OK, this is another one of history’s unlearned lessons.
It would really be quite sad, if it were not so funny – and vice versa…
The lesson of the ‘Trojan Horse’:
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Learning from history…
July 4, 2008 — xanthippaIn the past, I have ranted on about how it is not enough to learn from history, but how we must actually learn the right lesson from it.
Perhaps I was just a little too eager…
Perhaps it would be asking way too much for people to learn even the most literal, obvious lessons from history…
My ideas on the lessons from history was turned upside down from the boys down under…
Big Brother is watching….you make a video?!?!?
June 2, 2008 — xanthippaMore and more of our life is being caught on surveilence cameras. Most of us don’t like it, but are willing to put up with it in the name of ‘security’.
The UK, in particular, has more of its streets ‘protected’ by cameras owned by one level of government or another…. 13 million CCTV’s, if one is to believe the reports. Surely, there must be some more use for them than simply to employ bureaucrats to manage all these video records!
Well, perhaps there is. ‘The Get Out Clause’, an unsigned band from Manchester, had a brilliant idea.
They needed to make a video. They had no video equipment….perhapt the taxes were so high, their ‘take-home’ pay was just too small. What to do, what to do….
Well, they DID pay (at least, partially) for some of these public cameras, right? So, they should get some value out of them, right?
And they surely did!
The only catch? They had to use the ‘Freedom to Information Act’ to get their footage….
Still, if you can’t not pay for them, you might as well play up to them!
Access
May 22, 2008 — xanthippaToday, I seem to be experiencing some difficuties accessing my gmail….
If only things were that easy!
Animal-speak: squirrels
May 7, 2008 — xanthippaBelieve it or not, I used to wear a hat like this!
I also am a bit of a nihilist. And I love squirrels!!!
Yet another character shamelessly based on me…
Ego-aggrandizing jokes aside, I do love watching squirrels. They are an easy animal to see in the city, and I love nature way too much to spoil it by stomping through it. So, urban wildlife is it for me.
Perhaps because I am not naturally good at reading people’s facial expressions and body language (as is common with Aspies), I have learned the habit of really paying attentinon these – or, at least, trying to. But, only used it with Humans and pets, not really giving other critters too much credit.
I was quite young when I realized how mutually incompatible the ‘natural’ body language of cats and dogs is. Yet, cats and dogs who lived together (especially if they did so from an early age) are quite capable of learning each other’s language. Well, if cats and dogs could learn another species’ language, I should certainly be able to ‘learn’ this elusive body language of humans!!!
As I have argued before, kids with Aspergers who are having trouble discovering the ‘key’ to human communication can often decode the somewhat ‘simpler’ (or, perhaps, less complex) body/expression language of animals. …sort of like learning to crawl before one attempts the marathon of nuances in human ‘non-verbal communication’.
Back to my main point! As the trees matured in our neighbourhood, we began to see more and more squirrels who came to our bird feeders. One winter, we were especially touched by ‘The Twins’. Late in the summer, they started coming with their mom. We suspect they must have been born later in the season, because they were very tiny. And, before the first snow came, we stopped seeing the mom…
Yet, ‘The Twins’ stuck together. They were very, very affectionate to each other, touching and reassuring each other often. The smaller, bolder one would climb up the birdfeeder and throw food to the other Twin! ( The Twins stuck together until late next summer, always together.) Well, that winter, I started putting out food specifically for the squirrels….
Several years have passed, and one of the twins has returned here with three separate litters of her own!!! Two of these litters were after she had become blind in her right eye, too. Now I call her ‘One-eyed Jackie’, and she is the matriarch of the ‘Bruno’ (they are much browner than most our visitors) clan of squirrels.
Besides the ‘Brunos’, we have two other ‘clans’ that come here. One is called ‘Fuzzy-wuzzies’, because they have incredibly fuzzy fur, especially on their ears. These are closely related to the ‘Brunos’, and they often mix. The third ‘clan’ that comes here are called the ‘Zekes’ – and do not get along with the other two clans at all. Curiously enough, they get their name from the Blue Jays that come here….
Yes, last summer, we had a family of Blue Jays come regularly, too. And one of the adults was not at all shy! If I was late putting our their breakfast, or if I the food I put out was not her favourite (I am guessing here that it was the female – we are more discriminating…), she would sit on a branch directly in front of the door, and in a loud, incredibly annoying voice, screech ‘Zeeeeeeke!!!’ – over and over, until she woke me up and I put out the approved food.
