diff --git a/content/Aurora Borealis Sighting.md b/content/Aurora Borealis Sighting.md index d0eb8a718..50f5d0ccd 100644 --- a/content/Aurora Borealis Sighting.md +++ b/content/Aurora Borealis Sighting.md @@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ date: 2023-07-12 tags: - archived compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-14 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 --- @@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ lastmod: 2023-09-14 Viewing the aurora depends on four important factors. -### Geomagnetic Activity +### 1. Geomagnetic Activity If the geomagnetic field is active, then the aurora will be brighter and further from the poles. Geomagnetic activity is driven by solar activity and solar coronal holes and thus it waxes and wanes with time. The level of geomagnetic activity is indicated by the planetary K index or Kp. The Kp index ranges from 0 to 9. @@ -47,15 +47,15 @@ It should be noted that the relationship between Kp and auroral latitude are app There is an approximate relationship between Kp and the equatorward extent of the auroral oval. This relationship holds true in geomagnetic latitude, not geographic. At Kp = 0, the equator ward edge of the auroral oval is approximately 66 degrees. And it moves equatorward about 2 degrees for each level of Kp. So for Kp = 1, the aurora would move down to 64 degrees, for Kp=2, it would move to 62 degrees, etc… until reaching Kp of 9 at 48 degrees magnetic latitude. -### Location +### 2. Location Go towards the magnetic poles. The north magnetic pole is currently about 400 km (250 miles) from the geographic pole and is located in the islands of north east Canada. Find a place where you can see to the north ( or south if you are in the southern hemisphere). Given the right vantage point, say for example on top of a hill in the northern hemisphere with an unobstructed view toward the north, a person can see aurora even when it is 1000 km (600 miles) further north. It should be noted that if you are in the right place under the aurora, you can see very nice auroral displays even with low geomagnetic activity (Kp = 3 or 4). -### It Must Be Dark +### 3. It Must Be Dark Go out at night. Get away from city lights. The full moon will also diminish the apparent brightness of the aurora (not the actual brightness). One caveat that people often neglect to think of is that the high latitudes where aurora occur are also latitudes where it doesn't get dark in the summer. So combining a summer vacation to the arctic with aurora watching usually doesn't work. The aurora may still be there but it is only visible when it is dark. -### Timing +### 4. Timing Best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 PM and 2 AM local time). These hours of active aurora expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases. There may be aurora in the evening and morning but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing. @@ -63,16 +63,21 @@ The best Seasons for aurora watching are around the spring and fall equinoxes. D Below are maps showing the most southern extent of where aurora might be observable for different levels of the geomagnetic Kp index (and the NOAA G scale). It should be noted that the aurora can often be observed hundreds of kilometers (miles) equatorward of the actual aurora so these figures do not indicate where the aurora may be but rather the point from which it may be observed. -## How Far South Can Aurora Be Observed? +## Aurora Forecast -[NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center - G-Kp](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/images/u2/Aurora_Kp_MapNorthAm.png) -* G is NOAA Geomagnetic Storm Index (0–5) -* Kp is Planetary K Index (0–9) +### July 12th, 2023 ![NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center - G-Kp](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/images/u2/Aurora_Kp_MapNorthAm.png) +G is NOAA Geomagnetic Storm Index (0–5) +Kp is Planetary K Index (0–9) -### Additional Resources +### September 18th, 2023 +![aurora forecast for 2023-09-18](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/semanticdata/public-test/main/JPEG/aurora-2.jpg) + +## Additional Resources + +* [Aurora Forecast](https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast) * [Aurora Dashboard](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/aurora-dashboard-experimental) -* [Dive Deeper Into the Science of the Aurora](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/aurora-tutorial) * [Space Weather Phenomena](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena) +* [Dive Deeper Into the Science of the Aurora](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/aurora-tutorial) diff --git a/content/Bookmark Collections.md b/content/Bookmark Collections.md index 53adff09b..ec00b5a86 100644 --- a/content/Bookmark Collections.md +++ b/content/Bookmark Collections.md @@ -3,14 +3,10 @@ title: Bookmark Collections tags: - collection compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 --- -## Raindrop.io - -In Raindrop.io I collect bookmarks. A subsection of these is curated and published to my Raindrop [public page](https://raindrop.io/SemanticData). - -Currently, I have these