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Make-up Artist and Photographer for Patti’s New Headshot on her Newsletter and Website


We got so many requests about the details of my new headshot I decided to blog it.


The artist that did my make-up for the shoot was SUNNI.  She is so talented.
Siggers Hair Salon is off LaVista Road on the other side of 285 from Northlake Mall.


Another true artist is Enid Grigg.  She did the wonderful photography and lighting and photoshoping of the headshot.  She is a genius and you should go right now and book her for a headshot if you need one http://www.enidgrigg.com/ . Enid Grigg is my professional photographer. She has many talents and she has done corporate headshots for years. She did the videos of me on the stool in the black top on my website home page http://www.pattiwood.net/ as well as the fun photo shoot I did of different body language postures and what they mean that I did for CBS.com http://www.bodylanguagelady.blogspot.com/search/label/throat.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 22, 2012

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti's Rough Notes from CNN and HLN Interview on Zimmerman's Body Language

Check the link below to view the video on YouTube!

Overall I see Zimmerman; defiant at times angry, upset and pained to have here is parents testimony.

See my notes below on how chained handcuffs may affect body language and make anyone angry. There is only one small piece of tape showing his sitting down so you can see the handcuffs.

In Courtroom, at beginning of bond hearing, Zimmerman is defiant and angry.  With the facial muscles around the mouth held tight he appears to be showing classic signs of anger he is biting down hard, and thrust the chin up and forward.  This body language says, “Don’t mess with me.” In body language we go forward with are bodies to attack. When someone is pumping themselves up to fight they may as Zimmerman is doing here, push their chests up and out and lead with their jaw.

CNN video tittles “Zimmerman’s dad” He has gashes on head”

As Zimmerman listens to his dad describe his injuries his shoulders are back head is up. One of the few times he blinks normally. Lawyer tweaks questions of Zimmerman’s father, “Did you see any pictures of that? Zimmerman does an eyes shutter closing his eyes to the situation.

Zimmerman is pained to have his father questioned.  When the defense attorney repeats the question you see (time code: 31 to 32) Zimmerman’s head go down and his whole faces to scrunches us in pain like a child about to cry.

In other tape today

Zimmerman also shows other classic anger signals. Anger – Anger shows pull your eyebrows down and together so the inner corners of your eyes go down and towards your nose then you stare so that your upper eyelids and your lowered eyebrows meet now press your lips together tightly lips appear very thin.  When someone is about to attack signal of a pressed lips tend to precede arms going out to attack. Zimmerman does lips presses of anger as well as lip puckering in distaste

There are contextual situational reasons that we may see some of the emotions in Zimmerman for example he is in chained handcuffs. In research on anger when physiologist are trying to create the emotion of anger in subjects they produce anger by holding the arms of the research subject so they cannot get free. If we are prevented from doing what we want to do, in this case Zimmerman wishes to defend himself, also when we feel that someone is trying to deliberately hurt us or denigrate us in any way the natural response is anger or fear. And if we are fearful a way stress response freeze flight fight fall or faint o reduce the fear and feel stronger is to become angry. Anger increases the heart rate produces adrenaline.

Also anger calls forth Anger. The Prosecuting attorney is very skilled. His voice is incredulous and angry and he attacks Zimmerman with his questions. Specifically asking about Zimmerman about saying he was sorry.  

As he comes in the courtroom and sits with the handcuffs.

Asked his name he reply’s  “George Michael Zimmerman” on head forward and chin up imperious shoulders back.

We see him take a breath micro facial cue . “as his lawyer says” anything he says, see his lips close on NBC NEW. Time stamp 17. showing he wants to keep something in, slight indication what is coming out next is not the truth.  

I wanted to say, I am sorry, for the loss of your son,  I did not know how old he was I thought he was a little younger than I am. I did not know that he was armed or not’ All addressed with his head to the lawyer his heart straight forward. 
When prosecuting attorney said (time :37 “ no to the mother and father CNN 10:54 in courtroom. His nose flares, his brow leaps to  up see the folds and his eyebrows went up asymmetrically his lips purse in distaste in slight anger. See how his chin stays up. He is confident.

