Since it was discovered in 1943,* Autism remains a mysterious disorder. So far there are still no definite answers as to the causes of this mind-boggling and disruptive condition in our young people. Hopefully, through ongoing researches and dialogues, there will be a light at the end of the autistic tunnel soon.
First, I am most grateful to the facts that I had no hands-on experiences in dealing wuith autistic children. I, however, am prepared to share with others some trivial information that may relate this disorder to a very smart but temperament young person whom we all know.
It came to me by accident. Just a few weeks ago what I read to kill time while waiting for a friend, might, with due respect, connect one of the world smartest persons to Autism.
But being ignorant in science related subjects, I had just learned that the Nobel laureate, Albert Einstein (1879 - l955)*, did not speak a word until he was three. The renown American scientist, taught himself Calculus at age of 12, was also known to be a temperament child. And it must he a great relief to his dear parents, besides his known achievement and contribution to the science world, the young Einstein grew up to live a normal life just like any other young boys did in his times. - Ayee
* (1) wikipedia.com
(2) Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2004 edition
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Adjunct Professors
The other day I saw a piece of news on the plight of part-time college professors.
Now these day, to cut operating costs, many companies conduct their business with many part-time workers. To my biggest surprise, these cost-saving measures are also prevalent practices in colleges and universities. Part-time instructors or adjunct professors in the nationa's community colleges or universities are being hired on a course-by course basis. According to PBS's NewsHour the other day, many fully qualified young professors with advanced degrees and loads of student loans can only secure part-time teaching positions. The average earnings of a supplementary professor are around $12,000 per year. While the salary ranges for their tenured counters are in the high-five to six figures ranges, auxiliary professors get paid at $2,000 to 2,500 per course.
The large disparity in earnings between an adjunct professor and a tenured faculty member had kept many college instructors living below the poverty line. The make the ends meet, one individual teaches three courses at different schools. And another a/p, a Ph. D. cum single mom, must commune each day to and from the school that is far away from where she and her daughter live. The same professor had to rely food stamps to support the family. - Ayee
Now these day, to cut operating costs, many companies conduct their business with many part-time workers. To my biggest surprise, these cost-saving measures are also prevalent practices in colleges and universities. Part-time instructors or adjunct professors in the nationa's community colleges or universities are being hired on a course-by course basis. According to PBS's NewsHour the other day, many fully qualified young professors with advanced degrees and loads of student loans can only secure part-time teaching positions. The average earnings of a supplementary professor are around $12,000 per year. While the salary ranges for their tenured counters are in the high-five to six figures ranges, auxiliary professors get paid at $2,000 to 2,500 per course.
The large disparity in earnings between an adjunct professor and a tenured faculty member had kept many college instructors living below the poverty line. The make the ends meet, one individual teaches three courses at different schools. And another a/p, a Ph. D. cum single mom, must commune each day to and from the school that is far away from where she and her daughter live. The same professor had to rely food stamps to support the family. - Ayee
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Food for Thought - Low Blood Sugar and A Food Diary
A few years ago, when I started experiencing the on-and off discomforts from the un-dignosed hypoglycemia, a dear friend suggested that I started a food diary.
The reason to record what I had for dinner is to help me relate the foods I ate yesterday to how I feel today. This will help me, a not very fussy eater, single out the foods that make me feel woozy or experience other low blood sugar level related sympton such as blurred vision, fatigue, poor circulation, and insomnia.
Although I do appreciate the wisdom behind a personal food diary, I failed to take advantage of this simple and informative way to track my diet on paper until about a few weeks ago.
After I started recording what I had for meals and snacks each day, the intelligence I gathered from my food ledger led me to realize that I had too many sweet treats in my daily food intakes. My food diary also gave me some ideas as to the amount of the foods I was eating each day. I found I felt better if I had not stuffed myself the night before.
Now, thanks to my dear diary, I had finally figured out that in my case as far as my personal health is concerned, rich and sweet desserts are my worst enemies. - Ayee
The reason to record what I had for dinner is to help me relate the foods I ate yesterday to how I feel today. This will help me, a not very fussy eater, single out the foods that make me feel woozy or experience other low blood sugar level related sympton such as blurred vision, fatigue, poor circulation, and insomnia.
