tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87787699800421026122024-08-29T00:48:27.231-04:00Everything and moreThis blog is about everything that comes to mind and possibly more than that.makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-83986257895536519642011-11-15T11:24:00.000-05:002011-11-15T11:24:21.966-05:00Avoiding responsibilityAn awesome psychologist who has extensive experience with abusive people listed the four ways in which abusers avoid taking responsibility for their actions. These same excuses are also used by teens, and in light of my previous post, I list them here:
1. Denial (I didn't do it)
2. Distortion (it didn't happen that way)
3. Minimalization (it wasn't as bad as that)
4. Blame others (she made me makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-91362266931487252392011-11-14T19:19:00.005-05:002011-11-14T19:35:13.452-05:00Parenting challengesToday I'm a little down, so I return to this blog to find comfort, if nothing else. Blogging has never failed me yet. Parenting a teenager. Who'd have thought it would be so challenging? Certainly not me. I wasn't exactly a model kid growing up, I didn't expect it to be easy. But I have to say, I cannot relate to my 15-year old. He lives in a world I'm unfamiliar with, and is subjected to peer makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-70665688790192973512011-10-05T23:02:00.002-04:002011-10-05T23:02:48.548-04:00Steve JobsiSadmakitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-24099976780363535482011-08-03T10:15:00.000-04:002011-08-03T10:15:43.139-04:00FragileYesterday, my neighbor died in a fiery crash. I didn't know him well, but I met him and his young son sometimes at the mailbox. And I often waved as he went for walks with his family, or when he was mowing the lawn.
makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-23961227203640180172011-07-05T16:15:00.000-04:002011-07-05T16:15:31.511-04:00AnonymityOne of the reasons that I'm not writing as much of late is that I've been wondering about where to take this blog (if anywhere). I want to say more about what I'm doing, especially with respect to science, but that does take away any hope of staying (relatively) anonymous.
For a number of complicated reasons, I was uncomfortable revealing more about my identity, but some of those reasons are makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-64580876850118408072011-07-05T10:55:00.001-04:002011-07-09T23:31:48.075-04:00Makita's Soap opera: House Renovation Projects. Pilot episodeIf you read my biographical blurb, you might have thought I was exagerating the carpenter and electrician parts of it. In a few posts, I'm about to provide some more detail. It all started about 5 years ago when we purchased the house.
The house was in decent livable shape when we bought. We liked the neighborhood, the backyard. Not so much the kitchen, and the fans weren't exactly to our taste makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-33689713285435669572011-07-05T10:18:00.001-04:002011-07-05T15:15:52.030-04:00Proloquo2Go updateI probably sound like a broken record, but I can hardly believe it's been so long since I've posted an update on our use of the communication software for iPod and iPad Proloquo2Go. I posted a response a while ago on this blogpost by Sam Flatow.
I wanted to elaborate here. Instead of responding to his (not entirely invalid) criticism on spending a arguably very large sum of money on iPads for makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-73263440856345062602011-03-06T13:09:00.003-05:002011-03-06T14:48:35.363-05:00QuoteOn ScienceFriday (February 18, 2011)
Nina Federoff:
“You know the biggest problem is that those of us who love science and who do it as a way of life are most persuaded by something we call the weight of the evidence. But for somebody who [..] doesn’t have a science background, sometimes they think this is just another point of view. It’s very had to bridge that gap.”
Ira Flatow:
“[..] makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-13479448186304822302011-03-02T20:19:00.000-05:002011-03-02T20:19:12.128-05:00So who is responsible?Aha!! I have a reason to write a blog post!! Are you sitting down? Do you have a fire extinguisher ready?
On the news I heard that a child pornographer had been caught. Good news, right? But wait.... the sheriff of the county in question explains how to limit incidences of child pornography. He explains that it's really important for children to live in close-knit, loving, caring families, so makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-54110576968559227102011-02-20T12:23:00.000-05:002011-02-20T12:23:24.829-05:00Cuttlefish strikes againThe Digital Cuttlefish is right. Again. And he has an even harder job than I do, since I don't (even try to) rhyme. There are lots of ideas for post, but it's often hard to find the energy. I'm not ready to give up though!
makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-51222635272989507752010-12-03T08:33:00.000-05:002010-12-03T08:33:24.690-05:00528Yesterday afternoon I happened to glance at my car's display around 5:28 pm, and noticed that I had driven 452.8 miles on the current tank of gas at an average fuel economy of 52.8 mpg.makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-91285928542469371992010-11-06T15:47:00.000-04:002010-11-06T15:47:42.827-04:00Proloquo2goProloquo2Go will soon be the latest rage in Makita's household.
F1-2 is totally, entirely non-verbal, which isn't exactly easy. Not being able to speak is not the same as not having anything to say.
