tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28855817189800875082024-02-22T23:43:06.405-08:00PeapodLifePeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-34990585267048982162015-06-02T08:50:00.001-07:002015-06-02T08:52:18.694-07:00A Bed in a Box on a Bike— Dr. Seuss would approve<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 385.25pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-startup-casper-delivers-boxed-mattresses-bicycles-article-1.2242035"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Casper
delivers mattresses on bicycles in New York City (New York Daily News)</span></a> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So you may be asking: what does a company delivering
mattresses on bicycles in New York City have to do with PeapodLife and
ecosystems? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
But let’s back up a moment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When the online mattress startup Casper began selling their
mattresses for $500 US each, they decided on an innovative value proposition.
Using a two-ton compressor, the company stuffs their foam mattresses into a box
roughly 3 feet high (104 centimetres by 53 cm by 50 cm). <o:p></o:p></div>
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That means if you live in New York City, your mattress comes
delivered via bicycle; outside of NYC, regular delivery. Now, for anyone living
in a condominium, small apartment, and especially a walk-up or walk-down apartment,
dealing with a bar-sized fridge box can be much easier than with a queen-sized
mattress. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Suffice it to say, the concept caught on with millennials and
those not wanting to deal with the hassles of regular mattress delivery. Plus,
it makes for great ‘unboxing videos’ online:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b2UHgBTFAEc?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2UHgBTFAEc">The Casper Bed - Unboxing
and Review (YouTube)</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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And fret not, Canada. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Our plan was to expand into Canada
in 2015, but we had an overwhelming amount of interest from Canadians asking if
we could ship it to them, so we’re starting [in 2014],” Casper co-founder and
chief executive Philip Krim said in an interview. (<a href="http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/bed-in-a-box-startup-casper-goes-to-the-mattresses-with-online-strategy?__lsa=9c63-5ea2">Financial
Post</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4cOFiGPNe9_y248xQ0mryVEaBkgp_PfCvWjuu3SWcCRNZ2n3IzZxvvO6X_z6cbqB-ygeyMtCesw-_8fnSWDXYWQNi-yARlxHvN6upSIRxL-8rMY8638TsSioH7oPuY-r3bHHZa7Eqk4/s1600/casper-canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4cOFiGPNe9_y248xQ0mryVEaBkgp_PfCvWjuu3SWcCRNZ2n3IzZxvvO6X_z6cbqB-ygeyMtCesw-_8fnSWDXYWQNi-yARlxHvN6upSIRxL-8rMY8638TsSioH7oPuY-r3bHHZa7Eqk4/s320/casper-canada.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/bed-in-a-box-startup-casper-goes-to-the-mattresses-with-online-strategy?__lsa=9c63-5ea2">Casper
now in Toronto, Canada (Financial Post)</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now you might think buying a mattress before trying it is a
silly proposition. The company offers a 100-day in-home trial period. As for
price, at $650 CDN for a twin and $1000+ CND for a king, Casper’s products are roughly
a third less to half competitor’s mattresses made with comparable materials. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Innovation is the Key to Today and Tomorrow</span></h3>
<h1>
<o:p></o:p></h1>
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If there’s a takeaway from this story it’s this: even
entrenched and stayed industries like mattresses (just think back to decades of
people buying their spring mattress at Sears) can be dragged kicking and
screaming into the 21<sup>st</sup> Century by disruptive technologies and
innovative new approaches.<o:p></o:p></div>
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PeapodLife’s mission is to disrupt the status quo of housing
and building, and bring innovation to an industry that is literally <i>thousands</i> of years old. And despite what
they’ll tell you, honestly very little has changed. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<h3>
Innovative…But Sustainable?</h3>
<h1>
<o:p></o:p></h1>
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Delivery via bicycle certainly smacks of environmental
consciousness. But there seems to be a lot of packaging that goes into one of
these super-compressed deliveries. When you think about it, if you buy a
regular mattress, that too comes wrapped in plastic; in fact, with the mattress
compressed, Casper may even use <i>less </i>packaging
than a regularly delivered mattress. But frankly, we just don’t know and haven’t
done the hands-on research to find out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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PeapodLife, on the other hand, begins from a foundation of
true sustainability—ecosystems. We can’t promise we’ll deliver your ecosystem
on a bicycle, nor will we promise an exciting unboxing video (at least, not yet);
but we will promise that once your high order rainforest ecosystem is installed
and filling your space with good vibes and the fresh, clean air of nature, you’ll
not only sleep better than you could have ever imagined, your waking hours will
be that much better, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-23910255440091823752015-05-28T12:10:00.000-07:002015-06-02T10:40:49.651-07:00Beyond Hierarchy: Six Short Films Exploring Self-Organization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTayDKF9VclbhArE90MZ_dCNJcadkrjmZbEcVDtKO78Yzfo-21F_Yk_Tj8Kd5bjrRbk60J1FpNmv-urhlf2AmB6triLVcLfFB5Vtx75A5pDjJv6vDztLfvdPJqlbFjLsHWo5GGMm8mGMs/s400/beyond-hierarchy-films-exploring-self-organization.jpg" /></div>
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Today we are offering some short films on hirarchy and self organization, for the sake of discussion.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v-g6pRxkwUI?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe>
<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Introduction to Self-Organisation Beyond Hierarchy <br />Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-g6pRxkwUI" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-g6pRxkwUI </a></span></div>
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That’s just the introduction to the series. So let’s dig into the first piece, culture:<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Creating Culture: Self-Organisation Beyond Hierarchy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=441&v=XuIfBvyp-3E" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=441&v=XuIfBvyp-3E </a></span></div>
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Now, if you made it through part one without your eyes glazing over, congratulations! But wait, there’s more…<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-nwRSisuBI?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Finding Fit: Self-Organisation Beyond Hierarchy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=104&v=f-nwRSisuBI" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=104&v=f-nwRSisuBI </a></span></div>
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In this part, the obvious allegory used is that of nature in relation to the broader <i>environment</i> that organizations are a part of. The example used is that of a “fish in water” or “a fish out of water.” <br />
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The film proceeds with a mind-numbing intellectual elaboration on this grossly reductive view of nature: that organisms have needs which they take from the environment. This is an anthropomorphized view of nature! <br />
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One <i>cannot</i> say “understanding natural systems is the way” and then anthropormize those systems, then say you are learning from nature!<br />
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Anyway, we are not going to make you watch all six parts of this series. Why? Because it’s an absolutely futile and useless waste of time; a mind-numbing intellectual exercise trying to solve a problem that was created by the very thinking that is being used to try and solve it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/selforganisation-beyond-hierarchy/" target="_blank">Watch all Six parts at Films for Action: Self-Organisation Beyond Hierarchy </a><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Flawed Thinking will never Solve Anything</b></span><br />
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Self-organization is not the antithesis of hierarchy. Hierarchies are everywhere in nature! Hierarchies self-organize all the time. Even in human group dynamics, hierarchies can form organically, whether or not the individuals involved are cognizant of these formations or not. <br />
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Intellectualization and defining this structure versus that structure is so limiting, so reductive, so unlike anything which happens in nature—and this series of films likes to use the word “reality” and “complexity” a lot—that it is not going to answer the questions being asked and the problems being raised by this series of films.<br />
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So what will?<br />
<br />
For starters, how about comprehending what self-organization actually is, and how it works? No, not intellectually, not theoretically, but PRACTICALLY. How do you do that? By becoming a part of a self-organizing entity. Now, since we are grossly unconscious of the self-organizing phenomena occurring in our own bodies, our only other recourse is to become conscious of self-organizing phenomena around us. <br />
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Start with getting an ecosystem.<br />
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Whether you realize it or not, when you are in an ecosystem’s field of influence, you are actually part of that ecosystem. As it self-organizes, so you are being self-organized. As it seeks balance, so you are being <i>balanced</i>. As it assumes a posture of harmony and mutual symbiosis, so you are being <i>harmonized</i> and receiving the benefit of that symbiosis. <br />
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And how do you respond? As you imagine you might; unless you are cold-hearted, closed-minded, oblivious and uncaring, in which case <i>no system of self-organization will connect consciously with you</i>. An ecosystem will still try to “get through to you,” but even in nature, cancers and toxins exist. So, too, corrosive people and toxic attitudes can sabotage the best intentions of any effort at self-organization.<br />
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The point is, self-organization is <i>intuitive</i>. It is <i>energetic</i>, <i>extra-sensory</i>, and <i>organic</i>. Self-organization is <i>not materialistic</i>, and anything but intellectual! Trying to theorize your way through models of self-organization is like trying to understand infinite complexity. You can’t. No one can. The mind cannot grasp it. Nature doesn’t function that way. Nature senses, feels, intuits, and interprets flows of energy and influence. The physical reality we see is just the coarse veneer to what’s really going on. <br />
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If you really pay attention to group dynamics and human interactions, you will see that it’s very much the same for people. We can feel good vibes and bad vibes in the workplace; and individual dynamics functioning on a base level independent of perceived or established social structures can be explosive.<br />
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Attempting to self-organize without the presence of an ecosystem is a recipe for disaster because the natural tensions which arise in the self-organizing process are effected by the immediate environment. In most organizational environments, lots of harsh, negative energy is bombarding participants—from fluorescent lights to computer screens to toxic off-gassing from industrial building materials and carpeting to VOC’s, noise pollution, the list goes on and on. <br />
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An ecosystem provides the prerequisite for successful self-organization: harmony and mutual symbiosis; such that even self-organizing hierarchies, which in nature often require violent confrontation, are quickly calmed-down and dissipate once the selection process is complete. In the human context, disagreements and conflicts will arise. But an ecosystem is able to “take the edge off”. <br />
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Please refer to the following infographic: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoyByjGUoNirWF9CXZt62cX2SgbG5BimCem51j5OSFKE02MLAyLWLtbEdJ4jRjLUAIciY2qgFlv24c6uIx1wBbSB_Onv8ERO_nIOk-wbFlOu3F7slqrdEHCoa5GaJZ4nbjgIxyQnhLWc/s1600/infographic-peapodlife-ecosystem-at-work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoyByjGUoNirWF9CXZt62cX2SgbG5BimCem51j5OSFKE02MLAyLWLtbEdJ4jRjLUAIciY2qgFlv24c6uIx1wBbSB_Onv8ERO_nIOk-wbFlOu3F7slqrdEHCoa5GaJZ4nbjgIxyQnhLWc/s400/infographic-peapodlife-ecosystem-at-work.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Infographic by PeapodLife: <a href="http://greenaddition.blogspot.ca/2015/04/combating-hidden-sources-of-workplace-conflict-and-stress.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Negative Biomusicalogical & Lexical Entrainment VS. Ecosystem Harmonic & Symbiotic Entrainment at Work</a></span></div>
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Again, here we see how the best of intentions related to self-organization are hamstrung without the power of an ecosystem.<br />
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Ecosystems are not the only way nature self-organizes; but they are the most powerful expression of the underlying process of self-organization which we can interact with in an everyday sort of way. In other words, the earth is a self-organizing biosphere, but is far too vast for us to interact with as biological creatures in totality…we are mere specks compared to it. No, ecosystems are the natural, biological phenomena which we can best relate to and be a part of. <br />
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It is precisely the oneness we can experience with ecosystems which can inform our relationships, groups dynamics, organizational behaviour and evolving organizational structure; as we attune ourselves <i>intuitively</i> to our inner ecosystem, and thus expand our sensitivity from an organizational perspective to the outer ecosystems of community, economy, business environment, etc. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>The Bottom Line</b></span><br />
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The intellect cannot, will not, and should not attempt to understand infinite complexity. It’s not its job. It was never <i>designed</i> for that task. The consciousness is another matter entirely. It can, should and with patience and discipline will comprehend the nature of infinite complexity. But only through direct experience, and only with little baby steps.<br />
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Self-organization is the product of countless billions of organisms playing out conscious interrelationships defined by harmony and symbiosis. Even if sacrifice and death appear on a regular basis, these too are a part of that self-organizing process of renewal, evolution and devolution. <br />
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Unfortunately the mind doesn’t like dealing with sacrifice, death, conflict and other “messy” aspects of self-organization. It wants everything to be sanitized and controlled…like a Swiss watch or an iPod. But watches and machines are designed. They do not; cannot self-organize. <br />
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To be comfortable in your own skin, to be comfortable in an ecosystem, to be one with the “messiness” of self-organization and evolution, going with the flow of events and not trying to control the process all the time…these are the keys to organic growth and evolving a self-organizing entity of harmony and mutual symbiosis. Having an ecosystem on site can make all the difference. <br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-60948785230635604612015-05-19T12:54:00.000-07:002015-05-19T13:06:02.735-07:00Information or Insight—Which serves a CEO’s Needs?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ-_odF6z80vWQ_0qQ2aJS09DB49p_HszvM03_Yq7tMr1fQxqGyYIZYvMXsypSBsnU5t9AlYovGJ1LnmShhq25XV39zxHfoSdXataNd0Zj5gH5j3SjvZo_EWBRvg1UnxEV_7Jm7o0NEE/s1600/Information-vs-Insight-Infographic-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ-_odF6z80vWQ_0qQ2aJS09DB49p_HszvM03_Yq7tMr1fQxqGyYIZYvMXsypSBsnU5t9AlYovGJ1LnmShhq25XV39zxHfoSdXataNd0Zj5gH5j3SjvZo_EWBRvg1UnxEV_7Jm7o0NEE/s400/Information-vs-Insight-Infographic-PeapodLife.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Infographic from PeapodLife: Information & Insight, which Serves a CEO’s Needs?</span></div>
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<b><i>“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth more than a lifetime of experience.”</i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">~</span> Oliver Wendell Holmes </b></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.apisanet.com/insight-quotes/daily-insight-quotes/" target="_blank">http://www.apisanet.com/insight-quotes/daily-insight-quotes/</a></div>
</blockquote>
Gosh we dislike the term <i>infographic</i>. We much prefer <i>SEE VISUAL AID (Strategize, Engage, Execute with Virtual Interactive Simulation, Universal Adaptive Language & Actionable Intelligence Discourse). Here’s a VISUAL AID</i> that sums it up…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqyc1BE2FQa0ZF4WtlRBvyDaGuee2BHxODn6y76ROgPeIVQvu19z2kkofD9hCH8rvUvAsYCMPBvo62R_Qcy6joE3keKlmkzFuXTgDECwDdU4eWiHYsfjz3hSNza8KTL4LaczNAnUYFh0/s1600/Infographic-SEE-VISUAL-AID-Attlas-Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqyc1BE2FQa0ZF4WtlRBvyDaGuee2BHxODn6y76ROgPeIVQvu19z2kkofD9hCH8rvUvAsYCMPBvo62R_Qcy6joE3keKlmkzFuXTgDECwDdU4eWiHYsfjz3hSNza8KTL4LaczNAnUYFh0/s400/Infographic-SEE-VISUAL-AID-Attlas-Project.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Infographic: SEE VISUAL AID </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/The-Attlas-Project-World-Light/dp/1439235031" target="_blank">The Attlas Project, Vol. One – SEE The World in a New Light</a>. </span></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, SEE VISUAL AID is a term which never caught on, and so we’re stuck using the term infographic as popularly used. <br />
<br />
<br />
Why do we dislike it so much? If it’s not already clear, it will become so in the context of today’s topic…<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Information versus Insight</b></span><br />
<br />
We recently came across an article on LinkedIn Pulse entitled <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-ceos-cmos-can-tell-difference-between-information-tony-zambito" target="_blank">How CEOs And CMOs Can Tell The Difference Between Information And Insights</a> by Tony Zambito, Founder and Leading Authority on Buyer Personas.<br />
<br />
In it, the author does a good job of differentiating between information and insight, offering the following definition of insights in the context of customer acquisition:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Insights are illuminating revelations of underlying goals, motivations, mental filters, and emotions, which drive goal-directed behaviors and activities.” </i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-ceos-cmos-can-tell-difference-between-information-tony-zambito" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-ceos-cmos-can-tell-difference-between-information-tony-zambito</a></span> </blockquote>
<br />
Zambito goes onto explain some of the pitfalls of predetermination, that is, deciding ahead of time what insight you’re looking for and thus falling into the trap of accumulating information and not the seeds for authentic insight—which often arises from the unseen, unheard, unspoken needs of customers. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRmcg_ZYHOfv-o4BorSYuw-KTNTXQJIxpg43btkgljSGcwJ6zSrohIgh-RhNwDZ9ukRZuhRMQsNUKf2ZGuZTouaSJe6lnkO56LY32Scv7HqZmoOdek8spY3US9mpaRuv43nCbezHghQQ/s1600/quotes-about-insight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRmcg_ZYHOfv-o4BorSYuw-KTNTXQJIxpg43btkgljSGcwJ6zSrohIgh-RhNwDZ9ukRZuhRMQsNUKf2ZGuZTouaSJe6lnkO56LY32Scv7HqZmoOdek8spY3US9mpaRuv43nCbezHghQQ/s400/quotes-about-insight.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Quote on the value of Insight by Oliver Wendell Holmes </span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.apisanet.com/insight-quotes/quotes-about-insight/" target="_blank">http://www.apisanet.com/insight-quotes/quotes-about-insight/ </a></span></div>
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The implication is, of course, that what a CEO (or CMO) needs is not <i>information</i>, but <i>insight</i>, which we would describe loosely as follows:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Intuition, inspiration, imagination and integration of information which results in actionable intelligence; in a word, <b>revelation</b>.</i> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><i>Revelations</i> lead to <i>Revolutions</i></b></span><br />
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It follows that <i>revelations</i> are what lead to <i>revolutions</i>. Before any leader can revolutionize how their company operates, that revolution must first reveal itself to them. Likewise, before a company can revolutionize an industry, the object of the revolution (say, the iPad), must “come to them” (Steve Jobs). <br />
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So now we’re getting somewhere. There have been countless book and articles written about the creative process, but the fact of the matter is the mind cannot understand the mechanics of insight, mostly because there are no mechanics to understand. It is possible to comprehend insight in a deep metaphysical way (through meditation, for example), but how does this help the busy CEO dealing with the practical realities of their busy work life? So the question remains...<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>How can CEO's Grab Hold of More / Deeper Insights?</b></span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://blog.pipelinersales.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Featured-Sales-Strategies-5-Basics-of-Insight-Selling.jpg" height="221" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: CEO Grabs hold of insight Source: <a href="http://blog.pipelinersales.com/sales-automation/opportunity-management/sales-strategies-5-basics-of-insight-selling/" target="_blank">http://blog.pipelinersales.com/sales-automation/opportunity-management/sales-strategies-5-basics-of-insight-selling/ </a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Let’s return to the question of information; and let’s say that the plants in your office (or that so-called ‘living wall’ consisting of plants stuck into a vertical framework of some kind) represent information.<br />
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There they are: individual plants arranged in a space. No connection to each other. No ability to collaborate. No chance of symbiosis. They may as well be prisoners in their cells. <br />
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But what if those plants were arranged a different way? What if instead of being treated as isolated individual plants, they were treated as a part of something much greater than themselves? What if they were part of an ecosystem? <br />
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Now those plants would be able to develop mutually advantageous relationships with each other, along with the animals in the ecosystem. Individual isolationism gives way to interconnectedness, harmony and mutual symbiosis—a kind of integration which relies on an infinite matrix of interrelationships.<br />
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<b>The result is a <i>super organism</i>.</b> An ecosystem is orders of magnitude more powerful and influential in an office space than individual office plants—a super organism reflecting nature in its highest expression, and able to directly contribute to underlying conditions which favour insight in human beings. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Nature Inspires</b></span><br />
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From Newton’s theory of gravity to Beethoven’s fifth symphony to Einstein’s theory of Relativity, the power of nature to provide inspiration and insight to some of humanity’s greatest accomplishments is unquestionable and undeniable. <br />
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Insights form in the subconscious mind and reveal themselves to us in time as the infinitely complex interrelationships between individual elements of said insight (information) is compiled and presented as unified, comprehensive whole. <br />
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The conscious mind is <i>incapable</i> of this compilation. It can only receive insights which are revealed to it from the subconscious. <br />
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In other words, exactly as the office plants rearranged in an ecosystem produces the super organism which is so much more potent—infinitely more valuable to the office—so the subconscious mind rearranges information into the revelation which is infinitely more valuable to the CEO.<br />
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So, if office plants are like information and only serve the conscious mind, wouldn’t CEO’s be better off with ecosystems which are able to form and resolve infinitely complex interrelationships in real-time and serve the formation and revelation of insights? <br />
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Even on a superficial level, biomimicry has become a hallmark in everything from engineering to architecture to design. <b>Why not your business? </b><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Other strategies to increase insight…</b></span><br />
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There are other ways for the CEO to gain deeper insight. These include relaxation, mindfulness practice, meditation, sensory deprivation and other forms of nature therapy, all of which serve to expand the scope of free consciousness and awareness of the subconscious mind. <br />
