Blog Post 40

Just the other day James Harden made game-winning fall away jump shot from the post to win a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors. One day later, the NBA released an apology because James Harden reportedly pushed off of his defender to make the basket. This led to a media uproar. I don’t see why the NBA’s missed call is such a big deal. It used to happen all the time.

Back in the 90s missed, clutch calls like these happened on the daily. From Reggie Miller’s shove against Michael Jordan for the game winning wing fadeaway to Michael Jordan’s push off crossover in the NBA finals, pandemonium never occurred, the referees just did a better job the next game. 

I believe that the internet and television intentionally embellishes these issues, solely for debate to up their viewers and followers, and therefore, make more money. Unfortunately this is the world we live in, and there’s nothing we can do to prevent it. Hopefully it will change in the near future.

Blog Post 39

A paperless leaning system- that was my high schools motto during my last year there. It was such a silly idea. The concept was to prohibit notebooks, textbooks, pens, and pencils. Everything was done on the iPad, and only the iPad. The question is, does it work? Let me answer that quickly, no it doesn’t.

First of all, how is a student suppose to efficiently work out long division without a pen and paper? It’s easy, just use the calculator! But, then when does the student actually learn how to do such rudimentary math skills? I guess he doesn’t. We need our mathematicians to know how to do such techniques. 

Second of all, typing is difficult on a touch screen. It’s tough to take a timed test, especially an essay test, when the student has to tap a screen repeatedly to write an essay.

Third of all, the blue light on a computer screen is not healthy for a student’s eyes, especially when he has to read his textbook daily with such a detrimental health hazard. 

Blog Post 38

The concept of the school reward system is a very interesting philosophy. I had an extremely intelligent man once explain to me this philosophy and I was taken back. In short, we go to school and study as hard as we can to receive numbers in a subjective, biased manner on a scale that the professors decide is “suitable, ” when in reality, they don’t know how hard we, the students, might-or-might-not have studied. 

Is this how school should be administered? Why should we even have to go to school? Does it even prove how smart a person is? Do students really learn, or do they just memorize information? I believe that this form of schooling is only effective in the research realm of innovation. It allows for serendipitous innovation in the classroom setting. Additionally, it is a good way to teach math. But, overall, for a lot of students is isn’t necessary. Most jobs nowadays could be learned by didactic teaching supplemented with hands-on experience.   

Blog Post 37

As a college student who tries to pay attentions, I often try to block out the people who conveniently sit in front of me and scroll through various social mediums to distract themselves from listening to the professors whom they pay thousands of dollars per semester to teach them, however, it’s very hard. I see my peers go through Facebook, tumblr, twitter, tinder, and reddit. None are quite as interesting as reddit. 

Reddit is a fairly informative source for social media. It is essentially an internet billboard, which registered members can submit content and comment away on these various submitted contents. It’s a useful tool to learn in a Ronald-Regan-sort-of-way, by hearing both sides of the debate, both the haters and the supporters. 

Blog Post 36

Should one use applications like Tinder? What’s the purpose of these applications? Why use them? As a college student, I learn about new, unique, eclectic things every day. Some people that I’ve met in college like to party, some like to stay inside all day and play video games, some like to pray daily, and some like to do a mixture of them all. These all are fairly normal things, but what I also see a lot in college is this new, hit application called Tinder. 

Essentially, this application is made for hookups. Similar to those popups that you get on your computer and close them out as soon as you can to not get a virus on your computer or so people do not think you’re a nymphomaniac, Tinder was made out of freudian influences to fulfill our lonely, primal, self-objectifying instincts. I don’t get why people can’t follow social norms and meet their partners naturally and build organic, platonic, then build off of that like it should be done. There could be many reasons for this issue. It could be technology’s impact on sex, or it could be just that we are lazy. Who knows?

Blog Post 35

Recently, Netflix just reached 81.5 million subscribers. Netflix is a very affordable movie streaming application. Additionally, it has its own, original series. The diverse movie selection is quite appealing and it’s a quick and efficient way to binge watch movies and series. However great Netflix seems to be from the naked eye, it does have its flaws.

Netflix doesn’t have a majority of classic movies that I want to watch. I consider myself a pretty well-cultured movie watcher. I’ve seen most of the critically acclaimed movies on the array of “Top 100” movie lists across the internet. When I try to search for these movies on Netflix, I often can’t find them, but I do find corny, sappy, poorly-acted romantic comedies and action flicks. This needs to change.

