Poem: "Think First of the Action"
May. 24th, 2020 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the March 17, 2020 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from librarygeek, erulisse, and Anonymous. It also fills the "Energy Drink" square in my 3-1-20 card for the Food Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
Warning: This poem contains graphic descriptions of anxiety in post-earthquake conditions. If these are touchy topics for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
"Think First of the Action"
[Monday, May 30, 2016]
Anxiety Girl had hit her head
during the Big One, which put
her out of commission yesterday.
Today she was back on duty
in San Francisco, because SPOON
was desperately short-handed.
She had a line of stitches across
her forehead, but nothing worse.
Anxiety Girl popped up the table,
then the awning overhead, and finally
a folding chair. She hadn't argued
when assigned a sit-down job.
Other people brought supplies
for her to arrange as she wanted.
Then she unfurled the banner,
which read, Anxiety Relief Station.
She had an assortment of food,
beverages, fidgets, first aid supplies,
self-help materials, and so on.
Within minutes, people swarmed
her table, including not just refugees
but also exhausted relief workers.
The crush was daunting, but
not quite insurmountable.
The first was a geek in a T-shirt
that read, I wear this shirt periodically,
over a picture of the periodic table.
"Call me Danish," he said hoarsely. "I've
been helping with the searchbots, but now
my voice is giving out. I need a drink that won't
make my anxiety worse or knock me out."
"I'm Anxiety Girl," she said. "You want
the Calming Coconut Rose Latte with
Tulsi Stress Soother and coconut milk
instead of dairy milk. It only takes
five minutes to make up fresh."
"I'll take it," Danish said.
While the tea base was
steeping, the girl behind him
said, "I need something
to keep me moving."
"I have Citrus Energy Drink,
Fruity Green Tea Energy Drink,
or Ginseng Energy Blend,"
Anxiety Girl offered.
The girl wanted citrus,
so Anxiety Girl filled a cup
and sent her on her way.
Then it was time to add
the rosewater, honey, and
coconut milk to Danish's drink,
which she handed to him.
Just as she did that,
a sharp bang! sounded.
Danish whirled to look,
and strange equations
crawled out of his head
to hang in the air like ink.
"Oh, no no no," he muttered,
and dashed away with
his drink in hand.
A cluster of teens
all crowded around
the table next.
"We're hungry, and
it's making us edgy,"
the tallest boy said.
"I have seaweed chips,
honey-roasted soy nuts,
Tropical Calm Trail Mix,
Nuttin' Wrong Trail Mix,
dark chocolate bars, licorice,
beef or turkey jerky and cheese,
canned salmon or tuna and
whole-grain crackers,"
Anxiety Girl recited.
They cleaned her out.
She had to raise her hand
for a drover to come restock
the food supplies at her table.
A harried mother and baby
arrived next. "I don't know
what to do," the mother said.
"We need a way to calm down."
"What about aromatherapy?"
Anxiety Girl said, showing
her the kit of supplies.
"Oh, yes, that sounds
good," the woman said.
"I suggest that you consider
Evening Peace Moisturizing Spray,"
said Anxiety Girl. "It's soothing,
and easy to spritz on children."
"Perfect," the mother said,
and let Anxiety Girl mist
the stuff over both of them.
"All done," said Anxiety Girl.
"Thanks," the mother said.
"I don't know how you do it.
I'm freaking out all over."
"I am freaking out,"
said Anxiety Girl. "I'm
just doing it quietly."
"I don't understand,"
the woman said. "You
look fine -- well, I mean,
other than the stitches."
"My name is Anxiety Girl,"
she said. "The description fits.
That's how I think of bad things
so other people can make sure that
they don't actually happen. Only now,
everything bad is happening. This is
my worst nightmare come true."
"I have a friend with anxiety,"
the mother said. "I love her,
but she's a complete flake.
I guess she was serious
about the anxiety, though.
How do you get anything done?"
"That's my secret," Anxiety Girl said.
"I'm always anxious. The world seems
like it's ending? Must be Monday!"
"You really are a superhera,
the woman said softly, then
stepped away so someone else
could freak out in her place.
The old man behind her was
wringing his hands in desperation.
"Here, fidgets! I have a boxful,"
Anxiety Girl said, pushing it at him.
He grabbed a Rube's Cube
and then scurried away
without saying a word.
"I need, I need a fidget
but puzzles make
my head explode,"
the next boy said.
"Try fibercrafts,"
Anxiety Girl said,
pointing him toward
the bin of kits for
knitting or crochet.
"Oh, yarn!" said a girl,
dropping to her knees.
The boy pulled out
a dishcloth crochet kit,
and the girl took one
for knitting baby things.
"I have a little sister,"
she said. "I can make
something for her so
she stops crying."
A woman came up with
a man wearing a police pin.
"I don't know what's wrong with
my husband," she exclaimed.
"He's always so steady!"
"Everything is awful and I'm
not okay," the man wailed.
Anxiety Girl pushed down
the gnawing unease she felt
at his desperation and then
examined him carefully.
"You are having a meltdown,"
she said. "You need to stop
trying to do things and focus on
taking care of yourself. I know
this is strange and new, but it
can happen to anyone. You
will be okay eventually."
Anxiety Girl gathered up
a stack of materials on
anxiety, stress relief,
coping skills, and such.
Then she turned to the wife.
"First, take off his police pin
and log him hard off duty,"
Anxiety Girl directed.
The wife did so while
her husband stood there
with tears leaking out.
"He needs you to guide him
because he can't think straight
right now," Anxiety Girl said,
handing her the stack of pages.
"Start with the top checklist of
practical points, then move on
to stress relief and coping skills.
Read the anxiety stuff later,
after he's more stable."
"Thank you," the wife said,
then guided her husband
toward a tent for resting.
After that, Anxiety Girl
had to pause and focus
on her breathing a bit,
to calm down enough
that she could help
the next person in line.
It was Danish again.
"This, I can't do this,"
he said, gasping with
rapid breaths. "I can't stop
seeing everything wrong!"
The equations swirled
around his head like smoke
shredded the ocean wind.
"Okay, take a deep breath,"
Anxiety Girl said. "Oxygen
makes everything clearer.
Breathe, and you'll feel better."
She talked him through
the process, and gradually
Danish began to calm down.
"I don't know how to cope,"
Danish said. "This superpower
is making my whole life crazy."
"Think first of the action that is right
to take," Anxiety Girl said. "Think later
about coping with your fears."
"Good advice, but I'm not sure
where to start," Danish admitted.
"I need to take a break anyway,"
Anxiety Girl said, waving for
someone else to take over.
"Let's go hit the food truck.
Do you enjoy salmon?"
"I love it," said Danish.
"Then let's have salmon.
The sides are brown rice
or tomato-spinach salad,"
said Anxiety Girl. "All those
help to boost your mood."
"Okay," Danish said.
"Lead the way."
So Anxiety Girl left
the booth and focused
on action, leaving
her fears for later.
They'd still be waiting.
* * *
Notes:
Danish (Daanish Nazakat) -- A hobby for pastry baking led to friends calling him Danish instead of Daanish. He has tawny skin, brown eyes, and short curly hair of ash brown with a mustache and a short boxed beard. His parents immigrated from Pakistan, but he was born in America. His father is Muslim and his mother is Sikh. Danish speaks English, French, German, Greek, Latin, Punjabi, and Urdu. He is 30 years old at the time of the Big One. Danish lives in San Francisco, California. He is a popular leader in the scientific community there.
Danish earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics with a minor in Science and Math Education at the University of California-Berkeley. At 22, he spent a year teaching youth STEMS programs. Then Danish got a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science with a Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science. At 24, he went to work at a robotics company for a couple of years. Finally Danish went back for a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science & Technology: Zetetics with a Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technologies and Development. At 28, Danish began teaching at 9NT, a San Francisco organization supported by the University of California, Berkeley. It offers nine programming tracks, one of each of the nine intelligence types. Although a brilliant scientist, Danish thinks wide, not deep; he'll never have the topical finess of a specialist.
Origin: Danish was working on a project with several other STEMZ teachers at 3NT, trying to design a better program to model how earthquakes spread over long distances, when the Big One hit. His superpowers took an imprint from that.
Uniform: Danish favors cool shades of gray and blue. Most of his clothes for warm and cool weather are casual, and he has a special fondness for science T-shirts. However, he also has a few business outfits for more formal occasions.
