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7 Thinking Errors You Probably Make

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:14:13 GMT

clipped by: gingembre
clipper's remarks: Common thinking errors explained, each backed by a scientific study. Food for thought!

Clip Source: www.lifehack.org

The brain isn’t a flawless piece of machinery. Although it is powerful and comes in an easy to carry container, it has it’s weaknesses. A field in psychology which studies these errors, known as biases. Although you can’t upgrade your mental hardware, noticing these biases can clue you into possible mistakes

The entire domain of the scientific method has largely been an effort to overcome the natural inclination towards bias in reasoning

common thinking errors:

1) Confirmation Bias

tendency to seek information to prove, rather than disprove our theories

2) Hindsight Bias

see past results as appearing more probable than they did initially

3) Clustering Illusion

see patterns where none actually exist

4) Recency Effect

give more weight to recent data

5) Anchoring Bias

a well-known problem with negotiations

6) Overconfidence Effect

people tend to grossly overestimate their abilities

7) Fundamental Attribution Error

Mistaking personality and character traits for differences caused by situations

Tags: psychology, human nature, bias, thinking, reasoning, critical thinking

I'm a Grandma!

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:48:07 GMT

clipped by: dorine
clipper's remarks: I met my 9-month-old grandson for the first time yesterday! I'm so excited, I can't stop smiling! This is the best Christmas ever. My son & I have reconciled after too many years of estrangement. Praise God for answering my prayers.

I wanted to share my love and joy with all of you.

Clip Source: tinypic.com

Tags: love, family

Huge 'Ocean' Discovered Inside Earth

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:58:27 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

Scientists scanning the deep interior of Earth have found evidence of a vast water reservoir beneath eastern Asia that is at least the volume of the Arctic Ocean.

The discovery marks the first time such a large body of water has found in the planet’s deep mantle.

Looking down deep

The pair analyzed more than 600,000 seismograms—records of waves generated by earthquakes traveling through the Earth—collected from instruments scattered around the planet.

They noticed a region beneath Asia where seismic waves appeared to dampen, or “attenuate,” and also slow down slightly. “Water slows the speed of waves a little,” Wysession explained. “Lots of damping and a little slowing match the predictions for water very well.”

“That’s a real back of the envelope type calculation,” Wysession said. “That’s the best that we can do at this point.”

Tags: science, earth, water, ocean

Brain 'irrelevance filter' found

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:43:08 GMT

clipped by: wildcat

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Scientists believe they have located a new brain area essential for good memory - the "irrelevance filter".

People who are good at remembering things, even with distractions, have more activity in the basal ganglia on brain scans, the Swedish team found.

The work in Nature Neuroscience could help explain why some people are better at remembering things than others.

Clinically, it could also aid the understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The ability to hold information in the mind so that it is immediately accessible is known as working memory.

We use working memory all of the time - for example, when doing a simple maths calculation in our head or recalling a telephone number.

There will be many brain regions that filter irrelevant information, so it is too early to tell if these findings will have a bearing on conditions such as ADHD

Tags: brain, neuroscience, filter, irrelevance, memory

Negative Calorie Foods: 15 Foods That Actually Burn More Calories Than They Contain

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:29:27 GMT

clipped by: sam.reckoner
clipper's remarks: eat more raw fruits and vegetables.

Clip Source: www.businesscreditcards.com

Negative Calorie Foods: 15 Foods That Actually Burn More Calories Than They Contain

Celery: A staple on most party veggie trays, celery (without the ranch dressing) is a crispy snack that you can enjoy without worrying about taking in any calories. It is high in sugar and sodium, but still much healthier than pigging out on brownies or salty peanuts.

Oranges

Strawberries

Tangerines

Carrots

Apricots

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Cucumbers: Your salad can’t survive on lettuce alone. Cucumbers are another negative calorie food that are great for crunching on when your mouth is getting bored. Check here for tips on growing your own cucumbers.

Watermelon

Cauliflower: Another party platter vegetable, raw cauliflower is naturally low in fat and of course, calories, so don’t be shy about piling up your cocktail napkin.

Apples

Hot Chili Peppers

Zucchini

Tags: diet, health, exercise

The Bible In One Picture

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:05:01 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Sort of sums it all up.

Clip Source: img2.moonbuggy.org

Tags: bible

Death by chocolate: More dogs at risk this Christmas, warn vets

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:44:28 GMT

clipped by: michellezm

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

A record number of dogs could be killed this year by their owners feeding them chocolate, vets warned yesterday.

Many pet owners do not realise that chocolate is highly toxic to dogs.

But it contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, which affects the central nervous system as well as the heart muscle.

Christmas is a peak time for potential poisonings because dogs steal chocolate ornaments from the tree, wolf down boxes of the treats or are fed by unsuspecting owners.

Humans, and cats, have the metabolism to cope with theobromine but dogs' digestive systems-cannot.

Symptoms include hyperactivity, agitation, breathlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea and increased urination.

The danger to the dog depends on its size and the type of chocolate.

Darker and more expensive chocolate contains higher levels of theobromine - the lethal dosage is between 250 and 500 milligrammes per kilogramme of body weight.

poisonings have,

been reported

after eating smaller amounts.

Tags: dogs, canines, chocolate, poison, animals, fauna, creatures, medical

Mother whale cuddles her calf

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:23:49 GMT

clipped by: michellezm

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

She is 40 years old, weighs 40 tons and has a heart the size of seven men. But as a mother, Mara the whale seems almost human.

Tenderly, she tucks her calf under her giant fin and guides it gently forward.

This 50ft humpback whale mother has had her baby inside her for a year and she will keep it by her for another year.

Motherly: Mara holds her calf Kell to her chest in a tender pose that looks almost human

She will lose a quarter of her body weight in feeding it the rich milk it needs to grow strong enough to fend for itself.

This baby was born in the shallow waters of Polynesia, where these uniquely intimate pictures were taken during the making of a television documentary, Ocean Voyagers, to be shown on the Animal Planet channel on Sunday (Dec 16, 6pm).

The male baby, Kell, was born as white as ivory before, at four weeks, growing into his humpback colours – and putting on 100lbs a day.

Humpback whales sleep vertically – but with one eye always open.

Tags: whales, mammals, marine biology, animals, creatures, fauna

The 10 Most Insane Medical Practices in History

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:13:45 GMT

clipped by: murieleileen

Clip Source: articles.mercola.com

The 10 Most Insane Medical Practices in History

If you’ve ever questioned whether your doctor really knows what he or she is talking about, these shocking medical practices of years gone by will give you some fodder for your suspicions.

Although they may sound unbelievable, these medically approved remedies were at one time all the rage.

1. Children’s soothing syrups. Used for teething and nursing infants, and also to “cure colic, cramps, dysentery, canker sores and pain,” these syrups were “soothing” because they contained morphine, chloroform, codeine, heroin, opium and cannabis.

2. Mercury. This toxic metal that can cause heart and lung problems, psychotic reactions, delirium, tremors, chest pain and more, was used for centuries to treat everything from cuts to constipation.

3. Heroin. If you had a cough in the late 19th century, a dose of heroin would fix it. This now illegal, extremely addictive drug was originally developed and sold by Bayer … as a cough suppressant.

4. Lobotomies.

Tags: 10, medicine, doctors, insane, history, drugs, children, cough, mercury, heroin

An Invasion Of Privacy?

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:40:48 GMT

clipped by: debbyski

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

PHOENIX, Dec. 4 — A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol is something many people try to conceal, even from their families. But now the bleary-eyed, disheveled and generally miserable visages of convicted drunken drivers here, captured in their mug shots, are available to the entire world via a Web site.

The hall of shame is even worse for drunken drivers convicted of a felony. A select few will find their faces plastered on billboards around Phoenix with the banner headline: Drive drunk, see your mug shot here.

