BY: SHAWNTAE HARRIS

The hustle of a big city makes it almost impossible to relax sometimes. Hearing the loud cars go by and running to catch the train as the doors nearly close around you can be exhausting.

The only moment you can really take a second to breathe is in the back seat of the Uber that you ordered to avoid driving through rush hour on your own.

But now the minutes spent in the back of an Uber, walking down a crowded street or on the packed subway train can be spent relaxing.

Sway is an app designed for big city living. It helps people meditate on the go with a sensor that tracks users movements. The app is a collaboration between PauseAble, a meditation app, and Ustwo, a digital production studio.

The app was created byPeng Cheng and Ustwos Malmo studio who created the two-year updated app. Cheng created another meditation app two years prior called Pause, which allows you to meditateby continuously moving a bubble on a phone screen.

How can we help people distress, refocus and recharge anywhere, anytime as part of their normal lives? saidMarcus Woxneryd, head of Ustwo Malmo to Wired.

All you need is a pair of headphones and an iPhone(its currently not available for androids). The sound fades in and out with a slight build up until you reach complete serenity.

The Sway app acts as a yoga instructor as well. It tells you whether to take longer breaths or shorter breaths. It uses the phones rotation tracker and accelerometers to measure the attention span of a person, and suggests things to do with your body like do small controlled movements.

The app will know when relaxation is over. It notices whenever someone moves around too much that they are not focusing enough.

This new approach is called interactive meditation, which, according to Sway, is supposed to detecthumans attention through slow and gentle movements that thrive during noisy and active environments.

Sway is developedfrom the movements of the sixth sense. The last sense is the control of body movement. This occurs when we have complete control of our body and complete control of our movements and we have control of how our movements will play out.

This then allows focus, clarity and complete relaxation. The only way to achieve this is when the person directs and pays attention to the repetition of a word, sound, phrase, prayer, or muscular activity, according to Ustwo. The person passively disregards everyday thoughts that inevitably come to mind and returning to your repetition. The meditation is supposed to be done for 20 minutes every day to get the full effect.

Money and work seem to be the leading factors of stress for Americans. The Paychexsurvey looked at 2,000 full-time employed Americans aged 18-79.

The survey found that Americans are stressed for 60 per cent of the work week. Most people turn to television, social media, and getting into comfy clothes as a way to destress at the end of the night.

Working out is another great solution to destress since it releases endorphines. But the stress can lead to anxiety and depression with some people.

Meditation can improve decision making, creativity, personal and work relationships. Taking 20 minutes out of your day to devote to meditation can make a huge difference in improving your mental health, and subsequently your overall happiness.

Continue reading here:

Sway meditation app taps into our 'sixth sense' - The Plaid Zebra (blog)

By admin | April 17, 2017

We wont tell JoJo to leave (get out) but we will recommend she stops giving news media the bait to make her a phoneyvegan figurehead.

PETA was quick to promote the pop-singer as their latest vegan poster child, sharing her mere mention of veganism in an interview about her 2017 world tour. JoJo herself starts that same interview by mentioning her interest in a plant-based diet and the positive effects removing dairy had on her vocal chords and allergies. But its revealed that JoJo has a vegan friend, has read Russel Simmons Happy Vegan, has tweeted about vegan scones before, and has a strong enough internet connection to stream the plethora of vegan documentaries (and their own mixed messaging). But we know interest in the trendiest bits of veganism doesnt make someone a vegan. Can you imagine our numbers if it did!?

Fault Magazine and TV3 didnt forget to include her Im by no means a perfect vegan bullshit, even if they kept vegan in their headlines for the clickbait. So when that JOJO IS VEGAN headline is at the top of the vegan google alerts thread, just a little more confusion gets sprinkled over an already confusing movement that almost perversely clings to the hopes a teen idol will be the key to making the world a better place. Not the clear education and understanding of fundamental rights or the need for freedom from exploitation thats not catchy enough and you cant photograph it in lingerie. And dont worry, they made sure a little bit of vegans think they have to be perfect was smushed in there to keep the non-vegans pleased.

So while we do hope the accessibility of information and her own ease and enjoyment of eating plant-based can be leverage for a legitimate vegan education, we wont be looking to JoJo for sage advice on behalf of our animal brethren anytime soon. Until she is shown the morality of refusing animal products, and considers the victims instead of the alleged choices we face, JoJo will be just another Ricky Gervais, Leonardo DiCaprio, or Beyonce.

