Google
 
Web www.scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com

The boy who knew too much: a child prodigy

This is the true story of scientific child prodigy, and former baby genius, Ainan Celeste Cawley, written by his father. It is the true story, too, of his gifted brothers and of all the Cawley family. I write also of child prodigy and genius in general: what it is, and how it is so often neglected in the modern world. As a society, we so often fail those we should most hope to see succeed: our gifted children and the gifted adults they become. Site Copyright: Valentine Cawley, 2006 +

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Fintan's true love.

Recently, Fintan and Tiarnan went swimming in a lake, with life jackets on. This is something that Ainan had done when he was just eight months old. The boys reacted in a blissful way, being totally absorbed in the moment.

Fintan observed: “We don’t need electronic games like the PS3, if we have Nature.”

His mother could not have heard more happy words, for she, too, loves Nature. It was good to hear a modern child say such a thing – that Nature is to be preferred to electronic games. I wonder how many other boys of their ages (7 and 5) would think such a thing? Not many I hazard. That, is the pity of it. At least, however, our boys are able to appreciate Nature, despite the presence of electronic games in their lives. In fact, their appreciation of Nature is all the more special, for the fact that they compare it to the best distractions of modern childhood – and She still wins.

Well done, Fintan, on seeing what is truly valuable. Hopefully, there will still be enough of Nature left for Fintan’s children to say the same thing one day.

(If you would like to support my continued writing of this blog and my ongoing campaign to raise awareness about giftedness and all issues pertaining to it, please donate, by clicking on the gold button to the left of the page.

To read about my fundraising campaign, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-in-support-of-my.html and here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-first-donation.html

If you would like to read any of our scientific research papers, there are links to some of them, here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/02/research-papers-by-valentine-cawley-and.html

If you would like to see an online summary of my academic achievements to date, please go here: http://www.getcited.org/mbrz/11136175

To learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, 10, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, 7 and Tiarnan, 4, this month, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html

I also write of gifted education, child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, megasavant, HELP University College, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, Malaysia, IQ, intelligence and creativity.

There is a review of my blog, on the respected The Kindle Report here: http://thekindlereport.blogspot.com/2010/09/boy-who-knew-too-much-child-prodigy.html

Please have a read, if you would like a critic's view of this blog. Thanks.

You can get my blog on your Kindle, for easy reading, wherever you are, by going to: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Knew-Too-Much/dp/B0042P5LEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284603792&sr=8-1

Please let all your fellow Kindlers know about my blog availability - and if you know my blog well enough, please be so kind as to write a thoughtful review of what you like about it. Thanks.

My Internet Movie Database listing is at: http://imdb.com/name/nm3438598/

Ainan's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3305973/

Syahidah's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3463926/

Our editing, proofreading and copywriting company, Genghis Can, is at http://www.genghiscan.com/

This blog is copyright Valentine Cawley. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Use only with permission. Thank you.)

Labels: , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button
posted by Valentine Cawley @ 6:43 PM  0 comments

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

My favourite Einstein story.

A Berlin music critic in the early 1920s listened to a violin performance, by Albert Einstein. Afterwards, he gave his assessment:

"Einstein's playing is excellent, but he does not deserve his world fame - there are many others just as good."

The critic was unaware that Einstein's fame was founded in Physics, not music!

(If you would like to support my continued writing of this blog and my ongoing campaign to raise awareness about giftedness and all issues pertaining to it, please donate, by clicking on the gold button to the left of the page. To read about my fundraising campaign, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-in-support-of-my.html and here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-first-donation.html

If you would like to read any of our scientific research papers, there are links to some of them, here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/02/research-papers-by-valentine-cawley-and.html

If you would like to see an online summary of my academic achievements to date, please go here: http://www.getcited.org/mbrz/11136175

To learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, 10, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, 7 and Tiarnan, 4, this month, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html

I also write of gifted education, child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, megasavant, HELP University College, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, Malaysia, IQ, intelligence and creativity.

There is a review of my blog, on the respected The Kindle Report here: http://thekindlereport.blogspot.com/2010/09/boy-who-knew-too-much-child-prodigy.html

Please have a read, if you would like a critic's view of this blog. Thanks.

