I've talked to Jenny about settling things with a dance-off, but I really hadn't gotten to this point in politics!
Obama the Musical
Yeah Kenya!
TigerNap
16 years ago
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Lake Ontario
Today I decided to finally go see Lake Ontario for the first time and also checked out the nearby Lake Durand. It's no Pacific Ocean, but it is really beautiful.
Butternut Squash & Spinach Gratin
1 medium butternut squash -- peeled and cubed
3 cloves garlic -- peeled
1/2 large mayan sweet onion -- cut in large chunks
1 1/2 bags baby spinach
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon grated ginger root
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Scatter cubed squash and garlic on lightly greased cookie sheet. Lightly sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 minutes.
3. In a large skllet, cook onions until nearly soft. Add spinach and lightly stir until wilted.
4. In mixing bowl, combine cream, feta and spices. Scrape roasted garlic out of skins and into the cream mixture. Stir thoroughly.
5. Mix roasted squash with onions and spinach and dump into lighly greased 9X13 baking pan.
6. Pour cream mixture evenly over vegetables.
7. Turn oven down to 375 and bake for 35-40 minutes.
8. Serve.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sadness...
One of my heroes died today...he found the beauty in the ordinary and shared it with all who would listen.
LA Times--Studs Terkel, who made his name listening to ordinary folks talk about their ordinary lives -- and who turned that knack for conversation into a much-honored literary career -- died Friday. He was 96. More...
LA Times--Studs Terkel, who made his name listening to ordinary folks talk about their ordinary lives -- and who turned that knack for conversation into a much-honored literary career -- died Friday. He was 96. More...
Ain't No Virgin Mary Here!
My friend is selling a potato chip on Ebay. A very special chip indeed. This one is vaguely shaped like the United States; and by "vaguely" I mean "Hey, I think I just spotted Texas?"
You too could have this chip, but it probably won't bring some holy blessing.
And Adam...good use of the word "patriotic." Now people will HAVE to bid on your chip or risk being seen as a terrorist! Good luck!
(If you knew Adam, you'd be rolling on the floor laughing right now!)
You too could have this chip, but it probably won't bring some holy blessing.
And Adam...good use of the word "patriotic." Now people will HAVE to bid on your chip or risk being seen as a terrorist! Good luck!
(If you knew Adam, you'd be rolling on the floor laughing right now!)
Moroccan Soup Addendum
I forgot to mention that the entire soup is pureed before serving....that may help with your texture question Ceri!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Cheez!
After reading Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral," I became intrigued with the idea of making one's own cheese. Last week I finally attempted to make paneer, an Indian cottage cheese. I'd seen so many recipes for this particular cheese that I'd decided it must be easier to make than most, and the recipes seemed pretty simple. It turned out pretty well, so I took the next step and attempted to make feta.
Here's my feta, it tastes SO good!
Next up I'm going to work on curing tofu feta-style for a vegan option.
Here's my feta, it tastes SO good!
Next up I'm going to work on curing tofu feta-style for a vegan option.
Giving up Gluten
Even though I'm still waiting on some official diagnosis (which in itself would be a minor medical miracle), I have found that I feel much better when not eating gluten. So...on that note, I've been busy gathering recipes and ideas on how to eat without wheat (seems impossible for one of massive German heritage!) On the sidebar, I've listed sites that feature not only gluten-free recipes, but many recipes that rely on natural foods, of which I'm a huge fan. I believe that a gluten-free diet does NOT have to consist of Styrofoam or starving!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Moroccan Tomato Soup
1 medium onion
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
28 oz canned tomatoes, crushed
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon Frank's Hot Sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup catsup
2 cups water -- as needed
In a food processor, blend onion and garlic cloves
Fry mixture in olive oil until cooked
Add crushed tomatoes with liquid, peanut butter, cumin, hot sauce, cayenne, salt and pepper, vinegar and catsup. Add water until soup is desired consistency. Simmer until heated through. Blend soup with a hand blender.
NOTES: I replaced Cayenne with Paprika. Added more salt and pepper to taste. In the future, try half as much vinegar. Perhaps reduce peanut butter slightly.
Serve with a rustic bread
Makes Approx 4 servings
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
28 oz canned tomatoes, crushed
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon Frank's Hot Sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup catsup
2 cups water -- as needed
In a food processor, blend onion and garlic cloves
Fry mixture in olive oil until cooked
Add crushed tomatoes with liquid, peanut butter, cumin, hot sauce, cayenne, salt and pepper, vinegar and catsup. Add water until soup is desired consistency. Simmer until heated through. Blend soup with a hand blender.
NOTES: I replaced Cayenne with Paprika. Added more salt and pepper to taste. In the future, try half as much vinegar. Perhaps reduce peanut butter slightly.
Serve with a rustic bread
Makes Approx 4 servings
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Facebook Narcissism
This is what Beth wishes she'd done her dissertation on. I just found it a very interesting thing to consider how personality comes through even with a potentially static concept as online presence.
Can you spot the Facebook narcissist?
Study: The self-obsessed use Facebook the same way they do relationships
updated 2:30 p.m. ET, Fri., Sept. 26, 2008
Facebook profiles can tell you more than just peoples' birthdays and what movies they like — they can reveal the self-adoring, a new study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Georgia gave personality questionnaires to nearly 130 Facebook users and analyzed the content of their online profiles. They also had untrained observers look at the profiles and rate how narcissistic, or excessively egotistical, the owners of the profiles were.
The results of the study are detailed in the October issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
The researchers found that the number of friends and wall posts (messages left by the owner of the profile or friends) that a person had on their profile correlated with how narcissistic they were. Study leader Laura Buffardi, a Ph.D. student in psychology, said this is similar to how narcissists behave in the real world, forming numerous but shallow relationships with others.
Narcissistic Facebook users were also more likely to have glamorous, self-promoting pictures for their main profile photo, while others tended to use snapshots, the study found. The untrained observers also noted the differences in photos and amount of social interaction.
How do you spot a Facebook narcissist?
"We found that people who are narcissistic use Facebook in a self-promoting way that can be identified by others," Buffardi said.
Narcissism hampers a person's ability to form healthy, long-term relationships, said study co-author W. Keith Campbell.
"Narcissists might initially be seen as charming, but they end up using people for their own advantage," Campbell said. "They hurt the people around them and they hurt themselves in the long run."
In the past, research has found that personal Web pages are more popular among narcissists, but this doesn't mean that all Facebook users are narcissists.
"Nearly all of our students use Facebook, and it seems to be a normal part of people's social interactions," Campbell said. "It just turns out that narcissists are using Facebook the same way they use their other relationships — for self-promotion with an emphasis on quantity over quality."
© 2008 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved
Can you spot the Facebook narcissist?
Study: The self-obsessed use Facebook the same way they do relationships
updated 2:30 p.m. ET, Fri., Sept. 26, 2008
Facebook profiles can tell you more than just peoples' birthdays and what movies they like — they can reveal the self-adoring, a new study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Georgia gave personality questionnaires to nearly 130 Facebook users and analyzed the content of their online profiles. They also had untrained observers look at the profiles and rate how narcissistic, or excessively egotistical, the owners of the profiles were.
The results of the study are detailed in the October issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
The researchers found that the number of friends and wall posts (messages left by the owner of the profile or friends) that a person had on their profile correlated with how narcissistic they were. Study leader Laura Buffardi, a Ph.D. student in psychology, said this is similar to how narcissists behave in the real world, forming numerous but shallow relationships with others.
Narcissistic Facebook users were also more likely to have glamorous, self-promoting pictures for their main profile photo, while others tended to use snapshots, the study found. The untrained observers also noted the differences in photos and amount of social interaction.
How do you spot a Facebook narcissist?
"We found that people who are narcissistic use Facebook in a self-promoting way that can be identified by others," Buffardi said.
Narcissism hampers a person's ability to form healthy, long-term relationships, said study co-author W. Keith Campbell.
"Narcissists might initially be seen as charming, but they end up using people for their own advantage," Campbell said. "They hurt the people around them and they hurt themselves in the long run."
In the past, research has found that personal Web pages are more popular among narcissists, but this doesn't mean that all Facebook users are narcissists.
"Nearly all of our students use Facebook, and it seems to be a normal part of people's social interactions," Campbell said. "It just turns out that narcissists are using Facebook the same way they use their other relationships — for self-promotion with an emphasis on quantity over quality."
© 2008 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved
Friday, October 03, 2008
Outback Zoo
Here's a little Antisocial in the making... It also brings in the question of who's responsibility is this behavior?
SYDNEY, Australia - A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said Friday.
The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday after the boy jumped a security fence at the Alice Springs Reptile Center in central Australia, said zoo director Rex Neindorf.
The child then went on a killing spree, bashing three lizards to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which he then fed to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile, said Neindorf.
The boy also fed several live animals to Terry by throwing them over the two fences surrounding the crocodile's enclosure, at one point climbing over the outer fence to get closer to the giant reptile.
