Determined to be Depressed?

Posted by on Feb 9, 2011 in education, positive psychology | 6 comments

By ‘determined’ I don’t mean single-minded in your resolution to paint it black.  I mean genetically determined.  That’s the news anyway.  Scientists have found a link between your genes and your ability to produce a brain molecule called neuropeptide Y (NPY) whose function it is to restore calm after stressful events.  Can I have a shot, please? The link between a...

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Meet the Psychos

Posted by on Jan 12, 2011 in education, personal development, series | 0 comments

So you’ve  heard of Freud and Jung.  But there’s more psychologists out there than that pair.  I’d like to introduce you to a few of them.  Maybe you’ll like them too, maybe not.  That’s up to the both of you.  Grab an Earl Grey. First, meet three unlikely amigos: K. Anders Ericsson (expert in the psychology of expertise), Robert Sternberg (expert in the...

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Comics Are Educational

Posted by on Sep 20, 2010 in education, ethics | 2 comments

So you know my view that comics are smart and that animated superhero movies like The Incredibles can be used to teach philosophy.  Well it seems I’m in good company.  For a change. William Irwin, a philosophy professor at King’s College in Pennsylvania, edits the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, which includes titles such as Batman and Philosophy, and X-Men and...

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7 Essential Online Resources for Technical Writers

Posted by on Sep 8, 2010 in communication, education, writing | 2 comments

Here are my top resources for those of you making a living out of technical writing.  Some are also of use to anyone who writes in any style for a living.  First though… What Is a Technical Writer? I’ve always written my own training content, workbooks, manuals, user guides, procedures and policies.  I was a Technical Writer long before I realised it.  And, my personality type...

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