You can get my blog on your Kindle, for easy reading, wherever you are, by going to: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Knew-Too-Much/dp/B0042P5LEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284603792&sr=8-1

Please let all your fellow Kindlers know about my blog availability - and if you know my blog well enough, please be so kind as to write a thoughtful review of what you like about it. Thanks.

My Internet Movie Database listing is at: http://imdb.com/name/nm3438598/

Ainan's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3305973/

Syahidah's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3463926/

Our editing, proofreading and copywriting company, Genghis Can, is at http://www.genghiscan.com/

This blog is copyright Valentine Cawley. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Use only with permission. Thank you.)

Labels: , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button
posted by Valentine Cawley @ 11:20 AM  0 comments

Einstein's lost last words.

Einstein's last words will never be known. When he spoke them, the only person in attendance was a nurse, who didn't understand German. She was subsequently unable to remember what he had said, for others to understand.

It is quite a sad scene. That such a great man should be dying without any friends or relatives present strikes me as a pity. Why was it a nurse who witnessed his last moments? Where was everyone? In effect, Albert Einstein died alone for what would the nurse have meant to him?

Let us hope his last words were not significant ones.

(If you would like to support my continued writing of this blog and my ongoing campaign to raise awareness about giftedness and all issues pertaining to it, please donate, by clicking on the gold button to the left of the page. To read about my fundraising campaign, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-in-support-of-my.html and here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-first-donation.html If you would like to read any of our scientific research papers, there are links to some of them, here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/02/research-papers-by-valentine-cawley-and.html If you would like to see an online summary of my academic achievements to date, please go here: http://www.getcited.org/mbrz/11136175 To learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, 10, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, 7 and Tiarnan, 4, this month, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, megasavant, HELP University College, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, Malaysia, IQ, intelligence and creativity. There is a review of my blog, on the respected The Kindle Report here: http://thekindlereport.blogspot.com/2010/09/boy-who-knew-too-much-child-prodigy.html Please have a read, if you would like a critic's view of this blog. Thanks. You can get my blog on your Kindle, for easy reading, wherever you are, by going to: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Knew-Too-Much/dp/B0042P5LEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284603792&sr=8-1 Please let all your fellow Kindlers know about my blog availability - and if you know my blog well enough, please be so kind as to write a thoughtful review of what you like about it. Thanks. My Internet Movie Database listing is at: http://imdb.com/name/nm3438598/ Ainan's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3305973/ Syahidah's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3463926/ Our editing, proofreading and copywriting company, Genghis Can, is at http://www.genghiscan.com/ This blog is copyright Valentine Cawley. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Use only with permission. Thank you.)

Labels: , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button
posted by Valentine Cawley @ 10:37 AM  0 comments

Monday, March 28, 2011

Curious newspaper editing of my letter.

I wrote a letter to the editor of The Star newspaper, recently. It was published yesterday. However, for the first time, in all the letters I have written, the editing on this one changed the meaning of my intention. Here, below is my original, unedited letter that I sent to the newspaper.

Always do what you love.

By Valentine Cawley

I read the article: “Student is torn between art and science”, with a deep understanding of Pravinan Lai Xiong Hui’s dilemma. As a young man, I, too, was torn between art and science: in a way, I still am.

However, I found an answer, for myself: do both, serially, in one’s life. As background, it should be noted that I have, at various times, been an actor, a writer, a physicist, a performance artist and now, a psychological researcher.

Such a diverse range of interests and abilities may seem incompatible, but they are not: each is an expression of a different part of me.

Xiong Hui is about to make a grave mistake. If he gets a scholarship to do science, it looks like he will give up his life passion and ambition: to be a famous artist. One should never allow passion to yield to duty. Xiong might feel that science is more “useful” and “respected” in society, but that is no reason to give up his art. An artist does something no scientist ever does: they express the uniqueness of themselves. If Xiong truly has something to say, the greater “waste”, to use his word, would not be to not pursue science, but not to express his individual artistic viewpoint.

Xiong should not give up art. The world needs artists, too. If art is truly his passion, he would be happier pursuing that, than science. It is also likely that his passion will make him a better artist, than a scientist. If he feels he cannot turn his back on science, then he shouldn’t: but he should never stop drawing and painting, and so on. Don’t forget that one of the greatest artists of all was Leonardo da Vinci. He was also one of the greatest scientists. So, Xiong is facing a false decision. There is no need to exclude one, for the other. He could do both. If, however, he wishes to give one up, let it be science: for everyone should always do what they love.