You can go vegan today, without the help of a celebrity.

Photo from Fault Magzine

See the original post:

JoJo is the next non-vegan 'vegan' celebrity - Ecorazzi

Plant-based i.e., vegan restaurant J. Selbys is now open on Selby Avenue and Victoria Street in St. Paul.

The restaurant is the creation of Matt Clayton, a retiredphysician who is vegan and said he was tired of the options available to him and his fellow meat-eschewing diners.

Claytons goal was to create a menu that even non-vegans would enjoy, and the opening offerings read like a gastropub menu: Fresh pretzel, Buffalo wings (made from cauliflower), a Philly sub, chili, a burger and lots of grain-based bowls. Theres also a tap beer list, wines by the glass and a kids menu.

J. Selbys (169 N. Victoria St., St. Paul; 651-222-3263; jselbys.com) is open daily for lunch and dinner, and for breakfast through dinner on the weekends.

Jess Fleming has been with the Pioneer Press since 1999, and has been covering the Eat beat since 2012. She is an adventurous eater, cook and gardener, but will only grow something she can eat. She is a graduate of the journalism school at the University of Minnesota and a native of Eastern Wisconsin, where she grew up eating good brats, good cheese and fresh vegetables from her dads garden.

As you comment, please be respectful of other commenters and other viewpoints. Our goal with article comments is to provide a space for civil, informative and constructive conversations. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem to be defamatory, rude, insulting to others, hateful, off-topic or reckless to the community. See our full terms of use here.

April 17, 2017, 4:05 pm

HeadFlyer Brewing () is getting ready to land along East Hennepin in Minneapolis. A grand opening is set from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the new brewery and taproom in the historic Miller Textile Building (861 East Hennepin Ave.). Along withthe brewerys American-style craft beers, small-batch and seasonal beers, the grand opening event will include live...

April 16, 2017, 11:30 am

SUNDAY (Family) Spice up family day with ROASTED PEPPERED PORK LOIN. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Rub 1 (2- to 3-pound) well-trimmed boneless pork loin with a mixture of 1 teaspoons garlic pepper and 1 teaspoons dried rosemary. Place pork in a shallow pan. Roast 40 minutes to 1 hour (20 minutes per pound) or until internal temperature of pork...

April 16, 2017, 9:47 am

Were all 80 years old. Were looking at 16- to 18-hour days and we just cant do it anymore, said Dick Mueller, who ran the stand with his wife, Donna, along with business partner Audrey Skarda

April 14, 2017, 2:35 pm

Being vegan means giving up lots of delicious indulgences, including flaky croissants, which are layered with plenty of butter, an animal byproduct. Or does it? St. Paul-based startup vegan company Eureka Compass Vegan Foods will be producing a vegan version of the indulgent pastries and will be selling them at the Herbivorous Butcher in Northeast Minneapolis on April 21. The...

April 13, 2017, 6:35 pm

Ichiddo Ramen, which also has a location on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, has just opened a St. Paul restaurant on University Avenue.

April 12, 2017, 4:37 pm

Morel, morel, You put me through hell. Awaiting your season, Abandoning reason, Im probing the dirt With a heartful of hurt, Knowing theres no way; A month from Mothers Day, Youre ready to bloom, Youelusive wee shroom. My son hunts morels. He even casts spells To ward off others Who would stomp and smother Our fave morel packs And nearby...

More here:

Vegan restaurant now open in St. Paul - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

I was invited to try the float tank by Lexi Matthews at FM Integrative Health in Fargo, home to the first float tank in North Dakota only open to the public since early April. Sensory deprivation tanks have been around since the '50s but have seen a resurgence in popularity over the past year or so. Proponents say spending up to an hour floating in an enclosed chamber of salt water devoid of light and sound helps relieve anxiety, stress, insomnia and chronic pain.

"It just gives you a chance to calm down and relax, which is not something we take time for anymore," says Matthews. "By just stopping, it forces the body to shift from being super energetic to rest and digest which is the other side of your nervous system."

We walked from the lobby into the small room holding the float tank and I was immediately surprised by how big the tank was; it was more like the size of a small car than the coffin-like tank I saw in my only other point of reference on float tanks an episode of "The Simpsons." (Important online research.) In the episode, Lisa tried a float tank and got into a meditative state that caused her to hallucinate that she turned into her cat, a tree and Cokie Roberts.

