NPR - Think you're Multitasking? Think Again
Scientists are studying the way a brain might multitask, using FMRI and observation. It appears that the brain doesn't run even mildly complicated processes in parallel but instead allocates resources to one task, then the other, then back to the one, then the other, etc. The part of the brain that modulates when tasks get switched to is the 'executive' part, located in our frontal lobes, the part that is one of the most recent evolutionary developments. We might be fooling ourselves when we think we can 'multi-task'.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Why does corporate America love the GOP? Faith, not economics
Slate - Big Biz Still for GOP
From big box stores warning that a Democratic victory would make it easier for unions to organize, to the Chambers of Commerce putting millions into ad campaigns against Democrats in Senate races, corporate America still supports the GOP. But given the past 16 years of economic history, actually the big box stores performed much better under Clinton than Bush. Similarly for businesses as a whole (contra the Chambers). But does it really matter? Pro-regulation, pro-labor Dems or anti-regulation anti-tax GOP might not be responsible for the economic booms or busts. So why support one and disdain the other? Perhaps it is a matter of faith.
From big box stores warning that a Democratic victory would make it easier for unions to organize, to the Chambers of Commerce putting millions into ad campaigns against Democrats in Senate races, corporate America still supports the GOP. But given the past 16 years of economic history, actually the big box stores performed much better under Clinton than Bush. Similarly for businesses as a whole (contra the Chambers). But does it really matter? Pro-regulation, pro-labor Dems or anti-regulation anti-tax GOP might not be responsible for the economic booms or busts. So why support one and disdain the other? Perhaps it is a matter of faith.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bonobos also hunt
Reuters - Hippie apes make war as well as love, study finds
Unsurprisingly, bonobo chimpanzees conduct hunts for monkeys, kill them and share the food with each other. Interestingly, the females would often go along in the hunt. Hunting behavior is considered novel because the bonobos have a reputation for being peace-loving, resolving conflict often using sex with each other, and living in female dominated social groups.
Unsurprisingly, bonobo chimpanzees conduct hunts for monkeys, kill them and share the food with each other. Interestingly, the females would often go along in the hunt. Hunting behavior is considered novel because the bonobos have a reputation for being peace-loving, resolving conflict often using sex with each other, and living in female dominated social groups.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Cell phone use impairs spatial activity in brains
Slate - The Mind-Blackberry Problem
An article discussing many of the problems with driving a car and cell-phone usage, texting, even stupidly following a GPS and driving into a telephone pole or tree. Only a few states restrict usage of cell phones while driving, and even then it's hands-free. Though this does little-- talking on a cell phone while driving gives performance similar to driving while intoxicated. Supposedly they have also done brain scans that actually show blood flow moving from spatial navigation parts of the brain to the language centers. Article full of links to other sources too.
An article discussing many of the problems with driving a car and cell-phone usage, texting, even stupidly following a GPS and driving into a telephone pole or tree. Only a few states restrict usage of cell phones while driving, and even then it's hands-free. Though this does little-- talking on a cell phone while driving gives performance similar to driving while intoxicated. Supposedly they have also done brain scans that actually show blood flow moving from spatial navigation parts of the brain to the language centers. Article full of links to other sources too.
Kristallnacht Materials Recovered
NYTIMES: Germany update
So residents of the town of Klandorf, Germany, since 1938, have thought that their town was so far "away from everything here...[that] surely it would not interest anyone.” What is interesting about Klandorf? Personal and religious items stolen from people and houses during Kristallnacht were thrown in the local trash dump in the days following the event. It's a veritable treasure trove of historical 'data' - materials like these have been extremely hard to find (save for some letters and a film held by the Jewish Museum) in the 80 years since then.
So residents of the town of Klandorf, Germany, since 1938, have thought that their town was so far "away from everything here...[that] surely it would not interest anyone.” What is interesting about Klandorf? Personal and religious items stolen from people and houses during Kristallnacht were thrown in the local trash dump in the days following the event. It's a veritable treasure trove of historical 'data' - materials like these have been extremely hard to find (save for some letters and a film held by the Jewish Museum) in the 80 years since then.
Monday, October 27, 2008
FACT CHECK (duh!)