'Like he was playing a game'
In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, Neindorf said, adding: "It was like he was playing a game."
By the time he was done, 13 animals worth around $5,500 had been killed, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards, Neindorf said. Although none were considered rare, some are difficult to replace, he said.
"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.
Lawsuit planned against boy's parents
Alice Springs police said they are unable to press charges against the boy because of his age. Children under age 10 can't be charged with criminal offenses in the Northern Territory. His name was not released because of his age.
Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents.
The boy's small size is probably the reason he didn't trip the zoo's security system, which relies on sensors to detect intruders, Neindorf said.
"I just want people to learn that they can't let their children go and run amok," Neindorf said. "If we can't put the blame onto the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility."
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SYDNEY, Australia - A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said Friday.
The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday after the boy jumped a security fence at the Alice Springs Reptile Center in central Australia, said zoo director Rex Neindorf.
The child then went on a killing spree, bashing three lizards to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which he then fed to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile, said Neindorf.
The boy also fed several live animals to Terry by throwing them over the two fences surrounding the crocodile's enclosure, at one point climbing over the outer fence to get closer to the giant reptile.
'Like he was playing a game'
In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, Neindorf said, adding: "It was like he was playing a game."
By the time he was done, 13 animals worth around $5,500 had been killed, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards, Neindorf said. Although none were considered rare, some are difficult to replace, he said.
"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.
Lawsuit planned against boy's parents
Alice Springs police said they are unable to press charges against the boy because of his age. Children under age 10 can't be charged with criminal offenses in the Northern Territory. His name was not released because of his age.
Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents.
The boy's small size is probably the reason he didn't trip the zoo's security system, which relies on sensors to detect intruders, Neindorf said.
"I just want people to learn that they can't let their children go and run amok," Neindorf said. "If we can't put the blame onto the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility."
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
TOO Much Detail!!
Adding details can make things come alive, but this is ridiculous!
BRITTANY MARIE MOLE AND ADAM MARK DENTON UNITED IN KEY WEST CEREMONY Miss Brittany Marie Mole and Adam Mark Denton were married Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m., July 19th, 2008 in a double ring ceremony on the sand of The Casa Marina Historic House by the Sea, Key West, Florida where the emerald lawns meet the blue Atlantic coast. In one of the most dramatic settings on all of south Florida's enchanted coast, Brittany Marie Mole along with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Mole, arrived in a vintage 1950's white Rolls Royce at 5:00 p.m. By 6:00 p.m., on the sand overlooking the sea, Brittany and Adam were pronounced man and wife. Miss Mole is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Mole, Orlando, Florida and Mr. Adam Denton is the son of Mrs. Denice Denton and the late Butch Denton of Liverpool, England. In front of a white arch of tropical flowers, Shawna Allen of Key West officiated over the beauty and sanctity of the Unity Sand Ceremony which captured the meaning of the two lives becoming one. Harpist Steven Allerton entertained and guests were seated with themes from "Somewhere over the Rainbow", "Trumpet Voluntary", "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". The bride entered to "Bridal Chorus". Guests exited to "Mendelson" and "A Time to Say Goodbye" by Sartori-Peterson. Readings were performed by the Godfather and Uncle of the Bride, Mr. John G. Gillespie of Hermitage, Tn. and the maternal Grandfather of the Bride, Mr. Gene Gillespie of Nashville, TN. Brittany, given in marriage by her parents, wore an old Hollywood style, custom made, hand sewn, Melissa Sweet gown. The gown was created for her with Italian silk taffeta in strapless trumpet flair with asymmetric banding and tied on the side with a vintage rhinestone brooch given by the groom. The gown ended in an asymmetric chapel length train. Brittany wore a crystal and pearl Tierra along with her veil of hand sewn pearls scalloping the bottom of the veil. The crystal necklace and earrings completed the bridal attire. The bride selected a 24 white rose bridal clutch bouquet signifying a new beginning. The exposed stems were tied with ribbon and fabric and adorned with the wedding ring of the brides' great grandmother and a locket containing the wedding day pictures of the Bride and Grooms parents. The maid of honor, Miss Lauren D. Mole of Orlando, Florida wore a strapless iridescent fuchsia tea-length gown made by Waters & Waters. The bridesmaids, Miss Rachel Antoine of College Park, Florida; Miss Marjorie Then of Los Angeles, California; Miss Jolene Worley of Orlando, Florida; Miss Ashley Anderson of College Park, Florida, were all attired identical to the maid of honor. The flower girl, 3 year old Miss Sarah Gillespie of Hermitage, Tennessee is the cousin of the Bride.
Sarah wore a white eyelet tea length dress. Her hair was caught up with small white roses throughout. She carried a white basket with hand sewn flowers crafted by the bride's grandmother, Joan Gillespie. Themed petals filled the basket and lined the aisle. Philip Poole of Charlotte, NC was the best man. Ushers were the Brides brother, Christopher Mole of Baton Rouge, LA; Phil Goodrum, Charlotte, NC; Brad Francis, Charlotte, NC and Eric Stilley, Charlotte, NC. The ring bearer was 3 year old Mason McDonald of Charlotte, NC. He presented the rings for the ceremony on a platinum and pearl studded pillow. The cocktail hour followed the ceremony on the outside patio of the Flagler Ballroom. Jim Wist of Key West produced tropical sounds from acoustic steel drums while guests gathered sipping signature drinks named "96 degrees in the Sun" and sampling butler passed hors d' oeuvres. The four hour reception followed in the Grand Flagler Ballroom. The head table was a stunning squared 16 seated table for the Bridal party. Lined with silver chivarri chairs from Miami and tied with cerise lamour linen ties. The table was covered in Cerise Lamour linen with an overlay of Silver Floral Lace and illuminated from underneath. Topped with 4 spaced 41" high silver candelabras holding silver candles and filled with sprays of cascading tropical flowers, the uniqueness of the table stole the scene upon entry and was unsurpassed in beauty. The cake table was identically matched to the head table with a four tiered white and platinum pearled signature red velvet and strawberry cake and illuminated from the back wall with a fuchsia light. Adorning the top of the cake was the traditional bride and groom. All guests tables were centered with hand painted, signed and dated hurricane vases commissioned by the mother of the bride, Susan Mole, to be painted in tropical themed floral by Florida artist Paul Scarborough. Dinner of Lobster Tail, Filet Mignon and Champagne was followed by dancing until the evening concluded. The couple departed in the white vintage 1950's Rolls Royce with bubbles and toss confetti filling the air. After a 12 day, 5 countries, Mediterranean cruise the couple will reside in Charlotte, NC.
Published in the Orlando Sentinel on 9/28/2008.
BRITTANY MARIE MOLE AND ADAM MARK DENTON UNITED IN KEY WEST CEREMONY Miss Brittany Marie Mole and Adam Mark Denton were married Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m., July 19th, 2008 in a double ring ceremony on the sand of The Casa Marina Historic House by the Sea, Key West, Florida where the emerald lawns meet the blue Atlantic coast. In one of the most dramatic settings on all of south Florida's enchanted coast, Brittany Marie Mole along with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Mole, arrived in a vintage 1950's white Rolls Royce at 5:00 p.m. By 6:00 p.m., on the sand overlooking the sea, Brittany and Adam were pronounced man and wife. Miss Mole is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Mole, Orlando, Florida and Mr. Adam Denton is the son of Mrs. Denice Denton and the late Butch Denton of Liverpool, England. In front of a white arch of tropical flowers, Shawna Allen of Key West officiated over the beauty and sanctity of the Unity Sand Ceremony which captured the meaning of the two lives becoming one. Harpist Steven Allerton entertained and guests were seated with themes from "Somewhere over the Rainbow", "Trumpet Voluntary", "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". The bride entered to "Bridal Chorus". Guests exited to "Mendelson" and "A Time to Say Goodbye" by Sartori-Peterson. Readings were performed by the Godfather and Uncle of the Bride, Mr. John G. Gillespie of Hermitage, Tn. and the maternal Grandfather of the Bride, Mr. Gene Gillespie of Nashville, TN. Brittany, given in marriage by her parents, wore an old Hollywood style, custom made, hand sewn, Melissa Sweet gown. The gown was created for her with Italian silk taffeta in strapless trumpet flair with asymmetric banding and tied on the side with a vintage rhinestone brooch given by the groom. The gown ended in an asymmetric chapel length train. Brittany wore a crystal and pearl Tierra along with her veil of hand sewn pearls scalloping the bottom of the veil. The crystal necklace and earrings completed the bridal attire. The bride selected a 24 white rose bridal clutch bouquet signifying a new beginning. The exposed stems were tied with ribbon and fabric and adorned with the wedding ring of the brides' great grandmother and a locket containing the wedding day pictures of the Bride and Grooms parents. The maid of honor, Miss Lauren D. Mole of Orlando, Florida wore a strapless iridescent fuchsia tea-length gown made by Waters & Waters. The bridesmaids, Miss Rachel Antoine of College Park, Florida; Miss Marjorie Then of Los Angeles, California; Miss Jolene Worley of Orlando, Florida; Miss Ashley Anderson of College Park, Florida, were all attired identical to the maid of honor. The flower girl, 3 year old Miss Sarah Gillespie of Hermitage, Tennessee is the cousin of the Bride.
