Monthly archive for June2014 - page 2

If you listen to The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, there are no normal kids today.  They all suffer from “Sensory Processing Disorder”

Every.  Blessed.  One.  Of.  Them.

Via Althouse I find the New Republic article Is “Sensory Processing Disorder” a Real Medical Condition?”.  The article is subtitled “Thousands of parents say it is.  The Psychiatric establishment disagrees”.  Well thank God for that.  A read of the article discloses a litany of parents with little common sense or parenting skills but seemingly with plenty of money.  And what do you do when you have a problem?  You throw money at it, that’s what.  Little Johnny won’t put his shoes on?  Hire an expert to give you advice like this:

British mother complains her five-year-old throws tantrums any time he has to wear footwear… a month later…her occupational therapist recommended a daily ritual of rubbing her son’s feet across the carpet, jumping 20 times, soaking his feet in cold water, and “squishing” them before putting his socks and shoes on: “Boy, I don’t think I have time to do all this before school.” 

What kind of normal five year old throws tantrums?  Oh that’s right…EVERY ONE OF THEM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME!  In a glimmer of hope for the human race, the article states that the idea of “Sensory Processing Disorder” is “sheer quackery” and that there is no “consensus” among the psychiatric community.

On the downside, there are “thousands” of parents  who say “oh no, this is real”.  Take a look at this graphic:

Note: I have removed the illustration at the request of the copyright holder.

There is not a single behavior on that list that I would not consider typical childhood behavior at one time or another.  Why are some of them even on there?  If your kid has a habit of sniffing or smelling objects or people, just ignore it.  It’s a phase – he will outgrow it by middle school, trust me.  His friends will help.  Or hers – no misogyny intended.  Of course you may prefer the regime of daily nostril massage recommended by “occupational therapists”.  That’ll be $250.  Thank you.

Apparently when you are The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, everything looks like…you know.  Disorder or not, the symptoms have been around since children have been around.  And adults have developed skills to cope with them by recognizing one of the Laws of Human Nature: Children are master manipulators.  Their survival depends on their ability to manipulate their adults (parents) into providing food and shelter that they cannot provide themselves.  And they will not hesitate to expand the scope of their manipulative powers to control every action you take.  Most of those behaviors (or misbehaviors) are designed to get you to do/not do what the child wants/doesn’t want.  It’s that simple – and every time you give in to the child, it reinforces the behavior. Sidenote:  anyone notice anything?…Anyone?  It’s a lot like some adult behavior as well.  We humans are strange critters.  No wonder the ETs are staying away.

I think people often underestimate the personal sacrifice parenting takes and some may be ill-equipped to devote the level of commitment it requires. Parenting takes time, patience and most of all attention.   Kiss your “me time” goodbye for about 25 years depending on the number of children you have.  Children are developing adults, and the job of a parent is to guide that process –  by being a loving nurturer, benevolent dictator and occasional assasin.  You are not your child’s friend.  If they want you to be their friend, Congratulations.  You have the upper hand in the power struggle of who manipulates who.  And don’t feel bad about it because they’d use it against you in a heartbeat.

Genectically modified bananas are set to undergo trials in the US.  This will consist of human consumption and then testing to see how well the bananas raise the Vitamin A levels of the participants.  The bananas are modifed to contain higher levels of alpha and beta carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A.  The so-called “super banana” was developed at the Queensland University of Technology with a $10 Million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the goal being to aid Central African countries where bananas are already a dietary staple, but populations suffer from Vitamin A deficiencies.

“Good science can make a massive difference here by enriching staple crops such as Ugandan bananas with pro-vitamin A and providing poor and subsistence-farming populations with nutritionally rewarding food,” said project leader Professor James Dale of The Queensland University of Technology.  

As I have written before, the populations most likely to benefit from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are the worlds poorest.  And those opposed to GMOs are the worlds richest… and most ill-informed.  In this Yahoo News article on the subject, the comments of concern among the readership are just inane.  Why can’t the Africans just eat sustainably farmed fair trade arugala?  It has vitamin A.  

