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Sometimes, what your brain wants is not always good for your body. Donuts are a good example. It’s early morning and you’re driving to work after a nice breakfast of black coffee and two eggs, easy-over, with bacon. Yet, you’re still hungry and having difficulty paying attention to the traffic. Why? Your brain is not cooperating because it is not satisfied with that breakfast because it lacked one critical ingredient that your brain urgently needs: sugar.

The post Why you must stop for coffee and donuts this morning appeared first on OUPblog.

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Fried dough has been enjoyed for centuries in various forms, from the celebratory zeppole of St. Joseph’s Day to the doughnuts the Salvation Army distributed to soldiers during World War I. So important were doughnuts for boosting troop morale that when World War II came around, the Red Cross followed closely behind the US Army as it advanced across Europe, offering doughnuts from trucks specially outfitted with vats for deep-frying.

The post Down the doughnut hole: fried dough in art appeared first on OUPblog.

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By Jan Willer

Social media and other technologies have changed how we communicate. Consider how we coordinate events and contact our friends and family members today, versus how we did it 20 or 30 years ago. Today, we often text, email, or communicate through social media more frequently than we phone or get together in person.

Now contrast that with psychotherapy, which is still about two people getting together in a room and talking. Certainly, technology has changed psychotherapy. There are now apps for mental health issues. There are virtual reality treatments. Psychotherapy can now be provided through videoconferencing (a.k.a. telehealth). But still, it’s usually simply two people talking in a room.

Our psychotherapy clients communicate with everyone else they know through multiple technological platforms. Should we let them “friend” us on social media? Should we link to them on professional networking sites? Is it ok to text with them? What about email? When are these ok and not ok?

Some consensus is emerging about these issues. Experts agree that psychotherapists should not connect with current or former clients on social media. This is to help preserve the clients’ confidentiality. Emailing and texting are fine for communicating brief messages about the parameters of the session, such as confirming the appointment time, or informing the psychotherapist that the client is running late. Research has shown that emotional tone is frequently miscommunicated in texting and email, so emotion-laden topics are best discussed during the session.

How do we learn about new people we’ve met? In the past, we’d talk directly to them, and maybe also talk to people we knew in common. Now everyone seems to search online for everyone else. This happens frequently with first dates, college applicants, and job applicants.

Again, contrast this with psychotherapy. Again, two people are sitting in a room, talking and learning about each other. When is it ok for a psychotherapist to search for information about a client online? What if the psychotherapist discovers important information that the client withheld? How do these discoveries impact the psychotherapy?

No clear consensus has emerged on these issues. Some experts assert that psychotherapists should almost never search online for clients. Other experts respond that it is unreasonable to expect that psychotherapists should not access publicly available information. Others suggest examining each situation on a case-by-case basis. One thing is clear: psychotherapists should communicate with their clients about their policies on internet searches. This should be done in the beginning of psychotherapy, as part of the informed consent process.

When we’ve voluntarily posted information online–and when information about us is readily available in news stories, court documents, or other public sources–we don’t expect this information to be private. For this reason, I find the assertion that psychotherapists can access publically available information to be more compelling. On my intake forms, I invite clients to send me a link to their LinkedIn profile instead of describing their work history, if they prefer. If a client mentions posting her artwork online, I’ll suggest that she send me a link to it or ask her how to find it. I find that clients are pleased that I take an interest.

What about the psychotherapist’s privacy? What if the client follows the psychotherapist’s Twitter account or blog? What if the client searches online for the psychotherapist? What if the client discovers personal information about the psychotherapist by searching? Here’s the short answer: psychotherapists need to avoid posting anything online that we don’t want everyone, including our clients, to see.

Ways to communicate online continue to proliferate. For example, an app that sends only the word “Yo” was recently capitalized to the tune of $2.5 million and was downloaded over 2 million times. Our professional ethics codes are revised infrequently (think years), while new apps and social media are emerging monthly, even daily. Expert consensus on how to manage these new communications technologies emerges slowly (again, think years). But psychotherapists have to respond to new communications technologies in the moment, every day. All we can do is keep the client’s well-being and confidentiality as our highest aspiration.