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These practices are all good, but let’s be honest: they take a lot of energy and effort, and often take a back seat to the ‘practical business realities’ of the given moment—in other words, the stressed conscious mind which must deal with the problems it’s facing. <br />
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The beauty of an indoor ecosystem from PeapodLife is the fact that it’s always there, always working, even if you’re unaware of it or not. It takes <i>no additional effort</i> on the part of a CEO or their employees to gain the insight-yielding benefits of an ecosystem. It makes your environment more conducive to revelation; and we are products of our environment. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zh1dk19VLwY?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">YouTube Video: PeapodLife Living Wall EcoSystem Fitch Street</span></div>
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<b>In other words, an ecosystem serves the needs of a CEO. </b><br />
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<b>So where’s yours? </b>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-19131738514037060922015-05-12T13:07:00.000-07:002015-05-12T13:11:28.943-07:00Photos Reveal our Planet is more Incredible than any Fantasy; more Breathtaking than Sci-Fi<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>' Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange;</i></div>
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<i>Stranger than fiction; if it could be told,</i></div>
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<i>How much would novels gain by the exchange!</i></div>
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<i>How differently the world would men behold!</i></div>
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<i>How oft would vice and virtue places change!</i></div>
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<i>The new world would be nothing to the old,</i></div>
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<i>If some Columbus of the moral seas</i></div>
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<i>Would show mankind their souls' antipodes.</i> </div>
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~ <a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/truth-is-stranger-than-fiction.html" target="_blank">Lord Byron, Don Juan, 1823</a></div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4Ch-JnzdW5FrCKy7me2vrYRHMkYOSII_zak05gLL2MTB3l21Sef32xjabrFqGNwIBIUmL_-0-vlaz8Z59PI_rO59jhgQJ5MrZxf_FRIC7WgLASiTalNZfcbNdKnONrK4liD3vbm9-4o/s1600/Monte-Roraima-Venezuela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4Ch-JnzdW5FrCKy7me2vrYRHMkYOSII_zak05gLL2MTB3l21Sef32xjabrFqGNwIBIUmL_-0-vlaz8Z59PI_rO59jhgQJ5MrZxf_FRIC7WgLASiTalNZfcbNdKnONrK4liD3vbm9-4o/s400/Monte-Roraima-Venezuela.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Monte Roraima, Venezuela </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/monte-roraima-venezuela/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/monte-roraima-venezuela/</a></span></div>
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Today, something a little different. We came across a dynamic list of the <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/earth-photos-look-alien/" target="_blank">30+ unbelievable places that look like they’re from another planet</a> and decided to share some our favourites. Some of these photos look down-right alien, but make no mistake: they are for the most part untouched photos of actual places right here on our planet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxN1utTqr2yWG_pyTc1b3ELOL0ZhsBwwBvaV2K1dTVbXy_TilepDRBRHeBZBAK8z9oTjyd0o82GHsHQfro8wIxchRnzLkhe4AITVKOGuY_3YJnvBLsYldlqCM571rVuc4WViwwmXay1E/s1600/Glowworms-Cave-New+Zealand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxN1utTqr2yWG_pyTc1b3ELOL0ZhsBwwBvaV2K1dTVbXy_TilepDRBRHeBZBAK8z9oTjyd0o82GHsHQfro8wIxchRnzLkhe4AITVKOGuY_3YJnvBLsYldlqCM571rVuc4WViwwmXay1E/s400/Glowworms-Cave-New+Zealand.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Glowworms Cave, New Zealand </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/glowworms-cave-new-zealand/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/glowworms-cave-new-zealand/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXvAup7KrkWU4fTHeP2ProPrJA7lIrfpe-QCkCb5u3UDkSI3-SuL2GfkMj_b4N3eQ1N-5vio7E953dx83qpq3OfthsLCS6HXRk-74mbCSQ36V3eX7jkkGNZfWaYZjIp-PfvnopBfbFIM/s1600/Tianzi-Mountains-China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXvAup7KrkWU4fTHeP2ProPrJA7lIrfpe-QCkCb5u3UDkSI3-SuL2GfkMj_b4N3eQ1N-5vio7E953dx83qpq3OfthsLCS6HXRk-74mbCSQ36V3eX7jkkGNZfWaYZjIp-PfvnopBfbFIM/s400/Tianzi-Mountains-China.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Tianzi Mountains, China </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/tianzi-mountains-china/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/tianzi-mountains-china/</a></span></div>
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So what’s the point of sharing these photos? Well for starters, it is important for us to realize that even these seemingly bizarre and other-worldly locales are both host to an ecosystem and themselves part of a larger ecosystem—in fact, the biosphere of the entire planet. It just goes to show how diverse ecosystems be and how extreme lengths nature has to go to in order to exist. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHsMG-oEG4K4p8w33NpX4bNAFqMnIOhTScREmnVdUgyUyVxM6yt2qUd9d9gXLX5IxzJto4P3Rz_lID-fWf0JahCXNP9p-nWT8PMdhIJAmBaJ9lPTKcIH2SeKKWBmJLk2c2UDjktvrnHY/s1600/Naica-Mine-Mexico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHsMG-oEG4K4p8w33NpX4bNAFqMnIOhTScREmnVdUgyUyVxM6yt2qUd9d9gXLX5IxzJto4P3Rz_lID-fWf0JahCXNP9p-nWT8PMdhIJAmBaJ9lPTKcIH2SeKKWBmJLk2c2UDjktvrnHY/s400/Naica-Mine-Mexico.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Naica Mine, Mexico </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/naica-mine-mexico-2/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/naica-mine-mexico-2/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR-e4Az8yZaOAIYq3z5DyhvfGZpkFjuj8eWXCbO_PR-v6UGBwjzKRW6MKC1avlvwWBPOgUymk4lZY21lFCGob3nfZolOd-hTw-cE8eVPUfJV8wDneMNrzzLg7NSApJj1JKgvzoGgsvOs/s1600/Giants-Causeway-Northern-Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR-e4Az8yZaOAIYq3z5DyhvfGZpkFjuj8eWXCbO_PR-v6UGBwjzKRW6MKC1avlvwWBPOgUymk4lZY21lFCGob3nfZolOd-hTw-cE8eVPUfJV8wDneMNrzzLg7NSApJj1JKgvzoGgsvOs/s400/Giants-Causeway-Northern-Ireland.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/giants-causeway-in-northern-ireland/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/giants-causeway-in-northern-ireland/</a></span></div>
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There is no question these photos also ignite the imagination. If any of these locales seem familiar to you, it’s likely because they have inspired settings in popular fantasy and science fiction films and television programs. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham0EQV5rSVJS8BIGbYDvqialanqtwwembfd3U3NH2GSmHfj2H6l63RivPnOUwXxd5fZEekGU13SkX63kA2shtxjQMBtI_xvGIGsbuceqY4slhes3LX0v-Ya6nEmwWBs_X-QPPKZrN3c0/s1600/Fly-Geyser-Nevada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham0EQV5rSVJS8BIGbYDvqialanqtwwembfd3U3NH2GSmHfj2H6l63RivPnOUwXxd5fZEekGU13SkX63kA2shtxjQMBtI_xvGIGsbuceqY4slhes3LX0v-Ya6nEmwWBs_X-QPPKZrN3c0/s400/Fly-Geyser-Nevada.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Fly Geyser, Nevada, USA </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/fly-geyser-nevada-usa/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/fly-geyser-nevada-usa/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7IUTe51UmJ2rAPE0Iga_PmbVnUy769aHSQDmjB0E0KYGuWDKExB4kLaE0DlUbjRSUMIkTSwznWa-2CSQ0iWF22N57tiib3YslUUuIoN4OsC-yYwODLXFQuCSzhMfdGk73wvvkOs2XjI/s1600/Zhangye-Danxia-Landform-Gansu-China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7IUTe51UmJ2rAPE0Iga_PmbVnUy769aHSQDmjB0E0KYGuWDKExB4kLaE0DlUbjRSUMIkTSwznWa-2CSQ0iWF22N57tiib3YslUUuIoN4OsC-yYwODLXFQuCSzhMfdGk73wvvkOs2XjI/s400/Zhangye-Danxia-Landform-Gansu-China.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu, China </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/zhangye-danxia-landform-in-gansu-china/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/zhangye-danxia-landform-in-gansu-china/</a></span></div>
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There is also an unquestionable beauty to these locales. Inhospitable as some may be to us, they are nonetheless compelling in their strangeness, wholly encaptivating…and not just visually. It is with absolute certainty that we can state as amazing as these photos may be, <i><b>they do not, cannot hold a candle to actually being there and experiencing such expressions of nature in person</b></i>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmK11dlmmj0io8fQsZEjGRZ8K2runnxhlQmle67uWoOT3UlXK8nFXVtbOFj-6ZUJdjohvh2-EN3B8-zxCa9qUhJSqa4p9U_rivMPwz5HA71-p53IM1_XXk4LySsEsn_hzLZB0t_AJlD8/s1600/Emerald-Ice-Baikal-Lake-Russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmK11dlmmj0io8fQsZEjGRZ8K2runnxhlQmle67uWoOT3UlXK8nFXVtbOFj-6ZUJdjohvh2-EN3B8-zxCa9qUhJSqa4p9U_rivMPwz5HA71-p53IM1_XXk4LySsEsn_hzLZB0t_AJlD8/s400/Emerald-Ice-Baikal-Lake-Russia.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Emerald Ice on Baikal Lake, Russia </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: Alexey Trofimov </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/emerald-ice-on-baikal-lake-russia/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/emerald-ice-on-baikal-lake-russia/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL8dk7rxcwXQE5z55xTHOptaSvNt16zfaFbSyvq4-dCiWSdOT8FVHsZ8IpBLoe7tMXJaIRJfk182d4yGg6zbC9YAcXJt80I3Y42D24vX7gZ9QnMcWHO-MsoizBoel0A-uDHIAEIQnhD0/s1600/Son-Doong-Cave-Vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL8dk7rxcwXQE5z55xTHOptaSvNt16zfaFbSyvq4-dCiWSdOT8FVHsZ8IpBLoe7tMXJaIRJfk182d4yGg6zbC9YAcXJt80I3Y42D24vX7gZ9QnMcWHO-MsoizBoel0A-uDHIAEIQnhD0/s400/Son-Doong-Cave-Vietnam.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Son Doong Cave, Vietnam </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: National Geographic </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/son-doong-cave-vietnam/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/son-doong-cave-vietnam/</a></span></div>
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No doubt the growing popularity of eco-tourism is one of the reasons these photographs even exist. Human beings are explorers by nature. It’s not only that we crave novelty; we long for knowledge…and not just the knowledge we get from reading books or watching documentaries. We long for experiential knowledge. There is nothing like having being there, done that no matter where “there” may be, and no matter what “that” was. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNPDohFDiRdyrMmX4LnHt5sw0NgyAlEKFIYHC9j0x6q3a6gzk8i5r5cTKTc9HTlIYQ4Y0qhNwPlAL-2yvYsa7SGMAYLqjsxueYF7jriJNTuGfXWedSstb-lmZZRt9_u0pJ81Nmxnhg9M/s1600/Glowing-Beach-Maldeves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNPDohFDiRdyrMmX4LnHt5sw0NgyAlEKFIYHC9j0x6q3a6gzk8i5r5cTKTc9HTlIYQ4Y0qhNwPlAL-2yvYsa7SGMAYLqjsxueYF7jriJNTuGfXWedSstb-lmZZRt9_u0pJ81Nmxnhg9M/s400/Glowing-Beach-Maldeves.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Glowing Beach in Maldeves </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/glowing-beach-in-maldives/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/glowing-beach-in-maldives/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZshbzGLNXQe0sd21z3FcaGLlIFlE-1ZACzENSFE_Du68uelilwWu9cDb0LIfUF72xeoFAmJksItGQct8-pjXm4v8ZcWX457XugXioNlMioclZDuYK38XmN-sxoh2VonkrbNlBUsrXLg/s1600/Salar-DeUyuni-Bolivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZshbzGLNXQe0sd21z3FcaGLlIFlE-1ZACzENSFE_Du68uelilwWu9cDb0LIfUF72xeoFAmJksItGQct8-pjXm4v8ZcWX457XugXioNlMioclZDuYK38XmN-sxoh2VonkrbNlBUsrXLg/s400/Salar-DeUyuni-Bolivia.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/salar-de-uyuni-bolivia-3/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/salar-de-uyuni-bolivia-3/</a></span></div>
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The question is, can we experience a taste of that exploration and discovery in our everyday lives without having to spend all the time, money and effort to take a trip to a far off land? Is there a way to experience the excitement, wonder and beauty of new discovery in our home, workplace, school, wherever we live, work or play?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YfamOrViC5efPcw_Mv0aeHO8UqdTNZjYKgwQLbRKx5JM-QRJEY2vK5shZ8azhRikS0B-IvNpzEoSTKB3eJtu-XAocy14ATn4e3q5WCqBQ09IQY4-csq3byq5FmCR8l0FCpcdcN8usD8/s1600/Dallol-Volcano-Ethiopia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YfamOrViC5efPcw_Mv0aeHO8UqdTNZjYKgwQLbRKx5JM-QRJEY2vK5shZ8azhRikS0B-IvNpzEoSTKB3eJtu-XAocy14ATn4e3q5WCqBQ09IQY4-csq3byq5FmCR8l0FCpcdcN8usD8/s400/Dallol-Volcano-Ethiopia.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Dallol Volcano, Ethiopia </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/earth-photos-look-alien/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/earth-photos-look-alien/ </a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzPqOyNXhvZZa05ILsoGXx2RqJfrLqJLdO2FrUJitRa2cUEzid-Z3Tyb-p6tMY4V0sHUoIPxz7aj1fHWHARjLbHUGEO1nkzSdeJGwwOCULYVVRINUyChiHplDLYKC3zDo32TgLCYJgWM/s1600/Ice-Cave-near-Mutnovsky-Volcano-Russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzPqOyNXhvZZa05ILsoGXx2RqJfrLqJLdO2FrUJitRa2cUEzid-Z3Tyb-p6tMY4V0sHUoIPxz7aj1fHWHARjLbHUGEO1nkzSdeJGwwOCULYVVRINUyChiHplDLYKC3zDo32TgLCYJgWM/s400/Ice-Cave-near-Mutnovsky-Volcano-Russia.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Ice Cave near Mutnovsky Volcano, Russia </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/ice-cave-near-the-mutnovsky-volcano-russia-2/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/ice-cave-near-the-mutnovsky-volcano-russia-2/</a></span></div>
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<b>The answer is YES.</b> <br />
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Consider this: no matter how spectacular a location may be, you get to experience it for a few days—possibly weeks. Unless you are very lucky and supremely committed, you will very rarely ever get to experience the <i>changing face</i> of such locations over time. After all, nature is not static. Nature grows, changes, adapts. A snapshot in time will only ever be just that…a memory.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH_GkojVKUohrfZ8uCpgll74pDwYoMGskq0LbiI20r4Gb1HZRLmXL_9jKI_REG5WudYiyRYmwX-gZHIsMZWzLj-1p6f1t5MLTDuLirDtR7qthfYBSHwBrcgWiLA2bM9aOR4St-iX-GbE/s1600/Spotted-Lake-Canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH_GkojVKUohrfZ8uCpgll74pDwYoMGskq0LbiI20r4Gb1HZRLmXL_9jKI_REG5WudYiyRYmwX-gZHIsMZWzLj-1p6f1t5MLTDuLirDtR7qthfYBSHwBrcgWiLA2bM9aOR4St-iX-GbE/s400/Spotted-Lake-Canada.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Spotted Lake, Canada </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/spotted-lake-canada/" target="_blank">http://www.boredpanda.com/spotted-lake-canada/</a></span></div>
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Put another way, eco-tourism and travelling to the ends of the earth to witness the oddities and extraordinary wonders of the natural world will not result in a deep relationship between you and those places. They may result in vivid memories in your mind, and perhaps a pining in your heart to return someday, but you will not have a deep comprehension of the rhythms of those places, the ongoing harmonic effects of being there throughout the seasons, nor the wonder of watching these incredible expressions of nature adapt, evolve, grow and/or even die. <br />
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But with an ecosystem from PeapodLife, you CAN. And although we can’t promise you a landscape like that in these photos, we can promise there is ALWAYS something new and exciting in our ecosystems. Whether it’s an orchid blooming, moss growing, plants advancing, others receding, fish bearing young, snails multiplying, you get to watch your own “interior landscape” grow and evolve and both respond to your moods and improving your moods. We hesitate to say life with an ecosystem is more similar to having a pet than a garden, but many who live with an ecosystem describe it that way. <br />
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<b>The truth really is stranger than fiction. When you really think about it, that means the promise of nature is not to bring biology into your life but <i>magic</i>. It’s just another aspect of <i>Advanced Human Habitat</i> for you to EXPLORE.</b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fTP4HCrKlg_Vpjp7VBVsuxldIaLbFLUAgXOLuP60FvjOevqiPaAfUY9tzs2Tt14akcEiSzPDQAmahAmrOzTKjt8xvAfAb764M7aZTE3lN1JHnTcu7InuFVyMXlqbUBEt9sZct37MjCo/s1600/peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fTP4HCrKlg_Vpjp7VBVsuxldIaLbFLUAgXOLuP60FvjOevqiPaAfUY9tzs2Tt14akcEiSzPDQAmahAmrOzTKjt8xvAfAb764M7aZTE3lN1JHnTcu7InuFVyMXlqbUBEt9sZct37MjCo/s400/peapodlife.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: PeapodLife: Explore Our Advanced Human Habitats</span></div>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-6399574901628689732015-05-07T12:58:00.000-07:002015-05-07T13:05:50.861-07:00Women in Tech: Is your I.T. Workplace just a Man-Cave for Frat Boys?<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“An issue dear to my heart.”</i><br />
~ Larry Page, CEO of Google<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://plus.google.com/+LarryPage/posts/E87jUNKHFLr" target="_blank">https://plus.google.com/+LarryPage/posts/E87jUNKHFLr</a></span>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcDOAM3VLI6RGVGCsmWsiuBY_fIaEnQbZB30mswexbW7_6Q8rxhXhsZormfQprEhUjp-F6qRFccU5_p2ybhHE5gT9NGwmS0DLCAmBtdF5wJxw3Zm7gcIZCv-xZKjRCZ2VbiWYUKUycB8/s1600/googles-offices-linkedin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcDOAM3VLI6RGVGCsmWsiuBY_fIaEnQbZB30mswexbW7_6Q8rxhXhsZormfQprEhUjp-F6qRFccU5_p2ybhHE5gT9NGwmS0DLCAmBtdF5wJxw3Zm7gcIZCv-xZKjRCZ2VbiWYUKUycB8/s320/googles-offices-linkedin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Google’s Offices </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141012181202-11435719-the-1-way-to-get-more-women-in-tech-and-stem" target="_blank">linkedin.com: Pulse: The #1 Way to Get More Women in Tech and STEM</a></span></div>
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We know we’re sticking our neck out on this, especially leading with an image of Google’s offices, which—let’s face it—are a bit of a Shangri-la of high-tech office work environments, but it’s an issue which needs to be raised.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Women make up more than half the US population, account for more than half of college graduates, and earn 40 percent of the MBAs awarded each year. Yet women comprise a much smaller percentage of the tech industry workforce, based on diversity reports released by more than 10 companies, from Apple to Google to Twitter.” </i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/" target="_blank">CNET: It's not women who are the problem in tech land </a></span></blockquote>
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According to <a href="https://plus.google.com/+LarryPage/posts" target="_blank">Larry Page’s Google+ feed</a>, the topic of women in tech is an issue <i>“dear to [his] heart.”</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://plus.google.com/+LarryPage/posts/E87jUNKHFLr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://plus.google.com/+LarryPage/posts </a>.</span> As so it should be, according to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapynchon?trk=pulse-det-athr_prof-art_hdr" target="_blank">Negotiation Consultant Victoria Pynchon</a>, who points out the addition of three women to the board of directors <i>“immediately and significantly increases bottom line performance.”</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141012181202-11435719-the-1-way-to-get-more-women-in-tech-and-stem" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141012181202-11435719-the-1-way-to-get-more-women-in-tech-and-stem</a>.</span> And that 80% of purchase decisions are made by women, making for a striking marketing case.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“That's a fact. Numerous studies show that teams with gender and race diversity get better results. A Lehman Brothers survey of 100 teams found that "gender balanced" teams were most likely to experiment, be creative, share knowledge and fulfill tasks, while a 2009 paper by Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques found that technical work teams with women were better at staying on schedule and had lower project costs.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>“McKinsey and Co., meanwhile, says diversity translates into dollars: companies that are more gender- and ethnically diverse perform better financially.” </i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/</a></span></blockquote>
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Yet according to <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/" target="_blank">the same CNET article</a>, a survey by executive recruitment firm Korn Ferry reported women held only 14.3 percent of board seats at the 100 top tech companies in June of 2013. Ten percent of those boards had no women on their boards whatsoever at year’s end 2014. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hopes Dashed</b></span><br />
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Carol Bartz, the former CEO of Autodesk and Yahoo, who’s been on the boards of Intel, Cisco Systems, BEA Systems and Network Appliance (now NetApp), has “seen just about everything the industry can throw at a woman. That's why she ‘couldn't be more disappointed’ by what's going on in Silicon Valley and the technology industry today.” <span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/ </a></span><br />
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According to University of Wisconsin-Madison research, only 14 percent of engineers were women in 2012, and almost 40 percent of women with engineering degrees never enter the field or quit after a short time in it.<br />
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<b>Why?</b><br />
<br />
Victoria Pynchon believes the main issue is lack of available child care. In an industry legendary for providing “perks” to attract and retain millennial talent—everything from in house basketball and beach volleyball courts, grocery and car shopping services, even a ticket-buying service and, of all things, doggy daycare—childcare is still a rarity.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Bay Area companies often plan expansive offices with gyms, kitchens, game rooms, and other lavish perks to attract and retain the brightest workers. But onsite child care centers rarely make the list of amenities. Only 7% of companies nationwide offer on-site daycare to employees, a percentage that has held since 2005.”</i><br />
~ <a href="http://fortune.com/2013/10/14/which-tech-company-offers-the-best-child-care/" target="_blank">Fortune Magazine </a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141012181202-11435719-the-1-way-to-get-more-women-in-tech-and-stem" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141012181202-11435719-the-1-way-to-get-more-women-in-tech-and-stem</a></span> </blockquote>
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But there is another pressing reason, related to the frat-boy culture of a male-dominated industry…<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I had this fantasy that the young men growing up [after me] had more realistic views of their college friends and they would treat them better," Bartz says, shaking her head. "But they're just frat boys...I couldn't be more disappointed."</i> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.cnet.com/news/women-arent-the-problem-in-tech-land/ </a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>A Mature Industry that Still Behaves Immaturely</b></span><br />
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Look, we get it: the hi-tech industry has to attract and retain young talent. But in the retention of said talent, companies need to recognize that young people grow up and have a maturing list of priorities—<b><i>especially women who get married and have children.</i></b> <br />
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The tech industry itself is no longer run by hippies—though they may have been the pioneers at Atari and Apple. They no longer cater only to “nerds”—<a href="http://the-big-bang-theory.com/" target="_blank">The Big Bang Theory</a> notwithstanding—they also no longer cater only to males. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism_in_video_gaming" target="_blank">The video game industry is beginning to come to terms with this, toning down overtly sexist content. </a><br />
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So when tech companies design their work spaces, and the much-lauded “perks” they use to entice and retain 20-something talent, do they make assumptions about who they are attracting? Are the executives and managers making these decisions men? Are they themselves living out some kind of fantasy of “the ultimate man-cave” at work? <br />
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We think probably yes. Sure, there are many women who will find much of what’s on offer “cool” but there’s a difference between cool and <b><i>practical, meaningful, useful, helpful.</i></b> <br />
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There’s also a big difference between cool and <i><b>pleasant, refreshing, relaxing, inspiring, beautiful.</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M7j5rDq61fw4y3e-NjPOF8PACvmsfjAsylg9LgBuvmKOwZvSg3zQBzkr61K4i9NnU7C89Z4FnCDaM1U2ErC3qnVgFwR6IEXF2j522lZF8uo5JAalirP1xdWEWvaTUf8SV4ulkGbD4OU/s1600/Cool-or-Beautiful-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M7j5rDq61fw4y3e-NjPOF8PACvmsfjAsylg9LgBuvmKOwZvSg3zQBzkr61K4i9NnU7C89Z4FnCDaM1U2ErC3qnVgFwR6IEXF2j522lZF8uo5JAalirP1xdWEWvaTUf8SV4ulkGbD4OU/s320/Cool-or-Beautiful-PeapodLife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by PeapodLife: Cool or Beautiful? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Office Image Source: <a href="http://teamgantt.com/blog/2013/12/18/how-to-maximize-productivity-through-fun-in-the-workplace/" target="_blank">http://teamgantt.com/blog/2013/12/18/how-to-maximize-productivity-through-fun-in-the-workplace/</a></span> </div>
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You can say many things about many hi-tech companies’ work environments; and gawk jaw-dropped over many of their perks, but rarely will you come away thinking “wow, what a beautiful, inspiring place to work.” <br />
