The Real World: New Orleans

Book Review: Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett

Do you know why brains evolved? What their primary purpose was, or is, in nature? Do you know why they came to exist in simple organisms? In the animal species? Within the human body? As it turns out, though some of us may find this news surprising, it wasn't - and isn't - to think. *time to roll the dice and try again* Brains evolved for a different reason entirely. One that is far simpler, far more primal, than we care to imagine: survival. In fact, that right there, is the first major misconception, the first half lesson, Feldman Barrett dispels in this book before taking readers on an informative but concise overview of the brain and its chief functions. As she continues to bust brain myth after brain myth along the way, I might add. What's nice is that the scientific explanations to be found in these pages are not overwhelming. They're not bogged down by unpronounceable neuro-terminology or exhaustive detail that's liable to give its layperson-reader a migraine, either, which I'm sure most of you will be delighted to hear. (No brain freezes in sight, yay!) The author makes sure to attach relatable analogies and metaphors to the principles she's describing instead, making them easy for anyone without a science background to comprehend. Everything she presents is divulged in simple, bite-sized morsels. Most of the lessons only begin to scratch the surface of the brain's many facets and complexities, especially in humans, but that's kind of the whole point, you know what I mean? This is supposed to be a starting place. A summary. It's a minimalist introduction to all things Brain, so don't go into it thinking it will ascend you into starry-eyed Enlightenment or Information Density, because it won't. The brevity prohibits it, and do you know what? That's perfectly fine. It's just right, exactly what you need. For my own part, I think this book's aim may be to expose and unravel facts about the brain you may already know in some capacity, while also enticing you to apply them in a broader context. That's what it did for me, in any case. I couldn't stop mulling. Reflecting. Questioning. I found myself struck in thought - quite a few times - about how our brains can do things such as suppress traumatic or emotional memories, alter physical reality to fit our social needs/desires, or mask pain/symptoms from illnesses like cancer for extended periods of time. All of which makes sense if you think about the brain's main evolutionary focus: enabling our continual survival. Reading this prompted me to think through some of those things, and I loved it for that. Anyway, definitely worth a perusal if you're at all into brain learnin' like me! 3.5 stars Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC!

We've all watched a TV show that unfortunately got canceled. Here's some of my favorites I've found over the years:

POINTS IN SPACE from ducroz on Vimeo.

using 1050 individual a0 sized frames with long exposure photography, points in space presents melbournes cbd’s cycles of repetition by responding to the flow of traffic at key intersections. bodies join, weld and converge into swarming masses of movement. this movement is present in each city around the world. the work presents how a city environment is controlled through organised systems. scenarios which may look like elements in chaos, work in harmony.

ducroz.com

points in space director : benjamin ducroz sound : singlesignal producer : ashlee arnold assistant animator : hamish storrie volunteers : amber chou, radhika chopra, jane smith, toby feldman year : 2011 duration : 1"13

Arrest Warrant Is Issued For Harvey Weinstein Accuser Rose McGowan For Drug Possession

An arrest warrant for felony possession of a controlled substance has been issued for actress Rose McGowan, who is one of dozens of women who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

The felony charge stems from a police investigation of personal belongings left behind on a United flight arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport on January 20.

Police say the items tested positive for narcotics, but they did not reveal what type of drugs they were. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department obtained the warrant on February 1.

Police say they’ve attempted to contact McGowan so she can appear in a Loudoun County, Virginia, court.

The warrant has been entered into a national law enforcement database.

McGowan had not released a statement regarding the warrant as of Monday night.

But she simply tweeted ‘FACT’ early Tuesday morning in a retweet suggesting that if she had ‘taken the million dollars in hush money’ from Weinstein, the warrant would not have been issued and not been a news story.

McGowan retweeted Ashlee Marie Preston‏ who wrote: ‘If @rosemcgowan would have taken that million dollars in hush money I’m quite sure this wouldn’t even be a headline…’

She was alluding to a New York Times interview where she claims she was offered $1million by someone close to Weinstein in return for signing a nondisclosure agreement.

The 44-year-old actress also tweeted earlier on Monday claiming that there was a warrant for her arrest, but police would not confirm the details at the time.

‘Are they trying to silence me? There is a warrant out for my arrest in Virginia. What a load of HORSES**T.,’ she tweeted.

At the time, the Charmed star did not elaborate on why the warrant had been issued or what crime she had been accused of.

She has been one of the leading voices against sexual harassment in Hollywood.

McGowan, 44, was allegedly raped by Weinstein at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997, and the Times reported that she received a $100,000 settlement in the wake of the incident.

She says she only realized that settlement did not include a nondisclosure component this summer, and this month accused the producer of the sexual assault on Twitter.

In the wake of that bravery, other victims and Weinstein’s own employees have spoken out as well, despite also signing NDAs. More than 80 women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and assault.

Weinstein is now said to be in rehab and his spokeswoman says he ‘unequivocally denies any allegations of non-consensual sex.’

While there is no proof of any conspiracy tying her Weinstein allegations to the warrant, it comes just a few days after actor Corey Feldman, who has been working to expose pedophilia in the entertainment industry, was charged for marijuana possession after being pulled over for speeding in Louisiana.

McGowan also weighed in on the Kevin Spacey scandal today after actor Anthony Rapp accused the Oscar winner of trying to seduce him when he was just 14, tweeting ‘Bye bye, Spacey goodbye, it’s your turn to cry…’

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Arrest Warrant Is Issued For Harvey Weinstein Accuser Rose McGowan For Drug Possession was originally published on Austin Daily Globe

I’m not usually huge on using a ton of decals but @ashleefeldman requested a mani with these adorable Alice in Wonderland decals from Etsy and they’re perfect! I totally fell in love! They looked so good on her and had such amazing details 😳 This is clearly the mani that began my Alice in Wonderland fascination 💕 I used Presto Gel from @naillabousa!

'Real World' Alum Ryan Knight, 29, Dies Suddenly

PopTower.com

Ryan Knight, cast member of the 2010 season of MTV’s Real World: New Orleans, passed away suddenly at the age of 29. According to a report from TMZ, Knight had been out partying with friends on Wednesday night and was found dead Thursday morning. Friends stated that Knight had choked on his own vomit. Others who had been in contact with Knight on Wednesday stated that Knight had…

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The hot @AshleeFeldman from Real World Back To New Orleans!