Learning to Value Introverts

Introverts...are they shrinking violets...doomed to be the wallflower at the dance?  The person who never speaks up...or takes risks? Is he the guy that is afraid to ask the girl he likes to the prom. Hardly. That person is shy. There's a difference.

There was an interview on All Things Considered tonight with Susan Cain who wrote the book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking." Cain points out in the interview "Introversion is really about having a preference for lower stimulation environments. So it's just a preference for quiet, for less noise, for less action. Whereas extroverts really crave more stimulation in order to feel at their best. ..."


I've taken the Myers Briggs more than once. I'm an introvert. (I'm an INTP.) It means I'm driven from within. Susan Cain's book is about valuing differences and appreciating the different ways people think. Some Introverts include Gandhi, Joe DiMaggio, Mother Teresa and Bill Gates.


Check out the interview on NPR's Website.

Civility Is Giving Way to Rudeness

The Public Respects Civility, But Rewards Rudeness

Alan Greenblatt's piece on NPR points out that in politics people say they prefer civility....but rudeness is rewarded. The article also points out that bad behavior abounds in our society from people who snack in church, to texting at weddings and wagging fingers at presidents.

There's a key point in the story. George C. Edwards III, a scholar on the presidency at Texas A&M University says, every political incentive in the current climate seems to reward attacks on politicians from the other while discouraging collaboration or compromise. "We as Americans don't just see the people on the other side as having different views, but as evil."

This unwillingness to respect the views of an opponent is leading to extremism. There is no compromise because the other person's view is demonized. 

The Effects of Rejection Piles Up

This morning on Morning Edition they continued their series on college grads who have been looking for work. Today they featured Melanie Singer who has been looking for work as an accountant for about a year.

Underlying the frustrations of looking for work is the damage to self esteem as the rejections (in many cases you never hear back) pile up.  "At the time, she said she always wanted to put the blame on herself when the rejections came. Was she not qualified? What could she do better? Did she do something wrong? Thinking about it now, 18 months later, Singer's eyes well up with tears."

"I feel like I've grown up now and become that independent individual," she says. "So it's a much better feeling than feeling like you're hopeless and living off someone else."

Searching for a job in this market is wearing. So many, like myself, have been underemployed or unemployed for a very long time. Employers can receive 100's of applications. Networking helps. So does a strong support group. Volunteering helps rebuild self-esteem. As do the many small jobs I've picked up. Those small jobs have come from networking and my support groups. But, nothing beats employment in the areas we've been trained for. 

There are other stories you can link to in this series.

Related NPR Stories

Aspiring Writer Questions Value Of English Degree June 1, 201

Study: College Grads Unprepared For Workplace May 28, 2010

Economy Seems Bleak For Graduating Law Students May 21, 2010

On-The-Job Training While Unemployed May 18, 2010

New Jobs For A New Decade Jan. 8, 2010

Government Must Fund the Arts

Christopher Ames makes the case for government funding for the arts. His point is that limiting art to what is commecially viable leads to cultural narrowness. By extension...having Big Bird hawk chicken feed and Cookie Monster pitch desserts is not a good idea. Government funding for the arts and public broadcasting are under attack again during this political season.


Christopher Ames is special assistant to the president of Washington College and a professor of English. His letter appears in Sunday's Baltimore Sun.

Phoebe Snow

I was listening to Hearing Voices from NPR last night. In one of the segments they were remembering some of the notable people who passed in 2011. Among them, Phoebe Snow. In a loose sort of way I have a connection with her. Of course, her music touched me. Poetry Man was like nothing else on the pop charts when it was released in the mid-seventies. It drew me to her music. What touched me more was her devotion to her daughter, Valerie Rose. Valerie Rose was born with severe brain damage. Instead of sending her daughter off to an institution, she chose to pull back on her career and devote her time to Valerie Rose.

At first, I missed her music. Later I came to understand her decision...then admire it.
There's a really good article about her life in The Guardian. If you get a chance to read it, please do.

My life's experience has led me to two organizations that are devoted to the welfare of children, the Village and Focus Center for Autism. The Village for Families & Children, Inc., is a private, Connecticut non-profit human services agency. It is committed to building a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children. Focus is a year-round licensed, clinical Extended Day Treatment Program specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents who are on the Autism Spectrum.  Among the things they do is to help children with autism learn social skills.

My part is small. What The Village and Focus are trying to do is not.