Prosecutor says, “You told that to the police,” Zimmerman:58 presses his lips up and gives an asymmetrical grimace (Neocortex logical brain and emotional limbic brain in conflict. / note his eyes he glares. He is mad, but trying to suppress it and he feels caught in the lie.
“Who did you make that statement too?” Zimmerman replies, “Aahhhh” shakes his head no again as Prosecutor says, “I believe you gave five statements total” (Time code 1:21) He shakes his head no while saying, “Yes sir I am sorry, all the names blend together. Has micro facial cue again eyebrows up big smirk asymmetrical revealing anger and fear then purse. 
“I don’t remember exactly what verbatim,” His paralanguage is more abrupt he gives a vocal strike on the word verbatim. He gives an eye block (time code 1:40)
Time code 2:10 time on the clock10:56. You left a message for them to tell them that. Zimmerman furrowed brow lips again pursed in distaste.
Prosecutor, “Why did you wait so long to tell Mr. Martin” Zimmerman at time code  Zimmerman reply’s in soft submissive voice, “I don’t understand the question, I am sorry.” (time code 2:17) But he follows it wish a lip press of frustration, and a tongue thrust (sticking out his tongue to attack the prosecutor) showing he does understand the implication of the question and is mad>  

Body Language baseline in the First Court Appearance Rather than have what I normally see the turtle head bow their head erect posture, facial musculature stoic

Squirrel in the headlight Fear response especially when he first walks in White and Wide Increased sympathetic nervous system activity and elevated adrenaline anyone would have that, blinking increased.
Baseline Zimmerman’s body Language before First Court Appearance Turtle head bow their head erect posture, facial musculature stoic.

Squirrel in the headlight Fear response especially when he first walks in White and Wide Increased sympathetic nervous system activity and elevated adrenaline anyone would have that, blinking increased.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert/videos


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-R1OajhBsU



http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/national/judge-to-decide-if-zimmerman-can-leave-jail


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Recommendations for networking event, group job interviews, group auditions and reality show competitions and parties.

A client of mine, who is now being considered for a reality show, recently sought some last minute coaching advice. Here are my rough notes to him that you may want to consider and adapt for your use when you are at a meeting or job interview networking event.  


1.       Be very present and connect with each person you speak with.

2.      Focus on them completely when you’re with them. That is the number one behavior of a charismatic person.

3.      If you are in room with other candidates, producers etc., get there early, stand near the door and introduce yourself and introduce people to each other.  

4.      You are a life of the party guy, very smart and very witty and I would coach you to be your wonderful self.

5.      Find something fun and cleaver to say about the day, the food or the ambiance.

6.      Find a fellow auditionee to have a little fun and laugh with so they can see how much fun you would be as a team member.

7.      Spend quality time with and make yourself memorable to the decision makers thank them at the beginning and be the last one to thank them at the end be grateful and happy to have a chance to be there.

8.     I was so impressed with you and your fun lively story telling ability when I we worked together I know they will love you.  

  • Most important get out sticky notes or 3 by  5 cards
  • Write questions you know they will ask
  • Write questions you hope they won’t ask
  • What situations your fear may come up one question/fear for each sticky note.
  • Turn each note over and come up with an answer you are comfortable with.
  • Come up with a few questions you can ask others to open them up and get them comfortable
  • Mix it up, be serious and be funny mix it up. Then have a few friends take the sticky notes and ask you the questions


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 21, 2012

If you don't ask, you don't get.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Retouching the void The WTC memorials impossible Compromises. Public space and nonverbal communication.

I just read an excellent article in Harpers Magazine. Mark Kingwell a professor o f philosophy at the University of Toronto talks about the effects of public space and interviews the architect of the World Trade Center Memorial.

The architect waxes profound about what he wanted to achieve with the controversial memorial. It is what he said about its meaning when asked by a security guard at the site that expressed it the best. “Well, I wanted to create a voiced—Two cascading voids.”  How interesting he should say that.  I think that is what 9/11 gave us. How simple a memorial. Something that doesn’t rise up to celebrate but instead recedes with tears of grief into a void.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Watch Patti on HLN and CNN regarding the Zimmerman Bond Hearing


I was just called to do several media interviews on Zimmerman’s body language during his bond hearing and I will be on HLN at EST and CNN tonight between 7:00 and 8:30. I will have the videos of the interviews up on my YOUTUBE channel tomorrow if you don’t see the shows tonight.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 20, 2012

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 19, 2012

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 18, 2012

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Cell Phone Exposure May Prevent and Reverse Alzheimer's Disease


After  years of being told that cell phone use is bad for you here is some good news

I just read cell phone exposure may prevent and reverser Alzheimer’s disease

on scitech-news (one of my research junkie sites.) Here is the link and the article.