Qualities: Master (+6) STEMZ, Expert (+4) Leadership, Expert (+4) Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, Good (+2) Dexterity, Good (+2) Generous, Good (+2) Pastry Cook
Poor (-2) Anxiety
Powers: Good (+2) Clairsentience, Average (0) Illusion
Danish can perceive what's happening at a distance, which he finds nerve-wracking, and his thoughts leak out of his head in the form of illusory scribbles around him, which other people often find distracting or disturbing.
Motivation: "I don't know all the reasons for these achievements, but I know that I love what I do and I have never wanted to rest on my laurels."
-- Ahmed H. Zewail
34) SHORT BOXED
This is the full version of the Van Dyke, with sides extending outward along the jawline and to the ear. The mustache ends are blended into the beard.
-- Beard Styles for Men
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics (4 years)
Major Requirements
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, students must fulfill the requirements listed below specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
1. All technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
2. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.
3. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for all work undertaken at UC Berkeley.
4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements.
For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
For a detailed plan of study by year and semester, please see the Plan of Study tab.
Lower Division Requirements
Code Title Units
MATH 1A Calculus 4
MATH 1B Calculus 4
MATH 53 Multivariable Calculus 4
PHYSICS 89 Introduction to Mathematical Physics 4
CHEM 1A & 1AL General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Laboratory Lab 4
ENGIN 7 Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers 3-4
PHYSICS 7A Physics for Scientists and Engineers 3-4
PHYSICS 5B & 5BL Introductory Electromagnetism, Waves,
and Optics and Introduction to Experimental Physics I 5
PHYSICS 5C & 5CL Introductory Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics
and Introduction to Experimental Physics II 5
Lower division technical electives, select three from the following: 11-14
CHEM 1B General Chemistry [4]
COMPSCI 70 Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory [4]
MAT SCI 45 Properties of Materials [3] (MAT SCI 45L recommended)
Upper Division Requirements
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this major, electives must be selected and approved in consultation with a faculty adviser.
Code Title Units
MEC ENG 104 Engineering Mechanics II 3-4
MEC ENG 106 Fluid Mechanics
PHYSICS 137A Quantum Mechanics 4
PHYSICS 137B Quantum Mechanics 4
Take one of the following math series: 8
MATH 104 & MATH 185
Introduction to Analysis
and Introduction to Complex Analysis
Take one of the following series: 7-8
PHYSICS 110A
& PHYSICS 110B
Electromagnetism and Optics
and Electromagnetism and Optics
MAT SCI 111 Properties of Electronic Materials 4
ENGIN 40 Engineering Thermodynamics 4
EL ENG 143 Microfabrication Technology 3-4
Students planning to pursue graduate school in physics are advised to complete PHYSICS 111B (for 3 units) to satisfy the laboratory requirement.
Minor in Science and Math Education
at the University of California-Berkeley
The CalTeach minor, also known as the minor in Science and Math Education, consists of six courses which explore different aspects of science and mathematics education with an emphasis on secondary-level curricula. While the courses focus on math and science education, any Berkeley undergraduate is eligible to declare and complete the minor.
The CalTeach Minor in Science and Math Education prepares students for a career in the modern public school classroom. With a course sequence designed to work alongside a math, science, or engineering major, the CalTeach minor explores teaching techniques, education research, student cognition, and current issues in public education. The CalTeach minor also prepares undergraduates for the CalTeach Credential Program, a singular opportunity to simultaneously earn a bachelor’s degree and a California math or science teaching credential.
The minor in Science and Math Education requires 6 courses:
1. UGIS 82 K-8 Teaching and Inquiry-Based Lesson Design in the Science and Mathematics Classroom
2. EDUC 130 Knowing and Learning in Math and Science
3. EDUC 131AC Classroom Interactions: Focus on Equity in Urban Schools
4. UGIS/EDUC C122 Research Methods for Science and Math K–12 Teachers
5. HISTORY 100ST, 138T, 180T, or 182AT History of Science with CalTeach Perspectives Section
6. UGIS 187 Project-Based Instruction
Finish in Four
There are many ways to complete a bachelor’s degree, the CalTeach minor, and receive your teaching credential in four years. See Course Pathways for suggestions for approaches to completing the recommended course sequence. We will work closely with you and your major advisor to help plan your future courses. Get started by dropping by the Advising & Resource Center or by making an appointment with our Student Services Coordinator
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science
at University of California-Berkeley (1 year)
Gain Technical Expertise and Leadership Skills
A Master's degree is an essential beginning for a long-term career in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science. A Master's degree will allow you a deeper technical specialization, giving you both a head start in your career and a long-term advantage by making it easier for you to track new developments and change direction in your career. Berkeley's Master of Engineering program goes beyond technical specialization to offer courses in engineering leadership and a team-oriented capstone project. The project allows you to practice, with guidance, the technical and non-technical skills that you learn in the classroom.
Our M.Eng. in EECS program offers innovative graduate courses on scientific and technical topics, organized by technical concentrations that match your interest. However, success in engineering requires skills that transcend the scientific and technical. In a modern engineering development organization, you almost always have to work in teams, and you must communicate your ideas and influence people (colleagues, investors, customers) through oral and written communication. Even as you tackle difficult technical challenges, you have to consider the match between your ideas and the needs of eventual users, how your choices give your organization a competitive advantage, and how to protect your intellectual property. Increasingly, you have to develop an idea in a multi-disciplinary environment, consider complex systems issues as well as detailed technical issues, and position yourself in an ecosystem of suppliers, and complementary products and strategic relationships. Our Masters of Engineering curriculum has anticipated all this, and prepares you for these real-world challenges.
Berkeley is one of the top EECS programs in the world. Here, you’ll learn from superb faculty, as well as an unparalleled student body. Join us for an academic year and undertake the academic experience of a lifetime. You’ll be better prepared for a satisfying and lasting career in engineering design, development, and management.
Program Basics
• Full-time program
• Completed in one academic year — Fall and Spring only
• Classes are taught on the Berkeley campus by top Berkeley Engineering faculty
• Cross-disciplinary cohort includes students from four engineering departments
• Small classes encourage interaction with students, teachers and industry collaborators
• Networks are reinforced through career advising and placement, access to alumni industry connection access, and other services.
Prospective: Robotics and Embedded Software
Program Requirements
All EECS MEng students should expect to complete four (4) technical courses within the EECS department at the graduate level, the Fung Institute's engineering leadership curriculum, as well as a capstone project that will be hosted by the EECS department. You must select a project from the list below.
2020-2021 Capstone Projects*
For the capstone projects for Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) our department believes that our students are going to have a significantly better experience if the projects are followed closely by an EECS professor throughout the academic year. To ensure this, we have asked the faculty in each area for which the Master of Engineering is offered in our department to formulate one or more project ideas that the incoming students will have to choose from.
Back to M.Eng. Admissions.
*we will continue to update this list as more proposals are received from our faculty for the upcoming year
Project 3
Title - Assistive Technology for Navigation, Selection, Pointing, and Clicking in a Mouse-free Environment by Capturing Hand Movements (advisor Prof. Brian Barsky)
Description -This project is concerned with assistive technology that enables users with fine motor control difficulties to navigate, select, point, and click without physically manipulating a mouse. The idea is to use a camera to capture the user’s hand movements. There are many individuals who do not have the ability to control the pointer easily by moving a physical mouse. Unfortunately, there no viable alternatives due to the fact that the mouse has become an essential input device for all modern computers. Inability to control the mouse could be caused by impaired sensation from a wide variety of conditions and illnesses. This project aims to help those with impaired sensation by developing a computer-vision based input system with a camera as its input device. The current project is developing a system that comprises three modules of detection, tracking, and response: (1) The detection stage extracts the hand and recognizes its gesture which can then be used to alter the users' control; for example, a specific movement could correspond to a click of the mouse. (2) The hand is traced by a tracker and its movement is filtered with an anti-shake filter to perform a more stable movement. (3) In the response stage, the granularity (e.g., dots per inch) of the cursor is adjusted according to the user’s speed of hand movement.
Technical Courses
At least THREE of your four technical courses should be chosen from the list below. The remaining technical courses should be chosen from your own or another MEng area of concentration within the EECS Department.
Fall 2019 (Updated: 7/10/19)
• EECS 206A, Introduction to Robotics
• CS 289A, Introduction to Machine Learning
Spring 2020 (Updated: 10/7/2019)
• CS 280, Computer Vision
• CS 287H, Algorithmic Human-Robot Interaction
Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science: Approved Courses
at the University of California-Berkeley
The Graduate Certificate requires three 3-unit (or greater) courses.
All three courses must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a grade of B or higher
At least one of these courses must be an INFO course in the School of Information.
1. Introductory Data Science Course
One required synthetic introduction to data science class.