Sarah wore a white eyelet tea length dress. Her hair was caught up with small white roses throughout. She carried a white basket with hand sewn flowers crafted by the bride's grandmother, Joan Gillespie. Themed petals filled the basket and lined the aisle. Philip Poole of Charlotte, NC was the best man. Ushers were the Brides brother, Christopher Mole of Baton Rouge, LA; Phil Goodrum, Charlotte, NC; Brad Francis, Charlotte, NC and Eric Stilley, Charlotte, NC. The ring bearer was 3 year old Mason McDonald of Charlotte, NC. He presented the rings for the ceremony on a platinum and pearl studded pillow. The cocktail hour followed the ceremony on the outside patio of the Flagler Ballroom. Jim Wist of Key West produced tropical sounds from acoustic steel drums while guests gathered sipping signature drinks named "96 degrees in the Sun" and sampling butler passed hors d' oeuvres. The four hour reception followed in the Grand Flagler Ballroom. The head table was a stunning squared 16 seated table for the Bridal party. Lined with silver chivarri chairs from Miami and tied with cerise lamour linen ties. The table was covered in Cerise Lamour linen with an overlay of Silver Floral Lace and illuminated from underneath. Topped with 4 spaced 41" high silver candelabras holding silver candles and filled with sprays of cascading tropical flowers, the uniqueness of the table stole the scene upon entry and was unsurpassed in beauty. The cake table was identically matched to the head table with a four tiered white and platinum pearled signature red velvet and strawberry cake and illuminated from the back wall with a fuchsia light. Adorning the top of the cake was the traditional bride and groom. All guests tables were centered with hand painted, signed and dated hurricane vases commissioned by the mother of the bride, Susan Mole, to be painted in tropical themed floral by Florida artist Paul Scarborough. Dinner of Lobster Tail, Filet Mignon and Champagne was followed by dancing until the evening concluded. The couple departed in the white vintage 1950's Rolls Royce with bubbles and toss confetti filling the air. After a 12 day, 5 countries, Mediterranean cruise the couple will reside in Charlotte, NC.
Published in the Orlando Sentinel on 9/28/2008.
Friday, September 26, 2008
EWWWWW!!!!
This upsets me and yes I know that regular ice cream is really just a cow's breast milk....
PETA asks Ben & Jerry's to use breast milk
22 hours ago
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Ice cream made from breast milk? That's what the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream to consider making.
The Virginia-based nonprofit group sent a letter to company co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday asking them to use human breast milk instead of cow's milk in their products.
PETA said the health of consumers and cows would benefit from the switch.
Ben & Jerry's spokesman Rob Michalak said the company applauds PETA's creative approach to bring attention to an issue, but believes that a mother's milk is best used by a child.
Information from: The Times Argus, http://www.timesargus.com/
PETA asks Ben & Jerry's to use breast milk
22 hours ago
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Ice cream made from breast milk? That's what the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream to consider making.
The Virginia-based nonprofit group sent a letter to company co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday asking them to use human breast milk instead of cow's milk in their products.
PETA said the health of consumers and cows would benefit from the switch.
Ben & Jerry's spokesman Rob Michalak said the company applauds PETA's creative approach to bring attention to an issue, but believes that a mother's milk is best used by a child.
Information from: The Times Argus, http://www.timesargus.com/
Thursday, September 25, 2008
George Fox University
I think George Fox would be upset. The Quaker faith is about acceptance and love and equality and to know that MY school, HIS namesake, can make national news for this...
Obama effigy found hanging from Ore. campus tree
By MARY HUDETZ
Associated Press writer
NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) -- Officials of a small Christian university say a life-size cardboard reproduction of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was hung from a tree on the campus, an act that outraged students and school leaders alike.
George Fox University President Robin Baker said a custodian discovered the effigy early Tuesday and removed it. University spokesman Rob Felton said Wednesday that the commercially produced reproduction had been suspended from the branch of a tree with fishing line around the neck.
Taped to the cardboard cutout of the black senator from Illinois was a message targeting participants in Act Six, a scholarship program geared toward increasing the number of minority and low-income students at several Christian colleges, mostly in the Northwest.
The message read, "Act Six reject."
The disturbing image found near the heart of the campus recalled the days of lynchings of blacks and was all the more incongruous at a university founded by Quaker pioneers in 1891. Felton said he had been at the school since he enrolled two decades ago, and "I've never experienced or heard of any type of overt racial act."
At the end of the college's regular chapel service Wednesday, Baker told students he was "disheartened and outraged."
"It has been my dream to establish a university that more adequately represents the kingdom of God," he said. "This act causes some to question our commitment."
Baker added, "What I've learned is we still have work to do."
Administrators at the university said Wednesday they do not know who hung the effigy, which Felton said few people saw before it was taken down.
Newberg police Sgt. Tim Weaver said officials are working with the university to find out who was responsible. He also said the police department has notified the U.S. Secret Service, although it's not clear yet whether the act was a crime.
"It doesn't fit as a hate crime and it doesn't fit in as intimidation, necessarily," he said. "If it's not a crime, we're not going to be involved."
Brad Lau, a university vice president, said school officials have been questioning students to find out who was responsible. He and other school officials wouldn't say what action it might take.
The school has 17 students in the Act Six program, whose name derives from the New Testament book of Acts. All but one are members of minority groups, Felton said.
Students in the program receive full scholarships and are selected on the basis of leadership potential.
Several students in the program said they are angry but do not feel threatened.
"To me, I just felt like they weren't ready to have a black person be president," said Courtney Greenidge, a sophomore. "We're trying to bring change. Obama's trying to bring change." She described herself, like Obama, as biracial: half black, half white.
She also said that overall, the campus has a welcoming and positive environment, but that she has heard comments along the lines of, "Oh, I wish I was black. Then I could get a scholarship like that."
Obama spokeswoman Sahar Wali said the effigy hanging was "an unfortunate incident but you know we have had a very positive response from Oregonians across the state."
Obama is widely considered to be ahead in Oregon. In the run-up to the state's May primary, he drew a crowd of about 75,000 people in Portland.
George Fox University's campus is in Newberg in the Willamette Valley south of Portland. About 1,800 students are enrolled. It also has centers in Portland; Salem; and Boise, Idaho.
Felton said that about 2 percent of the students are black and about a quarter of the freshman class belongs to minority groups. That number includes international students, largely from Asia and Africa.
---
On the Net: Act Six, http://portland.actsix.org/
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Insert HUGE sigh of relief here....
This has been a loophole in my field that I have found bothersome. I am so glad there is movement towards a stance against facilitating interrogation. Of course now we still have the issue of the interpretation of International Law.
APA MEMBERS APPROVE PETITION RESOLUTION
ON DETAINEE SETTINGS
WASHINGTON -- The petition resolution stating that psychologists may not work in settings where “persons are held outside of, or in violation of, either International Law (e.g., the UN Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions) or the US Constitution (where appropriate), unless they are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights” was approved by a vote of the APA membership. The final vote tally was 8,792 voting in favor of the resolution; 6,157 voting against the resolution. To become policy, a petition resolution needs to be approved by a majority of those members voting.
Per the Association’s Rules and Bylaws, the resolution will become official APA policy as of the Association’s next annual meeting, which will take place in August 2009. At that time, the APA Council of Representatives will also determine what further action may be necessary to implement the policy.
The approval of the petition resolution represents a significant change in APA’s policy regarding the involvement of psychologists in interrogations. The petition resolution limits the roles of psychologists in certain defined settings where persons are detained to working directly for detainees or for an independent third party to protect human rights, or to providing treatment to other military personnel.
This new petition resolution expands on the 2007 APA resolution, which called on the U.S. government to ban at least 19 specific abusive interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, that are regarded as torture by international standards. The 2007 resolution also recognized that “torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment can result not only from the behavior of individuals, but also from the conditions of confinement,” and expressed “grave concern over settings in which detainees are deprived of adequate protection of their human rights.”
APA will continue to call upon the Department of Defense and Congress to safeguard the welfare and human rights of detainees held outside of the United States and to investigate their treatment to ensure the highest ethical standards are being upheld.
# # #
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.
APA MEMBERS APPROVE PETITION RESOLUTION
ON DETAINEE SETTINGS
WASHINGTON -- The petition resolution stating that psychologists may not work in settings where “persons are held outside of, or in violation of, either International Law (e.g., the UN Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions) or the US Constitution (where appropriate), unless they are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights” was approved by a vote of the APA membership. The final vote tally was 8,792 voting in favor of the resolution; 6,157 voting against the resolution. To become policy, a petition resolution needs to be approved by a majority of those members voting.
