innkblotz blog - Bryn Robinson, freelance writer

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Another Pretty Face?
2008-01-25 19:53:00
Take today's post as the possible ranting of a cynical geek.While in the throes of sinus hell last week, boredom inevitably led to channel surfing - which in turn led to watching snippets of Miss America: Reality Check. See, after the debacle involving the Miss Teen USA competition and one Miss South Carolina, the pageant industry is driven to recreate the image of the beauty queen. And MARC is intent on showing the viewing public that complete package. Tonight, the revamped show airs and we all get to see just how gorgeously smart these people are. Because damn it, people, they're not just clones with bangs like the Berlin Wall - they have personality, charisma, and big juicy brains. (For example, Miss Missouri enrolled in the pageant circuit with the vision of paying off medical school costs. Now that's knowing when opportunity knocks...)The approach for this new format has been "can't beat them, join them", and the show proceeds to rip apart the aged images of the beauty qu...
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The Joys of Education
2008-01-24 02:58:00
My roles as a teacher and a sports coach have proved interesting, to say the least. Of course, there is the joyful satisfaction that is achieved when you play a part in developing and shaping another person's knowledge and character. Part of me means that with the utmost sincerity. Then there are instances when I say that with tongue firmly in cheek...A. Teaching class today, I was presenting different reasons why humans are motivated to eat - this included biological, social, and psychological. Then, I asked the class other motives to eat:Student 1: "How about eating when you are bored?"Student 2: "Sometimes people eat because they're depressed."Student 3: "What about mind-altering drugs??"Me: "Are you speaking from personal experience?"Student 3: "Why do people get the munchies??" (as he devours some sandwich that causes surrounding classmates to wrinkle their in disgust).Off the top of my head, I wasn't certain why people got the munchies. As I wrote this post, I educated myse...
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Colouring Outside the Lines
2008-01-22 00:40:00
Over the last few classes, I've been teaching about intelligence. Traditionally, intelligence is "academic ability", and anyone who doesn't live up to that standard is termed "inferior" in some manner. (Check out an earlier post that discusses the possibility of different kinds of intelligence.) I wish I had seen this video earlier, so I could show my class. Parents, students, and educators, grab a cup of java. The video runs 20 minutes, but Ken Robinson lectures in a vivid, refreshing way.How can we change education? I'm uncertain that it would happen with one administrator, one school district. Rather, I think the workforce will have to dictate a massive change in how we treat and nurture each other's talents (albeit a slow progression towards such a more inclusive education).And I will be happy to see this change. As a PhD student searching for a unique niche in which to nurture creativity and analytical skills, I have witnessed educational hierarchy and values imposed on stu...
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I Don't Feel as Motivated to Neuter my Cat
2008-01-14 12:10:00
This week has been a long one, not so much for the quantity of work but rather the beatdown my sinuses have been taking - little sleep, lots of sneezing. But I digress. In the vein of the previous post (on two worthy mental health forums for self-expression), I decided to devote this Friday's post to other worthy sites of self-expression, both in psychology as well in writing. In both realms (which I don't consider to be mutually exclusive), there is an awful lot of questionable material out there. Anyone can consider themselves to be psychology or writing gurus, and the quality of material within self-help is often minimal. What I have decided to do is post a selection of sites that I find to be good quality and useful in the information and/or the services that they provide: HealthSkills (Psychology) - A fellow PhD student from New Zealand, I met Bronnie through a psychology network site. She is in the early stages of her dissertation, as well as working as a clinician in pain m...
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Express Yourself
2008-01-14 12:09:00
A strong component to understanding mental health and illness is when we hear first person accounts, whether it be through words, music or visual arts. This is a topic to which I have alluded in a few previous posts, and I wanted to share two recently discovered websites that provide a forum for individuals interested in educating others. Participants on these websites can share art, poetry, essays and songs that convey their feelings with mental health and illness. This is neat because it gives people a variety of ways in which to communicate and express themselves (something that youth may find more appealing than a basic discussion forum). Also, the sites provide a way of connecting with other individuals going through similar experiences, personally or with family members. Not only can it provide the basic facts about a condition, tying depression or anxiety to a personal experience may hit home with a person - perhaps motivating them to learn more or seek help.As an added bonus...
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The Health Inside Our Heads
2008-01-14 11:23:00
There is nothing quite as rejuvenating as the smell of spring air. However, the balmy temperatures came to a halt over the weekend (just in time for a few relaxing days of photography and dinner with friends). Aside from numb hands and a deep chill to the bone, Mother Nature's bipolar episode also initiated a case of the sniffles to keep me awake all night. The winter sniffles are not a novelty for anyone in North America, but since colds are caused by viruses (with 100s of different types and variations), a cure is often a personalized mixture of pharmaceuticals and family recipes. For example, I find that bundling up with a menthol chest cream "sweats out" a good deal of my cold symptoms. (The curative factor outweighs the village idiot look.)With such variation in what cures us, one of the unifying factors in overcoming the common cold may be our minds (CBC, LA Times, Globe and Mail). The linked articles discuss the power of the placebo effect, which can range from the typical ...
