This is Hip Hop
Check out this clip and pause for a moment to ponder. Feel free to comment. Want more videos that amuse while you muse? Check out Clips to Ponder. Continue reading This is Hip Hop
Category: how to
tips and other supposedly helpful ideas
What’s Growing in the Garden of Your Mind?
Here’s a good remix of a great message from Mr. Rogers: So, what are you growing in the garden of your mind? Share your mental cultivation with a comment. Continue reading What’s Growing in the Garden of Your Mind?
The Versatile Blogger Award
The conditional cognition blog just received the Versatile Blogger Award!
All thanks goes to one of my favorite blogs, Miss Demure Restraint, for presenting the award to this blog. She’s a funny, witty author that knows how to tell a good story. You should check her out sometime.
When I first received the information regarding the award, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to post this article based on the stipulations involved. The Versatile Blogger Award recipients are asked to
Conglomerate of Blog Conglomerates
At the end of last year I was on a mission to find online venues that enable me to connect with other bloggers possessing similar writing and reading interests. Initially, I imagined a singular location online, a panacea for all my blog networking woes. I eventually accepted the fact that there is no such place for me, particularly because my blog and blogging interests do not fall into an easily definable niche.
I write about a variety of topics that illustrate one of my main beliefs, conditional cognition. I do my best to stick to that, 
but I don’t always clearly point out the conditional cognition at hand. Sometimes the reader needs to put a little thought into it. How fun would life be if you never had to think? Maybe that’s the teacher in me talking. Nevertheless, I hope to have regular readers that appreciate engaging in discussions and mulling things over a bit. No need to drain the brain, but at least get some sparks going. Check out the best of conditional cognition to see what I mean. If you’d rather view a video to contemplate conditional cognition, then enjoy the clips to ponder (preview some in the margin on the right).
Although I couldn’t find the “holy grail” of listings or communities, I did come across a blog directory of links that group posts by topic or theme:
Canadian Roadblock
I love to drive! I enjoy the sporty feel of my car when I’m behind the wheel and cherish the exhilarating sensation of acceleration. I’m not reckless and keep my speed to a limit that will not endanger others; yet, I do like to punch it.
The other day, I was on my way to a friend’s place and didn’t need to get there at any particular time. I just needed to get there when I got there. No rush, but I still wanted to have a fun drive. I’m heading along a six lane highway at a reasonable pace, but I was stuck behind 
what I’ve been told is a “Canadian roadblock.” That’s when all lanes of traffic in the same direction are traveling at the same speed. In this case, all three lanes in my direction had drivers moving along at 50 mph.
Now, this is not terribly slow, but the posted speed was 55 mph and people generally push the pace to 10 mph over the limit in southern California. Thus, I expect to have at least one lane moving at 65 mph.
Recognizing Life’s Imbalances
Once again, I find my life tilted too heavily toward one aspect, leaving others to fall by the wayside. Why can’t I work hard, play much and love a lot all at the same time? Putting forth excellence on the job shouldn’t necessarily consume personal time and diminish opportunities to spend moments with those I love or my favorite pastimes and passions; yet, it does.
As you may have noticed, it’s been several months since I’ve written a blog post. I enjoy putting my thoughts down and recording them for purposes of reflection and debate, but I have allowed myself to ignore this therapeutic and enjoyable aspect of my life. For what? Work?
I could easily lay blame there, but I don’t think I can point the finger at my occupation. Yes, I am a teacher, and we, in this profession, have a habit of overextending ourselves for the sake of others. Regardless, this cannot be an excuse. It’s too convenient to place blame on this aspect of my life. I am the one who chooses to spend time doing this thing or that.
Don’t Be Emotionally Drained Without Knowledge Gained
Too often, when in the midst of a discussion or debate, people get worked up when others refuse to accept their opinions. Just because a person does not accept your viewpoint does not mean that you should take it to heart. A rejection of one’s ideas is not a rejection of a person as a whole. Furthermore, we cannot allow ourselves to walk away from these situations without understanding ourselves and the other(s).
We have all encountered situations like this at one point or another. You engage in a back-and-forth exchange with a friend, family member or colleague on some topic. After an exhausting debate both parties have become angered, bitter, frustrated, irate or some other negative emotional state. It’s likely that both experience a combination of several emotional states that don’t feel all that good. In fact, you’re probably left wondering, “Was it worth investing all that energy to have this ______ (fill in the blank accordingly) not get a thing that I said?”
Regardless of whether you think it was worth it or not, be sure to maintain a realistic sense of what really happened. This will prove to be difficult, because strong emotions can cloud our memories; yet, it’s imperative that one honestly reflects on what occurred. Try to make it a learning experience and gain a deeper sense of understanding about yourself and the one with who you were in disagreement. A simple dismissal of those on the “wrong” side of the discussion will leave you worse off than before you started: emotionally drained without knowledge gained. Do this and you essentially are a “stuper” (see Counterfeit Humans).
Here are some guiding principles for the discussion (in no particular order):
Continue reading “Don’t Be Emotionally Drained Without Knowledge Gained”
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