Jan Willer is a clinical psychologist in private practice. For many years, she trained psychology interns at the VA. She is the author of The Beginning Psychotherapist’s Companion, which offers practical suggestions and multicultural clinical examples to illustrate the foundations of ethical psychotherapy practice. She is interested in continuing to bridge the notorious research-practice gap in clinical psychology. Her seminars have been featured at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and DePaul University. 

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The post My client’s online presence appeared first on OUPblog.

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I also just finished another house portrait commission. This one is black and white, which I love doing.
Most people do pen and ink for black and white work, but I love using my black pencils. Its a kind of softer look.

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Really.

So, this weekend marks the conflation of a series of somewhat disparate events that conspired together to culminate in some rather interesting culinary, err, mash-ups involving one or more of the Leitich Smiths (by which I mean, me.).

First, today marks three weeks since the Austin Marathon and, therefore, the official end of my "recovery" period (both in terms of workouts and dietarily).  Essentially, this meant that while I was not going to indulge my every dietary whim (Fannie May Mint Meltaways at every meal!  Jolly Rancher Watermelon candies on the hour!) , I was going to be less punctilious about what I ate.

Second, Cyn is at Vermont College teaching a workshop, which means there is a precedent for my undertaking some rather extreme dietary experiments. (For the record, at the end of the week long Pizza a Day diet plan, I lost 5 pounds).

So, anyway, the theme this time is hamburgers.  Of a rather exotic variety.  The first is the Great Dane Brat and Pretzel Burger at Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company, in Madison, Wisconsin. (Author E.M. Kokie introduced Cyn and me to the place after our round of school visits).

Behold:

This burger has a beef patty, a bratwurst patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickle slices, and it's all served on a pretzel bun!  It is heart-stoppingly good, with a surprisingly subtle, yet rich, flavor -- and the salt chunks add a nice punch.  One of the best burgers I've ever had.  It's also enormous :-).  (I ended up eating the whole thing, even though I figured when I ordered it, I'd only have half).

While we were at the restaurant, I happened to remark that there was this place in Austin that served burgers on a -- get this -- donut bun, but that I had never been there.

Well, that place is Gourdough's Public House, a brick-and-mortar incarnation of Gourdough's Big. Fat. Donuts (one of the bright spots in Austin's food truck scene).  And, of course, tonight, I had to go there.

They have an entire menu based on donuts -- all the entrees come with a donut, and even the salads are accompanied by a garlic donut (Really).  And all the sandwiches come on a donut bun. 

Note, however, that while donuts, these are not sugary confections -- they are more on the savory side (I confess that I was skeptical at first, too, but it turns out these things are pretty darn awesome).  (The donuts themselves seem, in texture, somewhere between a traditional cake-style and glazed type).

Here are a couple pics of the Big burger, with pimento cheese blend, cilantro, red onion, and tomato:


     
The bun, not surprisingly, was rich, but it didn't overpower the burger.  The cheese was well-matched and I liked the cilantro as well.  And the chips were a nice complement -- I think fries would have been a bit much. (Verily).  All in all, another of the best burgers I've ever had, and I'm anxious to try other things on the menu, as well.

Oh, and I did sample one of the desserts: the leprechaun donut, in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  This confection consisted of a hot donut with a Guinness stout chocolate mint sauce.  (Read that again, and then look at the pictures):



It was amazing. Again, rich without being overly sweet -- the Guinness seemed to cut some fo the sweetness of the chocolate sauce, and the mint added a nice aroma.

Bon Appetit!


 

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What We Need 

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It is a little known fact that librarians love donuts. Love them. Bring a librarian a donut and you will get to check out an extra book. Bring a librarian a dozen donuts and she may just overlook the fact that your dog gnawed on the newest copy of 39 Clues. 

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A quotation I liked from a blog I read frequently. Check out all the library posts.

“Show me a town that denies funding to a library, and I’ll show you a librarian who stays in the office. Show me a town that funds its library, and I’ll show you a librarian who takes donuts down to the fire department. Who goes down to the city hall and goes into offices asking if they need anything. You have to be proactive. It might come as a shock to some of you, but a large part of the success of that library is your personality and the way you treat people.”

