Reviews Archive

Subliminal Audios were unheard of and were probably considered inconceivable decades ago.  But today, with the onslaught of online marketing, there’s no way one can escape from the frequency of such products popping up every time you log on to the web.

So, it’s this curiosity that (kills the cat??) prompted me to check out Terry Banner’s Subliminal Audios.  He calls it “A Masterpiece NLP Audio Earthshaking Package”.  Great title, yes??

And he reinforces it with the following quote:

“Six Subliminal NLP Self-Improvement Audios Will Help You To Overcome Your Problem Areas, Depression, Slow Reading, Loss Of Focus And Concentration, Creative Thinking, Memory, Public Speaking, Love Your Physical Self With These Powerful Subliminal Audios.”

Then he goes on to explain in depth the six (6) topics.  You can probe further (as I have) by clicking on the “Read More” tab at the end of this post.

Meanwhile I will append below, a gist of what you might get.  By the way, he’s promised a “money back guarantee” (don’t they always??), so you probably have NOTHING TO LOSE if you’re seriously interested.

The topics are as follows:

1) Amazing Speed Reading - "Improve Your Reading Rate"

2) Be More Decisive - "Make That All Important Decision"

3) Better Creative Thinking - "Get Your Imagination Working Again"

4) Improved Memory - "How To Easily And Effortlessly Improve Your Memory"

5) Improved Public Speaking - "Cast Aside Your Inherent Fear Of Speaking in Public"

6) Love Your Physical Self - "Start Changing Your Life For The Better"

Obviously, being a niche site for “Creative Thinking”, the third topic is of immense interest to “yours truly”.  As for the rest, so long as they are related to the "brain" and have the capacity to improve my memory by “leaps and bounds”, I have no complaints.  And neither should you!!

Well, that’s all I have to say.  I’ve always respected other people’s opinion even when I’m not agreeing with them.  “To each his own”, I say.  So, don’t listen to me.  Listen to yourself.  All I’m doing in this niche site is to show you what I’ve found in my journey into “Creative Thinking”.

Nothing is black or white, good or bad, right or wrong.  What I like, you may not.  My choice may not be yours.  The only thing I can say is that if they find their way into my niche site, then it’s worthwhile having a look, if not anything else.

I don’t profess to being a “professional reviewer”, neither are the majority of my readers.  We’re ordinary folks who know what we like or not like.  Sometimes we make mistakes.  We are after all, just mere humans.  My job here (at least that’s what I think) is to share with my readers all that I’ve come across that fascinates/intrigues/piques me.  So there…

When I read the following:  “There is irrefutable evidence that having strategic thinking skills, enhanced creativity and the ability to easily absorb and recall information easily coupled with a drive to succeed is directly correlated to the quality of your life”, I knew that I had to explore further.  And the result?

Mammoth Memory, Power Thinking and Lazy Learning – 3 powerful courses packed with knowledge, tools and exercises to give your brain V8 power when you need it.

Jeremy Dargie, the author of the above took 4 years to develop it.  And, he’s giving away 3 Powerful Courses for the price of one!  That’s right, I’m not kidding.  His extensive years of experience and acute observation and research on the “brain” culminated in this very detailed piece of work (and that’s to put it mildly).

When he stated the following:  “If only we were able to remember every thing we want to remember, if only we knew where we stored all those bits of information that get stored in the vast expanses of our brain.  Imagine having a big exam the next day and all you had to do was carefully read and absorb the information and the next day you knew where and how to quickly retrieve that information”, I knew this was something that would appeal not only to adults in their quest to succeed in their careers, but also to students who wish to excel in their studies.  And dare I leave out the rest of us every day ordinary people who keep forgetting where we’ve placed our keys and what-nots??

Yes, this fine piece of work has an overall appeal to all of us.  I have placed a link in the “Read More” tab for you to explore further.  When you get to the website detailing the above, you will have the opportunity to read a more detailed account in PDF format.  Look for the “snippet” from the ebook.

Finally, I leave you with this “creative” content extracted from his website.  It goes something like this:

“Your brain is like a big growing evergreen tree.  Picture a big tree in your mind, the millions of leaves are thoughts, memories and ideas, growing all over the place in no structured order, but each leaf has its place.  Strong thoughts and memories grow into sticks and even stronger thoughts and memories into branches.  The trunk consists of very important and essential memories that are entrenched into our memory banks and are very easy to recall.  Our brains are excellent at storing and retaining information, what we are not good at is retrieving that information (especially the little leaves) when we need to.”

Ain’t that poetic?  I just couldn’t resist placing it on my niche site.  Yup!  Beautiful words should always be shared by one and all, I say.  What say you??