What do you think? t


Cell phone exposure may prevent and reverse alzheimer’s disease
1/16/2010 08:17:00 AM Publicado porJorge Franchín
Etiquetas:
Medicine

The millions of people who spend hours every day on a cell phone may have a new excuse for yakking. A surprising new study in mice provides the first evidence that long-term exposure to electromagnetic waves associated with cell phone use may actually protect against, and even reverse, Alzheimer's disease.

The study, led by University of South Florida researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

"It surprised us to find that cell phone exposure, begun in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer's symptoms," said lead author Gary Arendash, PhD, USF Research Professor at the Florida ADRC. "It was even more astonishing that the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones actually reversed memory impairment in old Alzheimer's mice."

The researchers showed that exposing old Alzheimer's mice to electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones erased brain deposits of the harmful protein beta-amyloid, in addition to preventing the protein's build-up in younger Alzheimer's mice. The sticky brain plaques formed by the abnormal accumulation of beta amyloid are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Most treatments against Alzheimer's try to target beta-amyloid.

The highly-controlled study allowed researchers to isolate the effects of cell phone exposure on memory from other lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. It involved 96 mice, most of which were genetically altered to develop beta-amyloid plaques and memory problems mimicking Alzheimer's disease as they aged. Some mice were non-demented, without any genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's, so researchers could test the effects of electromagnetic waves on normal memory as well.

Both the Alzheimer's and normal mice were exposed to the electromagnetic field generated by standard cell phone use for two 1-hour periods each day for seven to nine months. The mice didn't wear tiny headsets or have scientists holding cell phones up to their ears; instead, their cages were arranged around a centrally-located antenna generating the cell phone signal. Each animal was housed the same distance from the antenna and exposed to electromagnetic waves typically emitted by a cell phone pressed up against a human head.

If cell phone exposure was started when the genetically-programmed mice were young adults -- before signs of memory impairment were apparent -- their cognitive ability was protected. In fact, the Alzheimer's mice performed as well on tests measuring memory and thinking skills as aged mice without dementia. If older Alzheimer's mice already exhibiting memory problems were exposed to the electromagnetic waves, their memory impairment disappeared. Months of cell phone exposure even boosted the memories of normal mice to above-normal levels. The memory benefits of cell phone exposure took months to show up, suggesting that a similar effect in humans would take years if cell phone-level electromagnetic exposure was provided.

Based on their promising and unexpected findings in mice, the researchers concluded that electromagnetic field exposure could be an effective, non-invasive and drug-free way to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in humans. They are currently evaluating whether different sets of electromagnetic frequencies and strengths will produce more rapid and even greater cognitive benefits than those found in their current study.

"If we can determine the best set of electromagnetic parameters to effectively prevent beta-amyloid aggregation and remove pre-existing beta amyloid deposits from the brain, this technology could be quickly translated to human benefit against AD" said USF's Chuanhai Cao, PhD, the other major study author. "Since production and aggregation of β-amyloid occurs in traumatic brain injury, particularly in soldiers during war, the therapeutic impact of our findings may extend beyond Alzheimer's disease."

The memory test used to evaluate the effects of cell phone exposure in mice was closely designed from a sensitive test used to determine if Alzheimer's disease, or its very early signs (mild cognitive impairment), are present in humans. "Since we selected electromagnetic parameters that were identical to human cell phone use and tested mice in a task closely analogous to a human memory test, we believe our findings could have considerable relevance to humans," Arendash said.

The researchers found a slight increase in brain temperature during the two one-hour periods when mice were exposed to electromagnetic waves each day. This increase in brain temperature was seen only in the Alzheimer's mice, and only after months of exposure. The researchers suggest the increase in brain temperature helped the Alzheimer's brain to remove newly-formed beta-amyloid by causing brain cells to release it.

The researchers were particularly surprised to discover that months of cell phone exposure actually boosted the memory of non-demented (normal mice) to above-normal levels. They suspect that the main reason for this improvement involves the ability of electromagnetic exposure to increase brain activity, promoting greater blood flow and increased energy metabolism in the brain. "Our study provides evidence that long-term cell phone use is not harmful to brain," Dr. Cao said. "To the contrary, the electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones could actually improve normal memory and be an effective therapy against memory impairment"

"It will take some time to determine the exact mechanisms involved in these beneficial memory effects," Arendash said. "One thing is clear, however - the cognitive benefits of long-term electromagnetic exposure are real, because we saw them in both protection- and treatment-based experiments involving Alzheimer's mice, as well as in normal mice."

