Noam Chomsky introduced by Amy Goodman: Obama Administration and The U.S. Foreign Policy

Date: March 6th, 2010 @ Noon
Venue: Harvard Memorial Church

Day of Action

…protests across the country billed as a “Day of Action” spotlighted severe cuts in education that have struck schools from coast to coast…

“Money for jobs and education, not war and incarceration.”

The Prison Economy

Budget Priorities: Education vs. Incarceration

First year that the 50 states combined spent more on building prisons than colleges: 1995

Number of state universities built in California, 1984-1994: 1
Number of prisons built in California, 1984-1994: 21

Increase in corrections spending in New York between 1984 and 1994: $761 million
Decrease in spending on state colleges and universities in New York between 1984 and 1994: $615 million

Average percent increase in state spending on higher education, 1985-2000: 29%
Average percent increase in state spending on corrections, 1985-2000: 175%

Number of African-American men in prison or jail, 2000: 602,900
Number of African-American men in higher education, 2000: 603,032

Increase in African-American male prison population, 1980-2000: 460,000
Increase in African-American male higher education population, 1980-2000: 139,293

This page is an excerpt from The Prison Index: Taking the Pulse of the Crime Control Industry (2003) by Peter Wagner, published by the Western Prison Project and the Prison Policy Initiative.

Microsoft TAG: LinkedIn Profile

Concilience in the Making

In relation to the study of cognitive development, neuroscience research can be described as providing consilience: the agreement of two or more inductions drawn from different sets of data. In other words, neuroscience research has linked the biological mechanisms that have been described by cognitive psychologists—which have been either ignored or controversial within the medical community. The research results are promising; besides being implemental in understanding the relationship of experience and brain plasticity, neuroscience research has demonstrated its capacity to detect problems before they are exhibited through observable behavior.

‘Natures’ Love Affair with ‘Nurture’

Biology is inextricable linked to psychology; in fact, the two should be united rather than divided.  Furthermore, the idea of nature vs. nurture is a fallacy and should be regarded as senescent: derived from the Latin word senex, meaning “advanced in age” or “growing old.”  Contemporary models, have begun to demonstrate the interpenetration of culture and biology in human development. Some researchers have begun to conceptualize the culture-brain interaction frameworks, however, real progress will not be made until two requirements are met: (1) multiple disciplines convergence (i.e., consilience) and (2) measurement and analysis at different levels occur.

Suicide Prevention 101

OBJECTIVES

• Gain a general understanding of the impact of suicide in the United States.
• Have an understanding of the connection between mental illness and suicide.
• Be able to recognize warning signs of suicide.
• Have an understanding of how to help a suicidal individual.
• Be able to list community and national resources that can help a suicidal individual.

PRESENTATION (click here)

Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

The present study advances the empirical analysis of psilocybin use, mystical experiences, and schizophrenia…

PRESENTATION (click here)

 

The Ecology of Memes

Cultural evolution and genetic evolution possess many qualities and characteristics that are very similar. Both must obey the rules of natural selection and most importantly be successful replicators. Memes are present in today’s culture because culture is merely a compilation of memes.  Today’s society is equipped with many different avenues for cultural transmission, such as language, newspapers, television, and the World Wide Web. These innovations have allowed novel memes to replicate and old memes to ‘stay alive.’ However some view cultural evolution as strictly characteristic of humans and animal culture as interesting oddities. On the other hand, others believe culture is prevalent throughout the animal kingdom. This paper is a review of literature that addresses certain issues associated with the concept of memes. A descriptive example of a novel meme will be reviewed and the question of genetic determinism

The Formation of a Dominance Hierarchy in Early Adolescent Males: Influences on Behavior

Adolescence is a period associated with biological and social changes that may affect or be affected by the formation of a dominance hierarchy. A dominance hierarchy may also be influential in aiding the identity process for group members. Hence, one’s status and ongoing physiological changes associated with dominance status could help establish the development of a self-concept. The purpose of this paper is to examine dominance hierarchies in adolescent males and present evidence that supports the conclusion that the hierarchy can induce or reduce