When I received a X’mas e-card from my favourite cousin in UK, I knew instantly that I would highlight the website responsible for generating such “creative” animations online.  Believe me, it is in a “class of its own”.  I have yet to come across such a classy, imaginative, wondrous, splendid display of beautiful illustrations, coupled with “magical sounds” that take you back to days of “Walt Disney”, when we were “oh so young and innocent”.

As quoted in her website, “Jacquie Lawson is an English artist who lives in the picturesque village of Lurgashall in Southern England.  Together with a small team of family and friends, she has developed a unique collection of animated e-cards, which show a degree of artistry and attention to detail rarely seen in the medium of e-cards.  Even the music is composed and arranged specially for each card!”

I find the above testament a hundred percent true.  Never have I been so enchanted by such delightful productions of the e-kind (what?)  Never mind me as I sometimes get carried away and invent my own words, phrases, what-nots!!

Regardless, the website certainly can boast of having “the classiest Christmas e-cards on the web” and much, much more!!

To prove this point, I had initially wanted to showcase the particular e-card I had received.  However, through “trial and error” of sorts, I could not get my website software to display it on this page.  However, I could (as always) attach the link at the end of this review.  All you have to do is click on the “Read More” tab and you will be taken to the website source, directly to the very page which I have selected entitled “The Snowdog Animation”.  This is the one that absolutely “touched my heart and soul”.

But before you do that, you can firstly view the website’s “Card Of The Month”.  All you have to do is click anywhere on the pix below, and you will be magically-transported to the “creative” realm at jacquielawson.com.  But remember to come back to my niche site and click once again but this time on the “Read More” tab to view my favorite pix.


 

This week, I decided to bring forth an earlier article posted on Yahoo! Food entitled “SuperFoods For Your Brain”.  I don’t quite understand the usage of the “superlative” term here.  From what I see, it’s more a categorisation of “best brain foods through the ages” (one’s lifespan, ie – through the different stages in life), with a special mention for “pregnant women”.  Regardless of its title, I do find it necessary to highlight it here on my niche site due to its “brain” connection.

Like what the article teaches you – “eat smart” in order to acquire your “braininess” – whether it’s required at school or at work.

So here it is, the article to aid you in your choice of “brain foods”.  The following is a condensed version from Yahoo! Food.  As always, you can check out the full article by clicking on the link at the end of this post.

Quote/Unquote:

The Best Brain Food for Infants and Babies:
Food solutions:  Iron-fortified cereals.

The Best Brain Food for Children and Teens:
Food solutions:  Bran cereals, oatmeal or whole-wheat bagels.

The Best Brain Food for Young Adults:
Food solutions:  Dark leafy greens, beans, meat or soy.

The Best Brain Food for Older Adults:
Food solutions:  Berries and other fruits, greens and turmeric (which contains curcumin).

The Best Brain Food for Pregnant Women:
Food solutions:  Salmon and other fatty fish, DHA-fortified eggs and yogurt.

If the above summary is too brief for your liking, you know where you can go to "read more".  Yes that's right, click on the "Read More" tab and you'll be transported to Yahoo! Food to view its entire contents.  And when you're done, don't forget to return to this niche site, yes??


P/S:  In case you're wondering why you're seeing "strawberries" above?  Well... no reason really!!  They look so "delicious" on Yahoo! Food - I just had to transport them to my niche site for your "viewing" pleasure.  Now, ain't I just the sweetest ever!!

The article I read at “Yahoo! Health” entitled “Best And Worst Brain Foods” requires your attention. Though posted quite a while back on Yahoo! (the original article ie), I finally decided that I should highlight it (after deliberating as to whether to “elaborate” or “condense” it) on the “Reviews” Section of my niche site.

Yes finally, after many months of being placed in “KIV” mode in my “brain”, I decided to unleash it – in a “condensed” version, meaning I’m making a “summary” of the “best” and “worst” brain foods. I’ll of ‘cos be providing the link to the website at the end of this post to allow you to visit and explore the detailed explanation of the reasons behind this categorisation by the “nutritional health experts” at “Yahoo! Health”.

Before I list down the “do’s and don’t’s”, please be reminded that it has been pointed out that “although our “brain” represents only 2 percent of our body weight, it makes 20 percent energy demands on our resting metabolism”. The said article has also advised us to “stock up on these items to halt mental decline, jog your memory, sharpen your senses, improve your performance, activate your feel-good hormones, and protect your quick-witted sharpness” with many an interesting phrase to explain why we should “Drink This” and “Eat This” or explain the “why” behind “Not That”.