Previous human studies of electromagnetic waves from cell phones involved only brief exposures given to normal humans. While some studies reported small improvements in attention or memory (not enough to impact daily life), others reported no memory effects from short-term exposure. The new study by Arendash, Cao, and their colleagues is the first to investigate the effects of long-term electromagnetic exposure over many months on memory function in either humans or animals. The findings indicate that "long-term" exposure to cell phone level electromagnetic waves is needed to observe enhanced memory in normal or memory-impaired mice.

The USF researchers began investigating the effects of cell phone use on Alzheimer's disease several years ago, after several observational studies in humans linked a possible increased risk of Alzheimer's with "low-frequency" electromagnetic exposure -- like the energy waves generated by power and telephone lines. However, cell phones emit "high-frequency" electromagnetic waves, which are very different because they can have beneficial effects on brain cell function, such as increasing brain cell activity, Arendash said.

There has been recent controversy about whether electromagnetic waves from cell phones cause brain cancer. Some researchers argue that the risk of glioma (40 percent of all brain tumors) doubles after 10 or more years of cell phone use. However, others argue that since the overall lifetime risk of developing a brain tumor of any type is less than 1 percent, any doubling of this risk would still be very low. Groups such as the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society, and the National Institutes of Health, have all concluded that scientific evidence to date does not support any adverse health effects associated with the use of cell phones. Consistent with the view of these organizations, the researchers found no autopsy evidence of abnormal growth in brains of the Alzheimer's mice following many months of exposure to cell phone-level electromagnetic waves. They also found all major peripheral organs, such as the liver and lungs, to be normal.
(Photo: USF)
University of South Florida
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 17, 2012

Get outside every day.  Miracles are waiting everywhere.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How to Avoid a Hug

This is an excerpt from Patti's new book "SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" coming out this Fall 




The Hug Dodge

                So, you’re not a hugger and this whole hugging thing makes you a bit uneasy. There are many motivations for dodging a hug and more than one method to do it. It was front-page news in the Irish press with Bono, of the rock group U2 admitted that he dodged a hug from then-President George W. Bush by jumping behind a podium on the stage as the affectionate Bush came near him. Bono said he didn’t feel like being the recipient of a hug from someone he disagreed with on so many things.



                I’m a hugger, so I don’t worry about people hugging me. But I know there have been times when someone didn’t want to hug with me. Not everyone is a hugger. When you hug, you expose the front of your body, opening all of your body windows. It can make some people feel vulnerable. Others feel that hugs are too personal and intimate and even too sexual for everyday interactions in business and with acquaintances. Thankfully, their body language cues will let you know very quickly whether they are huggers.



What if I don’t want a hug?

                Carol, a pharmaceutical sales rep in my sales presentation skills class asked, “What if I don’t want a hug? Some of the physicians I call on immediately give me a hug and I am just not into that.”  This is a frequent question for women in business. The good news, Carol and all, “I am not a hugger” gals and guys, there is a systematic technique to avoid the hug.

                 If you see the potential hugger with both hands and arms raised and chest thrust out in the “hug” position, do the following:

1.      Break eye contact

2.      Step forward on your right foot (This is your “handshaking foot” – the foot that normally moves first for a handshake)

3.      Present only the right side of your body, which effectively closes off your body windows

4.      Extend your right hand for a handshake. (You can choose to make eye contact again at this point)

5.      After touching, step back outside the intimate zone of space to signal you are done, and you don’t want to follow the handshake with a hug. This step also sends the signal that not only is the hug unwanted now, but also unwanted in the future.

If extending the arm and presenting the right side doesn’t stop the hugger, wrap your left arm around the person’s shoulder. This way it becomes a side-to-side hug rather than a frontal hug. You can also pat their back or shoulder to insure you indicate you don’t want a sexual interaction.