Matthews didn't say anything about Cokie Roberts, but told me, "It's a totally new experience unless you've floated in the Dead Sea." (I have not done that as it would require me to be seen in my bathing suit.)

Matthews said before getting in the tank which is filled with 10 inches of water and 800 pounds of Epsom salt I first had to get clean: remove my makeup and take a shower. This step ensures the tank stays as free from oils as possible. There is also a filter which runs for a half-hour in between clients.

As I stepped in the water, it felt lukewarm close to my own body temperature. I shut the door and laid back in the darkened tank. I was struck by how easily I floated. The high salt content of the water created extra buoyancy. (I guess I would have known that if I had taken that vacation to float in the Dead Sea.) The tank was not completely dark as a small blue light shown from the bottom.

Unlike some tanks, FM Integrative Health pipes relaxing music into the chamber so as I floated I listened to the music and drifted away, or rather tried to drift away.

My thoughts: "Oh, that's lovely violin music...so peaceful. Shoot, Laura (my daughter) needs a new viola. I meant to call the violin store today. I wonder if they're open until 6 p.m. when I get off work. If I'm late getting home, what will I make for dinner? What's in the freezer?"

STOP!

Time to float.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on not concentrating. It helped that I didn't feel claustrophobic like I thought I would. The top of the tank was a couple of feet above my head and I noticed as little sparkles of light peeked through it looked like a constellation of stars. (Maybe this new age woo woo stuff is how it started for Lisa Simpson).

I floated for a few minutes with the music and light, but I chose to turn both off to completely deprive the senses. After a couple of minutes, I felt myself drift further. I gently stretched my neck back and forth, but mostly I just laid there in the quiet darkness. I wouldn't say it was the psychedelic experience some users report, but I found it incredibly relaxing and peaceful and hard to get out of the tank when my session was over.

When it was over, I showered to get the salt off my body. I got a little salt in my ears and eyes, but that was a minor inconvenience compared to how soft my skin felt. Better yet, I still felt relaxed a couple of hours later the kind of relaxed you feel stretched out on the deck on a warm summer day enjoying a cocktail. I didn't turn into a cat, a tree or Cokie Roberts, but I'd consider it a win, and no one had to see me in my bathing suit.

Continued here:

What it's really like to float in a sensory deprivation tank | Jamestown ... - Jamestown Sun

The Dodgers are 7-6. That translates to an 87-win pace, but there is little reason to draw major conclusions from a few weeks of games. The team finishes up a four-game series with Arizona on Monday, with a chance to take three of four.

As always, there is plenty to discuss. You can send me questions on Twitter @McCulloughTimes. Lets do this.

Put your hands over your ears, then?

The chatter connecting the Dodgers with Ryan Braun has always felt a tad strange to me, as Braun does not exactly fit the profile of the sort of player President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman likes to pursue. Braun is 33, he can only play a corner outfield spot (and maybe only left field) and hes locked into an expensive contract.

As one rival evaluator told me last summer, Its a lot of money for an inflexible, left-field-only player with injury history. These are the types of players theyre trying to get away from. Now, after flailing against left-handed pitchers throughout 2016 and often at the start of 2017, the teams calculus may change. But Braun is still an imperfect fit, especially if the need is as simple as finding an outfielder who can mash southpaws. Those players basically grow on trees.

The Dodgers were linked to Braun last summer, in a deal that reportedly would have involved Yasiel Puig and Brandon McCarthy, and there were more talks this winter. My current understanding is the Dodgers are not seriously involved in discussions about Braun. That could change, obviously, but its April, and six-time All-Stars rarely get traded in April.

The Brewers may be feeling pressure to shed Braun from their roster, though. His 10-5 rights, which would allow him a full no-trade clause, kick in on May 24. For plenty of reasons, it would make sense for Milwaukee to move him before then, when Braun would hold all the leverage. Braun may not handcuff the Brewers like Brandon Phillips did in Cincinnati, but he would control the situation.

Braun makes a lot of money. The Brewers owe Braun $20 million this season. They owe him $20 million in 2018. They owe him $19 million in 2019. They owe him $17 million in 2020. In order to buy out his mutual option for 2021, the Brewers must pay Braun $4 million. In all, the team owes him $80 million.

The Dodgers, of course, can afford this. They have the largest payroll in the sport for the fourth consecutive season. But under Friedman, the team has tried to trim money off the books. They also would like some financial flexibility for after 2018, when Clayton Kershaw can become a free agent.

