obrienk

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Superpowers: Sleep Meet Meditation



Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep's impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code -- as well as some helpful tips for getting some shut-eye.













From TED.com:

Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep's impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code -- as well as some helpful tips for getting some shut-eye.

Matt Walker: 

"Let me start with the brain and the functions of learning and memory, because what we've discovered over the past 10 or so years is that you need sleep after learning to essentially hit the save button on those new memories so that you don't forget. But recently, we discovered that you also need sleep before learning to actually prepare your brain, almost like a dry sponge ready to initially soak up new information. And without sleep, the memory circuits of the brain essentially become waterlogged, as it were, and you can't absorb new memories."

Dan Harris explains why mindfulness and meditation are the next big public health revolution.


See his podcast: 10% Happier.
Check out our infographic: The Skeptic's Guide to Meditation

Friday, September 6, 2019

Learn How to Learn: Thomas Barry '62

This morning's assembly made me think.

Thomas Barry '62, CEO & President of Zephyr Management, will speak about "Beyond University School."

He made me think of how can I make this course more interdisciplinary, which made me revisit this article.


He made me think of Ben Franklin (and his failures) and today's innovators - a few other thought leaders - that's a term now in the age of TED Talks and innovation. 




Joi Ito: A necessary rebellion from PopTech on Vimeo.



And listen to John Seely Brown.






He also made me think of globalization and cultural competency.


Curriculum Night


Last night, I read Billy Collin’s "The Lanyard"


(Give it a listen)

And shared a few thoughts on our AI (after internet world) and how we need to mindfully toggle from the digital world to the now - our immediate reality.

I mentioned the work of Tristan Harris.

I recommended having a dedicated place to read without digital distractions.

They know how to check your phone apps - so be warned.

But be mindful of how you wish to invest your time this year - and more importantly your life.




Recommended reading:

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck


The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud, PhD and Ned Johnson

Whiplash: How to Survive Our Faster Future by Joi Ito from MIT’s Media Lab

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brene Brown
        
Legacy: 15 Lessons in Leadership; What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life by James Kerr

Thursday, April 4, 2019

The Power of Language - and Racial Dog-Whistles

From Wikipedia:

Dog-whistle politics


Then...

In 1981, former Republican Party strategist Lee Atwater, when giving an anonymous interview discussing Nixon's Southern Strategy, said:[28][29][30]

And now...

During the 2016 presidential election campaign and during his presidency, Donald Trump was accused of using racial "dog whistling" techniques.[47][48][49][50][51]

Watch Bill Moyers 2014 Interview with 

Ian Haney López on the Dog Whistle Politics of Race

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

"Fail Forward" - Denzel


The point is, every graduate here today has the training and the talent to succeed.
But do you have guts to fail?
Here’s my second point about failure:
If you don’t fail… you’re not even trying.


From YouTube:

Denzel Washington, internationally renowned actor and director, delivered the address at the University of Pennsylvania's 255th Commencement on Monday, May 16. Washington is one of the nation's preeminent performing artists, having achieved wide acclaim for his film, theatrical and television performances, as well as his accomplishments in film directing and television production. Washington has received the most distinguished accolades of his art, including two Academy Awards and a Tony Award. At Commencement, Washington received an honorary doctor of arts degree.

Watch the FULL SPEECH

Click: Transcript


Monday, January 14, 2019

Fake News:



"There is no use in multiplying examples. The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield."
- George Orwell, "In Front of Your Nose"

In order to combat fake news and misinformation, we need to know our journalists and sources for information.
Join.quizizz.com

Read:

21st Century Journalism & the Perils of Fake News http://flip.it/j.5_zA
via @flipboard

OR this Flipboard magazine https://flipboard.com/topic/fakenews

(I look forward to adding your examples to this Flipboard magazine)

Watch this clip of Mr. Clint Watts about why we need to be educated global citizens:

The Russia influence system continues to win. Before and after the election.https://t.co/4l7jI673f1 from @WarOnTheRocks pic.twitter.com/8HvHJz5mwn
— Clint Watts (@selectedwisdom) January 11, 2017 
Screen Shot 2017-03-31 at 3.44.04 PM.png


Watch the full hearing this weekend.



HOMEWORK - DUE MONDAY: 
Write one paragraph that shares THREE examples of articles, regarding FAKE NEWS

Normally, I would like...
 Worthy Sources - that are PRIMARILY PRINT
(not cable broadcast networks, blogs, websites, etc.):

HOWEVER for this assignment:
1. Please post one reliable news source about Fake News
2. One example of satire 
3. One example of fake news

Check out this list of fake, satire, and reliable news sites.

Write one paragraph:
1. Embed the links - type (or copy and paste) "select" the title of the article and link
2. Cite the writer(s), the date, and the source (the "publisher")
3. One sentence synopsis of each article.
4. Conclusion:
  • Why is it important to discern between credible news and faux news?
  • Why did you select your articles and how did you determine them to be credible, satirical, or fake?
Consider these key questions:
  • Who paid for this?
  • When was this made?
  • Who might benefit?
  • What is left out of this message that might be important to know?
  • How was this shared with the public? 
To fact check stories on the internet:
snopes.com
politifact.com



factcheck.org