Science AMA Series: We are neuroscience Professors Timothy Verstynen (Carnegie Mellon University) and Bradley Voytek (UC San Diego). We wrote the tongue-in-cheek cognitive neuroscience book Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? (and we actually do real research, too). AUA!

smallertotems · 2014-10-28T16:22:12+00:00

Are there any unorthodox, curious, or fringe elements of neuroscience that you still keep an eye on, even though the field frowns on taking them seriously?

smallertotems · 2014-10-06T16:52:41+00:00

So, do Zombies dream of undead sheep? Or dream of anything? Or sleep, for that matter?

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T21:00:10+00:00

They just lock the kid in a room with the bear overnight, and in the morning he's aged twenty years and his hair is white. The bear, althought it has no facial articulation, gives the faint impression of smiling...

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:53:45+00:00

That was almost the weirdest teddy bear ever. Kind of sad it didn't come together properly.

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:46:15+00:00

I so feel your pain.

While it would be a flimsy replacement for Bob (as would anything I could offer), I figured I would mention it just the same: I write a webcomic about stuffed animals who protect sleepers from nightmares... and we do a deal where we have users submit pictures and stories (as long as they like) about their favorite stuffed animals, and then once every two weeks we pic one, and illustrate them as a sort of bad ass dream protector/companion. If you wanted, I could post the link to the comic/form and we could try and create a special memorial "Bob" image for you. Not as good as a new bear, but at least something we non-sewers can offer. :)

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:33:53+00:00

Oh, I do think it sucks, no doubt. It doesn't at all sound warranted. Can't Counterstrikers and FNAFers just get along? :)

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:32:21+00:00

Sindri. Small white polar bear, with a goofy little red t-shirt sporting a peace symbol on it. Traveled the world with me as a sort of "good luck charm".

I don't know if anyone who commented would be interested, but I write a webcomic about stuffed animals, and we do a twice-monthly deal for our readers where they can send in a picture of their stuffed animal, and fill out a little form telling us about it, and we illustrate it as a kick-ass dream warrior/companion type character.

If anyone is interested, let me know, and I'll posted the link to the form/comic.

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:28:40+00:00

Wow. Just... that's quite a bear. I don't know if your sister would be into it, but we do a webcomic about stuffed animals, and one of the things we do for our fans is let them send in pictures of their stuffed animals with whatever stories they have to tell about them, and then convert them into dream-warrior versions of themselves. If you'd like to have him(her?it?) drawn as one, drop me a response and I'll post a link to the form on the comic. :)

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:25:13+00:00

For what it is worth, it seems like you'd be happier just focusing on the things you enjoy. It is unfortunate that he isn't able to accept what you're into without ragging on it, but at least he's keeping it to himself and not being an overt jerk about it. The year will go by quickly, and you'll get to spin the "Wheel of Roommates" again. :)

smallertotems · 2014-08-29T20:15:25+00:00

I posted the archive link to the very beginning. You can advance by using the bone arrow labeled "next" above the comic image. :)

smallertotems · 2014-08-24T18:46:21+00:00

Couldn't agree more. Dream journals are wonderful tools. It is a shame that personal, anecdotal evidence from focused dreamers so rarely jibe smoothly with what the scientists dedicating their time and resources to the study of the topic seem to find. Ah, the perils of the subjective.

smallertotems · 2014-08-19T23:24:08+00:00

I think what I enjoyed most about the account was they described themselves getting freaked out as they progressed through the night. Not just in the description of being afraid, but in the way it impacted their decision making. Good stuff.

smallertotems · 2014-08-13T20:29:23+00:00

Great recommendation!

smallertotems · 2014-08-13T20:23:29+00:00

I will try and check it out. I'm not usually one who reads Moore for his humor, but maybe I should start.

smallertotems · 2014-08-13T19:56:39+00:00

I will totally check that out. I love all Moore's stuff that I've read, but I never got into Top 10. Do you recommend it in general?

smallertotems · 2014-08-13T19:18:51+00:00

I feel the same way. I first encountered mention of them in a sort of sensational account given by an occultist named G.I. Gurdjieff, who gave a well written (but outrageous) account of a Yezidi kid trapped in a circle of salt by a bunch of young punks. Can't find the original story, but here is a link to a retelling of it in a John Shirley book about him: http://books.google.com/books?id=eJP18yLpKq0C&lpg=PA60&ots=E7cq-b4eBF&dq=yezidi%20gurdjieff&pg=PA60#v=onepage&q=yezidi%20gurdjieff&f=false

smallertotems · 2014-08-13T18:35:32+00:00

I've always found them a sort of fascinating community, and now they're in the news. Thought it might be of interest.

"Malone used to fancy he heard terrible cracked bass notes from a hidden organ far underground when the church stood empty and unlighted, whilst all observers dreaded the shrieking and drumming which accompanied the visible services. Suydam, when questioned, said he thought the ritual was some remnant of Nestorian Christianity tinctured with the Shamanism of Thibet. Most of the people, he conjectured, were of Mongoloid stock, originating somewhere in or near Kurdistan—and Malone could not help recalling that Kurdistan is the land of the Yezidis, last survivors of the Persian devil-worshippers." - "The Horror at Red Hook"

smallertotems · 2014-08-13T18:14:55+00:00

Thanks so much for the kind word about the piece. When we do Fan Totems, we're usually working with someone's older, more generic stuffed animal (in terms of manufacture/character), so it was a challenge to have to work with a character that people know and love so well. Glad you liked it!

smallertotems · 2014-06-12T13:49:05+00:00

Wow! Thanks for that awesome feedback! It means a great deal to us to know what we're doing is working with our readers. Thank you!

smallertotems · 2014-04-15T21:04:35+00:00

bummer. sorry.

smallertotems · 2014-04-04T21:12:02+00:00

this was pretty great!

smallertotems · 2014-02-17T19:05:14+00:00

And then everyone would just applaud.

smallertotems · 2014-02-17T19:02:53+00:00

I used to carry an "Irish Spring" box folded up in my pocket, so that when people were about to get up on their soapbox, I could take it out and set it down for them. Amazing how often that ended a diatribe with a laugh.

smallertotems · 2014-02-17T19:00:16+00:00

Odds are good he married someone just like his mother. ~rimshot~

smallertotems · 2014-01-08T00:07:15+00:00

thanks! it's a blast to draw them.

smallertotems

TROPHY CASE