If the Dodgers continue to flounder against left-handed pitchers, Braun will be out there. But so will Andrew McCutchen, and a slew of players less expensive than Braun.

Soon. Quite soon, I think.

Hi Ross!

I would not be shocked to see Julio Urias replace Rich Hill in the rotation after Hill's latest blister setback. The assignment may go to Alex Wood, but with an off-day on Thursday, the Dodgers can re-set their rotation and skip Hills spot for a turn. The need for a fifth starter will not re-emerge until the end of April.

Which, conveniently, is when Manager Dave Roberts suggested Urias would join the big-league squad.

Hard to say. Adrian Gonzalez has been a very good player for more than a decade, and has earned the benefit of the doubt regarding his first 50 plate appearances. Hes shown an ability to reshape his swing to remain productive despite whatever his physical condition may be. But there have been some troubling signs early.

Some scouts I talked to noted his inability to drive the baseball, which could be related to the elbow that bothered him for most of spring training. Gonzalez has two extra-base hits thus far. Both were doubles. He is hitting .238, and has often tried to take the ball the other way, rather than pull. That is not exactly encouraging.

Its 50 plate appearances. Gonzalez found a way to be productive in 2016, despite various issues with his neck and back, so perhaps he can do the same in 2017. But if he is still hitting .238 in June, and if Cody Bellinger is still hitting .395 in triple-A (or some realistic equivalent), its a discussion worth revisiting. Bellinger looked lost in the Cactus League in March, but theres a reason the organization refused to discuss him in various trade scenarios over the winter.

Bellinger is likely to debut in the majors this season. When and where may be more dependent on Gonzalezs health and production than on whatever Bellinger does in Oklahoma City.

That sounds about right. Ryu has not dominated, but hes been useful. Given the severity of his shoulder surgery, that is a victory for both him and the organization. The bigger question is whether Ryu can post every fifth day for an extended period of time. His fastball velocity dipped during his second outing, which isnt encouraging. Im curious and I suspect the Dodgers are too to see how he holds up in the coming weeks.

Its hard to frame the Dodgers as giving up on Zach Lee. He had spent three seasons in triple-A, from 2014 to 2016, and had a 4.89 earned-run average in 13 starts for Oklahoma City when the Dodgers traded him. By that point, he had been surpassed on the internal depth chart by Julio Urias, Brock Stewart, Ross Stripling and Jose De Leon. He was never going to be a member of the Dodgers rotation.

The Dodgers got back Chris Taylor when they sent Lee to Seattle. Lee got walloped in Tacoma (7.39 ERA in 14 starts). The Mariners put him on waivers. He is pitching for a San Diego team that is not interested in winning games in 2017. Even if hes in Oklahoma City, Taylor has more value on the Dodgers 40-man roster than Lee would.

I suppose its possible, but Im not sure which other teams would be willing to part with significant assets to acquire an aging, expensive player who has taken 24 at-bats since 2015. If Andre Ethier is healthy and productive, the Dodgers want him on the roster. If he is neither healthy nor productive, it doesnt make sense for another team to want him.

Not particularly.

Not particularly.

You made a pair of egregious omissions by forgetting Vietnamese* and Thai. Those two are 1-2 in my power rankings. Followed by:

3. Chinese

4. Mexican

5. Italian

6. Japanese

7. Greek

8. French

9. Indian

*One of my rare gifts is the ability to name a decent Vietnamese restaurant in every American League city (the National League is a little tougher, for whatever reason). If youre searching for pho in Cleveland or Tampa let me know. I can hook you up.

I havent watched much. Ill probably browse Payback in a couple weeks, but I have little interest in the weekly shows. They seem miserable.

Goo Goo Dolls. No offense to the Blossoms, but this should not be a debate.

I dont know what the players do in the air, but I usually try to sleep while listening to music. Im always in the market for relaxing music, but I cant find anything that tops Lost In The Dream by The War on Drugs or Jason Isbells Live From Alabama. I sleep in 45-minute intervals, for whatever reason. Ill fall asleep midway through Decoration Day and wake up to Dress Blues.

Go here to read the rest:

Dodgers mailbag: Should they go after Milwaukee slugger Ryan Braun? - Los Angeles Times

Imagine a thin line ofavocado slices that start curling inwards, rolling together and taking shape of a flower, or a round jelly cake being divided by a ceramic knife into four pieces of equal size, so perfect that youdont even want to take a bite.

