Monday, January 21, 2013

Flu sick? Stay home; Get better; Be one more of 7 Billion that is Immune


Hand Sanitizer


A) 2,000,000



Via "xkcd" webcomic - by Randall Munroe http://xkcd.com/

"Hand Sanitizer" - http://xkcd.com/1161/


mh

Friday, January 18, 2013

Just HOW uninformed does CBC Radio's 'As It Happens' host Carol Off remain?


CBC's As It Happens producers seem to think that if you leave a host in the same chair for ten years - they will eventually become a Barbara Frum. I beg to differ. This continuing series will attempt to illustrate in what ways the hypothesis is incorrect.

Gold Nugget segment | Friday, January 18, 2013 | Part 1  (begins at 18:13 of 25:51)
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/popupaudio.html?clipIds=2327113373,2327113762,2327113942


Carol Off says she imagines a 5.5 kg nugget of gold would be like a bag of potatoes. The interviewee, Cordell Kent - owner of Ballarat's The Mining Exchange Gold Shop - immediately tries to point out that the specific gravity of gold is much higher than that of water (the main content in potatoes) ... so a 5.5 kg nugget of gold would not be anywhere near as big as a 5.5 kg bag of potatoes; it would be in fact, 19.3 times smaller.

But Off won't have it - her analogy stands - because she doesn't understand all that science gobbledygook. 'A lot of potatoes' she says - abruptly ending that line of the conversation.


Tact when shown to be wrong: 0

Enabling the subject to express themselves: 0



.. to be continued...
(for not very much longer - hopefully)



Oh, (directed at the writing team) - and the question not asked (the thread not explored):

'Mr. Kent, are you trying to start a gold rush in the region with this sensational, almost unbelievable nugget find?'



mh

True Fact series of nature videos, laugh riot


Via BoingBoing - True facts about the seahorse Maggie Koerth-Baker at 8:30 am Fri, Jan 18 - http://boingboing.net/2013/01/18/true-facts-about-the-seahorse.html

True Facts About The Seahorse - by Youtube user, zefrank1



True Facts About The Angler Fish - by Youtube user, zefrank1




Watch the Playlist - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6kAE06mJAQ&list=PLOHbM4GGWADc5bZgvbivvttAuWGow6h05&index=2

Ze Frank - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ze_Frank

Ze's page: http://www.zefrank.com/



mh

Google+ tag TEST

+Michael Holloway






















Thursday, January 17, 2013

Depression doesn't quite encompass it - Borderline Personality Disorder decribes it better


After 3 years of trying to find help - I've realized I have yet to get a proper diagnosis from a specialist.

I'm going to bring this up with my General Practitioner later today.


By happen-stance - while reading up on depression - I came across the 'Borderline Personality Disorder' diagnosis - and the symptom list seem to fit my experience extremely well:

  • my inability to form close, long-lasting friendships or relationships; 
  • the way I push away those close to me; 
  • over react to perceived wrongs, or slights; 
  • periodic black and white thinking; 
  • periodic extreme low self-estimating - followed by an over-estimation of my station, intelligence, skills; 
  • periodic cognitive error that the functioning of the universe is against me; 
  • hard-to-control violent reaction to these perceptions - a set of self hurting behaviours and, 
  • violent outbursts upon inanimate objects; (breaking my hand punching walls); 
  • wild swings about how I perceive others and the nature of the universe (all good - all evil); 
  • depression caused by my perception of all of this that has lead to suicide planning.



The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) entry for Borderline Personality Disorder (aka Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder):


Psychiatric Disorders



Borderline Personality Disorder



Category

Personality Disorders



Etiology

Like most personality disorders, there are many factors that may contribute to the development of symptoms. Because the symptoms are long lasting, the idea that symptoms begin to emerge in childhood or at least adolescence is well accepted. The negative consequences of such symptoms, however, may not show themselves until adulthood.



Symptoms are often present in adolescence and almost always by young adulthood. There may be a history of unstable relationships in the person's life and there is a higher than average likelihood of sexual abuse, family violence, and/or neglect in the person's childhood. This disorder is diagnosed much more frequently in females.



Symptoms

The major symptoms of this disorder revolve around unstable relationships, poor or negative sense of self, inconsistent moods, and significant impulsivity. There is an intense fear of abandonment with this disorder that interferes with many aspects if the individual's life. This fear often acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy as they cling to others, are very needy, feel helpless, and become overly involved and immediately attached. When the fear of abandonment becomes overwhelming, they will often push others out of their life as if trying to avoid getting rejected. The cycle most often continues as the individual will then try everything to get people back in his or her life and once again becomes clingy, needy, and helpless.



The fact that people often do leave someone who exhibits this behavior only proves to support their distorted belief that they are insignificant, worthless, and unloved. At this point in the cycle, the individual may exhibit self-harming behaviors such as suicide attempts, mock suicidal attempts (where the goal is to get rescued and lure others back into the individual's life), cutting or other self-mutilating behavior. There is often intense and sudden anger involved, directed both at self and others, as well a difficulty controlling destructive behaviors



Treatment

Treatment for this disorder is long term in nature since the symptoms have been present for an extended time and interfere with many aspects of the person's life. Insight oriented therapy can be helpful but research is showing an increased support for a cognitive-behavioral approach. In other words, the individual's thoughts and actions are monitored both by the self and therapist and specific behaviors are counted and a plan is made to gradually reduce those thoughts and behaviors that are seen as negative. A combined approach may be best, but either way requires intensive time and effort.



Prognosis

Prognosis is difficult to assess. While the disorder is chronic in nature, gradual improvements with work are definitely seen. While it is difficult for anyone to change major aspects of their personality, the symptoms of this disorder can be reduced in both number and intensity. Long term treatment is almost always required.



Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) | Borderline Personality Disorder | http://allpsych.com/disorders/personality/borderline.html

Wikipedia | Borderline personality disorder | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder



mh

Friday, January 11, 2013

#J11 - a day that history will remeber


Well, for this 'settler' today - #J11 - feels like the day the Liberal Party elected Pierre Trudeau as their leader back in 1968.

It was a day of hope that encompassed all 3 coasts.

I'm not sure how the First Nations received it - but for this old man - I remember it as a feeling - an almost tactile feeling - of unity across this great land --- a rebirth, a promise to the future that we all agreed was at our finger tips.

That's what today feels like to me.

So here we go - who knows what will happen today - I hope it's all good, and not so much of the bad.

#J11: Idle No More Global Day of Action - January 11, 2013


Join history, attend an event near you: http://www.j11action.com/



mh

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Idle No More: Steps Forward...

#IdleNOMore Event Map

Idle No More: Steps Forward...



I wanted to build a map of all #IdleNOMore events that are being organized in support of Chief Theresa Spence, by individuals across Turtle Island - and around the world.
The beginning of that map is embedded here.

This article is intended to connect activists and mapping volunteers to the map; explain why mapping social justice movements is an essential part of the movement; derive some lessons learned from previous social justice mapping projects; and out-line how I imagine this unique mapping project will function over the life-span of the #IdleNOMore movement.

(To View the map in a larger format - or to Edit The Map - link: "Idle No More Map 2013" at Google Maps.)





But, I want to get started Right Now!


This map is 'Open' - anyone can edit it. All you need is a Google Account, and the link address. If you're an activist in the #IdleNOMore movement - and if you are able - please add your Event Placemark yourself. For Google Maps novices, there are instructions in the sidebar of the map (Map at Google Maps: "Idle No More Map 2013") - and a link to a Twitter hashtag where you can get timely help from a volunteer IdleNOMore Mapper (#IdleNOMoreMAP). (Soon a 'Form' will be linked at the map - so you can copy and paste the title and Event URL of your up-coming Event in a submission box - then volunteer mappers will plot your placemark on the map for you.)

After your event has happened you can add links, video or audio to your Event Placemark.


Mapping social justice movements is essential


The Mapping of growing, grass roots movements allows activists to network amoungst each other effectively and quickly; helps the movement's media teams connect to stories happening across the movement in real time; allows a birds eye view of how vibrant the movement is; allows media access to spokes-people for the movement - from the grass roots to the leadership; and provides a clearing-house for timely information about events anywhere in the movement.

#IdleNOMore - the indigenous rights movement currently exploding across North America and around the world - needs a vibrant, up-dating Movement Map.


A little history of mapping social justice movements


When the Occupy Movement started exploding across North America in the Fall of 2011 I wanted to know why it was so well organized. While investigating that, I saw a social justice movement map - an organizing map produced by the 'Indignados' movement.