• INFO 201 Research Design and Applications for Data & Analysis
2. Course in Analytical Methods and Techniques of Data Science
Students must take at least one course from this list.
• STAT C200C Principles and Techniques of Data Science (4 units)
3. Elective
• DATASCI W277 Introduction to Zetetic Analysis (4 units) (T-American)
(T-Berkeley offers an additional section in Zetetics.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science & Technology (2 years)
at the University of California-Berkeley
Graduate Degrees: Ph.D.
Apply for Admission: December 2, 2019
Required Tests: GRE (general test)
Overview
The Applied Science and Technology graduate group is administered by the College of Engineering. The program is aimed at students with research interests that are truly interdisciplinary. Faculty members associated with the program are drawn from several departments within the College of Engineering, as well as from the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Statistics, and Mathematics. Topics of interest include the properties and applications of nanostructures; thin-film and interface science; microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); short-wavelength coherent radiation; X-ray micro-imaging for the life and physical sciences; plasma physics and plasma-assisted materials processing; laser-induced chemical processes; laser probing of complex reacting systems; ultrafast phenomena; particle accelerators; nonlinear dynamics; chaotic systems; numerical methods; and computational fluid mechanics and reacting flows, etc.
Within the program students design their own course of study in consultation with their advisors, choosing from the vast array of technical offerings throughout the campus. The chosen coursework should prepare the student for interdisciplinary research. Students in the PhD program may pursue a Designated Emphasis (DE) such as the DE in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (DE NSE); Energy, Science, and Technology (DE EST); and Computational Science and Engineering (DE CSE).
Graduate research in the AS&T Program benefits from state-of-the-art experimental facilities on the Berkeley campus and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Among these facilities is the National Center for Electron Microscopy, which has the world's highest resolution high-voltage microscope; a microfabrication lab for student work involving lithography; MEMS ion-implantation and thin-film deposition; an integrated sensors laboratory, femtosecond laser laboratories; optical, electrical, and magnetic resonance spectroscopies; short-wavelength laser and Xray research laboratories; an unparalleled variety of material, chemical, and surface science analytic equipment; and a soft X-ray synchrotron dedicated to materials, chemical, and biological research using high-brightness and partially coherent X-rays. The interdisciplinary collaborative nature of the AS&T Program provides ample opportunity to develop new research directions by making the best use possible of these facilities and the other research instrumentation available to AS&T faculty.
Zetetics (T-American)
Analysis of Captured Gizmos and Super-Gizmos
+ corequisite Advanced Safety Lab
Principles of Gizmology
+ corequisite Gizmology Lab
Retro-engineering
The Science of Superpowers
(In T-Berkeley, the Ph.D. level certificate requires one elective from each section, not just 3 total.)
Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technologies and Development: Approved Courses at the University of California-Berkeley
Approved courses for the Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technologies and Development.
(1) Introductory course
• INFO C283 / ERG C283. Information & Communications Technology and Development (3 units)
(2) Social Science Methods
• DEV 237. Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Community Development (3 units)
• ERG 273. Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3 units)
(3) Additional Electives
General
• CS 260. User Interfaces to Computer Systems (3 units)
• INFO 290. Alternative Visions of Technology (2 units)
Development Policy
• PS 208: Development Policy (3 units)
Development Theory and Methodology
• ARE C251: Microeconomics of Development (3 units)
Resources and the Environment
• CE/ER C293A: Technology and Sustainability (2 units)
Science, Technology, and Society Studies
• Engr 124: Ethics and the Impact of Technology on Society (3 units)
Information Technology Design and Infrastructure
• ME 221: High-Tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing (3 units)
Public Health for Developing Regions
• PH 202B: Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Health Status and Behavior (3 units)
Business
• MBA 292N-11: Networks for Impact: Social Innovation’s Next Frontier (1 unit)
Education
• ED 295C: Integrating Technology into Secondary English Instruction (4 units)
(4) Wrap-Up Course
• INFO 290. ICTD Research Seminar (1 unit)
9NT is a San Francisco organization supported by the University of California, Berkeley. It offers nine programming tracks, one of each of the nine intelligence types, along with testing to identify your stronger and weaker intelligences. For children, programs focus on play and learning activities with a sprinkling of current events. For adults, programs include multiple intelligences on the job and current events through the lens of each intelligence, along with how to teach to all nine intelligences for teachers and parents. Public performances and presentations help to attract new participants to classes, lessons, and other activities. After the Cascadia Cataclysm, the Berkeley campus is largely destroyed, but 9NT continues. Out-of-state members update the website with lessons and other materials about the disaster formulated for each intelligence. This helps all different kinds of people process it in their own ways.
See Danish's basic wardrobe for warm and cool weather, business, and science T-shirts.
* * *
"Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one's fears."
-- Barbara Deming
The Big One
San Francisco, CA, USA
PDT (UTC -7)
Sat, May 28, 2016
4:00 PM
San Francisco
Officer Sandra Wu is cycling across the Golden Gate bridge when the telepathic warning comes, about two minutes before the earthquake hits, so she hunkers down on the bridge. A grove of redwoods in Muir Woods reduces the local earthquake from 7.8 to 6.8. The shaking of the main quake, not counting aftershocks, lasts for 40 seconds. The intensity is IX, with some damage to well-built structures and great damage to unprepared ones. Fortunately, San Francisco has invested heavily in quake-resistant architecture and retrofitting, so it fares better than many other cities. The Deep Old One holds onto the Golden Gate Bridge and prevents it from collapsing. She also blunts the tidal wave, which does no damage from the bridge inward, although the seaward beaches on either side of the bay still get flooded. However, in San Francisco, there is little low-lying land so the tidal wave doesn't have much to chew on anyway. The death toll is only around 200 people and 4,500 injuries, instead of the predicted 800 deaths and 18,000 injuries. For an earthquake that bad, that's quite low.
6.0 – 6.9 about 130 VII – IX strong – damage variable depending on building construction and substrate
VII. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.
VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.
IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations.
The farther from Muir Woods, the more damage, because the few remaining redwoods could only do so much to damp down the shaking.
A healthy diet supports emotional health and other benefits. In crisis situations, offering healthy foods and beverages will promote resilience and minimize the risk of compounding stress with harmful substances.
Consider options such as Anti-Anxiety Elixir (cold), Calming Coconut Rose Latte (hot) with a scoop of Stress Less Powder, Soothing Herbal Teas (hot), Calming Lavender-Chamomile Elixir (hot or cold), Homemade Energy Drinks (cold), Crockade, Citrus Energy Drink (cold), Fruity Green Tea Energy Drink, and Ginseng Energy Blend (hot).
Many foods can lower anxiety, ease stress, boost happiness, and otherwise support mental health. These are some good choices for travel or crisis situations:
Tropical Calm Trail Mix: coconut, dark chocolate chips, dried acai berries, dried banana chips, dried goji berries, oat cereal rings, pepitas, sunflower seeds
Nuttin' Wrong Trail Mix: almonds, cashews, dried blueberries, dried cherries, peanuts, puffed brown rice, raisins, walnuts
dark chocolate bars
black licorice
seaweed chips
honey-roasted soy nuts
beef or turkey jerky and cheese
canned salmon or tuna and whole-grain crackers
This is my go-to resource for dealing with depression or other issues that nail you to the bed: Be depressed upright. Depression and activity don't like to live together.
Essential oils for anxiety include things like Overwhelm Reset.
An essential oil first aid kit is an excellent idea, because it easily addresses emotional issues that conventional kits rarely cover. The Terramagne-American version of this essential oils case has 4 large slots that fit 2-ounce bottle, 18 small slots for 1-dram essential oil bottles, and a central pouch for miscellaneous items. See the front and back of the care card for using essential oils. Many options for essential oil products exist. Here is Anxiety Girl's kit:
Simples: Citronella, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Melaleuca, Peppermint
Blends: Balance, Cleansing Blend, Energize, Pain Arrest, Peaceful, Protective Blend, Renew, Soothing Blend, A Little Ray of Sunshine
Spray Bottles: Antiseptic Spray, Burn Spray, Evening Peace Moisturizing Spray, Heaven's Scent Moisturizing Spray
Jars: Comfrey/Calendula Healing Salve, Tender Skin Salve
Carriers: Emu Oil, Natural Organic Oil Blend, Sweet Almond Oil; unscented cream base
You can buy or make a cream base.
Balance (rose, black spruce, lavender, rose geranium, frankincense, ylang ylang, sandalwoods, angelica root, uyssop, bitter orange, bergamot, jasmine, sambac absolute, palmarosa, Roman chamomile, rosewood)
This uplifting blend may alleviate allergy attacks and symptoms. It may help clear the mind, reduce stress, anxiety and combat depression.