Blog Post 34

In China, artificial intelligence seems to be infiltrating the workforce. Recently, restaurants have begun “employing” robots to both cook and serve to customers. This is really exciting for technology both pushing and testing its limits. But, it seems like the Chinese are missing one things in their production. Although it’s economical, where do these now unemployed waiters and cooks end up? 

I believe in technology and its potential, but I am also a liberal humanist. We need to find jobs for the huge discrepant unemployed people in this world. Whether it’s being a cleaning lady or a waiter, people need to be employed to support and provide for themselves and their families. Technology should be innovated and veered in the direction of production to tackle these issues, not to save $386 per month for a big, lucrative chain restaurant. 

Blog Post 33

The current teaching methods for individuals with autism are not very efficient. For example, this past summer, I volunteered to shadow at an elementary school for developmental disabled individuals. Throughout the day, they have down time, during which, they play various board games with their peers. The objective of these games is to teach the individuals how to communicate socially with their peers. When individuals are required to receive items from their peers, they are required to say, "Thank you," and if they don't, they are prompted multiple times until they do. These didactic methods aren't efficient.
Recently, I read a book written by an individual with autism, in which, he describes his experiences as an autistic adolescent. He explains that there are stigmas used to describe autistic individuals as not wanting to socialize, which for the most part, are false; however, some individuals are completely content with just themselves. In other words, some individuals can't be prompted to communicate. Other teaching methods, like placing individuals with autism in a social setting, while using social games to provoke them to interact, but not force them to interact, are much better options, and should be the only options.

Blog Post 32

For the first time, I recently had the luxury of being able to use the HTC Vive. In short, it was captivating. Everything seemed so real inside the Vive. I was in a simulation, during which, I was able to draw in 3D. I was able to draw under, over, around, and between what I already drew. In addition, the environments for the virtual realities are literally panoramas of actual environments on Earth. I believe that this device has huge potential, and the sky is the limit for its capabilities.
Some ideas that came into my mind when using the Vive are much more high tech virtual tours of colleges and vacation spots as well as psychological therapies. Likewise, video game experiences could, and will, be innovated immensely.

Blog Post 31

Today I watched a very interesting video in my theater class. The video consisted of various people trying on the HTC Vive, a virtual reality device, while having to save a cat that's sitting outside a skyscraper, only to by supported by a wooden board. To make things interesting, the participants in this game/demonstration are required to stand on a wooden board (in their actual reality) and save a stuffed animal that is also placed at the end of the board in actual reality as well. The participants thought the game was all too real. They started screaming and wobbling, as they would do in actuality.
This video demonstration captivated my interest because I believe that such a realistic life simulator, like the Vive could be used for some kind of psychological therapy. In the case of the cat on the cliff demonstration, device seems like it would be a good fit for people suffering from PTSD. I also believe that it may be a good fit for individuals with autism. In psychological treatments for autism, researchers often use interactive computer paradigms to assess their social skills, why not uses a virtual reality device instead to get a more realistic assessment of their social skills?

Blog Post 30

Just the other day, I watched a clip of a Yankee game from 2002, during which, the opposition’s pitcher, who has a history with the Yankee franchise of hitting batters when pitching, threw a wild pitch in hit the player in the back. The player reciprocated by speaking some insults and walking towards first base. The next inning, the Yankee’s pitcher tried to hit one of the opposition’s batters, which immediately sparked an uproar, ending with the opposition’s pitcher throwing the Yankee’s manager to the ground.

This incident represents true competitiveness and sports entertainment. I miss the good ol’ days, when players and managers didn’t fear fines and suspensions, and would do what they had to do to send a message towards the opposing team and keep things competitive. Nowadays, the games are dull, dim, and dry. I wish it was 2002 again.     

Blog Post 29

In the past, Kanye West has been known for his incredible, spontaneous uprising as a rapper, and has become a household name as one of the best of all time. But, recently he engulfed himself in a veil of narcissism, blemishing his household name. Self-proclaimed as Yeezus, Mr. West has been heard in interviews defining himself as a god and the most influential person on the face of the earth.

In a different interview, Charlemagne tha God asked Mr. West why he decided to start blemishing his name with all the egotistical narcissism and Yeezus responded by saying that he is just pointing out the truth. Additionally, he decided that he will run for president, although I don’t think he fits the qualifications.  

Blog Post 28

Just last weekend I attended the Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism conference. There, I listened to many talks and advertised a research lab that I work for. At the talks I learned a lot about the lives of individuals who are on the autism spectrum. I listened to autistic people talk about how they need special services in schools that they often don’t receive.