Beware! It’s coming to get you!!

There are NO studies or evidence that GMOs are harmful to those consuming them. GMOs have been in the marketplace for decades now without a single incident of ill effect.  The movement against GMOs is at it’s heart simply an anti-corporate movement, and guess who invented GMOs?  Monsanto (allegedly).  That’s right.  A Corporation!!!  Corporate greed is starving the planet!!!1!!  Oh wait.  And I don’t think the Queensland University of Technology qualifies as a corporation.  Bill Gates (Microsoft) is so greedy he has created a foundation tasked with giving away most of his money.  And they’re feeding the planet.

There may be many problems in our imperfect world – but GMOs ain’t one of ’em.

Cross posted at Men Out Of Work Blog

The news is full of stories about people behaving badly – what’s good about that?  Well, nothing on the face of it.  We have all heard that two wrongs don’t make a right, but sometimes I’m not sure that is universally true.

A few weeks ago, the internet and news media in general were abuzz with a story about a 3 year old little girl with disfiguring facial scars who was asked by employees to leave a Jackson, Mississippi KFC because her face was “disrupting their customers”.  That’s bad behavior.  The story went viral immediately – KFC was roundly condemned on social media;  employees and managers at two Jackson KFC locations have faced constant verbal harrassment, death threats and have had drinks thrown at them.  That’s more bad behavior.  To KFC’s credit, they immediately launched an investigation and donated $30,000 toward the girl’s ongoing medical expenses from the incident that caused her disfigurement.  More on that in a minute.

So, where to begin?  Believing the story is one thing.  But to go take physical action – go to  a KFC restaurant, not knowing if it is the one in question (the original story and facebook post did not specify the location) and berate and/or assault someone over it?  That’s…crazy.  Anyone who would see this story then go and threaten or assault a random person over it is simply bat-shit crazy.  Did anyone take a moment and think whether this story of boorish behavior by KFC employees might not be exactly true?  Certainly the news media did not before reporting this incident.  That’s also bad (or irresponsible) behavior.

But KFC did think about it, after all it was their reputation on the line.  I mentioned that they launched an investigation, and the investigation now has found that the incident never happened.

Without assigning malice toward the girl’s family, there would have been immediate reason to doubt the story if anyone had thought to look for a motive.  The young girl was horribly injured when she was mauled by her grandfather’s pitbulls, and the family either had no insurance or very little.  They have  a facebook page and were attempting to raise funds online for the child’s medical expenses, attempts that yielded meager results:  only $595 prior to the KFC incident.  After the story went viral, donations have soared to approximately $135,000, including $30,000 from KFC.  Intentional, or happy accident?  I don’t know – or care that much.  It’s obvious this little girl is going to need surgeries, medical care, etc. that the family probably cannot afford, insurance or not.  I do hope that somehow this money is put into a trust so that it will be used exclusively for those ends, and not hijacked by the family who had a record of at least marginally responsible behavior.

Let’s do the math:  grandfather’s pitbulls maul child (bad) + KFC employees disrespect child (if true bad) + girls family fabricates incident (if true bad) + media casues firestorm without fact checking (bad) + public goes bat-shit on KFC (bad) = child gets needed treatment (good).  That’s four bads (plus another two possible bads) equals a good.

Math is hard and my question still stands:  can two wrongs make a right?  It is wrong for a three year old child to be mauled by her grandfather’s dogs.  It is also wrong for random people to be threatened or assaulted by bat-shit crazy people for no reason.  It is wrong for the news media to jump on a sensational story and put people at risk thereby.  But it is right that the child will be getting the treatment she needs.  And in that context, I suspect any of the parties taken in by the hoax will be OK with it.  I know I am.