Cleansing Blend (rosemary, tea tree, clove, naiouli, and spikenard)
Anti: -fungal,-bacterial,-infectious; regenerating
Energize (peppermint, cardamom, basil, ginger, juniperberry, frankincense, cinnamon bark, and lemongrass)
Relieve stress, boost energy and concentration
Pain Arrest (peppermint, Helichrysum Blend (clary sage, elemi, Roman chamomile, Idaho tansy, birch and ylang ylang), cypress, clove, lemongrass, birch, juniperberry, basil, marjoram, lavender, nutmeg, and myrrh)
Joint pain, sport injuries, sprains, torn ligaments and cartilage, muscle spasms, bumps and bruises
Protective Blend (cinnamon bark, black cumin, frankincense, ravensara, dill, thyme, rosemary, geranium rose, Eucalyptus Radiata, clary sage, Roman chamomile, and oregano)
Supportive to the immune system
Renew (lemon, peppermint, sandalwoods, clary sage, frankincense, Douglas fir, rosemary, bergamot)
Mentally stimulating, increase mental accuracy, stress, depression
Peaceful (tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, blue tansy, patchouli, Mandarin red, and frankincense)
Peaceful blend is a wonderful oil to diffuse. It is relaxing, eases tension and calms the spirit. When massaged on the bottom of the feet, it can be a wonderful prelude to a peaceful night’s rest. It may help to calm overactive and "hard-to-manage" children. The oils in this blend have historically been used to help reduce depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
Soothing Blend / Solace (orange, sweet marjoram, neroli, and rose with jasmine absolute)
Uplifting, relaxing, stress relieving
A Little Ray of Sunshine (ylang ylang, rose blend, bergamot, Mandarin red, jasmine sambac, lemon, geranium, palmarosa, Roman chamomile, rosewood)
Use this incredible blend to help clear the mind and reduce anxiety and stress. During times of grief, the adenoids and adrenal glands may shut down, and Sunshine may help to open these glands.
Antiseptic Spray (aloe vera juice, witch hazel infused with sage and yarrow,
lavender hydrosol, castile soap, grapefruit seed extract, lavender essential oil, tea tree essential oil, thyme essential oil, myrrh essential oil)
Clean wounds and kill germs
Burn Spray (aloe vera juice, fractionated coconut oil, vitamin E, lavender oil, melaleuca oil, peppermint oil)
Cool, clean, and soothe burns
Evening Peace Moisturizing Spray (ylang ylang, sandalwood, rosewood, bergamot, palmarosa, geranium, lemon, Roman chamomile, blue tansy, and clary sage in a soothing base of organic safflower seed oil, coconut, sesame seed oil, organic jojoba, organic sunflower, olive, vitamin A and vitamin E oils)
This is an incredibly relaxing and stress relieving blend ideal for an after shower body moisturizer.
Heaven's Scent Moisturizing Spray (organic safflower seed oil, coconut, sesame seed oil, jojoba, organic sunflower oil, olive oil, Vitamin E and Vitamin A oils, geranium oil, lavender oil, rose oil, blue tansy oil, orange oil, cedarwood oil, ylang ylang oil)
Clear the mind and reduce anxiety and stress
Comfrey/Calendula Salve "Healing Salve" (extra virgin olive oil infused with organically grown comfrey and calendula leaves, natural beeswax and grapefruit seed extract)
Wounds, scars, dryness, eczema
Tender Skin Salve (sandalwood, rosewood, Roman chamomile, lavender, blue tansy, frankincense and ylang ylang in a base of coconut, almond, avocado and wheat germ oils with beeswax)
Topical for skin issues and repair, diaper rash
By including carrier oils and an unscented base cream, many custom blends can be created as needed. This is much cheaper and more concise than trying to stock all the versions. An assortment of supplies make it easy to blend things. Empty jars come in assorted sizes; the 1.5 gram sample size is popular for first aid kits. Disposable spatulas come in various styles, like this curved spoon. Essential oil bottles come in various styles and sizes.
Blue chamomile is useful for treating a wide variety of complaints. SPOON routinely stocks it, because it works better for people with superpowers and against problems caused by superpowers. It should be in all first aid kits for soups, but the idea hasn't really spread yet.
Fidget toys have many benefits and come in all kinds of styles. A box of fidgets is very useful in stressful situations. You can buy these things by the bucket. Check dollar stores or party stores for cheap ones.
Knitting can help mental health. Learn how to knit. This knitting kit focuses on baby things with several colors of yarn, knitting needles, and patterns. All Free Knitting offers free knit patterns (including collections on specific types of knit projects), free knit e-books, and how-to instructions on knitting.
Crochet also has many benefits. Learn how to crochet. This dishcloth kit with several colors of yarn, a crochet hook, and a pattern is among the best crochet kits for beginners. All Free Crochet offers free crochet patterns (including collections on specific types of crochet projects), free crochet e-books, and helpful tips for crochet.
Commercial kits are often pricey, but there's another option. Because people often abandon crafts, it's easy to find the supplies very cheap at thrift stores or rummage sales. Simply collect some and package them into "knit kits" or "crochet kit" yourself. Include basic instructions, a few easy patterns, necessary tools, and enough yarn for a couple of small projects.
"Everything Is Awful and I'm Not Okay" contains a checklist of basic needs to follow.
A meltdown happens when the sensory input or other stress exceeds the brain's capacity to cope. You can watch a video which shows what that feels like. Anyone can have a meltdown, and in fact, everyone has a threshold beyond which they overload. Some people's is just lower due to greater sensitivity and/or lesser processing capacity. People who experience meltdowns often are more alert to the symptoms and usually know how to respond; people who have them rarely may have no idea what is happening or how to deal with it. Recognize the signs of impending meltdown in order to avoid having one. Reducing sensory input and other methods can help you cope with your own meltdown or help somebody else through one.
Coping skills are techniques for handling stress. Here are some coping skills and worksheets. This handbook goes into more detail. You can print up 101 Coping Skills, Stress Relief Activities, Coping Skills Worksheet Types, and Coping Skills Worksheet Blanks.
Anxiety is a pervasive feeling of unease. Know how to help yourself or someone else with it. Here is a guidebook for anxiety. Print up a poster of Anxiety Reducing Tips.
Now that you have an example of an Anxiety Relief Station, you can make your own based on local needs and supplies. This is a good idea at busy events, stressful workplaces, or emergency relief areas. It's a lot easier to relieve anxiety early, while it's still smallish, rather than waiting until it turns into a huge problem.
librarygeek, erulisse, and Anonymous. It also fills the "Energy Drink" square in my 3-1-20 card for the Food Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.Warning: This poem contains graphic descriptions of anxiety in post-earthquake conditions. If these are touchy topics for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
"Think First of the Action"
[Monday, May 30, 2016]
Anxiety Girl had hit her head
during the Big One, which put
her out of commission yesterday.
Today she was back on duty
in San Francisco, because SPOON
was desperately short-handed.
She had a line of stitches across
her forehead, but nothing worse.
Anxiety Girl popped up the table,
then the awning overhead, and finally
a folding chair. She hadn't argued
when assigned a sit-down job.
Other people brought supplies
for her to arrange as she wanted.
Then she unfurled the banner,
which read, Anxiety Relief Station.
She had an assortment of food,
beverages, fidgets, first aid supplies,
self-help materials, and so on.
Within minutes, people swarmed
her table, including not just refugees
but also exhausted relief workers.
The crush was daunting, but
not quite insurmountable.
The first was a geek in a T-shirt
that read, I wear this shirt periodically,
over a picture of the periodic table.
"Call me Danish," he said hoarsely. "I've
been helping with the searchbots, but now
my voice is giving out. I need a drink that won't
make my anxiety worse or knock me out."
"I'm Anxiety Girl," she said. "You want
the Calming Coconut Rose Latte with
Tulsi Stress Soother and coconut milk
instead of dairy milk. It only takes
five minutes to make up fresh."
"I'll take it," Danish said.
While the tea base was
steeping, the girl behind him
said, "I need something
to keep me moving."
"I have Citrus Energy Drink,
Fruity Green Tea Energy Drink,
or Ginseng Energy Blend,"
Anxiety Girl offered.
The girl wanted citrus,
so Anxiety Girl filled a cup
and sent her on her way.
Then it was time to add
the rosewater, honey, and
coconut milk to Danish's drink,
which she handed to him.
Just as she did that,
a sharp bang! sounded.
Danish whirled to look,
and strange equations
crawled out of his head
to hang in the air like ink.