The Star Newspaper's version is different in at least one key respect. Please see if you can spot it.

Follow your heart and love for art

I READ “Student is torn between art and science” (The Star, March 24) with a deep understanding of Pravinan Lai Xiong Hui’s dilemma. I was torn between art and science after finishing my schooling too. In a way, I still am. However, I found an answer: do both, serially, in one’s life. I have, at various times, been an actor, a writer, a physicist, a performance artist and, now, a psychological researcher.

Such a diverse range of interests and abilities may seem incompatible, but they are not, as each is an expression of a different part of me.

If he gets a scholarship to do science, it looks like he will give up his passion and ambition to be a famous artist. One should never allow passion to yield to duty. Xiong might feel that science is more “useful” and “respected” in society but that is no reason to give up his art.

An artist does something no scientist ever does – express the uniqueness that is himself.

Xiong should not give up art. If art is truly his passion, he would be happier pursuing that than science. It is likely that his passion will make him a better artist than a scientist.

If he feels he cannot turn his back on science, then he shouldn’t. But he should never stop drawing and painting, and so on. Don’t forget that one of the greatest artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, was also one of the greatest scientists. So, there is no need to exclude one for the other. He can do both.

VALENTINE CAWLEY,
Kuala Lumpur

Did you spot it? I was rather surprised to note that my key advice that if he really had to give up one of them, that it should be science that he gave up, was edited out. This defeated the whole point of my advice to him, or to anyone in that position: to follow what they truly love. Also, for the first time in my letter writing experience, words were added that I never said. The reference to "after I finished my schooling", was not said by me. I was NOT torn between art and science AFTER my schooling, but THROUGHOUT my schooling. Also, what is wrong with referring to my youth as "young man"...that too was removed. How odd.

Now, I am glad that the letter was published, but I am concerned that the meaning I intended to convey has been altered. In effect, a viewpoint that is not quite my own, has been attributed to me. This is somewhat unsettling. Nevertheless, this is not the worst case of newspaper editing of letters I have heard of. I have read complaints, on the internet, of letters to Singaporean newspapers, on vaguely political topics, being so heavily edited that the effective position of the writer seems to have changed altogether. This is dangerous and misleading. I wonder, have you, my reader, heard of similar problems with the editing of letters to the editor in your country? Please provide examples below, if you have any. Thanks.

(If you would like to support my continued writing of this blog and my ongoing campaign to raise awareness about giftedness and all issues pertaining to it, please donate, by clicking on the gold button to the left of the page. To read about my fundraising campaign, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-in-support-of-my.html and here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/01/fundraising-drive-first-donation.html

If you would like to read any of our scientific research papers, there are links to some of them, here: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2011/02/research-papers-by-valentine-cawley-and.html

If you would like to see an online summary of my academic achievements to date, please go here: http://www.getcited.org/mbrz/11136175

To learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, 10, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, 7 and Tiarnan, 4, this month, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html

I also write of gifted education, child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, megasavant, HELP University College, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, Malaysia, IQ, intelligence and creativity.

There is a review of my blog, on the respected The Kindle Report here: http://thekindlereport.blogspot.com/2010/09/boy-who-knew-too-much-child-prodigy.html

Please have a read, if you would like a critic's view of this blog. Thanks. You can get my blog on your Kindle, for easy reading, wherever you are, by going to: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Knew-Too-Much/dp/B0042P5LEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284603792&sr=8-1

Please let all your fellow Kindlers know about my blog availability - and if you know my blog well enough, please be so kind as to write a thoughtful review of what you like about it. Thanks.

My Internet Movie Database listing is at: http://imdb.com/name/nm3438598/

Ainan's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3305973/

Syahidah's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3463926/

Our editing, proofreading and copywriting company, Genghis Can, is at http://www.genghiscan.com/

This blog is copyright Valentine Cawley. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Use only with permission. Thank you.)

Labels: , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button
posted by Valentine Cawley @ 11:15 AM  2 comments

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape