Absquatulate

Big Dog

I took a course in college on motor control, and yes while that was "way back when" the topic of robotic walking is still a tough nut to crack from an engineering point of view. Walking is incredibly difficult! Balancing meat on four legs (nevermind TWO) is not easy. The fact that we do it at all is a near miracle. I won't attempt to scratch the surface of the complexities behind locomotion, but if there's a lurking physical or occupational therapist who'd like to, be my guest in the comments.

But take a look at THIS: If I saw this in the woods I would run the other way. To me this is way into the uncanny valley. Well done Boston Dynamic, now please use your knowledge for good, not evil.

Which do you choose?

Enjoy this amazing talk from TED from Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist who describes her experiences when she suffers a hemmorage and how it changed her.

And quite frankly, it has changed me, and what it means to be treating adults with aphasia.

I missed Brain Awareness Week, having mistakenly thought it was THIS week. But rather than wait another 51 weeks to celebrate it again, I'll push it on into this week and feature a new brainy post each day for your amusement (or consternation :).

Update: Video link fixed.

4th Jump

Two old colleagues and friends of mine have formalized a partnership and have created 4th Jump.  I couldn't be happier for them, as each is outstanding in her area of expertise. 

On a side note, it makes me realize how happy I am that I am no longer doing this kind of work.  Their website is great and obviously filled with enthusiasm for what they do.  I hope once I become certified I can bring that kind of knowledge, confidence, and interest to speech-language pathology.

Congrats Naava and Amanda!  If I need a website, I'll let you know.

Bad Science

I hate it. It started with the movie Species, and the line "The DNA... It's 40% human" and the inferno of obscenities that spewed forth from my otherwise relatively kind mouth after that quote, and today continues with Altoids and their obnoxious claim that eating an Altiod makes you a better problem solver by stating, "Like a slap to the cerebellum."

Why yes, I was the inaugural vice-president of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Undergraduate Council at the University of Rochester, why do you ask?

It Never Really Happened

It's okay that I ordered boneless Shanghai chicken wingies at Chili's because I did so on Feb. 29th, which is more or less a fake day, and all that happens during that day doesn't count. Towards revoking your Upstate NY Buffalo Wing Certificate of Eats. Just saying.

There Is Hope

Thai Green Curry with Shrimp

Corey and Susan both asked what I was having for dinner, and then Corey threatened me if I didn't post the recipe, so here we are!

Thai Green Curry. I probably would never have made it myself if I hadn't stumbled up on Mom's House in Amherst. El Steve asked to return after I dragged him there a few weeks ago so that we could spend some time pouring over the incomprehensible packaging and varieties of dried shrimp in the hopes of finding something fun. And when I saw the tub of Thai curry, I knew I'd found my little package of fun.

Okay, so I didn't make my OWN green Thai curry... What can I say? This was a great foot-hold into Thai cooking, which I've found incredibly daunting should I attempt it myself. The brand says Maesri (I love the translations on this site!) and the majority of the writing is in Thai, so I'm not sure what it says aside from the brief English instructions on the back. That's what I had to go on, along with the aforementioned Thai cookbook, and I made it up based on what I remember from Pattaya and the The King and I in Rochester, NY. I would KILL for some Thai Sticky Rice with coconut and mango right now, but I guess some Pocky will do.

So I put into a heated wok four tablespoons of the curry paste and stirred until fragrant. I then stirred in a can of coconut milk and heated to a simmer. I took a taste, and almost immediately added a can of water. Holy SMOKES this must be the real thing, or something like it, because it was spicy. I then added a melange of frozen veggies (as it is winter, after all), peas, broccoli, tri-colored peppers, and then some shrimp and simmered. I then made some rice noodles, portioned, and topped with the curry and shrimp. Garnish with lime, cilantro, and basil and enjoyed by girl and boy alike.

Enjoyed with a glass of white wine (that's for Susan. :)