Per the Association’s Rules and Bylaws, the resolution will become official APA policy as of the Association’s next annual meeting, which will take place in August 2009. At that time, the APA Council of Representatives will also determine what further action may be necessary to implement the policy.
The approval of the petition resolution represents a significant change in APA’s policy regarding the involvement of psychologists in interrogations. The petition resolution limits the roles of psychologists in certain defined settings where persons are detained to working directly for detainees or for an independent third party to protect human rights, or to providing treatment to other military personnel.
This new petition resolution expands on the 2007 APA resolution, which called on the U.S. government to ban at least 19 specific abusive interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, that are regarded as torture by international standards. The 2007 resolution also recognized that “torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment can result not only from the behavior of individuals, but also from the conditions of confinement,” and expressed “grave concern over settings in which detainees are deprived of adequate protection of their human rights.”
APA will continue to call upon the Department of Defense and Congress to safeguard the welfare and human rights of detainees held outside of the United States and to investigate their treatment to ensure the highest ethical standards are being upheld.
# # #
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
This Man...Not So Smart...This Woman Neither...
I think the Quran requires a man to be able to support his wives and treat them equally. Perhaps the Hugh Hefner of the Muslim world WOULD be required to marry them all instead of keeping them as girlfriends. It's also interesting that he says God told him to marry them all, yet he's advising against it?
Story
And I've had some good times with my grandparents, but they never offered me this amusement ride.
Story
Monday, August 04, 2008
Those Pesky Unseen Others
I've always been amused by people who talk to themselves. Sometimes I wonder if I should feel guilty about this given my chosen profession. However, I don't enjoy guilt so I choose not to dwell on it.
If you, like me, enjoy a good self-conversation by other people, you should check out this website. It makes Garfield seem twice as funny.
If you, like me, enjoy a good self-conversation by other people, you should check out this website. It makes Garfield seem twice as funny.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
OSH
I hear so much negativity about what happens at Oregon State Hospital. It makes it sound like an old school insane asylum where people are locked away in chains. So often news reports take the facts without background information and those of us who are ethically required to secrecy are stuck knowing the truth. I wish people would realize how many positive things the State of Oregon has in place for those with mental illness. I'm too tired to even think this through, BUT...there's always room for improvement in mental health treatment, and it has come SO far, but there are so many barriers. It seems that most are legal and involve judicial systems that have no knowledge of the basics of mental health care. I just wish people would recognize the good care that OSH does provide its patients.
‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ hospital to be torn down
125-year-old Oregon State Hospital will be replaced with a new complex
SALEM, Ore. - So long, Cuckoo’s Nest.
Oregon State Hospital, the mental institution where the 1975 movie “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest” was filmed, is making way for a new complex. Most of the dilapidated, 125-year-old main building will be torn down and replaced starting this fall.
Although mean Nurse Ratched was pure fiction, the Oregon State Hospital has struggled with some very real troubles over the years, including overcrowding, crumbling floors and ceilings, outbreaks of scabies and stomach flu, sexual abuse of children by staff members, and patient-on-patient assaults.
‘The room of lost souls’
Politicians had been talking for years about the need to replace the hospital, but didn’t get serious about it until a group of legislators made a grim discovery during a 2004 tour: the cremated remains of 3,600 mental patients in corroding copper canisters in a storage room. The lawmakers were stunned.
“Nobody said anything to anybody,” said Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, who dubbed the chamber “the room of lost souls.”
The remains belonged to patients who died at the hospital from the late 1880s to the mid-1970s, when mental illness was considered so shameful that many patients were all but abandoned by their families in institutions.
“It just created such an emotional momentum” for replacing the hospital, said Courtney, who led the effort to build a new institution.
Although “Cuckoo’s Nest” was filmed here, neither the movie nor the 1962 Ken Kesey novel on which it was based makes any specific references to Oregon State Hospital. Kesey drew on his experiences working at a veterans hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., and set his satirical story at an unnamed institution in Oregon.
Behind the scenes
Actor Michael Douglas, co-producer of the movie, scouted various West Coast locations and chose the Oregon institution because then-Superintendent Dean Brooks agreed to give the moviemakers unfettered access.
“They wanted to make it on location with real patients,” said Brooks, now 91, who was given a speaking part as a weak-willed doctor who acquiesces to Nurse Ratched. Brooks said 89 patients were hired as extras.
Douglas, Jack Nicholson (who played the rebellious Randle Patrick McMurphy) and Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched) were regulars at the hospital during shooting.
Milos Forman, the director, lived for six weeks at the institution and had his actors study real patients, according to a 1975 account in Rolling Stone magazine. Nicholson became depressed because of what he saw, including electroshock being administered to a patient.
State leaders decided in 2006 to build a new, $300 million, 620-bed hospital at the site of the oldest and most dilapidated part of the complex, the J Building, a yellow-painted brick structure with brown trim, a towering cupola, and iron gratings on the windows.
The front section of the building, including the cupola, will be preserved as a museum on the history of mental health care.
A ghostly sight
Other parts of the building were abandoned decades ago and are now a ghostly sight. The paint has been scoured off the bricks by the weather and the passage of time, and the wings are cluttered with old equipment, fallen plaster and piles of pigeon droppings. The third floor is so rotted it is not safe to walk on. The building is also contaminated with lead paint and asbestos.
Construction of the new hospital is set to begin next spring and should be completed by the fall of 2011.
It is not just a bricks-and-mortar exercise Oregon is undertaking to improve care for the mentally ill. State leaders have pledged beefed-up staffing levels, new treatment programs and better living conditions.
Among the 590 current patients is 44-year-old Mike Wyffels, who has been at the hospital for five years with bipolar disorder. Wyffels said he welcomes the state’s plan to give most patients their own rooms in the new hospital. In some cases, he said, as many as seven patients share a room.
“When you’ve got a bunch of people in one tiny room, it’s chaos. I can’t even study in my room because I don’t have the privacy to do it,” he said in a conference room while other patients milled around outside in the hall, talking or listening to music.
In May, Portland resident Debbie Osborne came to the hospital to collect the canister containing the remains of her great aunt Clara Johnson, who died of pneumonia 60 years ago. Osborne plans to give the ashes a proper burial this summer.
“It’s really sad that we still have a stigma” about mental illness, Osborne said. “But it’s changing; it’s a lot better.”
Courtney wants the museum to include a display of ashes not yet claimed by relatives. “You’ve got to remember your past to make the future better,” he said.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ hospital to be torn down
125-year-old Oregon State Hospital will be replaced with a new complex
SALEM, Ore. - So long, Cuckoo’s Nest.
Oregon State Hospital, the mental institution where the 1975 movie “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest” was filmed, is making way for a new complex. Most of the dilapidated, 125-year-old main building will be torn down and replaced starting this fall.Although mean Nurse Ratched was pure fiction, the Oregon State Hospital has struggled with some very real troubles over the years, including overcrowding, crumbling floors and ceilings, outbreaks of scabies and stomach flu, sexual abuse of children by staff members, and patient-on-patient assaults.
‘The room of lost souls’
Politicians had been talking for years about the need to replace the hospital, but didn’t get serious about it until a group of legislators made a grim discovery during a 2004 tour: the cremated remains of 3,600 mental patients in corroding copper canisters in a storage room. The lawmakers were stunned.
“Nobody said anything to anybody,” said Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, who dubbed the chamber “the room of lost souls.”
The remains belonged to patients who died at the hospital from the late 1880s to the mid-1970s, when mental illness was considered so shameful that many patients were all but abandoned by their families in institutions.
“It just created such an emotional momentum” for replacing the hospital, said Courtney, who led the effort to build a new institution.
Although “Cuckoo’s Nest” was filmed here, neither the movie nor the 1962 Ken Kesey novel on which it was based makes any specific references to Oregon State Hospital. Kesey drew on his experiences working at a veterans hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., and set his satirical story at an unnamed institution in Oregon.
Behind the scenes
Actor Michael Douglas, co-producer of the movie, scouted various West Coast locations and chose the Oregon institution because then-Superintendent Dean Brooks agreed to give the moviemakers unfettered access.
“They wanted to make it on location with real patients,” said Brooks, now 91, who was given a speaking part as a weak-willed doctor who acquiesces to Nurse Ratched. Brooks said 89 patients were hired as extras.
Douglas, Jack Nicholson (who played the rebellious Randle Patrick McMurphy) and Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched) were regulars at the hospital during shooting.
Milos Forman, the director, lived for six weeks at the institution and had his actors study real patients, according to a 1975 account in Rolling Stone magazine. Nicholson became depressed because of what he saw, including electroshock being administered to a patient.
State leaders decided in 2006 to build a new, $300 million, 620-bed hospital at the site of the oldest and most dilapidated part of the complex, the J Building, a yellow-painted brick structure with brown trim, a towering cupola, and iron gratings on the windows.
The front section of the building, including the cupola, will be preserved as a museum on the history of mental health care.
A ghostly sight
Other parts of the building were abandoned decades ago and are now a ghostly sight. The paint has been scoured off the bricks by the weather and the passage of time, and the wings are cluttered with old equipment, fallen plaster and piles of pigeon droppings. The third floor is so rotted it is not safe to walk on. The building is also contaminated with lead paint and asbestos.
