Julius Caesar, and the Roman Empire Couldn’t conquer the blue sky… Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you Neil & Tim Finn (Crowded House) Not sure how it’s been in your corner of the world, but I can state with absolute certainty that the weather over the past four months has been [...]
Category Archives: Human
On Mona Lisa, Leo Kottke and Van Morrison
When I dabble with paint, my mind’s eye envisages an accurate reproduction of the Mona Lisa. When I pick up my guitar, I imagine myself being able to caress it the way that Leo Kottke can (if you have never heard of Leo Kottke, get yourself one of his CDs, and relish in his authority [...]
The Big Wet One versus the Horizontal Mambo
How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said. – Victor Hugo -
The Enigma of Santa Claus or The Puzzle of Altruism
Those of you non-scientific types out there probably don’t know this (and maybe you don’t care, either), but Santa Claus is an enigma to the scientific community interested in determining the causes of behavior. Actually, to borrow a more eloquent quote from Churchill, Santa is a “riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” I [...]
Trick or Treat: The Psychology of Superstition
I’m a big fan of this time of year. No, not fall, Halloween. I like Halloween because it’s got something for everyone. Kids, of course, get to dress up however they want, perform low-level acts of mischief, and get rewarded for it. Adults who want to relive their childhoods can also don silly get-ups if [...]
Pills, Parlance and Plasticity
I have a love-hate relationship with my friend, and fellow Douglas blogger, Cam Zacchia. I hate Cam because he writes infinitely more interesting blogs then I do. I love him because he doesn’t brag about it.I also appreciate Cam because he stimulates my cerebral cortex. Cam loves to pose interesting questions. I wish I had [...]
It depends: The difference between stigma and wisdom
As an academic, I cherish debate and reflection. Of course, it is one thing to be challenged by someone who may have some reservations about my views about the mind-body debate or my thoughts about when and where the Habs will bring home cup number 25. To be questioned on your personal beliefs takes us [...]
Stigma and mental illness: The Joy of Cooking
For those of you who may have become accustomed to a more light-hearted treatment of issues related to mental health: You may want to skip this entry. Why? Because I’m mad as hell and I don’t want to take it anymore. The source of my disaffection? The results of a survey commissioned by the Canadian [...]
Narrow minds and broad waists
When I was a graduate student I was on a bus boarded by a middle aged gentleman wearing a baseball cap that boldly announced: Middle age is when your broad mind and narrow waist begin to change places. Now that my waist (but hopefully not my mind) has grown to approximate this description, I thought [...]
Hockey Night in Cranium: This is your Brain on Hockey
Let me take you back to Monday, April 21st, game 7 Boston vs. Montreal. I want to try and describe your cerebral activity through the day. Two caveats before proceeding: My doctoral supervisor always told me that I should speak about the things that I know, and not the things I am ignorant of. As [...]
