Topics related to how the world, and universe for that matter, works. Particular subjects discussed include geology, physics, astronomy, evolutionary biology, astrobiology.
For most of my life I thought that there was something wrong with me. It has seemed to me that most people appear to look forward to, and thoroughly enjoy social gatherings. For me, dread has been, and generally remains the predominant feeling associated with having to go to a party. And although I often …
Read more “The Cost of Being an Introvert in a Culture That Glorifies Extroversion”
Awe for me is a spiritual event – sometimes surprising me with an intense emotional reaction. I’ve never really thought about it much. When I experience the deeply moving type of awe, it has always seemed like a super special bonus, and frankly it is generally unanticipated. Never before have I had an explicit …
Read more “I am an Awe Junky: Why this might be a good thing”
Undesirable behaviors occur for many reasons. In order to reduce problematic (negative) behaviors we first must come to an understanding of why they are occurring. I can’t emphasize this enough – UNDERSTANDING WHY IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING. The WHY guides WHAT WE DO. As we always tell our staff “In order to reduce …
Read more “Figuring out Why Children Misbehave – SO you can actually do something about it.”
There are numerous barriers to the provision of tele-therapy for educational purposes. Among the most challenging issues are Technological Problems and the level of Student Cooperation. This Trouble Shooting Guide addresses these barriers. Technological Problems There are many technological challenges that may be a product of the platform used (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, …
Read more “Trouble Shooting Tele-Therapy”
The use of Video Conferencing to teach young children is a new challenge for everyone involved. In order for it to work, YOU and the teacher or therapist (instructor) MUST FIRST TEACH YOUR CHILD HOW TO LEARN IN THIS NEW WAY. Teaching this new skill will likely be the first thing the instructor will want …
The use of Video Conferencing to teach young children, particularly those with disabilities, is fraught with many NEW challenges. In order for it to work, the instructor MUST FIRST TEACH THE CHILD HOW TO PARTICIPATE ADAPTIVELY. It is essential to prioritize gaining the instructional control of the student over implementing other IEP objectives. Consider instructional …
There is an Indigo Girls song called Galileo that references a fear of motion (00:01:19 into the song) and suggests that the source of this particular fear is from “some other fool across the ocean years ago [having] crashed his little airplane.” In the song, the means of transmission of this fear is reincarnation, which …
Read more “Can Memories be Inherited?”
Although I did not make a substantial number of posts in 2013, the traffic to my site remained relatively vigorous. Throughout 2013 my blog had 24,007 hits from 21,042 unique visitors, accounting for nearly 30,000 page views. I had visitors from every state in the US and 158 nations around the world. Visitors from the …
Read more “2013 – A Year in Review: How Do You Think?”
Are you sick and tired of politicians and their antics throughout the United States? Regardless of your political orientation, this is likely the case. Over the last 20 years there has been a rising tide of bitter partisanship, leaving a large contingent of US Citizens feeling frustrated and disenfranchised. Meanwhile both parties point their fingers …
Read more “Partisan Belief Superiority and Dogmatism as a Source of Political Gridlock”
It is widely believed that as a society, we are heavily burdened by freeloaders who are content with living off the fruits of others’ labor. Inherent in this belief is the idea that the poor are more likely to be cheaters. This notion is core to the ideology that fuels the discontent of many on …
Read more “Who Cheats More: The Rich or the Poor?”