Sacred Disorder | Cliff Bostock's blog – 'Finally, I came to regard as sacred the disorder of my mind' (Rimbaud)
Stanley Fish: applied psychology can never be clean
In his most recent “Think Again” column for the New York Times, Stanley Fish takes up the news that the American Psychological Association, after a year of intense internal conflict, has adopted a resolution that forbids members to participate in interrogation techniques (torture) at US detention centers. This follows prohibitions long established by the American […]
It’s not their fault
Ted Haggard and Mark Foley are both back in the news this week, both blaming childhood experiences for their sexual behavior. Foley told the AP that a sexual encounter with a priest at 12 is at the root of his sexual flirtation with Congressional pages: “I loved my early life, and then along comes a […]
Say good-bye to bad memories
Neuroscience is eclipsing psychology. A new study, from the Chinese, reports on experiments that may lead to a “treatment” for traumatic memories — effectively detaching the emotional intensity from the narrative itself, perhaps permanently, through a single treatment. The article, weirdly, does not take up how this might affect the incidence or treatment of post-traumatic […]
High-speed Internet service for all!
Yet another way America remains behind much of the industrialized world is access to high-speed Internet service. Incredibly, we’re 22nd in the world in that respect — yet another reason our population grows more uninformed. Now, in a little reported decision (probably because it occurred on election day), the FCC has authorized a change that […]
MoDo goes dodo over sex again
I have a love-hate relationship with Maureen Dowd, the longtime New York Times columnist. The hate days are beginning to outnumber the love days. In her column today, she wrote this: How could the White House be classy when the Clintons were turning it into Motel 1600 for fund-raising, when Bill Clinton was using it […]
Of racism, food, memory and Obama’s victory
I spent 2.5 hours waiting to vote yesterday. I was surprised to see that my Grant Park polling place was selling an assortment of processed junk food and soft drinks Although, I saw nobody buying the stuff, I was glad to know that if my blood sugar fell during the wait, help was nearby. I […]
Stretching sucks
Being fanatical about exercise and having endured some serious injuries from lifting weights, I’ve learned a good bit about what’s helpful and what’s not in the gym. I’m not, however, the sort of person to give uninvited advice. But I will sometimes “share information.” About six months ago, I saw someone engaging in a lot […]
Woman remains tranquil while interviewing snake
I don’t watch TV. It’s nothing elitist; I’ve just never been into it, even as a child. I know I miss a lot. I do however listen to the radio in my car, mainly Air America, and I long ago chose (Dr.) Rachel Maddow as my favorite host there. She now has her own TV […]
Police harassment of gays: blaming the reporter and the victim
Ever since sodomy became legal, the police have had to dream up new harassment charges against gay men who dare to behave sexually outside the home. The New York police have been hard at work seducing gay men in video stores, then offering them money for sex and then, whether they accept the money or […]