CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-17 18:23:02 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 11 +1s)

TEDx talk from Judson Brewer MD PhD, an addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist at Yale University outlines several common ways that we get in our own way. 

Using examples such as Lolo Jones tripping on a hurdle in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and smokers resisting their cravings, he describes how we can get caught up in thinking, as well as resisting our own body sensations as ways that we prevent ourselves from performing optimally, in whatever situation arises. 

He details how his clinical research has found that techniques that help us get out of our own way, such as mindfulness training, can have large effects; for example, in a randomized controlled clinical trial for smoking cessation performed at the Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Brewer's laboratory found that mindfulness training showed twice quit rates compared to the American Lung Association's FreedomFr... more »

2013-05-17 00:11:52 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

A sobering note for college grads... and why what we're doing at Udacity is relevant and important.

2013-05-16 18:12:06 (0 comments, 6 reshares, 11 +1s)

"To the extent that French clinicians are successful at finding and repairing what has gone awry in the child's social context, fewer children qualify for the ADHD diagnosis. Moreover, the definition of ADHD is not as broad as in the American system, which, in my view, tends to "pathologize" much of what is normal childhood behavior.

"From the time their children are born, French parents provide them with a firm cadre—the word means "frame" or "structure." Children are not allowed, for example, to snack whenever they want. Mealtimes are at four specific times of the day. French children learn to wait patiently for meals, rather than eating snack foods whenever they feel like it. French babies, too, are expected to conform to limits set by parents and not by their crying selves. French parents let their babies "cry it out" if they are nots... more »

2013-05-16 01:59:25 (0 comments, 5 reshares, 10 +1s)

Nice coverage of Udacity - Georgia Tech - AT&T announcement of our partnership to offer a master's degree in Computer Science for less than $7K.

2013-05-15 20:38:25 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 13 +1s)

Udacity, Georgia Tech, and AT&T partner to offer an online master's degree in Computer Science.  Higher education that is affordable and accessible!

2013-05-14 08:43:47 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 2 +1s)

How can we become the Michael Jordans of the world, no matter the profession? Get out of your own way. 

2013-05-14 01:52:46 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Daughter's lunch tomorrow:  pasta with salmon and leek in a cream sauce; choy sum sauteed in ginger sauce; organic strawberries and cherries #laptoplunches

2013-05-09 02:33:20 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

Check out what Udacity and San Jose State have planned for this summer's course Intro to Psychology - hint: we've got snakes, sea lions, jello brains and babies!

2013-05-08 15:37:08 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

2013-05-06 20:22:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

After reading this interview in the NY Times yesterday I watched "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset".  At first glance, the movies seem slow and meandering, going nowhere, but when you realize how long these shots are, how scripted the dialogue is yet feels so improvised, you can begin to appreciate how hard it was to make these movies and how great they are.  

"Before Sunrise" was shot in 1995 when the actors were in their 20s; the conversation between the characters highlights their youthful naivete, their romanticism and romantic projection.  "Before Sunset" takes place 9 years later when they are in their 30s, when their cynicism about love and angst about romantic love vs. commitment are explored, regrets of a love life never realized expressed.  It was very touching and felt so real.  Can't wait to see "Before Midnight".

2013-05-06 20:12:38 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

How meta -- art imitating life imitating art.

2013-05-06 15:19:07 (5 comments, 93 reshares, 271 +1s)

SNL nailed it!  

2013-05-05 18:34:10 (4 comments, 7 reshares, 15 +1s)

Nice yoga tips for airplane travelers. Legs up the wall during or post-flight is also a great way to get over jetlag.

2013-05-01 20:31:27 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

What do think?   Do you agree or disagree with +Bradley Gauthier 's assertion that you do not need to go to college?  What would you do otherwise, or what would you tell a young person to do if not go to college? 

2013-05-01 20:10:49 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 3 +1s)

"It's okay to do things that don't scale."

2013-04-27 08:38:21 (0 comments, 11 reshares, 15 +1s)

Some nice info here. Color me impressed : )

2013-04-25 22:12:45 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

A reseacrh team in Oslo, Norway decided to test the calming effects of yoga, known to help switch on the Relaxation Response, to see what genetic changes, if any, occurred.  Their conclusion: a comprehensive yoga practice can have an instantaneous positive effect on your genes and immune cells.

"Here we have shown, to our knowledge for the first time, that there are rapid (within 2 hours of start of practice) and significant gene expression changes in PBMCs of practitioners during a comprehensive yoga program. These data suggest that previously reported effects of yoga practices have an integral physiological component at the molecular level which is initiated immediately during practice and may form the basis for the long term stable effects."

2013-04-26 00:08:19 (1 comments, 6 reshares, 7 +1s)

A research team in Oslo, Norway decided to test the calming effects of yoga, known to help switch on the Relaxation Response, to see what genetic changes, if any, occurred.  Their conclusion: a comprehensive yoga practice can have an instantaneous positive effect on your genes and immune cells.

"Here we have shown, to our knowledge for the first time, that there are rapid (within 2 hours of start of practice) and significant gene expression changes in PBMCs of practitioners during a comprehensive yoga program. These data suggest that previously reported effects of yoga practices have an integral physiological component at the molecular level which is initiated immediately during practice and may form the basis for the long term stable effects."

2013-04-25 17:01:11 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 9 +1s)

Well said...  
"I became increasingly aware that the relentless diet of information I ordinarily consume leaves me feeling the same way I do after eating a couple of slices of pizza or a hot dog and French fries — poorly nourished and still hungry."

2013-04-24 01:25:12 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Awww... really bummed I missed this!  A 4-hour setlist!!

