oil. Essential fatty acids are critical for all functions in the body and most of us don’t get enough nor know how to get them in our diet. I used to grind flax seeds and hemp seeds and always guessed if I was getting enough. Now using an Omega 3-6-9 oil blend like Udo’s Oil 3-6-9 has taken the guesswork out of my diet. I add it to my smoothies, cereal and salads.

By Scott Jurek

(Source: veganrunnergirl)

(Source: owlyoureyes)

lunchboxhabitat:

viginti-tres:

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing? By: Josh Nonnenmoc

Outstanding.

utnereader:

Herbert Benson is the father of modern mind-body medicine. From the late 1960s onward, his breakthrough research has demonstrated that the “relaxation response,” which can be elicited through a variety of methods—including meditation—is a natural antidote to stress.

A graduate of Wesleyan University and the Harvard Medical School, Benson is the author or coauthor of over 180 scientific publications and 12 books. In 2006 he became director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

For the latest issue of Utne Reader, Benson describes his discovery of the relaxation response and its potential for filling a major gap in contemporary health care.

Keep reading …