Guest Blog: Walking the Line Between Good and Evil: The Common Thread of Heroes and Villains

Guest Blog: Walking the Line Between Good and Evil: The Common Thread of Heroes and Villains
There is a really fine line between good and evil. This is a great article about binary opposites which are not always on opposite ends of the spectrum of good and evil. One mans, or woman's, hero is another's archenemy. So is it possible to turn a villain into a hero? Here is the science into doing it.

Peanut allergy stirs controversy at Florida school | Reuters

Peanut allergy stirs controversy at Florida school | Reuters
This is interesting, given the medias reputation, I will take this with a 'grain of salt.' However, if it is true, it makes you wonder. Especially what one parent said, "If I had a daughter who had a problem, I would not ask everyone else to change their lives to fit my life," said Chris Burr. Really? If it was your child? I don't have children, but if I did I certainly would want them to have the best education possible and I certainly wouldn't want to limit them in any way. Personally, I would have NO problems asking for accommodations.
Another interesting thing is parents are only concerned with ‘their’ inconvenience, has anyone bothered to asked the students?

Why ancient Mayan communities were 'living on the edge' of what is now a massive wetland

Why ancient Mayan communities were 'living on the edge' of what is now a massive wetland
Damn! This one of reasons I wish I could go to the SAA meetings April 1 in Sacramento, Calif.!

Science of the Soul - Associated Producers Ltd.

Science of the Soul - Associated Producers Ltd.
I just saw “Science of the Soul” on the History Channel; I plan to recommend it to my student in my anthropology class. I also plan to buy it as soon as it becomes available. It combined anthropology, history, psychology, science, and robotics to investigates whether there is a soul and if so, can it be quantified or measured. It started with analysis of current studies into reincarnation, in particular studies made on very young children past life experiences. Of particular interest to me the anthropologist, it covered how various cultures viewed the ‘soul,’ and how medicine and ethnomedicine are studying very nature of consciousness through altered states of consciousness that both anesthesiologist Dr. Hameroff and shaman in the jungles of Peru first-hand experiences. The documentary also examines current studies into infant states of mind and self-identity, near-death experiences, artificial intelligence, and robots all to address the age-old question “is there a soul?”

For Women Seeking to Advance in Academe, Advice From 4 Who Made It to the Top - Leadership & Governance - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Good advise...
Be on powerful committees that control money.
Avoid petty disputes.
And always have the last word.

Islam and the Lagging Economies of the Arab World: newyorker.com

I found this interesting article on cultural/religious reasons behind the current state of the Middle East, it reflects a twist on how culture shapes politics. Do you aree?

Islam and the Lagging Economies of the Arab World: newyorker.com

RSA Animate - Language as a Window into Human Nature

My first post will be this video, what can I say I liked it.