Life and stuff

It feels weird to be thinking this at all, but I think I’m actually going to miss jury duty once my current stint is up.

I’ll admit, I didn’t exactly consider being selected as alternate #2 (on a murder trial no less) a joyous occasion. But it has its benefits. Lunch is 1.5 hours, so I get to explore a different section of downtown LA every day. And, considering how slow the justice system works, there’s plenty of time to catch up on reading. Then there’s transportation: being able to nap on the metro on the way to “work” is such a spoiling experience.

Okay, after thinking about all this, I think my brain is falling off the rocker …

… and a few recent pictures …

Santa text-ing the elves …

Sister Cities of Los Angeles

Imperial / Wilmington (Green Line) metro stop

I’ve always thought it was pretty interesting that in school, I felt “smarter” during those weeks when I consistently hit up a crossword from the Daily Bruin than otherwise. Granted, only “smarter” because the crosswords would invariably be done during lectures, but it still felt good to give my right brain a workout. Anyhow, I’ve stumbled upon a an article in livescience which give some basic steps on improving memory in 14 days. The title certainly sound like a crock of bull, but the program they tout sounds pretty reasonable:

Memory Training: Brainteasers, crossword puzzles and memory exercises that emphasized verbal skills throughout the day.

Healthy Diet: Five meals daily included a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fats, whole grains and antioxidants. Eating frequent meals prevents dips in blood glucose, the primary energy source for the brain.

Physical Fitness: Brisk daily walks and stretching. Physical fitness has been found in other research to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Stress Reduction: Stretching and relaxation exercises. Stress causes the body to release cortisol, which can impair memory and has been found to shrink the memory centers in the brain.

Too bad those LA Times sunday edition crosswords give me more stress than they relieve.

Don’t Work So Hard