Neurotransmitters Flow in this Autism Mind

Father of my Children - Film Review

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/01/31/father-of-my-children-hansen-love/

My Film Review for the Daily Cal.

'Father of my Children' explores nuances of fatherhood, familial obligation

The entire series by the film maker was aired at the BAMPFA in Jan.

The Daily Cal got pre-screening invites.

The Kid who would be King - Film Review

The Kid Who Would be King: [Film Review]

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/01/26/the-kid-who-would-be-king-offers-humor-moral-lessons-is-a-movie-preteens-will-enjoy/

Saw the pre-screening for this movie "The Kid Who Would Be King" on Jan 19 though the article came out on Jan 22 in the Daily Cal.

Rode the BART to SF. It felt really cool to sit in a specially reserved row meant just for journalists at AMC Metreon 16 in downtown SF.

Overhead this from 2 journalists who were chatting next to me. "I'm here only because it's a Joe Cornish movie. Otherwise, I'm not that interested in covering a kid's movie"

Save the Redwoods League - Local Event

Save The Redwoods League [Local Book Event Launch]

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/01/22/save-the-redwoods-league-book-launch-event/

A local event that I covered. The launch of a new book on redwood conservation.

It was an Edgar Allan Poe kind of night - a thunderstorm was going on. Hard to even locate the bookstore in the pouring rain.

The place was packed nevertheless. The room was milling with people around a table loaded with snacks. Another table nearby served wine. Only after the eating and drinking was done did the talk begin.

The result of the joint effort by Save the Redwoods League and Heyday was this remarkable book on coast redwoods. I learned so much.

Empathizing-Systemizing (E-S) Theory

While no single theory fully explains all aspects of autism, each attempts to provide insights into different cognitive and behavioral characteristics.

Developed by Simon Baron-Cohen, this theory suggests that autistics have an imbalance between empathizing (understanding others' emotions and mental states) and systemizing (understanding and predicting systems and patterns). They tend to have strong systemizing abilities but weaker empathizing skills.
Implications: Strengths in areas requiring analytical and logical thinking, such as mathematics and engineering, but difficulties in social communication and understanding others' emotions.

The Quake (Review)

Film Review: The Quake
A second review - through a prescreening link which I watched the day between 2 exams during my finals week.

In ‘The Quake,’ director explores what it means to survive

Disability and Capability

https://www.dailycal.org/2018/12/17/documentary-film-intelligent-lives/

My review of this terrific documentary on inclusion, ability and capability for the Daily Californian

Went to see the screening at the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley with my friend David last Thursday

Exam De-Stress Llamas at UC Berkeley

A Panorama!!

Why the exams melodrama?

says the Llama
No Problem-a !!

A Sense of Comfort

'A Sense of Comfort': Library, Disabled Students Program unite to help students with disabilities.

https://news.lib.berkeley.edu/hari

I'm interviewed by UC Berkeley Library

ToM - Theory of Mind in Autism

While no single theory fully explains all aspects of autism, each attempts to provide insights into different cognitive and behavioral characteristics.

ToM deficit is one of the most disputed theories by Autistics.

This theory suggests that autistics have difficulties understanding that others have their own thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from their own. This ability is often referred to as "mindreading" or "mentalizing."
Implications: Challenges in social communication, interpreting social cues, understanding sarcasm or irony, and predicting others' behavior.

A Continuum of Mental Health

https://www.dailycal.org/2018/11/15/a-continuum-of-mental-health/

In this article for the Mental Health Special of the Daily Cal, I draw upon what I have learned from class and conversations with Prof Steve Hinshaw, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley.
The opinion piece started off as an interview with Professor Steve Hinshaw

"The bottom line is that mental health needs to receive the same care and level of treatment as physical illness. But the reality is that mental health is a second-class citizen in the world of medical care. Careers in mental health are not the most desired professions in health care — there are too few mental health professionals, and most have long waitlists. "

“People may get despairing before they get treatment. … If we can replace silence with talk, if we can replace despair with access to treatment, we can put a dent in the rising suicide rate,”