SD Governor Says Foster Care Report Flawed

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard said he didn’t gain any useful information from a controversial 2011 public radio series on American Indian foster children in South Dakota. Daugaard repeated his assertion to the editorial board of the Daily Republic that NPR investigative reporter Laura Sullivan made up her mind before she came to South Dakota.  Daugaard declined to speak with Sullivan about the key points in the story. The Governor pre-responded to the series sending emails to South Dakota media outlets claiming that Sullivan was biased and unwilling to listen to all sides of the story.


While Daugaard was part time Lt. Governor of South Dakota he was also CEO of the Children's Home Society. CHS deals with many foster care cases in South Dakota.

The Governor's office contacted NPR's Ombudsman. EDWARD SCHUMACHER-MATOS says he is looking into the series and will have a report soon.

Would Reagan Win Today?

A story on NPR looks at the real Ronald Reagan. Many Republican Candidates are trying to wrap themselves in the Reagan mantle.  The story by NPR's Guy Raz suggests Reagan would have trouble winning the nomination today.

• In 1986 Reagan eliminated a number of deductions which, in essence, raised taxes.
• In 1986 Reagan granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. 
• In his 1985 Reagan proposed the exemption of federal income taxes to those living at or below the poverty line.

Ads from super PACs would be asking, "Who's side are you on?

Kumbaya

A song about social justice...about building consensus has become the victim of snarky dismissive comments that mirror the political dictum...no compromise.

According to a piece Linton Weeks on NPR, Kumbaya was originally used by African Americans asking god to intervene on their behalf against their oppressors. It was later used during the civil rights movement. The song was treated in a straightforward manner, held up without irony as a ritual of reverence, a soft-voice anthem of togetherness. That togetherness is being ridiculed in our political world. Compromise is considered a weakness.


You can find out more at the NPR website.


Sources cited include Michael E. Ross and Samuel G. Freedman.

A New PD at KUT

KUT, Austin has a new PD!
Keith Neisler takes control of content at the radio station. According to Radio Info.Com this is his second PD job in the market.

Twinkies May Be In Our Past

Hostess has filed for bankruptcy. Critics are saying Hostess changed to late. Wonder Bread fell out of favor long ago. The company is blaming its pension and medical benefits obligations, increased competition and tough economic conditions. There's a lot more on this story at NPR.org.

Did you peel off the frosting on the cupcakes first? What about sucking out the filling on the Twinkie?
You could also ball up the bread and it would stay that way making for a wonderful projectile to throw at siblings. There were a few that stuck to the classroom clock. (I plead innocence)

Diet and ADHD

NPR's Food Blog highlights a report from the journal "Pediatrics" about food and ADHD. Elimination diets were touted just a few years ago but, it has been found that elimination of junk food alone is not that effective. Diet can be complimentary to treatment. According to Benjamin Prince, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital tells us kids with ADHD usually need medicine and good diets.
There are three elements to a good diet:


Eat a protein-rich breakfast.
Cut back on sugary treats and processed foods.
Fish oil and omega-3 supplements.


You can find out more by linking to the blog (the salt) and, you can listen to the story. There's a link on the blog. It was aired on Morning Edition.


Stories about childhood learning and behavior are an interest of mine. I'm currently on the board of Focus Center for Autism. If you are too please check out their Facebook page and website. 


Focus needs your support. While there click on the donate tab to find out more. 

Steve Chiotakis Moves Cross Town

The drive from Pasadena to Santa Monica can take a few hours. Steve Chiotakis will get 19 days to make the journey. He is leaving the nationally syndicated “Marketplace Morning Report” after three years to join Los Angeles public-radio station KCRW-FM. His sleep schedule is taking a 180. He'll take over as afternoon newscaster and host of All Things Considered on KCRW. There's more in the Birmingham News.

Singing Therapy and Brain Food

Two of the most emailed stories from NPR last week dealt with brain health. The most emailed story was about the use of singing therapy to help stoke victims speak again. Story by Richard Knox is in their Health Blog.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is using a a type of singing therapy to help with her speech.
The therapy is being used on patients who had damage to the left side of the brain. Therapists and patients are trying to teach the right side of the brain to facilitate speech.

Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, who heads a study on singing therapy in Massachusetts says a surprising amount of recovery is possible. He also reports good results working with autistic children and people with Parkinson's disease who have trouble speaking.


The second story about brain health asked, Is There Really Such A Thing As Brain Food? Rob Stein's article for the NPR food blog poses the question, can certain foods or the proper diet protect your brain from diseases like Alzheimer's. There are studies that suggest the right foods like fish were less likely to have their brains shrink. On the other hand, "those who ate a lot of food containing trans fats — found in margarine, some packaged food, fast food and baked goods — tended to experience more brain shrinkage and score more poorly on the thinking and memory tests."


 There's a caution in the article. A lot more research is needed.