"Oh, no no no," he muttered,
and dashed away with
his drink in hand.
A cluster of teens
all crowded around
the table next.
"We're hungry, and
it's making us edgy,"
the tallest boy said.
"I have seaweed chips,
honey-roasted soy nuts,
Tropical Calm Trail Mix,
Nuttin' Wrong Trail Mix,
dark chocolate bars, licorice,
beef or turkey jerky and cheese,
canned salmon or tuna and
whole-grain crackers,"
Anxiety Girl recited.
They cleaned her out.
She had to raise her hand
for a drover to come restock
the food supplies at her table.
A harried mother and baby
arrived next. "I don't know
what to do," the mother said.
"We need a way to calm down."
"What about aromatherapy?"
Anxiety Girl said, showing
her the kit of supplies.
"Oh, yes, that sounds
good," the woman said.
"I suggest that you consider
Evening Peace Moisturizing Spray,"
said Anxiety Girl. "It's soothing,
and easy to spritz on children."
"Perfect," the mother said,
and let Anxiety Girl mist
the stuff over both of them.
"All done," said Anxiety Girl.
"Thanks," the mother said.
"I don't know how you do it.
I'm freaking out all over."
"I am freaking out,"
said Anxiety Girl. "I'm
just doing it quietly."
"I don't understand,"
the woman said. "You
look fine -- well, I mean,
other than the stitches."
"My name is Anxiety Girl,"
she said. "The description fits.
That's how I think of bad things
so other people can make sure that
they don't actually happen. Only now,
everything bad is happening. This is
my worst nightmare come true."
"I have a friend with anxiety,"
the mother said. "I love her,
but she's a complete flake.
I guess she was serious
about the anxiety, though.
How do you get anything done?"
"That's my secret," Anxiety Girl said.
"I'm always anxious. The world seems
like it's ending? Must be Monday!"
"You really are a superhera,
the woman said softly, then
stepped away so someone else
could freak out in her place.
The old man behind her was
wringing his hands in desperation.
"Here, fidgets! I have a boxful,"
Anxiety Girl said, pushing it at him.
He grabbed a Rube's Cube
and then scurried away
without saying a word.
"I need, I need a fidget
but puzzles make
my head explode,"
the next boy said.
"Try fibercrafts,"
Anxiety Girl said,
pointing him toward
the bin of kits for
knitting or crochet.
"Oh, yarn!" said a girl,
dropping to her knees.
The boy pulled out
a dishcloth crochet kit,
and the girl took one
for knitting baby things.
"I have a little sister,"
she said. "I can make
something for her so
she stops crying."
A woman came up with
a man wearing a police pin.
"I don't know what's wrong with
my husband," she exclaimed.
"He's always so steady!"
"Everything is awful and I'm
not okay," the man wailed.
Anxiety Girl pushed down
the gnawing unease she felt
at his desperation and then
examined him carefully.
"You are having a meltdown,"
she said. "You need to stop
trying to do things and focus on
taking care of yourself. I know
this is strange and new, but it
can happen to anyone. You
will be okay eventually."
Anxiety Girl gathered up
a stack of materials on
anxiety, stress relief,
coping skills, and such.
Then she turned to the wife.
"First, take off his police pin
and log him hard off duty,"
Anxiety Girl directed.
The wife did so while
her husband stood there
with tears leaking out.
"He needs you to guide him
because he can't think straight
right now," Anxiety Girl said,
handing her the stack of pages.
"Start with the top checklist of
practical points, then move on
to stress relief and coping skills.
Read the anxiety stuff later,
after he's more stable."
"Thank you," the wife said,
then guided her husband
toward a tent for resting.
After that, Anxiety Girl
had to pause and focus
on her breathing a bit,
to calm down enough
that she could help
the next person in line.
It was Danish again.
"This, I can't do this,"
he said, gasping with
rapid breaths. "I can't stop
seeing everything wrong!"
The equations swirled
around his head like smoke
shredded the ocean wind.
"Okay, take a deep breath,"
Anxiety Girl said. "Oxygen
makes everything clearer.
Breathe, and you'll feel better."
She talked him through
the process, and gradually
Danish began to calm down.
"I don't know how to cope,"
Danish said. "This superpower
is making my whole life crazy."
"Think first of the action that is right
to take," Anxiety Girl said. "Think later
about coping with your fears."
"Good advice, but I'm not sure
where to start," Danish admitted.
"I need to take a break anyway,"
Anxiety Girl said, waving for
someone else to take over.
"Let's go hit the food truck.
Do you enjoy salmon?"
"I love it," said Danish.
"Then let's have salmon.
The sides are brown rice
or tomato-spinach salad,"
said Anxiety Girl. "All those
help to boost your mood."
"Okay," Danish said.
"Lead the way."
So Anxiety Girl left
the booth and focused
on action, leaving
her fears for later.
They'd still be waiting.
* * *
Notes:
Danish (Daanish Nazakat) -- A hobby for pastry baking led to friends calling him Danish instead of Daanish. He has tawny skin, brown eyes, and short curly hair of ash brown with a mustache and a short boxed beard. His parents immigrated from Pakistan, but he was born in America. His father is Muslim and his mother is Sikh. Danish speaks English, French, German, Greek, Latin, Punjabi, and Urdu. He is 30 years old at the time of the Big One. Danish lives in San Francisco, California. He is a popular leader in the scientific community there.
Danish earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics with a minor in Science and Math Education at the University of California-Berkeley. At 22, he spent a year teaching youth STEMS programs. Then Danish got a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science with a Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science. At 24, he went to work at a robotics company for a couple of years. Finally Danish went back for a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science & Technology: Zetetics with a Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technologies and Development. At 28, Danish began teaching at 9NT, a San Francisco organization supported by the University of California, Berkeley. It offers nine programming tracks, one of each of the nine intelligence types. Although a brilliant scientist, Danish thinks wide, not deep; he'll never have the topical finess of a specialist.
Origin: Danish was working on a project with several other STEMZ teachers at 3NT, trying to design a better program to model how earthquakes spread over long distances, when the Big One hit. His superpowers took an imprint from that.
Uniform: Danish favors cool shades of gray and blue. Most of his clothes for warm and cool weather are casual, and he has a special fondness for science T-shirts. However, he also has a few business outfits for more formal occasions.
Qualities: Master (+6) STEMZ, Expert (+4) Leadership, Expert (+4) Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, Good (+2) Dexterity, Good (+2) Generous, Good (+2) Pastry Cook
Poor (-2) Anxiety
Powers: Good (+2) Clairsentience, Average (0) Illusion
Danish can perceive what's happening at a distance, which he finds nerve-wracking, and his thoughts leak out of his head in the form of illusory scribbles around him, which other people often find distracting or disturbing.
Motivation: "I don't know all the reasons for these achievements, but I know that I love what I do and I have never wanted to rest on my laurels."
-- Ahmed H. Zewail
34) SHORT BOXED
This is the full version of the Van Dyke, with sides extending outward along the jawline and to the ear. The mustache ends are blended into the beard.
-- Beard Styles for Men
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics (4 years)
Major Requirements
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, students must fulfill the requirements listed below specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
1. All technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
2. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.
3. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for all work undertaken at UC Berkeley.
4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements.
For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
For a detailed plan of study by year and semester, please see the Plan of Study tab.
Lower Division Requirements
Code Title Units
MATH 1A Calculus 4
MATH 1B Calculus 4
MATH 53 Multivariable Calculus 4
PHYSICS 89 Introduction to Mathematical Physics 4
CHEM 1A & 1AL General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Laboratory Lab 4
ENGIN 7 Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers 3-4
PHYSICS 7A Physics for Scientists and Engineers 3-4
PHYSICS 5B & 5BL Introductory Electromagnetism, Waves,
and Optics and Introduction to Experimental Physics I 5
PHYSICS 5C & 5CL Introductory Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics
and Introduction to Experimental Physics II 5
Lower division technical electives, select three from the following: 11-14
CHEM 1B General Chemistry [4]
COMPSCI 70 Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory [4]
MAT SCI 45 Properties of Materials [3] (MAT SCI 45L recommended)
Upper Division Requirements
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this major, electives must be selected and approved in consultation with a faculty adviser.