Believe it or not, the matriarch of the ‘Zekes’ learned to immitate that call!!!
Many times did I come out, looking for the Blue Jays that were not there, only to see her sitting on ‘the branch’. It was not until I heard her actually make that call that I realized that it was she who was making it! Obviously, I had underestimated the squirrel’s linguistic skills. She has since also learned to perfectly immitate the neighbour’s little dog’s bark. I began to pay more attention. (It would probably have been faster to just read up on it, but I had fun watching them.)
Soon, I identified that the clicking sounds they made were not random. If I immitated the ‘clicks’, starting at the back of the mouth and moving forward, the squirrels took it as a ‘all safe’ sign, and would come down from the tree. Even if the dog was nearby. (It’s ok, he does not hunt them – he is a watchdog, so he just likes to watch! When a squirrel once fell out of the tree and landed right in front of his nose, he started crouch-jumping up like he does when he is trying to get another dog to play with him.)
If I reversed the order of clicks, increasing the volume, the squirrels would panick and run! Even if there were no danger anywhere about! Then, seeing all was safe, they would flick their tails a lot and come back down.
Over that summer, I learned about 5 different ‘sets’ of clicks, each of which would be understood by ‘my’ squirrels. Now I had a question: did I really learn something of ‘their’ language, or have they learned to simply interpret my behaviour? This was something I had to test, and an opportunity soon presented itself.
My son and I went to an event in a park about 5 km away from our house – far enough, I hoped, that I would not encounter ‘my guys’. We were sitting in our lawnchairs, listening to some music, when a squirrel started hopping from one tree to another. I saw my chance!
I started with my ‘all safe’ set of clicks – it was the first one I learned and I was most comfortable with it. Plus, it is rather quiet – there were people about…
The squirrel stopped in its tracks, as if frozen, and just listened. Encouraged, I repeated the clicks, and added a second set (I think this one means ‘food is present’). The poor little squirrel perked up its ears, and started looking about. Actually, it looked a bit paranoid. I kept up the soft sets of clicks.
Suddenly, and with great incredulity, the squirrel realized that I was the source of this jibberish!
Well, this became one confused squirrel. It resumed its original journey to the tree, but now, very, very slowly – and never taking its eyes off of me. It kept turning its head, side to side, as if to confirm that it really was that human that was chatting with it. I suppose I must have had an atrocious accent – and I fervently hope I did not say anything bad about its mother!
I guess you can predict how this story ends…. The squirrel was on a direct path to the tree, but was too shocked at the stuff coming out of my mouth to pay attention to where it was going…. Yes. The squirrel hit the tree!
Hopped straight into it!
This was the only time ever that I saw a squirrel run into a tree. So, I shut up. Anyhow, I had to go and help my son up – he laughed so hard, he tipped over his lawnchair!
XKCD – Aspie Humour
May 6, 2008 — xanthippaMany people claim that Aspies do not have a sense of humour. NOT TRUE!!!
We certainly do enjoy humour. Some of us naturally find some things funny, others need to learn the rules of humour – but we certainly enjoy it.
In my never-humble opinion, teaching kids with Aspergers the rules of humour may be helpful with overall social skill development. I have done this, and seen the improvement in their ability to interact with their peers and the resultant increased comfort level with themselves.
Here is how I might go about ‘explaining humour’:
There are several things that constitute ‘humour’ and different people will find different things funny – so there is no need to feel bad when you understand a joke, without thinking it is funny. Some people think that anything to do with bodily functions is funny – and they will laugh when someone farts, or of they burp. Other people think this is gross and not at all funny. So, it is normal that not everyone finds every joke funny.
Many poeple laugh when they find themselves in situations which either do not go as expected, or when some danger is lifted. This is done to release tension which people experience in such situations, and which is unpleasant. It demonstrates to others that either the danger has passed, or that even though things are unexpected, the new course of actions is acceptable.
Perhaps that is why so many jokes are ‘funny’ because of an ‘unexpected’ or surprising ending. It might even tie in with why ‘strange’ or ‘different’ or ‘unexpected’ is sometimes called ‘funny – but not as in ha-ha’. Puns are an excellent example: the correct (or correctly sounding) word is used, but in with an unexpected meaning.