It wasn’t that long ago we were treated to a media firestorm over possible gaffes Mitt Romney may have comitted 30 or 40 years ago.  There was in depth reporting over his behavior in Prep-School (that’s High School in case you’re wondering):  He might have been a bully!  Or that infamous family vacation where the dog’s crate was strapped to the roof of the car. Q’uelle Horreur!  Our diligent media was just doing their jobs, dont you know.  The public has a right to know what kind of person they might elect to the presidency.  Thank God we dodged that bullet and didn’t elect Romney with his binders full of women.  This Obama fellow is doing a smashing job.

Now we are finding out that Hillary Clinton once defended an accused child rapist, and through some borderline ethical conduct helped secure a plea bargain to a lesser offense resulting in the accused rapist receiving less than 1 year in jail.  Part of the borderline conduct involved proposed testimony attacking the girl’s credibility and claiming that the twelve year old victim bore some of the reponsibility for her own rape, and telling the prosecutor that they had an “expert” that would testify in court to discredit their forensic evidence.  This helped secure the plea bargain.  Then, a few years later when recounting the episode for a reporter, she laughed about her client’s obvious guilt and what a great job she did helping him beat the rap.  However, I am told, she did not put the victim “in a binder”.  The media’s interest in this story?  Zip, zero, zilch.  Why?  It’s old news.  Well so is the fact that you can save 15% on your car insurance, but that doesn’t stop Geico from running their commercials.

The rape trial was in 1975, and the incident recounted to a reporter in the mid-1980’s for an Esquire magazine article on rising politcal stars.  The reason you can’t remember it, other than the fact you might not have been born yet, is that the article was never printed.  The incident has received scant mention considering Clinton’s life and career have been so meticulously documented.  Hillary herself mentions it briefly in her first memoir Living History as an aside to to crediting herself with starting Arkansas’ first rape crisis hotline.  In 2008, Newsday journalist Glenn Thrush wrote a lengthy article about it – which his editors killed because “it might have an impact” on the election.  The tapes of the interviews and reporters notes from the original Esquire story ended up in the University of Arkansas Library archives where they were discovered by the Washington Free Beacon., and tht is how we are hearing about it now.

So if a Republican candidate may have been guilty of boorish behavior in the past, the media will leave no stone unturned in their quest to Bring Out The Truth®.  Because War On Women!  But if a Democrat candidate may have actually engaged in a war on women, well…*crickets*

Democrats – that (D) behind their names is like a damn kevlar shield with a teflon coating.  And it’s the mainstream media’s Kryptonite.

You never know when the smallest thing will make a difference.

On the morning of September 11th, 2001 (yes, THAT September 11th), six men were in an elevator at One World Trade Center, ascending to their respective floors and offices.  When the elevator suddenly stopped and the men smelled smoke they knew they had to get out.  Once they had pried open the elevator doors, they began to cut through the three layers of sheetrock that lined the elevator shaft by taking turns using a pocket kife that belonged to one of the men.  When the pocket knife slipped from one man’s hands and fell down the shaft, their hearts sank.  However,  one of the men happened to be a window washer and had with him…his squeegee.  The men used the metal squeegee handle to complete their task of digging through the elevator shaft wall, and another wall behind it.  They pushed their way through and from there were able to escape the building only minutes before it’s collapse.

The presence of a pocket knife in one of the men’s pockets gave them hope.  When it seemed those hopes were dashed, the presence of an unlikley substitute renewed their hope and was ultimately their salvation.

The LifeSaver 9000! Call now!

This is not a sales pitch for the latest survival tool.  It’s an illustration of the often profound influence the presence or absence of small things can have on our lives.  This applies to both the physical sense and the non-physical.  While the above story is factually true and did happen to the parties involved, it is also a analogy within which is a lesson.  No, the lesson is not that Mike’s elevator never reaches the top floor.  The lesson is this:  it’s possible that when you do realize it’s time to claw your way out of something it may be something unexpected or unremarkable that makes it possible.