Although I do appreciate the wisdom behind a personal food diary, I failed to take advantage of this simple and informative way to track my diet on paper until about a few weeks ago.
After I started recording what I had for meals and snacks each day, the intelligence I gathered from my food ledger led me to realize that I had too many sweet treats in my daily food intakes. My food diary also gave me some ideas as to the amount of the foods I was eating each day. I found I felt better if I had not stuffed myself the night before.
Now, thanks to my dear diary, I had finally figured out that in my case as far as my personal health is concerned, rich and sweet desserts are my worst enemies. - Ayee
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Food for Thought - Low Blood Sugar
About four years ago on a sunny morning in December, I fell on a sidewalk in front of a store parking lot, and broke my wrist. I did have a woozy feeling before the fall. But I thought a slightly elevated cement slab on the walkway was to blame for the painful mishap.
Now after four long years, I, not diabetic, finally, through the hard ways, learned of the real culprit of this preventable accident.
I remember the day before I fell on my face, I gave myself a rare treat - a large milk shake. This popular drink made with ice cream, milk and strawberry syrup is loaded with sugars.
And we all know too much sweets in our diet can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia in us. Among many discomforts and other aliments associated with not having enough glucose in our blood stream, dizziness and light-headed feeling had led many of us to fall suddenly and hurt ourselves. In some cases, low blood sugar can render us unconsciousness. - Ayee
Now after four long years, I, not diabetic, finally, through the hard ways, learned of the real culprit of this preventable accident.
I remember the day before I fell on my face, I gave myself a rare treat - a large milk shake. This popular drink made with ice cream, milk and strawberry syrup is loaded with sugars.
And we all know too much sweets in our diet can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia in us. Among many discomforts and other aliments associated with not having enough glucose in our blood stream, dizziness and light-headed feeling had led many of us to fall suddenly and hurt ourselves. In some cases, low blood sugar can render us unconsciousness. - Ayee
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Make it small!
In addition to the frigid sub-zero weatehr, this New Year did not start well for America.
First,the country was told that a group of first responders in the 911 attacks had claimed disbility benefits that they do not deserve. Then, there was this news coverage for the world to see what top-aide of the incumbent governor in Jersey had done to embarrass their political opponents.
This year also marked the 50th anniversary of a federal government's initiative, "War on Poverty." Undoubtedly, programs such as food stamps, low-income housing, financial aids to students, and Medicaid had helped many people in need. But there are also a plenty of evidences that suggested "War on Poverty" had not made our society a happier and safer place to live. According to the critics of this well-intended government policy, "War on Poverty" had made the America a welfare state. Now fifty years later, lineups at local food banks are getting longer, public housing projects have become unlivable, college students have burdened themselves with mounting debts, nd homeless population on city streets is also climbing.
Needless to say, both acts of dishonesty and bullying are so un-American and appalling. I hate to think that big governments may have given us a helping hand to become wards of the governments. When the governments get bigger, they also become less transparent and vulnerable to many undue abuses. - Ayee
First,the country was told that a group of first responders in the 911 attacks had claimed disbility benefits that they do not deserve. Then, there was this news coverage for the world to see what top-aide of the incumbent governor in Jersey had done to embarrass their political opponents.
This year also marked the 50th anniversary of a federal government's initiative, "War on Poverty." Undoubtedly, programs such as food stamps, low-income housing, financial aids to students, and Medicaid had helped many people in need. But there are also a plenty of evidences that suggested "War on Poverty" had not made our society a happier and safer place to live. According to the critics of this well-intended government policy, "War on Poverty" had made the America a welfare state. Now fifty years later, lineups at local food banks are getting longer, public housing projects have become unlivable, college students have burdened themselves with mounting debts, nd homeless population on city streets is also climbing.
Needless to say, both acts of dishonesty and bullying are so un-American and appalling. I hate to think that big governments may have given us a helping hand to become wards of the governments. When the governments get bigger, they also become less transparent and vulnerable to many undue abuses. - Ayee
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Good News for Book Worms
Today, I went to a neighborhood mall shopping for a Christmas present. And I was surprised to see the bookstore there was full of shoppers. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the many other stores in the same mall.
