Ten weeks ago I walked into a classroom of 180 non-science majors to teach a course in Organic Chemistry. Many of these non-science majors were anxious about the experience to come, knowing only that people taking such a class often fell to repeat it once or twice to obtain a passing grade. Most of them had just completed one quarter of introductory general chemistry, and had no idea exactly how much they were about to learn.
Vitamin B12 ShotsRecently, I was “assaulted” by an advertisement urging people to get routine vitamin B12 injections because “B12 can naturally increase energy and stamina, improve sleep and immune support, reduce stress and anxiety, assist with weight loss, enhance sports performance and much more!” Enhance sports performance? Essentially, the only thing not included was “spice up your love life.” There’s an old saying… “Never try to pull one over a scientist.”
More Organic Alkaloids – PsychedelicThe previous article on Organic Alkaloids generated a very interesting response, so profound that it deserves a follow-up article. Many people, even those with the most basic understanding of chemistry, enjoyed it. One person wrote me indicating it fostered a conversation between her and her mother, whilst another wrote me indicating it gave her a firmer appreciation of how interrelated biological processes and organic alkaloids can be. Hearing good news about the article, I chose to share it in LinkedIn forums. It was received well in educational forums, however I didn’t stop there. My sense of humor tempted me (and won) to share Organic Alkaloids with “perfumery groups” on LinkedIn. For some strange reason, they kept bouncing the article out of the forums. I wonder why. 
Can’t follow me? Then you must go back and read the original article!
In recent days it’s become evident to me that many students are not benefiting from use of our Facebook Portal site because, for reasons unbeknownst, they haven’t found it. Yes, there’s a link to Facebook on the fist page of the website, and yes, there’s a BIG red Facebook button on the Articles page of our website, however it may well be that many students search keywords to find information, and then become so absorbed in the information that they never venture to the Facebook site. The solution for this is as simple as quoting Rod Serling, “This highway leads to the shadowy tip of reality: you’re on a through route to the land of the different, the bizarre, the unexplainable…Go as far as you like on this road. Its limits are only those of mind itself. Ladies and Gentlemen, you’re entering the wondrous dimension of imagination… Next stop” The Lennox Organic Chemistry & MCAT Tutoring Portal on Facebook.