experts say the average person uses only 10% of total brain power. perhaps your resolution for 2005 is to stretch it to 11%. if the most intellectual thing you did in '04 was to see fahrenheit 9/11, here are some ways to develop your inner brainiac for the new year:

hint: bonjour madams et mademoiselles. ou est le toilette?
idea: learn a new language. you could hop on a plane fit for a new country, or hop in a taxi and head to your local language school, e.g., new york's new school university. take your pick - si tu quieres of course. languages run the gamut from french, greek, german, italian, to even korean.
www.newschool.edu

hint: hemingway, forsythe, proust.
idea: start reading the books you never paid attention to in sixth grade. ahem, animal farm? visit your favorite local book store, like new york's strand, and hunt down some classics or even rare editions.

hint: it's stinky.
idea: learn all about cheese. next time you're leaning over the cheese section at citarella's, know exactly what you're looking for, let alone looking at. the key to learning cheese is taste testing, so sign your palette up at your fave local cheese shop, e.g. the west village locale murray's cheese. 212.243.3289 or visit www.murrayscheese.com

hint: star light, star bright.
idea: know on which star you'll wish tonight. attend lectures or sign up for a course at the american museum of natural history and learn all about the celestials. for heaven's sake, call 212.769.5200. or visit www.amnh.org to find out more.

hint: countdown ve-ry slow-ly from fif-ty.
idea: really heighten your experiences by enrolling in an audio cd monthly meditation workshop. apparently, when practiced regularly, deep meditation can reduce stress, which in turn can improve sleep cycles, improve health, and transform the way an individual relates to the world. not bad if you're a type A personality. websites including the non-for-profit authentic power center can help you on your way to a type c personality (calm).
www.authenticpowercenter.org

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