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Saturday was not a good mommy moment for me. Another #mommyfail to add to my long lists of #mommyfails.

So this past Saturday after my husband leaves for work (yes on a Saturday! But we wont get into that in this post) I decide to take kids for a donut run.

Donuts + kids = happy times. Right? WRONG! Donut + kids = Disaster waiting to happen.

Let me set it up for you (Insert great character tip: you must get the reader to sympathize with your Main Character so they care about the story and stick with them even when they do things the reader may not like)

Background/History
My kids have been out of camp for a couple weeks. After an exhausting week at LA, my dad had major surgery and my daughter was out of camp the same week. We had to get her ready for school and then my son was out all last week. Meanwhile, I am fighting a cold and my hubby was working long hours so there was no reprieve. Needless to say, I started to feel my kids were slowing picking away at my armor, my invisible force field. arguing, complaining, tired.

Mommy Offense #1 Lacking in necessary equipment
Now for the record, I do not have the latest model in Mommy Force Fields. I have a very old model that has been banged on, torn at, and picked at. So there are hairline cracks, yes it is my fault I have not upgraded to the newest and latest model.

Though I have seen some woman who have them and I envy the capabilities: The 24/7 smile feature, The nothing cracks me feature, the one that gives 100% patience guarantee, the one that can lasts for over 5000 meltdowns while doing a million chores.

The MFF 5000 (Mommy ForceField 5000).

No, I have the one that was on Clearance a few years ago b/c I could not afford a new one. The used model. The FF100.

You see where I am going.(do you sympathize with yet?)

Offense #2 - Giving 6 and 3 year old Choices they are not equipped to handle
I asked 2 innocent children the age old question that seems to cause controversy even in adults: Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme?

I have realized since this Episode that I give my kids waaaaaaaay to many choic

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It is National Donut Day!




The Donut Chef by Bob Staake, Golden Books, 2008


The first indication that civilization has arrived in a new neighborhood or subdivision is the opening of a donut shop.

This donut chef opens his new Donut Land shop and it is a great success. When another donut shop opens on the street, the competition becomes fierce as both stores offer discounts, extra frosting and exotic flavors to entice the public. In an emperor-has-no-clothes moment a little girl laments that she cannot get a plain glazed donut and the chef realizes that simple is best.
This cautionary culinary tale emphasises the virtue and value of doing one thing very well.

Staake's signature digital illustrations consist of the circles and geometric shapes that are perfect for a book about donuts.

To continue the celebration of donuts go enjoy GottaBook's ode to donuts, Doughnuts! Oh, Doughnuts!

Less fat and fewer calories!

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Hey Everyone! thanks for letting me join! Here's my first entry: title of piece= "What brings you solace?"

have a great weekend!

http://thedrawingpad.blogspot.com

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You may remember that I posted some weeks ago about the ill-advisedness of adults using Facebook. Now that I am actually using Facebook, I would like to make known my total & complete retraction of my previous position. Facebook rules, and I plan to speak with my department head, fellow YA librarians in my system, and our tech department about setting one up for my library.

Why does Facebook rock so hard? A few reasons:

1. It is way, way easier to use and far less buggy than MySpace. I have a MySpace profile, but I am probably going to delete it because the site is so hard to use (for me, anyway -- this is obviously not a problem for the legions of users who remain devoted to it).
2. Facebook is so easy to customize -- not so much how it looks, but what it does. There are applications for every conceivable way you might want to customize your experience.
3. It is easier to find friends (both virtual & IRL ones), because signing up requires you to use your real name (or a close facsimile).
4. On the other hand, it's easier to remain anonymous, too -- you can set your profile to stay out of search results, and no-one can see your profile unless you agree to be friends with them or send them a message (and even then, you can set your preferences so that certain people can only see portions of your profile).
5. All in all, Facebook is a very useful way to develop and maintain loose connections with people (a type of relationship Malcolm Gladwell talks about in The Tipping Point) , and a way to nurture real-life relationships in a virtual space.

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