Links/Likes

Note: Since the birth of my first child in spring 2005, I pretty much don't have time for other hobbies. As such this page has not been updated since then, and probably will not be anytime soon.
P.S. (October 2007) I've created FaceBook and MySpace accounts, and found several old friends and current colleagues there also. If these places stay interesting, you may be able to learn more about me there. So if you're interested, request to "friend" me on one of those two places.

I recommend the search engine Google. If any of my links are dead or you want more information on anything I mention, just "google" it.

Social/Environmental Responsibility

Green Century = Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. Vote with your dollars by (a) investing with this fund, and/or (b) consulting their list of holdings to see which companies you want to purchase products from. For example, the "cleanest" gas company is Sunoco, while the worst is Mobil.

PETA (People for the ethical treatment of animals). To see which companies test their products on animals, see PETA's Caring Consumer.

Online News

The New York Times =general world news
Salon.com =general world news
Slashdot ="news for nerds"
Google News =computer-culled general world news. Go to this site and see "About Google News" for an explanation of how they generate their page.

Exercise that's not boring

Exercise is sooo important! Try YOGA! It's de-stressing, challenging, and interesting. Tip: find a class with a teacher you like. They vary a lot, in personality, and the level of exercise vs. spiritualism, but I think anyone can find a balance they'll like.
For couples, try swing dancing. It's social, it's exercise, and it's relaxed. I've found ballroom dancing to be a bit too stiff.
I also enjoy cycling with my husband, or around town, and swimming (which is great b/c it's not hard on your joints like walking, jogging, or biking).

Eating for you and your body

Check out the NEW food pyramid. Summary:
BAD: simple carbs (white rice, white bread, regular pasta, potatoes, sugar),
GOOD: complex carbs (whole grain breads and pastas, brown rice, etc.).
BAD: animal fats (lard, butter,...)
GOOD: vegetable fats (veg oil, nuts, avocado).
Portion control: Americans eat too much, and our stomachs and eyes are now used to ridiculus portion sizes. Adjust your expectations. Your body will be happy on fewer calories if you eat fewer empty calories (simple carbs, sat fats), and more whole grains and fresh vegetables.
Sugar: it's a drug. Really. Simple carbs are empty calories, AND chemically create a craving for more. Severely limit your daily intake of simple carbs. Read labels to catch sugar.
The new buzz is that both saturated animal fats AND "trans-fats", contained in any partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (shortening, etc), are evil.
Obesity is now the #2 cause of preventable death in the U.S. (smoking is #1, maybe not for long).

Book Recs (recently read listed first)

Hilary Clinton's Living History (2003). I found it interesting to learn about her background (childhood, etc) and fondest memories of the white house years, for example foreign travel explorations of conditions for women and children.
Helen Dewitt's The Last Samurai (2000). This is NOT the same as the book which the Tom Cruise movie was based on. Rather, it's the story of a young single mother and her child prodigy son.
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code (2003). A better than usual murder-mystery (also set in Paris, which is fun).
...more Book recs...

Movie Recs (recently viewed listed first)

For more facts on a specific movie, see The Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Etre et avoir (To be and to have) (2004, french). Moving documentary about a teacher and a one-room elementary schoolhouse in the countryside.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, i.e. the third one) is actually worth your $8.50 and 2.5 hours. It's by far the best book (of the 5 so far), and the new director, Alfonso Cuaron, is a genius.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). After breaking up, a couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories, but then have second thoughts.
...more Movie recs...

TV Shows (generally I loathe TV, and I don't have cable, but here are a few gems that are worthy of DVD purchase)

Buffy/Angel
Firefly
The West Wing
Wonderfalls

Radio

National Public Radio. It's not just classical music! Their main news, "All things considered" at 5pm and 6pm is a great thing to listen to while cooking dinner, AND they have a wide variety of fun/interesting talk shows, like Prarie Home Companion, with Garrison Keillor, This American Life, with Ira Glass, and Car Talk, with two hilarious guys from Boston.

Main | Contact | Vita | Research/Pubs | Teaching | Math Links | Other Links |

Last Modified Tue July 13, 2004

Comments to shruska at uwm.edu

Social/Environmental Responsibility Green Century = Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. Vote with your dollars by (a) investing with this fund, and/or (b) consulting their list of holdings to see which companies you want to purchase products from. For example, the "cleanest" gas company is Sunoco, while the worst is Mobil. PETA (People for the ethical treatment of animals). To see which companies test their products on animals, see PETA's Caring Consumer.	Online News The New York Times =general world news Salon.com =general world news Slashdot ="news for nerds" Google News =computer-culled general world news. Go to this site and see "About Google News" for an explanation of how they generate their page.
Exercise that's not boring Exercise is sooo important! Try YOGA! It's de-stressing, challenging, and interesting. Tip: find a class with a teacher you like. They vary a lot, in personality, and the level of exercise vs. spiritualism, but I think anyone can find a balance they'll like. For couples, try swing dancing. It's social, it's exercise, and it's relaxed. I've found ballroom dancing to be a bit too stiff. I also enjoy cycling with my husband, or around town, and swimming (which is great b/c it's not hard on your joints like walking, jogging, or biking).	Eating for you and your body Check out the NEW food pyramid. Summary: BAD: simple carbs (white rice, white bread, regular pasta, potatoes, sugar), GOOD: complex carbs (whole grain breads and pastas, brown rice, etc.). BAD: animal fats (lard, butter,...) GOOD: vegetable fats (veg oil, nuts, avocado). Portion control: Americans eat too much, and our stomachs and eyes are now used to ridiculus portion sizes. Adjust your expectations. Your body will be happy on fewer calories if you eat fewer empty calories (simple carbs, sat fats), and more whole grains and fresh vegetables. Sugar: it's a drug. Really. Simple carbs are empty calories, AND chemically create a craving for more. Severely limit your daily intake of simple carbs. Read labels to catch sugar. The new buzz is that both saturated animal fats AND "trans-fats", contained in any partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (shortening, etc), are evil. Obesity is now the #2 cause of preventable death in the U.S. (smoking is #1, maybe not for long).
Book Recs (recently read listed first) Hilary Clinton's Living History (2003). I found it interesting to learn about her background (childhood, etc) and fondest memories of the white house years, for example foreign travel explorations of conditions for women and children. Helen Dewitt's The Last Samurai (2000). This is NOT the same as the book which the Tom Cruise movie was based on. Rather, it's the story of a young single mother and her child prodigy son. Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code (2003). A better than usual murder-mystery (also set in Paris, which is fun). ...more Book recs...	Movie Recs (recently viewed listed first) For more facts on a specific movie, see The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) Etre et avoir (To be and to have) (2004, french). Moving documentary about a teacher and a one-room elementary schoolhouse in the countryside. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, i.e. the third one) is actually worth your $8.50 and 2.5 hours. It's by far the best book (of the 5 so far), and the new director, Alfonso Cuaron, is a genius. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). After breaking up, a couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories, but then have second thoughts. ...more Movie recs...
TV Shows (generally I loathe TV, and I don't have cable, but here are a few gems that are worthy of DVD purchase) Buffy/Angel Firefly The West Wing Wonderfalls	Radio National Public Radio. It's not just classical music! Their main news, "All things considered" at 5pm and 6pm is a great thing to listen to while cooking dinner, AND they have a wide variety of fun/interesting talk shows, like Prarie Home Companion, with Garrison Keillor, This American Life, with Ira Glass, and Car Talk, with two hilarious guys from Boston.