named public collections available: +I collect bookmarks in [Raindrop.io](https://raindrop.io/). A subsection of these is curated and published to my Raindrop [public page](https://raindrop.io/SemanticData). Currently, I have these public collections available: * Articles * Firefox Addons (ones made by myself) diff --git a/content/Chords.md b/content/Chords.md index 6130a13fa..31564d8bf 100644 --- a/content/Chords.md +++ b/content/Chords.md @@ -7,6 +7,4 @@ compartir: true lastmod: 2023-09-18 --- -A _chord_, in music, is any harmonic set of pitches/frequencies consisting of multiple notes (also called "pitches") that are heard as if sounding simultaneously. - A chord, in music, is any harmonic set of pitches/frequencies consisting of multiple notes (also called "pitches") that are heard as if sounding simultaneously. For many practical and theoretical purposes, arpeggios and other types of broken chords (in which the chord tones are not sounded simultaneously) may also be considered as _chords_ in the right musical context. diff --git a/content/Continuous Care.md b/content/Continuous Care.md index dcd22b75f..58a4c9c33 100644 --- a/content/Continuous Care.md +++ b/content/Continuous Care.md @@ -3,11 +3,9 @@ title: Continuous Care tags: - digital-gardening compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 --- -Be the watchful caretaker of your ever growing plants and flowers. Grow your knowledge by forming new branches and connecting the dots. Write short structured notes articulating specific ideas and share them here. - -One note in your digital garden = one idea. Avoid creating or nourishing orphan notes. Anything not connected eventually needs to go. We must: refine our ideas, thread our thoughts, and keep notes [[Atomic Notes|atomic]]. +Be the watchful caretaker of your ever growing plants and flowers. Grow your knowledge by forming new branches and connecting the dots. Write short structured notes articulating specific ideas and share them. Avoid creating or nourishing orphan notes. Anything not connected eventually needs to go. We must: refine our ideas, thread our thoughts, and keep notes [[Atomic Notes|atomic]]. Taking raw notes is _useless_. Seed your garden with quality content and cultivate your curiosity. Plant seeds in your mind garden by taking smart personal notes. These don't need to be written in a publishable form. diff --git a/content/Inspirations.md b/content/Inspirations.md index 3f2e84684..8d86090d6 100644 --- a/content/Inspirations.md +++ b/content/Inspirations.md @@ -1,11 +1,14 @@ --- title: What Inspires Me compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 tags: - list --- + +*These are people and projects that have resonated with me.* + ## People Who Inspire Me * [Jacky Zha](https://github.com/jackyzha0?tab=repositories) diff --git a/content/Life Lessons.md b/content/Life Lessons.md index b1a4b24f6..546006d21 100644 --- a/content/Life Lessons.md +++ b/content/Life Lessons.md @@ -4,10 +4,12 @@ source: https://www.deanbokhari.com/life-lessons/ tags: - list compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 --- +*Here are some "tips" I often forget.* + 1. Live a life true to yourself. 2. Express your emotions. 3. Better done than perfect. diff --git a/content/Meditation.md b/content/Meditation.md index d9908a564..d5652a32f 100644 --- a/content/Meditation.md +++ b/content/Meditation.md @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: Learning Meditation tags: - learning compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 enableToc: true --- @@ -11,20 +11,12 @@ enableToc: true ### A Brief Explanation of the Practice -How do you learn to meditate? In mindfulness meditation, we're learning how to pay attention to the breath as it goes in and out, and notice when the mind wanders from this task. This practice of returning to the breath builds the muscles of attention and [mindfulness](https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/). +In mindfulness meditation, we're learning how to pay attention to the breath as it goes in and out, and notice when the mind wanders from this task. This practice of returning to the breath builds the muscles of attention and mindfulness. When we pay attention to our breath, we are learning how to return to, and remain in, the present moment—to anchor ourselves in the here and now on purpose, without judgement. -The idea behind mindfulness seems simple—the practice takes patience. Indeed, renowned meditation teacher [Sharon Salzberg](https://www.mindful.org/author/sharon-salzberg/) recounts that her first experience with meditation showed her how quickly the mind gets caught up in other tasks. "I thought, okay, what will it be, like, 800 breaths before my mind starts to wander? And to my absolute amazement, it was one breath, and I'd be gone," says Salzberg. - ## Why Learn to Meditate? -### A Selection of Benefits That Are Associated with Meditating - -While meditation isn't a cure-all, it can certainly provide some much-needed space in your life. Sometimes, that's all we need to make better choices for ourselves, our families, and our communities. And the most important tools you can bring with you to your meditation practice are a little patience, some kindness