F1-2 (like his parents) is often frustrated when he clearly has something to say, and we don't understand him. A few things have recently come together to allow us to take a gigantic leap in our makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-24467671992024636262010-10-21T08:37:00.001-04:002010-10-21T08:42:31.741-04:00A meme!It's time for a meme! I can't remember the last time I did one, so it's definitely time. I saw this one on Academic Ecology this morning, so let me get started:
1. What is your favorite word? Love
2. What is your least favorite word? Hate
3. What turns you on? Humor. Nothing more sexy than a funny guy (hi P1!!)
4. What turns you off? Lies. Ugh, the mere thought of a lie makes me shiver.
5. What makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-69839860839094581452010-10-21T08:30:00.002-04:002010-10-21T09:02:30.170-04:00Update on Makita's lifeI haven't been posting much lately. Things have generally been going well, so there isn't much to complain about. Exceptions:
1. Our beloved cat had to be euthanized last week. A big hit for the entire family, she was a fairly young (6 years) kitty and she was a valuable member of our household. We're all devastated.
2. My plans to get the new Leaf feel through when my 12-year old car developedmakitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-82508882288104391852010-10-14T08:39:00.000-04:002010-10-14T08:39:07.752-04:00The sound of science
HT to Brandonmakitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-75567209239126130382010-08-01T08:26:00.000-04:002010-08-01T08:26:49.604-04:00WTF?A postdoc (PD) in our lab was using another lab to do a particular technique that we're not well-equipped for. Such lab-sharing is not uncommon. PD asked a postdoc (SH) in the other lab to point out the location of the hazardous waste container. SH asked if s/he would be made co-author on the paper if s/he did so. PD stared at SH, turned around and returned to our lab.
I had worked briefly with makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-18714776977400811292010-07-23T14:43:00.000-04:002010-07-23T14:43:22.109-04:00Conversations in the labOne of the post-docs in our lab says to our boss:
"I'm going to be in this other lab around the corner. I'm going to fix my tissue"
The boss (never missing a beat): "Why? Is it broken?"makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-17187199473296480782010-07-18T10:01:00.006-04:002010-07-18T12:20:45.899-04:00DroolNext month, I will have my current car for 12 years. And my beloved little car is sure showing it's age. It's become very obvious that her days are numbered. We just bought a car last year, so we're not looking forward to do it again any time soon. Sadly, the choice may not be up to us. I've been very, very happy with my '98 Nissan Sentra. It's been reliable, low cost, a true pleasure to drive, makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-82472592643929486672010-07-13T19:19:00.000-04:002010-07-13T19:19:40.547-04:00Gotta bragDid I mention I *heart* my boss? He went to TAM8 this past weekend and brought me back a present. I'll be up all night reading. Are you jealous yet?
makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-7745482342038705612010-05-05T00:44:00.000-04:002010-05-05T00:44:09.408-04:00Believe in an afterlife?Late night tv commercial:
...if you've taken this or that medication and you've experienced one of the following: symptom1, symptom2, symptom3, or sudden death, please call the number on your screen.makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-11658931040349324912010-05-04T20:40:00.000-04:002010-05-04T20:40:23.629-04:00There's a lot more going on in there than we knowMy son, F1-2, has special needs. He is completely non-verbal, he makes some sounds, but if they mean anything in particular, I don't understand his language. Over the past year or so he's made tremendous progress in communication by using pictures. Specifically, the PECS system of communication. We have a board with velcro strips on the wall, and the pictures stick to the board. If he wants makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-30269670176628966322010-04-22T09:14:00.001-04:002010-04-25T11:12:12.274-04:00Congratulations!!To my dear friend Joyce,who is Dr. Joyce now! Way to go Joyce, I knew you would finish up!makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-5212321752103035192010-03-22T14:16:00.000-04:002010-03-22T14:16:25.606-04:00Panic mode!Hi, I'm back! Remember how I didn't post much because I didn't have anything to complain about? Ok, here's a post. Well, not really a complaint, but I'm officially in panic mode, and it's my own fault.
I love, love, love my postdoc job. And I love, love, love my boss. In a he's the smartest-most-dedicated-best boss in the world kind of way. Of all the things I like about him, I think his best makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-13105123752549587012010-02-09T09:43:00.000-05:002010-02-09T09:43:01.673-05:00On the playgroundF1-3 talked about her day at "school" last week. School means daycare.
F1-3: We played at the swings today.
Makita: Oh. Was that fun?
F1-3: Yeah, we were pushing each other and talking and laughing.
Makita: What were you talking about?
F1-3: Joey was using potty-words. That's not allowed in my school. But he was doing it anyway, and it was very funny. So we were laughing.
Typical. She's knows makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778769980042102612.post-84634734573224702852010-02-07T14:43:00.001-05:002010-02-07T17:02:38.530-05:00Some things never changeThis post is part of the virtual baby shower for Sciencegirl . After 3 kids, one of which has special needs, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on kids. Of course, my kids go out of their way to prove how arrogant that is of me. They never fail to come up with something that makes me think: "now how do I deal with this!"
So, I guess that's the first thing I want to share with Sciencegirl. makitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946226160704777285noreply@blogger.com1