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Blood on our Hands?
2008-01-11 23:12:00
A quick post this evening, as I prepare to unwind from the first week back at university. To follow up with my last post, I found an excellent article from the BBC website, pertaining to the fixation on celebrities and mental health:Are we all to blame for Britney?Poses some thoughtful questions: celebrities in the past have experienced similar difficulties, but were their circumstances under a similar amount of scrutiny? And why are we so intent on reveling in their misery? Well worth checking out and giving it some thought - because if having a mental illness as a public figure is mocked, what "regular Joe" would be willing to share their experience?
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Media Whore, PhD
2008-01-09 17:51:00
I cannot believe that I am going to blog about this - but honestly, I feel a tad bit sorry for Britney and her recent brush with Psychology-Jesus Dr. Phil. Now, I have felt pretty strongly against the concept of Dr. Phil in the past. Admittedly this feeling has weakened slightly, given the facts that I caught snippets of his show and found that perhaps 1) helped educate the public and weaken stigma against psychological problems, and 2) provided needy individuals and families with psychological intervention and rehabilitation. However, his recent behaviour with regards to the troubled star has returned my opinion of his efforts to the bottom of the litter box. (My apologies to my psychological brethren for this lapse.) Specifically, he turned a private, family-requested meeting with Britney into the halftime show at the Super Bowl - discussing her situation (albeit in broad terms) on TV, and planning to air a special about her situation.Dr. Phil: Doctor-patient confidentiality? Meh....
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New Shutter Creative Website!
2008-01-08 02:35:00
Ry's been working hard for the last few weeks, and is proud to unveil the brand new company website.Visit Shutter Creative !Check it out and let him know what you think.
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The Games That We Play
2008-01-08 01:50:00
Is there a certain amount of skill involved in the games that we play, or is it pure probability? Do we trick ourselves into thinking that we have greater control over the outcome of a game than we really do? Using this information, how can we help individuals overcome their gambling addictions? In psychology, there is abundant research on gambling and the strategies used by players with card games and VLT machines. Now, we can add another piece of information to this growing field, courtesy of psychological research.Simply, do you pick rock, paper or scissors?In an article reported by the National Post last week, there are apparent patterns in how humans choose their next move during the game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" (also known as "RoShamBo", a name that takes on entirely different meaning if you have seen Eric Cartman play the game). A key factor reported to increase chances of success are to anticipate the opponent's next move by interpreting body signals (i.e., twitching a c...
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Friday Night Movie Night
2008-01-05 01:13:00
The end of Christmas vacation? I suppose, although I will be savouring the last few days reading a new shipment of books that arrived from the Heavens (I mean, Chapters online shopping). Currently, I am reading jPod (Douglas Coupland) and it's another rare book at which I have been laughing out loud endlessly. Only 100 pages in so far, but highly recommend it! Back in school Monday and teaching the second half of the Introductory Psychology course, my goal is to again make the course deeply interesting (even for the people just doing it for 3 credit hours). I've bought pounds of brain gummies to simulate a real brain, I've re-created the Pavlov's Dogs experiment with a water gun, and I've taught the class to engage in deep relaxation - to the point of snoring.But there are some things, well, that I cannot bring myself to do. Professorial RapTherapy Turtle
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The Cover of the Rolling Stone. Well, Maybe Not.
2008-01-02 15:08:00
Apologies for the Dr. Hook reference. As I did some winter cleaning (not just for spring!), I was taking breaks to read the news. Typical of early January stories, there were plenty "year in review" pieces, including a selection of top health stories for 2007. None of the stories were relevant to mental health or psychology - odd, considering some of these headlines that I would consider potential top ten contenders, and that four of these made news on a national or international level.So, here is my list of mental health stories that In brackets, I have linked related innkblotz blog posts for my reactions to these stories. What are your thoughts to this impromptu top five list?Virginia Tech Shooting: more importantly, the resulting aftermath of news stories centered around the killer's mental state, and why university officials appeared to let his bizarre behaviours go unchecked. [blog: Killer was a Madman]Despres Murder Trial: the second trial for the accused is underway, after h...
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Another Year
2007-12-31 19:27:00
Perhaps predictably, the final post for 2007 here at innkblotz is about resolutions. Surprisingly, it was also one the hardest posts to write. Skimming through the posts made over the last 8 months, a topic that has occasionally cropped up is the notion of change: the desire to change our lives, the uncertainty of the future, or the reluctance to embrace a new way of living. Throughout these posts, a central message has been acceptance of ourselves. Some rely upon the serenity prayer to remind them of this; in science terms, it is paraphrased in terms of constants (i.e., things that cannot be changed, like the speed of light or the appearance of Britney in the news) and variables (i.e., things that are changeable, like temperature or amount of coffee consumed before 11 am). The wisdom is to know the difference between the two. Change is an inevitable part of our lives, and New Year 's Eve is the prime time to examine our lives and look for areas to change. Another inevitability of ...

