A Slice of Great Television
So...it's been a while since I've shared a random thought. Seems like there hasn't been any time for thoughts without specific purpose. However, I just wanted to share that there is a really great show on TV right now which is NOT like the shows Ryan highlighted in his commentary. Pushing Daisies has quickly become my favorite television show...I think on my all time list it comes in third place after 1) Northern Exposure and 2) The Wonder Years. If you haven't checked out this quirky, visually stunning show yet, please give it a try. I hate it when the quality shows are cancelled because they don't find their audience. But who can help but love a show with a detective who knits, a guy who can't pet his dog, a pie shop worker who occasionally bursts into song, and a returned-from-the-dead main character with synchronize-swimming-star aunts?? If you're looking for a laugh...you won't be disappointed!
For our last class of the semester (before we begin our Sunday Morning episodes), I thought it would be a good time for us to reflect on a topic we addressed during our very first meeting...stress. Many of you have suggested that you are dealing with a lot of stress right now. While I hope that our Complaint Choir exercise will help release some of these frustrations, I'd also like us to think about an approach to dealing with stress that is becoming more popular...Mindfulness Meditation. What is the science behind this approach? What are its applications? Is Mindfulness for everyone? Can we really reduce stress simply by being here, now?
As usually is the case, when you stop looking for something, you find it. This week on Sunday Morning, Bill Geist showcased a fascinating phenomenon...
Although it is hard to imagine, this semester is quickly coming to a close. I hope that you have all enjoyed your first few months as Allgheny students and that you are looking forward to the next few years on our campus. Throughout the semester, I hope that I have encouraged you to be curious, responsive, proactive, "reckless", and reflective during your time here. I certainly have enjoyed getting to know each of you and have been proud to see each of you become more open and involved in the classroom. I know it has been difficult for many of you, but to truly be successful here at Allegheny, having the ability and courage to share your thoughts and questions is a vital skill...no matter what classes you take. I hope that you will continue to push yourselves and extend your comfort zone. 
Although this is a little late, I just wanted to share some follow-up information regarding the Cognitive Group meeting from November 2nd. Specifically, we discussed the myth regarding the idea that the meaning of words should not be allowed to change. Instead, we talked about the flexibility that is inherent in language and how change is an inevitable outcome for any viable language. Although common ground (and common meaning) is important for successful communication, language must also be able to grow and adapt to meet the needs of its users. Most of the time, change in language happens slowly enough that we don't notice it; other times, language change comes blazing in with a bang in the forms of new slang (although often it seems these words can also die a sudden death). Overall, however, the community that uses the language does a pretty good job in understanding one another.
I really enjoyed our discussion about dreams from the Sunday Morning episode and hope that the reading on dreams and creativity helped deepen our understanding about dreams. I think there is a natural inclination to think of dreams as indicators of the subconscious (thanks, Freud!) and that we are extremely vulnerable to self-fulfilling prophecies when it comes to trying to interpret our dreams. However, I think research in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience has helped to reveal the very real impact that dreams can have on memory, learning, creativity, and problem solving. I think the biggest benefit to these processes is that, during dreaming, we don't (can't?) impose our normal, well-learned perspective on the world to what we are seeing and feeling. Perhaps this is why we are free to make connections in our dreams that we never would have seen (or allowed ourselves to see) in our waking lives.
Ealier this semester, we listened to a Podcast produced by Julia, Lexie, and Will about the determinants of intelligence. We followed this with a recent article from Scientific American Mind further examining this complex issue. Specifically, we learned about how most IQ tests consider theoretical, abstract processing over more practical problem solving activities that fostered survival in the recent past. We also learned that, despite massive gains in IQ over the last decade (i.e., the Flynn Effect), there really are no noticeable differences between high school graduates across generations. Instead, what seems to change is the rate at which basic, cognitive skills are acquired...children today are simply acquiring these skills more quickly. Finally, we considered the interaction between genes and environment in determining intelligence...one popular idea is that our natural (genetic) dispositions propel us into certain environmental contexts in which we find more resources to help develop these skills. This theory took me back to the research highlighted in our Podcast...self-determination, perhaps, could be an equalizer in terms of openning up access to resources for students who wouldn't have "naturally" gained admittance into these environments. 
I think some common themes in class this week were living passionately, having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, and being tenaciously persistant in pursuing your goals. With all the pressures we are under on a daily basis (academic, social, familial), it is so easy to become disconnected from ourselves...we stop listening to the voice of our spirit...we don't have time to reflect on who we are, and what we want to do with the precious, relatively short time we have in this world. To look outside (or BE outside) and see the beautiful blue sky, the vibrant colors of the trees, and to think about how very lucky we are to have this momemt, to breathe this breath, and to have the opportunity to do something useful with our lives.