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Not everyone equates an adult-kindergarten environment or frat-boy fantasy man-cave to inspiring. Just because someone is an engineer and interested in working with technology doesn’t make them automatically interested in an environment best suited to cyborgs and adolescents. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Plenty of ‘<i>Cool’</i> and <i>“Wow!”</i> </b></span><br />
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And to be clear: there isn’t anything wrong with <i>‘cool.’</i> It’s just that ‘cool’ has very little staying power. What’s cool today is very rarely still cool after some time. What we’re advocating for is a little substance injected into the midst of all that cool…and let’s face it, an indoor rainforest ecosystem has plenty of its own cool and <i>“wow!”</i> to go around. It’s just that it also has something that no amount of digital technology alone can match…it has<i> life</i>. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Leadership from the Top</b></span><br />
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The leaders of many hi-tech companies aren’t even engineers; or men; or in their twenties. The opportunity to redefine the tech workplace as a space of innovation and inspiration which speaks to everyone in an equal way—including management—begins at the top. It doesn’t need to be a case of pandering to frat-boy mentality; it can be something far more beautiful and meaningful; practical and inspirational.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Rainforests @ Work</b></span><br />
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Male or female, young or old, engineer or artist, we are all human beings. Our biological and energetic nature means our reliance on the basics of life, health and wellness is absolute. Especially for those who spend the majority of their time indoors in front a computer screen, the opportunity to bring the refreshing and rejuvenating effects of nature back into their life in a beautiful and meaningful way should not be overlooked. <br />
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Of all the perks and clever design decisions that go into the typical tech workspace, there is one which represents a more mature appreciation for what all individuals—young and old—need and crave. <a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PeapodLife Ecosystems deliver</a>. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zh1dk19VLwY?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video by PeapodLife: PeapodLife Living Wall EcoSystem Fitch Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1dk19VLwY" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1dk19VLwY</a></span>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-6033507377222058202015-04-30T12:11:00.002-07:002015-04-30T12:11:21.319-07:00ECOsystem, ECOlogy, ECOnomy It’s all about “How We Live” in our HOME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLhN-SU79glTxFL6_YGw8WXXA837MYmENfhRK5Q3bTR7rzSiBqHBagk5-3hv9Kh8RfxOcs7EI_TYHjJes6TkH0MZkzUJJ3P6Dv7HdAkLY3teROSt6RhtmAC5cjMSVFo8-Cwnr9FXbWi4/s1600/Eco-equals-Home-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLhN-SU79glTxFL6_YGw8WXXA837MYmENfhRK5Q3bTR7rzSiBqHBagk5-3hv9Kh8RfxOcs7EI_TYHjJes6TkH0MZkzUJJ3P6Dv7HdAkLY3teROSt6RhtmAC5cjMSVFo8-Cwnr9FXbWi4/s1600/Eco-equals-Home-PeapodLife.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by PeapodLife: ECO=HOME </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Credit: Earth Nature Vector House & Ecology Graphic </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.welovesolo.com/earth-nature-vector-house-ecology-graphic-2/" target="_blank">http://www.welovesolo.com/earth-nature-vector-house-ecology-graphic-2/</a></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterward, when you've worked on your own corner.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ Aldous Huxley, <i>Time Must Have a Stop</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.globalstewards.org/quotes.htm" target="_blank">http://www.globalstewards.org/quotes.htm </a></span></div>
</blockquote>
Let’s start with the following short film entitled <i>‘How We Live – A Journey Towards a Just Transition’</i> by <a href="https://vimeo.com/kontentfilms" target="_blank">Kontact Films</a>, paying close attention to the first few minutes of the film discussing the definition of ‘eco’ as it relates to ecosystem, ecology and economy. <br />
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<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/94603192?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/94603192">How We Live: A Journey Towards a Just Transition</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/kontentfilms">Kontent Films</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
<br />
So let’s break it down once more:
<ul>
<li>Eco = home.</li>
<li>Ecosystem = the complex interrelationships of home.</li>
<li>Ecology = the study & knowledge of home (self-knowledge, where ‘home’ is an individual).</li>
<li>Economy = the management of home. </li>
</ul>
<br />
And there are three pillars of economy…
<ol>
<li>Resources</li>
<li>Work</li>
<li>Culture</li>
</ol>
Now, the film goes on to describe new business models, more democratic ownership, more local ownership, and even starts discussing human consciousness in terms of human behaviour, actions, interactions, “living better,” etc. <br />
<br />
But sadly, while the film “gets” that we cannot expect the banking system which got us into this mess to get us out of it, the film ignores its own axioms in prescribing more top-down structural thinking as being the source for a plausible solution. <br />
<br />
Nature doesn’t do much from a top-down level. The term ‘seed change’ comes from this very notion of incremental organic change. The planting of a seed which over generations produces not only one tree, but a forest of trees; the pebble dropped into the pond sending out ripples over time.<br />
<br />
Now consider all the so-called “green” movements and technologies related to energy conservation, recycling, etc. At the end of the day, these reduce our negative impact on the planet, but do they actually heal our relationship with the planet? What does it mean, to have a relationship with nature? <br />
<br />
How can we propose to create a mindset within ourselves—or a culture within our companies, let alone society—aligned with long term sustainability on the planet, if we have no idea what living in harmony and mutual symbiosis actually feels like? In other words, no practical, experiential knowledge?<br />
<br />
We cannot hope to better manage the resources, people and culture of <i>economy</i> unless we experience what it means to live in an <i>ecosystem</i>. Living in an <i>ecosystem</i>, gives us the experiential knowledge we need we truly comprehend the meaning and dynamism of harmony and mutual symbiosis—what we call <i>ecology</i>—and how it relates to our own self-knowledge. <br />
<br />
Building upon such a nucleus, such a seed, we can adapt and grow an <i>economy</i> based on harmony and mutual symbiosis… exactly what we experience day in and day out at <i>home</i>—in our homes, offices, schools, <i>as a reflection of what we’re experiencing in our hearts and minds</i>. <br />
<br />
<b>In synthesis, we become a part of actual <i>ecosystems</i>…we gain authentic <i>ecology</i> through experience…and our <i>economy</i> cannot help but reflect everything we are and everything we know.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonDUB1BaJQDuhQl04RKvYXA3rjfRXn8w4WlzClm6qLUbC2Pj02tEevXixHQr3V_HW463cg5GPjX7s8PvsmxBIUYvdUsknJ9dqswXZVqCsvGI2FgNLwJ4xOk2ah8hOLgDbVTLZC2P-U5E/s1600/PeapodLife-Angolo-EcoSystem-for-Home-Small-Office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonDUB1BaJQDuhQl04RKvYXA3rjfRXn8w4WlzClm6qLUbC2Pj02tEevXixHQr3V_HW463cg5GPjX7s8PvsmxBIUYvdUsknJ9dqswXZVqCsvGI2FgNLwJ4xOk2ah8hOLgDbVTLZC2P-U5E/s1600/PeapodLife-Angolo-EcoSystem-for-Home-Small-Office.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by PeapodLife: Explore Our Advanced Human Habitats with a pPodLite Angolo Unit perfect for Home & Small Office </span></div>
<br />
It doesn’t take much, truly. Even a small <i><b><a href="http://peapodlife.com/our-works/ecosystems/angolo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pPodLite Rainforest Ecosystem</a></b></i> from PeapodLife is enough to begin transforming your home/office into a place of harmony and mutual symbiosis…begin giving you the experience of what being in alignment with nature <i>feels like</i>. <br />
<br />
Then the real magic happens. But you wouldn’t believe us if we told you! Like all believers in the magical powers of nature to inspire, transform and heal, it’s something you simply know in your heart, and/or have to experience first-hand for yourself. <br />
<br />
<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-71559269428996034752015-04-28T12:41:00.000-07:002015-04-29T11:09:08.666-07:00The Retention Problem Facing CEOs Today: Is there a Solution to the Millennial Challenge?<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"There is this constant dynamism in the workforce that is very very hard to build the right [parts] of platform and environment for people to [accomplish] what they want."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>~ Aaron Levie, CEO Box</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild" target="_blank">LinkedIn: Pulse: These Problems Keep Both The CEO Of Deloitte And Box Awake At Night by Caroline Fairchild</a></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik476gKe3STN3W1mYAWcZbZLG8jAYJuCpfx_Y0KfnlX4VJ0gmlMMrA5rgAZEMuc6q4SqKEaY9huHhUWUoXZI26KaCI7bqh142oFTmKpO0TFT2q9GeZix7TgeJ5chB_gGnw7fMcTe2AiEc/s1600/Millenials-Workplace-Peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik476gKe3STN3W1mYAWcZbZLG8jAYJuCpfx_Y0KfnlX4VJ0gmlMMrA5rgAZEMuc6q4SqKEaY9huHhUWUoXZI26KaCI7bqh142oFTmKpO0TFT2q9GeZix7TgeJ5chB_gGnw7fMcTe2AiEc/s1600/Millenials-Workplace-Peapodlife.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Millennials in the Workplace </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sources: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com.au/millennials-need-to-learn-these-14-rules-2013-9" target="_blank">http://www.businessinsider.com.au/millennials-need-to-learn-these-14-rules-2013-9</a>; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://millennialleader.com/are-millennials-reshaping-the-workplace-thanks-to-gen-x/" target="_blank">http://millennialleader.com/are-millennials-reshaping-the-workplace-thanks-to-gen-x/</a></span></div>
<br />
In a recent panel discussion at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-moffatt/6/5a4/764" target="_blank">Jim Moffatt</a> of Deloitte and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/boxaaron" target="_blank">Aaron Levie</a> of Box agreed that attracting and retaining Millennial talent is a major issue for their respective organizations.<br />
<br />
As reported by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinefairchild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carolyn Fairchild</a>, New Economy Editor @ LinkedIn, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">in her recent article: These Problems Keep Both The CEO Of Deloitte And Box Awake At Night</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Moffatt is working to empower young employees to stay at the firm longer by giving them more diverse work, Levie is grappling with the challenges of running a 1,300-person workforce with the average age of 25 or 26.” </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild</a></span></blockquote>
“It is very apparent that managing and attracting this demographic of workforce is certainly interesting especially in Silicon Valley,” Levie said. He cited the ever increasing number of companies competing for top talent, and Millennials’ acclimatization to rapid development and succession. <br />
<br />
"This generation is very very accustomed to moving quickly ahead in every part of their life and when they get to work and things move slowly and they can't get ahead quickly it impacts their ability to stay," he said. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTDg-x69k2Ov8j6w6I6sIsd2f1XxsnKDoURk09I2xBUEJGuj5KzypNdEEJHFrLkjvJix68I6BZMZIT4_nyL9QfBTMWbSTEqmyV0A8hPqLXmNFTaSlTaJ_PSmaGa0fg2ONgTx67gaM7kM/s1600/Milken-Institute-Global-Conference-LinkedIn-CEOs-challenges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTDg-x69k2Ov8j6w6I6sIsd2f1XxsnKDoURk09I2xBUEJGuj5KzypNdEEJHFrLkjvJix68I6BZMZIT4_nyL9QfBTMWbSTEqmyV0A8hPqLXmNFTaSlTaJ_PSmaGa0fg2ONgTx67gaM7kM/s1600/Milken-Institute-Global-Conference-LinkedIn-CEOs-challenges.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage: CEOs discuss challenges at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">inset: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinefairchild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carolyn Fairchild,</a> New Economy Editor @ LinkedIn </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/problems-keeps-both-ceo-deloitte-box-awake-night-caroline-fairchild</a></span></div>
<br />
So Millennial turnover rates may be high in Silcon Valley, but could the same be true in Canada? To find out, we turned to <a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michaelsnyders" target="_blank">Mike Snyders</a>, Senior Partner at <a href="http://www.future-focus.ca/" target="_blank">Future Focus, Inc</a>.—specializing in human resources and human capital strategies in the Waterloo Region.<br />
<br />
“Generation over generation learns how to manage each new generation that follows,” Snyders said. “How do we understand what their motivators are? How do we lead to motivate and develop new talent while maintaining business fundamentals?” <br />
<br />
Snyders acknowledged the challenges faced by high-tech companies in the Waterloo Region are similar to those faced by companies in Silicon Valley—and just about everywhere. Many of the unique workplace environments we see in high-tech companies are trying to cater to what millennials are looking for. The key for employers, Snyders said, is to find the right balance between what Millennials want and what the business needs. <br />
<br />
“Millennials are motivated differently. Their issue is work-life balance. Yes, you can retain people better by creating a work-life balance in the workplace, but can you stay productive? You need the structure in place. If it’s not managed right, it becomes a <i>fun place</i>, but not a workplace,” he said. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Just how do hi-tech companies’ office environments differ from the typical workplace?</b></span> <br />
<br />
Consider Auvik’s renewal of the Waterloo building formerely known as Blackberry 5. As part of their painful restructuring, Blackberry sold the building to flamboyant Dragon’s Den judge and investor Michael Wekerle. Wekerle was one of the investors involved in Blackberry’s 1997 IPO. <br />
<br />
The mostly colourless, cubicle-infested space has been undergoing a transformation into a more lively and optimistic space. The 30-member start-up now enjoys a more open environment, featuring:<br />
<ul>
<li>accent walls painted in intense Auvik purple</li>
<li>a bear mural and other flourishes by Ontario artist Chris Austin</li>
<li>hand-painted signs displaying the company’s seven core values </li>
<li>cardboard cut-outs of ‘key customers’ </li>
<li>a well-stocked cache of Nerf weaponry</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://news.communitech.ca/columns/auvik-poised-to-grow-in-bright-rejuvenated-space/" target="_blank">news.communitech.ca: Communitech News: Auvik poised to grow in bright, rejuvenated space</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Auvik’s Unique Office Elements </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos Credit: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyreinhartjournalist" target="_blank">Anthony Reinhart</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://news.communitech.ca/columns/auvik-poised-to-grow-in-bright-rejuvenated-space/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://news.communitech.ca/columns/auvik-poised-to-grow-in-bright-rejuvenated-space/ </a></span></div>
<br />
All hi-tech firms seem to have their own take on the ‘unique’ workspace. It’s a reflection of the culture of the firm, and this in many ways reflects Millennials’ attitudes toward personal style.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Style versus Substance </b></span><br />
<br />
Echoing the sentiments of Mike Snyders, there is a danger for these well-meaning companies that the pendulum may swing a little too far in the other direction, resulting in a very ‘fun’ place, where very little ‘work’ actually gets done. <br />
<br />
While many of the creature comforts Millennials may find enticing and attractive on the surface, one cannot deny that success is also a primary motivator for them. As well, high-performance and personal accomplishment cannot be overlooked as a motivating factor. <br />
<br />
So what is there which simultaneously comforts and stimulates? What phenomenon has a proven track record of MILLENIA (speaking of Millennials) of simultaneously relaxing and inspiring new ideas, approaches, innovations, and invigorating individuals to pursue their revolutionary new ideas?<br />
<br />
<b>One word:<i> nature</i>.</b><br />
<br />
It is undeniable that nature has played a critical part in inspiring everything from Newton’s Law of gravity to Beethoven’s 5th symphony to Einstein’s theory of relativity. But one look need no further than one’s own experience.<br />
<br />
You know that feeling you experience in nature? You know that refreshed and recharged feeling. You know how it clears your mind and settle your nerves. There’s nothing else like it. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>PeapodLife helps you have that refreshing feeling in your office environment.</b></span> <br />
<br />
In terms of creating a ‘feel good work environment’ which is both comforting and stimulating; one which boost BOTH work-life balance and productivity, an high-order rainforest ecosystem from PeapodLife is beyond compare. <br />
<br />
It’s the feeling only nature can give you. Now imagine having that refreshing nature-feeling in your boardroom or in the staff cafeteria 24/7, 365 days a year. Imagine an ecosystem actively working all day, every day, boosting your Team’s happiness and efficiency to a whole new level. <br />
<br />
That’s certainly what <b>Canada Life Insurance</b> experienced. A few short weeks after installing an ecosystem in their boardroom, they began to notice profound improvements to meetings. Six months later, that boardroom was booked solid with a long waiting list. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhyphenhyphenKSRTQfOaLgimrrJh5YRYqGG-R3YX5h2POOdWIruIPt27Vc_HfTiY-VL_akNtkJJcKY-Sbn6TVIy1Uvc-Q-cX844_F9g2jryvL0P8HPpLcWGEtCk5ru0vMCK80kXgxg0U58JjTwH_4/s1600/Canada-Life-boardroom-living-wall-ecosystem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhyphenhyphenKSRTQfOaLgimrrJh5YRYqGG-R3YX5h2POOdWIruIPt27Vc_HfTiY-VL_akNtkJJcKY-Sbn6TVIy1Uvc-Q-cX844_F9g2jryvL0P8HPpLcWGEtCk5ru0vMCK80kXgxg0U58JjTwH_4/s1600/Canada-Life-boardroom-living-wall-ecosystem.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Canada Life boardroom living wall and aquarium, Toronto</span></div>
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As for <b>Panasonic</b>, revenue increased after <i>outside</i> salespeople started holding their sales meetings <i>inside</i> their staff cafeteria ecosystem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwPppTuD2-vQse-KbPKrlXK9hy5z_J02nteOzFmW4dpYb5DpM61at8Afjr2GUa16IZC3qiPhuBYpopDxob2QvMGu4YwVidl2_eKgXqWZ3n2rIRsjgKufjfTslUnX76s_nyQ2VKHEzeMc/s1600/Panasonic-Canada-cafeteria-ecosystem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwPppTuD2-vQse-KbPKrlXK9hy5z_J02nteOzFmW4dpYb5DpM61at8Afjr2GUa16IZC3qiPhuBYpopDxob2QvMGu4YwVidl2_eKgXqWZ3n2rIRsjgKufjfTslUnX76s_nyQ2VKHEzeMc/s1600/Panasonic-Canada-cafeteria-ecosystem.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Panasonic Canada - cafeteria ecosystem</span></div>
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<b>Just imagine the feeling of working in a climate-controlled rainforest environment.</b> Static pictures can only do so much, so here’s an ecosystem <i>in motion</i>…<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m6opN_OXIu8?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video by PeapodLife: Fitch Street Living Wall EcoSystem 6-Month Update </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6opN_OXIu8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6opN_OXIu8 </a></span></div>
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But not even a video can do our rainforest environments justice. <i>No technology can replace the feeling only nature can provide. </i><br />
<br />
<b>Put the power of nature in motion for your business today, and watch the transformative capabilities of the rainforest create an environment that Millennials will want to live, work, grow, develop, innovate and succeed in. </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://peapodlife.com/connect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Connect with PeapodLife today for more information. </b></a><br />
<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-10357275087684536562015-04-23T11:19:00.000-07:002015-04-23T12:41:31.773-07:00Post-Earth Day Decompress: Our Favourite Facebook Pages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbtX2D2JFxvSg7hGgsaq_ocmttgZYDQ-o8WC9H8Vdz2EoRIGCF2rf01Qt5C67uKTQHneyUOUKramVX48XErI9oVbtW8hyphenhyphenNgQUbktpdXBc2PpAlhykcSP4TDCfh4NiARP-SnBt7y4xqWU/s1600/our-facebook-favourites-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbtX2D2JFxvSg7hGgsaq_ocmttgZYDQ-o8WC9H8Vdz2EoRIGCF2rf01Qt5C67uKTQHneyUOUKramVX48XErI9oVbtW8hyphenhyphenNgQUbktpdXBc2PpAlhykcSP4TDCfh4NiARP-SnBt7y4xqWU/s1600/our-facebook-favourites-peapodlife.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Our FB Fav’s Featuring Screenshots of The Rainforest Site & Nature Heals, Nature Reveals</span> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“But I give best when I give from that deeper place; when I give simply, freely and generously, and sometimes for no particular reason. I give best when I give from my heart.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/720214.Steve_Goodier" target="_blank">Steve Goodier</a> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Source: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/sharing" target="_blank">GoodReads – Quotes About Sharing</a> </div>
</blockquote>
Yesterday was Earth Day, and as such you may have found yourself inundated by Earth Day messages. From hard-hitting, guilt-tugging proclamations to soft-spoken, heartfelt meditations and everything in between, Earth Day is the one day in the year ‘the gloves come off’ for environmentalists, and just those who care deeply for nature and the wellbeing of the planet and all beings.
<br />
<br />
Fittingly, we couldn’t help but share our <a href="http://www.genesisecofund.blogspot.ca/2015/04/earth-day-reflection-mechanical.html" target="_blank">Earth Day Reflections via Genesis Eco Fund’s blog</a>. But that was yesterday. Today, we offer a completely different take as a kind of ‘decompression’ after all the intensity and passion of earth day.
<br />
<br />
Facebook: love it or hate it, the mother of all social networking sites has redefined what it means to ‘like’ and ‘share.’ So today, PeapodLife wants to share some of the Facebook groups it likes with you.
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>The Rainforest Site</b></span>
<br />
<br />
The Rainforest Site is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, appreciation and knowledge about the natural world, and the weird and wonderful creatures who share this planet with us. From the profoundly serious and awesomely powerful to the utterly beautiful and heart wrenchingly adorable, The Rainforest Site never ceases to provide a steady flow of nature’s finest and funniest.
<br />
<br />
Take this post about Bao Bao’s fun frolic in the snow…
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820927692688" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820927692688">
This is the most precious thing everrrr <3<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite">The Rainforest Site</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820927692688">Thursday, April 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Or this post about baby sloths…
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820469507688" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820469507688">
How much do you know about these adorable creatures?? :)<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite">The Rainforest Site</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820469507688">Thursday, April 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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But it’s not just ‘cute’ posts that The Rainforest Site features. There’s this very recent post about the volcanic eruption in Chile:
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152822330372688" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152822330372688">
Have you seen the volcano that just erupted in Chile!?<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite">The Rainforest Site</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152822330372688">Thursday, April 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Or this post about Conservation International’s film ‘Mother Nature’:
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820462467688" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820462467688">
Your mother has something to talk to you about this Earth Day <3<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite">The Rainforest Site</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152820462467688">Wednesday, April 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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And the many simple yet profoundly beautiful images from the world of nature (not just the rainforest):
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152818997397688:0" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152818997397688:0">
Gorgeous creature!<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite">The Rainforest Site</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite/posts/10152818997397688:0">Tuesday, April 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
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For their wonderful work educating and sharing all there is to LOVE about the natural world, The Rainforest Site gets a big ‘like’ from PeapodLife.