One self-advocate spoke about how, when in school, he needs to constantly leave the classroom and walk around to help himself focus, but, oftentimes, ignorant teachers don’t let him do that, which can lead him to have an outburst. Also, it was said that people on the spectrum may require extra times on exams, which they may not receive. These issues can lead people on the spectrum to be viewed as lesser because they are performing badly, when, in fact, it’s because they aren’t being treated fairly.  

Blog Post 27

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a very fascinating, growing field of neurophysiological research. Recently, there have been innovations in therapies involving such research. Studies have been doe testing various tasking, while reading participant’s brain waves and observing neurological modulations. Although there have been many recent experiments, there is much more room for the brain computer interface field to grow.

For example, no one has ever looked at neurological functionality while a participant is delved in the realm of virtual reality. Also, with the creation of different, new devices, like the ones made by Mindwave, they can be used to observe people on a daily basis and observe their functionality longitudinally. This is an exciting field with lots of potential, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!

Blog Post 26

The other day I tried out the newest type of virtual reality. It allowed users to delve deep in the virtual realm, while drawing interactive, 3 dimensional art. This device literally allows users to paint in front, above, underneath, and behind themselves.

Before I used the device, I watched a video of on the artists for Disney painting within the virtual reality device and I thought it was childish and silly, but once a user is within the realm, it literally feels like another reality. There is much potential for this growing field and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. 

Blog Post 25

Ex Machina, a recently released movie, is a great metaphor for technology’s dominance over society. Beautifully acted, directed, and shot, Ex Machina describes the relationship between four characters, two human and two robot. One human created the two robots and the other human was brought in to see if he can look past the robotic exterior and view the robots as humans.

Throughout the film, the character begins to see past the robots’ mechanical exteriors, developing a human relationship with them. Over time the cynical, dominant, free-willed egotism of the robots is unveiled when the robots kill their creator and lock the other human away forever. This film is a metaphor for our dependence on technology, and how we keep increase the inverse gap between humanity and anthropomorphic technology, attempting to make our lives easier, when, in reality, we are just dedicating our lives to such electronic, self-engulfing pursuits. 

Blog Post 24

The presidential election is this year. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to choose from. Leading social media, political/news media, and, apparently, the republican polls is an ignorant, incompetent, disrespectful man named Donald Trump. Revealing the simple-mindedness of the United States’ population, Trump has been able to rally together the red-necked southern populations as well as some jingoistic, progressive republicans.

The current presidential race has opened this country’s eyes to our ignorant populations, and therefore, should emphasize the necessity of good, funded education to the younger populations of the United States. 

Blog Post 23

As a ignorant college student, I recently discovered the importance of time management. I believe that is a necessity for college success. Oftentimes, newcomers try to make friends by joining greek life and, essentially, switching their majors to women objectifying, when they should be spending their time bettering themselves morally, egotistically, and intellectually. I believe that the best decision I’ve ever made was finding a mentor.

Recently, my friends have been going through tough times trying to figure out their true passions and career paths. My advice always is- find a mentor. Mentors help guide capable, potential-filled minds in the right direction, unlike their greek brethren, who thrive in their peers’ dismay. Mentorships help students blossom into their fullest potential and steer them towards success. I advice any ambitious students to go and find a mentor as soon as possible. There’s only time to waste. 

Blog Post 22

In the past couple of years, there has been a dramatic increase in autism’s prevalence worldwide. This has led people to point their fingers at pharmaceuticals, the water, the food, and many other things. Professionals aren’t 100% sure if there is just one true cause, or if it’s a combination of multiple causes, but we know it’s probably not the medicine, water, or food. 

The main belief is that it is caused by the broadening of the spectrum with the DSM V. This new form of diagnosis encompasses all of the diagnoses that were under pervasive developmental disorder in the DSM IV, grandfathering in many more autistic individuals than ever before. Additionally, parents have become much more informed of this disorder, so they go to see professionals much more often. This combination has probably contributed to the recent rise in autism prevalence.

Blog Post 21

Warning, mercury in vaccines and thermometers can cause autism! Don’t let your children anywhere near those things. I can still remember when I was in the second grade and my teacher called the fire department to clean up a cracked thermometer because she was petrified to go near its mercury based components. I thought that public school teachers had to go to college- I guess not. 

The truth of the matter is that methyl mercury, which is found in bottom feeding fish is a neurotoxin, but it is not found in thermometers or vaccines. Ethyl mercury, on the other hand is found in vaccines and thermometers and is not hazardous at all. Unfortunately, educators do not do a good enough job of informing their students of these differences, leaving their students living in fear of such silly things.