for yourself, and a comfortable place to sit. - -When we meditate, we inject far-reaching and long-lasting benefits into our lives. And bonus: you don't need any extra gear or an expensive membership. - ### Here Are Five Reasons to Meditate 1. Understanding your pain @@ -64,25 +56,7 @@ Recent research from neuroscientist Amishi Jha discovered that [12 minutes of me ### Meditation Tips and Techniques -We've gone over the basic breath meditation so far, but there are other mindfulness techniques that use different focal points than the breath to anchor our attention—external objects like a sound in the room, or something broader, such as noticing spontaneous things that come into your awareness during an [aimless wandering practice](https://www.mindful.org/aimless-wandering-mindfulness-practice-video/). But all of these practices have one thing in common: We notice that our minds ARE running the show a lot of the time. It's true. We think thoughts, typically, and then we act. But here are some helpful strategies to change that up: - -### How to Make Mindfulness a Habit - -It's estimated that 95% of our behavior runs on autopilot. That's because neural networks underlie all of our habits, reducing our millions of sensory inputs per second into manageable shortcuts so we can function in this crazy world. These default brain signals are so efficient that they often cause us to relapse into old behaviors before we remember what we meant to do instead.  - -Mindfulness is the exact opposite of these default processes. It's executive control rather than autopilot, and enables intentional actions, willpower, and decisions. But that takes _practice_. The more we activate the intentional brain, the stronger it gets. Every time we do something deliberate and new, we stimulate neuroplasticity, activating our grey matter, which is full of newly sprouted neurons that have not yet been groomed for "autopilot" brain.  - -But here's the problem. While our intentional brain knows what is best for us, our autopilot brain causes us to shortcut our way through life. So how can we trigger ourselves to be mindful when we need it most? This is where the notion of "behavior design" comes in. It's a way to put your intentional brain in the driver's seat. There are two ways to do that—first, slowing down the autopilot brain by putting obstacles in its way, and second, removing obstacles in the path of the intentional brain, so it can gain control.  - -Shifting the balance to give your intentional brain more power takes some work, though. Here are some ways to get started.  - -* **Put meditation reminders around you.** If you intend to do some yoga or to meditate, put your yoga mat or your meditation cushion in the middle of your floor so you can't miss it as you walk by.  -* **Refresh your reminders regularly.** Say you decide to use sticky notes to remind yourself of a new intention. That might work for about a week, but then your autopilot brain and old habits take over again. Try writing new notes to yourself; add variety or make them funny. That way they'll stick with you longer.  -* **Create new patterns.** You could try a series of "If this, then that" messages to create easy reminders to shift into the intentional brain. For instance, you might come up with, "If office door, then deep breath," as a way to shift into mindfulness as you are about to start your workday. Or, "If phone rings, take a breath before answering." Each intentional action to shift into mindfulness will strengthen your intentional brain. - -## Some Basic Meditations - -### These Are Some Meditation Practices to Get You Going +We've gone over the basic breath meditation so far, but there are other mindfulness techniques that use different focal points than the breath to anchor our attention—external objects like a sound in the room, or something broader, such as noticing spontaneous things that come into your awareness during an [aimless wandering practice](https://www.mindful.org/aimless-wandering-mindfulness-practice-video/). But all of these practices have one thing in common: We notice that our minds ARE running the show a lot of the time. It's true. We think thoughts, typically, and then we act. ## A Basic Meditation for Beginners @@ -171,72 +145,3 @@ This loving-kindness practice involves silently repeating phrases that offer goo 4. **Each time you notice your attention has wandered, be kind to yourself** and let go of the distraction. Come back to repeating the phrases without judging or disparaging yourself. 5. **After some time, visualize yourself in the center of a circle** composed of those who have been kind to you, or have inspired you because of their love. Perhaps you've met them, or read about them; perhaps they live now, or have existed historically or even mythically. That is the circle. As you visualize yourself in the center of it, experience yourself as the recipient of their love and attention. Keep gently repeating the phrases of loving-kindness for yourself. 