do y'all feel like you have been celebrating halloween for a long time.....we have had several halloween things and i must say, i'm kind of glad it's finally halloween and today will be the last time the kiddos dress up and get more candy!!  last night, we had a neighborhood party and i was going to make some mummy cookies but i seriously think that every mom in SC is on pinterest and pinned the same recipe and the nutter butters were sold out!  only cookie at publix missing!  i was shocked and disappointed b/c i thought that was such a cute, easy way to be crafty!!  i hope y'all have a wonderful halloween!!! i'm off to pass out candy at taylor's school!

*all images are on my pinterest (sorry i am running last this am)

Teks Alay Generator

Buat teman-teman yang suka nge-Alay gak jelas di Facebook atau Twitter, nih aku buatin tool yang bisa mendukung keALAYan kalian. "Teks Alay Generator". Walupun dah banyak di Internet, yang ini tentunya sedikit berbeda karena dibuat oleh seorang newbie yang baru belajar pemrograman, hehehhe... Silakan digunakan sewajarnya anak alay. (Emang alay ada wajarnya??)

[Fakta selengkapnya]

The Brain Controls Insulin Action

Insulin regulates blood glucose primarily by two mechanisms:

1. Suppressing glucose production by the liver
2. Enhancing glucose uptake by other tissues, particularly muscle and liver

Since the cells contained in liver, muscle and other tissues respond directly to insulin stimulation, most people don't think about the role of the brain in this process.  An interesting paper just published in Diabetes reminds us of the central role of the brain in glucose metabolism as well as body fat regulation (1).  Investigators showed that by inhibiting insulin signaling in the brains of mice, they could diminish insulin's ability to suppress liver glucose production by 20%, and its ability to promote glucose uptake by muscle tissue by 59%.  In other words, the majority of insulin's ability to cause muscle to take up glucose is mediated by its effect on the brain. 

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Even your mom can write this blog post

For those of you who subscribe to IEEE Spectrum email alerts, you may have seen today's snafu where there was an oopsie headline for one of their articles - "With the Arduino, Now Even Your Mom Can Program."

The article and headline were quickly revised post-publication, though I noticed in google's cache that the original article contained the following quote, "'Now, even my mom can program,' Banzi says."

The editor of the journal, who is a female engineer, was Not Amused, nor were the dozens of commenters on the article. I'm glad they fixed it.

But I think this journalistic error raises a larger societal issue when discussing ability and technology. We seem to more quickly ascribe technological inability to female elders, and technological ability to male youths.

For example, I tend to hear, "Even my grandma could use it." far more often than, "Even my grandpa could use it". And I recently saw a comic in a magazine where mother calls technical support and says, "Normally my toddler son would help me fix the computer, but he's in time out." Why wasn't that a female toddler in the cartoon?  Why in movies is the clever geek / scientist who saves the day always a man?

I really would like the media to make greater strides in not playing to tropes, because it tends to reinforce these tired ideas that women are unable to be technologically savvy.

seriously this blog is such a good place for me to come and daydream.....b/c my real life is so polar opposite.  it's not the easiest being a mom that works from home (and sometimes i get jealous of my husband as he leaves for work).  my youngest is going through a stage...a stage we don't remember w/ taylor.  he's very needy, he gets mad, and yes- he might hit (i said it....usually just me though...but sometimes others).  trying to send emails w/ a child that is crying next to you is not that luxurious...and i guarantee you i don't look glamourous when i am answering phone calls....i'm probably mouthing to my 4 yr old that i am on the phone and she has to wait to talk, wiping my child's nose, getting someone a sippy cup, or shutting myself in the bathroom so i can carry on an adult conversation.....either way, i love being a mom and i am thankful to have this blog as a way to daydream:)  thank y'all so much for still coming to visit....i am so glad to have you in my life!  xo- shannon

*images courtesy of dust jacket attic, bella momma, crush cul de sac, life in grace