Code Title Units
MEC ENG 104 Engineering Mechanics II 3-4
MEC ENG 106 Fluid Mechanics
PHYSICS 137A Quantum Mechanics 4
PHYSICS 137B Quantum Mechanics 4
Take one of the following math series: 8
MATH 104 & MATH 185
Introduction to Analysis
and Introduction to Complex Analysis
Take one of the following series: 7-8
PHYSICS 110A
& PHYSICS 110B
Electromagnetism and Optics
and Electromagnetism and Optics
MAT SCI 111 Properties of Electronic Materials 4
ENGIN 40 Engineering Thermodynamics 4
EL ENG 143 Microfabrication Technology 3-4
Students planning to pursue graduate school in physics are advised to complete PHYSICS 111B (for 3 units) to satisfy the laboratory requirement.
Minor in Science and Math Education
at the University of California-Berkeley
The CalTeach minor, also known as the minor in Science and Math Education, consists of six courses which explore different aspects of science and mathematics education with an emphasis on secondary-level curricula. While the courses focus on math and science education, any Berkeley undergraduate is eligible to declare and complete the minor.
The CalTeach Minor in Science and Math Education prepares students for a career in the modern public school classroom. With a course sequence designed to work alongside a math, science, or engineering major, the CalTeach minor explores teaching techniques, education research, student cognition, and current issues in public education. The CalTeach minor also prepares undergraduates for the CalTeach Credential Program, a singular opportunity to simultaneously earn a bachelor’s degree and a California math or science teaching credential.
The minor in Science and Math Education requires 6 courses:
1. UGIS 82 K-8 Teaching and Inquiry-Based Lesson Design in the Science and Mathematics Classroom
2. EDUC 130 Knowing and Learning in Math and Science
3. EDUC 131AC Classroom Interactions: Focus on Equity in Urban Schools
4. UGIS/EDUC C122 Research Methods for Science and Math K–12 Teachers
5. HISTORY 100ST, 138T, 180T, or 182AT History of Science with CalTeach Perspectives Section
6. UGIS 187 Project-Based Instruction
Finish in Four
There are many ways to complete a bachelor’s degree, the CalTeach minor, and receive your teaching credential in four years. See Course Pathways for suggestions for approaches to completing the recommended course sequence. We will work closely with you and your major advisor to help plan your future courses. Get started by dropping by the Advising & Resource Center or by making an appointment with our Student Services Coordinator
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science
at University of California-Berkeley (1 year)
Gain Technical Expertise and Leadership Skills
A Master's degree is an essential beginning for a long-term career in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science. A Master's degree will allow you a deeper technical specialization, giving you both a head start in your career and a long-term advantage by making it easier for you to track new developments and change direction in your career. Berkeley's Master of Engineering program goes beyond technical specialization to offer courses in engineering leadership and a team-oriented capstone project. The project allows you to practice, with guidance, the technical and non-technical skills that you learn in the classroom.
Our M.Eng. in EECS program offers innovative graduate courses on scientific and technical topics, organized by technical concentrations that match your interest. However, success in engineering requires skills that transcend the scientific and technical. In a modern engineering development organization, you almost always have to work in teams, and you must communicate your ideas and influence people (colleagues, investors, customers) through oral and written communication. Even as you tackle difficult technical challenges, you have to consider the match between your ideas and the needs of eventual users, how your choices give your organization a competitive advantage, and how to protect your intellectual property. Increasingly, you have to develop an idea in a multi-disciplinary environment, consider complex systems issues as well as detailed technical issues, and position yourself in an ecosystem of suppliers, and complementary products and strategic relationships. Our Masters of Engineering curriculum has anticipated all this, and prepares you for these real-world challenges.
Berkeley is one of the top EECS programs in the world. Here, you’ll learn from superb faculty, as well as an unparalleled student body. Join us for an academic year and undertake the academic experience of a lifetime. You’ll be better prepared for a satisfying and lasting career in engineering design, development, and management.
Program Basics
• Full-time program
• Completed in one academic year — Fall and Spring only
• Classes are taught on the Berkeley campus by top Berkeley Engineering faculty
• Cross-disciplinary cohort includes students from four engineering departments
• Small classes encourage interaction with students, teachers and industry collaborators
• Networks are reinforced through career advising and placement, access to alumni industry connection access, and other services.
Prospective: Robotics and Embedded Software
Program Requirements
All EECS MEng students should expect to complete four (4) technical courses within the EECS department at the graduate level, the Fung Institute's engineering leadership curriculum, as well as a capstone project that will be hosted by the EECS department. You must select a project from the list below.
2020-2021 Capstone Projects*
For the capstone projects for Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) our department believes that our students are going to have a significantly better experience if the projects are followed closely by an EECS professor throughout the academic year. To ensure this, we have asked the faculty in each area for which the Master of Engineering is offered in our department to formulate one or more project ideas that the incoming students will have to choose from.
Back to M.Eng. Admissions.
*we will continue to update this list as more proposals are received from our faculty for the upcoming year
Project 3
Title - Assistive Technology for Navigation, Selection, Pointing, and Clicking in a Mouse-free Environment by Capturing Hand Movements (advisor Prof. Brian Barsky)
Description -This project is concerned with assistive technology that enables users with fine motor control difficulties to navigate, select, point, and click without physically manipulating a mouse. The idea is to use a camera to capture the user’s hand movements. There are many individuals who do not have the ability to control the pointer easily by moving a physical mouse. Unfortunately, there no viable alternatives due to the fact that the mouse has become an essential input device for all modern computers. Inability to control the mouse could be caused by impaired sensation from a wide variety of conditions and illnesses. This project aims to help those with impaired sensation by developing a computer-vision based input system with a camera as its input device. The current project is developing a system that comprises three modules of detection, tracking, and response: (1) The detection stage extracts the hand and recognizes its gesture which can then be used to alter the users' control; for example, a specific movement could correspond to a click of the mouse. (2) The hand is traced by a tracker and its movement is filtered with an anti-shake filter to perform a more stable movement. (3) In the response stage, the granularity (e.g., dots per inch) of the cursor is adjusted according to the user’s speed of hand movement.
Technical Courses
At least THREE of your four technical courses should be chosen from the list below. The remaining technical courses should be chosen from your own or another MEng area of concentration within the EECS Department.
Fall 2019 (Updated: 7/10/19)
• EECS 206A, Introduction to Robotics
• CS 289A, Introduction to Machine Learning
Spring 2020 (Updated: 10/7/2019)
• CS 280, Computer Vision
• CS 287H, Algorithmic Human-Robot Interaction
Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science: Approved Courses
at the University of California-Berkeley
The Graduate Certificate requires three 3-unit (or greater) courses.
All three courses must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a grade of B or higher
At least one of these courses must be an INFO course in the School of Information.
1. Introductory Data Science Course
One required synthetic introduction to data science class.
• INFO 201 Research Design and Applications for Data & Analysis
2. Course in Analytical Methods and Techniques of Data Science
Students must take at least one course from this list.
• STAT C200C Principles and Techniques of Data Science (4 units)
3. Elective
• DATASCI W277 Introduction to Zetetic Analysis (4 units) (T-American)
(T-Berkeley offers an additional section in Zetetics.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science & Technology (2 years)
at the University of California-Berkeley
Graduate Degrees: Ph.D.
Apply for Admission: December 2, 2019
Required Tests: GRE (general test)
Overview
The Applied Science and Technology graduate group is administered by the College of Engineering. The program is aimed at students with research interests that are truly interdisciplinary. Faculty members associated with the program are drawn from several departments within the College of Engineering, as well as from the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Statistics, and Mathematics. Topics of interest include the properties and applications of nanostructures; thin-film and interface science; microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); short-wavelength coherent radiation; X-ray micro-imaging for the life and physical sciences; plasma physics and plasma-assisted materials processing; laser-induced chemical processes; laser probing of complex reacting systems; ultrafast phenomena; particle accelerators; nonlinear dynamics; chaotic systems; numerical methods; and computational fluid mechanics and reacting flows, etc.
Within the program students design their own course of study in consultation with their advisors, choosing from the vast array of technical offerings throughout the campus. The chosen coursework should prepare the student for interdisciplinary research. Students in the PhD program may pursue a Designated Emphasis (DE) such as the DE in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (DE NSE); Energy, Science, and Technology (DE EST); and Computational Science and Engineering (DE CSE).
Graduate research in the AS&T Program benefits from state-of-the-art experimental facilities on the Berkeley campus and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Among these facilities is the National Center for Electron Microscopy, which has the world's highest resolution high-voltage microscope; a microfabrication lab for student work involving lithography; MEMS ion-implantation and thin-film deposition; an integrated sensors laboratory, femtosecond laser laboratories; optical, electrical, and magnetic resonance spectroscopies; short-wavelength laser and Xray research laboratories; an unparalleled variety of material, chemical, and surface science analytic equipment; and a soft X-ray synchrotron dedicated to materials, chemical, and biological research using high-brightness and partially coherent X-rays. The interdisciplinary collaborative nature of the AS&T Program provides ample opportunity to develop new research directions by making the best use possible of these facilities and the other research instrumentation available to AS&T faculty.