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Nature Heals, Nature Reveals</b></span>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span>
This Facebook Community is all about sharing the simple, the beautiful and the profound. If there is a place on the Internet which captures the essence of the last stanza of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_on_a_Grecian_Urn" target="_blank">Ode on a Grecian Urn</a>…<br />
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<i>"Beauty is truth; truth, beauty—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."</i></div>
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<b>~ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keats" target="_blank">John Keats</a></b> </div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/101/625.html" target="_blank">http://www.bartleby.com/101/625.html</a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>…Nature Heals, Nature Reveals is that place.</b></span>
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Admittedly, some of the sentiments, posts and quotes they share will not always be everyone’s cup of tea (cynics and anyone repulsed by anything that sounds ‘too new-agey’ be warned), it’s undeniable that there’s something inside all of us which cannot help but be moved when confronted with images and words like the following…
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899556426754415&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">
Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth....<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899556426754415&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">Wednesday, April 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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It is almost a shame to introduce each of these…extra words are somehow just a diminishment of the beauty, wisdom and simplicity each imparts to us:
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899670853409639&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">
The Secret of Strength lies in the Quiet Mind...~ Grace Cooke~ Image by Zulus77<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899670853409639&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">Wednesday, April 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899043036805754&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">
Just become quiet, still, and solitary, and the world will offer itself to you to be unmasked; it has no choice. It will roll in ecstasy at your feet.~ Dana Hawksister~ Image by Lars van de Goor<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899043036805754&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">Tuesday, April 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899537956756262&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">
Being silent for me doesn't require being in a quiet place and it doesnt mean not saying words. It means, "receiving in...<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=899537956756262&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">Tuesday, April 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><br />
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=898964516813606&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=898964516813606&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">
Fresh beauty opens one's eyes wherever it is really seen.~ John Muir~ Image by Valerie Monthuit<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=898964516813606&id=729612107082182&substory_index=0">Tuesday, April 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
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And of course, like many other Facebook pages, Nature Heals, Nature Reveals shares the best of the best of others as well…
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=898971340146257&id=729612107082182" data-width="500">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=898971340146257&id=729612107082182">
Beautiful! ~ Thank you Rhythm of Peace: Cultivating Peace in Daily Life! ♥<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=898971340146257&id=729612107082182">Tuesday, April 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
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We could certainly go on, but instead, perhaps will just provide <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182?sk=photos_stream" target="_blank">a link to their PHOTO GALLERY</a>.
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What we love most about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%A5%90-Nature-Heals-Nature-Reveals-%E0%A5%90/729612107082182?fref=nf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ॐ Nature Heals, Nature Reveals ॐ</a> is that it comes close to capturing, in images and words, the <i>essence</i> of Peapodlife—if not quite the <i>feeling</i> you get from a PeapodLife ecosystem.
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The simple sentiment, ‘nature heals, nature reveals,’ beautifully captures the essential benefits of inviting a high-order ecosystem into your home, workplace, school…wherever life demands you to spend the majority of your time.
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It would be wonderful if we could all spend the bulk of our days out in nature, contemplating its beauty and meditating under its gaze, relaxed and able to receive a gift from its infinite wellspring of inspiration and imagination. But the reality of our lives is quite different; and the stressful, toxic indoor environments we are forced to inhabit are pretty much the antithesis of that dream of oneness with nature.
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PeapodLife brings that dream to life once more; and brings the healing, inspiring and revealing power of nature into our lives where we need it the most…precisely where we currently have it the least.
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Honourable Mentions and Final Thoughts</b></span>
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We don’t share everything we find on Facebook on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeapodLife" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our own Facebook page – PeapodLife Building Ecosystems & Technology</a> – but we do try to share things that reflect our values and the spirit, essence and feeling of PeapodLife ecosystems.
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That is why we often share posts from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theamazingwildnature" target="_blank">The Amazing Wild Nature</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/natgeo" target="_blank">National Geographic</a> and all other groups/posts which have grabbed our interest and attention over the years.
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And of course, liking/following us on Facebook is one of the best ways to stay informed about us, featuring blogs and other original content related to ecosystems and living a happier, healthier, more peaceful and productive life…the <i>PeapodLife</i>.
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-6648325567141830672015-04-14T12:39:00.000-07:002015-04-14T13:25:42.235-07:00“Save the Canadians” Campaign Launched: Rainforest Plants & Animals for Overworked Canadians<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbhCpfxsod8?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: ICT Costa Rica Tourism - Save the Canadians</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbhCpfxsod8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbhCpfxsod8</a></span></div>
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You can’t make this stuff up. Well, maybe you can…sort of (i.e. singing animals organizing politically).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvP8hmzzo-Pi-neDZgVkTqbfnLOthLkDnSzBsNDhbdeJCFp05mS2wvsunmssXwxOmyM8M919jJbqFblAovXEe8-PFIcVtUpZ3JTK-Nj7Prk1Ndz-Xena5YzvcSxMsCdqLUPf8UajUqKAI/s1600/costa-rican-animals-for-overworked-canadians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvP8hmzzo-Pi-neDZgVkTqbfnLOthLkDnSzBsNDhbdeJCFp05mS2wvsunmssXwxOmyM8M919jJbqFblAovXEe8-PFIcVtUpZ3JTK-Nj7Prk1Ndz-Xena5YzvcSxMsCdqLUPf8UajUqKAI/s1600/costa-rican-animals-for-overworked-canadians.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Costa Rican Animals for Overworked Canadians</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sources: <a href="http://savethecanadians.org/" target="_blank">http://savethecanadians.org/</a>,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">travelweek.ca: <a href="http://www.travelweek.ca/news/video-costa-rican-animals-campaign-save-canadians/" target="_blank">Travelweek: News: [Video] Costa Rican animals campaign to ‘Save the Canadians’ </a></span></div>
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The point is, an endearing website has been launched by Costa Rica Tourism to <a href="http://www.savethecanadians.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Save the Canadians.”</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgan_9VcmZueX3URmHcixh9FutRyQLgaDRNfGK0HExwU777c1nduQC2V1divA_tOLpwC1mqfGiUPHAtrvX8idtkOThGl7rFKCJzJBQoGGS5H3ktjaXlSUIBWD_DXxeMjt0EURVtVsZgplE/s1600/save-the-canadians-org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgan_9VcmZueX3URmHcixh9FutRyQLgaDRNfGK0HExwU777c1nduQC2V1divA_tOLpwC1mqfGiUPHAtrvX8idtkOThGl7rFKCJzJBQoGGS5H3ktjaXlSUIBWD_DXxeMjt0EURVtVsZgplE/s1600/save-the-canadians-org.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: SavetheCanadians.org</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/yybr/costa-rica-travel/" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/yybr/costa-rica-travel/</a></span></div>
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The website not only features singing denizens of the tropical Costa Rican rainforest, it has a great deal of maps, information on destinations, and tempting photos inviting visitors to “Explore [their] Human Habitats.”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkdZPXdB2wfAO4qMTiyiDoj8UssTWWX27xu7I8wMt1Uv67CHXKuaaFxIYPjRSacD-3oXq5kwgJ71a70LJDY3RQS1CG9dABbs1znvcu1IZB2np2iZGW_N8BERZV9c_p8sNPj2_4Co-V7Q/s1600/Explore-Human-Habitats-Costa-Rica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkdZPXdB2wfAO4qMTiyiDoj8UssTWWX27xu7I8wMt1Uv67CHXKuaaFxIYPjRSacD-3oXq5kwgJ71a70LJDY3RQS1CG9dABbs1znvcu1IZB2np2iZGW_N8BERZV9c_p8sNPj2_4Co-V7Q/s1600/Explore-Human-Habitats-Costa-Rica.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Explore Human Habitats in Costa Rica</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sources: <a href="http://savethecanadians.org/regions/central_pacific" target="_blank">http://savethecanadians.org/regions/central_pacific</a></span></div>
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The site also many features numerous videos highlighting the many beautiful destinations one can visit in Costa Rica, such as La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
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<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="394" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OUwVcNKZKSI?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwVcNKZKSI" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwVcNKZKSI</a></span></div>
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We at PeapodLife applaud the efforts by Costa Rica’s rainforest ecosystem flora and fauna to save Canadians from the drudgery and toxicity of their daily workplace. And while getting away to a beautiful place like Costa Rica for a week or two every year is a good start, it won’t “save the Canadians…”<br />
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And Mother Nature knows it.<br />
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That’s why some of those dedicated rainforest plants and animals from Costa Rica have chosen to come north to Canada to partner with PeapodLife in bringing the beauty, relaxation, invigoration and healing powers of high order rainforest ecosystems to Canadian homes and workplaces 365 days a year.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJc2TLSgENa9PHnh0JEWcbl7adtLYeOa8vISNefX87UJhn2NJMYQparGOds_isqQtTEh2P4HSms4K56jVyaISJBoGHf__nYYGtuDG9zMrdGDK9akYqTxLBw2OHJfyhyphenhyphenf3S5kDh3LGo8g/s1600/Ecosystems-for-Overworked-Canadians-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJc2TLSgENa9PHnh0JEWcbl7adtLYeOa8vISNefX87UJhn2NJMYQparGOds_isqQtTEh2P4HSms4K56jVyaISJBoGHf__nYYGtuDG9zMrdGDK9akYqTxLBw2OHJfyhyphenhyphenf3S5kDh3LGo8g/s1600/Ecosystems-for-Overworked-Canadians-peapodlife.jpg" height="249" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Ecosystems for Overworked Canadians</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Text Image Source: <a href="http://savethecanadians.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://savethecanadians.org/</a></span></div>
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Including up to five biomes, including canopy, waterfall, terrestrial and aquatic, our ecosystems fill your home or office with the beautiful and soothing sights, sounds and energies of a tropical rainforest, with no soil, no mess, and very little maintenance required.<br />
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<b>Come explore our “<a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Advanced Human Habitats</a>.”</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcVo9UXHHaa_ntBfZGSiPb9Gkrv6SshdeSybZIyBhF10KfcVpuFE7SlDqMBYIc3BY25221EkViP5DBNmYWjLId7p68QT02R-GCpDw7D1XASy2xNO7HQcnep5-3u5pZtNCDFaSvDUloC4/s1600/Explore-Advanced-Human-Habitats-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcVo9UXHHaa_ntBfZGSiPb9Gkrv6SshdeSybZIyBhF10KfcVpuFE7SlDqMBYIc3BY25221EkViP5DBNmYWjLId7p68QT02R-GCpDw7D1XASy2xNO7HQcnep5-3u5pZtNCDFaSvDUloC4/s1600/Explore-Advanced-Human-Habitats-PeapodLife.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: Explore Our Advanced Human Habitats</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Text Image Source: <a href="http://savethecanadians.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://savethecanadians.org/</a></span><br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-80831778559398739162015-04-07T10:40:00.000-07:002015-04-07T10:40:11.417-07:00Bring the Mind Home at Last with an Ecosystem in the Home First<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>“All of man’s difficulties arise from his inability to sit quietly in a room by himself.” We do so many things, we speak volumes, and we think an endless amount of useless thoughts, but we’ve lost the sense of being. We’ve lost our ground. The most important thing is presence. Being. We’re often so distracted that: “We’re scattered everywhere, but nobody is at home.” </b></i><br />
<b>~ Blaise Pascal, with Sogyal Rinpoche </b><br />
Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Astrotheology/photos/a.308319812561844.70741.118019521591875/872993959427757/?type=1&permPage=1" target="_blank">School of the Holy Science Facebook Page</a>:
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/Astrotheology/posts/872994039427749:0">
The French philosopher Pascal once said, “All of man’s difficulties arise from his inability to sit quietly in a room by...<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Astrotheology">School Of The Holy Science</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Astrotheology/posts/872994039427749:0">Tuesday, April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Let’s face it: very few of us can <i>sit quietly in a room by ourselves</i>. For so many reasons, both internal and external, we find it very difficult to just be still with ourselves.<br />
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Whether it’s the cacophony of our crazy busy mind, our crazy buy life, or the mixed-mash-up of real and perceived distractions pulling our attention in all directions, we find ourselves living in a kind of hurricane; a typhoon of never-ending thoughts, worries, wants, to-do lists, etc.<br />
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Like a song that gets stuck in our head, we cannot escape the prison of “mental calm depravation.” We may even have difficulty sleeping; either unable to fall asleep due to the never-ending stream of thoughts troubling us and keeping us awake, or disturbing and unsettling dreams reflective of our waking psychological state.<br />
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And while it’s all well and good to tell ourselves we can “leave our troubles at the door,” the reality is our subconscious minds have other plans. Without taking time on a regular basis to relax, concentrate, visualize and remember, revere and experience our naturally pure state of <i>being</i>, we remain trapped on the hamster wheel of an unsettled mind; lost in the hurricane of our lives.<br />
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PeapodLife can help. High order ecosystems are the eye in the storm of our lives. An ecosystem in the home creates a space which encourages us to sit comfortably and quietly. The natural harmonics of the ecosystem coupled to the phenomenon of entrainment tune our senses, our central nervous system, and our brain to a more soothing state.<br />
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Add to this field of harmony and mutual symbiosis the beautiful colours, soothing sounds, replenishing oxygen, and ambiance of energy and vitality, and you experience a space where you have a chance to actually be…not only alone with yourself, but with whatever deeper experiences of reality your heart and mind are open to having, via meditation, a good book, just your own thoughts coming into clarity, or maybe just the deepest, soundest sleep you’ve had in ages.<br />
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The point is, we all can use an eye in the storm; a sanctuary and a place where positive rejuvenating harmonics help you return to your natural, optimal state of being. What you do when you arrive there is up to you. PeapodLife’s job is helping you get there…bringing an ecosystem into your home first so you can bring your mind home at last.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnSMwhKUThqCnARt2Y_gvlvHjQ4Yj0A6FxcbklFS3yBHIQgcX6ZrF6Z9PVEgAKciKPsbJTYjFVesywUA1iFwAQROB69NCh3zTeeSH7zDR4LKB3mlbZ2WHd4v_EtTWBY5vEvqP33pci-M/s1600/crazy-busy-life-vs-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Our ‘Crazy-Busy’ Life is a Hurricane & PeapodLife is the Eye of the Storm" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnSMwhKUThqCnARt2Y_gvlvHjQ4Yj0A6FxcbklFS3yBHIQgcX6ZrF6Z9PVEgAKciKPsbJTYjFVesywUA1iFwAQROB69NCh3zTeeSH7zDR4LKB3mlbZ2WHd4v_EtTWBY5vEvqP33pci-M/s1600/crazy-busy-life-vs-peapodlife.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by PeapodLife: Our ‘Crazy-Busy’ Life is a Hurricane & PeapodLife is the Eye of the Storm</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source(s): <a href="http://maidenpost.com/2012/04/15/" target="_blank">maidenpost.com: Feelings – Loneliness</a> ;</span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.altmd.com/Specialists/Spiral-Way-Jin-Shin-Jyutsu/Blog/Calm-In-the-Eye-of-the-Storm" target="_blank">altmd.com: Specialists: Spiral Way Healing Arts: Calm In the Eye of the Storm</a> </span></div>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-54002564539331670972015-04-02T17:03:00.001-07:002015-04-09T13:52:32.043-07:00A Shield Against 'Bad Vibes' in the Workplace:Biomusicology, Lexicology, Entrainment, Ecosystems and YOU <div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><b>“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; </b></i><br />
<i><b>an argument an exchange of ignorance.”</b></i><br />
<b>~ <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/robert_quillen.html" target="_blank">Robert Quillen</a></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/argument.html" target="_blank">Brainy Quote: Argument Quotes </a></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogAN-nn-cMm5v0tH-8jzvqctsUncv4n_t25-wYuVqnM-Q_iDHz3DYoGhTQPIunk06jQHtFz2id2Ki0ganGKJGfPZYCVV9j5Mn6UlNuOM6wfnAvU8tV0W477vK-54B6K7bcviA8F_g-zg/s1600/Bad-Vibes-at-Work-Infographic-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogAN-nn-cMm5v0tH-8jzvqctsUncv4n_t25-wYuVqnM-Q_iDHz3DYoGhTQPIunk06jQHtFz2id2Ki0ganGKJGfPZYCVV9j5Mn6UlNuOM6wfnAvU8tV0W477vK-54B6K7bcviA8F_g-zg/s1600/Bad-Vibes-at-Work-Infographic-PeapodLife.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />Infographic by PeapodLife: <b>Negative Biomusicalogical & Lexical Entrainment VS. Ecosystem Harmonic & Symbiotic Entrainment at Work</b></span></div>
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We’ve all been there: the slippery slope and the downward spiral of the escalating argument. Be it at home or in the workplace, we all know the way things can get out of hand and tend to run away from us. Frustration, reactions, anger, aggression, things are said and done and…it rarely turns out well.<br />
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What we may not realize is there are real scientific phenomena affecting us during such conflicts. The fundamental principle involved is <i><b>entrainment</b></i>. In a general sense, entrainment is the tendency of oscillations or vibrations to synchronize. <br />
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<i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrainment_(biomusicology)" target="_blank">Biomusicological entrainment</a></b></i> is the phenomenon of entrainment applied specifically to biological organisms, including animals, human beings and ecosystems. Biomusicalogical entrainment is responsible for everything from <i>groupthink</i> to <i>mob mentality</i>. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4EfhpNTeOw?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Bystander Revolution: Sam Trammell | Mob Mentality </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4EfhpNTeOw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4EfhpNTeOw </a></span></div>
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And make no mistake; everything the above video talks about applies to <i>adults</i> and <i>adult group dynamics</i> as much as it does for children, adolescents, etc. Why? Because age has nothing to do with the effects of biomusicalogical entrainment. <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexical_entrainment" target="_blank"><i><b>Lexical entrainment</b></i></a> refers to the phenomenon whereby individuals tend to take on characteristics of speech from others in social situations—including intonation, vocabulary, etc. <br />
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Some are more sensitive to entrainment than others, but combined, biomusicalogical and lexical entrainment have a very real impact on our relationships and on our effective use of time and energy in the workplace. <br />
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Now, compound the effects of these two types of entrainment with the toxic sick buildings and lifeless environments we typically work in—from electromagnetic radiation from office equipment to noise stress, VOC’s and other sources of indoor atmospheric pollution, the list goes on. <br />
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There’s much more than just <i>air quality</i> to consider. And sorry, Google, no amount of board games, beanbag chairs, foosball tables, or other manmade gimmicks can heal what is fundamentally a toxic environment, hostile to the optimum performance of living organisms…<i>including us</i>. <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enter PeapodLife Building EcoSystems & Technology</span></span><br />
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High order rainforest ecosystems are the BEST solution for countering the effects of negative biomusicalogical and lexical entrainment. The ecosystem acts as an <i>umbrella</i>, enveloping everyone in the space with a biomusicalogical entrainment field of harmony and symbiosis. Every organism—and person—within the field is constantly being entrained biomusicalogically by the infinitely complex interrelationships and balancing efforts of the <i>superorganism</i> in order to maximize health, wellness and optimal function of each and every individual in said field. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVWAMu-nEOx2s9hBNPG9sruGC8DZklg2udke_q00IulBL4OW5NPuIXIlDQ3uQS8avr6Vyx8-i18th3R8x2awSqFVwzv15KXdXdn4jMwx24R8hSJyAndV96H4Qa8WkjuveBT52gePAJxQ/s1600/PPL_OfficeSpace2-(logo).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVWAMu-nEOx2s9hBNPG9sruGC8DZklg2udke_q00IulBL4OW5NPuIXIlDQ3uQS8avr6Vyx8-i18th3R8x2awSqFVwzv15KXdXdn4jMwx24R8hSJyAndV96H4Qa8WkjuveBT52gePAJxQ/s1600/PPL_OfficeSpace2-(logo).jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Rendering by PeapodLife: Imagine your office or workplace transformed into an atmosphere of optimal human performance, harmonic and symbiotic relationships, and health & wellness.</span></span></td></tr>
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Now, are we saying an ecosystem will completely prevent all interpersonal conflict? Certainly not. But what it can do is <i>take the edge off such conflicts</i>. With the over-arching influence of the ecosystem—complete with beautiful orchids, bromeliads, soothing moss, flowing water, meditative fish, ionized living water counteracting the effects of harsh electromagnetic radiation, etc.—some conflicts might be shorter, or less intense, or more quickly resolved.<br />
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In the human body, <i>melatonin</i> is the hormone which is involved in the <i>entrainment of the circadian rhythms of physiological functions including sleep timing and high blood pressure</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin</a></span> Put another way, melatonin is the “calming hormone” in the body which counteracts the forces in us which lead to nervousness, agitation, stress, frustration, anger, etc. <br />
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Think of a PeapodLife ecosystem as constantly washing your office space in a <i>melatonin bath</i>. But, unlike melatonin—which can have the effect of causing drowsiness—ecosystems <i>stimulate</i> the senses and <i>invigorate</i> our energy. In addition, nature boosts the immune system, improves mental faculties, increases inspiration and imagination, and all in all makes people feel better.<br />
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Imagine fewer sick days…fewer incidents of employees waking up thinking “ugh…I don’t feel like going into work,” <i>when work is such a pleasant place to be</i>. <br />
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How pleasant? Videos can’t do it justice, but here’s one anyway…<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zh1dk19VLwY?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="525"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: PeapodLife Living Wall EcoSystem Fitch Street </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1dk19VLwY" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1dk19VLwY </a></span></div>
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<b>Now, just imagine what how all this will make you and your team FEEL? Imagine how much more you and your team will get done, and how much more pleasant an experience you’ll have doing it in the BEST indoor environment possible. PeapodLife Building Ecosystems & Technology—<i>be at your BEST</i>. </b><br />
<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-8648780034805731002015-03-26T16:52:00.000-07:002015-03-31T08:35:11.818-07:00Jeremy Clarkson Sacked: Top Gear Fiasco May Reveal the Tragedy of Chronic Stress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxzJVUygJ8gd-x5hgTLuqK0AknZyf8_zoPAlW8IEN39ESWn_Xk0ypfq8e5HkFpxX_Oo3eKeRSgyH71ThtFCezxOFjMJT9QZhFNmCsXP4SR97NVm3ICjzcd5ai5k4kgxqrll4sQzfTL8M/s1600/Top-Gear-This-or-That-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxzJVUygJ8gd-x5hgTLuqK0AknZyf8_zoPAlW8IEN39ESWn_Xk0ypfq8e5HkFpxX_Oo3eKeRSgyH71ThtFCezxOFjMJT9QZhFNmCsXP4SR97NVm3ICjzcd5ai5k4kgxqrll4sQzfTL8M/s320/Top-Gear-This-or-That-PeapodLife.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Collage by PeapodLife: Top Gear with Chronic Stress vs. EcoSystems</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Sources: <a href="http://img.youtube.com/vi/GPuG1ruG_4o/0.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.youtube.com/vi/GPuG1ruG_4o/0.jpg</a>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://postmediacalgaryherald2.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/10918312.jpg?w=207" target="_blank">https://postmediacalgaryherald2.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/10918312.jpg?w=207</a>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5911412/this-couch-is-the-only-place-its-ever-ok-to-fall-asleep-at-the-wheel" target="_blank">http://gizmodo.com/5911412/this-couch-is-the-only-place-its-ever-ok-to-fall-asleep-at-the-wheel</a>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Top-Gear-The-Complete-Season-14-Blu-ray/18361/" target="_blank">http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Top-Gear-The-Complete-Season-14-Blu-ray/18361/</a>
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<i><b>"I've always been a fan of his work on Top Gear…"It is with regret we will not be renewing Jeremy's contract."</b></i></div>
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<b>~ Tony Hall, the Director General of the BBC</b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32052736" target="_blank">bbc.com: News: Entertainment & Arts: Jeremy Clarkson dropped from Top Gear, BBC confirms</a></span></div>
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With these words, Director General of the BBC, Tony Hall, nailed the lid in the coffin of Jeremy Clarkson’s future hosting the wildly successful Top Gear. The dismissal relates to an alleged altercation between Clarkson and one of the show’s producers, involving a 30-second tirade and physical assault.