Construction of the new hospital is set to begin next spring and should be completed by the fall of 2011.
It is not just a bricks-and-mortar exercise Oregon is undertaking to improve care for the mentally ill. State leaders have pledged beefed-up staffing levels, new treatment programs and better living conditions.
Among the 590 current patients is 44-year-old Mike Wyffels, who has been at the hospital for five years with bipolar disorder. Wyffels said he welcomes the state’s plan to give most patients their own rooms in the new hospital. In some cases, he said, as many as seven patients share a room.
“When you’ve got a bunch of people in one tiny room, it’s chaos. I can’t even study in my room because I don’t have the privacy to do it,” he said in a conference room while other patients milled around outside in the hall, talking or listening to music.
In May, Portland resident Debbie Osborne came to the hospital to collect the canister containing the remains of her great aunt Clara Johnson, who died of pneumonia 60 years ago. Osborne plans to give the ashes a proper burial this summer.
“It’s really sad that we still have a stigma” about mental illness, Osborne said. “But it’s changing; it’s a lot better.”
Courtney wants the museum to include a display of ashes not yet claimed by relatives. “You’ve got to remember your past to make the future better,” he said.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Reversing the "Brain Drain"
I like stories like this one from MSNBC...
Kenya village gets clinic from brothers it helped
Residents sold chickens and cattle to send siblings to college in the U.S.A.
Christopher Williams / AP
Milton Ochieng' visits the clinic he and his brother Fred founded in their home village of Lwala, Kenya. The Erastus Ochieng' Lwala Community Memorial Health Center was named after their father, who died of AIDS.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When residents of a tiny Kenyan village sold their chickens and cattle to buy Milton Ochieng's $900 plane ticket to Dartmouth College, they told him they wanted something in return.
Eight years later, he's a Vanderbilt University Medical School graduate preparing for his residency. In his home village of Lwala, a clinic he and younger brother Fred established serves about 100 patients a day.
A documentary about their struggles to raise $150,000 to build the clinic — while attending school full-time and coping with their parents' deaths — will soon be screened at universities across the country.
"It's not common to have a couple of village boys come to the U.S. and advocate for a clinic to be built in their country," said Barak Bruerd, program director of Blood:Water Mission, a Nashville-based nonprofit that has contributed to the clinic. "The fact that they were able to bring so much support to their community is amazing."
Wheelbarrow transportation
Before the clinic, Ochieng' says, sick villagers often had to be carried for miles just to get to a paved road.
As a child, he remembers seeing a friend's mother taken away in a wheelbarrow during a difficult labor. Neighbors pushed her for 45 minutes before she died.
The image stuck with him. His father, high school chemistry teacher Erastus Ochieng', emphasized the need for health care closer to the community. It was his dream to see a clinic in Lwala, a village of about 1,500 people in southwestern Kenya.
It wasn't until a college service trip to Nicaragua, where students worked alongside villagers to build such a facility, that Ochieng' started to think his father's dream could become reality.
The elder Ochieng' would not live to see the project completed. He died in 2005 of AIDS, the same disease that killed Ochieng's mother the year before.
Medical school in Tennessee
For several years, Ochieng' made plans. Fred followed him to Dartmouth and then on to medical school at Vanderbilt. By 2005, Ochieng' was ready to build, except he had no money. So he put Fred in charge of fundraising.
That weekend, Fred Ochieng' raised $9,000 at a conference for a Christian ministry group. But it took another two years to raise the $150,000 they needed.
They were finally able to open the clinic in April 2007, helped by a $45,000 donation from Blood:Water Mission, which was founded by Christian rockers Jars of Clay to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in Africa.
In its first year, the clinic saw 20,000 patients at a cost of about $100,000.
"It's important for people to get a sense of how far the U.S. dollar can go," Ochieng' says, noting that one woman had emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy at a cost of only $250. A similar procedure could cost at least $10,000 in the U.S.
Growing number of patients
The volume of patients is growing, Ochieng' says, because of the high standard of care the clinic provides, even without running water or a consistent electrical supply.
Many relatives of Lwala residents come from other communities. The clinic, which serves about 4,000 residents of Lwala and the area surrounding it, turns no one away and treats about 85 percent of its patients for free.
The clinic now benefits from a U.S.-based nonprofit, the Lwala Community Alliance, but Ochieng' says it struggles to raise operating funds, even as staffers plan to expand with a maternity ward and HIV/AIDS wing.
Babies are currently delivered in the kitchen.
"It's not ideal," Ochieng' says.
The sun sets on the Erastus Ochieng' Lwala Community Memorial Health Center in Kenya.
The clinic is also getting help from former television reporter Barry Simmons, who quit his job after interviewing the Ochieng' brothers to work full time on a documentary about their struggles to build the clinic. "Sons of Lwala" has so far raised about $230,000.
"It was always the plan to give them a platform to raise money and spread their story," Simmons said.
Residency plans
Ochieng' spent April in Lwala, but the clinic also employs two clinical officers — the equivalent of a physician's assistant in the U.S. — and three nurses. Ochieng' hopes to be able to shuttle between Kenya and the U.S., where he will do his residency at Washington University in St. Louis.
"There's such a sense of love and people feeling they've gained so much from the health center," he says. "It keeps me going. ... It makes you realize how great it is to be a doctor, how great it is to be serving humanity."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Kenya village gets clinic from brothers it helped
Residents sold chickens and cattle to send siblings to college in the U.S.A.
Christopher Williams / AP
Milton Ochieng' visits the clinic he and his brother Fred founded in their home village of Lwala, Kenya. The Erastus Ochieng' Lwala Community Memorial Health Center was named after their father, who died of AIDS.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When residents of a tiny Kenyan village sold their chickens and cattle to buy Milton Ochieng's $900 plane ticket to Dartmouth College, they told him they wanted something in return.
Eight years later, he's a Vanderbilt University Medical School graduate preparing for his residency. In his home village of Lwala, a clinic he and younger brother Fred established serves about 100 patients a day.
A documentary about their struggles to raise $150,000 to build the clinic — while attending school full-time and coping with their parents' deaths — will soon be screened at universities across the country.
"It's not common to have a couple of village boys come to the U.S. and advocate for a clinic to be built in their country," said Barak Bruerd, program director of Blood:Water Mission, a Nashville-based nonprofit that has contributed to the clinic. "The fact that they were able to bring so much support to their community is amazing."
Wheelbarrow transportation
Before the clinic, Ochieng' says, sick villagers often had to be carried for miles just to get to a paved road.
As a child, he remembers seeing a friend's mother taken away in a wheelbarrow during a difficult labor. Neighbors pushed her for 45 minutes before she died.
The image stuck with him. His father, high school chemistry teacher Erastus Ochieng', emphasized the need for health care closer to the community. It was his dream to see a clinic in Lwala, a village of about 1,500 people in southwestern Kenya.
It wasn't until a college service trip to Nicaragua, where students worked alongside villagers to build such a facility, that Ochieng' started to think his father's dream could become reality.
The elder Ochieng' would not live to see the project completed. He died in 2005 of AIDS, the same disease that killed Ochieng's mother the year before.
Medical school in Tennessee
For several years, Ochieng' made plans. Fred followed him to Dartmouth and then on to medical school at Vanderbilt. By 2005, Ochieng' was ready to build, except he had no money. So he put Fred in charge of fundraising.
That weekend, Fred Ochieng' raised $9,000 at a conference for a Christian ministry group. But it took another two years to raise the $150,000 they needed.
They were finally able to open the clinic in April 2007, helped by a $45,000 donation from Blood:Water Mission, which was founded by Christian rockers Jars of Clay to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in Africa.
In its first year, the clinic saw 20,000 patients at a cost of about $100,000.
"It's important for people to get a sense of how far the U.S. dollar can go," Ochieng' says, noting that one woman had emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy at a cost of only $250. A similar procedure could cost at least $10,000 in the U.S.
Growing number of patients
The volume of patients is growing, Ochieng' says, because of the high standard of care the clinic provides, even without running water or a consistent electrical supply.
Many relatives of Lwala residents come from other communities. The clinic, which serves about 4,000 residents of Lwala and the area surrounding it, turns no one away and treats about 85 percent of its patients for free.
The clinic now benefits from a U.S.-based nonprofit, the Lwala Community Alliance, but Ochieng' says it struggles to raise operating funds, even as staffers plan to expand with a maternity ward and HIV/AIDS wing.
Babies are currently delivered in the kitchen.
"It's not ideal," Ochieng' says.
The sun sets on the Erastus Ochieng' Lwala Community Memorial Health Center in Kenya.
The clinic is also getting help from former television reporter Barry Simmons, who quit his job after interviewing the Ochieng' brothers to work full time on a documentary about their struggles to build the clinic. "Sons of Lwala" has so far raised about $230,000.
"It was always the plan to give them a platform to raise money and spread their story," Simmons said.