So, here goes:

Quote/Unquote:

FOR SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Drink This!: COFFEE
Not That!: ENERGY DRINKS/TOO MUCH COFFEE

FOR LONG-TERM MEMORY
Eat This!: BLUEBERRIES
Not That!: THE UNRIPE AND UNREADY

TO THINK FASTER
Eat This!: SALMON OR MACKEREL
Not That!: FULL-FAT ICE CREAM

TO ENERGIZE:
Eat This!: HIGH-PROTEIN SALAD WITH VINAIGRETTE
Not That!: PANCAKES OR BAGELS

TO CALM DOWN
Eat This!: LOW-FAT YOGURT OR MIXED NUTS
Not That!: SODA

TO CONCENTRATE
Eat This!: PEPPERMINT TEA
Not That!: CANDY

FOR GOOD MOODS AND GRINS
Eat This!: ARUGULA OR SPINACH SALAD
Not That!: WHITE CHOCOLATE

FOR SHARPER SENSES
Eat This!: 1 TBSP OF GROUND FLAXSEED DAILY
Not That!: ALCOHOL

Now, whether or not your “favourites” are mentioned in the list above, I’ll bet that you’re curious enough to check out the article at “Yahoo! Health”. I promise you an “interesting read” – full of “humour and wit”. So, let’s get cracking - click on the “Read More” tab and go check it out.

Here’s to your “creative” health!!

P/S:  A Cuppa per day keeps the "blues" away...LOL!!

 

When I first read a newspaper “article/review” of this particular website, I must first admit that it was just “plain curiosity” that prompted me to check it out.  Another reason was because it triggered my memory, back to a time when I first discovered that an aunt of mine had succeeded in publishing a “book of short stories”, which was being supplied to various schools in my country.  Mind you, she was not a “writer” by profession although she dearly loves to “write”.  At the time, she had just begun her career as an Accountant and had chosen to migrate to Australia.  But enough of that.  Back to my “review”.

When I arrived at this Canadian website called “Sharing Books”, the first thing that strikes me is that the “Home Page” has a beautiful setting of illustrations in pastels.  That’s exactly how a “books” website should look like.  It exudes a “welcome” feeling of sorts.  You almost believe that you’ve just entered a library, where you can browse the books on the shelves at your own leisure.  But, you have to check out the website yourself in order to experience this “feeling”.  What I can do though, is share with you a few facts published on this website.

Firstly it states:  “Sharing Books, home of children’s e-books, stories and classic children’s literature”.  Short and straight to the point, yes??

Then, it goes on to say that its purpose is “to promote literacy, discover and share children’s books creators and create value for our shareholders and stakeholders”.  And what does the last statement mean?

Well, apparently “Sharing Books” are free and that “paying is completely optional and you decide if you can pay and how much you want to pay.  And, what you pay is shared – 1/3 to the creators of the shared book, 1/3 to Room to Read and 1/3 to Shared Books Ltd”.

What I liked was the part when it says that “Sharing Books is a most rewarding business because what we do makes people smile, our creators find a welcoming outlet for their ideas and children learn to read in a fun way that fits the electronic age and we help a great cause”.

I’ve been saying repeatedly on my niche site here at “CreativeThinkingForWomen.com” that my greatest wish is to make my readers “SMILE”, so there is a similarity here, yes??

And finally, to top it all, it strongly states that “the non-conformist nature of our business model challenges book publishing by opening up an audience for thousands of creators rejected by paper publishers.  We foster literacy by putting fun books in the hands of millions of children for free, and we save trees as paper books are printed only on an as needed basis”.

Yes, I say "3 Cheers To That!!

It’s FREE to read online, we save trees and therefore SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT and best of all, lots of “creative” writing talent will be unfolded/unleashed to the world!!

And that’s exactly why I personally support this website because I believe that “creativity” in any form, should not be suppressed.  They should be shared “freely” with the rest of the world.

You may (as my readers) click on the following “Read More” tag to journey to “Sharing-books.com”.  Yes, go on, do some reading… get that “brain” of yours working, and when you’re through, remember to come back to my niche site here at “CreativeThinkingForWomen.com”.  Don’t you forget, you hear??

Okay, I'm not sure if it's going to work.  The last time I tried it with "jigsaw puzzles", it went into "invisible" mode.  What I'm trying to say is that if I tried to write a post under the "Reviews" Section, any images that I intended on the page just couldn't "materialise".  Or it does, but the words "disappear".  No problem when I place it in the "Articles" or "Blogs" Sections, but somehow, when I try it with the "Reviews" Section... ta-da!!  What can I say?  I SUCK when it comes to softwares, hardwares and whatever-wares.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to have this "particular" post on this "particular" section is so that I can include the link.  But, no matter.  We'll see how it goes.  (Note:  This is beginning to sound like a "Blog" post.)