It is not easy for Aspie kids that many cartoons rely on facial expressions to convey humour. That is why I was so entertained when I came across this (not aimed at kids) comic, XKCD. To me, it screams ‘Aspie Humour’!
And since along with a sense of humour, many people incorrectly describe Aspies as lacking feelings or empathy, I have selected, for your viewing pleasure, these few XKCD comics:
We like to spend time with our loved ones.
Passion reaches new levels for us!
Of course, we may have a hard time remembering names…. Nothing personal!
Yet, we can be very particular in whom we select as potential mates:
Personally, I could not date someone who did not thing ‘Ender’s Shadow’ was the best book in this series. Ok, if he were cute, I might settle for ‘Shadow of the Hegemon’. But ‘Xenocide’??? Really!
And ‘pillow talk’ is much easier if both of you are Aspies….
And many of us fully appreciate the advantages of online interactions with others (my husband claims this ‘has to be’ taken from one of my online comments….):
Here is a good example of how not everyone ‘gets’ every joke. For example, in the following one, I do not understand why the characters are implying this practice is unusual. Surely, it is the norm! (See my posts on Old Men in the Bible)
But we all enjoy good quality entertainment! (And no, this is NOT just a cheap ploy to get ‘Papyrus font’ onto my blog! Though, who could resist the allures or ‘Papyrus Font’??? It’s even better intelic…)
EVERYONE loves River Tam!!!
If you can’t laugh at yourself, someone will make a sitcom…
April 24, 2008 — xanthippaOn Monday, I posted ‘Pitfalls’ – a glimpse into the process that an ‘Aspie’ uses to write something up. Yes, it has a lot to do with my recent posts on Aspergers – I think I have it ready, then read something else and have to hit the re-start button…
I’m afraid I modeled it on my experience…only. And while that may be a typical ‘Aspie’ thing to do, it is (I am told) more applicable to female Aspies…who are in minority. Aside: As ‘ADifferentVoice’ aticulated, I also wish there were a better terms for ‘a person with Asperger Syndrome’ and ‘Neurotypical’ (NT)- if you know of one, or would like to suggest one, please, let me know.
In the interests of accuracy and entertainment, I have re-thought the post…and come up with a conclusion more indicative of the ‘Aspie-typical’ person. (How’s that for a convoluted term??? It makes me proud!) ;0)
Most of the post would remain unchanged: the bits where excessive research is done, 2-3 major studies are read and their raw data reassessed, several books, a stack of periodicals, and numerous online sources, cross-referenced and indexed (physically or mentally), you start thinking about the actual write up. Except that somebody mentions something related, so now you have to research that, or risk inacuracy! So, more research is required…and then you go for 3 days without posting!!!
Now, here is where the difference comes in. When I start to ‘write’ the actual post/write-up/article/assignment, my most difficult task is cutting the 80-odd pages down to a managable bite. So much stuff to be stuffed in! And it has to be phrased carefully, so as not to mislead or misrepresent – not intentionally, anyway!
Well, I do need to correct the misconception that all Aspies are like that. The vast majority would be much more efficient at analyzing the salient and essential points, and expressing them in a highly efficient manner. The long, painful hours I would spend ‘cutting down’ my notes, they spend in expanding their resultant 3 sentences into a full paragraph.
No kidding.
But then again, if you can’t laugh at yourself, somebody will make a sitcom … and the world will laugh at you! My family insists that when I forget to keep a tight control over my ‘inner voice’, it reveals itself to be a bit of a ‘Sheldon’… or perhaps a little bit of ‘Leslie’….hope you enjoy the clips below!
Stop global warming now, or…
April 15, 2008 — xanthippa‘Global Warming’ is a problem. As is ‘Anthropogenic Climate Change’. And the ‘Greenhouse Effect’. Yet, new hope is dawning on the horizon – and it may soon help all of us responsible people to solve these serious, man-made problems. I just glimpsed it, and thought it so important I am breaking into the ‘Aspergers’ chain of posts in order to let you about it!
No, there has not been a new breakthrough in science, nor have we actually done much of the stuff the so-called ‘watermelons’ have been shrieking at us to do. Not even a bit. Yet, today, I glimpsed a new weapon! A powerful weapon which has the power to make all these problems managable – if only we will have the perseverence to consistently apply it!
What is this wonderous weapon? How can we wield it? It is nothing less than humour!