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An investigation revealed, according to the official statement by the BBC, that the much loved presenter had “crossed a line.” Here is the official statement most fans of the show and casual onlookers alike have likely seen by now: <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Clarkson row: 'Why sack your biggest global star?' </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: BBC <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32055586" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32055586 </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: 'Why sack your biggest global star?' Clarkson row:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://youtu.be/AN-F9HE0diI" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/AN-F9HE0diI</a></span></div>
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All in all, it is safe to say that the entire incident and its predictable outcome have left all concerned with a bitter taste in their mouth. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYY-EYpBfHzXEzwv73EO5opz6Gd5S7pNB5bdCzwPq6s6Hx_pHzwnFvMudfLkrZOf6dxHqldTSuMnbHFdPIvvh9JTc2IkU36Q6ZFPPrdiKw1W-AYoTFMDjnEnh-UMIE23RzennjyDbHpo/s1600/jeremy-clarkson-thats-not-gone-well-memegenerator.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYY-EYpBfHzXEzwv73EO5opz6Gd5S7pNB5bdCzwPq6s6Hx_pHzwnFvMudfLkrZOf6dxHqldTSuMnbHFdPIvvh9JTc2IkU36Q6ZFPPrdiKw1W-AYoTFMDjnEnh-UMIE23RzennjyDbHpo/s1600/jeremy-clarkson-thats-not-gone-well-memegenerator.png" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Jeremy Clarkson Meme – That’s not gone well </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: </span><a href="http://memegenerator.net/Jeremy-Clarkson-Top-Gear" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://memegenerator.net/Jeremy-Clarkson-Top-Gear</span> </a></div>
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Feelings of bitterness and regret were immediately expressed by fans of the show; not just online—as one might expect—but in person, via a 1-million signature petition, delivered to BBC headquarters in a dramatic fashion in keeping with the spirit and substance of the show itself. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/15J9gG7kMPQ" width="500"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: ‘The Stig’ delivers Jeremy Clarkson petition – BBC News </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15J9gG7kMPQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15J9gG7kMPQ </a></span></div>
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Cynics and critics of Clarkson’s blokeish antics might argue that the stunt by fans is exactly the kind of aggressive over-reaction which caused the incident in the first place—and not the first time Clarkson got himself into hot water with BBC brass, either.<br />
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But we at PeapodLife couldn’t shake the feeling that there’s more going on here this time ‘round. And by all means while this is just speculation on our part, given the nature of this incident versus others the embattled host has been involved in, there was almost certainly something more insidious at work. <br />
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And, in the typical way society and the media avoid the topic due to <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=societal+stigma+mental+health" target="_blank">the social stigma around mental health</a>, no one seems to really be asking an important question… <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">Was Chronic Stress at least Partly to Blame for now Infamous Top Gear Fiasco?</span></span><br />
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Certainly, while on the surface this seems to be a case of a much beloved television presenter “losing it” in a fit of rage with a co-worker, a little research seems to suggest there’s more to the story than that. <br />
<br />
According to fellow TV host Piers Morgan, <i>“just like pretty much every other 50-something in life; angst-ridden from damaged relationships, grieving loved ones, irritated by work-related issues, and battling inner demons.”</i> Source: <a href="https://reputationrefinery.com/jeremy_clarkson" target="_blank">https://reputationrefinery.com/jeremy_clarkson </a><br />
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Now certainly, this is no excuse for bad behaviour—especially violent behaviour—but there seem to be more mitigating circumstances coming to light. <br />
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BBC’s Creative Director Ala Yentob said BBC’s decision to extend the series to 12 shows may have been a mistake. <i>"Whether it would have led to these events is speculative. It's very difficult to say why this happened. Clearly, workload is one thing, the stress of the year, all the rest of it."</i> Source: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/alan-yentob-refuses-to-rule-out-jeremy-clarkson-return-to-bbc-10134860.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/alan-yentob-refuses-to-rule-out-jeremy-clarkson-return-to-bbc-10134860.html </a><br />
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It turns out Clarkson had been dealing with a plethora of personal problems for some time, including a death in the family and a failing marriage. In other words, whatever triggered Clarkson to “cross the line” in professional conduct instead of on the track, was maybe just the straw that broke the camel’s back. Maybe he had been dealing with <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_stress" target="_blank">chronic stress</a>, a condition which among the obvious rage and depression, can lead to all kinds of very real physical problems: </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYmQfGY4OPib-8jXKQ1cHxgJ-78s9SmWcV79JRe1BUTq3Ed6xo-G3tMKAoE-V8wME6fy3Tn4T-zUHjyjPdmJfsrlPhmcOUlYehtECWS2d_ETpw6eCiHXBifAw2G2zcLYDgQD3vqIJaHc/s1600/chronic-stress-symptoms.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYmQfGY4OPib-8jXKQ1cHxgJ-78s9SmWcV79JRe1BUTq3Ed6xo-G3tMKAoE-V8wME6fy3Tn4T-zUHjyjPdmJfsrlPhmcOUlYehtECWS2d_ETpw6eCiHXBifAw2G2zcLYDgQD3vqIJaHc/s1600/chronic-stress-symptoms.png" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Chronic Stress symptoms </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://moringadivineliving.com/health-chronic-stress-effect/" target="_blank">http://moringadivineliving.com/health-chronic-stress-effect/ </a></span></div>
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Now, you can probably tell where we’re heading with this. The fact remains that the soothing, stress-reducing, and healing power of nature—especially ecosystems—<a href="https://scholar.google.ca/scholar?q=ecotherapy+chronic+stress&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=J20UVd7XKYi0ogSH_YH4DQ&ved=0CBoQgQMwAA" target="_blank">can be a powerful “ecotherapy” tool in preventative mental and physical healthcare, including the management of chronic stress</a>. <br />
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In many ways, then, we head right back into the discussion from Tuesday March 2015: <a href="http://greenaddition.blogspot.ca/2015/03/nature-significantly-helps-overcoming-disease.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nature ‘Significantly’ Helps overcoming Disease: PhD Study. </a><br />
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<b>The highlight?</b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YdwiJqysTM8gd9wIcWPwNxZmCddUXqq7qqCUQog_0nHHagmb8WeJ1zeoXgnwLZbPWYCaatliRiLDcQTeDcyabRq_9vPKOlsUjiyYLsS9SGjnEvnx25H4FTg5RFzjao99LZxzcQi2jfk/s1600/nature-sounds-reduce-stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YdwiJqysTM8gd9wIcWPwNxZmCddUXqq7qqCUQog_0nHHagmb8WeJ1zeoXgnwLZbPWYCaatliRiLDcQTeDcyabRq_9vPKOlsUjiyYLsS9SGjnEvnx25H4FTg5RFzjao99LZxzcQi2jfk/s1600/nature-sounds-reduce-stress.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Clinical Studies prove nature sounds reduce stress and activate healing – Dr. Joe Dispenza </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Credit: Rawforbeauty.com </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">http://1111now.com/wordpress/the-healing-power-of-nature-sounds/</a></span></div>
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Are we saying an ecosystem in Jeremy Clarkson’s home, the Top Gear studio, and/or the pub where the altercation took place could have prevented the incident? Not <i>directly</i>, no. <br />
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What we are saying is that <b>if chronic stress and pent up frustration and looming rage were indeed significant factors in Clarkson’s tragic fall</b>, then <i>absolutely</i>: <b>we believe the soothing, calming, relaxing and healing properties of ecosystems could have played a role in preventing this incident from ever occurring</b>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefIwO8HmmJFIc4qEupvywiP0_l05wpqqXR-ejRfx1h1O3Slxy0r1kuBpFO3ru8rdW12kvJs9tAS_ZQPptBtk_aq_XxmDX29vTu9srEX7P_l8twHxALyVSAzHtCZS7Zlnp7jfrg391XOY/s1600/hugs-everybody-needs-one-photobucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefIwO8HmmJFIc4qEupvywiP0_l05wpqqXR-ejRfx1h1O3Slxy0r1kuBpFO3ru8rdW12kvJs9tAS_ZQPptBtk_aq_XxmDX29vTu9srEX7P_l8twHxALyVSAzHtCZS7Zlnp7jfrg391XOY/s1600/hugs-everybody-needs-one-photobucket.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Hugs: Everybody needs one now and then. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://s754.photobucket.com/user/tpdemotivator/media/motivator032065274d81f1a99ddd4085e1.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://s754.photobucket.com/user/tpdemotivator/media/motivator032065274d81f1a99ddd4085e1.jpg.html </a></span></div>
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Forget <i>“Captain Slow,”</i> think MOTHER NATURE! Because there are few hugs more potent than a constant, enduring, balancing and revitalizing hug of a high-order rainforest ecosystem. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">P.S. To Top Gear Fans in Tanks: Life Goes On…</span></span><br />
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Of course, we must add a post script to all those lamenting the loss of their beloved presenter, now left in limbo wondering what the future has in store. <br />
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If all of you had an ecosystem in your home, business and/or school, you would have a deep appreciation for the nature of life and that all things come to an end. And, you’d be completely okay with that. You too would be relaxed, at ease, and ready to accept what could be an even more exciting and promising future. <br />
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I mean let’s be honest, Jeremy Clarkson isn’t going to be around forever…sooner or later change is inevitable. Here’s an article which may give you some hope: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/top-gear/11493920/Clarksons-departure-gives-Top-Gear-the-chance-to-reinvent-itself.html" target="_blank">Clarkson's departure gives Top Gear the chance to reinvent itself.</a><br />
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And whether you’re a fan of <i>Jezza</i> (Clarkson’s nickname) or not, here’s a take on what he represents—at least to some—which might help put things into some much needed 21st Century perspective (or not): <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11495983/Jeremy-Clarkson-represents-the-worst-of-boorish-Eighties-materialism.-Youd-hate-him-if-you-met-him.html" target="_blank">Jeremy Clarkson represents the worst of boorish Eighties materialism. You'd hate him if you met him.</a><br />
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As for <i>Jezza</i>? Well, love him or hate him, we have a feeling that all this is just of a setback at the end of the day…a flat tire at the side of the road or an exploding Fiat…just a tumble in a ridiculously rollie-pollie Reliant Robin. We’re pretty sure he’s going to find himself shifting into a whole new gear sometime in the not-too-distant future. After all, <i>it’s what Jeremy Clarkson does best. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCfUfoICavbVqsNyrDzvcRBjYZn-_YkzhOlCD205L6EBmPm5PwMc-dgRoDJsl4ir2STZ408rO0DZC0NcWyqktjJxwwu0zB3svknL7CQF6V5ACp6CLjQy1MB2L0z6Re3P7WjNbHtvegbU/s1600/clarkson-top-gear-meme%E2%80%93fast-demotywatorycom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCfUfoICavbVqsNyrDzvcRBjYZn-_YkzhOlCD205L6EBmPm5PwMc-dgRoDJsl4ir2STZ408rO0DZC0NcWyqktjJxwwu0zB3svknL7CQF6V5ACp6CLjQy1MB2L0z6Re3P7WjNbHtvegbU/s1600/clarkson-top-gear-meme%E2%80%93fast-demotywatorycom.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Clarkson Top Gear Meme – Fast </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://demotywatory.com/i/p/1/264.jpg" target="_blank">http://demotywatory.com/i/p/1/264.jpg</a></span></div>
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We just hope he also knows (and takes) good advice when he hears it. Our advice to him (and everyone) is this: <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">If there is chronic stress in your life, ask us about making the shift from the <i>rat race</i> and <i>living la vita loca</i> to the <i>relax lane</i> and <i>living the PeapodLife</i>. After all, we want what’s best for you; <i>for everyone!</i></span></span><br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-44466607188980952402015-03-24T13:18:00.000-07:002015-03-24T13:18:38.713-07:00Nature ‘Significantly’ Helps overcoming Disease: PhD Study<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"</b>In clinical studies, we have proven that <b>2 hours of nature sounds a day significantly reduce stress hormones up to 800%</b> and activates 500-600 DNA segments known to be responsible for <b>healing and repairing the body."</b></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">~ <a href="http://www.drjoedispenza.com/index.php?page_id=about" target="_blank">Dr. Joe Dispenza</a></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nU8gb55E9aWls8gcvLfDCItArwnNk2QdSZy1EITPegIdX3QmnQJxiS0Po7HDBhu48TrE8xXYe12VR7WhbuWFn43tgKcG7sG61Q-CZtTyvei91i1oVfgq9u4KGVUEUp3b7l4LPzUPq4I/s1600/nature-sounds-dr-joe-dispenza-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nU8gb55E9aWls8gcvLfDCItArwnNk2QdSZy1EITPegIdX3QmnQJxiS0Po7HDBhu48TrE8xXYe12VR7WhbuWFn43tgKcG7sG61Q-CZtTyvei91i1oVfgq9u4KGVUEUp3b7l4LPzUPq4I/s1600/nature-sounds-dr-joe-dispenza-peapodlife.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
Image by PeapodLife: Nature Sounds reduce stress hormones and help heal the body – Dr. Joe Dispenza<br />
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Until now, most of the studies around the <i>healing power of nature</i> focused on people being outside. More recently, work has been done looking into the positive effects of nature (or at least, “natural elements”) indoors. <br />
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And of course, when we refer to the healing power of nature, it follows that we also mean the <i>preventative health and wellness benefits of nature</i>. In other words, you don’t have to be sick to reap the benefits of nature. <br />
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In fact, a study by Health Promotional International suggests, <i>“contact with nature may provide an effective population-wide strategy in prevention of mental ill health, with potential application for sub-populations, communities and individuals at higher risk of ill health.”</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/1/45.full" target="_blank">http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/1/45.full</a>.</span><br />
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Coming back to the question of nature indoors, our friends at <a href="http://consciouslifenews.com/phd-study-nature-significantly-helps-overcoming-disease/1182730/" target="_blank">Conscious Life News recently posted an article describing a study by Roger Ulrich, Ph.D. about the importance of building in natural elements into architectural design</a>, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>Appropriate art</li>
<li>Soothing music</li>
<li>Natural elements </li>
<li>Plants</li>
</ul>
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The study, which looked specifically at hospitals, found that natural elements significantly boost the healing outcomes for patients. And the study was mostly considering picture windows which looked out onto pleasing natural scenes, like a garden, or ocean (though not many hospitals are built on seaside real estate).<br />
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It’s not just the sight of nature which is soothing and boosts healing, however. Sounds have a huge impact on our psychological well being. According to <a href="http://www.drjoedispenza.com/index.php?page_id=about" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Joe Dispenza</a>, his studies have concluded that two hours of nature sounds daily can decrease stress hormones by up to 800% and activates DNA responsible for healing and repairing the body. <br />
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Now, if just the sight and sounds of nature indoors have such healing properties, imagine what effect an actual high-order rainforest ecosystem will have.<br />
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Not only do PeapodLife’s indoor ecosystems feature absolutely beautiful flora and fauna—orchids, bromeliads, moss, African violets, tropical fish, snails, shrimp and so much more—the gentle gurgling of water in constant motion fills your ears with pure natural sounds. On top of this, the ecosystem produces fresh oxygen, cleans the air of VOC’s and other contaminants, and fills the space with an overwhelmingly positive ambiance of freshness and life. <br />
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<b>We cannot wait for the day when PeapodLife EcoSystems are brought into hospitals and measurements taken on how much more benefit is conferred by complete high-order rainforest ecosystem, in stress reduction, healing, bodily repair, mental health, et al. </b>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-15959371095553356792015-03-19T12:56:00.000-07:002015-03-19T12:56:06.967-07:00The Earth is an Amazing Place Invite it back into your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H4V0wF0A47ymazr7GJid4D2xPVF2uEEsYig5RLjRZzjNNleJKAPlSv5KZ8uzzi5ezt2UzUXUOOTifyLKnVlKeYnuLal39mrhjiJZICQjkjNhWPYNFmh757rbbL_LL5ABzqVjlhEOerY/s1600/invite-nature-into-your-life-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The earth is an amazing place…invite it back into your life PeapodLife " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H4V0wF0A47ymazr7GJid4D2xPVF2uEEsYig5RLjRZzjNNleJKAPlSv5KZ8uzzi5ezt2UzUXUOOTifyLKnVlKeYnuLal39mrhjiJZICQjkjNhWPYNFmh757rbbL_LL5ABzqVjlhEOerY/s1600/invite-nature-into-your-life-peapodlife.jpg" height="240" title="Invite Nature into Your life PeapodLife" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by PeapodLife: The earth is an amazing place…invite it back into your life </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: Earth Nature Vector House & Ecology Graphic </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.welovesolo.com/earth-nature-vector-house-ecology-graphic-2/" target="_blank">http://www.welovesolo.com/earth-nature-vector-house-ecology-graphic-2/ </a></span></div>
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As a little change of pace, we thought we would offer you a little meditative break from your busy day to just stop and remind yourself that earth is an amazing place.<br />
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We begin with this montage featuring the music of Vangelis.<br />
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<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Akb1t37T4E?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Vangelis - Beautiful Planet Earth [HD] </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Akb1t37T4E" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Akb1t37T4E </a></span></div>
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Next, we offer up this video simply called Planet Earth:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6v2L2UGZJAM?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Planet Earth: Amazing nature scenery (1080p HD) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v2L2UGZJAM" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v2L2UGZJAM </a></span></div>
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Some of the amazing places on our planet are almost too beautiful to believe:<br />
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<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ug39P7ZFopg?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Planet Earth Most Amazing Beautiful Places HD </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug39P7ZFopg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug39P7ZFopg </a></span></div>
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And then there’s this compilation by our friends at The Rainforest Site:<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152748154387688">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therainforestsite">The Rainforest Site</a>.</div>
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I think we can all agree watching videos on YouTube is not the same as being there. Sadly, we have lives, responsibilities, and realities to face surrounding the practicalities of life. Fortunately, there is a way we can invite the earth, in all its magnificence, Mother Nature in her essence, back into our lives in a very practical and meaningful way. <b>We can live the PeapodLife. </b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjqzgbjxlOM?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video by PeapodLife: Living Wall Ecosystem up-close and personal - Bodystream Health & Wellness Center </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjqzgbjxlOM" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjqzgbjxlOM </a></span></div>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-27619626224194427122015-03-10T13:35:00.000-07:002015-03-10T13:35:13.599-07:00Apple Watch: Just another Gadget, or has Einstein’s Fear Finally Come True?<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<i><b>“I fear the day technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”</b></i></div>
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<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a> </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/724791-i-fear-the-day-technology-will-surpass-our-human-interaction" target="_blank">GoodReads: Albert Einstein > Quotes > Quotable Quote</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvWQS5yCm39P7HauIKR0uJLJSDc6U4Vb_rVHsG8m64hH895b51c145JGPLikkFj1w8zqqe4M217mw5gxCD8LrS1qCRpoAINxeXukuVi9X4XiJAtZeS6WgONjI9bHmnBLyLsGDX6ql5P4/s1600/Apple-Watch-Generation-of-Idiots-Einstein-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvWQS5yCm39P7HauIKR0uJLJSDc6U4Vb_rVHsG8m64hH895b51c145JGPLikkFj1w8zqqe4M217mw5gxCD8LrS1qCRpoAINxeXukuVi9X4XiJAtZeS6WgONjI9bHmnBLyLsGDX6ql5P4/s1600/Apple-Watch-Generation-of-Idiots-Einstein-PeapodLife.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: <i><b>Einstein’s Fear Come True?</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Einstein Image Source: <a href="http://www.quoteku.com/2014/12/7-top-inspiring-albert-einstein-quotes.html" target="_blank">http://www.quoteku.com/2014/12/7-top-inspiring-albert-einstein-quotes.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Apple Watches Image Source: <a href="http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/139311-image/Unparalleled-beauty-in-watchfaces-live-animated.jpg" target="_blank">http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/139311-image/Unparalleled-beauty-in-watchfaces-live-animated.jpg</a></span> </div>
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Yesterday Apple began taking orders for the Apple Watch. Today we ask the question: has the day finally arrived that Einstein feared—that technology has surpassed human interaction? Have we become a generation of idiots? <br />
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What are we talking about? On some level you probably already know—at least, you do when it hits home in your everyday life. But for the sake brevity, here’s a popular YouTube video as a little reminder…<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: A generation of idiots, smartphones & dumb people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oolLtPIOr8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oolLtPIOr8 </a></span></div>
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Now don’t get us wrong, there’s nothing inherently <i>wrong</i> with technology. There is a very strong case to be made for technology and how it has made humanity’s life easier on a number of levels and in a number of ways throughout our history. <br />
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But it’s undeniable that human nature is such that we take things too far. Anything in moderation may be okay, but we tend to indulge; getting “too much of a good thing” seems to be our <i>modus operandi</i>.<br />
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So let’s take a look at one of the consequences of this over-abundance, technology: <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Humans Need Not Apply</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU</a></span></div>
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Are we taking technology too far? In the above video, the answer is likely no, not yet. If anything, we (the wealthy west, anyway) are on the cusp of <i>The Leisure Economy</i>. Let’s face it, humans will always <i>busy themselves with something</i>. And many look forward to the day when we don’t have to work to survive anymore; but rather, work on what we are passionate about: art, music, acting, playing, nature…whatever. <br />
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The problem arises when we start <i>losing our humanity</i> to technology. There is nothing inherently natural about going to work and making money to make a living. These constructs may as well be replaced by technology. But there is something natural and fundamental to human mind, consciousness, contemplation, comprehension and awareness—of our immediate surroundings and our inner psychology. <br />
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Cybernetics challenges this fundamental natural state. And believe it or not, the Apple Watch is a significant step <i>in the wrong direction</i>. Technological augmentation of human beings is the next major step in technology—bridging the gap (the “bottleneck”) between the human-machine interface. In other words, putting on an Apple Watch—and other “wearables” against our skin is getting us one step closer to the day the computers will literally be under our skin.<br />