Okay, okay, back to today's topic.  I found a marvellous website catering to "Cyber Pets".  Alright, I know I'm a little "late" discovering sites that "everybody" seems to know about, like a "million" years ago.  But I did admit (countless times) that I'm quite the "cyber bumpkin" (although I used the old phrase "country bumpkin" most of the time).

Anyway, the website is called "BunnyHero Labs" and you can "adopt an interactive virtual pet for your website, myspace or online journal" by making your own "widget".  How "cool" is that!!  3 easy steps to follow and hey presto!!  Yes, you can exercise your "creativity" by first, selecting your pet/animal, second, selecting your choice of color for your selected pet (that's where you "flaunt" your "creativity", hahaha!!!) and third, copying the embedded code or submitting it to the destination of your choice.  How's that for "quick service".  Easy as A-B-C, I say.  Okay, I should stop "clowning" around, but seriously folks, I'm like a KID playing with her new "toys".

Anyhow, I couldn't get the embedding to work on the right side of my "Home Page", being too wide and all.  So, I reduced it a teensy-weensy and lo-and-behold, it works.  Talk about being "creative".  Okay, enough self-praise.  This post is getting "weird".

I will attempt to put my 2 new "cyber pets" within this post.  If it doesn't work, then you'll have to make do by viewing it on the "Home Page".  I'll probably alternate my pets each week 'til I get sick of doing it or viewing it.

Well, the 2 pets I "adopted" are:  a Light-Purple Fox which I aptly-named "Foxy Lady" (used to be my "nickname" in my youth, wonder why, haha!!) and the other is a White Wolf which I called "Wolverine" (obviously!!).  Well, actually it was also a name I used online many years ago.

Anyhow, for those who are game to give it a shot, go get yourself a virtual pet.  It's much easier than taking care of a real one!  I know 'cos my 5-year old, AkitaWoof is quite a handful!!

By the way, in case you're not aware, AkitaWoof is also my alter-ego at my other blog site.

Well, this post ain't much of a "review", but nevertheless, the point I'm making is that "creativity" can be found everywhere.  And this is certainly a website where you can have some fun as well.  Here's to "Never Growing Old".  So there!!  Be there or Be square!!  Man, how corny can you get!!!

Anyway, here's "Foxy Lady"...  Click on her and see her jump/hop, whatever.  Click on the "more" tab and present her with a bouquet (I think) and she'll send some "hearts" your way.  And if you feed her with the bone, she'll squeal with delight.  What a darling!!

And, here's "Wolverine"...  Click her upper torso and she'll "growl" at you, but click her on her hind legs, paws, whatever, and she'll sit/squat down obediently.  But dig that sly look she gives you from the corner of her eye.

P/S:  It works!!  Well, have fun with them.  Let's cheer the old-fashioned way... Hip-hip-hooray!!!

I’m supposed to be doing the “reviewing” here, but once in a while, I am so impressed with some reviewers out there that I can’t help but rave about what they wrote.  Here’s a typical example.  Check out the following statements from “Idea Champions” and see if you agree with me.  I’ve condensed, or more correctly, selected a few paragraphs from their website.  You may read the complete write-up by clicking on the link I’ve provided at the end of my post.

Quote/Unquote:

We've worked with left-brained people, right-brained people, and air-brained people - all of whom have been interested in "getting out of the box".

If you are committed to birthing a BIG IDEA, first understand that the car is you and the engine that powers the car is your passion for bringing something new into the world.

I sure like the "air-brained" connotation applied above.  Hilarious, ain't it??

In reviewing the book, “Awake At The Wheel”, the following are some insightful comments.

Some of the methods described in Awake at the Wheel will be right up your alley.  Some will not.  Some are so common-sensical you'll think you could have invented them.  Some are so non-sensical you'll dismiss them as trivial.

Don't worry about loving them all.  You won't.  Just find the ones that interest you and give them a shot -- whatever it takes to get those wheels inside you turning once again.

Is there a perfect technique?  No.  Just like there's no perfect diet, place to live, or relationship.  What works for you on Monday may not work for you on Sunday.  What works for you in the morning may not work for you at night.

But that's what makes the world -- just like the wheel -- go round and round.

I like that – spot-on!!

By the way, for those who are interested in the book, the following is an overall description:

Awake at the Wheel is an inspiring fable and creative thinking toolkit for anyone wanting to spark creativity, innovation, and to develop breakthrough ideas.

