The Flawed Genius 3: Channel the ability

The summation of my last blog is that behind every autism or learning disability may be a genius of legendary proportion, but the burden is on the people closest to such an individual to help channel that ability at such an early age. Derek from our last story had 0.5%  of  ability to comprehend or communicate with anybody, but that enhanced 99.99% of his appreciation of music. He remembers every note he hears even if ten individuals in an orchestra were playing the notes. No normal human brain can handle that, because we naturally use less than 1% of our brain, this means that the 99.99% appreciation Derek uses is more cognitive than the average brain usage of an average person. But it took his nanny to channel that innate ability.

Unfortunately, I come from  a country where children with learning disabilities are discriminated against and seen as either a curse or a burden. For the avoidance of doubt, I have been trained to understand and care for children with learning disabilities for more than three years in England, I have even had very difficult children get close to me. In all these, I noticed from their care plans that whenever they get into behaviours challenges, there is always something that got them quiet, maybe a puzzle,a computer game,music  etc. So children’s care homes always have facilities for playing, puzzles, books, they have artists come to evaluate their inclination towards the arts. In all these, the carer wants to find out the language the nonverbal child is inclined towards.

If many parents imbibe this practice with such children at home, by giving this kids a universal language like playing music for them at tender age, exposing them to puzzles,patterns,maths, construction or arts (I consider these universal languages), their genius might be revealed. Derek's Nanny understood this and started singing to him at a tender age and later brought a piano for him, when his brilliance in teaching himself became apparent, the father brought him a piano teacher.These were all acts of channeling fueled by love.

There is a story of an individual who had asperger syndrome, Gary McKinnon. He hacked 97 US Military and NASA computers, he said he was looking for evidence of UFOs and energy source that was beneficial to mankind. The truth of the story was that in 1987 when he was just 17 years old, he went to his local cinema and saw the movie of a whiz kid who hacked into Pentagon secret computers and nearly caused a war, but the intriguing part of the tale for the Derek must have been when the Pentagon congratulates the boy in the movie for his intelligence, and believes when he grows he will be an asset for NASA or Ministry of Defence. (See http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/jul/09/weekend7.weekend2 viewed 20/10/2013)

This kind of encouragement is also seen in the American film of “Catch me if you Can” where a serial bank fraudster is later employed by the government to help stop bank fraud. The truth is, every government needs to find every genius, even the ones who have shown their ingenuity by acts of criminality. Reform and put them to good use. I am not a supporter of crime, but the best thing for misguided geniuses,  is for the government of his country to help him channel his genius properly. May be by helping his country fight cyber espionage which is the next Third War going on now, he can help his country from an offensive angle or help them tighten their cyber thresholds.

In all, my thoughts on today’s blog is that on no account should a child with learning disabilities be seen as having nothing to offer. Maybe they have more to offer than we can imagine. Every responsible government should release funds to investigate, educate and help children with learning disabilities, because in doing so, such countries may be close to the next technological breakthrough.

The flawed genius 2: An Autistic Perspective

Developed countries do everything within their capability to get their hands on a genius. This is because, geniuses develop technology, some help in espionage, while some help stop cyber espionage. It is not unheard of that no matter how bad a genius is, if he is in jail and the survival of a country depends on his brilliance he will be treated like a king for him or her to save the day or put in a shift.

However,  sometimes genius comes with “madness”. The audacity to think of antimatter, the purest and best form of energy was madness, most of the scientific innovation we see strikes me like stuffs that could have existed in the mind of a mad man. Before, the mobile phone was invented, I saw insane men on the street talking to unknown people and if I had seen a person with a mobile phone then, speaking into the phone and gesticulating, I would have also thought the individual mad. Some of these guys with great inventions tried so many times and failed so many times, but their obsessive repetitive behaviours, which could be a mild or extreme form of autism has led to some of the worlds best minds in technology.

There is a form of autism that is worthy of note with regard to this topic of the flawed genius. Asperger Syndrome. In wikipedia it was considered as, “characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests” (see http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome culled 19th of October 2010)

I am going to briefly talk about Derek Paravinic. He was born blind and autistic. His nanny felt that since the boy could not comprehend anything or see,she introduced him to the universal language of music. She sang to him for two years and she brought a keyboard from the loft of course for his play time. However, after a few months he started making good music, by teaching himself how to play the keyboard. By four years he could play "English country garden" just by listening to a tape from his nanny. His dad got him a piano named Adam Ockelford and he would not even let the teacher touch the keyboard, he was obsessed with it, but later the two got along well.  When he was 11 years of age, he was playing in big orchestras. Even though his ability to comprehend and use language at that time was 0.5%, yet his ability to process music was 99.99% he could hear and process every note played by any person even an orchestra. By the age of 11, could play  “Flight of a bumble bee” despite how fast the notes were. He was known as a child prodigy, the word “autism” was never even associated with him.