If you find these imagesrelaxing or tinglingly pleasurableto watch, you will like satisfying videos.

Satisfying video clips feature repetitive tasks, perfect patterns in motion or machinery processes being completed in slow motion, with relaxing music. On Instagram, there are more than 265,000 posts under the hashtag #satisfyingvideos and as of writing, another 13 have jumped up within just two minutes, according to social analytics firm Brandwatch. On Reddit, there are active subreddits, mildlysatisfying and oddlysatisfying, where users discuss their favorite hypnotic videos and GIFs. And on Twitter, celebrities like Chrissy Teigen are mesmerized by those clips.

Publishers who are pursing views are aware of this trend. BuzzFeed, for instance, has been curating satisfying videos from Instagram and YouTube, churning out articles with headlines 11 oddly satisfying videos that will calm youdown and This video of things melting is the most satisfying thing youll see all day.

The reason for the rise of these videos isnt known. But these are times in serious need of zen, and people will take it where they can get it.

Naturally, brands want in. Recently, agency Arnold Worldwide created a painting video series called Color Theory to promote telecom company CenturyLinks new service Prism TV. Those slow-motion clips are close-ups of artist and Instagram influencer Annette Labedzki creating different colors blue, pink, orange and green with a painting spatula.

We know that color mixing is trendy on Instagram. I think the slow nature of those videos are different from what you typically see in your news feed, said Juliet Tierney, manager of social and content systems for Arnold. Those videos allow you to take a second out of your busy day and meditate. We are seeing a very strong completion rate.

While David Coomer, chief creative officer for agency Cornett, thinks that advertisers have always worked to have elements of satisfaction in their creative to make the communication intuitive and easy to connect on an emotional level. And from TV to billboards, Coca-Colas Taste The Feeling campaign could be one of the best uses of neuroscience in marketing. The photography is filled with happiness, the product looks tasty, even the sunlight showcases the brands iconic red while giving it a sense of warmth and playfulness, he said.

For R/GA managing director Chapin Clark, the most memorable advertising that applies the concept of satisfying videos is a series of banner ads for small publisher Seagull Books that he saw on the New York Times last summer.According to Clark, those banners were simply videos of seagulls on the beach, flapping their wings, looking off into the distance with the wind ruffling their feathers. There was no ad copy or description about specific book titles.

They were oddly hypnotic and weirdly funny, said Clark. I still remember them and the advertisers name, very clearly.

Satisfying videos look very familiar to ASMR content(which is short forautonomous sensory meridian response) thattake viewers to a calm and happy state through certain typesof soft sounds, including soft whispering and crinkling paper. Brands like KFC andDove chocolate have created ASMR ads to tout consumers.

Clark thinks that satisfying videos resonate with the viewers emotional position: People are tired of arguing about things or having a well-informed opinion about world events. In many cases, people dont have to have an option about everything. The internet can be a very contentious, scary and angry place, on a daily basis. Given the current political climate in the U.S., maybe now more than ever,according to Clark.

I think we all need a respite in our feeds every now and then, he said. These videos are fulfilling in themselves. There is no point-counterpoint. They just are.

Read the original:

Moment of monetized zen: Brands are cashing in on the new 'satisfying videos' craze - Digiday

Atlantic City

Boardwalk Hall pipe organ tour: A free behind-the-scenes tour of the Midmer Losh pipe organ is conducted 10 a.m. Wednesdays at Boardwalk Hall. The tour includes areas that are usually closed to the public. Volunteer guides will explain the construction and repair of the pipe organ and give a detailed history of the hall. The tour ends with a free 30-minute recital beginning at noon. For information, call 609-402-9584.

Freedom Fund Breakfast: The Republican Club invites the public to the annual NAACP Freedom Fund Breakfast 9 a.m. Saturday at Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Doors open 8:30 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Phil D. Murphy, former U.S. ambassador to Germany. Tickets are $50. For information, email atlanticcitygop@gmail.com.

Bridgeton

Exchange Club fundraiser: The Exchange Club of Bridgeton invites the community to its fundraising event to benefit the campaign for the prevention of child abuse. Dine at the Green Olive Restaurant on Shiloh Pike from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 10 percent of the total food purchase will be donated to programs in Cumberland County. A bake sale and Chinese auction will be available. Patrons must bring the Exchange Club flyer with them from Facebook.com/Bridgeton Exchange Club. For information, call 609-247-3433.