Zetetics (T-American)
Analysis of Captured Gizmos and Super-Gizmos
+ corequisite Advanced Safety Lab
Principles of Gizmology
+ corequisite Gizmology Lab
Retro-engineering
The Science of Superpowers
(In T-Berkeley, the Ph.D. level certificate requires one elective from each section, not just 3 total.)
Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technologies and Development: Approved Courses at the University of California-Berkeley
Approved courses for the Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technologies and Development.
(1) Introductory course
• INFO C283 / ERG C283. Information & Communications Technology and Development (3 units)
(2) Social Science Methods
• DEV 237. Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Community Development (3 units)
• ERG 273. Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3 units)
(3) Additional Electives
General
• CS 260. User Interfaces to Computer Systems (3 units)
• INFO 290. Alternative Visions of Technology (2 units)
Development Policy
• PS 208: Development Policy (3 units)
Development Theory and Methodology
• ARE C251: Microeconomics of Development (3 units)
Resources and the Environment
• CE/ER C293A: Technology and Sustainability (2 units)
Science, Technology, and Society Studies
• Engr 124: Ethics and the Impact of Technology on Society (3 units)
Information Technology Design and Infrastructure
• ME 221: High-Tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing (3 units)
Public Health for Developing Regions
• PH 202B: Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Health Status and Behavior (3 units)
Business
• MBA 292N-11: Networks for Impact: Social Innovation’s Next Frontier (1 unit)
Education
• ED 295C: Integrating Technology into Secondary English Instruction (4 units)
(4) Wrap-Up Course
• INFO 290. ICTD Research Seminar (1 unit)
9NT is a San Francisco organization supported by the University of California, Berkeley. It offers nine programming tracks, one of each of the nine intelligence types, along with testing to identify your stronger and weaker intelligences. For children, programs focus on play and learning activities with a sprinkling of current events. For adults, programs include multiple intelligences on the job and current events through the lens of each intelligence, along with how to teach to all nine intelligences for teachers and parents. Public performances and presentations help to attract new participants to classes, lessons, and other activities. After the Cascadia Cataclysm, the Berkeley campus is largely destroyed, but 9NT continues. Out-of-state members update the website with lessons and other materials about the disaster formulated for each intelligence. This helps all different kinds of people process it in their own ways.
See Danish's basic wardrobe for warm and cool weather, business, and science T-shirts.
* * *
"Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one's fears."
-- Barbara Deming
The Big One
San Francisco, CA, USA
PDT (UTC -7)
Sat, May 28, 2016
4:00 PM
San Francisco
Officer Sandra Wu is cycling across the Golden Gate bridge when the telepathic warning comes, about two minutes before the earthquake hits, so she hunkers down on the bridge. A grove of redwoods in Muir Woods reduces the local earthquake from 7.8 to 6.8. The shaking of the main quake, not counting aftershocks, lasts for 40 seconds. The intensity is IX, with some damage to well-built structures and great damage to unprepared ones. Fortunately, San Francisco has invested heavily in quake-resistant architecture and retrofitting, so it fares better than many other cities. The Deep Old One holds onto the Golden Gate Bridge and prevents it from collapsing. She also blunts the tidal wave, which does no damage from the bridge inward, although the seaward beaches on either side of the bay still get flooded. However, in San Francisco, there is little low-lying land so the tidal wave doesn't have much to chew on anyway. The death toll is only around 200 people and 4,500 injuries, instead of the predicted 800 deaths and 18,000 injuries. For an earthquake that bad, that's quite low.
6.0 – 6.9 about 130 VII – IX strong – damage variable depending on building construction and substrate
VII. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.
VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.
IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations.
The farther from Muir Woods, the more damage, because the few remaining redwoods could only do so much to damp down the shaking.
A healthy diet supports emotional health and other benefits. In crisis situations, offering healthy foods and beverages will promote resilience and minimize the risk of compounding stress with harmful substances.
Consider options such as Anti-Anxiety Elixir (cold), Calming Coconut Rose Latte (hot) with a scoop of Stress Less Powder, Soothing Herbal Teas (hot), Calming Lavender-Chamomile Elixir (hot or cold), Homemade Energy Drinks (cold), Crockade, Citrus Energy Drink (cold), Fruity Green Tea Energy Drink, and Ginseng Energy Blend (hot).
Many foods can lower anxiety, ease stress, boost happiness, and otherwise support mental health. These are some good choices for travel or crisis situations:
Tropical Calm Trail Mix: coconut, dark chocolate chips, dried acai berries, dried banana chips, dried goji berries, oat cereal rings, pepitas, sunflower seeds
Nuttin' Wrong Trail Mix: almonds, cashews, dried blueberries, dried cherries, peanuts, puffed brown rice, raisins, walnuts
dark chocolate bars
black licorice
seaweed chips
honey-roasted soy nuts
beef or turkey jerky and cheese
canned salmon or tuna and whole-grain crackers
This is my go-to resource for dealing with depression or other issues that nail you to the bed: Be depressed upright. Depression and activity don't like to live together.
Essential oils for anxiety include things like Overwhelm Reset.
An essential oil first aid kit is an excellent idea, because it easily addresses emotional issues that conventional kits rarely cover. The Terramagne-American version of this essential oils case has 4 large slots that fit 2-ounce bottle, 18 small slots for 1-dram essential oil bottles, and a central pouch for miscellaneous items. See the front and back of the care card for using essential oils. Many options for essential oil products exist. Here is Anxiety Girl's kit:
Simples: Citronella, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Melaleuca, Peppermint
Blends: Balance, Cleansing Blend, Energize, Pain Arrest, Peaceful, Protective Blend, Renew, Soothing Blend, A Little Ray of Sunshine
Spray Bottles: Antiseptic Spray, Burn Spray, Evening Peace Moisturizing Spray, Heaven's Scent Moisturizing Spray
Jars: Comfrey/Calendula Healing Salve, Tender Skin Salve
Carriers: Emu Oil, Natural Organic Oil Blend, Sweet Almond Oil; unscented cream base
You can buy or make a cream base.
Balance (rose, black spruce, lavender, rose geranium, frankincense, ylang ylang, sandalwoods, angelica root, uyssop, bitter orange, bergamot, jasmine, sambac absolute, palmarosa, Roman chamomile, rosewood)
This uplifting blend may alleviate allergy attacks and symptoms. It may help clear the mind, reduce stress, anxiety and combat depression.
Cleansing Blend (rosemary, tea tree, clove, naiouli, and spikenard)
Anti: -fungal,-bacterial,-infectious; regenerating
Energize (peppermint, cardamom, basil, ginger, juniperberry, frankincense, cinnamon bark, and lemongrass)
Relieve stress, boost energy and concentration
Pain Arrest (peppermint, Helichrysum Blend (clary sage, elemi, Roman chamomile, Idaho tansy, birch and ylang ylang), cypress, clove, lemongrass, birch, juniperberry, basil, marjoram, lavender, nutmeg, and myrrh)
Joint pain, sport injuries, sprains, torn ligaments and cartilage, muscle spasms, bumps and bruises
Protective Blend (cinnamon bark, black cumin, frankincense, ravensara, dill, thyme, rosemary, geranium rose, Eucalyptus Radiata, clary sage, Roman chamomile, and oregano)
Supportive to the immune system
Renew (lemon, peppermint, sandalwoods, clary sage, frankincense, Douglas fir, rosemary, bergamot)
Mentally stimulating, increase mental accuracy, stress, depression
Peaceful (tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, blue tansy, patchouli, Mandarin red, and frankincense)
Peaceful blend is a wonderful oil to diffuse. It is relaxing, eases tension and calms the spirit. When massaged on the bottom of the feet, it can be a wonderful prelude to a peaceful night’s rest. It may help to calm overactive and "hard-to-manage" children. The oils in this blend have historically been used to help reduce depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
Soothing Blend / Solace (orange, sweet marjoram, neroli, and rose with jasmine absolute)
Uplifting, relaxing, stress relieving
A Little Ray of Sunshine (ylang ylang, rose blend, bergamot, Mandarin red, jasmine sambac, lemon, geranium, palmarosa, Roman chamomile, rosewood)
Use this incredible blend to help clear the mind and reduce anxiety and stress. During times of grief, the adenoids and adrenal glands may shut down, and Sunshine may help to open these glands.
