I dubbed this year’s trip Challenging the Elements for good reason. By pure chance this was the most difficult trip yet. We started by navigating in the dark on the first day. This was not as bad as it sounds and turned out to be rather pleasant. The next day started out warm and sunny, but the weather changed abruptly to rain, then cold rain with a headwind. We would fight the wind several more times before the end. At one point we were forced off a small bay and had to bushwack our way to the next river. All told it was quite the adventure!
Mirror Neurons, Imitation Learning and Empathy
Mirror Neurons help explain why watching someone perform a task is almost as important as doing it yourself. The human brain responds to both doing and watching in the same way. Mirror neurons may also play an important role in social interaction and the development of empathy. Researchers recently proposed that their dysfunction may explain some of the symptoms of autism. And speaking of autism, what about a possible link to early television exposure? This reinforces the AAP “no television under 2 years of age” recommendation.
Folding Bicycles
While I was in Philadephia over the summer I was amazed by the number of folding bicycles. About half of all the bikes I saw were folders. Of course they make eminent sense for urban dewellers. I’ve always been interested in “packable” bicycles, and have a thirty year old three-speed folder gathering dust in my garage. The concept has come a long way since then! Over the holidays I bought two Dahon Speed D7 bikes for $299 each. They’re an exquisite bit of engineering for the price. The principal flaw with the older design, a telescoping seat post, has been replaced by a single long piece. The 20 inch wheels are a nice compromise, the components are good, and the road feel is solid. Folding the bike takes less than a minute, and two of them will fit in the trunk of a small car! Go to this Buyer’s Guide and site for more information on the various brands available.