Cape May Point

Spring retreat: The Forever Young Senior Club at Notre Dame de la Mer Parish will host a one-day retreat May 23 at Saint Mary by-the-Sea Retreat House, Cape May Point. To register, call 609-729-5773.

Egg Harbor City

Historical Society meetings: The local Historical Society meets 7 p.m. the last Monday of each month at 533 London Ave. The meetings are open to the community. For information, call 609-965-9073.

Egg Harbor Township

Golf benefit: A nine-hole golf outing and spaghetti dinner will be held May 3 at McCulloughs Emerald Golf Links to benefit the OConnor family, local residents who lost all their belongings in a house fire while they slept. Kane OConnor, 8, is credited with helping his family escape safely. The event will be hosted by Mayor Sonny McCullough. There will be a 4 p.m. shotgun start, followed by dinner. Tickets for the package are $75 per person. Dinner only tickets are $30. To RSVP, call Terry Prendergast at 609-926-3900, ext. 2.

Galloway Township

Color run/walk: The community is invited to participate in a fun run and walk 11 a.m. April 30 at the Middle School, 100 S. Reeds Road. Check-in is 9:30 a.m. There will be a 2-mile and a 1-mile course. Participants will be doused with color powder at different stations along the route. Registration is $35 for adults, $25 for ages 4 to 17. For information, call 609-748-1250, ext. 4301.

Linwood

Community yard sale: Residents are invited to participate in the spring community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 6. The event will be held rain or shine. A $5 donation made to the Linwood Historical Society reserves your space on the listing. Participating addresses will be posted the day before at linwoodnj.org. For more information, call 609-927-8293.

Little Egg Harbor Twp.

Adult coloring: The Coloring Club invites adults to meet with others to color pages 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ocean County Library branch at 290 Mathistown Road. Materials will be supplied. There will be relaxing music and light refreshments. For more information, call 609-294-1197.

Margate

Healthy breathing class: Instructor Raquel Jantos leads a free weekly class of gentle relaxation techniques from 10:15 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the meeting room of the Public Library, 8100 Atlantic Ave. No signups are required. There are no classes the last Wednesday of the month until May. For information, call 609-822-4700.

North Wildwood

Native American Earth Day celebration: The community is invited from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, 111 N. Central Ave. The free event will feature demonstrations, games, story telling and displays. Guest speaker will be Chief Robert Red Feather Stevenson. For information, call 609-522-4520 or visit HerefordLighthouse.org.

Ocean City

Quilters meeting: The Pieceful Shores Quilters Guild will meet 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Bay Avenue Community Center. The public is invited. For more information, call 609-971-2798 or 609-242-5449.

Pleasantville

Retirement celebration: The community is invited from 6 to 11 p.m. April 21 to celebrate Marionette C. Todds 30-year career in the school district at Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Mays Landing Road, Somers Point. There will be dinner, dancing and live entertainment. There was an editing error for the cost of tickets. They are $60 each. For information, call Judy Grate at 609-432-5193 or email jgrate1974@gmail.com.

Sea Isle City

Beachcomber guides needed: Volunteers are needed to lead one-hour beach tours Tuesday and Thursday mornings from late June to late August. New tour guides will be fully oriented and trained by experienced beachcombers. If interested, call 215-805-9277 or email marianne snyder233@gmail.com

Stafford Township

Java and Jazz concert: Southern Regional High Schools annual jazz concert will be held 3 p.m. April 30 in the senior high school cafeteria. The districts three jazz bands will perform with special guests from the University of the Arts. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Coffee, tea and dessert are included. For information, call 609-597-9481.

Tuckerton

History of Tuckers Island: Authors Gretchen F. Coyle and Deborah C. Whitcraft will talk about the history of the community and sign their book 7 p.m. Friday during the Library Associations annual open house at the Ocean County Library branch at 380 Bay Ave. Light refreshments will be served. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. To register to attend, call 609-296-1470.

Ventnor

Gathering Wool group: All skill levels of knitters and crocheters are invited to meet 10 a.m. Tuesdays at the Atlantic County Library, 6500 Atlantic Ave. Its free. Bring a project to work on. For information, call 609-823-4614.

Vineland

Library exhibit: The Millville Army Air Field Museum commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Millville Aiport and its importance during World War II with an exhibit of photos and artifacts at the Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave. The display will run through April. Its free. For more information, call 856-794-4244 or visit vinelandlibrary.org.

