Index of Curiosities

Hyperfixation, characterized by an intense and immersive focus on a specific interest or activity, is a common trait in both ADHD and autism.  

While often cast as a disorder or disruption, I choose to think about hyperfixation as a spiritual gift of deep curiosity that animates all parts of my life. These episodes of deep curiosity are often cyclical - not in that they repeat - maybe orbital is a better word. They are orbital in that I am circling or being gravitationally pulled toward something and I keep circling until I get close enough to what I think I am chasing ... something like a ring grazing orbit. I never get there - the point of sustained contact, but I ride the edge and I think this is where the thrill is.  It is never about the object of fixation as it is about seeing how far I can push my perceptive capacities to see from multiple points of reference simultaneously.  Thank you to my mama, Gwendolyn Rasheed for helping me “complete” this index.


2025: Exotic Matter and Multiphase Materials; Black Holes (really, all holes)
2024: Orbits; Stellar Ingestion; Black Holes (really, all holes)
2023: Orbits; Stellar Ingestion; Black Holes (really, all holes)

2022: Transhumanism, Life Extension, and Other Efforts to Exceed  “Natural” Life Spans or Capacities
2021:  Transhumanism, Life Extension, and Other Efforts to Exceed  “Natural” Life Spans or Capacities; Doomsday Millenarian Movements/Eschatology; Luxury Survival Bunkers

2020: Transhumanism, Life Extension, and Other Efforts to Exceed  “Natural” Life Spans or Capacities; Doomsday Millenarian Movements/Eschatology; Luxury Survival Bunkers

2019: Transhumanism, Life Extension, and Other Efforts to Exceed  “Natural” Life Spans or Capacities; Doomsday Millenarian Movements/Eschatology; Luxury Survival Bunkers

2018: Xerox Machines

2017: Xerox Machines

2016: Xerox Machines

2015: Purses; Any Carrier Object

2014: Eruv

2013: Eruv

2012: New Religious Movements

2011: New Religious Movements

2010: New Religious Movements

2009: New Religious Movements

2008: Pan-Africanism; Emily Dickinson

2007: Pan-Africanism; Emily Dickinson

2006: Pan-Africanism

2005: California Eugenics

2004: Libraries and Categorization Systems

2003: Libraries and Categorization Systems

2002: Gel Electrophoresis

2001: Electron Configuration; Martin Luther

2000: Photosynthesis, specifically, photosystem II; Kate Chopin

1999: Calendars and Planners; Graph Paper

1998: Lou Gehrig’s Disease; Xerox Machines

1997: The Scientific Method

1996: Daphnia (water fleas); Carolina Biological Supply Catalog

1995: Daphnia (water fleas); Carolina Biological Supply Catalog

1994: Hypercard Studio; all things computers

1993: Hypercard Studio; all things computers

1992: Lisa Frank Stickers; Clifford the Big Red Dog

1991: Lisa Frank Stickers; Catepillar to Butterfly Transformation

1990: Lisa Frank Stickers; Catepillar to Butterfly Transformation