Residency plans
Ochieng' spent April in Lwala, but the clinic also employs two clinical officers — the equivalent of a physician's assistant in the U.S. — and three nurses. Ochieng' hopes to be able to shuttle between Kenya and the U.S., where he will do his residency at Washington University in St. Louis.
"There's such a sense of love and people feeling they've gained so much from the health center," he says. "It keeps me going. ... It makes you realize how great it is to be a doctor, how great it is to be serving humanity."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Defenestration
Defenestration - The act of throwing something or someone out a window (American Heritage Dictionary).
I had never heard this word before I began reading guidebooks for the Czech Republic, but apparently hurling two Catholics out a castle window into a moat was such a prominent event in Czech history that, according to some sources, it required a whole new word. Even better, it appeared to become the modus operandi for those who wanted to visibly demonstrate their frustration at the status quo, even leading to the 30 years war.
In six days my cousin and I are leaving for Prague. At this point we have no plans for defenestrating, but if you want to follow along to find out for sure, the link to our blog is on the side bar ----------------------->>>
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Dear future employer....I'm great at assessment, group and individual therapy and some of my clients think I'm God...
Today I accepted a position for postdoc at the University of Rochester! This means 1. future employment...2.Once again I get to pack everything I own and move...3.I get to work with an entirely new population and...4.I'm one step closer to being a licensed psychologist!
The downside is that I will no longer get to listen to Chopin with Anastasia Romanov, discuss astrological compatibility with Jesus Christ's girlfriend (He's a scorpio by the way...), and be given glimpses into Escher-quality pseudo-realities that boggle my mind.
Here's my future employer.
University of Rochester
The downside is that I will no longer get to listen to Chopin with Anastasia Romanov, discuss astrological compatibility with Jesus Christ's girlfriend (He's a scorpio by the way...), and be given glimpses into Escher-quality pseudo-realities that boggle my mind.
Here's my future employer.
University of Rochester
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Kites and Poles
Today I went with my friend Shannon to a kite festival in Cazenovia, NY. It was a beautiful day with the perfect winds for kites. After we finished there we went to the annual Polish festival to listen to polka and eat pirogies and homemade sauerkraut. Mmmmm. Good stuff!!!
Pictures
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The last day of road tripping.
Today we went down to Ithaca before Jenny had to leave. Now I'm home and it's nappy nap time. Here's the last few pix.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
New England, Part Dos
Here's the next part. We crossed New Hampshire, stopping for the capitol, went up along the coast of Maine, then back down to Fort Constitution, Walden Pond and Minuteman Park. Ironically the memorial of war was peaceful and the memorial of conservation was loud and noisy...I also stalked a wild turkey hen and her chicks. Well, actually we sort of stalked each other. It was amusing really.
Pictures
Friday, June 13, 2008
3 Hour Tour
Actually it's more like a 3 day tour. Jen and I started out for New England this morning. We drove through the Adirondacks, crossed Lake Champlain by ferry, stopped at Ben & Jerry's factory, visited the Trapp Family Lodge and the Montpelier capital building. Now we're getting ready to sleep in White River Junction, VT. Here are today's pix.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Undies for Peace
This article confused me at first. As my cousin pointed out, they should have mentioned the superstition part first because without it, it just sounds a little pervy!
Myanmar
Myanmar
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Baklava Recipe
By popular demand...ok, Amanda's demand...
Melinda's Baklava.
Need:
2 quart saucepan
pastry brush
towel to cover phyllo dough between laying down the sheets
9x13 pan
Preheat oven to 350.
1 lb Phyllo dough, thawed and cut in half to fit a 9x13 pan.
1 c unsalted butter, melted (I use my small crockpot, works great)
In a small bowl, mix
1 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts (I like walnuts or pistachios)
3/4 c. finely chopped dates
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
Peel off 10 sheets of phyllo and place in buttered 13x9x2 inch pan brushing with butter after each second sheet. Spread with 1/3 of nut-date mixture.
Place 5 more phyllo sheets in pan, buttering after each one. Add 1/3 of nut-date mixture.
Place 6 more phyllo sheets in pan, buttering after each one. Add remaining nut-date mixture.
Top with remaining phyllo sheets, buttering after each one.
Cut into diamond shapes. Pour on remaining melted butter.
Bake at 350 Degrees for 30 minutes, then turn oven down to 300 degrees for 1 hour.
After turning oven down, mix:
2 c. sugar
3 c. water
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 stick of cinnamon
in a 3 quart saucepan and bring to a slight boil. Simmer on stove until baklava is ready to come out of the oven.
When baklava has reached a nice golden color, remove from the oven. Remove cinnamon stick from the syrup and mix in 1/2 cup of honey (I prefer mesquite honey) just before pouring the hot syrup over the baklava.
Cool and serve.
Melinda's Baklava.
Need:
2 quart saucepan
pastry brush
towel to cover phyllo dough between laying down the sheets
9x13 pan
Preheat oven to 350.
1 lb Phyllo dough, thawed and cut in half to fit a 9x13 pan.
1 c unsalted butter, melted (I use my small crockpot, works great)
In a small bowl, mix
1 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts (I like walnuts or pistachios)
3/4 c. finely chopped dates
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
Peel off 10 sheets of phyllo and place in buttered 13x9x2 inch pan brushing with butter after each second sheet. Spread with 1/3 of nut-date mixture.
Place 5 more phyllo sheets in pan, buttering after each one. Add 1/3 of nut-date mixture.
Place 6 more phyllo sheets in pan, buttering after each one. Add remaining nut-date mixture.
Top with remaining phyllo sheets, buttering after each one.
Cut into diamond shapes. Pour on remaining melted butter.
Bake at 350 Degrees for 30 minutes, then turn oven down to 300 degrees for 1 hour.
After turning oven down, mix:
2 c. sugar
3 c. water
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 stick of cinnamon
in a 3 quart saucepan and bring to a slight boil. Simmer on stove until baklava is ready to come out of the oven.
When baklava has reached a nice golden color, remove from the oven. Remove cinnamon stick from the syrup and mix in 1/2 cup of honey (I prefer mesquite honey) just before pouring the hot syrup over the baklava.
Cool and serve.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Zucchini Mushroom Lebanese-style Pies
bread dough (see earlier post for pizza dough recipe)
1 large zucchini, grated
4 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 Tbsp sumac
1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh oregano leaves
1. Divide dough into 24 balls; then cover with damp cloth. Allow to stand for 30 minutes in a warm place.
2. In the meantime, make filling by mixing remaining ingredients, except 3 tablespoons of olive oil; set aside.
3. Roll dough into 5 inch rounds (about 1/4 inch thick).
4. Place one heaping tablespoon of filling on each circle and fold over to make a half moon shape and firmly pinch edges together. Place on well-greased baking sheets and brush generously with remaining olive oil.
5. Bake in an oven preheated to 400 for about 20 minutes or until light brown.
6. Serve hot
Notes:
Sumac sounds all deadly and poisonous, but I buy mine from a local middle-eastern grocery store. (and there have been no food-related deaths as a result)
I like to use the Williams-Sonoma pizza crust recipe.
Also, for convenience can be made as one pie with the edges folded up like a rustic apple pie.
1 large zucchini, grated
4 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 Tbsp sumac
1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh oregano leaves
1. Divide dough into 24 balls; then cover with damp cloth. Allow to stand for 30 minutes in a warm place.
2. In the meantime, make filling by mixing remaining ingredients, except 3 tablespoons of olive oil; set aside.
3. Roll dough into 5 inch rounds (about 1/4 inch thick).
4. Place one heaping tablespoon of filling on each circle and fold over to make a half moon shape and firmly pinch edges together. Place on well-greased baking sheets and brush generously with remaining olive oil.
5. Bake in an oven preheated to 400 for about 20 minutes or until light brown.
6. Serve hot
Notes:
Sumac sounds all deadly and poisonous, but I buy mine from a local middle-eastern grocery store. (and there have been no food-related deaths as a result)
I like to use the Williams-Sonoma pizza crust recipe.
Also, for convenience can be made as one pie with the edges folded up like a rustic apple pie.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Good Times
I suppose Beth really does have a reason to fear the helium.
You've heard of the flying nun, but how about a flying father?
You've heard of the flying nun, but how about a flying father?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
This I believe
NPR has a series I love called This I Believe. This particular essay caught my attention as it's something I see so often in my work, something that makes me want to keep working.