At the bookstore, even though there are still seven shopping days before Christmas, this was the first time over the past four years I saw a line-up in this friendly place. Behind its non-descriptive cashier's counter, the manager was on the phone talking to a would-be buyer. Two cashiers, in addition to directing shoppers to the right section for the book they were looking for, were also busy ringing up sales. The shoppers there were buying, among many other things, mostly books of all subjects in both hard covers and paperbacks. Although my purchase of a crossword puzzle dictionary did not bring down the house, business at this store was booming.
On my way out after I got the book, what I saw going on in many other stores in the same mall were not very encouraging. I thought an overstocked electronics shop will be a busy place during this gift-giving season. There was not a single customer there. It was the same at a sparkling jewelry store. Business at a few other shops in that part of the mall did not look brisk either.
What I observed at the mall this afternoon did make me wonder on how the many small shops in the mall were faring. Operaitng a business in a shopping mall is a very expensive proposition in terms of rent, maintenance fees and property taxes. Being a happy shopper of this mall for many years, I do wish them all doing well all year around. So all of them can continue to provide the public with a pleasant place to shop.
My visit to the bookstore this afternoon also afforded me some very welcoming insight on the uncertain future of book stores. At that store it appears there was no shortage of book buyers. To me book stores are like libraries. They will continue to be important part of our existence for years to come!
And a merry Christmas wish to all!
- Ayee
At the bookstore, even though there are still seven shopping days before Christmas, this was the first time over the past four years I saw a line-up in this friendly place. Behind its non-descriptive cashier's counter, the manager was on the phone talking to a would-be buyer. Two cashiers, in addition to directing shoppers to the right section for the book they were looking for, were also busy ringing up sales. The shoppers there were buying, among many other things, mostly books of all subjects in both hard covers and paperbacks. Although my purchase of a crossword puzzle dictionary did not bring down the house, business at this store was booming.
On my way out after I got the book, what I saw going on in many other stores in the same mall were not very encouraging. I thought an overstocked electronics shop will be a busy place during this gift-giving season. There was not a single customer there. It was the same at a sparkling jewelry store. Business at a few other shops in that part of the mall did not look brisk either.
What I observed at the mall this afternoon did make me wonder on how the many small shops in the mall were faring. Operaitng a business in a shopping mall is a very expensive proposition in terms of rent, maintenance fees and property taxes. Being a happy shopper of this mall for many years, I do wish them all doing well all year around. So all of them can continue to provide the public with a pleasant place to shop.
My visit to the bookstore this afternoon also afforded me some very welcoming insight on the uncertain future of book stores. At that store it appears there was no shortage of book buyers. To me book stores are like libraries. They will continue to be important part of our existence for years to come!
And a merry Christmas wish to all!
- Ayee
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The drone is coming to town.
After I heard from "60 Minutes" last Saturday that Amazon.Com was working on deploying the costly drone technique to deliver its goodies, I conjured up a picture of Santa Claus making his Christmas deliveries with a fleet of spider-look alike black robots, instead of its usual team of sweating nose-twitching reindeers.
And I do not think the hard-working reindeers are the only ones who dislike what they did not see in this picture. Regardless whoever the service-providers are, the change over to deliver by robots would definitely take a dismal toll on people who currently making a living in the delivering business.
In addition, most consumers, myself included, are fairly pleased with the delivery services that the on-line companies are providing. This is one of the reasons why numbers of people buying on-line are rising. So why should anyone fix something that is not broken. - Ayee
And I do not think the hard-working reindeers are the only ones who dislike what they did not see in this picture. Regardless whoever the service-providers are, the change over to deliver by robots would definitely take a dismal toll on people who currently making a living in the delivering business.
In addition, most consumers, myself included, are fairly pleased with the delivery services that the on-line companies are providing. This is one of the reasons why numbers of people buying on-line are rising. So why should anyone fix something that is not broken. - Ayee
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