NYTIMES: AP Fact Checks McCain
Obama is not in support of the Universal Healthcare proposals exactly as majority other Dems are. His plan would be mandatory only for children, and voluntary for everyone else. Obama would allow those who want to keep their current employer-based health insurance to do so. And as if it were necessary to point this out, McCain is given to exaggeration: McCain is also standing by his pledge to balance the federal budget in four years with no tax increases -- a pledge analysts say may be close to impossible given current economic conditions and the added cost of the $700 billion bailout.
Obama is not in support of the Universal Healthcare proposals exactly as majority other Dems are. His plan would be mandatory only for children, and voluntary for everyone else. Obama would allow those who want to keep their current employer-based health insurance to do so. And as if it were necessary to point this out, McCain is given to exaggeration: McCain is also standing by his pledge to balance the federal budget in four years with no tax increases -- a pledge analysts say may be close to impossible given current economic conditions and the added cost of the $700 billion bailout.
How we need a new-- not an old-- War On Poverty
City Journal - We Don't Need Another War on Poverty
Obama's candidacy has rekindled much discussion about urban poverty and the 'War On Poverty' started in the Johnson administration. Many federal programs haven't worked and more localized state solutions have made some dramatic differences, most notably charter schools and an NYPD-style of policing that used modeling and a 'Broken Window' philosophy in the 1990s. Long article that suggests Obama's shortcomings on the issues and discusses what has worked and what hasn't.
Obama's candidacy has rekindled much discussion about urban poverty and the 'War On Poverty' started in the Johnson administration. Many federal programs haven't worked and more localized state solutions have made some dramatic differences, most notably charter schools and an NYPD-style of policing that used modeling and a 'Broken Window' philosophy in the 1990s. Long article that suggests Obama's shortcomings on the issues and discusses what has worked and what hasn't.
Armageddon due to Gay Marriage?
NYTIMES: Gay Marriage Vote in CA
While it's always interesting to read up on what the Right is doing (especially the Religious Right) to prevent the spread of same-sex marriage, it borders on surreal fiction to hear them proclaim, as Tony Perkins does in this article, that stopping gay marriage in California is "more important that the presidential election." Even more incredible, is the connection some proponents of "Proposition 8" are making between creating a protected class of same-sex married couples and the stone's throw anti-homosexual preachers and ministers would be from being jailed for hate speech.
While it's always interesting to read up on what the Right is doing (especially the Religious Right) to prevent the spread of same-sex marriage, it borders on surreal fiction to hear them proclaim, as Tony Perkins does in this article, that stopping gay marriage in California is "more important that the presidential election." Even more incredible, is the connection some proponents of "Proposition 8" are making between creating a protected class of same-sex married couples and the stone's throw anti-homosexual preachers and ministers would be from being jailed for hate speech.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Republican party in shambles
Reason Online - Why the Republicans Must Lose
also see
The New Republic - Whose Side Are You On, Comrade
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/whose-side-are-you-comrade
Republicans (and those who typically have been attracted to that party) are very dissapointed by the tensions brought out by the Bush presidency and the McCain campaign. Intellectual conservatives are horrified by Sarah Palin, libertarians can't stand Bush's big government (and don't think McCain will be much better), and social conservaties are turned off by McCain's softness on some social issues. The first article argues that the Repbulicans need to crash and burn this election, the second article is more articulate.
also see
The New Republic - Whose Side Are You On, Comrade
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/whose-side-are-you-comrade
Republicans (and those who typically have been attracted to that party) are very dissapointed by the tensions brought out by the Bush presidency and the McCain campaign. Intellectual conservatives are horrified by Sarah Palin, libertarians can't stand Bush's big government (and don't think McCain will be much better), and social conservaties are turned off by McCain's softness on some social issues. The first article argues that the Repbulicans need to crash and burn this election, the second article is more articulate.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The US redistributes wealth, from the poor to the rich
Rocky Mountain News - Campos: Wealth on move - to the rich
Generally from post-WWII until 1979 the top income earners made large multiples of 90% of the rest of the population. But since then, the top income earners have become even more wealthy, doubling and tripling their take from the rest of the US. Here are the numbers of multiples of income of 90% of the population, compared to the top 1% and top 0.1%:
Post WWII until 1979:
Top 1%.................Top 0.1%
..9x..........................21x.....
From 1979 until today
Top 1%................Top 0.1%
..19x.......................70x.....
...all relative to the bottom 90% of the population's income.
This isn't the 'natural order' of capitalism but instead the product of policies of radical wealth distribution from the poor to the super-rich.