Antiseptic Spray (aloe vera juice, witch hazel infused with sage and yarrow,
lavender hydrosol, castile soap, grapefruit seed extract, lavender essential oil, tea tree essential oil, thyme essential oil, myrrh essential oil)
Clean wounds and kill germs
Burn Spray (aloe vera juice, fractionated coconut oil, vitamin E, lavender oil, melaleuca oil, peppermint oil)
Cool, clean, and soothe burns
Evening Peace Moisturizing Spray (ylang ylang, sandalwood, rosewood, bergamot, palmarosa, geranium, lemon, Roman chamomile, blue tansy, and clary sage in a soothing base of organic safflower seed oil, coconut, sesame seed oil, organic jojoba, organic sunflower, olive, vitamin A and vitamin E oils)
This is an incredibly relaxing and stress relieving blend ideal for an after shower body moisturizer.
Heaven's Scent Moisturizing Spray (organic safflower seed oil, coconut, sesame seed oil, jojoba, organic sunflower oil, olive oil, Vitamin E and Vitamin A oils, geranium oil, lavender oil, rose oil, blue tansy oil, orange oil, cedarwood oil, ylang ylang oil)
Clear the mind and reduce anxiety and stress
Comfrey/Calendula Salve "Healing Salve" (extra virgin olive oil infused with organically grown comfrey and calendula leaves, natural beeswax and grapefruit seed extract)
Wounds, scars, dryness, eczema
Tender Skin Salve (sandalwood, rosewood, Roman chamomile, lavender, blue tansy, frankincense and ylang ylang in a base of coconut, almond, avocado and wheat germ oils with beeswax)
Topical for skin issues and repair, diaper rash
By including carrier oils and an unscented base cream, many custom blends can be created as needed. This is much cheaper and more concise than trying to stock all the versions. An assortment of supplies make it easy to blend things. Empty jars come in assorted sizes; the 1.5 gram sample size is popular for first aid kits. Disposable spatulas come in various styles, like this curved spoon. Essential oil bottles come in various styles and sizes.
Blue chamomile is useful for treating a wide variety of complaints. SPOON routinely stocks it, because it works better for people with superpowers and against problems caused by superpowers. It should be in all first aid kits for soups, but the idea hasn't really spread yet.
Fidget toys have many benefits and come in all kinds of styles. A box of fidgets is very useful in stressful situations. You can buy these things by the bucket. Check dollar stores or party stores for cheap ones.
Knitting can help mental health. Learn how to knit. This knitting kit focuses on baby things with several colors of yarn, knitting needles, and patterns. All Free Knitting offers free knit patterns (including collections on specific types of knit projects), free knit e-books, and how-to instructions on knitting.
Crochet also has many benefits. Learn how to crochet. This dishcloth kit with several colors of yarn, a crochet hook, and a pattern is among the best crochet kits for beginners. All Free Crochet offers free crochet patterns (including collections on specific types of crochet projects), free crochet e-books, and helpful tips for crochet.
Commercial kits are often pricey, but there's another option. Because people often abandon crafts, it's easy to find the supplies very cheap at thrift stores or rummage sales. Simply collect some and package them into "knit kits" or "crochet kit" yourself. Include basic instructions, a few easy patterns, necessary tools, and enough yarn for a couple of small projects.
"Everything Is Awful and I'm Not Okay" contains a checklist of basic needs to follow.
A meltdown happens when the sensory input or other stress exceeds the brain's capacity to cope. You can watch a video which shows what that feels like. Anyone can have a meltdown, and in fact, everyone has a threshold beyond which they overload. Some people's is just lower due to greater sensitivity and/or lesser processing capacity. People who experience meltdowns often are more alert to the symptoms and usually know how to respond; people who have them rarely may have no idea what is happening or how to deal with it. Recognize the signs of impending meltdown in order to avoid having one. Reducing sensory input and other methods can help you cope with your own meltdown or help somebody else through one.
Coping skills are techniques for handling stress. Here are some coping skills and worksheets. This handbook goes into more detail. You can print up 101 Coping Skills, Stress Relief Activities, Coping Skills Worksheet Types, and Coping Skills Worksheet Blanks.
Anxiety is a pervasive feeling of unease. Know how to help yourself or someone else with it. Here is a guidebook for anxiety. Print up a poster of Anxiety Reducing Tips.
Now that you have an example of an Anxiety Relief Station, you can make your own based on local needs and supplies. This is a good idea at busy events, stressful workplaces, or emergency relief areas. It's a lot easier to relieve anxiety early, while it's still smallish, rather than waiting until it turns into a huge problem.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-25 11:11 am (UTC)I also empathize with the information on "meltdown". I used to be very good at handling multiple inputs - I used to crave them, having the radio on while I read a book and watched TV. But since my stroke in 2018, I have felt that it would be a very bad idea for me to try to drive a car until the thought of all of the inputs necessary for safe driving overwhelmed me. I hope my brain will sort this out fairly soon; there are places I'm going to need to go and I can probably only get there in a car. It's one of the most frustrating parts of my medical mess.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-25 02:33 pm (UTC)Fortunately, it seems we have some L-space near-equivalents to Dr Infanta... Dr Anthony Stephen Fauci for a start, then there's Colonel Sir Tom Moore whose fund raising pretty much stopped the NHS from collapsing.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-25 04:42 pm (UTC)Its basically an outside-context problem - we can deal with flu season, hurricanes, wildfires, mass shooters, floods, serial killers, polar bears, tornadoes, etc. but the system is not designed for everything everywhere to be shut down at once, for months.
Plus, people can't agree on what a sensible response is - mask or no, stay home or no, order online or no, stores closed/open for pickup/open-open...I think that's causing a lot of stress.
Hopefully we'll be able to patch some of the bigger problems in society now that this is making them obvious and opening a diologue.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-25 06:23 pm (UTC)I mean, you wouldn't imagine that UBI would ever be considered in the US, but there's a trial scheme starting up Columbia this month, and it's seriously on the table at least for the Democrats.
And that's just one thing, there are a ton of people saying that we can't go back to the way things were.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-26 06:29 am (UTC)Frankly, the longer this goes on the less likely we will go back to the original normal. And even if this ends tomorrow (which it won't) the cat is out of the bag on so many different things that they /can't/ stop change.
Maybe its also a bit of be careful what you wish for. No immigrants? Food shortages. Massive layoffs and very few people have savings? If you don't want riots in the streets, you need to make sure they have food, shelter, and a way to care for their kids. Make workers work while sick? Everyone gets sick, including the customers. People dont have housing, running water or medical care? Lots of other people catch the illness from them. All of a sudden these truths cannot be ignored anymore.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-26 12:22 am (UTC)Dr. Fauci has done a good job of being the adult in the room when our fearsome leader proposes stupid ideas like injecting bleach, or canceling all the lockdown stuff in order to "make the economy heathly". Fauci has said he feels tempted to shove the Prez away from the mike at times like that. And your old soldier did the best he could to make things better.
But a ridiculously powerful superhero who thinks like a seven-year-old girl would be tremendously helpful.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-26 12:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-06-14 07:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-06-14 11:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-25 01:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-05-25 04:30 pm (UTC)not okay," the main wailed.<<
I have two tricks (besides the breathing) that really help for anxiety: one is listening to a particular piece of music that one of my parents used as a lullaby when I was little, the other is lavender-scented stuff (like a sachet or something).
Rolling myself up in a blanket may help, or it may not, but its easier than getting other people to hug/not hug me when I'm having trouble talking, and may feel like I can't breathe if I get pressure on my ribcage.
If you have a friendly purring cat curl up by your head that is nice too, but in is kind of up to the cat. :)
Thank you!
Date: 2020-05-25 09:32 pm (UTC)not okay," the main wailed.<<
Fixed.
>> I have two tricks (besides the breathing) that really help for anxiety: one is listening to a particular piece of music that one of my parents used as a lullaby when I was little, the other is lavender-scented stuff (like a sachet or something). <<
Those are good, and indeed, often recommended for an emotional first aid box. Lavender is even one of the simples in Anxiety Girl's kit. You can get lavender oil or its blends (lavender-mint or lavender-ylang ylang are nice) as roll-ons to carry in your purse.
>>If you have a friendly purring cat curl up by your head that is nice too, but in is kind of up to the cat. :) <<
I actually have a poem about that.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2020-05-26 06:13 am (UTC)If my lavender plant actually germinates and doesn't die, i may be able to experiment some.
The family cats aren't therapy cats, but if youre sick or really upset, they'll sometimes come over and try to add some comfort or cheer. (They'll also try to love me out of the telephone when I call...unless they get bored with the absence of cheek scratches and treats.)