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Reason vs. Intelligence

Posted by Michael Gold - February 4, 2019 - Child Development, College, Culture, Education, Logic, Parenting, Philosophy

Not the same thing! In “Rational and Irrational Thought: The Thinking That IQ Tests Miss” (1 Jan 2015, Scientific American), Keith Stanovich writes: No doubt you know several folks with perfectly respectable IQs who repeatedly make poor decisions. The behavior of such people tells us that we are missing something important by treating intelligence as […]

Avoid Quarrels

Posted by Michael Gold - January 24, 2019 - Child Development, Culture, Education, Homeschooling, Language, Logic, Parenting, SAT, ACT, ETC.

Grammar is a critical aspect of effective communication with ourselves, with those we love, with coworkers, and with people in general. We need to know some basics to let others know what we think, to avoid quarrels and angry disputes, and to get along. So I recommend you learn what you need so you can […]

Environment Matters For Us Humans

Posted by Michael Gold - January 21, 2019 - Biology, Culture, Philosophy, Science

Life, including the human, is conditional. Our lives have requirements and occur in a biological context. We have a specific, objective nature. We need species-appropriate movement, environment, sleep, water, air, nutrition, symbioses, and more. Undercut those things, and you undercut human life. So, to coin a new term, I consider myself an “anthropocentric environmentalist.”

Got biology?

Posted by Michael Gold - January 18, 2019 - Culture, Education, Science

Physics and chemistry are lifeless. Biology matters. It’s what survival is about. And it’s what education needs to be based on; it’s what makes education practical and relevant.

My New Book! (Well, Was In August 2018)

Posted by Michael Gold - December 27, 2018 - Culture, Education, History, Language, Philosophy, Reading

Great edition of Walden: it has annotations to help explain the dense work.

All In Modern Medicine That Is Not Inductive and Integrated Is Wrong

Posted by Michael Gold - December 7, 2018 - Biology, Culture, Education, Exercise, Health & Nutrition, Logic, Science

Too much medical research cannot be trusted. As Dr. John Ioannidis says in STEM-Talk podcast #77 (November 20, 2018), too much of “modern medicine“ is not good for human health. (If you don’t like this, you can take it up with John. Or the producers of the podcast.) And too many in modern medicine […]

Biology Matters: Vultures Help Keep Our Environment and Neighborhoods Clean

Posted by Michael Gold - December 6, 2018 - Animals, Biology, Culture, Education, Exercise, Health & Nutrition, Logic, Philosophy, Science, Technology

Vultures keep our environment and neighborhood clean. They help prevent rabies, plague, anthrax. They help keep our water clean. For free! No “gas footprint” and all that! So be nice to them, please. I used to not like them before I knew better. Now that I now their nature and their role in our ecology, […]

Comment on the Nature of Science

Posted by Michael Gold - December 5, 2018 - Astronomy, College, Culture, Education, Gold Academy, Homeschooling, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Science, Technology

Fact vs. Fashion

Posted by Michael Gold - August 29, 2018 - Biology, Child Development, Culture, Logic, Quotes, Science

“The lasts over which the footwear of civilization is shaped are rarely modeled in the spirit of truth that would make them conform to the contour of a normal foot. The whim of society and the manufacturers’ enterprise alone regulate their shape. Society, apparently, agrees that the human foot as formed by nature is coarse, […]

That Glyphosate Thing

Posted by Michael Gold - August 19, 2018 - Biology, Chemistry, Child Development, Culture, Exercise, Health & Nutrition, Parenting, Science

In “Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance,” Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff say in their Conclusion: “Celiac disease is a complex and multifactorial condition associated with gluten intolerance and a higher risk to thyroid disease, cancer and kidney disease, and there is also an increased risk to infertility and birth […]

"[The twins] did well on [their geometry final]. Got 90+."
Mythili R, parent of high school student,

"'Use logic in math' is my motto."
Sophia S, high school (I love that quote.),

"On my geometry quiz I got a 98% and it went really well and I felt I knew the info. Thank you for all the help and for assisting me when I did not understand something."
Casey C, high school student,

"He went through his theorems, explained how any number to the power of 0 is actually 1, and then demonstrated how you taught him to work with polynomials vs. how his book taught him. Shall we say he likes your way better? He has read through everything you gave him plus tackled the homework........you've really lit a fire under him."
Helen G, parent of middle school student,

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Cathy L, parent of high school student,

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Mary H, parent of high school student,

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John T, high school student,

"If math was explained to me like this, I would have understood it a long time ago!"
Brooke Z, high school student,

"My average is actually a 96 right now and I made a 94 on the last quiz. We're still doing conics."
Kevin B, high school student,

"Oh! I just found out I made a 93 on the [AP Statistics] project-YAY!"
Taylor R, high school student,

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Helen G, parent of middle school student,

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Vicki W, parent middle school student,

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Casey L, college student,

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Marshall B, parent of high school students,

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Rob S, MBA student,

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Cindy Q, parent of high school student,

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John T, high school student,

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Tia Z, high school student,

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Corinna C, parent of high school student,

"Also, she just called me & said she made a 92 on her math test that she took right before spring break. :)) I'm very happy for her. THANK YOU! It would NOT be possible without your support!!!! I don't know what she's going to do at college!!!"
Melissa S, parent of high school student,

"Had a microbiology midterm this morning. On the exam there was a bacterial growth problem that required a little bit of math to determine the answer. I could not for the life of me recall the equation we were told to use...luckily I was able to reason out the equation using some logarithm rules (which I can't believe I remembered lol).