Generally from post-WWII until 1979 the top income earners made large multiples of 90% of the rest of the population. But since then, the top income earners have become even more wealthy, doubling and tripling their take from the rest of the US. Here are the numbers of multiples of income of 90% of the population, compared to the top 1% and top 0.1%:
Post WWII until 1979:
Top 1%.................Top 0.1%
..9x..........................21x.....
From 1979 until today
Top 1%................Top 0.1%
..19x.......................70x.....
...all relative to the bottom 90% of the population's income.
This isn't the 'natural order' of capitalism but instead the product of policies of radical wealth distribution from the poor to the super-rich.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Truly clean coal is under-researched and undeveloped
Slate - What the Heck is Clean Coal?
'Clean coal' is a proposed technology that captures the carbon dioxide released by burning coal, compresses it and sends it deep into the earth. Though the technology might be possible, it hasn't actually been developed in a workable manner yet, due to massive increases in the cost to develop the process on a large scale. Furthermore, there seems to be some skepticism about the effects of pumping massive amounts of CO2 into the ground. The coal industry wants to claim that 'clean coal' is just a term for the lowered emissions since regulation and air standards tightened.
'Clean coal' is a proposed technology that captures the carbon dioxide released by burning coal, compresses it and sends it deep into the earth. Though the technology might be possible, it hasn't actually been developed in a workable manner yet, due to massive increases in the cost to develop the process on a large scale. Furthermore, there seems to be some skepticism about the effects of pumping massive amounts of CO2 into the ground. The coal industry wants to claim that 'clean coal' is just a term for the lowered emissions since regulation and air standards tightened.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The developing 'innovation gap'
Business Week - Can America Close the Innovation Gap
This is a book review article that discusses the invention and innovation stagnation that America has, on the whole, encountered compared to some other emerging countries. Part of the problem lies with the federal government, which has cut non-military science funding over the years. Also corporate bodies are focusing more and more on short-term successes rather than long-term strategies. The book is called 'Closing the Innovation Gap'.
This is a book review article that discusses the invention and innovation stagnation that America has, on the whole, encountered compared to some other emerging countries. Part of the problem lies with the federal government, which has cut non-military science funding over the years. Also corporate bodies are focusing more and more on short-term successes rather than long-term strategies. The book is called 'Closing the Innovation Gap'.
Monday, October 20, 2008
How the Demorcatic party has no ideas
Weekly Standard - The Stupid Party
Written over a year ago, it gives a history of liberalism that caught in America and the challenge it received from the 'New Left' in the 1960s and 70s. This faction did not catch on with mainstream America, but retained influence over the party by using the universities and, more recently, the internet. Democrats have been a party that lacks identity since the 1980s and there have been various attempts to reunite it, either by 'reframing', by 'getting ideas', by becoming 'realists and pragmatists', or by embracing the New Left. Long article.
Written over a year ago, it gives a history of liberalism that caught in America and the challenge it received from the 'New Left' in the 1960s and 70s. This faction did not catch on with mainstream America, but retained influence over the party by using the universities and, more recently, the internet. Democrats have been a party that lacks identity since the 1980s and there have been various attempts to reunite it, either by 'reframing', by 'getting ideas', by becoming 'realists and pragmatists', or by embracing the New Left. Long article.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Men like to surf, women like to talk
Reuters - Men happiest online, women prefer family time: poll
Business consulting group conducted a survey of Austrailian men and women age 18-64, asking them to report what makes them the most happy on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis. A majority favored relaxation and rest over physical exercise, and over 50% of men were made happy by the internet, compared to 39% of women. About 55% of women (compared to 45% of men) liked family, close personal time, and meals together.
Business consulting group conducted a survey of Austrailian men and women age 18-64, asking them to report what makes them the most happy on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis. A majority favored relaxation and rest over physical exercise, and over 50% of men were made happy by the internet, compared to 39% of women. About 55% of women (compared to 45% of men) liked family, close personal time, and meals together.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
BPA associated with heart disease and diabetes
Reuters - Common plastics chemical linked to human diseases
2.2 million tons of Bisphenol A is produced each year and used in plastic baby bottles, water bottles, plastic utensils, inside of food cans, etc. About 90% of people tested (in Britain) have it in their bodies. Of those who have it in their bodies the 25% who have the most are twice as likely to have heart disease/diabetes as the 25% who have the least amount of BPA (in their urine/blood). This is correlational evidence.