The hug dodge does two things:

1.      It signals in those important milliseconds that you are initiating a handshake interaction.

2.      It closes and protects the windows of your body

Macey, a drop-dead gorgeous client of mine came in for a coaching session after receiving the hug dodge training in our previous session. She said, “I feel so empowered. Yesterday I was at a meeting. My boss’s boss, who goes in for the really uncomfortable, feel you up kind of hug approached me with his arms out at the meeting last week. I was able to use the hug dodge to change it to a much more comfortable handshake. I realized at once how powerless and uncomfortable I typically feel when I have had to interact with him after one of his inappropriately sexual hugs.”  


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 14, 2012

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will.  Stay in touch.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Casablanca "Here is looking at your kid" - drinks for a Casablanca party night.


Rick's toast to Ilsa, "Here's looking at you, kid",  that is used several times in the movie Casablanca , is not in the draft screenplays, but has been attributed to something Bogart said to Bergman as he taught her poker between takes. It was voted the 5th most memorable line in cinema in AFI's 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes by the American Film Institute.

I just got Turner Classic Movie 70th anniversary edition remastered version of Casablanca

I just looked up the beverages that were consumed in the movie to inspire choices for a Casablanca movie viewing Party. In the Movie Casablanca the characters drank  Champagne, Champagne cocktails, wine, cognac, Cointreau, and bourbon. Nonverbally drinking all that alcohol effects the body language of the characters throughout the movie. They are looking off in the distance as they wait for a drink, they look at the drinks they look at each other and then the drinks.  This show the hopelessness and trapped feelings they have  at the onset of war. The alcohol is their escape from reality . Wow! You could get very tipsy if you played  a drinking game had people raise our glasses and drink every time they drink or toast in the movie.

Here is what I found on the internet at http://www.wineintro.com/movies/casablanca/ everything below is from this website.

From the start of the story right through the end, wine and Champagne were key elements..

The movie begins with Rick finishing a glass of Champagne. It's sad that in those days they used the giant-bowl glasses, which aren't very good for saving bubbles or flavor in a bubbly! Ugarte comes over with the two passes, and goes through two glasses of cognac.

Cut over to Yvonne, drowning her sorrows in Rick's private stock of brandy. I've tried to figure out which it is, but the picture is too small for me to see. She's soon escorted home by Sacha.

Now Major Strasser enters, and Captain Renault kindly suggests he try the Veuve Cliquot '26, a very good year for this Champagne. Laszlo and Ilsa come in and order two glasses of Cointreau. Renault seems to be fond of Champagne, because in a few minutes he joins the couple, and orders a bottle of Champagne for them (although, we might note, not the '26). Lazlo heads up to the bar before it arrives, and Renault meets him there and orders a pair of Champagne Cocktails. These people like to drink!

Later that evening, Rick is depressed over seeing Ilsa and goes most of the way through a bottle of bourbon. He starts remembering their days in Paris. This involves they drinking Cordon Rougue Champagne in his apartment, with the famous "Here's looking at you, kid" line. Later in La Belle Aurore, a little club, they're trying to get through the remaining bottles of Cordon Rougue before the Germans get into town. They even threaten to pour it in the garden rather than let the Germans get it. Their final kiss knocks over the glass.

The next morning in the Blue Parrot, Rick and Ferrari share a bourbon together. At Rick's later on, Yvonne and her new German soldier lover order "French 75s" at the bar. Carl, the waiter, then brings "the finest brandy" to the Leuchtags, who are preparing to leave for Lisbon. It appears to be Hennessey Cognac. Rick's drinking brandy when he chats with Annina, and then Laszlo comes in with Ilsa and order two cognacs. When Rick lets Annina win their 'escape fare', Carl pours a brandy for Rick in thanks.

Now we go through perhaps the longest wine-free stretch of the entire movie, until Ilsa gets into Rick's apartment. After the "pause" they are sipping Champagne on the couch. Then Laszlo comes into the bar, and Rick goes down to pour him some brandy

Six lines from Casablanca appeared in the AFI list, the most of any film (Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz tied for second with three apiece). The other five are:

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" – 20th

"Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'" – 28th

"Round up the usual suspects" – 32nd

"We'll always have Paris" – 43rd

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all

One of the lines most closely associated with the film — "Play it again, Sam" — is a misquotation.[120][121] When Ilsa first enters the Café Americain, she spots Sam and asks him to "Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake." After he feigns ignorance, she responds, "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'." Later that night, alone with Sam, Rick says, "You played it for her, you can play it for me," and "If she can stand it, I can! Play it!"