In the fall of 2011, FOX News and Alex Jones-Infowars both ran a story which claimed Occupy protesters were all puppets of a George Soros / "Tides Foundation" / Occupy Insider conspiracy theory (Occupy Wall Street: A Globalist Op Designed to Destroy Efforts to End the Fed).

I had already used the world wide web to research the background of the Occupy Movement - so it was obvious to me that the authors of the story knew more than they were letting on in their story --- because I knew that the North American Occupy movement was a direct descendant of the pan-European anti-austerity movement - especially, the Spanish part of that movement - the Indignados movement.

Quite quickly I found "Take the Square" (http://takethesquare.net/) - the 'How To', or 'Best Practices' website for modern social justice movements; lessons learned as part of the "Indignados" (the indignant ones) movement. European austerity was instituted by the 'banksters' and their political puppets after the financial collapse of 2007/2008. The Spanish anti-austerity movement, The Indignados, was one of the biggest such movements in Europe. It started locally and culminated in two massive rallies in Madrid - Spain's Capital.

As I followed the links and discovered keywords - I soon came accoss a Map of the movement! The Spanish Indignados had mapped the second popular uprising - placemarking the thousand points of light that made up the scattered seeds of the movement.

Image: tagged: spanishrevolution, map,
Roc Herms' photostream - photo taken May 21, 2011 -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocherms/5741791936/


Zooming-in on the map revealed hundreds of placemarks differentiating themselves one from another on each successive click of the mouse. Dated from the spring of 2011, occupations of street corners, parks and public buildings - in hundreds and hundreds of Spanish villages and towns. All leading later that spring, to a nation-wide week of marches that flowed into each other like the tributaries of a stream. Larger and larger, from every part of the country - a river of 'Indignados' flowed like the relentless Tsunami towards the Capital Madrid - in time for the June, Spanish General Elections.

Thousands of people, men, women and children camping in parks - the public occupying the public spaces - holding long discussions about the National Economy (where the Occupy General Assembly consensus rules were formulated, through trial and error). That map page was a time-capsule that took me back one year, and afforded me the opportunity to delve into the minute details of the beginning of a grass roots, mass, democratic movement. When one clicked on a random placemark - say way up in the central mountains - one found notes in placemarks like: 'Gather at bus stop, 7am assembly' - and - 'New assembly point, meet at the statue - main square.'

When I zoomed-out on the map the placemarks bunched together and became an uncountable mass - like a cloud of sparrows, a hive of bees. The power of the map as interface for the country-wide, dynamic, popular movement was astonishing to me. The wealth of information contained in the map's placemarks; the scale of the people's movement; the shear awesomeness of the enterprise - all right there for me in my time-capsule, to witness as though it was happening now.


Starting about 6 months later - from May to September 2012 - I helped map the Casseroles Movement (http://goo.gl/maps/dzMtw).

Last month (December 2012), researcher and journalist Tim Groves (@timymit) produced a Map called "#IdleNoMore Events in 2012" (http://goo.gl/maps/X25wJ) - which was then featured in Huffington Post Canada (27 Dec 2012) "Idle No More Map Reveals Movement's Global Reach" (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/27/idle-no-more-global-map_n_2372718.html).

As Tim points out in the Map's sidebar, Google Maps only allows 200 placemarks per map - so with the incredible number of #IdleNOMore events that happened just in December alone - Tim's map reached it's limit of placemarks long before the movement ran out of events that needed to be placemarked. The same thing happened with the Casseroles Nights In Canada Map - although not so quickly.


Lessons - how the new map will function over time


I figure this new map will be two things - a 'Live Map' and a series of 'Archive Maps'. The Live Map will be an organizing tool, an out-in-front entity listing up-coming events and those just passed. As such, this map will likely fill up in less than a month.

When the Live Map reaches its' placemark limit, I'll download the XML file (which contains all the map data) - and load it into an Archive Map - which will be titled according to date - and linked in the sidebar of the Live Map.

Now on the Live Map - we will start placing new Event Placemarks - while at the same time deleating the oldest events (now preserved in the Archive Map).


So Here Goes!

Included on the map so far are Event Placemarks for Thursday January 3, 2013. The info is from the "Idle No More Temporary Calendar" (http://acrosscanadatrails.posterous.com/idle-no-more-temporary-calandar).

Events will be added as info becomes available - and as volunteer mappers are able to donate their time.




mh