The words “Stop global warming now“a ppeared on the TV screen, then faded. Now the word “or” came and went, with a circle materializing about it. “Or all the …(name of a chocolate confection)… will melt!” as the circle resolved itself into a magnificent, mouthwatering peanut-butter cup! And just to drive the point home, it shimmered, as if ready to melt. Yuuuuum!
How shall this solve the problem of ‘Global Warming’, ‘ACC’ and ‘the Greenhouse Effect’? The best way possible.
As I identified them earlier, these are all man-made problems. Not natural ones, not environmental ones, even though they are global in their impact. These things are a successful cross between a marketing campaign, a socialist income re-distribution scheme and a full blown cult. And the only science contained within them has been taken out of context, twisted and perverted!
This manipulative watermelon chiamera has bullied scientists, hijacked political debates and intimidated journalists for years now. But they have a real problem: it is becoming more and more difficult to dismiss the 10 years of temperatures that show no increase, to hush up the indictments of fraud inside the very studies their holy scripture, the IPCC report, is anchored in, and to silence the ever growing number of reputable (non-oil connected) scientists, analysts and thinkers who are pointing out that the Emperor has no clothes.
Since the watermelons’ credibility has been slipping more and more, their hysteria has risen to a new high. If the pun were not so horrible, I might even have said the pitch will soon be high enough to shatter the glass from the greenhouse!
Just as ‘Harry Potter’s’ ‘boggart in the cupboard’ could only be exorcised by the incantation ‘Riddiculus!’, so these militant activists can best be stopped by frequent and consciencious application of humour. Because all the busybodies and ‘bannies‘ who are righteously bullying ‘the human herd’ – whatever stripe or denomination they take – cannot abide being laughed at.
So, let’s let laughter be our medicine!
Epicurean, Epidurean…paradoxes everywhere!
February 24, 2008 — xanthippa
As far as Greek philosophers go, Epicurus was pretty O.K.
Contrary to the customs of his era, he allowed women as students in his school. Though there is absolutely no historical fact to justify this, I would love to think that the legendary Xanthippe (of whom he most certainly knew) and her famous debates versus Socrates, may have influenced him in this. After all, his philosophy was not really all that far removed from hers (at least, the few little bits of her philosophy that have survived).
But, unlike Socrates, who was busy gazing at the navel of his immortal soul, Epicurus saw humans as having physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs: the ideal, then, was to strike a harmonious balance in one’s life. Frankly, this seems almost too reasonable an opinion to be held by a ‘philosopher’!
After all, where is the brooding, the derisive scowl at the cares of the world – isn’t that the image the word ‘philosopher’ is supposed to evoke? I bet his ‘reasonableness’ cost him a lot of ‘pretentiousness points’ among the lofty circles…
He would likely have been written off and forgotten, had he not also voiced some very provocative ideas. Most (though certainly not all) of his contemporaries aspired to the creed of monotheism, describing God in a way modern day Christians would recognize: omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent towards mankind, his creation. In the still predominantly polytheistic environment, this idea – coupled with the notion Socrates had taught of the immortality of one’s soul – seemed very deep and mystical. Yet, Epicurus directed some very pointed questions at this creed…and none of them have been satisfactorily answered as yet!
Is God willing to prevent evil, and not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is He able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is God both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is He neither able, nor willing?
Then why call him God?
– Epicurus, 341-271 BCE
This is perhaps the most famous group of his questions and has been handed down to us under the name the ‘Epicurean riddle’, or the ‘Epicurean paradox’. It has been much paraphrased over the millennia, but the above is one of my favourite renditions.
People say that pain can, at times, bring ‘things’ into a sharp focus. This was true for me, as I deeply questioned every single one of my life’s decisions, whiling away the endless hours of late-stage labour. Truly, I came to question everything!
And then, it occurred to me: in order to make people (especially female people) truly comprehend the meaning of the Epicurean paradox, perhaps I could re-phrase it into terms that had more immediate impact on our lives. It’s almost as if the words came to me of their own volition:
Is God is truly omniscient? Then He must know the pain of childbirth!
And if He is also omnipotent, and he did not invent ‘the epidural’ waaaay before inventing this whole childbirth thing, then he is most certainly not benevolent!
I like to think of this as the Epidurean paradox!
I would go on, but I don’t want to belabour the point….
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 