Quick question....

Let's say you had to do some math in your head. No calculator or pen and paper, though you could also use your fingers and toes (or other body parts as appropriate. As a kid, I'd count to twelve by closing my eyes!)

There's a lot of ways to do this, and they don't all rely on what you do when writing with pen and paper.

Like, take 8 + 5. Working with Ana, I've found that I usually add 5 + 5 and then 3 more. I could also add 8 + 2 and then 3 more, but even though that's the same equation I would not do that. I don't know why. It's just easier to break apart the numbers that aren't fives.

Ana starts with 8 and starts counting upward. Evangeline... well, that's a bit big for her, but with smaller numbers she counts with her fingers, even if she's not using her fingers. So she would go "One, two, three, four, five. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight" before counting straight up to 13.

But I have no idea what other people do. I'm sure there's a huge range of things. (I'm sure plenty of people have, for the sake of convenience, all their single digit combinations memorized, for example.) What do you do?

Here's a few disconnected articles

First off, the Rotenberg Center is in the news again.

And one on the potential advantages of being autistic

Here's one about how trauma might alter your DNA. Sounds like Lamarck has gotten a worse rap than he deserved.

Here's an article about how prozac isn't actually more effective than a placebo. I haven't read it - I misplaced my original link, so I googled for it and this is what came up.

And finally, a LONG article about the morality of babies.

( Read more... )

As always, read the comments to the articles at your own risk.

Actual conversation with Ana over the past few days:

I'd gone to the store to get some wrapping paper and a card for Ana's birthday. To my pleasant surprise, all the cards there were "To my niece"! However, as I wanted one for Evangeline to sign too, and her mother and mine, this wasn't actually as helpful as it sounds :(

When I came home, Ana was happy to see the paper, and I teased her a little about her present.

Me: Ana, you know what I got you? I got you PICKLE LIP BALM!
Ana: Okay, Connie, whatever you say.

And later today she responded with "Sure, I believe you!"

But you know what's really funny?

I did get her pickle lip balm!

LOL, she's gonna be SO SURPRISED when she sees it on the wrapping paper! (And inside will be some books - Pickle Chiffon Pie and Pickle Things. They are every bit as awesome as they sound.)