My second Music Friday post is related to the first in that it is somewhat of a prequel to my Happy Birthday Paul McCartney post directly below this one.  This post features a Paul McCartney song from the Beatles final album, the last Beatles album recorded before McCarntey’s solo career began – Abbey Road.  The song is: You Never Give Me Your Money:

Someone may say that Let it Be was the Beatles last album, which is at least technically correct in that it was released after Abbey Road;  However it was recorded before Abbey Road.  And so chronologically, in terms of the life of the group, Abbey Road is their final album.

Personal history note:  when this album was released there was a rumor that Paul McCartney had died and that the news was being kept secret;  However… there were clues secretly recorded on the album.  A friend of mine and I, using a small cheap reel to reel tape recorder (3″ or 4″ reels), recorded and played back in reverse some parts of the album.  There was no smoking gun, but there was some weird stuff on there which I have to assume was done intentionally.  I don’t remember the deatails now, but it was enough to make a couple teenagers say “Whoa…” (the word “dude” had not yet entered the lexicon).

…Belated…to Sir Paul McCartney who turned 72 this week.  Happy Birthday to you!

It would be nearly impossible to overstate the success that Paul McCartney has had in music.  Whether his music is defined as art or business, or whether  the artist himself is defined as a composer or performer, Paul McCartney is one of the most prolific, popular and influential musicians of all time.  However, one can’t think of McCartney without also thinking of The Beatles – a band that is a rock icon in it’s own right.  In the light of history, the Beatles episode would only turn out to be McCartney’s overture.  It seemed like The Beatles served merely as a showcase for Lennon’s and McCartney’s talent, often to the consternation of Ringo and George.  Perhaps their breakup after all was a blessing since afterward we were able to fully experience the offerings of all four bandmates.

Not intending this to be a complete McCartney biography, I do intend to focus on his “birth” as a solo artist with some of his first solo works released post-Beatles. Per my usual format I have selected three songs that may be slightly obscure,  since I’d like to show you something you may not have heard before, or at least something you haven’t heard in a while or very often.

First up is a song from Pauls’ first solo album McCartney, sometimes known as the “cherries” album because of the cover art.  This is the album that produced the mega-hit Maybe I’m Amazed;  perhaps you’ve heard it a time or two over the past 40 years – unless you’ve been in a cave.

Anyhoo…this song is titled “Teddy Boy”.  Enjoy:

Next up area a couple songs from his second album, Ram.  This album was quite successful and several songs from this album made the charts, notably Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey and Another Day.  The first track is Too Many People:

Now that I think about it, that track may have also reached the charts – I seem to recall it getting some radio play.  though I could be mis-remembering because I listend to the crap out of this ablbum when it came out.  The final birthday offering is Ram On:

Doesn’t he make it seem effortless?  He had no formal music training, was (is?) largely self-taught, plays guitars, bass, keyboards and drums.  So, again, Happy Birthday!  And THANKS!

PS – You may wish to click on the Admiral Halsey link – the YouTube video contains what looks like some PM home video that I hadn’t seen before.  Interesting! -MS

After all these years, Jaguar is still bringin’ it.  What am I talking about? I’m talking about the 2015 Jaguar F-type V-6 coupe.  OK, let me back up some and explain about the after all these years part.  What I mean is that Jaguar began producing iconic cars just after WWII:

Starting with the 1949 XK120:

Followed by the XK 140 and pictured here, the XK150:

Not finished yet, the MK2 Saloon (Sedan):

And possibly the most iconic of all, the E-type:

Click on any of those photos to enlarge.  Now for the still bringin’ it part:  the 2015 F-Type V-6 Coupe

Let me say first of all, this is not a first person review.  I have not driven the car, these are my impressions based on this review in Car and Driver.  Having gotten that out of the way, first impressions: This is a very good looking car, if a little Aston-Martin-ish.  However, Aston builds a damn good looking car, so I guess imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, why not start with a winner.  Is it a classic to be?  Hard to say.  In my mind, one thing all the classics have in common is a blend of simple, sturdy elegance.  The elegance is there, but definitely no simplicity or sturdidity.  I think I just made up a word.  What would that be?  Sturdyness?  It doesn’t look sturdy – in fact it looks a little on the fragile side.  And needing maintenance is one thing.  God knows the old Jags needed it, but this looks like it might need more maintenance than any commercial airliner of your choice.  It looks…a little on the complicated side, though I guess that is a sign of the times. Still very nice looking, though.