See the original post here:

in your town - Press of Atlantic City

Everyone has different taste in everything: movies, books, ice cream flavors, drivers seat position, shoe size etc. No topic of interest, however, has a more widespread preference palate than music, and for good reason: music comes in all shapes and sizes. Not only are there a bajillion styles, there are also a bajillion different moods and physical states people indulge in that may require a certain flavor of vocals, chord progression, instrumentation or overall vibe. People listen to music for a bajillion different reasons, sober or otherwise. Whether youre on the jog, on the job, or on the drug of choice, these artists will help you fill each moment with the sweet ambience youre looking for.

To start off upbeat before working toward the more dulcet tones, one of my favorite bands, Future Islands, has a pretty infectious style. Bordering on the rock/indie pop genre, they steer their songs with a funky, tantalizing bass line that drives the sound. If your head isnt bobbing right from the start, the drop of the beat and the entrance of the synth tones will ensure it. Lead singer Samuel Herring sings his lyrics with passion and vigor, using his powerfully gruff voice to serenade and electrify at the same time. Their album Singles topped charts across the nation, with album opener Seasons (Waiting on You) being awarded the best track of 2014 by NME, Pitchfork and Spin. Their most recent albumThe Far Fieldgloriously perpetuates the iconic funkiness and fervor of their previous albums. If you enjoy Singles, you will absolutely love The Far Field. And if both those are up your alley, their first albumIn Evening Airwill also suit your groovy desires.

For more serene music lovers, Blood Orange offers a tranquil and tropical vibe while still riding the groove train. Whats amazing about everything Blood Orange puts out is this: its virtually all one guy. Dev Hynes, voted one of NMEs top 20 coolest people in rock in 2008, masters the synths, beats, live instruments and most of the vocals. His second album,Cupid Deluxe, garnered high praise from critics all over. While Im no music critic, Cupid Deluxe remains my favorite album to date: perfect for relaxing and drifting off into a state of tropical bliss.

Many of Mary Janes myriad maniacs prefer pairing their puffery with hip-hop and R&B spices. If thats your deal, A Tribe Called Quests most recent album is a collection of poetry in motion that touches on all styles of sound. From slow, sultry jams to upbeat and hard hitting rap, We Got It From Here Thank You 4 Your Service covers all the bases for R&B and rap lovers.

Whether or not grass is an important part of your balanced breakfast (or second breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea time, sevensies, dinner, or supper) music probably always will be. These albums may already be on repeat throughout your day but speaking as someone whos fond of the ganja, I gotta say, these artists are always able to lift my spirits when theyre already high.

See the original post:

A few green music recommendations - Psuvanguard.com

There is a sanity and brilliance to mindfulness and meditation, from awakening inner strength, kindness and fearlessness to inviting radical change.

As an activist in a Chinese jail, Kiri Westby used meditation to maintain her peace amidst the hardship. Seane Corn used yoga and mindfulness to work with teenage prostitutes in LA. Play therapist Megan Cronin Larson says meditation has deeply influenced her work with children.

But sitting still can easily appear boring, the mind longs to be entertained! In fact, past or future can become so engrossing that being in the present moment may seem somewhat lackluster in comparison. So instead of stillness, we fill our minds either with what-could-have-been, what-might-have-been or if-only, or with what-could-be, what-will-be or what-might-be.

Luckily, present-moment awareness frees us from this endless cycle of what if and is immensely liberating. Theres nothing going on but this very moment, nothing more is required of us than to just be here, now. What a relief!

When we are present then the world becomes quite extraordinary, as if being seen and heard for the first time without preconceived ideas or desires. There is just the experience. And, like a child exploring the unknown, we are impelled to understand and know it more intimately.

Present-moment awareness takes us out of the logical or rational mind, which doesnt mean we step into nowhere or nothingness; we dont become disconnected or cast adrift. Rather, we step into sanity and even greater connectedness. This is the extraordinary and delightful part of presence. It is innately natural, as if we are back in a deeply loved but forgotten place.

When I was 15 years old, my mother took me on a residential meditation retreat in the English countryside, recalls Deb. My siblings were all elsewhere and my mother had no intention of leaving me on my own in London. As I already knew some of the people who would be there, and as she was only going for three days, I reluctantly agreed.