This I Believe
Contributor: DENISE
Location: NEW HOPE, PA
Country: United States of America
I believe that I have learned a lot about how to live from people suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. I am a psychiatrist who has been practicing for nine years, and I have a clear memory of teaching a class to medical students when I was a young resident in training. The purpose of the class was to teach medical students how to examine a patient with mental illness. There were snacks provided and the med students immediately made a fast beeline for the food, gobbling-down most of it before the patient volunteers, many of whom were homeless, had chance to serve themselves. As the mental health clients picked through the remnants of the catering, I was struck when several of them called-out, “hey doc, you want some?!” before serving themselves. For several days after that, I continued to tell my colleagues how much more courteous and thoughtful my patients were than my students. I BELIEVE that many of the most humane actions often come from those whom society considers inhumane and that true generosity of the heart often comes from those who seemingly have the least to offer. I BELIEVE that those whom we idolize will often fall short of our expectations
As my career progressed, I realized that I would be reminded time and time again of how much we all can learn from those suffering with mental illness. My patient suffering from depression and low self-esteem said to me, “I want to be around bright and successful people, but they don’t want to be around negative and depressed people…and that’s who I am! I don’t blame them for not wanting to be friends with me…I wouldn’t!” I tried to tell her that nobody…nobody feels or acts bright and successful all of the time, but I knew that she wouldn’t believe me. In her mind I was the “too chipper psychiatrist that shit sugar and pooped candy hearts.” How could I possibly understand her negative hell..after all, I was just doing my job…I got PAID to tolerate her negative presence. At that moment I took a deep breath; do I remain in the upbeat, splenda’d mode of encouragement…or…do I BELIEVE that the truth will set us both free! I chose the latter. In fact, I said, “when we started seeing each other a year ago, you really irritated the heck out of me. Now, I realize that it ‘s not personal, you really are just miserable, but even though you feel this way, I must tell you, you are really quite funny and witty; I look forward seeing you each time we are scheduled to meet. I’m trying to help you, but I know that it’s going to take a long time and that we might fight. I believe that in spite of all of this misery and frustration, we can have a meaningful therapeutic relationship and learn from one another. I BELIEVE that misery not only loves company, but also wants to be confronted and put in its place.”
This I Believe
Contributor: DENISE
Location: NEW HOPE, PA
Country: United States of America
I believe that I have learned a lot about how to live from people suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. I am a psychiatrist who has been practicing for nine years, and I have a clear memory of teaching a class to medical students when I was a young resident in training. The purpose of the class was to teach medical students how to examine a patient with mental illness. There were snacks provided and the med students immediately made a fast beeline for the food, gobbling-down most of it before the patient volunteers, many of whom were homeless, had chance to serve themselves. As the mental health clients picked through the remnants of the catering, I was struck when several of them called-out, “hey doc, you want some?!” before serving themselves. For several days after that, I continued to tell my colleagues how much more courteous and thoughtful my patients were than my students. I BELIEVE that many of the most humane actions often come from those whom society considers inhumane and that true generosity of the heart often comes from those who seemingly have the least to offer. I BELIEVE that those whom we idolize will often fall short of our expectations
As my career progressed, I realized that I would be reminded time and time again of how much we all can learn from those suffering with mental illness. My patient suffering from depression and low self-esteem said to me, “I want to be around bright and successful people, but they don’t want to be around negative and depressed people…and that’s who I am! I don’t blame them for not wanting to be friends with me…I wouldn’t!” I tried to tell her that nobody…nobody feels or acts bright and successful all of the time, but I knew that she wouldn’t believe me. In her mind I was the “too chipper psychiatrist that shit sugar and pooped candy hearts.” How could I possibly understand her negative hell..after all, I was just doing my job…I got PAID to tolerate her negative presence. At that moment I took a deep breath; do I remain in the upbeat, splenda’d mode of encouragement…or…do I BELIEVE that the truth will set us both free! I chose the latter. In fact, I said, “when we started seeing each other a year ago, you really irritated the heck out of me. Now, I realize that it ‘s not personal, you really are just miserable, but even though you feel this way, I must tell you, you are really quite funny and witty; I look forward seeing you each time we are scheduled to meet. I’m trying to help you, but I know that it’s going to take a long time and that we might fight. I believe that in spite of all of this misery and frustration, we can have a meaningful therapeutic relationship and learn from one another. I BELIEVE that misery not only loves company, but also wants to be confronted and put in its place.”
Monday, March 24, 2008
Travel Warning
So Naomi Campbell says it's safe to travel in Kenya now.
This brings up several questions:
1. As a celebrity, she probably never ventures into the real Kenya, so how would she know?
2. Why would I look to her as the travel expert?
3. Is Kenya really safe with HER there?
This brings up several questions:
1. As a celebrity, she probably never ventures into the real Kenya, so how would she know?
2. Why would I look to her as the travel expert?
3. Is Kenya really safe with HER there?
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Fruit-Sausage Pizza
Tonight's pizza was a variation on a pizza that Scott and I made while we were in college.
On the pizza crust (recipe in the February 29 post) I spread a thin layer of room temperature
**cream cheese.
I cut into small pieces
**1 medium apple
**1/2 large pear
**3 Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patties
In a bowl, I mixed the above ingredients with about
** 3 ounces of sheep feta (add more if desired)
I spread the mixed ingredients onto the pizza and covered with a light sprinkling of
** sharp cheddar cheese (add more if desired)
Then baked the pizza at 400F for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Sorry Jonathan, I didn't take a picture of this one!
On the pizza crust (recipe in the February 29 post) I spread a thin layer of room temperature
**cream cheese.
I cut into small pieces
**1 medium apple
**1/2 large pear
**3 Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patties
In a bowl, I mixed the above ingredients with about
** 3 ounces of sheep feta (add more if desired)
I spread the mixed ingredients onto the pizza and covered with a light sprinkling of
** sharp cheddar cheese (add more if desired)
Then baked the pizza at 400F for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Sorry Jonathan, I didn't take a picture of this one!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Pizza
I've become pretty obsessed with pizza lately...and by lately I mean the last 2-3, oh maybe even 30 years. I've finally found a favorite crust recipe (which I'll include below) and now I'm experimenting to find toppings that up the health factor of pizza. Tonight I made a keeper.
I used my mandolin slicer on the thinnest setting to cut up:
**1 small zucchini &
**1/2 orange bell pepper
Then I chopped approximately:
**3 oz of fresh spinach &
**2 sprigs of fresh basil
into large pieces.
I mixed the vegetables in a large mixing bowl with approximately
**5 ounces of fresh sheep feta
and mix it up thoroughly using my hands.
Set the oven to preheat to 425F. After preparing the pizza dough (directions say to let it raise, but I never do) I press the dough out into a 12-inch pizza pan sprayed with olive oil pan spray. I brush the dough with olive oil I've infused with garlic, then dump and spread the vegetable mixture. It will be tall, but it cooks down.
Put in the center of the oven and turn the heat down to 400F. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until crust is nicely browned and vegetables are cooked.
Williams-Sonoma Pizza Crust (with my changes included)
1 T active dry yeast
3/4 c + 2 T lukewarm water
2 c of all-purpose flour
3/4 c of corn flour (can use all-purpose flour)
1 t of salt
Dissolve yeast in the water until the sponge (the foamy stuff) develops. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until thoroughly mixed into a good dough consistency.
The camera on my flash hasn't been working so in the picture below, the peppers are orange and the other vegetables are green. Use your imagination.
I used my mandolin slicer on the thinnest setting to cut up:
**1 small zucchini &
**1/2 orange bell pepper
Then I chopped approximately:
**3 oz of fresh spinach &
**2 sprigs of fresh basil
into large pieces.
I mixed the vegetables in a large mixing bowl with approximately
**5 ounces of fresh sheep feta
and mix it up thoroughly using my hands.
Set the oven to preheat to 425F. After preparing the pizza dough (directions say to let it raise, but I never do) I press the dough out into a 12-inch pizza pan sprayed with olive oil pan spray. I brush the dough with olive oil I've infused with garlic, then dump and spread the vegetable mixture. It will be tall, but it cooks down.
Put in the center of the oven and turn the heat down to 400F. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until crust is nicely browned and vegetables are cooked.
Williams-Sonoma Pizza Crust (with my changes included)
1 T active dry yeast
3/4 c + 2 T lukewarm water
2 c of all-purpose flour
3/4 c of corn flour (can use all-purpose flour)
1 t of salt
Dissolve yeast in the water until the sponge (the foamy stuff) develops. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until thoroughly mixed into a good dough consistency.
The camera on my flash hasn't been working so in the picture below, the peppers are orange and the other vegetables are green. Use your imagination.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Experimentation
I've heard many jokes about what happens to the children of psychologists, but this one turned out pretty well. It's a pretty long read, but an interesting experiment of the role of environment and really has nothing to do with his parents' professions.
Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Who'da Thunk?
These may be four of the most non-news stories of today.
What was that about bringing in fresh, young perspectives to Cuba?
We appreciate the seatbelts sir, but again? Really?
Sarkozy not only has a fun name to say, he says things newspapers have to put in "a mild English translation."
And then, the following story leads me to ask...what exactly is a fairy cake?
What was that about bringing in fresh, young perspectives to Cuba?
We appreciate the seatbelts sir, but again? Really?
Sarkozy not only has a fun name to say, he says things newspapers have to put in "a mild English translation."