2.2 million tons of Bisphenol A is produced each year and used in plastic baby bottles, water bottles, plastic utensils, inside of food cans, etc. About 90% of people tested (in Britain) have it in their bodies. Of those who have it in their bodies the 25% who have the most are twice as likely to have heart disease/diabetes as the 25% who have the least amount of BPA (in their urine/blood). This is correlational evidence.
Bourgeois Parenting
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/garden/16unschool.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I suppose if I had imagined what "bourgeois parenting" might look like, it wouldn't be a small "radical" group of parents interested in an alternative, seemingly more worldly, idea of "education" (especially in a place like NYC) eschewing the rat race of contemporary academics and pre-college schooling. Unfortunately, the only sociologist asked to comment on this article gives the most offensive comment. He also seemed not to get it, but that might just be the editing.
I suppose if I had imagined what "bourgeois parenting" might look like, it wouldn't be a small "radical" group of parents interested in an alternative, seemingly more worldly, idea of "education" (especially in a place like NYC) eschewing the rat race of contemporary academics and pre-college schooling. Unfortunately, the only sociologist asked to comment on this article gives the most offensive comment. He also seemed not to get it, but that might just be the editing.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
New limits on free speech: how we remember in public
The Guardian - The freedom of historical debate is under attack by the memory police
In Europe there have emerged numerous laws, originated in France, that mandate teaching or publicly speaking about certain historical events in a certain way. It began possibly with punishing by imprisonment speech that denies the Holocaust. Now different countries are passing different laws mandating historical memory in a particular way.
In Europe there have emerged numerous laws, originated in France, that mandate teaching or publicly speaking about certain historical events in a certain way. It began possibly with punishing by imprisonment speech that denies the Holocaust. Now different countries are passing different laws mandating historical memory in a particular way.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The government can see through walls
Slate - Nowhere to Hide
The US military (as well as other countries, Canada mentioned) have developed a way to see humans through walls, even through 12 inches of concrete. This technology is being outfitted onto un-manned drones for both recon and attack. How long until this technology is used in police action domestically?
The US military (as well as other countries, Canada mentioned) have developed a way to see humans through walls, even through 12 inches of concrete. This technology is being outfitted onto un-manned drones for both recon and attack. How long until this technology is used in police action domestically?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Privileging Precocity
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/20/081020fa_fact_gladwell?currentPage=1
While there certainly seems to be a bias towards believing genius works (writing, art, thought) come early, it isn't necessarily so. (Thank goodness.) Gladwell points out, somewhat ironically, that T.S. Elliot was 23 (!) when he wrote "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Cezanne is our best example, though the Galenson project evens the field even more.
While there certainly seems to be a bias towards believing genius works (writing, art, thought) come early, it isn't necessarily so. (Thank goodness.) Gladwell points out, somewhat ironically, that T.S. Elliot was 23 (!) when he wrote "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Cezanne is our best example, though the Galenson project evens the field even more.
Class complications in US: the middle seem themselves as potentially wealthy (Opinion)
The Detroit News - Commentary: no room in America for class warfare
A problem with a 'rich against poor' class-struggle populism in America is that those in the lower and working class see themselves as possibly succeeding and becoming rich. Adherence to this idealogy can commit one to an unwillingness to raise taxes on the wealthy and redistribute it. In this opinion, the wealthy are equated to the successful, those who have 'earned' their money and have a straightforward claim to it.
A problem with a 'rich against poor' class-struggle populism in America is that those in the lower and working class see themselves as possibly succeeding and becoming rich. Adherence to this idealogy can commit one to an unwillingness to raise taxes on the wealthy and redistribute it. In this opinion, the wealthy are equated to the successful, those who have 'earned' their money and have a straightforward claim to it.
There is no proof of Bradely effect
Real Clear Politics - The Bradley Effect - Selective Memory
Revisiting the 1982 election for California govenor that supposedly birthed the 'Bradley Effect': undecided voters exhibiting latent racism at the polls and voting against a black candidate. Conclusion is that the Bradley Effect was actually exit-polling errors and pre-election survey errors in 1982.
Revisiting the 1982 election for California govenor that supposedly birthed the 'Bradley Effect': undecided voters exhibiting latent racism at the polls and voting against a black candidate. Conclusion is that the Bradley Effect was actually exit-polling errors and pre-election survey errors in 1982.
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