The tactic gets mixed reviews from M.A.D.D.

“Some parts of the Web site are good because they are informational and trying to provide the victim’s perspective,” said Misty Moyse, the spokeswoman for the group. However, she said, “M.A.D.D. would not want to be involved in calling out offenders. We are interested in research- and science-based activities proven to stop drunk driving.”

Tags: what, gives, them, the, right, to, kill, others

Gang-Raped 10-Year-Old "Probably" Consented.

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:36:46 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Iran? Or Australia? Take a guess.

Clip Source: www.news.com.au

Accused gang rapists spared jail

Judge says victim 'probably' consented

QUEENSLAND'S Attorney-General Kerry Shine says he will appeal sentences handed down against nine males who gang-raped a 10-year-old girl in 2005.

District Court judge Sarah Bradley did not record convictions against six teenage attackers and gave three others aged 17, 18 and 26 suspended sentences over the incident

The girl had "probably agreed" to have sex with the youths, Judge Bradley said

"I am truly horrified by the circumstances of these offences," he said in Brisbane today.

sentences to be reviewed, to ensure there was not a trend of leniency

He was also concerned that the victim was said to have agreed to sex, as children could never consent.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was also "horrified" at the case.

disgusted and appalled

It's actually undermined everything we have worked for over the last 10 years to get our women justice in this country," Prof Robertson said

a very clear message to perpetrators out there

Tags: rape, justice, women, human rights

How To Successfully Engage In An Argument

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 12:56:08 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: It's not about winning, it's how you play the game. Don't argue with me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBAasek8NR4

Clip Source: flfl.essortment.com

Although it is impossible to guarantee that you will win every debate that you will ever engage in, you can definitely increase your chances by remembering a few steps.

Know the reason you are engaging yourself in the argument in the first place and make sure you understand exactly what the argument is about.

preserve your dignity.

never ever losing your temper.

you will be less likely to anger the person you are arguing with

Listen to what you opponent has to say.

Do not mock or insult the other person in your argument, because by doing this, you have not only deviated from the point of the argument but you have lowered yourself to an undignified and unsophisticated level

stay away from extremes.

do not relate animal testing to Hitler's genocide of the Jewish people.

Make points that are effective but easy to understand

By following these steps you will guarantee that you successfully arise from the argument whether or not you win it in the end.

Tags: just, be, nice, to, each, other

How do you become a daddy?

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:15:01 GMT

clipped by: Rashid Malik

Clip Source: jo-kes.blogspot.com

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that. “Why?” my daughter asked.

“Because it’s been on the ground, you don’t know where it’s been, it’s dirty and probably has germs” I replied. At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, “Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart.”

I was thinking quickly. “All moms know this stuff. It’s on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don’t let you be a Mommy.”

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.

“OH…I get it!” she beamed, “So if you don’t pass the test you have to be the daddy.”

Tags: humor, jokes, kids jokes

The God Effect : Does Thinking of an Omniscient God Promote Altruism?

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:50:51 GMT

clipped by: Djiezes

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

God Effect, The

does thinking of an omniscient God actually promote altruism?

Multimedia

Graphic

the so-called “dictator game,” a common way of measuring generosity toward strangers. The game is simple: you’re offered 10 $1 coins and told to take as many as you want and leave the rest for the player in the other room

the “God prime” worked like a charm, leading to fairer splits. Without the God prime, only 12 percent of the participants split the money evenly, but when primed with the religious words, 52 percent did.

In a second study, the researchers had participants unscramble sentences containing words like civic, contract and police — meant to evoke secular moral institutions. This prime also increased generosity. And unlike the religious prime, it did so consistently for both believers and nonbelievers.

Tags: morality, ethics, experiment, study, game theory, god, religion, dictator, psychology, society

Is That A Storm Front In Your Pocket Or Are You Happy To See Me?

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:10:52 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: He's coaching the news anchor, besides!

Clip Source: img2.moonbuggy.org

Tags: funny