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No longer will you need to be aware of how you feel, your Apple Watch will <i>tell you</i>: your heartrate, blood sugar, and who knows what else? Eventually EEG’s? But these are just numbers. They say very little to your intellect, let alone connect you to how you <i>actually feel</i>. An increasing or decreasing number on a screen doesn’t tell you whether or not your exertion or rest is <i>beneficial</i> for you or not. And your intellect cannot know this based on a number measured against some arbitrary “statistically significant mean.”<br />
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Technology of this kind shifts our consciousness to our head and out of our hearts and bodies. Our attention is shifted away from the moment, the people, places, events and phenomena in the here and now, and we focus instead on what the little mechanical device can show/tell us about that moment…in other words, technology is a hyper-extended version of what our “crazy minds” already do.<br />
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Having a photography and video studio / publishing / distribution mechanism in our pocket at all times has robbed countless millions of precious magical moments they will never get back. So what if they have “a record” of it? A photo / video can capture some—but not all—of a precious moment…but trying to capture the moment on photo/video can rob YEARS from your life…a life that you’ve <i>recorded</i> but haven’t actually <i>lived</i>.<br />
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This message is made very clear in the snow leopard scene in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, who has lived his whole life in a dream world most of the time, and must go on an actual adventure to track down a missing negative for the final cover of LIFE Magazine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty EXTENDED 6 Minutes Trailer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc3S0vE2qj8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc3S0vE2qj8 </a></span></div>
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When he finally catches up to Sean Penn’s character, a globetrotting freelance professional photographer who is there to <i>capture a snow leopard on film</i>, he finds him watching the animal at a safe distance…and is baffled when he doesn’t take the picture. He tells Ben Stiller that sometimes if a moment is perfect, he just enjoys it. Taking the picture is secondary. He shoots on <i>film</i>, by the way…<i>not digital</i>.<br />
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So this is how Walter Mitty comes to realize what’s important…and how much more rewarding <i>being here and now</i> is than being in our heads all the time. The Apple Watch is a mechanical externalized version of what Walter Mitty does inside his head—and what we all do to a degree. It can only take us further away from the beauty and the wonder and the magic of the moment…the people, places, animals, plants, rocks, and events around us in the here and now. And having these experiences, digesting them fully and completely heart, mind and body, is what it means to be truly human, to be truly alive. And Einstein, I’m afraid, knew this, too… <br />
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<i><b>“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”</b></i></div>
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<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a></b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://lonelyspirithellgirl.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">https://lonelyspirithellgirl.wordpress.com/about/</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOkFhsC7pvcD9un2Xg6bEiZQPuEg30SHg9lqROvtj_gX3DmzVjVjjM6EyXyFbVQipgrzzRCuB3AfXd8Orc2JY1HGcspKWKikPjpZg7-no-y3_OGyJdlZWZkSCMbNIvwRDb8pKvEblaZ8/s1600/Apple-Watch-Technology-Humanity-Einstein-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOkFhsC7pvcD9un2Xg6bEiZQPuEg30SHg9lqROvtj_gX3DmzVjVjjM6EyXyFbVQipgrzzRCuB3AfXd8Orc2JY1HGcspKWKikPjpZg7-no-y3_OGyJdlZWZkSCMbNIvwRDb8pKvEblaZ8/s1600/Apple-Watch-Technology-Humanity-Einstein-PeapodLife.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: <i><b>Einstein’s Appallingly Obvious Observation: Technology has exceeded Humanity.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Einstein Image Source: <a href="https://lonelyspirithellgirl.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">https://lonelyspirithellgirl.wordpress.com/about/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Apple Watches Image Source: <a href="http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/139311-image/Unparalleled-beauty-in-watchfaces-live-animated.jpg" target="_blank">http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/139311-image/Unparalleled-beauty-in-watchfaces-live-animated.jpg</a></span></div>
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The slow steady march of technology in our lives is inevitable. But we can resist it in areas where <i>too much of a good thing</i> crosses lines which should not be crossed, where it impedes our birthright to pure unfiltered experience of life using fully developed natural human capacities and faculties of consciousness. <br />
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Where some technologies want to exceed our humanity, and make us more machine-like than we already are, others strive to deepen our experience of what it means to be human. Building EcoSystems and Technologies, for instance.<br />
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<a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PeapodLife ecosystems</a> are a balm, an antidote for the machinations of the digital age. To experience the energy, vitality, colours, sounds, scents, harmony and symbiosis of an indoor ecosystem is to reawaken faculties of conscious awareness and natural capabilities of conscious experience. To simply sit in the company of a high-order rainforest ecosystem is an exercise in rejuvenation and renewal of what it truly means to be human…and relaxation, inspiration, imagination, meditation and comprehension are among the benefits. <br />
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<b>Living the PeapodLife is about getting out of our heads and back to what matters in life: to be here, now: with ourselves, our surroundings, and the people we love. It’s about establishing and maintaining REAL connections, not some networking definition of “connectivity.” It’s about enjoying REAL experiences, not virtual ones. It’s about how deep we LOVE life…not how many “LIKES” we get.</b><br />
<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-49097110541193423132015-03-03T11:40:00.000-08:002015-03-03T11:40:29.531-08:00Happy World Wildlife Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUi_yOx7H-byJYog1O_44TEdktx01n7pOdyUlRgqjXl70-Ps5-_FfOtRhsJWd1gOD_G5AmbGU1h_iLtoWhmDhl6nfnwgNEkunewdBNISAY3QYYJcRiEpehtDWl3O5Brr5RR6ohcRhb4c/s1600/Happy-World-Wildlife-Day-Peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUi_yOx7H-byJYog1O_44TEdktx01n7pOdyUlRgqjXl70-Ps5-_FfOtRhsJWd1gOD_G5AmbGU1h_iLtoWhmDhl6nfnwgNEkunewdBNISAY3QYYJcRiEpehtDWl3O5Brr5RR6ohcRhb4c/s1600/Happy-World-Wildlife-Day-Peapodlife.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife <i><b>"Happy World Wildlife Day 2015" </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source/Credit: <a href="http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/children-06032014" target="_blank">dailynews.lk: Daily News Online : Sri Lanka's National News: Children (06.03.2014)</a></span></div>
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<i><b>"When I hear of the destruction of a species, I feel just as if all the works of some great writer have perished."</b></i><br />
<b>~ Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt </b><br />
Source: <a href="http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/children-06032014" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/children-06032014 </a></div>
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March 3rd is World Wildlife Day, an opportunity for us to appreciate biodiversity in all its forms. It is a chance for us to reflect on the benefits of healthy ecosystems filled with enduring populations of flora and fauna, and how we are better as a species for being good caretakers of the natural world and its fragile ecological balance—as opposed to efficient and ruthless masters of exploitation. <br />
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World Wildlife Day is likewise an occasion for us to take a long, hard look at the international trade in endangered wildlife products. This means taking a long, hard look at ourselves—an exercise which is often times easier said than done. The fact is many of us may be consumers of such products without being aware of it. Or perhaps we simply choose to look the other way. And yet, if we value the continued presence of these creatures in the wild, we cannot afford to be complacent. <br />
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<i><b>"Getting serious about wildlife crime means enrolling the support of all sections of society involved in the production and consumption of wildlife products, which are widely used as medicines, food, building materials, furniture, cosmetics, clothing and accessories."</b></i><br />
<b>~ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon</b> <br />
Source: <a href="http://www.un.org/en/events/wildlifeday/" target="_blank">http://www.un.org/en/events/wildlifeday/ </a></blockquote>
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As the above quote by Ban Ki-moon suggests, we have a role to play in the preservation of endangered species; as do governments and the private sector. But it is not enough to “get tough” on wildlife crime. In parts of the world where economic opportunities are limited, we will always find individuals turning to whatever means of survival is at hand—including harvest and trade in illegal goods. <br />
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So long as there is a demand for products containing wildlife parts, there will be a supply…until, that is, demand outstrips supply and the wild population and/or ecosystem collapses. The cascading effects of species loss can be disastrous on ecosystems. <br />
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True, ecosystems are self-balancing and constantly adapting to change, but it is naïve to think that that they will “recover” to their pre-existing state after the loss of a major species. Instead, a new ecosystem will evolve, one in which a number of other species may likewise disappear.<br />
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For as difficult as it may be for us to comprehend, nature itself has no attachments to species. Sacrifice is a fundamental aspect of life. Working with ecosystems day in and day out, we at PeapodLife witness how ecosystems sacrifice individuals for the sake of the whole. <br />
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Nature has been responsible for several major extinction events on the planet, and countless minor ones. Nature moves on: new species emerge; new harmonic and symbiotic relationships develop. Negative chaos gives way to positive chaos. <br />
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<b>The real question to ask ourselves on World Wildlife Day may be this: are we a part of the negative chaos or the positive chaos? Are we contributing to harmonious and symbiotic relationships or exploitative, conflict-based ones? How does our relationship with our immediate micro environment translate into our relationship with the macro environment?</b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqGQrYl2fxAUO651Xa58u9gkET81ZcWeg576a7AJUBWTZINh_cYHB_z-nUUBqEGx-NPeC2pxs-UJJagWKt07FomnT41O5NmFOwbzIQx-LOqb8oK6mq_npGXR0SVC98tYKMYnnprbgWdI/s1600/help-us-endangered-species-act-national-biodiversity-teach-in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqGQrYl2fxAUO651Xa58u9gkET81ZcWeg576a7AJUBWTZINh_cYHB_z-nUUBqEGx-NPeC2pxs-UJJagWKt07FomnT41O5NmFOwbzIQx-LOqb8oK6mq_npGXR0SVC98tYKMYnnprbgWdI/s1600/help-us-endangered-species-act-national-biodiversity-teach-in.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Endangered Species </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://nationalbiodiversityteachin.com/endangered-species-act/" target="_blank">http://nationalbiodiversityteachin.com/endangered-species-act/ </a></span></div>
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If it is a question of sensitivity—of feeling the plight of endangered species and the loss of species on a deep, almost personal level—then wouldn’t a personal relationship with an ecosystem in our micro environment increase our sensitivity to ecosystems and their endangered residents on the macro level?<br />
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PeapodLife doesn’t believe this to be so—we know it. We have witnessed it, time and again. By inviting ecosystems into their lives in a meaningful way, individuals develop a deeper sensitivity to the profound purpose and meaning of nature in their lives. It’s almost inevitable. We, like all creatures, are not separate from our environment. If we immerse ourselves in the embrace of nature’s nurturing embrace, we will have a greater tendency to “pay it forward;” to repay and embrace nature in kind. <br />
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When you bring a PeapodLife ecosystem into your life, every day is a <i><b>Happy World Wildlife Day</b></i>. <br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-78527776591423255442015-02-24T14:11:00.000-08:002015-02-24T14:11:41.654-08:00Happy CoworkingToronto Day! Now make it even more Productive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtW6sEpn88aQNaBwU8QmV7DyR6WbHA9Y3W1aojE5oGO7UwrsuNnVBe82ZrMgrrTc_6MZsevm70ipianphYVW6oByIwGKeqYJ9DEN9Azfc0RpYVogiphUWZ7RaqwIIVtvovyhIhdIoiTc/s1600/coworking-ecosystem-harmony-symbiosis-peapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtW6sEpn88aQNaBwU8QmV7DyR6WbHA9Y3W1aojE5oGO7UwrsuNnVBe82ZrMgrrTc_6MZsevm70ipianphYVW6oByIwGKeqYJ9DEN9Azfc0RpYVogiphUWZ7RaqwIIVtvovyhIhdIoiTc/s1600/coworking-ecosystem-harmony-symbiosis-peapodLife.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image collage by PeapodLife: Coworking in a Space of Mutual Harmony and Symbiosis</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>“Do more than belong: participate. </b></i><br />
<i><b>Do more than care: help. </b></i><br />
<i><b>Do more than believe: practice. </b></i><br />
<i><b>Do more than be fair: be kind. </b></i><br />
<i><b>Do more than forgive: forget. </b></i><br />
<i><b>Do more than dream: work.” </b></i><br />
~ William Arthur Ward <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/314867-do-more-than-belong-participate-do-more-than-care-help" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/314867-do-more-than-belong-participate-do-more-than-care-help</a> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">February 24th is Coworking Toronto Day.</span></span><br />
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We think 2015 is a tremendous opportunity for coworking venues in the City of Toronto to become leaders internationally in bringing the power and beauty of PeapodLife ecosystems to their spaces. Why would they want to do that? To realize the spirit of the above quote, a spirit which is most certainly embodied in the celebration of coworking in Toronto, and elsewhere around the world later this summer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzKqL0bzkPjzfosfZNAbKxyBKOOKNHumC0Rt8Qk9LJHe796gkpQ736BStM7DOxF4BVIGed9d4e9EqdGWxTtUY5hbKSLY_6NoeBh34AHa55OCvvZlGURCnKpSHDTJU8uA2ozPvC2Ftu6Y/s1600/coworking-toronto-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzKqL0bzkPjzfosfZNAbKxyBKOOKNHumC0Rt8Qk9LJHe796gkpQ736BStM7DOxF4BVIGed9d4e9EqdGWxTtUY5hbKSLY_6NoeBh34AHa55OCvvZlGURCnKpSHDTJU8uA2ozPvC2Ftu6Y/s1600/coworking-toronto-logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Coworking Toronto Logo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://coworkingtoronto.ca/" target="_blank">http://coworkingtoronto.ca</a></span>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What is coworking?</b></span><br />
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The following infographic nicely sums up the topic the benefits and spirit of coworking, a concept which has been gaining popularity in the digital age as individuals working outside the framework of traditional organizational structures discover that being a freelancer or a lone wolf isn’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoy4Wke57Mg_jTICJU8_89s_Lw4pdXpGA2r4Ge8v2JcJ-Va9ckSawQygdSv-y4EKm8IP8IfnsA8tcSF0pzwKB1oSLTZFwPL-qVIVqyDU2cux3FRiYKuUHqsF8plDhqPtHIQhs3hiyxBY/s1600/Considering-Coworking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoy4Wke57Mg_jTICJU8_89s_Lw4pdXpGA2r4Ge8v2JcJ-Va9ckSawQygdSv-y4EKm8IP8IfnsA8tcSF0pzwKB1oSLTZFwPL-qVIVqyDU2cux3FRiYKuUHqsF8plDhqPtHIQhs3hiyxBY/s1600/Considering-Coworking.jpg" height="320" width="96" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Infographic: Considering Coworking | Visual.ly</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: <a href="http://visual.ly/considering-coworking" target="_blank">http://visual.ly/considering-coworking</a></span></div>
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Let’s face it: human beings are—for the most part—social animals. We like human contact (again, for the most part) and without a sense of connection we turn to unhealthy and unsustainable substitutes—including addiction, as is evidenced in <a href="http://genesisecofund.blogspot.ca/2015/01/could-advanced-human-habitat-prevent-cure-addiction.html" target="_blank">the recent GenesisEcoFund blog on the subject: Could Advanced Human Habitat Prevent/Cure Addiction? </a><br />
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Even telecommuters and those working for larger organizations who are allowed to work from home will often seek out shared workspaces in a big to fill the “coworking void,” as it were. Perhaps it relates to the morphogenetic field that we feel more productive when surrounded by others who are being productive. Whereas being alone often means being surrounded by myriad distractions to occupy our time and attention with (and anyone who has ever worked from home can attest to this). <br />
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The benefits of coworking have been well noted. A surveys from 2012 to 2014 conducted by Deskmag revealled:<br />
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• 58% of members were working from home before joining a coworking space<br />
• 80% of members acknowledged the business network of a coworking space had a positive impact on independent workers<br />
• 42% of members join coworking spaces for the knowledge sharing<br />
• 47% enjoy moral support from fellow members<br />
• 48% often share contacts of other professionals<br />
• 68% of coworkers report an improved focus<br />
• 71% of coworkers report an increased creativity<br />
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Source: <a href="http://coworkingtoronto.ca/coworkingtoronto-day-2015-event-calendar" target="_blank">http://coworkingtoronto.ca/coworkingtoronto-day-2015-event-calendar/ </a><br />
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Or, if you prefer your statistics in visual form…<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxyUhxgQ5K-mGlSSK_WyQiw_-nKC9awqstbwrJR1Bdfk5svgE44eVZBi4xAAdQrAG6cOjb9tVNzeDEN5SjAR4IWi_9qx4CtbjQiChNpKHNm9YsaLK4MXOwAo43dyg5BIgCI5IBJ1uCGU/s1600/coworking-infographic-deskmag.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxyUhxgQ5K-mGlSSK_WyQiw_-nKC9awqstbwrJR1Bdfk5svgE44eVZBi4xAAdQrAG6cOjb9tVNzeDEN5SjAR4IWi_9qx4CtbjQiChNpKHNm9YsaLK4MXOwAo43dyg5BIgCI5IBJ1uCGU/s1600/coworking-infographic-deskmag.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Coworking Infographic</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://densitycoworking.com/fun-stats-about-coworking/" target="_blank">http://densitycoworking.com/fun-stats-about-coworking/ </a></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Can Coworking be made even better?</span></b><br />
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PeapodLife knows so. How? With harmony and symbiosis. A Rainforest ecosystem in any shared space brings an even degree of community, collaboration, and efficiency. <br />
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Anyone who shares the electromagnetic field of an ecosystem simply starts feeling better… simultaneously more relaxed and more invigorated; a consciousness more focused and more expansive; more inspired and more imaginative. <br />
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Don’t believe us? Just ask the tenants of 401 Bay Street, who enjoy a small ecosystem in their shared cafeteria.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKss1CZf1X3a9EduP2T57k_fBJeTWpwWIEem3QvJtHRvcDkoSwiy9rudBNp8m4HeWvlKT0jK21_x9ZuXT9hRSWkoM7MRcm5s2Vb8a6xGMNtHIhnroY-AETFoLgR3cce1EmnkjqhzSiH50/s1600/ecosystem-PeapodLife-401Bay-Toronto-shared-office-space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKss1CZf1X3a9EduP2T57k_fBJeTWpwWIEem3QvJtHRvcDkoSwiy9rudBNp8m4HeWvlKT0jK21_x9ZuXT9hRSWkoM7MRcm5s2Vb8a6xGMNtHIhnroY-AETFoLgR3cce1EmnkjqhzSiH50/s1600/ecosystem-PeapodLife-401Bay-Toronto-shared-office-space.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by PeapodLife: “Angolo” Ecosystem in café at 401 Bay Street Shared office space.</span></div>
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Or, the residents of the affordable retirement residence who enjoy this ecosystem in a shared living space:<br />
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And to get a feel for what the real potential contribution an ecosystem has to make on your coworking space/community, you need to read our last blog article: <a href="http://greenaddition.blogspot.ca/2015/02/its-not-that-easy-being-green.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">It’s not that easy being “GREEN” - “Efficiency” vs. “Sustainability”</a>.<br />
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If you believe in the power and potential of coworking, and realize/accept that those benefits are taking place in toxic non-habitats; imagine what can be achieved in vibrant, transformative, dynamic coworking environments powered by high-order rainforest ecosystems…<b>Advanced Human Habitat</b>. <br />
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Learn more at <a href="http://genesisecofund.org/" target="_blank">GenesisEcoFund.org</a>. <br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-21518188954213747612015-02-19T13:57:00.000-08:002015-02-19T14:57:26.950-08:00It’s not that easy being “GREEN” “Efficiency” vs. “Sustainability”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPOtAHT7OsR62wbjsrHKdRWrrtNS6OBKA6OzvVZouNjVryT_-tAHfXT-cEGWHF3HCUsLy4Impssmw0SRSlu7QgOiwxi_uUN6_snkcKRYqNWCl_aUqapTACy09uofc7kYN3jAyI_sZdeI/s1600/efficiency_is_not_sustainability_peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPOtAHT7OsR62wbjsrHKdRWrrtNS6OBKA6OzvVZouNjVryT_-tAHfXT-cEGWHF3HCUsLy4Impssmw0SRSlu7QgOiwxi_uUN6_snkcKRYqNWCl_aUqapTACy09uofc7kYN3jAyI_sZdeI/s1600/efficiency_is_not_sustainability_peapodlife.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage by PeapodLife: It takes more than “efficiency” to be “GREEN” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sources: <a href="http://imgarcade.com/1/environmental-sustainability/" target="_blank">http://imgarcade.com/1/environmental-sustainability/</a>; <a href="https://environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/environmental-sustainability-is-out-the-window-if-commission-is-cut/" target="_blank">https://environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/environmental-sustainability-is-out-the-window-if-commission-is-cut/</a>; </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1857113,00.html" target="_blank">http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1857113,00.html </a></span></div>
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Decades after the birth of the modern environmental movement, the western world has seen the rise of a burgeoning “green economy.”<br />
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But the world seems somehow hamstrung to tackle global warming and other major environmental problems, leaving environmentalists frustrated and the general public apathetic. Perhaps the ecological warning of the century came not from Al Gore, but from Kermit the Frog…<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hpiIWMWWVco?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe></center>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: sesame street - its not easy being green </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco </a></span></div>
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So what makes being green so hard? Like anything in life, how we think about something effects greatly its impact on us. Recycling, conservation, emissions reduction, carbon trading, and many other schemes have emerged into the mainstream under the umbrella of <i>sustainability</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFfRasTpZ4MkpK64noObhMeIu2BM44mkFe-oysG097LR41d5V1lG4J46jgQwQGJRfnBXQ1A8zWU69so50xTt4yt2q1lpJMAxOVtaHx2IpC7m9djCoLbhmwRANUnT76I2J0Rfkc7dywlQ/s1600/sustainability-creating-more-wasting-less-hw-ac-uk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFfRasTpZ4MkpK64noObhMeIu2BM44mkFe-oysG097LR41d5V1lG4J46jgQwQGJRfnBXQ1A8zWU69so50xTt4yt2q1lpJMAxOVtaHx2IpC7m9djCoLbhmwRANUnT76I2J0Rfkc7dywlQ/s1600/sustainability-creating-more-wasting-less-hw-ac-uk.jpg" height="66" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Logo: Sustainability – creating more, wasting less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www1.hw.ac.uk/sustainability/branding.htm" target="_blank">http://www1.hw.ac.uk/sustainability/branding.htm </a></span></div>
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But this isn’t the definition of <i>sustainability</i>…it’s the definition of <i>efficiency</i>. And this gross oversimplification of sustainability in purely material terms has become the proverbial <i>Achilles Heel </i>of the so-called “green” movement. <br />
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But sustainability is not a question of material efficiency alone. If it were, the world would be taking it much more seriously. If we say sustainability only matters in the material economic sense, then we are attributing purely tangible value to ecology, ecosystems and humanity’s ongoing harmonious and symbiotic relationship with the natural world. <br />
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By thinking about sustainability solely in the “what we take out of / what we put back into the environment” equation, we deny its intrinsic value—the<i> intangible value</i> of nature and a healthy, vibrant, thriving environment. <br />
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In my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439235031?ie=UTF8&tag=a0261-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1439235031" target="_blank">The Attlas Project, Volume One: SEE the World in a New Light</a>, I explore this question and offer a context with which to further the discussion:<br />