2013-04-18 17:19:50 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 8 +1s)

Glad to see the continued "mainstreamification" of yoga -- even pro athletes are practicing and enjoying yoga's physical and mental benefits.

2013-04-16 18:34:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Beware, and don't rent from Dollar or Thrifty which do not seem to be honest businesses or put their customers first.

2013-04-08 02:11:09 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

The Cure featured in Dangerous Minds today:

2013-04-07 19:15:37 (0 comments, 6 reshares, 13 +1s)

Glad to see mindfulness practices beginning to be incorporated in schools (at least, here in the Bay Area).  My daughter tells me she notices a remarkable difference in how the kids behave after just a few minutes of meditation.  Here's an article in the NYTimes about meditation's impact on test scores.

2013-04-05 17:18:23 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 10 +1s)

I am loving Jeff Weiner's posts on LinkedIn -- sage advice from one of industry's greatest leaders.

2013-03-27 17:01:55 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

Very proud and grateful for my brother, +Ben Au , whose amicus brief for Equality California was the focus of yesterday's Supreme Court hearing on Prop 8.  

2013-03-26 15:48:42 (0 comments, 10 reshares, 27 +1s)

Interested in learning more about user experience and interaction design?  Check out free resources online at InteractionDesign.org

2013-03-23 13:55:01 (0 comments, 9 reshares, 32 +1s)

Now that is leadership!

2013-03-22 21:33:31 (16 comments, 7 reshares, 17 +1s)

My heart breaks when I read this.  Our inability to completely outlaw guns in this country continues to astound me.  Gun advocates claim that guns are needed to protect the innocent; where was the "good guy with a gun" here?  The answer to preventing violent crimes like this is not to allow guns on the street -- we already have that -- but to outlaw guns completely.  How many more people have to die before the country has a change of heart and aligns on this issue?

2013-03-22 20:58:20 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Op-ed from Ron Finley, one of my favorite speakers from TED this year.  "So who do you want to be: a bystander or a force of positive change?"

2013-03-22 17:20:18 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 11 +1s)

For all my yogi friends who are addicted to Lululemon, this video is hilarious!

2013-03-20 21:16:11 (0 comments, 4 reshares, 4 +1s)

Important op-ed about removing obstacles to STEM education (and Udacity's role in it)

2013-03-15 18:37:40 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

I don't know anything about this conference but the front page graphic used to promote the event is AMAZING!

2013-03-11 03:35:42 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Great to see design thinking skills taught in K-12 educational settings!

2013-03-11 01:09:40 (0 comments, 9 reshares, 17 +1s)

This is the most sensible, cogent article written in response to Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In" message.  Whether a woman should be ambitious and pursue a career vs. stay at home and tend to the family and household is a deeply personal decision.  Companies working smarter is a true path towards progress that can benefit men and women alike.

2013-03-09 15:16:16 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

"We are reaching a crisis point in this country’s higher education system.

"As college tuitions rise and state and local funding for higher education falls — along with median household incomes — students are taking on staggering levels of debt. And many can’t find jobs that pay well enough to quickly pay off the debt. This has long-term implications for our society and our economy, as that debt begins to affect when and if young people start families or enter the housing market."

2013-03-09 15:14:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Interview with great yoga photographer Robert Sturman.  "I used to 'take' photographs, until one day I realized that taking is stealing. Now I connect with my subject and through our shared humanity, we 'make' a photograph."

2013-03-08 17:20:37 (9 comments, 423 reshares, 770 +1s)

Great 11-minute TEDx talk from a 13 year old about how he is hacking his education in the pursuit of happiness and health. 

2013-02-25 17:36:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013-02-23 10:19:51 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

Hauntingly beautiful. /CC +james witt +Adam Katseff +Amy Essigmann

2013-02-23 10:01:52 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 7 +1s)

Funny! +Ben Au +Ruth Donohue The third child isn't even mentioned ;-) (via +Sam Pullara )

2013-02-23 09:53:15 (1 comments, 16 reshares, 26 +1s)

The Obamas are the coolest couple to ever inhabit the White House. Hilarious!

2013-02-21 18:51:59 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

I signed up for CLEAR a year ago and have been very happy with the service. Quick, painless experience going through the airport security line.  Sign up with this link and get 2 months free.

2013-02-21 17:55:13 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Photography and yogi friends, this is for you. +james witt +Adam Katseff +Amy Essigmann Dan Hutcheson 

2013-02-20 03:55:54 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 14 +1s)

It has been over a decade since I have been to LACMA -- I didn't think much of it then.  Now, it's worth a visit just to see the architecture, views, and elevators.  Don't miss Levitated Mass and Metropolis II.  (Also wonder how did the museum worker get inside Metropolis, and how long does she have to stand there for one shift?)

http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/levitated-mass
http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/metropolis-ii

2013-02-20 03:50:36 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Tim Pope's reaction to seeing his video of "Lullaby" recreated in Lego:

2013-02-20 03:40:03 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Harris Ranch Restaurant and Inn is over the top on the cow decor. Here are a couple of examples of the chairs there, presumably made from the cows at the nearby ranch...?

2013-02-20 03:35:41 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

+Bradley Horowitz Saw carpool stickers on a Tesla Model S, same as ours, with a license plate with higher numbers than ours (so presumably purchased/delivered after ours was).  So it is possible to get carpool stickers, not sure why we haven't gotten them yet!  Grr.

2013-02-13 22:42:43 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 9 +1s)

We're looking for college and high school teachers that are available to visit out Mountain View office for 1hr next week. Would love your feedback on some new features. Sign up if you are interested. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CoTkCCKGlO3PvVbMN4AfNFfA3JQwCCTpBzIXRPywyqU/viewform

2013-02-13 03:06:08 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Beautiful!