And then, the following story leads me to ask...what exactly is a fairy cake?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Water for Africa
Tonight I was listening to the BBC Africa podcast as I was getting ready for bed. As you may know, W is touring Africa trying to salvage his image as he gives African countries a little more high-handed Western guidance (I'll tell you how I really feel a little later... ;) ) According to the reporter, Bush traveled to Arusha, Tanzania where he "hugged and kissed unsuspecting women and their children." He gave an "emphatic" speech, stating "I fully understand, like you do Mr. President (Kikwete), that this is a soluble problem." Technically, his word usage was correct although this is considered a rather archaic use of the word "soluble." My first thought was to make it go away, just add water. Water, ironically, is part of the problem when it comes to mosquitoes. Well crap, back to the drawing board on that one Mr. President.
And in other news, I've found one more reason to cancel my membership to the YMCA.
And in other news, I've found one more reason to cancel my membership to the YMCA.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Looking for a cheap cure?
This is interesting. Forget one of those fancy breathing machines, all you need is one of these obscure noise makers.
obscure instruments and sleep disorders
obscure instruments and sleep disorders
Now I don't have to use all those long distance minutes....
Want to lay one on the Wailing Wall? Try here.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
See!! The humerus is a funny bone!!
It's good to know a man with a broken arm is in charge of our defense, particularly when people like this are free in the world. Of course, I'm guessing he has no role in that kind of security , if any.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Graduation
My dissertation defense will soon be scheduled which is very exciting news. In a few short months, I will be Dr. Pearson! In the meantime, I still have a lot to do. I keep thinking I need to rework my blog page and so various other housekeeping things. One of them being to figure out what happened to my Countdown to Dr. Me timer. This is very important!
Back on the Kenya tangent, I came across a photographer living in the Mathare slum who blogs for AfricaNews.com. Here's a link.
Back on the Kenya tangent, I came across a photographer living in the Mathare slum who blogs for AfricaNews.com. Here's a link.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Kenya
A friend who lives in Nairobi keeps telling me not to believe the papers so I try to ignore the news even while obsessively checking the BBC: Africa and The Daily Nation. There seems to be more hope for a stable government, but in the meantime it's the stories like these that break my heart.
Elections: Children Pay a Heavy Price
Family Stuck with Three Little Angels
Elections: Children Pay a Heavy Price
Family Stuck with Three Little Angels
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
This Week in News
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Another mighty fine week is nearly over...
Half of that title is a lie, I'll let you figure out which half.
Today was my last day working at the day treatment school. I will miss assessing the kids. It was also cold today. I wish it would snow more because it is at least warmer with the snow. I have great sympathy for these kids even though I shouldn't condone their behavior!
And finally as a parting thought. I was always told rock music was harmful, but nobody warned me about reggaeton.
Today was my last day working at the day treatment school. I will miss assessing the kids. It was also cold today. I wish it would snow more because it is at least warmer with the snow. I have great sympathy for these kids even though I shouldn't condone their behavior!
And finally as a parting thought. I was always told rock music was harmful, but nobody warned me about reggaeton.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Catching up...
So I have been getting harassing phone calls and emails. Mostly about my severe lack of posting. So in an effort to catch everyone up, I’ll start with
September
I began my internship and spent most of the month visiting various rotations and learning the kagillion possible options for learning experiences. The last week of the month I learned that due to logistical limitations, most of the rotations wouldn’t be available to me. Got it figured out somehow and settled on the following rotations:
Doing psychological assessments and admission screenings on an inpatient adult unit. I’ve learned that my site has quite a museum collection of testing instruments, but few that have any contemporary meaning. I’m also learning the skill of assessing and collecting data from recent admits to inpatient. It’s always a treat to ask someone what led to their admission and find out the Jesus was spying through the Syracuse telephone lines.
Adult outpatient. Two days a week I see clients for therapy or intakes. After four years of being taught to value the client and take the time to get to know them before diagnosing them, I’m learning to eye them up and down and assign them a code and send them on their way. Ok, not really, but with only a half an hour to determine what’s going on with them, it sure feels that way. The therapy sessions are a little better although I haven’t done much therapy with the severe and persistently mentally ill before.
Children’s day treatment school. Here I get to assess kids to determine their emotional, intellectual, and cognitive functioning. I’ve never worked with kids before and it’s so much fun. I’ve always had a special place for the children who are extremely oppositional. At the same time, still don’t want to deal with parents so no matter what skills I have in this area, not going to practice them much.
Administrative rotation. This is the super cool one. I’m helping with the redevelopment of the psychological autopsy procedure at my site. I’d never heard of this before, but I find it a fascinating task. The downside is I keep having the disturbing feeling of slight excitement when someone suicides. I’ll have to come to terms with that somehow.
A nice thing is that I get along well with the other interns and we’ve helped each other survive so far this year.
October
I honestly don’t really remember October that much. Good or bad, I have no idea
November
Fall Pix
November 2 I totaled Blondie. I still don’t know what happened exactly but there may have been black ice on the bridge. It involved me spinning around and around. The downside is that I lost my beloved first car, but the upside is I have a new to me car named Mable that starts every time, stays running while I’m driving down the highway, came with studded snow tires as well as new all weather tires and I also learned to empathize with people who have fears as I still have a very hard time going over the bridge where the accident happened. The bad news is that Blondie will no longer chase coyotes through meadows.
For my 30th birthday, Cassie threw me a birthday party which was great fun. She also gave me a cheery red crock pot that I’ve been using all winter to make soups. So much fun!
December
Winter Pix
I promised my dissertation advisor I’d have a rough draft to her by the beginning of the year (oops.) I had made up my mind that travel was too expensive to go home for Christmas when a coworker of my mother’s gave me airline miles to come home and booked me a ticket from Buffalo. I had to get over my fear of driving on highways and drive the two and a half hours there. I came back for new years and spent the evening with friends alternately playing games and panicking over the violence in Kenya.
January
Well, I feel as if January just started, but it is more than half over. I received a nice email from the school telling me I didn’t have enough credits to graduate. I’m still trying to figure out that royal screw-up.
To sum things up, I found a very important article on some research done in Great Britian Don't Bring in the Clowns
And a very cute picture
September
I began my internship and spent most of the month visiting various rotations and learning the kagillion possible options for learning experiences. The last week of the month I learned that due to logistical limitations, most of the rotations wouldn’t be available to me. Got it figured out somehow and settled on the following rotations:
Doing psychological assessments and admission screenings on an inpatient adult unit. I’ve learned that my site has quite a museum collection of testing instruments, but few that have any contemporary meaning. I’m also learning the skill of assessing and collecting data from recent admits to inpatient. It’s always a treat to ask someone what led to their admission and find out the Jesus was spying through the Syracuse telephone lines.
Adult outpatient. Two days a week I see clients for therapy or intakes. After four years of being taught to value the client and take the time to get to know them before diagnosing them, I’m learning to eye them up and down and assign them a code and send them on their way. Ok, not really, but with only a half an hour to determine what’s going on with them, it sure feels that way. The therapy sessions are a little better although I haven’t done much therapy with the severe and persistently mentally ill before.
Children’s day treatment school. Here I get to assess kids to determine their emotional, intellectual, and cognitive functioning. I’ve never worked with kids before and it’s so much fun. I’ve always had a special place for the children who are extremely oppositional. At the same time, still don’t want to deal with parents so no matter what skills I have in this area, not going to practice them much.
Administrative rotation. This is the super cool one. I’m helping with the redevelopment of the psychological autopsy procedure at my site. I’d never heard of this before, but I find it a fascinating task. The downside is I keep having the disturbing feeling of slight excitement when someone suicides. I’ll have to come to terms with that somehow.
A nice thing is that I get along well with the other interns and we’ve helped each other survive so far this year.
October
I honestly don’t really remember October that much. Good or bad, I have no idea
November
Fall Pix
November 2 I totaled Blondie. I still don’t know what happened exactly but there may have been black ice on the bridge. It involved me spinning around and around. The downside is that I lost my beloved first car, but the upside is I have a new to me car named Mable that starts every time, stays running while I’m driving down the highway, came with studded snow tires as well as new all weather tires and I also learned to empathize with people who have fears as I still have a very hard time going over the bridge where the accident happened. The bad news is that Blondie will no longer chase coyotes through meadows.
For my 30th birthday, Cassie threw me a birthday party which was great fun. She also gave me a cheery red crock pot that I’ve been using all winter to make soups. So much fun!
December
Winter Pix
I promised my dissertation advisor I’d have a rough draft to her by the beginning of the year (oops.) I had made up my mind that travel was too expensive to go home for Christmas when a coworker of my mother’s gave me airline miles to come home and booked me a ticket from Buffalo. I had to get over my fear of driving on highways and drive the two and a half hours there. I came back for new years and spent the evening with friends alternately playing games and panicking over the violence in Kenya.
January
Well, I feel as if January just started, but it is more than half over. I received a nice email from the school telling me I didn’t have enough credits to graduate. I’m still trying to figure out that royal screw-up.
To sum things up, I found a very important article on some research done in Great Britian Don't Bring in the Clowns
And a very cute picture
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