6. **To close the session, let go of the visualization**, and simply keep repeating the phrases for a few more minutes. Each time you do so, you are transforming your old, hurtful relationship to yourself, and are moving forward, sustained by the force of kindness. - -### Beyond the Beginning - -#### What to Know and Where to Go When You've Started - -### Frequently Asked Questions About Mindfulness Meditation, Answered - -When you're new to meditation, it's natural for questions to pop up often. These answers may ease your mind. - -1. If I have an itch, can I scratch it? -Yes—however, first try scratching it with your mind before using your fingers. -2. Should I breathe fast or slow or in between? -Only worry if you've stopped breathing. Otherwise, you're doing fine. Breath in whatever way feels comfortable to you. -3. Should my eyes be open or closed? -No hard-and-fast rules. Try both. If open, not too wide, and with a soft, slightly downward gaze, not focusing on anything in particular. If closed, not too hard, and not imagining anything in particular in your mind's eye. -4. Is it possible I'm someone who just CANNOT meditate? -When you find yourself asking that question, your meditation has officially begun. Everyone wonders that. Notice it. Escort your attention back to your object of focus (the breath). When you're lost and questioning again, come back to the breathe again. That's the practice. There's no limit to the number of times you can be distracted and come back to the breath. Meditating is not a race to perfection—It's returning again and again to the breath. -5. Is it better to practice in a group or by myself? -Both are great! It's enormously supportive to meditate with others. And, practicing on your own builds discipline. -6. What's the best time of day to meditate? -Whatever works. Consider your circumstances: children, pets, work. Experiment. But watch out. If you always choose the most convenient time, it will usually be tomorrow. -7. What if I get sexually (and physically) aroused by thoughts in my head? -No big deal. Meditation stokes the imagination. In time, every thought and sensation will pop up (so to speak). And come back. Same old story. Release the thought, bring awareness and receptivity to body sensations, bring attention back to your chosen object (the breath, in this case). Repeat. -8. Do you have any tips on integrating pets into meditation practice? -While meditating, we don't have to fight off distractions like a knight slaying dragons. If your dog or cat comes into the room and barks and meows and brushes up against you or settles down on a part of your cushion, no big deal. Let it be. What works less well is to interrupt your session to relate to them. If that's what's going to happen, try to find a way to avoid their interrupting your practice. - -#### More Guided Meditation Practices - -### The RAIN Meditation with Tara Brach - -A practice for difficult emotions, RAIN is an acronym for Recognition of what is going on; Acceptance of the experience, just as it is; Interest in what is happening; and Nurture with loving presence. - -#### A Mindfulness Practice to Foster Forgiveness - -Explore this practice to let go of the tendency to add to our suffering during challenging situations. - -#### Additional Resources & Articles - -Mindful has many resources to help you live a more mindful life and tap into the best of who you are: - -* [Getting Started](https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/) -* [Guided Meditation](https://www.mindful.org/category/meditation/guided-meditation/) -* [Meditation for Anxiety](https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-meditation-anxiety/) -* [Sign up for Mindful Newsletters](https://www.mindful.org/mindfulnewsletters/) -* [Mindful Magazine Subscription](https://subscribe.pcspublink.com/sub/subscribe.aspx?guid=1e26c2c6-2a0b-48f0-a4e2-86cc9a400cee) -* [Special Edition Guides](https://mindful-magazine.myshopify.com/collections/special-editions) -* [Mindful Online Learning](https://learning.mindful.org/) - -## Unorganized Research - -The VA has developed [a bunch of mental health apps](https://mobile.va.gov/appstore/mental-health) that are free to the general public. Some were designed with veterans as the target audience, but some were designed to be used by anyone. - -[Reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/ln2fyy/ysk_if_you_cant_afford_to_pay_for_mindfulness/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x) - -Some highlights are: - -* [Mindfulness Coach](https://mobile.va.gov/app/mindfulness-coach), which offers a self-guided mindfulness course and some recorded mindfulness exercises similar to what you can find on Headspace -* [Insomnia Coach](https://mobile.va.gov/app/insomnia-coach), which walks you through a treatment program for insomnia and has features like guided imagery recordings -* [MOVE Coach](https://mobile.va.gov/app/move-coach) which can help with weight loss and exercise in a guided program -* As a last resort - [One Mind Psyber Guide](https://onemindpsyberguide.org/) - -Others: -* Insight timer: "Tons of free guided meditation, meditation timer for your own sessions, groups, livestreams with meditation teachers, groups etc." -* Waking Up by Sam Harris: "the most comprehensive, thoughtful, and exceptionally managed mediation app on the market, in my opinion" -* Balance: "also has a free year subscription!! I love their immersive