Monthly Archives: January 2017

Ep. 054: Neurosociety: Interactive Theatre Teaches Us About Our Brain

Posted in Brain anatomy & physiology, Knitting by

Welcome to Episode 54: David Byrne’s  NeuroScience:  Interactive Theatre That Teaches Us About Our Brains

Brainy Thing:   15:59             Behind the Redwood Curtain:  23:56

What We Learned from Our Knitting:

Margaret finished Laura’s Lamers’ Silken Straw Kerchief (unpublished) which was a long term but pleasant pattern. The yarn is challenging but so worth the extra attention it needs.   The pattern includes beads and silk — what more could you want?laura-kerchief-close laura-kerchief
Catherine finished her  Age of Brass and Steam shawlette by Orange Flower http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-age-of-brass-and-steam-kerchiefwith a self striping skein from Canon dye works.brass-and-steam-full

Brainy Thing:

Margaret reports on “Neurosociety,” the immersion/interactive theatre experience currently in Menlo Park, California that explores how our brains influence our perceptions and how our perceptions impact what we believe.  It was created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar.  http://www.pacegallery.com/exhibitions/12834/the-institute-presents-neurosociety and runs through March.1

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Catherine talks about how Arcata’s Big Scoop ice cream shop is an excellent example of a locavore business and one that reflects the owners’ values.flavors-posted-arcata

Knitting Tip:

Margaret got feedback from listeners about more information on Color Dominance.  Here is some  particularly helpful information she found:

2017 Learn-along:

The 2017 Learn-along runs from January 1 to May 1.   There are two threads on the Teaching Your Brain to Knit page of Ravelry:  one for the finished projects and one for chatter — to admire, offer advice and muse.bamboo-yarn

Links:

website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit, an interactive theatrical event that teaches you about your brain; a new strategy for dealing with challenging yarn, having fun with self-striping yarn, how an Arcata ice cream shop supports the locavore movement, More on color dominance and a reminder about the 2017 Learn-along.

Ep. 053 Gut Instinct and the Brain

Posted in Knitting by

Welcome to Episode 53:  Gut Instinct and the Brain

Brainy Thing:   13:02    Behind the Redwood Curtain:

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting:

brass-and-steam-close-up

Catherine returns to an old favorite, The Age of Brass and Steam by Orange Flower http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-age-of-brass-and-steam-kerchief
Margaret tries a new tool, Embellish-Knit https://www.amazon.com/Caron-20293-Embellish-Knit-Machine-Kit/dp/B003W0AUQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483493507&sr=8-1&keywords=embellish-knit+machine+kit which makes a wicked-fast i-chord to create some Wreath Ornaments by Lorna Miser.  lw4857_004_project_small2
 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wreath-ornaments-3  and the Fino necklace finoby Laura Nelkin.

Brainy Thing:  Gut Instinct and the Brain

Scientists are showing a direct link between the human gut and the brain which accounts for those “gut feelings we get.
Switzerland science researchers at ETH in Zurik,  Urs Meyer  German and his team at the  Swiss Federal insititude of technology,  research gut brain afferance   https://www.ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2014/05/how-the-gul-feeling-shapes-fear.html

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Sequoia Park Zoo

A small but sweet zoo in Sequoia Park in Eureka concentrates on education and species preservation.zoo-1 zoo-3 zoo-4

Knitting Tip:  Prevent Repetitive Stress Syndrome

Keeping your hands in a C shape with your palms facing upward helps to prevent repetitive stress syndrome

Learn-along

bamboo-yarnOur all-new Learn Something New Incentive with randomly selected prizes.   See thread on the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Ravelry page.   One prize will be a skein of 650 yards of Kristin Omdahl’s  B so Fine yarn  (in bamboo)   by Kristin Omdahl Yarns.   Other prizes to be announced.

Links:

website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.
Is there anything to  “gut feelings” that people are always talking about, We return to an old favorite   Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief, using a new tool dramatically speeds up making i-chord, Spot lighting Eureka’s small but educational zoo, a way to prevent repetitive stress syndrome, and the beginning of a new Learn-along