Simply put, Awake at the Wheel is a book about the creative process— what it is, how to accelerate it, and what aspiring innovators can do to radically increase their chances or manifesting their BIG IDEAS in a world not always ready for the new and the different.

Awake at the Wheel is the perfect innovation catalyst for anyone attempting to "get out of the cave," spark a culture of innovation, and accomplish extraordinary results.

A quick read, Awake at the Wheel motivates and inspires entrepreneurs, business people, and, ultimately, all aspiring innovators to go beyond their obstacles and manifest their most inspired ideas.

Mitchell Ditkoff of Idea Champions is a corporate consultant and keynote speaker on culture of innovation, creative thinking and team development.

The Awake at the Wheel keynote is a fun, interactive exploration of the creative process and breakthrough thinking for individuals, employees, teams, and entrepreneurs. The book includes 35 easy-to-use creative thinking tools.

Phew!  That's quite a "mouthful", but it sure sparked an interest for me to check out its contents.  What about you?  Are you game or what!!

Once again, another great article worth mentioning in my niche site.  This one goes back in time to the writer’s childhood in putting her point across.  And as always, I’ve provided a link to enable my readers to read it in its entirety.  I’ve also included one very insightful comment posted in response to its article.

Meanwhile, the following statements which caught my attention were the reasons why I felt that the writer’s story deserved a mention in my “creative thinking” niche site.  Check out the following extracts...

Quote/Unquote:

Understanding Creativity

Creative thinking involves a search for patterns, relationships, and a perspective;  differentiating between what is known by an individual and what is unknown to create something new or original.  Creativity is not the ability to create out of nothing (only God can do that), but the ability to generate new ideas by combining, changing, or reapplying existing ideas.

Some creative ideas are astonishing and brilliant, while others are just simple, practical ideas that no one seems to have thought of yet.

It requires flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, modification, imagery, associative thinking, attributive listing, metaphorical thinking and forced relationships.

The writer then went on to say...

Creativity is also an attitude, the ability to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve it.  We are socialized into accepting only a small number of ‘permitted’ or ‘normal’ things, like ice - cream.

However, the creative person realises that there are other possibilities, like chocolate covered ice -cream, peanut butter, banana splits, pistachio, nuts and caramel.

Isn’t that true?  Well, she ends her article with the following...

Let us not be so quick to write off a child who does not demonstrate early signs of academic excellence.  Let us dig a bit deeper for that God given talent which is deposited in each and every child and then nurture it to bring out the best.  The slow and unassuming child of today may be the Albert Einstein of tomorrow.

So very true, I say.  What say you?

Anyway, among the “comments” posted, I found one particularly “spot-on”.  It was posted by “Anna O” who stated that “The problem with humans is we don't educate, we indoctrinate.”

How true, how very, very true…

I chanced upon THINKERTOYS (A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques) by Michael Michalko the other day, and came to the conclusion that I MUST include some of the excerpts from its “Preface” which I found absolutely “creatively mind-provoking”.  Read for yourself, and you’ll discover why.

Quote/Unquote:

Creators are joyful and positive.  Creators look at "what is" and "what can be" instead of "what is not".  Creators, instead of excluding possibilities include all possibilities, both real and imagined.  Creators choose to interpret their own world and do not rely upon the interpretations of others.  And most importantly, creators are creative because they believe they are creative.

Then, he goes on to say:

It’s impossible to be creative if you are negative.  Most people presume that our attitudes affect our behavior, and this is true.  But it’s also true that our behavior determines our attitudes.  You can pretend or act your way into a new attitude.  We choose to be positive or to be negative.

Every time we pretend to have an attitude and go through the motions, we trigger the emotions we create and strengthen the attitude we wish to cultivate.

He then ends his "Preface" with the following:

We do not choose to be born.  We do not choose our parents.  We do not choose our historical epoch, or the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing.  We do not, most of us, choose to die;  nor do we choose the time or conditions of our death.  But within all this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live:  with purpose or adrift, with joy or with joylessness, with hope or with despair, with humor or with sadness, with a positive outlook or a negative outlook, with pride or with shame, with inspiration or with defeat and with honor or with dishonor.  We decide that what makes us significant or insignificant.  We decide to be creative or to be indifferent.  No matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices and decisions are ours to make.  We decide.  We choose. In the end, our own creativity is decided by what we choose to do or what we refuse to do.  And as we decide and choose, so are our destinies formed.

If such “creative thinking” phrases spring from just the “Preface” alone, I wonder what the whole book contained.  Well, we know what we must do, yes?  Seek out this best-selling title of his and study it in its entirety, that’s what we must do.