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<b>Accounting for the Tangible and Intangible Costs of Business</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
One of the interesting concepts in economics is that of opportunity cost, the notion that, in free markets, while direct costs of goods and services are contained in the price, one must also consider the benefits of making alternative choices. The inherent scarce nature of resources means that choices are usually based on a prioritized cost-benefit analysis including consideration of opportunity costs.<br />
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Consumers, like most entities existing in free markets, have incentives to achieve maximum benefits at minimum costs. While there are exceptions to every rule, on the whole consumers will make purchase decisions based on an evaluation of their choice—the tangible and intangible benefits they will receive versus the tangible costs they will incur, including some opportunity cost factor. Of note here is the consideration of intangible benefits on the part of the consumer. A designer label or prestigious trademark will often fetch a higher price than an identical substitute (minus the mark) despite having the same tangible costs. One might be tempted to argue that supply and demand forces prices higher in this instance, as in others, since designer brands are distributed in limited quantities and the desire to own one of a limited number of units is high. Or a connoisseur might argue that it is precisely the limited availability of premium goods that warrants paying a higher price. In either case, the producers of such goods make up for lower quantities with higher margins. In the case of some producers such as Tommy Hilfiger or the GAP, neither argument applies, since neither of these so-called designer labels are produced in limited quantities. In fact, the intangible benefit of fashion is the very notion of being “fashionable,” which by definition stands in opposition to the idea of exclusivity. The paradox of individuality as it is expressed through following the latest fashion trends is a socio-psychological issue beyond the scope of this chapter; nevertheless, the point must be made that markets—especially in the West—have accepted the concept of intangible benefits and use monetary metrics to account for them, despite inherent incompatibilities.<br />
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One need only observe the salaries of certain athletes, actors, and CEOs in the West—particularly in the United States—to realize that accounting for intangible benefits with dollars can produce simply outrageous results. Investors and analysts alike have puzzled over exactly how an acquiring firm arrived at the sum paid out in “goodwill.” So-called priceless works of art, antiques, and artefacts nonetheless get auctioned off for very real sums of money. The retail price of a designer t-shirt manufactured offshore can sell for double or triple the price of a higher-grade cotton t-shirt “Made in the USA.” One cannot deny the inherent incompatibility between intangible value and dollar measurement. Currency is useful for valuating measurable quantities of resources: pounds of salt, bags of grain, kilowatt hours, acres, hours of labour, etc. But how does one quantify the value of the Sistine Chapel or the Great Wall of China? Surely not in terms of square footage! The old cliché “money can’t buy happiness” rings true in this regard. Still, markets have deemed it fair and necessary to incorporate intangible value into price. <br />
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If there are varying degrees of intangible benefits considered in all economic choices, then it follows that there must also be intangible costs. Like the balance sheet itself, the cost-benefit analysis should balance, and yet it does not. Historically, free markets have over-emphasized the “assets” side and turned a blind eye to the “liabilities.” After all, there is no incentive for markets driven by earnings growth and increased profitability to concern themselves with the intangible costs of doing business. The capitalist system, moreover, is ill-equipped to account for intangible costs. <br />
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To illustrate, consider a $20 GAP t-shirt. Due to all the advertising and fashion trends depicted in the media, I as a consumer may believe the intangible benefits of wearing a GAP t-shirt (over and above the tangible benefits of any normal $10 t-shirt) are greater than the $10 premium I must pay to wear it. The market has priced in the intangible benefits of wearing GAP, and I am willing to pay that price, despite the fact that Costco sells an American-made generic-label t-shirt for $10. The GAP could source t-shirts manufactured under decent conditions, with workers being paid relatively decent wages, and still provide me with a $20 GAP t-shirt at a profit of at least $10. Instead, it sources t-shirts from Southeast Asia manufactured under sub-par conditions, paying sub-standard wages, to provide me with a $20 t-shirt at a profit significantly greater than $10. As a consumer, I have no simple basis on which to make an informed choice in this case, since although the price clearly accounts for the intangible benefits—reinforced through marketing and fashion trends—it fails to account for the intangible costs of GAP’s business practices. In short, I cannot readily or easily evaluate all the costs against the benefits. <br />
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If I was an investor and not a consumer, I would have an even greater incentive to buy GAP, since its business practices give it a better operating margin, and that translates into higher earnings. Thus, the high social costs of GAP’s exploitative business practices abroad and the high environmental costs of its international shipping practices, are reflected in lower economic costs and higher share price for the company and its investors. In other words, the effects of GAP’s high intangible costs have been accounted for as tangible benefits—assets, if you will—but the intangible costs themselves have not been accounted for anywhere for what they are—liabilities. Given the natural scarcity of resources and the purported long-term nature of equity investment, such inequitable cost-benefit analysis is unsustainable over time. <br />
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Tens of millions of dollars are spent on marketing and advertising the intangible benefits of wearing GAP clothing, but nowhere are the intangible costs mentioned to either the consumer or the shareholder who, by purchasing GAP over another company, are supporting low-paying, high-margin operations in Southeast Asia, increasing contributions to greenhouse gases via shipping, and helping eliminate higher-paying jobs domestically. The ripple effect of their economic choice, compounded with the choice of millions of others following fashion and investment trends, will eventually come back to haunt them, but the effect is so far removed at the time the purchase decision is made it is intangible and unaccounted for—“out of sight; out of mind.” Like the billions upon billions in off-balance-sheet debt that caused the collapse of Enron, global markets have set themselves up for a terrible fall. Eventually, all those unaccounted-for intangible costs will catch up to us—this time in the trillions—or if not us, then our children (and/or our children’s children). <br />
Source: – <a href="http://attlas.info/about/" target="_blank">Attila Lewis Lendvai</a>, Author, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439235031?ie=UTF8&tag=a0261-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1439235031" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Attlas Project," Chapter 2: SEEconomics.</a> </blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8ivnrmToF8bO4UZhHcEZoNp912BLqUoUwAzlpEr3D0MAGzIBKYj-Q1HIRnSe0CS3t7XJno7d9A1i3j4WE1d1q4mbyOxX4UX2ZGMtLGPZCqL8txaZ9qYS_6LZr_xImNtsxQbfsX5ZJ08/s1600/Attlas-project-SEE-the-World-book-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8ivnrmToF8bO4UZhHcEZoNp912BLqUoUwAzlpEr3D0MAGzIBKYj-Q1HIRnSe0CS3t7XJno7d9A1i3j4WE1d1q4mbyOxX4UX2ZGMtLGPZCqL8txaZ9qYS_6LZr_xImNtsxQbfsX5ZJ08/s1600/Attlas-project-SEE-the-World-book-cover.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: <b>The Attlas Project Volume One - SEE the World in a New Light</b> Cover </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439235031?ie=UTF8&tag=a0261-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1439235031" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439235031?ie=UTF8&tag=a0261-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1439235031</a> </span></div>
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But rainforests can and are measured in square kilometers and tons of lumber. What’s worse, after they are cut or burned down, the land they once occupied is repurposed and measured in heads of cattle or tons of coffee beans, cocoa, palm oil, etc. The pricelessness of the rainforest, however, is unaccounted for. At least not yet, according to Lendvai :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Eventually this issue will take care of itself. Economics does, after all, take into account scarcity of resources and supply and demand. The intangible costs of generations of indiscriminate logging, fishing, agri-business, manufacturing, and science and technology will eventually be priced into the handful of fresh vegetables, healthy farm animals, and potable water left on our planet. How ironic if someday mighty CEOs, oil barons, rock stars, and professional athletes must face a future when the wealthiest people on earth are farmers, and a bushel of grain is auctioned off for the price of a Ferrari or a luxury home. Indeed, economics has built in the mechanism—albeit delayed—to price intangible costs into goods, with compound interest to boot.”<br />
~ <a href="http://attlas.info/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Attila Lewis Lendvai</a>, Author, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439235031?ie=UTF8&tag=a0261-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1439235031" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Attlas Project," Chapter 2: SEEconomics. </a></blockquote>
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PeapodLife and The Attlas Project alike challenge us to consider, then, a much more comprehensive definition of sustainability:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFYdOyM9IY7zfDPJMNZ5rSLYLVi_3fNGvWEQswOJ-6QttWZmp8IpEDJcdSIu-aKSs9ReKvr0pMcRfrVooTFRxijQ8csYgw1kZtJXV4gcPEcWiogJyXb2tOuZ_Nv-wCL9vwQU4VFNE0D8/s1600/nssga-sustainability-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFYdOyM9IY7zfDPJMNZ5rSLYLVi_3fNGvWEQswOJ-6QttWZmp8IpEDJcdSIu-aKSs9ReKvr0pMcRfrVooTFRxijQ8csYgw1kZtJXV4gcPEcWiogJyXb2tOuZ_Nv-wCL9vwQU4VFNE0D8/s1600/nssga-sustainability-logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Sustainability as more than just efficiency </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://leemanfor.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/what-is-the-process-to-develop-an-economic-policy-that-provides-services-and-sustainability/" target="_blank">https://leemanfor.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/what-is-the-process-to-develop-an-economic-policy-that-provides-services-and-sustainability/ </a></span></div>
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In this definition of sustainability (SEE: Social, Environmental, Economic), the efficiency part is at best only 1/3rd of the equation (economy). The word economy is practically synonymous with efficiency (economies of scale, more economical products, etc.) Since the satisfaction of the profit motive is based on net results, efficiency is only 50% of the equation of “materialist success.” Thus, it is only 1/6th a factor in the overarching umbrella of <i>sustainability</i>.<br />
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<b>Why This Matters to PeapodLife Building Ecosystems and Technology</b><br />
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It should be clear that PeapodLife ecosystems adheres to the much more comprehensive, holistic and meaningful definition of sustainability…<i>SEE Value(s)</i>. These are benefits you do not measure or think so much as you <i>feel…instinctively in your body and intuitively in your heart. </i><br />
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When you <i>experience</i> a high-order rainforest ecosystem in the flesh, you know its value. Not because you’re measuring the amount of fresh oxygen it’s producing; not because you’re counting the atmospheric particulates being filtered out of the air by the living wall; not even because you’re calculating the number of sick-days you won’t be taking thanks to having an ecosystem in your life. No, you just <i>know its valuable to you and yours…you just feel it. </i><br />
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And no, a video cannot do it justice, but hey—what more can we offer over the Internet? <br />
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Now ask yourself (and be honest), can your low-flow toilet or showerhead make you feel that way? How about your recycling bin? Don’t get me wrong, we’re sure you believe you’re doing good, and <i>making some difference</i>, but do you know it…can you <i>feel it, deep down?</i> <br />
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Can you develop a meaningful relationship with “energy efficient technology?” More importantly, does “materialist green technology” truly deepen your appreciation for—and love of—nature, your friends and family, your community? Do gadgets and gizmos and processes relax you, invigorate you, strengthen your immune system by immersing you in an experience of mutual harmony and symbiosis? <br />
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Your Toyota Prius may make you feel like you’re doing something good for the environment in your head, but it’s still just a machine…it’s not actively surrounding you with a space of love. You may “love it” in a materialistic sense—a kind of ego attachment—but it cannot love you back.<br />
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PeapodLife‘s ecosystem can…and does…more than your mind can begin to imagine, but in ways that your body, heart and soul can experience…without mind…and can <i>absolutely know</i>.<br />
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Yes, it takes more than efficiency to be green…it takes something much deeper. And it’s that deeper thing inside all of us which is the only level on which we can ever find lasting satisfaction of any kind—true peace, joy and happiness. PeapodLife’s ecosystems create a space of love and connect with you on that level.<br />
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<b>SEE a New Vision of Green Bloom, Rooted in a Holistic Definition of Sustainability</b><br />
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Now imagine a world in which everyone had the opportunity to connect with nature on that level, all the time. Imagine what that would mean to the societal, environmental and economic aspects of <i>sustainability</i>…if everyone was surrounded by a space of love…if everyone was immersed in a field of peace, joy and happiness. What would happen to the nature of relations, decisions and transactions if they could be made surrounded by nature in its highest expression? <br />
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This is PeapodLife’s vision of “Green.” And no, it’s not easy to get there, maybe. But it’s not that hard to experience. PeapodLife is an Attlas Project: we have the technology and the financial services to make owning and living/working in a high order rainforest ecosystem a reality. <br />
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Come SEE for yourself. <a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/connect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Contact Us</a> today.<br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-4797252133280499512015-02-10T12:45:00.003-08:002015-02-10T12:47:26.146-08:00Knee-Deep in the Winter Blahs? Swap Hibernation for an Ecosystem Nation!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsZYAooBBQHY23U7x_R9en3yvRdchFeaGmeLK8V88RCJJEjWqoIY5cXP9ag57quaU_xwrt8YkR7deVdZx6_2lz9YHUxl-0V75HoD_2rQr7a4k-aV8PgHyDbADd1WY8JUxnhW4vjEsK_Y/s1600/ecosystem-nation-vs-hibernation-by-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsZYAooBBQHY23U7x_R9en3yvRdchFeaGmeLK8V88RCJJEjWqoIY5cXP9ag57quaU_xwrt8YkR7deVdZx6_2lz9YHUxl-0V75HoD_2rQr7a4k-aV8PgHyDbADd1WY8JUxnhW4vjEsK_Y/s1600/ecosystem-nation-vs-hibernation-by-peapodlife.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage: Hibernation vs Ecosystem Nation</span></div>
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<i><b>“Love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.”</b></i></div>
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<b>~ Louisa May Alcott - Little Men</b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kayepublicity/14-literary-quotes-to-brighten-your-winter-blues-fkhg" target="_blank">buzzfeed.com: BuzzFeed Community: Kaye Publicity: 14 Literary Quotes To Brighten Your Winter Blues</a></span></div>
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A quick survey of the web produces dozens of blogs, lists, etc. professing the cures for the winter blahs (or, winter blues, if you prefer). <br />
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Advice ranges from getting exercise to treating yourself; from embracing the season to getting social support; from getting more sun to getting more sleep.<br />
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<i><b>At PeapodLife, we think the key thing to remember about the winter blahs is its relationship to our deeply-rooted hibernation instincts.</b></i> <br />
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Let’s face it, no matter how much you love the outdoors, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. at the end of a long day of activity in the cold, you want nothing more than to come inside and enjoy a hot beverage by the fire, or curl up under a duvet and sleep in ‘til noon the next day. <br />
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It’s appropriate that Valentine’s Day is in February, because certainly lovers like nothing more than to huddle and cuddle on a cold winter’s night. <br />
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The bottom line, whether supported by science or not, we think everyone living in Canada or other northern climates can decide for themselves whether or not they have “hibernation tendencies.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcg-gugv8vUymrRZfa5m5uYGL_460krCJ-4lXm9yEu0G5bjJ4c-RnKuBmPfKCfZVwCFQD6hQaDaOvUhg5Mrmr1cfpugpDcodM_vywSwkPDy-cqDuS0pbjL3KHgM6F-Z3TDFfvQL0F_VM/s1600/hibernation-siowfa12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcg-gugv8vUymrRZfa5m5uYGL_460krCJ-4lXm9yEu0G5bjJ4c-RnKuBmPfKCfZVwCFQD6hQaDaOvUhg5Mrmr1cfpugpDcodM_vywSwkPDy-cqDuS0pbjL3KHgM6F-Z3TDFfvQL0F_VM/s1600/hibernation-siowfa12.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Can Humans Hibernate? </span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/afr3/blogs/siowfa12/2012/11/can-humans-hibernate.html" target="_blank">www.personal.psu.edu: Pennsylvania State University: SiOWfa12: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy: Can Humans Hibernate?</a></span>
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Now consider that one of the common symptoms of depression is lethargy and chronic tiredness! Surely there might be a connection between the hibernation-like feelings of curling up, cuddling up, staying in and sleeping and the winter blues...again, feelings of lethargy, lack of motivation, etc. <br />
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It’s no wonder many of the “cures” for the winter blahs happen to be word-for-word copies of anti-depression strategies! <br />
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And sure, there are as fancy blue lights, recipes and regimens to go along with the fancy terminology: “SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder”. Now don’t misunderstand us: for many SAD is a serious condition that causes them a great deal of discomfort and outright suffering. <br />
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Medical advice is to eat foods and engage in activities (such as exercise) which increase levels of serotonin. It’s all about raising and maintaining energy levels. <br />
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But if it all comes down to raising your energy levels, why not surround yourself with a space of love? After all, isn’t love the highest energy we humans need? And doesn’t love increase our levels of serotonin the most? Best of all, a space of love increases our positive energy just by being in it. <br />
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<i><b>PeapodLife suggests injecting your life with one of our high order <a href="http://peapodlife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rainforest ecosystems</a>.</b></i><br />
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No matter how cold it gets outside, it’s tough to get depressed and discouraged when your den is teaming with life! Bright colours, dynamic changes, orchids, tropical fish, full-spectrum lighting systems, and more! <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">YouTube Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zh1dk19VLwY?list=PLmQ5Qr5gSMiBBb13d7TlImQQmQxIDFYcT&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PeapodLife Living Wall EcoSystem </a></span></div>
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<b>At PeapodLife, we think Canadians would do well to swap hibernation for an ecosystem nation. </b><br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-37547838327316411822015-01-29T12:18:00.000-08:002015-01-29T12:18:44.806-08:00Going with the Flow vs. Being in the Flow<center>
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You’ve heard the expression, <i>go with the flow</i>. It’s been used in countless situations by motivational speakers, counsellors, life coaches, teachers, even just friends and family. <br />
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The intention behind <i>go with the flow</i> is usually to encourage individuals to show less resistance to the circumstances and direction of their life. It’s in the same vein as <i>don’t rock the boat, and don’t worry about the things you cannot change; don’t worry about the things you can</i>. <br />
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There’s a kind of hurried passivity to <i>going with the flow</i> which reminds us of the rat race and rush hour. Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere, but limited to the flow of the traffic. Everyone is in their own little world, wanting to be anywhere but where they are, push/pulled forward by the inevitability of the “big machine”—or, for a more organic metaphor, the enormous lumbering amoeba. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Tokyo time lapse in rush hour; Published by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC329zPbEiF68bT8ALSBRxxA" target="_blank">Flow Bo</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkYHzsmR4K0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkYHzsmR4K0</a></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkYHzsmR4K0" target="_blank"> </a></div>
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Cog in the wheel, ant in the hive, there is something about <i>going with the flow</i> which says<i> follow the crowd</i>, to us…be at one with <i>the mob</i>. To <i>go with the flow</i> is a kind of surrender of oneself, but a surrender to circumstances and the status quo. <br />
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<i>Going with the flow</i> strikes us a kind of unconscious activity. A “shrug your shoulders and give up” type of response to the “inevitability of life.” Get up, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to sleep. That is a <i>flow</i>, alright…and it’s a flow many certainly <i>go with</i>. But it’s not exactly one anyone wants to be <i>in</i>. So, we tune out. And therein lies the crux of the problem with <i>going with the flow</i>. <br />
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<i>Going with the flow</i> leads to a kind of psychological and spiritual stagnation. A dead leaf blown haphazard on the wind…no longer connected to any real purpose. Just going, going, gone. <br />
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<b>When you <i>go with the flow</i>, you are never really <i>being in the flow</i>.</b> <br />
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One can be very much <i>in the flow</i> and yet not just <i>going with it</i>. To be, present, here and now, conscious, awake, alive…whether one is standing still and observing an ocean of people pass by during rush hour, or walking together very much in sync with them.<br />
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<i>Being in the flow</i> of life is the difference between the dead leaf which floats downstream, and the otter which is one with the river, no matter sunning himself on a rock or playfully shooting the rapids. The leaf <i>goes with the flow</i>. The otter <i>is being one with the flow</i>. <br />
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And it’s amazing what an experience one can have when one joins in being one with the flow of the moment especially if there’s actually an otter involved!)… <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: Swimming with river otter in the Chagres River Panama; Published by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwDYgzLXJ4o7xrBueoPMm1g" target="_blank">chattaba</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgQ621oJuFA" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgQ621oJuFA</a></span> </div>
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PeapodLife high-order rainforest ecosystems help remind us to <i>be in the flow</i>. Our ecosystems are in constant motion, evolving, responding to you, your moods, your life. That’s because our ecosystems are being in the flow of your life, constantly balancing themselves and by extension, you. <br />