The Fog Conceals Our Smiles
2007-12-28 15:34:00
If there was one thing that everyone desires, it would be happiness. Sure, some would be quick to say love, but arguably aren't relationships simply another source - albeit a strong one - of happiness? And with the New Year only days away, the desire to change and reinvent our lives in order to gain greater happiness is a force with which to be reckoned.So, what do we do? We try to become physically healthier through diets and exercise. We seek enlightenment through religious and spiritual means and by this hope to find meaning and purpose in our daily living. We learn to infuse optimism and positivity into our perspectives, and find venues in which to release negative emotions. These are all worthy goals, but I've found another secret that promotes happiness.Come live in Saint John.Slightly tongue-in-cheek, sure, but Saint John has recently topped a list of 18 Canadian cities for happiness and satisfaction with the quality of life. (Yeah, I know, I was a mixture of pride of "What...
More About: Smiles

Boxingmas!
2007-12-27 04:49:00
With some mild weather and a beautiful moonlit sky, we welcomed Christmas Day on the East Coast. After visiting the families for well wishes and present exchanges, Ryan and I ambled back for a great Christmas dinner (with my mother and sister) over a traditional Swiss raclette. No turkey, but great conversation as we waited over slow grilling food.Today, we spent the day at Ryan's parents, indulging in more food and lots of card games. And who can resist sitting by the tree, listening to music and taking in the lights and ornaments?With another storm fast approaching, it might be just the day to cuddle up and get in some writing time. Hope your holidays were fabulous so far!

Happy Holidays!
2007-12-24 19:54:00
It's been a hectic one, with last minute wrapping, stocking stuffing, and gift delivering - all with the extra help of a furry sidekick:One of the photos posted at the Shutter Creative blogThen again, doesn't that make the eggnog sipping that much more enjoyable at the end of the evening? We're oriented to think like that - work like crazy in order to make relaxing that much more enjoyable and deserving. Pondering the psychological aspects of that will be left to another day. Instead, cozy up and enjoy your time at home with loved ones - and keep track of a certain Jolly One's progress with the latest technology from Google Maps: noradsanta.org. Now you know when to put out those milk and cookies for him...and then put out a fresh plate after you ate the first batch!For me, it's off to finish prepping tomorrow's supper, don the reindeer pajamas and prepare for Santa's arrival. Hope Christmas is a relaxing and fun-filled holiday for you!
More About: Holidays , Happy Holidays , Happy

