Today is a federal holiday. Officially, it is Washington’s Birthday. As the federal Office of Personnel Management states: This holiday is designated as “Washington’s Birthday” in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments …
February 2013 archive
Feb 17
Massachusetts Disability/Autism Advocates Update on Legislation
I am a member of the AANE Advocacy Committee, and that committee is now following a fairly large number of bills that are before the Massachusetts General Court. Two of the bills are ones that we helped introduce (description and links at the end of this post). These and three others have been designated as …
Feb 15
Protect Our Benefits: Ask Your Member of Congress to Sign This Letter to the President
Dear President Obama: We join millions of Americans in applauding your Inaugural Address declaration that “we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.” Democrats have built the most popular government programs in American history – including …
Feb 10
Double Delight at Jiminy
I had a doubly wonderful experience today at Jiminy Peak. The conditions were absolutely spectacular. The only things I didn’t like were the crowds (well, it was a weekend, after all, which I usually avoid, but the forecast for tomorrow is for yuck — the “r” word-that-shall-not-be-spoken), and the pesky clumps of white fluffy stuff …
Feb 09
What Modern Technology Tells Us About Two Famous 19th-Century Brains
Maria Konnikova has posted a fascinating account of how recent brain scans of two preserved brains (one from 1861) has expanded our understanding of Broca’s aphasia. Along the way, she tells the story of the origins of what is today called cognitive neuroscience. In 2007, a team of researchers led by Nina Dronkers, at the …
Feb 03
RESCHEDULED! Reception for Ed Markey in the Berkshires for Tuesday, February 19
I am supporting Ed Markey in his bid to become the next US Senator from Massachusetts. He has a sterling track record on environmental issues and and has values and positions that are consonant with mine. I think his candidacy will appeal to Berkshire voters. Ed will be in Pittsfield on Friday, February …
Feb 02
Ari Ne’eman: Stop blaming the ‘other’
A wonderful interview with Ari Ne’eman. He gives thoughtful, well-reasoned, and fact-based answers to questions about the false link between mental health and violent acts. A must read! He talks to Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi about the Newtown shooting and the role of mental illness in the US gun control debate.