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Being in the company of an ecosystem, being one with its flow, can profoundly affect your ability to be in the flow of your life. Now, we’re not saying you’re going to have experiences like playing with an otter, but you’d be surprised just how profound an effect an ecosystem can have on you.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">YouTube Video, 3:35 min.: <a href="http://youtu.be/zh1dk19VLwY" target="_blank">PeapodLife Living Wall EcoSystem Fitch Street</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This recently completed Living Wall Rainforest EcoSystem was installed at 235 Fitch Street in Welland, Ontario. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Like most PeapodLife EcoSystems, it features orchids, moss, bromeliads, African violets, cacti, aquatic plants, fish & more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Like all PeapodLife EcoSystems, there is no soil, chemical additives or fertilizers of any kind.<br />Published by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1hpBLiueJB_C-AyL1QNSQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PeapodLife</a></span></div>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-53305206023333653222015-01-20T13:04:00.001-08:002015-01-20T13:12:38.605-08:00The Changing Face of Real Estate in Toronto 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: TREB Market Report December 2014 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmnzCFba7gwLL6v9FvJu2ZA" target="_blank">Toronto Real Estate Board’s YouTube Channel</a></span></div>
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<i><b>“The stakes are high surrounding the fortunes of the Greater Toronto Area housing market,” adds the report. “A healthy housing system is critical to a region’s economic fortunes. And with the GTA key to Canada’s economic engine, the success or failure of housing in this region carries significant national importance.”</b></i></div>
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~ TD Economics Report </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2015/01/19/gta-structural-challenges-pushing-housing-prices-out-of-reach.html" target="_blank">thestar.com Real Estate</a></span></div>
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<b>$140,000 is a big number</b>. And according to a TD Economics Report released Monday, it is the annual income needed to finance a single-family home in the GTA (which now costs about $740,000). Source: <a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2015/01/19/gta-structural-challenges-pushing-housing-prices-out-of-reach.html" target="_blank">thestar.com Real Estate</a><br />
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The problem, as it turns out, is all that urban densification happening around the city (translation: the condo-crazy city). <br />
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New home sales are way down compared to new condo sales. This has led to a shortage in supply of homes and that has helped push prices up to the point where Toronto is nearing New York-like home costs. And it should not come at all as a surprise, according to George Carras, President of RealNet:<br />
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<i><b>“This is a problem ten years in the making. … The desire to curb sprawl and encourage intensification has led to the continued condominium boom in the 416, spiking home prices and a widening price gap between low-rise and high-rise housing product.” </b></i></div>
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~ George Carras, President, RealNet, Altus Group </div>
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Source: <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2015/01/20/condo-option-looks-more-favourable-as-price-gap-with-low-rise-homes-soars-to-record-251000/" target="_blank">National Post</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMxWiFnxim7JHlpjVAP5pU7Tqkyve5fSNZK9XMths4nqs2n-J7Y4jC6sSordO0n48fuTM_P6IOOE1oj8ALha5wEyS59T_GXJc-vulIeoZVpKGu3CGctadGzEk2_mMUDG5KdrLJuObuww/s1600/Gap-between-homes-and-condo-NationalPost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMxWiFnxim7JHlpjVAP5pU7Tqkyve5fSNZK9XMths4nqs2n-J7Y4jC6sSordO0n48fuTM_P6IOOE1oj8ALha5wEyS59T_GXJc-vulIeoZVpKGu3CGctadGzEk2_mMUDG5KdrLJuObuww/s1600/Gap-between-homes-and-condo-NationalPost.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Gap between low-rise homes and condo reaches all-time high of $251,337</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2015/01/20/condo-option-looks-more-favourable-as-price-gap-with-low-rise-homes-soars-to-record-251000/" target="_blank">National Post</a></span></div>
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If something is not done, it is clear that more families will have to live in hi-rise condominiums. And, as it turns out, builders are responding by starting to offer larger condos (as opposed to the 400 sq. ft. variety designed for first-time buyers and young singles). <br />
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<b>What to do?</b> Clearly, new homes require land. No one wants to take the GTA back into the urban sprawl scenario which warranted the current urban intensification approach. And yet, it is all but impossible for entire neighbourhoods to be levelled to build new low-cost low-rise housing. <b> </b><br />
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<b>What can be done?</b><br />
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<b>PeapodLife is Changing the Face of Real Estate in Toronto in 2015</b><br />
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With our partner, Casavant, PeapodLife is able to offer benefits to each of the following:<br />
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<b>• Home buyers:</b> a way to purchase, renovate and own a home they could otherwise not afford, complete with an indoor rainforest ecosystem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYvDF_0rRBw52D4EMxFF3IQ_XBx-jR6djpVUsmZPs-NVUf_melxnsjy1Rd57IfJt8sdXjKtW1tLx8tHmIhDiT-IwiIk3dWSTJ1TbT_-Y61oNfMrmagqpJFlqPECoj5PlVN6IKS3ZmOMo/s1600/BEST-HOMES-PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYvDF_0rRBw52D4EMxFF3IQ_XBx-jR6djpVUsmZPs-NVUf_melxnsjy1Rd57IfJt8sdXjKtW1tLx8tHmIhDiT-IwiIk3dWSTJ1TbT_-Y61oNfMrmagqpJFlqPECoj5PlVN6IKS3ZmOMo/s1600/BEST-HOMES-PeapodLife.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image By PeapodLife: BEST HOMES Process</span></div>
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<b>• Low-income Renters:</b> newly renovated second-suites in good neighbourhoods, with their own small rainforest ecosystem included.<br />
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<b>• The City of Toronto:</b> a practical way to achieve urban densification and urban renewal while reducing the load on aging infrastructure and services (PeapodLIfe BEST HOMES are more efficient, and utilize cisterns to capture and utilize precious rainwater for ecosystems instead of it running off into Toronto’s overwhelmed drainage and sewer system). <br />
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<b>• Real Estate Investors:</b> an easy way to increase their return on investment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ63Ca_gMAR7AYB5TYtSz_iAvdoeE4XXXUUKfiB19cflzsTSpTUpni_s-ZVmzReRx8WJPCcmDQiN89g5s49w3zxpb8j_LHAZthGnBjYhTqFX7hcdgzMfBo_7_t1R3whw4AhfGJesaEWgY/s1600/Infographic_Flipping_Houses_PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ63Ca_gMAR7AYB5TYtSz_iAvdoeE4XXXUUKfiB19cflzsTSpTUpni_s-ZVmzReRx8WJPCcmDQiN89g5s49w3zxpb8j_LHAZthGnBjYhTqFX7hcdgzMfBo_7_t1R3whw4AhfGJesaEWgY/s1600/Infographic_Flipping_Houses_PeapodLife.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Infographic By PeapodLife: $500K VS $2M => 4 BEST Homes w/Ecosystems</span></div>
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<b>So, from our standpoint, in 2015 the BEST thing that can happen to the Toronto Real Estate market is PeapodLife. Why not <a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/connect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">contact us for more information</a> and put your BEST foot forward in 2015. </b><br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-78899778188553124702015-01-15T13:06:00.000-08:002015-01-15T14:12:49.907-08:00Kids Grow Up SO FAST! (Fitch Street Ecosystem 6-Month Update)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EQRukD_ZUKDnD7PNqyGo7vZ_WmkEQadRO4h-esFS5UGeJtPJM_0ZgLjcqM5hZiVXgX3trSSFo8S80wkRlWVpZqeUu6abl2pK0mQSwt4TS2YNRH-KmuQRwJUX58el60YIB8StwGKLBk4/s1600/rainforest-ecosystems-only-get-better-with-age-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EQRukD_ZUKDnD7PNqyGo7vZ_WmkEQadRO4h-esFS5UGeJtPJM_0ZgLjcqM5hZiVXgX3trSSFo8S80wkRlWVpZqeUu6abl2pK0mQSwt4TS2YNRH-KmuQRwJUX58el60YIB8StwGKLBk4/s320/rainforest-ecosystems-only-get-better-with-age-peapodlife.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">PeapodLife: Rainforest Ecosystems only Get Better with Age</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>“A child seldom needs a good talking to as a good listening to.” </b></i><br />
~ Robert Brault,<br />
Source: <a href="http://rbrault.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">rbrault.blogspot.com</a></div>
</blockquote>
It’s hard to believe it’s already been 6 months since we installed and last paid a visit to the rainforest ecosystem at 235 Fitch Street, Welland Ontario. But yesterday we paid a visit to do a routine maintenance on the system and took the opportunity to “listen to our baby.” <br />
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Well, now it’s time tell. <br />
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And while it can’t do justice to being there in person, we just have to share some “baby photos” and a very short video up-close with the living wall ecosystem. See if you can spot the “hidden” orchid!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/m6opN_OXIu8?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">PeapodLife YouTube Video: Fitch Street Living Wall EcoSystem 6-Month Update </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A Brief look at PeapodLife's EcoSystem Installation at the Affordable Retirement Residence, 235 Fitch Street, Welland Ontario.</span></div>
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In case you missed the secret orchid, here’s a closer look…<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkz8r1WP9B0pbP88geZ0Wx2FxzBUUxPMj6UFC4Ip955Z-afkURcBmPLSoe27ePrYLnjslpYw30qcu50QdC4LihVtnWk0mLRTsd5_I_8734XXA4Z-wIBLb79r7SvSStkEBBGH2MaihhWo/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-secret-garden-hidden-beauty-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkz8r1WP9B0pbP88geZ0Wx2FxzBUUxPMj6UFC4Ip955Z-afkURcBmPLSoe27ePrYLnjslpYw30qcu50QdC4LihVtnWk0mLRTsd5_I_8734XXA4Z-wIBLb79r7SvSStkEBBGH2MaihhWo/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-secret-garden-hidden-beauty-peapodlife.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">PeapodLife: Rainforest Ecosystem: Secret Garden - Hidden Beauty</span></div>
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But of course, discovering new, beautiful and wonderful aspects of your living wall ecosystem is not always a game of “hide and seek.” Sometimes it’s a case of “slow-motion fireworks” as only Mother Nature can do…and boy can she put on a show.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYD1BeRsMl1CyjEStv8sRxE6oBlxNVvJL8MPTpuHS3ALg3RPOjMzpaOZPmjmawTKNXFCZd1e__BQnq7eQsnVc_A7ws3iwUhsIna5XRrMnfGpfwvWt9E5grSjo60mwfAd-y90DOvdDkW8/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-orchid-explosion-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYD1BeRsMl1CyjEStv8sRxE6oBlxNVvJL8MPTpuHS3ALg3RPOjMzpaOZPmjmawTKNXFCZd1e__BQnq7eQsnVc_A7ws3iwUhsIna5XRrMnfGpfwvWt9E5grSjo60mwfAd-y90DOvdDkW8/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-orchid-explosion-peapodlife.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">PeapodLife: Rainforest Ecosystem: Orchid Explosion</span></div>
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Suffice it to say, residents of the Fitch Street affordable retirement residence are thrilled with their ecosystem. They have a ball watching the orchids come and go, keeping an eye on the fish, snails, and the overall progress of the system. <br />
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Many have taken a real interest in their ecosystem, and why not? Wouldn’t you? Just imagine yourself being greeted by your own rainforest every time you arrived home (especially in the dead of winter)!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu7mAoKxBwDLr77N9bTfbLxpVK24spnDSPJWFZqzpYnMmVG5C3ZG5bLz5_3ITTZhZ_zSgSsr3F2VTvMV_z9NPdF9L_NTIIo40kKAXjlEuGvBlFruA74jymEZUUXws6vtyHHxDhuoCOWY/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-imagine-come-home-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu7mAoKxBwDLr77N9bTfbLxpVK24spnDSPJWFZqzpYnMmVG5C3ZG5bLz5_3ITTZhZ_zSgSsr3F2VTvMV_z9NPdF9L_NTIIo40kKAXjlEuGvBlFruA74jymEZUUXws6vtyHHxDhuoCOWY/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-imagine-come-home-peapodlife.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">PeapodLife: Imagine Coming Home to Your Own Rainforest</span></div>
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Coming, going or just passing by, no matter how many times or how many different ways you look at your PeapodLife Rainforest EcoSystem, you soon discover that it only has one “side”…it’s “best side”… <i>gorgeous</i>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgNdnb_gzCOkS280TkK601i5aaQXmjhl92ayqUmNAC9iiWipbiJzTn0sUyb5OxqqNJ74qIAaTYKHMdoEJJT9fqXlHFvqgmotapvONVK1_HgZHsVTI9fNQ5o-N_awkTwOJOyM83r87g0I/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-best-side-peapodlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgNdnb_gzCOkS280TkK601i5aaQXmjhl92ayqUmNAC9iiWipbiJzTn0sUyb5OxqqNJ74qIAaTYKHMdoEJJT9fqXlHFvqgmotapvONVK1_HgZHsVTI9fNQ5o-N_awkTwOJOyM83r87g0I/s1600/rainforest-ecosystem-best-side-peapodlife.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">PeapodLife:Every Angle Is an Ecosystem's 'Best Side'</span></div>
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Stay tuned for more updates in the future. <br />
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Better yet, <a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/connect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">connect with PeapodLife now</a> and start watching your own rainforest ecosystem “baby” grow!<br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-70447985687115521282015-01-13T14:05:00.000-08:002015-01-13T14:06:02.995-08:00A New Year; A Better Approach to FLIPPING HOUSES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoyETEQH_gYEbH4BEszmeurg8CzGDgvmnqhBzc0ZWubjZ-NllOpg421rHFYIGCYcqQoCfW9OtGAzaa-1j7SaA49ZwfpIWdIfTEhjUmb6a1kiWk0CZj_cKzeEBRxJyfW41k18yavdYIus/s1600/Flipping_Houses_Better_Infographic_PeapodLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoyETEQH_gYEbH4BEszmeurg8CzGDgvmnqhBzc0ZWubjZ-NllOpg421rHFYIGCYcqQoCfW9OtGAzaa-1j7SaA49ZwfpIWdIfTEhjUmb6a1kiWk0CZj_cKzeEBRxJyfW41k18yavdYIus/s1600/Flipping_Houses_Better_Infographic_PeapodLife.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Infographic: A New Year; A Better Approach to FLIPPING HOUSES</span></div>
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<b>Everyone at <a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/our-nature/team" target="_blank">The PeapodLife</a> wishes you and yours a Very Happy New Year. And if you are in the business of flipping houses (or have been thinking about investing in Real Estate, then contact us and start your New Year off with more Bang for your Investment Buck!</b> <br />
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-55690898287533879272014-12-23T09:49:00.001-08:002014-12-23T09:49:18.156-08:00Season’s Greetings 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ILGJByUwdvU?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="480"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">YouTube Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/ILGJByUwdvU" target="_blank">"The Light Shines All Over The World"</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hope for Light: Marilyn Lightstone on her Iconic, Multi-Faith Holiday Song</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDw9DwTQeSKVILuaQyPWCxA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MarilynLightstone's channel</a></span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"However we worship, whatever our clan,</b></i><br />
<i><b>We all first belong to the family of man.</b></i><br />
<i><b>All over the world...The light shines all over the world."</b></i><br />
~ Marilyn Lightstone<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Video & Quote: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDw9DwTQeSKVILuaQyPWCxA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marilyn Lightstone</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://youtu.be/ILGJByUwdvU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube "The Light Shines All Over The World"</a></span></blockquote>
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At this special time of year we take this opportunity to wish you and yours a magical Holiday Season, filled with family, friends, and the warmth of the season, no matter what faith (if any) you celebrate.<br />
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We also extend our heartfelt gratitude for our clients and partners who made 2014 so special. We look forward to an even more prosperous 2015 filled with new opportunities to bring the beauty, tranquility and healthfulness of the PeapodLife to even more people.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Our sincerest wishes for a joyful holiday, </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>a happy and prosperous New Year for all, </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>and Peace on Earth for all Beings.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">~</span> <a href="http://www.peapodlife.com/our-nature/team" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The PeapodLife Team</a></div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-CPYutqkb8_xb2i6jMI67NoR56BYjjfTXQYcX1Z-5Uma0R8YCHq2S111SiyGMtTAGmBe3y_KCy-I3oQJOnRR23q5QUcVU6zTvTBwOTWgVQHvUJN1dqBe8PI_1BAqd6zW8N75sLncx7Y/s1600/happy-holidays-PeapodLife-living-wall.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-CPYutqkb8_xb2i6jMI67NoR56BYjjfTXQYcX1Z-5Uma0R8YCHq2S111SiyGMtTAGmBe3y_KCy-I3oQJOnRR23q5QUcVU6zTvTBwOTWgVQHvUJN1dqBe8PI_1BAqd6zW8N75sLncx7Y/s1600/happy-holidays-PeapodLife-living-wall.gif" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Collage: Happy Holidays from PeapodLife </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit: Microsoft/ProfileBrand.com <a href="http://profilebrand.com/graphics/category/christmas/4430_happy-holiday.gif" target="_blank">http://profilebrand.com/graphics/category/christmas/4430_happy-holiday.gif</a></span></div>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885581718980087508.post-21290249943455746712014-12-11T13:25:00.000-08:002014-12-11T13:25:29.449-08:00Plants Know they’re Being Eaten “Go Ahead, Make My Salad”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwfe5_eT8oBoArI-jlpjxje8-KtMRjUXfrW1LV8Rxmmcd03NMLRFrPUHOXyK420dbsmxHkLLHOvW2ikMGnT-y4hOYF4yAkYVClRcn-qHjR_9r4F7olx1OQSzOgWdWgxdjL6n6MGquI4w/s1600/plants-know-they-are-being-eaten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwfe5_eT8oBoArI-jlpjxje8-KtMRjUXfrW1LV8Rxmmcd03NMLRFrPUHOXyK420dbsmxHkLLHOvW2ikMGnT-y4hOYF4yAkYVClRcn-qHjR_9r4F7olx1OQSzOgWdWgxdjL6n6MGquI4w/s1600/plants-know-they-are-being-eaten.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Go Ahead Make My Salad </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credits/Sources: “Healthy Plant-Based EatingTips” <a href="https://texas-food-handler.com/nutrition/healthy-plant-based-eatingtips" target="_blank">https://texas-food-handler.com/nutrition/healthy-plant-based-eatingtips</a>; </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Plant Defense” <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.me.plant_defense" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.me.plant_defense</a></span> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>“Vegans and Vegetarians take note... If the sole purpose of your diet is to completely avoid the sacrifice of other species, then you should become breatharians.”</i> </b></div>
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<b>~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diluccio" target="_blank">Carmen Di Luccio, Astrologer & Alchemist</a></b></div>
</blockquote>
We at PeapodLife have made it a point of posting many articles indicating the consciousness of plants. The latest comes from Business Insider, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/plants-know-when-theyre-being-eaten-and-they-dont-appreciate-it/" target="_blank">Researchers Have Found That Plants Know They Are Being Eaten</a>.<br />
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In it, <a href="http://modernfarmer.com/2014/10/plants-can-tell-theyre-eaten/" target="_blank">Modern Farmer</a> references a <a href="http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2014/0701-plants-respond-to-leaf-vibrations-caused-by-insects%E2%80%99-chewing-mu-study-finds/" target="_blank">study by the University of Missouri</a> which indicates plants are able to sense when they are being eaten and activate defense mechanisms in an attempt to save themselves. <br />
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In the study, audio recordings were made of caterpillars eating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabidopsis_thaliana" target="_blank">Arabidopsis</a> better known as thale cress, a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassica" target="_blank">brassica</a> family which includes such plants as broccoli, kale, mustard greens. According to the article, scientists like thale cress because it was the first plant to have its genome sequenced, and they believe they are very familiar with how it works. <br />
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The researchers made other recordings of natural vibrations—such as wind noise—which the plant may encounter in nature. The purpose being to see if the plant would demonstrate the same response to other naturally occurring vibrations in the same way it reacted to the sound of munching caterpillars.<br />
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As it turns out, the thale cress produces mildly toxic mustard oils only when exposed to the rhythms of hungry caterpillars making a meal out of them. The toxins are sent to the leaves by the plant in an effort to make itself less palatable (if not outright poisonous) to the unwanted dinner guests.
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"Previous research has investigated how plants respond to acoustic energy, including music. However, our work is the first example of how plants respond to an ecologically relevant vibration. We found that feeding vibrations signal changes in the plant cells' metabolism, creating more defensive chemicals that can repel attacks from caterpillars"<a href="http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2014/0701-plants-respond-to-leaf-vibrations-caused-by-insects%E2%80%99-chewing-mu-study-finds/" target="_blank">said Heidi Appel</a>, senior research scientist in the <a href="http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2014/0701-plants-respond-to-leaf-vibrations-caused-by-insects%E2%80%99-chewing-mu-study-finds/" target="_blank">Division of Plant Sciences</a> in the <a href="http://cafnr.missouri.edu/" target="_blank">College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources</a> and the <a href="http://lifesciences.missouri.edu/" target="_blank">Bond Life Sciences Center at MU</a>."</b></i>
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Source: Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: <a href="http://inhabitat.com/plants-know-when-theyre-being-eaten-and-they-dont-appreciate-it/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Plants Know When They're Being Eaten and They Don't Appreciate it</a></blockquote>
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<b>Practically speaking, what does this mean to us?</b><br />
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What should feeling plants mean to us? Earlier, we discussed how plants could sense pain, danger, and now it seems, when they’re being consumed. So what? Why should we care?<br />
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It’s all about out our relationship with the world around us and with nature. <br />
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A generation ago, most children were raised to “say Grace” before a meal. Why? Why did we do that? In part, it’s to show humility, reverence, respect and give thanks to whatever Force(s) we believe are behind the universe, our planet, and our lives. <br />
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On a practical level, it’s to give thanks for the sacrifice of the beings giving their lives in that moment for us. And by recognizing their contribution to ourselves (their bodies literally become our bodies—“we are what we eat”), any ill-intended defense mechanisms will have far less effects on us.<br />
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As it happens, many people develop spontaneous allergies to all kinds of foods. Sometimes, to their <i>favourite foods</i> overtime. In retrospect, we guarantee such individuals will find that they consumed such foods <i>unconsciously, mechanically</i>, with little or no regard whatsoever to the spirit of the animal or plant being consumed. <br />
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Without such reverence, with only a pure mechanical interaction, there was no superior ray of energy to negate the lower frequency vibrations present in the defense mechanisms of the food being consumed. Once the body “had its fill” of whatever mildly toxic compound it was being exposed to over and over again mechanically, it simply became and developed a corresponding overreaction to even a tiny amount of it. <br />
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Being in reverence and awe of Mother Nature is always a good thing, especially when we are taking from her bounty. <br />
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PeapodLife Ecosystems are all about elevating our conscious awareness and appreciation for Mother Nature by allowing us to commune with Her in Her highest expression: high-order Rainforest Ecosystems. By becoming more sensitive to, more attentive of, and more appreciative of the life of ecosystems, we become more sensitive, attentive and appreciative of ourselves and others…all beings.<br />
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Sensitivity, conscious awareness and appreciation have been accepted practices of inner peace and happiness since the days of ancient mystery schools to modern-day self-help gurus. It’s a path to a healthier, happier mind body spirit connection. Reason enough start living the PeapodLife.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CjqzgbjxlOM?list=PLmQ5Qr5gSMiBBb13d7TlImQQmQxIDFYcT&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="500"></iframe>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/CjqzgbjxlOM?list=PLmQ5Qr5gSMiBBb13d7TlImQQmQxIDFYcT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living Wall Ecosystem up-close and personal - Bodystream Health & Wellness Center</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source YouTube: <a href="http://youtu.be/CjqzgbjxlOM?list=PLmQ5Qr5gSMiBBb13d7TlImQQmQxIDFYcT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/CjqzgbjxlOM?list=PLmQ5Qr5gSMiBBb13d7TlImQQmQxIDFYcT </a></span></div>
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<br />PeapodLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07412399168641561891noreply@blogger.com0