meditations and Singles. I think they'll have an Android version out in March so everyone can get a free year." -* Woebot: "It runs through Facebook Messenger or as a separate app on your phone and guides you through cognitive behavioral therapy exercises." -* Smiling Mind: "Smiling mind is amazing! Their sleep meditations help me nod off every single night now, and for those who need some background sounds to fall asleep to, the optional music on each meditation is perfect." -* Medito: "Highly recommend Medito that has a pledge to keep their app free for all." -* The Portland VA worked with The DOD on another one called [Virtual Hope Box](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/virtual-hope-box/id825099621) that was designed around suicide prevention. My wife was pet of the study around efficacy, and I have used it myself. Great app and definitely should be included in this topic. diff --git a/content/Newsletters.md b/content/Newsletters.md index f47141e53..c630195f7 100644 --- a/content/Newsletters.md +++ b/content/Newsletters.md @@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ title: Newsletters I Read tags: - list compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 --- + +This is a list of Newsletters I am subscribed to. + * [The Daily Dip](https://www.thedailydip.co/) – Daily News. * [8bit News](https://8bitnews.io/) – Collected, curated, 8bit news. * [The Orbital Index](https://orbitalindex.com/) – Space: weekly, technical, curated. diff --git a/content/Tools.md b/content/Tools.md index f199cb3a0..699682acb 100644 --- a/content/Tools.md +++ b/content/Tools.md @@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ title: Tools I Use tags: - list compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 --- + +A non-comprehensive list of the hardware and software I use on a day-to-day basis. + ## Hardware * [Lenovo Thinkpad T480s](https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-T480s-20L8S02D00.294734.0.html) – Laptop @@ -41,3 +44,11 @@ lastmod: 2023-09-18 * [ShellCommands](https://github.com/Taitava/obsidian-shellcommands) – Execute Shell commands from within Obsidian. * [DoubleShift](https://github.com/Qwyntex/doubleshift) – Provides shortcuts for `shift + shift` and `ctrl + ctrl`. * [Contextual Typography](https://github.com/mgmeyers/obsidian-contextual-typography) – Allows for custom insertion of code at the block level. + +### Notable Windows Programs + +* [QuickLook](https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook) – Bring macOS "Quick Look" feature to Windows. +* [PDFsam](https://github.com/torakiki/pdfsam) – PDFsam, a desktop application to split, merge, mix, rotate PDF files and extract pages. +* [PowerToys](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys) – Windows system utilities to maximize productivity. +* [Everything](https://www.voidtools.com/) – Locate files and folders by name instantly. +* [QuickLook](https://github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook) – Bring macOS "Quick Look" feature to Windows. diff --git a/content/Unlock Firefox Sidebar.md b/content/Unlock Firefox Sidebar.md index f4243f3ba..32539d1d3 100644 --- a/content/Unlock Firefox Sidebar.md +++ b/content/Unlock Firefox Sidebar.md @@ -15,20 +15,21 @@ lastmod: 2023-09-18 1. In a new tab, navigate to `about:support`. 2. Under _Application Basics_, find _Profile Folder_. -3. Locate and click the `Open Folder` button next to it. It will be next to an address similar to: `%appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile-id}.default` [^1] +3. Locate and click the `Open Folder` button next to it. It will be next to an address similar to: `%appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile-id}.default`[^1] 4. Inside your Firefox _Profile Folder_, create a new folder named: `chrome`. 5. Inside the newly created chrome folder, create a new file named: `userChrome.css`. -6. Copy the following code, paste as content and save: [^2] +6. Copy the following code, paste as content and save:[^2] ```css +/* You may change the units to any length you find more convenient. */ #sidebar-box { max-width: 40% !important; min-width: 300px !important; } ``` -1. Finally, in a new tab, navigate to `about:config` and search for `toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets` and change it to `true`. -2. Restart Firefox and test it out! +7. Finally, in a new tab, navigate to `about:config` and search for `toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets` and change it to `true`. +8. Restart Firefox and test it out! [^1]: `%appdata%` is equivalent to `C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming` [^2]: After Firefox 107, `#sidebar` was deprecated, and `#sidebar-box` was introduced. diff --git a/content/Wishlist.md b/content/Wishlist.md index 0768f4174..30bef0b79 100644 --- a/content/Wishlist.md +++ b/content/Wishlist.md @@ -3,10 +3,13 @@ title: Wishlist tags: - list compartir: true -lastmod: 2023-09-18 +lastmod: 2023-09-20 description: These are items I want to and plan on buying later. --- + +_A collection of items I would like to buy later._ + ## Personal Items * Seche Clear and Vive Duo Kit – [Base/Top Nail Polish](https://www.seche.com/seche-clear-vive-duo-kit.html)