Amazing Mother Nature! (Good And Bad)

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

Spiders apparently know how to harness the power of music. Spider silk transmits vibrations across a wide range of frequencies so that, when plucked like a guitar string, its sound carries information about prey, mates, and even the structural integrity of a web. (Photo : Pixabay)

At this time of year here in the D.C. area, we are nearly overrun with spiders.

I don't suffer from arachnophobia, but I don't like spiders, either.  Still, in many ways, they are amazing creatures.

Over on Dr. Oliver Sacks's Facebook page last summer, I found the following fascinating information about spiders:

Tales From The Classroom

("Tales from the Classroom" is a feature posted occasionally here at this blog.  All tales are true and present matters about which I have personal knowledge.  Note: If you must have politics or discuss Ebola, please scroll down to other posts)

The video below presents information about autistics who have found a way to communicate via RPM. I have one such student in my class this year and refer to him as "the letter board kid" in casual conversations with my friends. He's brilliant — but different, of course.

I have long stated that my personal hero is Annie Sullivan, so it doesn't surprise those who know me that I like to work with those who have learning differences. Indeed, over the years I have found that those who are different bring something new to the table and often have unique insights.

Please watch the following short video, which clearly shows that not all with autism are hopeless cases:


Ah, the mysterious human brain!

Music And The Brain

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From Plato:

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.

Scientific evidence supports Plato's statement:


As Plato asserted, the benefits of music go beyond measurable neurological findings.   Music does indeed feed the soul (extensive list of quotes on that topic).

Danger Signs Ignored

According to Reuters, the police in Newport, Rhode Island, were so concerned by the bizarre behavior of Aaron Alexis that they notified the Navy Police weeks ago.

Common Core Techniques

(with a hat tip to Gulag Bound)

Have you heard of the Common Core State Standards Initiative?

The entire video of some thirty-six minutes is well worth watching. If you don't have time to watch the entire video, however, please watch at least the portion from time marker 2:00 through time marker 8:00 in the video below the fold.

Diagnostic Test From Hell

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Later this morning, I will be undergoing this test on both my left and right leg:

When Autists Become Monsters

(This post is my final one regarding the terrible events of last week)

It is not politically correct to criticize the disabled.

But sometimes disability is mental illness.  Rarely, thank God!

According to some information to date, dangerous and deadly mental illness resulted in the horror inside the walls of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012.

From Salon in March of 2009:

Joe Biden's Brain: Confabulating Joe

(Originally posted here at Always On Watch on October 25, 2011, and am reposting the following in light of Biden's recent gaffes, the gift that keeps on giving, and Obama's recent decision to keep Biden on the November 2012 ticket)

As I've said before, Joe Biden has brain issues, including two brain surgeries for aneurysms in 1988. Just a few months ago, he welcomed Representative Gabrielle Giffords to the Cracked Head Club upon her return to Congress.

Simply put, Joe Biden confabulates. Psychiatric definition of the term:

The Sad Inevitability

Gabrielle Giffords resigns this week:


It's a miracle that Giffords is alive. May she continue to get stronger and to improve as she focuses on her recovery! And may her husband remain encouraged of heart! He's suffering right along with her, you know.

Joe Biden's Brain: Confabulating Joe

As I've said before, Joe Biden has brain issues, including two brain surgeries for aneurysms in 1988. Just a few months ago, he welcomed Representative Gabrielle Giffords to the cracked head club upon to her return to Congress.

Simply put, Joe Biden confabulates. Psychiatric definition of the term:

to replace the gaps left by a disorder of the memory with imaginary remembered experiences consistently believed to be true.

Learn more about the fascinating phenomenon of confabulation at Wikipedia. Clearly, confabulation is often connected to wishful thinking and is not a deliberate lie in the strict sense of the word.

Brains Rewired? Part Two

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

As I mentioned in "Brains Rewired? Part One," perhaps something more insidious than depleting our memories is going on as we become more dependent upon and more involved with the technology of the Information Age.

From this book review of Todd Oppenheimer's The Flickering Mind, published in 2003:

Brains Rewired? Part One

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

For decades now, education experts have disparaged rote memory. Now, of course, we educators emphasize critical thinking skills. How critical thinking can occur without knowledge of the salient facts escapes me. But that argument is an argument for a different day.

For the purposes of this post, let us consider what is happening to both our culture and our gray matter by neglecting to use our memory cells.

From this book review in the Washington Post: