Comments for How Do You Think?

Comment on The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth: Microbes and Us by Gerald Guild

Gerald Guild — Wed, 29 May 2013 23:56:13 +0000

The microbiome also includes fungi. Here is an interesting podcast from the journal Nature on this subset on those tiny organisms that live in us and on us. Play Fungal Friends at: http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/index-2013-05-23.html

Comment on The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth: Microbes and Us by Gerald Guild

Gerald Guild — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:54:00 +0000

North Carolina State University biologist Rob Dunn and colleagues surveyed people’s pillow cases, refrigerators, toilet seats, TV screens and other household spots, to learn about the microbes that dwell in our homes. Like in the greater ecosystem – the greater the biodiversity the better off we tend to be. See Science Friday post at http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450897/having-a-dog-may-mean-having-extra-microbes

Comment on The Illusion of Attention by Gerald Guild

Gerald Guild — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:57:23 +0000

Commentary on Google Glass and the associated risks from the authors of The Invisible Gorilla.

Comment on Crime & Punishment and Entitlements: A Deeper Perspective by Gerald Guild

Gerald Guild — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:36:43 +0000

Thursday May 23, 2013
The Daily Show
Priorities USA – Too Big to Jail
The Obama administration’s legal priorities tilt towards unusually harsh punishments for individuals whose crimes don’t seem to merit them.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-may-23-2013/priorities-usa—too-big-to-jail?xrs=share_copy

Comment on The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth: Microbes and Us by Gerald Guild

Gerald Guild — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:46:57 +0000

Another article with microbiome and health implications at Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=red-meat-clogs-arteries-bacteria&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20130408

Comment on The Illusion of Cause – Vaccines and Autism by Multitasking: The Illusion of Efficacy - How Do You Think?

Multitasking: The Illusion of Efficacy - How Do You Think? — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:23:26 +0000

[...] to manage working memory, and slower task switching abilities. One must be careful to avoid the Illusion of Cause in this situation. Correlation is not causation and we must avoid inferring that multitasking [...]

Comment on Pareidolia by Pareidolia: Clash of the Celestial Space Beasts - From Quarks to Quasars

Pareidolia: Clash of the Celestial Space Beasts - From Quarks to Quasars — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:51:05 +0000

[...] Sagan once postulated in his book “The Demon-Haunted World – Science as a Candle in the Dark,” that this [...]

Comment on Who Cheats More: The Rich or the Poor? by Gerald Guild

Gerald Guild — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:02:45 +0000

I couldn’t agree more Mary Beth. It appears that the inclination toward entitlement inherently comes with accomplishment. Those who have more wealth or status, tend to attribute their “superiority” to their innate specialness. They tend to miss the fact that they have launched from a position of privilege to begin with, thus giving them a substantial head start. This is the self serving bias. What you suggest is that people disincline themselves from such cognitive errors. This is right on and it is exactly my point. The starting point is becoming aware of such innate tendencies and then making a concerted effort to overcome them. Easier said than done, but awareness is essential. The American Dream meme just promotes this specialness misconception while ignoring the shackling effects of poverty. Thanks for the read and kind words!
Gerry

Comment on Who Cheats More: The Rich or the Poor? by MaryBeth Lynn

MaryBeth Lynn — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:02:15 +0000

I think the problem begins as soon as we measure anyone else as “lesser.” Recognizing our position in life as equal in need and desires regardless of wealth, and understanding that whatever our status is largely out of our control and highly changeable, keeps us from becoming users of others. ‘Doing to others as we would have them do to us’ is a wise way to live especially when one recognizes the potential need for another’s help.
This was an interesting read, Ger- thanks very much.

Comment on The Illusion of Attention by Cheaters - How Do You Think?

Cheaters - How Do You Think? — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:01:38 +0000

[...] our expectations. These tendencies are explained by our inclinations toward confirmation bias and inattentional blindness. Finally, there is the fundamental attribution error which leads us to blame others’ [...]