As it was, my mother stayed for three days and I stayed for ten. I didnt really understood what I was doing, but sitting in silence gave me the feeling that I was exactly where I was meant to be. I sat for hours. I didnt want to leave. I didnt want to be parted from this place of belonging. I was home again, even though I didnt know that I had ever left.

Simply being still, without thought of before or after, encourages a deep sense of completion, that there really is nowhere else we need to go. It is impossible to think of somewhere else as being betterthe grass is vividly green exactly where we are.

For instance, we were in England visiting with Debs mother, Anne. We had been invited for tea at the House of Lords in London to discuss a meditation center with one of the Lords. In a rush to catch a train we were quickly downing breakfast when the toast burned. We watched in amusement as Anne took a deep breath and said, Oh dear, burned toast, then calmly tossed the offending item in the trash and put a fresh slice of bread in the toaster.

Few of us have such a calm reaction to burned toast, especially when we are in a hurry. Rather, we usually wish things were different to how they are. But we can make a song and dance about whatever is wrong, like burned toast, and get even more stressed or we can take a deep breath and put a fresh slice of bread in the toaster.

If I accept burnt toast as a fact, somehow that takes away the irritation I normally feel and replaces it with a wry admiration for the splendidly black crusts, says author Anne Bancroft in The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness & Meditation. It doesnt stop me changing the setting of the toaster but it seems to make the whole situation easy instead of annoying.

So the equation is simple: as mindfulness and meditation become an intimate part of our lives, so we evolve and change. When we evolve and change then we move into a more wakeful, aware, and loving state. And all that we have to do for this chain of events to occur is learn to be still. Beneath our dramas and conflicts there is a quiet place within; mindfulness and meditation encourage us to abide in that stillness.

Ed & Deb are the authors of recently released The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness & Meditation, available on Amazon.com. They have six meditation downloads/CDs. See more at EdandDebShapiro.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness & Meditation - Care2.com

Two local community groups hosted a meditation event at Civic Space Park on Friday afternoon in an attempt to dispel stereotypes about the homeless population who frequent it.

The group meditation comes on the heels of Arizona State University Student Ira Sanchez being mistaken for a homeless person last week and told not to lay down in the park. Stacey Champion, community activist and head of Champion PR, held the event along with Sutra Studios.

The meditation exercise was led by Rebecca Fritz, owner of Sutra Studios. She said the meditation was a visualization technique aimed at fighting stereotypes the participants may have about strangers they see.

We can create the visualizations around anything, Fritz said. This one was around acceptance and tolerance, and the technique that we used was an imagery where we imagined ourselves in such a way that we can recognize the similarities between yourself and everyone else.

Champion said she was warned by a security guard at the park prior to the start of the meditation.

[The security guard] said you need to be very careful because not everyone in this park is as they appear, so you need to be careful and keep your things close and your children close, Champion said. And as somebody who has been bringing their kids to this park since it first opened, I think its that attitude of fear which is why were here and why I asked Rebecca to come and do this today.

Fritz walked around the participants under the shade of a tree, guiding them with advice on what to do with their body and minds.

When you can live in the commonality we all share, you can let go of fear and judgement, recognizing that theres no place for that within ourselves Fritz told the meditators. And so therefore, no place for that toward anyone else.

Champion said another focus of the event was to show the importance of everyones enjoyment of public spaces without disturbance.

These are public spaces and public is public, not just forpotentially wealthy white people, Champion said. Everyone should have the ability to lay in the grass and close their eyes and meditate in the afternoon in a public park.

Immediately following the event a park security guard approached Don Maier, a homeless man who recently traveled from Nevada to Phoenix, and told him to stay awake.

He just said that I had to sit up and stay alert so that he could tell that I was alive basically, Maier said.

Maier, who turned 71 on Thursday, said he became homeless within the previous three days because his social security check is no longer enough for him to payrent. He said he is on a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) waiting list for housing in the Westward Ho. He said he was told by Westward Ho staff that his wait would be close to four months.

Maier said he received even worse treatment when he was homeless in Nevada.

One cop in Carson City actually kicked me. He said, Hey, wake up and get out of here! Maier said.

Maier said he is a former design engineer, and whilehe is only becoming used to getting homeless, its been difficult for him to adjust to the way people treat him now.

Contact the reporter at dmperle@asu.edu.

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Community members hold meditation to dispel stereotypes of homelessness - Downtown Devil