"Who knew you could use reason and math(?!?!?) to answer a science-concept question. Here I thought science was just about the memorization and regurgitation of knowledge. Glad I had someone to teach me how to think!"
Rajiv R, ex-student,

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Joy R, parent of high school student,

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John T, former high school and college student,

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I hope she finishes up the year strong."
Mr. M, high school teacher of Madison S; quote from emailed note from teacher to parent,

"Jack made an 87 on his test. That's his highest test grade yet in pre AP chemistry! We are thrilled! Thank you!"
Joy R, parent of high school student,

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Rajiv R, former high school student ,

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Jessica P, high school student,

"Thank you again for your efforts and wonderful tutoring for both the SAT and ACT prep classes. I think the benefits reach far beyond good scores on standardized tests. I believe the skills you teach and emphasize have a tremendous impact on our kiddos critical thinking as well. You are greatly appreciated by our family!"
Michelle F, mother of high school student,

"Thank you so much for giving your time to teach the ACT and SAT prep classes. I really appreciate it, and I believe that it helped me greatly in taking the tests. I am very happy with my scores."
Courtney F, high school student,

"I wanted to thank you again for the ACT prep class. I got a 30 on the ACT on my first try. Your classes really prepared me - there's no way I could have gotten that without your help. So THANK YOU!"
Jessica P, high school student,

"I really did learn more than geometry and math taking classes with you. I learned to reason and use logic to start solving things in everyday life. It’s pretty useful at work when I use reasoning to find root causes, and to find and fix problems. You teach people how to THINK!"
Dylan T, ex-high school student now in his 20s,

I passed my welding engineer course after three years of studying on my own and applying the basic principles you instilled in me. I am now a certified Apprentice Welding Inspector recognized by the American Welding Society.

The skills you taught me allow me to outperform even on tests that are initially of an unfamiliar subject matter just due to the logic and the testing rules you taught me years ago.

Thank you!
Jimi T,

I hope more kids go to you for tutoring; you made me enjoy learning again.
Jacob L, ex-student,

You're one heck of a tutor. College is a lot easier due to the way you taught me how to think.
Josh P, ex-student,

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"Back in college I did a year of CrossFit and later on went through weight lifting programs with trainers at my gym. Michael has definitely been #1 when it came to proper form and joint/ligament strengthening.

"I trained with Michael for about 7 months and I saw huge improvements in my endurance and fitness. I felt better overall and even had some surprising benefits.

"I now effortlessly make baskets when throwing paper into my garbage bin, whereas, before working with Michael, I would always miss. And I am now much more aware of my environment, which especially helps when driving.

"He is big on safety and makes sure he trains to match people's fitness levels whatever they may be.

"I would definitely recommend him to anyone trying to improve their fitness and well-being in whatever capacity."
Joseph S,

"Exercising in the woods with Michael has benefited me more than any other type of workout that I have done with any trainer. The more I work out with Michael, the more I learn about my physical/mental strengths and weaknesses, and about nutrition for athletic performance and good health.

"Ultimately, strengthening and conditioning is my goal. I enjoy the natural movements and the unlimited amount of exercises that Michael routinely exhibits in the outdoors. Climbing trees, carrying logs and asymmetrical objects, learning to balance on uneven surfaces, and strengthening ligaments, rather than just muscles, are unique exercises Michael utilizes.

"He is more than just your typical trainer as he covers your overall well-being.

"I am a freshman on the LSU football team and can attest that Michael is an excellent strength coach, and he knows more about diet and nutrition than any other trainer I know."
Carlton S,

“Gold Academy is an experience unlike anything I was expecting. Coming from a background of physical contact sports such as hockey and football, I wanted to get myself back into form, without a florescent lighting tan, without aggravating previous injuries from the glory days. Being outside was the greatest reward, and the challenge I was looking for. Michael was with me every step of the way, building routines for with me and for me, helping me to build my body correctly and avoid injuries. This is not a boot camp for those who need someone mindlessly yelling in your face. This was an in depth structured experience, for me to be my own drill sergeant, because that is where true success lies, in becoming the best version of yourself. Starting off simply, then constantly challenging yourself to master simplicity, until your skills are your foundation. This a custom tailored experience, and I recommend Michael's expertise and logical approach. Be prepared to learn with Michael, he's a great teacher and an invaluable resource of knowledge. Be prepared to be immersed in nature. Be prepared to bring your mind, body, diet, and thinking to new levels. I recommend the Gold Academy experience for all those looking to build the best self version they achieve. Get out of the box and get involved!”
Matthew Hines, Houston Texas,

Michael expounds all that is science in such an interesting and exciting way! He always keeps my kids engaged and thinking that science is fun!

He presents science in a logical, rational, integrated way – making it easy and possible to take everything they are learning and apply it in ‘the real world’… not just a list of useless facts, but tangible, knowable, valuable life lessons.

He builds a great foundation with biology first and all the rest of the sciences following and integrating from there. Who knew that biology, physics, physical fitness, and chemistry are all related and integrated? Just take a few science classes with Michael, and you’ll see for yourself!

Whether you’re homeschooling and want to seriously upgrade your science curriculum or just want to supplement your child’s deplorably lacking public school science education. Michael will make science fun, interesting, and relevant to your kids’ lives – and yours!
Melanie H (homeschool mom of 3),