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 13, 2012

HOWEVER GOOD OR BAD A SITUATION IS, IT WILL CHANGE.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Five Relaxation Techniques Before a Speech or Other High Stress Event


1. Place one hand on your stomach, and breathe deeply. Focus on filing your belly up like a balloon so your hand rises and then let your breath out slowly. Repeat three times

2. Breathe in slowly counting to three then hold your breath in for a count of three then breathe out very slowly on a count of three.

3. Place one hand on the chest just under your neck and the other on your stomach breathe in slowly and see which hand moves the most.  When we are under stress we breathe shallow breaths high in the chest. To relax focus on your breathing low and slow till just the hand on your stomach moves when you breathe.

4. Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking by the ocean. Feel the warm sun on your skin. Feel the sand. Hear the waves come in and out. Breathe slowly in and out with the waves. Say to yourself I am relaxed.

5 .Close your eyes and imagine the audience smiling and leaning forward as you come up to speak. Imagine your relaxed and confident energy as you begin your speech.  See the audience in your mind's eye nodding their heads and showing interest.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti's Body Language Training is Discussed in the Wall Street Journal

Patti was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal to discuss the training she did for Affinia Hotels.  All the employees from all the Affinia Hotels from the housekeeping staff to the owner of the hotel chain attended Patti's body language and customer service training last year. The Wall Street Journal interviewed the employees and the guests about the impact of the training on their comfort in their interactions.  Click the link below to read the article.

Wall Street Journal - April 12, 2012

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 12, 2012

TIME HEALS ALMOST EVERYTHING.  GIVE TIME TIME.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 11, 2012

WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OF YOU IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Increase Your Social Media Acceptance Rate


Increase your social media acceptance rate – If you are wondering why people don’t accept your Friend requests on Facebook or link with you on LinkedIn it may be because you are giving a bad first impression. Persuasion theory suggests that you give something before you ask for something. I was reading today in SPEAKERNETNEWS a simple way to get people to accept you as a contact.

“When inviting someone to accept you as a contact on LinkedIn or as a friend on Facebook, including a sentence on how you know the person will increase the chances they will accept. If you’re like me, you get invitations for connections all the time from people you don’t remember or even know. By including a simple, “We met at x” or “I know you from ” people will more quickly respond.” — Rebecca Morgan


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 10, 2012

FORGIVE EVERYONE EVERYTHING.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 9, 2012

FRAME EVERY SO-CALLED DISASTER WITH THESE WORDS: "IN FIVE YEARS, WILL THIS MATTER?"

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Eye Strain Prevention


When we are with other people talking face to face we increase our blink rate.  When we are by ourselves we may only blink 20 times per minute. We stare at our computer, IPhone and other tech screens. Our eyes are so important. I just received this eye strain prevention link given by fellow speaker Teresa Duncan at SpeakerNetNews and wanted to share it with you.

“To reduce eyestrain I’ve started using the program Eyeleo (eyeleo.com) that prompts you to perform simple eye exercises throughout the day. After using it for a week I no longer have tired, burning eyes at the end of the day.”


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 8, 2012

NO ONE IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR HAPPINESS EXCEPT YOU.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Flash Mob Performance in Seattle


Here is a video of a flash mob performance in Seattle. I love the energy. Personally I would love to be part of one. It would have been great if suddenly after my speech at Johnson and Wales this past week a flash mob of dancers practiced their isopraxism.

Look at this video now and anytime you need a lift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5PyIVVKoWU
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How to Get Glee through Isopraxism


Last summer on Sunday night I would stand up in the living room and dance around singing. On various nights I was moving and vocalizing like a Lady Gaga, Tina Turner or Kate Perry wanna be. I was pulled into the energy of the kids performances on a TV show. Isopraxism at work. All this to the amusement of everyone around including Bo the wonder dog who thinks my singing is mesmerizing and who is always willing to dance with me. After all his name is Bojangels Robinson.  

