Returning to the cool stuff

I've been reading the September issue of National Geographic, and I've noticed something: the preponderance of ads for arthritis medication, knee replacement technologies and hearing aids. What is the deal with that? I love all of the aided hearing/replaced knee/arthritic readers out there. I do. In fact, I love them extra because they are apparently the only people who understand what's important.

Parents, why are you not buying National Geographic for your kids? Why have we, Gen X and the Millennials, abandoned all the cool stuff?

For heaven's sake, get off Facebook for a half hour and read National Geographic, if only to be reminded that you don't know even close to everything, that, in fact, there are all KINDS of things in the world that you never imagined. Here are a few good reasons:

• One of the stinkiest and weirdest looking plants in the universe. 
• A really good reason not to touch armadillos, in case you needed one.
• Another great reason, this time demonstrating why you (and your kids) should eat more vegetables.
• A thoughtful look at the bizarre weather we've been having.
• Mind and heart twirling photography.



Photograph by Kim Eijdenberg, Your Shot

Several of those things I had to find on various sites online, but National Geographic collects all this fascination in one place for you. It costs $15. A year. You spend more than that on lattes or iTunes every week, and you know it, neither of which puts the wide, beautiful, fascinating world between your two tiny human hands once a month. 

Travel Tip #1

Genius tip from the woman next to me at an O'Hare bar: can't find an outlet in the airport? There might just be an outlet behind the bar that your cord can reach. Ask. And, obviously, buy a drink. And tip well.

Giving and Getting

Hi, friends,

I've been thinking a lot lately about getting out of my own head. When I'm busy working or helping someone else, I have a lot less time to worry. So in honor of how nice it can be to be out of my own head and in case you need a cerebral escape of your own, here are a few unique ways to give:

• One Frickin Day: Forget giving a few people to give more. The world would do better if more people gave less. One Frickin Day asks for just that. Give a day's salary and be done. Or better yet, skip the donation altogether and give one day a month to a local school. Go in and share whatever you can: talk about your job; read with a kid.
• Hole in the Wall Camps: In founder Paul Newman's words, these camps give kids with serious illnesses a place to "raise a little hell." Who can't get behind that? It's about taking fun seriously, and the organization, as a result, is changing its name: from here on out you can give your time, services and cash to the SeriousFun Children's Network.

Learning is another way to focus on something productive, and school has also been on my mind, as the kids all around me head back to their classrooms. Whether you learn about how the universe is put together or how to put together a dress, we could all use a lesson or two. And bless the sweet Internet, these days you can learn all kinds of marvelous stuff - like this, this and this- from where ever you are.

Also, this is just captivating. Enjoy the view into a beautiful somewhere else.

Happy learning and living,
Juli

"It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English — up to fifty words used in correct context — no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996)