The question is how did or does he do it?  TEDTALK describes his ability to hear simultaneous sounds, process and memorize thus:

“In the TEDTalk, I argue that the two things are related. It was Derek's inability to process language in his early years, coupled with his inability to ascribe functional meaning to everyday sounds, that, I contend, led to his heightened ability to process all sounds in a musical way. One traded off the other. In fact, without the former, it is almost certain that the latter would never have developed. Derek's disabilities and abilities, like Freddie's are, I believe, different sides of the same coin.”

(story from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-ockelford/autism-genius_b_4118805.html read on the 19th of October, 2013)

 I guess, its time to help an autistic child discover the genius within. Do not do it, because you want to make the child famous, do because of love. What would tickle the brains of an autistic child is what it feels a connection to, love is a great connection. The gifts of love you buy, the lullaby, the Ipad, jack the builder toys, cartoons, art crayons or art sets might just be what that child needs.

The flawed Genius

The theory of the flawed genius will be imperative in reiterating my point that the advantage some legends have had over others, was the term, described as "Disability".

However, it has been scientifically proven that when an individual is impaired with regard to a certain sense, other senses become enhanced to balance the impaired sense. Blind individuals normally have great sense of hearing, taste, in fact, impeccable perception. I had a blind classmate who came to class unaided during my secondary school. He knew the feel of every currency and never gave a wrong note. I am sure he could taste ingredients in food better than us all, if he was a poet, he would appreciate the sound of the breeze better, the sound of the whistling pines or streams. They understanding feelings like love, hate because they don't see but feel.

I guess this explains the magnificence of Ray Charles. His descriptiveness in his songs makes you wonder whether he was indeed blind. I listen to the song, "Mess around" and I wonder he conjures the imageries in the song. His song "I got a woman" was instrumental to the development of Rock n Roll and Soul and it was his own composition.

Stevie Wonders is also one of a kind. His first hit was at the of 13. His appreciation of love in his songs shows you his one wish is to see the ones he loves even for one day. I grew up hearing this song, "I just called to say I love you". At that age, I could appreciate the depth and beauty of the song.

Its time to check whether what you consider a disability, is only meant to disable the things that inhibit your destiny

The Evils of Time and Chance

I think it is pertinent to explain the concept of time and chance to put the three topics already discussed in perspective. It is vital to state that time is always associated with space, because whatever happens in time, happens within a space that can be perceived by individuals. This time was initially measured with the hour glass and most recently the clock.

Einstein in his theory of relativity postulates that the speed of light is finite and constant, and he further postulates that for two events to be simultaneous, it, “requires that distances appear compressed and time intervals appear lengthened for events associated with objects in motion relative to an inertial observer.” – Wikipedia on Time

The above postulation has been corroborated by the etymology of this blog “Time and Chance” as observed by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9: 11 that:

“Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge--for time and chance may overcome them all.” – NET BIBLE

I have had course to review the above passage in the light of Einstein’s theory of relativity, my personal experiences and cause of history. I have noticed that as a kid, there was a  boy who was always first among a class of 200 pupils and they would always call his unbelievable grade before the assembly of pupils. We also had such a kid in my secondary school. Everyone including the teachers in the two schools mentioned saw these kids as special I aspired to have a brain as retentive as theirs, but I have no idea where the two are, I grew up believing their names would never fade and I keep listening to news to hear about these lads and I am yet to hear their names on the news or blogs etc as i expected. May be they are successful where they are, maybe some of them got confused as to which career path to follow. This confusion is understandable as their high IQ means they can grasp knowledge on any field and this can lead to choosing a wrong career, unlike some of us who knew from day one our limitations and the area of our competence. I was very incompetent in maths, but very rational and knew only the legal profession or the acts, drawing, acting was there for me.

But before, I lose sight of the passage above, let me briefly tell the story of Ian Fleming's 30 Commando unit, this unit is legendary for their James Bond style method of stealing enemy secrets. However, they had an operation that was a failure and to that I must avert my mind to.  “The men of 30AU were trained in all the key commando skills - hand-to-hand combat, booby traps and explosives. Many learned to parachute, handle small boats or dive as frogmen. They learned how to break and enter, how to pick locks and crack - or blow – safes”. Despite all these, the mission in Dieppe  to steal the German Engima machine was a failure. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21629270 (culled 30th September, 2013)

Let me summarized the disaster as written in BBC:

"When the landing craft became lodged on a submerged object just a few metres from the beach, he realised the game was up. Machine and cannon fire rained down from the cliffs as McGrath and the other commandos stripped off their kit, throwing aside their weapons. Those that could swim dived off the boat and swam for their lives through a sea foaming with bullets. McGrath - not a strong swimmer - says he was beginning to go under when the smokescreen cleared and he was spotted by a small Allied boat which dragged him aboard. It was the first of many close calls for McGrath. But almost 1,000 other men had no such luck. They died in the raid at Dieppe, which most military scholars regard as an unmitigated disaster. Fleming's commandos came back empty-handed. They hadn't even stepped ashore"

. Paul McGrath might not have been the strongest, the best shooter or the most talented in life saving maneuvers, in fact he was not even a good swimmer, but recognized an allied small boat and got into it, but time and chance happened to those who died, clearly putting into perspective the theory of Einstein that that for two events to be simultaneous, it, “requires that distances appear compressed and time intervals appear lengthened for events associated with objects in motion relative to an inertial observer.”

This blog is about being in the so-called wrong place at wrong time.

SHOW YOUR HAND 2

As a little kid, my father’s favourite quote was this:

Brutus:
There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

“Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224”

As a child growing up, I found it difficult to grasp the full concept of the wisdom being thrust on me. I have however, had time to regurgitate on those words in relation to my life and it occurred to me that I have had great ideas that I never followed through, I have seen opportunities and let them pass me by.

Sometimes, the word “opportunity” does not come with trays of gold, laces of treasures, it could as well come in the likeness of a disaster. My thoughts on this blog was to write on the Commissar in the Battle of Stalingrad, but having not found much historical confirmation of the character as played in the movie, “Enemy at the Gates” I have decided to write on the actual protagonist of the tale Vasily Zaytsev. My intention would be to show that the man who was later awarded the Honour of Hero of the Soviet Union was a mere farm boy, who used what he learnt from the farm in when a desperate situation came up in time and space and he took his chances. For, the avoidance of doubt, let me reiterate that Vasily grew up as a farm boy and at the age of 12 had killed a wolf using a double barrel and did it  with one shot. The gun used was over weight for his age, but he had learnt well from his grandfather. He became a member of the Soviet Navy and when the Germans put Stalingrad into ruins, he volunteered to go into the front line. I would dare say that this was a major decision for the young man considering that the front line was suicide and retreat was not allowed. However, this young man made history while he was cornered in a building with a comrade. They were still in training and they faced a sniper who took out his friend, and he took the sniper out.  Before 10^th of November 1942 he killed 32 Axis soldiers and between 10^th of November to 17^th of December of 1942 he got more lethal and killed 225 soldiers and officers, took out 11 officers. Between October 1942 to January 1943 he made an estimated kill of 400 soldiers and officers with a weapon whose range was 900 metres, yet some of his kills were from 1000 metres.

Vasily showed his hand when opportunity offered itself, in fact he invented his own tactic of “hide and sting” known as the “sixes” and still in use today. In fact, Colonel Donald Paquette of the US Sniper laid a wreath on his 2006 commemoration and the US Army News quoted him thus: "Vasily Zaytsev is a legend and every American sniper must memorize his tactics and methods. He is a legend amongst snipers. May he rest in peace." For daring to show his hand, and putting himself in harms way, he got the attention of a Professor in the German School (remember it was his grandfather who trained him), this Konig who they matched each other toe to toe for days. He killed the man and got his tag. He showed his characteristics of picking opportunities when he returned to civilian life, he studied in a textile university and became director of a textile company. His sniper rifle till today is in a museum and he was buried a hero at the age of 76. He got the following awards:

1.      Medal "For Courage"

2.      Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"

3.      Medal "For the Defence of Stalingrad"

4.      Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"

5.      Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"

6.      Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"

7.      Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"

8.      Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy"

9.      Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

10.  Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

11.  Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

12.  Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

13.  Honorary Citizen of the Hero City of Volgograd

(From Wikipedia on Vasily Zaytsev)

Time and space is always yours to utilize, whether the situation looks negative or positive is subjective. It is left to you to turn the pendulum to your use or wait and sink. Vasily had the option of reminding himself that he was a trainee and find an escape route as his friend was dead and the city was in ruins, but he offered to change time and space, he remembered the shooting lessons from his grandfather in a farm and he squared up with dare situations, faced deadly snipers who studied in sniper schools, maybe the had better sniper rifles. He changed the course of the battle by targeting officers, causing fear in the enemy within a time space frame. TIME AND CHANCE, was at work here, when he was in a bad place, or a place of bad luck, he used the situation to turn himself into a hero and so can you.

My father would also say, “opportunity comes but once”. I add, opportunity comes everytime, so for everything you do, devote the totality of your endeavours and skill