credit: Car and Driver

A six is under the hood, though not the legendary Jag straight six, the current powerplant is a supercharged 3.0 liter V-6 (other options are the same V-6 sans blower, and a supercharged 4.2 liter V-8).  The blown V-6 puts out 380 HP, sufficient to propel the F-type from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds.  According to the review, hydraulic steering (no steer by wire!  I applaud!), adjustable suspension and 20-inch wheels make for a nimble, comfortable ride.  Comfort is what one expects from a Jag.  Also, some level of luxury and sophistication, which the cabin apparently provides.  No surprise since Jauguar has proven themselves adept at finding cows with very nice skin, peeling them and restitching it into seats and dash.

This to me appears to be somewhat of a poor man’s Aston – well, not a “poor man’s” Aston, but a “well off but not stinkin’ rich” man’s Aston.  Base price for this model is upwards of $78,000.  The review didn’t state price as tested,  but I’m sure if you want air in the tires or any other options, you’re looking at $100K+.  I might also call it a thinking man’s Aston, since for 99% of drivers, even those who fancy themselves hot shoes, this car is going to perform just as well for them in the public environment as an Aston, look just as good as an Aston, and…here’s the thinking part: cost about 1/2 as much as an Aston.  Depending, of course.

Since I stole the photo from Car and Driver, please click over there and read Erik Johnson’s more in-depth and much better written review by way of thanks.  And click on some of their ads and buy some things…so they won’t sue me.

Cross posted at Men Out Of Work Blog

Via Yahoo News we learn of the current problem – Women’s fight for the right to go topless:

Warning: Pixilated Boobies

OK, Whatever.  Let them exercise their right.  Next problem: Men keep staring at our chest!

Our Search for Extraterrestrial Bretheren could be “insanely risky” says at least one senior scientist associated with NASA and SETI.  

I have written before here and here about the search for earth like planets orbiting stars in our galaxy and others, and many of you already know about SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence programs to “listen” for signs of extraterrestrial civilizations.  Apparently, according to this article at the UK Daily Mail, the boffins have begun a new program called Active SETI or METI where instead of just listening for signs of neighboring civilizations, signals are actively sent out at high power toward likely targets in an attempt to establish communication with any civilizations that may be within “earshot”.  (“boffins” are “experts”.  I have always wanted to use that word and couldn’t pass up the chance)

Not all scientists think this is such a great idea.  According to the article:

“Not all scientists are sanguine about this, however. One has even called it ‘insanely risky, given the dearth of information we have about the nature of Extra-terrestrial Intelligence’.

John Billingham, a senior figure at SETI and Nasa, even called for a global moratorium on such programmes because of the potential risk to humanity’s future.”

To be calling for a note of caution seems reasonable given the fact that we essentially don’t know a darn thing about the universe around us.  Is it all rainbows and unicorns?  Or might there be snakes in the grass?  Of course our scientists operate on the assumption that since we mean no harm, that any contactees would interact with us in a peaceful way, or that if there are advanced civilizations then they would have evolved past any agressive or warlike tendencies.  But that is simply guessing and is just as likely guessing wrong as guessing right.  It is completely possible that we live in a very dangerous neighborhood, and calling attention to our presence might be ill-advised.  

What is most likely correct is that whatever or whoever we find will be so fundamentally different from us that we will have no way of understanding their logic, emotions or morals if they indeed have any at all.  They might just be very hungry and we might look very tasty.  We cannot assume that we will always be the apex predator.

I am fond of saying the fact that I am paranoid does not mean no one’s out to get me.  So I would also like to tell these scientists:  just because you are not paranoid, that also does not mean no one’s out to get you.  Let’s err on the side of caution here.  

Cross posted at Men Out of Work Blog