Why was I singing and dancing so jubilantly? Because Sunday night the Glee Project was on.  It’s a reality show with real teenagers trying out for a spot on the TV show Glee. It was a positive show. One with truly talented singers. If you haven’t seen it there are clips on the internet. My favorite was a sweet rendition of Blackbird in a final competition.  Check the link in my next post for the flash mob dance to promote the next season of Glee that shows Isopraxism, the pull towards the same energy. For more on the science of Isopraxism go to: http://www.pattiwood.net/article.asp?PageID=10080 or http://www.pattiwood.net/uploads/YourTopFive1.pdf


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What His Sleep Habits Can Tell You

Patti shared her insights on the sleep habits of men with Cosmopolitan recently.  Check the link below to see her comments.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/88395592/Cos-030112-Body-Language

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 7, 2012

Overprepare, then go with the flow.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

We can accurately predict in a first impression that someone is wealthy from their body language


We can accurately predict in a first impression that someone is wealthy from their body language. New research:
How we unknowingly reveal our socioeconomic status using nonverbal behaviors
Later, the authors coded the get-acquainted interaction for signs of engagement cues (e.g., head nods, eyebrow raises, laughter and gazes at the partner) and disengagement cues (e.g., self-grooming, fidgeting with objects and doodling). As predicted, higher SES significantly predicted disengagement cues. The students from wealthier backgrounds were more likely than their poorer cohorts to exhibit these “rude” displays of relative indifference. (Indeed, this SES effect occurred even after controlling for participants’ gender, since women are generally more engaged listeners than men.)

What’s more, the authors asked a group of other undergraduate students to watch the tape and to make their best guess about the SES of the people shown on the video. Based only on the participants’ nonverbal behaviors in these brief videotaped exchanges, the observers were able to make better-than-chance estimates of the participants’ family income and even their mother’s level of education, an indirect measure of SES (though they were not as accurate in judging paternal education). Kraus and Keltner conclude their report by stating that, “SES imbues the briefest interactions, influencing both what people signal nonverbally and how they are perceived.”

As for me, I think I may have inherited that same mildly disingenuous blue-collar smile as my father. Having said that, unlike my dad I’m also a pecuniary numbskull, and I have a hunch these types of engagement cues might flare up in my social behaviors every time I burn a new hole in my pocket.
In this new column presented by Scientific American Mind magazine, research psychologist Jesse Bering of Queen's University Belfast ponders some of the more obscure aspects of everyday human behavior. Ever wonder why yawning is contagious, why we point with our index fingers instead of our thumbs or whether being breastfed as an infant influences your sexual preferences as an adult? Get a closer look at the latest data as “Bering in Mind” tackles these and other quirky questions about human nature. Sign up for the RSS feed and or friend Dr. Bering on Facebook and never miss an installment again.
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Are First Impressions Useful? Do They Keep Us Safe?


“On August 4, 2001, Mohamed al Kahtani was denied U.S. entry at Orlando International Airport. On September 11, 2001, while three planes carried five hijackers, United Flight 93 carried only four. These four were overpowered by passengers, sparing a potential target in Washington. Federal investigators believe that al Kahtani was meant to be Flight 93's fifth hijacker.
Why did Immigration and Naturalization Service inspector Jose Melendez-Perez turn away al Kahtani on August 4? The inspector said there was something "chilling" about Kahtani. Melendez-Perez was quoted in the 9/11 Commission Report as saying, "My first question to the subject [through the interpreter] was why he was not in possession of a return airline ticket. The subject became visibly upset... in an arrogant and threatening manner, which included pointing his finger at my face." Thus, though the two didn't share a spoken language, Melendez-Perez used nonverbal cues to help make his decision.
Melendez-Perez, like many professionals, relied on his intuition to understand nonverbal behavior. Can we formalize our understanding of nonverbal behavior, so that it can be used by the many, instead of the intuitive few? This is the goal of the MITRE-Sponsored Research (MSR) project "Understanding (Arabic) Nonverbal Behavior." Our objective is to make information from nonverbal behavior interpretable and usable for a broad range of work tasks, including field-based activities, video analysis interpreting behavior and intent, airport screening, and immigration, customs, and border patrols.”

Whether Obvious or Subtle, Nonverbals Are Useful
What kinds of nonverbal behavior might be of use? We can consider three types, along a continuum from obvious to subtle.
 
