Nabokov Lives On

Nabokov Lives On

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In Silence

WNYC - Radiolab » In Silence Here at Radiolab we explore big ideas and ask big questions to see how the world works. To do that, we often talk to scientists who are trying to answer those questions by doing experiments and gathering data. But there are some questions that don’t give in to experiments and data. And with Easter and Passover around the corner, we decided to take on one of those questions, not through science, but through a story. Listen to the podcast.

Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain

Amazon.com: Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (9780060186395): Maryanne Wolf: Books In the second half of the book, Wolf examines the reading difficulties generally subsumed under the term dyslexia. We learn that one of her sons suffers from this disability, that there are various forms and theories about its origin and character, that it can sometimes result in a special talent for fields that emphasize pattern and spatial creativity (such as art, design and engineering) and that "programs which systematically and explicitly teach young readers phoneme awareness and grapheme-phoneme correspondence are far more successful in dealing with reading disabilities than other programs." As this last sentence makes evident, no relief awaits the once-eager reader who by this point has begun to wonder if he could be suffering from a sudden case of adult-onset dyslexia.
Anyone who reads is bound to wonder, at least occasionally, about how those funny squiggles on a page magically turn into "Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang" or "After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain." Where did this unlikely skill called reading come from? What happens in our brain when our eyes scan a line of type? Why do some of us, or some of our children, find it difficult to process the visual information held in words?
In Proust and the Squid, Maryanne Wolf, a professor at Tufts University and director of its Center for Reading and Language Research, offers explanations for all these questions, but with an emphasis that is "more biological and cognitive than cultural-historical." This means that Wolf focuses on the physiological character of the human brain, which holds at its disposal "three ingenious design principles: the capacity to make new connections among older structures; the capacity to form areas of exquisitely precise specialization for recognizing patterns in information, and the ability to learn to recruit and connect information from these areas automatically." These "design principles" provide the neuronal foundation of reading, and Wolf spends half her book explaining the evolution and minutiae of this "reading brain."

Victoria and Merrie England - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victoria and Merrie England - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The ballet does not have a plot per se. It consists, rather, of a series of seven historical vignettes in praise of Britain, such as "Ancient Britain", Christmas in the time of Charles II, and two scenes devoted to Queen Victoria. The score is a potpourri of characteristically English music, although it is probably too much of a pièce d'occasion to enter the standard repertory.

Fellowships &. Scholarships: 2009 - 2010

Debbie resumed her studies for her Ph. D. in economics at the University of California San Diego after a year recuperating from a serious gastrointestinal infection. Her research interests include Public Economics, Development Economics and Health Economics.

Alex continues is work on his doctoral thesis in physics, combining complex systems ranging from biology, chemistry, and quantum physics. His most recent publication concerns the quantum effects of a blade meeting a planar surface.

Aviva, a freshman, is an avid figure skater and has passed Novice Moves in the field and pre-juvenile freestyle. She competed both individually and as a member of a Theater-on-Ice team with which she has won three international championships. Aviva plays the clarinet in band and was in the pit band of the school musical for two years. She was a member of her high school's math club, Students As Readers book club, and French club. She loves reading - almost any kind of book in any situation. She is considering a major in mathematics, linguistics, religion, philosophy, French, or Middle Eastern studies.

Megan, a freshman, was a member of the FRC Team 1533, an FLC Mentor, and a Girl Scout for 11 years. She was a Cabinet Member and Boston and Asia Conference participant in the Harvard Model Congress and Senate Co-Chair and Head of Finance for the Guilford Model Congress. In high school, she was a member of National Honor Society, Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra, and was Orchestra Club President. She has a choral background and enjoys singing, and has also played the viola for 7 years. She hopes to major in Biological Engineering & Math.

Juan, a senior in mechanical engineering, returned to Dallas and was involved in community work with his church. He plays intramural soccer and is a member of Theta Delta Chi. He is the Secretary for the Mexican American Scientists and Engineers, and enjoys reading about military history and playing chess. After graduating, he hopes to stay in Boston and work in consulting or with an engineering firm.

Arin, a junior in mechanical engineering, plays tenor sax and is tour manager for the Festival Jazz Ensemble. He is a member of Imobilare (a breakdancing group) and plays intramural sports. He enjoys graphic design, and hopes to become a product design engineer or R&D engineer, maybe for an automobile company.

Brendon, a junior in physics, was a Research intern at the Robert R. Taylor Network, working in economics and business. He is a member of the varsity swimming team and has a Phyics UROP.

Open opportunity: summer internship exploring the interplay of religion, ethics, and genetics.

Dictionary of English Kings

Ethelwulf, d. 856, a sluggish uxorious man much addicted to religious practices, who, aged 58 and against the advice of St. Dunstan and his physicians, married Charlemagne's thirteen year old granddaughter. One of his natural sons became a popular Oxford don.

Frederick Louis, eldest son of George II, who's mock epitaph reads 'hear lies Fred, / who was alive and is dead, / there's no more to be said.'

George I, first Hanoverian King, d.1727, based his claim on descent from James I daughter, Elizabeth of Bohemia. Refusing to learn English he argued with his ministers in French and dog-Latin. Suspecting her adultery, he imprisoned his wife for life and took on two huge German mistresses known to Londoners as the Elephant and Castle.

Elephant and Castle has two possible derivations. One is that it is a contraction of the "infanta de Castille" who passed that way, and another that it was part of the arms of the Guild of Cutlers, based in that part of London, which depicted an elephant and howda (looks like a castle) arms to show the use of ivory.

Uxorious

uxorious
One entry found in the Merriam Webster dictionary.

Main Entry:
ux·o·ri·ous
Pronunciation:
\ˌək-ˈsȯr-ē-əs, ˌəg-ˈzȯr-\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Latin uxorius uxorious, uxorial, from uxor wife
Date:
1598
: excessively fond of or submissive to a wife
— ux·o·ri·ous·ly adverb
— ux·o·ri·ous·ness noun