The Chapters Manifesto, pt. IV
2007-12-22 03:18:00
What a wonderful Christmas/birthday present this is!About a month ago, I posted photos of me kneeling at a construction site. I was unsure at the time whether or not this site was the true Indigo bookstore location, until I saw this sign:While out scouring for neighbourhoods with awesome Christmas light displays, I did a 180 when I saw this sign sitting outside of the same construction site. With Ryan keeping the car running, my mom, sister and I hopped out of the car to snap this glorious moment in Saint John history. I suppose this is a time and season for having a bit of faith, but after numerous rumours of the store's existence, some visual confirmation was needed.Only a few months away until beautiful book reading delights are unveiled! In the meantime, check out this new application for bookworms, at the Chapters/Indigo website.
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Photos of Jack Frost
2007-12-19 17:30:00
As of right about...now...I am on Christmas vacation. My course is all prepped with syllabus at the ready for Winter '08. My Fall '07 class is already marked with grades submitted. Research projects completed, with my thesis questionnaires still trickling into the Psychology Dept. Yes, I am on Christmas vacation, and I plan on soaking up every minute of it while I am still technically a student (as opposed to those who have to work during the next two weeks).Of course, soaking up the lack of non-academic commitments involves a lot of photography, blog posting and plenty of work on the book manuscript which, sadly, sat in a corner of my brain like a punished child. Maybe it sounds like I'm still doing work, but trust me when I say that I am looking forward to putting fingers to keyboard or pen to paper. In fact, I think I'll start now.But first, some more holiday photos from an excursion Monday afternoon into -25 C winds and lots of crunchy, icy snow. And scrumptious candy cane c...
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The Little Things
2007-12-17 16:51:00
I have often been told that I have a penchant for remembering the most foolish of details. The outfit I got for my 14th birthday. The words to many-a Christmas special. But hey, isn't there a saying about the little things that make life worth living?In keeping with the idea that the little things make life worth living - as well as indulge in a little festive resolution-making - I started an account at 43things.com. If you haven't heard of it, the premise is that you make a list of 43 things that you want to accomplish (with or without time frames) and then cross them off the list as you succeed.The great thing about the website?Psychologically speaking, it makes you spell out the goals and desires that were previously bottled up. It makes you accountable, so it may motivate you to get out there and do something. Also, the application tells you how many other people are trying the same thing, and you realize that you are not that alone in your travels. Some of the things on my li...
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Word of the Year?
2007-12-13 01:43:00
Apparently, there was a vote and I was not aware of said vote. Dictionary giant Merriam-Webster has named its "word of the year": w00t!You heard me - the word of the year, kids, is the exclamation of happiness that also indicates mild geekery. w00t! Check out the rest of the list here (of course, Crackbook was number two). And after looking over the top ten list, I guess that I'm comfortable with the selections.At least the MTV spawn-word "va-jay-jay" was not on this list.
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Haiku from Nantucket
2007-12-13 01:31:00
Writing is an exercise that requires the user to find new ways to "level up", in gamers' terms. We can all reach a plateau with our work, and need to stretch the mind in bizarre directions to climb over the creative hurdle. Partly in search of a challenge, and partly looking for a way to kick-start my writing session for the evening, I decided to take on haiku. Certainly, I do not profess to be a master, but since one of my vices is extreme bouts of wordiness, I wanted to give it a try. Even better - I felt like sharing the products of my insanity/creativity:fogtown haikuMy home is gone -Cloaking device of theMalicious fish army.daytime haikuIrresistible,the way he lures out our sins:Jerry! Jerry!purposefully ambiguous haikuHe was an ordinary man -he just had fantastic PR.bathroom haikuFor a good time call?If I only had a dime -Damn Three Musketeers.
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Ten Needles
2007-12-10 21:34:00
Christmas is a time that we sit back and reflect upon the upcoming year, as well as the previous year's activities. Often, we look for the inspiring and uplifting stories to really bring us back to humanity and make us feel connected in our increasingly global worlds.Scouring the news today, I stumbled across an amazing story of a young boy who wrote about his struggle with cancer. The book is a collection of interviews that were conducted with Sean Collins, and the title "Ten Needles" (or "Dix Aguilles" en francais) refers to the number of shots he endured each day in his fight. His message was simple, yet powerful: seize the day. The books are available in National Banks and Jean Coutu stores in Moncton, with all proceeds going to improve cancer treatment facilities in his town. So, at the risk of sounding overly like a TV movie on Vision, the reason that cliches are out there is because there is truth in them. Live for the moment, and live it to the fullest.

Early Holiday Spirit, Uptown SJ
2007-12-08 00:56:00
After I finished making up my class' final exam and doing some dissertation work, I headed uptown for another photo session. Although the only sign of winter last week was the wind chill, this week proved to be a wet and slushy trek:The Loyalist Burial GroundsThe Moose Sculpture @ Loyalist Plaza - note the irked expression in his eyes over the weather.Being given the business by an angered pigeon. And I was using a short lens, too. Corner of King St. & Prince William St.
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Slimming Down Santa?
2007-12-05 14:41:00
I'm listening to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" as I type and drink my coffee this morning. Time to get deep and meaningful here. So, before I plunge into a mountain of data entry, we need to talk PC.I think that there is a difference between respect and politically correct. Respect is an admiration or an appreciation of another one's thoughts, feelings, stance on an issue, or lifestyle choices. Politically correct is a catch-all phrase used by disrespectful and ignorant people that wish to force their agendas down society's throats. Under the warm and fuzzy guise of being PC, one claims that offense is taken and that it should be changed because they are offended. It's a selfish, self-fulfilling motivation.This morning, I flipped on News 88.9 - a talk radio station that debates hot topics with callers - and was hit with a screechy-voiced lady (Mimi Roth) giving a sermon that was adamant - nay, forceful. Society needs to change the image of a fat Santa Claus; according to her, his i...

The Rolling Psych Wagon
2007-12-03 16:22:00
In recent years, there has been a string of unfortunate stun gun-related deaths in the Maritimes, following a confrontation between a mentally ill person and a police officer. Although police officers are given some basic training on mental illness, it was not enough to help the arresting officers distinguish psychotic behaviour and non-compliant behaviours of a criminal. And given the information presented during these confrontations, how else would a relatively untrained individual interpret the situation?Due to these circumstances, the Canadian Mental Health Association has proposed a mental health training program for police officers and other front-line workers; in particular, a course that teaches responders to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, as well as how to interact and deal with mentally ill people during an arrest. The CMHA has two instructors lined up for the two-day course - and they have been trying to bring this program to New Brunswick for six months....
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