One category of easily recognizable gestures, called "emblems," has codified culture-specific meanings. Examples include the American "thumbs-up" and "OK" signs (which are both offensive in some Arabic cultures). Knowledge of such pre-defined signals is useful to anyone working in multicultural settings.
Other types of nonverbal behavior are less consciously recognized, but easily identified once pointed out. For example, use of interpersonal space (proxemics) varies in distance and meaning among cultures. Many Arabs prefer a closer distance when talking to others than do Americans. This leads some Arabs to feel Americans are aloof because they stand too far away, while Americans may feel Arabs are pushy because they stand too close. Knowledge of these behaviors is beneficial to anyone engaging in face-to-face interactions with others (such as soldiers or airport screeners).
Finally, some nonverbals are revealed only by careful analysis. For instance, some analysts believe that reviewing video for clusters of behaviors (such as shifting of arms and legs to and from "rest positions") may signal evasion. Knowledge of subtle cues, how they are used, and what they mean in different contexts can be beneficial in both real-time screening as well as forensic video analysts.
Two Objectives
While the MSR's overall goal is to enable and facilitate greater recognition and interpretation of nonverbal information (beyond intuition), the project's title—Understanding (Arabic) Nonverbal Behavior—hints at its two supporting objectives. The first objective is to provide new methods and enabling technology for analyzing nonverbal behavior in general. The second objective is to use those methods and technology to understand nonverbal behavior in specific cultures, starting with the Iraqi Arabic culture.
What do we mean by "enabling technology"? We are first refining a methodology for nonverbal analysis. For example, in analyzing videos of humans in conversation, what kinds of phenomena should be analyzed or annotated? Gaze? Posture shifts? Eyeblinks? It's impossible to focus on everything, and choices must be made from a complex array of body movement. Second, we're investigating tools for such analysis. A sample analysis tool is ANVIL (Annotation of Video and Language). This software contains a digital video player at the top, with time-aligned annotation tracks below; as the video is played forwards or backwards, the annotation tracks scroll right or left, and vice versa.
In addition to tools for analysis, we are creating further tools for sharing analyses between research groups, and, finally, devising an accessible knowledge base for storing, sharing, and retrieving results of nonverbal analysis. These latter two activities focus on promoting intracommunity information exchange and are especially important, as relevant academic data are largely confined to islands of specialized research. There is currently no easy way to bridge between research groups or between the laboratory and our sponsors' real-world needs. We plan to leverage MITRE's information-sharing success in another field: neuroimaging. MITRE is already helping the brain-mapping community share brain-scan images and metadata; we envision a similar infrastructure for nonverbal data (videos) and metadata.
The research project's second supporting objective is to use the above enabling technology to analyze and understand nonverbal behavior from a particular culture, starting with Iraqi Arabs, whose nonverbals have rarely been studied. Volunteer native Iraqis have been filmed in a variety of scenarios, including free conversation and interactive storytelling. The tools described above will be used to analyze the videos, and the findings will be entered into the knowledge base for dissemination across research and other potential communities of interest (COIs).
Real-world Relevance
How will these findings help MITRE's sponsors? There are several possibilities. The online knowledge base of nonverbal behaviors and their meanings will be useful to those who need insight into interactions with Iraqis. Articles and white papers describing these behaviors, and the methods used to analyze and interpret them, will be published for the use of researchers and other COIs. These findings will be particularly useful for training materials designed for government personnel who interact with other cultures. For example, many government personnel going to Iraq are equipped with an illustrated laminated pocket card that contains basic tips and phrases to aid intercultural communication. We also envision collaborating with immersive simulated training environments to provide better bodymovement realism in the synthetic actors with which soldiers practice communicating. Each of these training media is already making use of easily recognizable emblematic gestures. We are collaborating with the video-gaming group in MITRE's Command and Control Center to ensure our nonverbal findings can be integrated into immersive training environments.
Impact
Our sponsors go to great expense to understand a variety of human communication channels. Yet the ubiquitous channel of nonverbal behavior is under-exploited. Our goal is to increase the safety and effectiveness of U.S. personnel by providing a clearly-documented understanding of Iraqi Arabic nonverbal behavior that will also serve as a prototype for how to provide comparable insights into other cultures. We will also create the first instance of enabling technology infrastructure to allow this knowledge to be used more broadly outside research laboratory settings.
MITRE's sponsors are realizing the need for cultural knowledge such as this and have begun coming to us for help. Few entities in the research community have the understanding of technology, social sciences, and sponsor requirements to tackle the significant challenges here. Thus, MITRE is well positioned to move this field forward and empower our sponsors with important and underutilized data on human communication.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

10 Hand Gestures You Should Know When Traveling

http://www.zencollegelife.com/10-hand-gestures-you-should-know-when-traveling/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 6, 2012

When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 5, 2012

A writer writes.  If you want to be a writer, write.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 4, 2012

You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Life Lesson Quote for April 3, 2012

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.