November 13, 2009
Double-Slit Dental Anxiety
So, after yesterday's post, I feel comfortable throwing out an idea that without it, you could probably lock me up for. I visited my dentist's office twice in the past week. The first was to repair two cavities. I was slightly anxious about the appointment, but as I walked in the building, this anxiety evolved into an overall feeling of grossness. All in all, the appointment ended up fine.
One week later, I was there again for a routine checkup. Not anxious at all. I knew I wouldn't be facing a drill. But, the second I walked into the building, the anxiety returned and the walk to their office felt like a death march.
So, before yesterday's video and before I became aware of the seemingly self-awareness of every particle that makes up my body, I would have attributed this to a conditioned response. My past feelings of dentist visits created this anxiety in my system. But now, I wonder if there is something more to it? Can my body pick up on the anxiety that others have had, simply being in this building, and does that cause a response in mine?
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November 12, 2009
The Double-Slit Experiment Will Mess You Up
When you have 5 free minutes, I encourage you to watch this thought-provoking video clip. It's a wonderful animated clip designed to explain entry-level quantum theory to children. And it will mess you up. I was directed to this film clip based on the discussion of the double-slit experiment in the new TV show, Flashforward, and which we talked about it heavily in a recent episode of our FlashForcast podcast about the show.
It was very confusing for me, thinking about the idea that something so small could be so complex. But, when I looked back to high school, learning how mitochondria are these little supercomputers within each cell, it only makes sense that there's much more going on in particles than meets the eye.
Anyway, I need you to watch that video before I can start being really crazy in tomorrow's post.
November 11, 2009
Why Ulysses Grant Sucked: The Song
18. Ulysses Grant
Capo 4
A, A/G#, A/G, A/F#
oh Ulysses
you’re a war hero
but your competence
stands around zero
filling your cabinet
with friendship over merit
was fun for about a day
you thought that you could use them
but they thought the same of you and
their abuses still astonish us today
black Friday
credit mobilier
whiskey ring just to name a few
oh Ulysses, what are you going to do?
what are you going to do? what are you going to do?
November 10, 2009
Pay-for-Performance Politicians
If I was hiring a CEO for my company, my ideal pay setup for him would be that he would receive a progressive amount of stock options based on the company's EPS stock performance growth 10 years down the line. So, no concentration on short-term market trickery to cash out early. But only a CEO who increases the long-term value of the company would be paid, and if successful, could be paid mightily.
Is there any way that politicians could be incentivized in a similar way?
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November 9, 2009
A Gas Station that Sells only Non-Saudi Oil?
What do you think about the idea of a gas station that sells only non-Saudi oil? If that was their branding differentiator, if they promoted it as an act of both patriotism and an act of peace, would you want to fill up there? And would you be willing to pay any more per gallon to do so?
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November 6, 2009
Romeo and Juliet Were Just Stupid Teenagers
People often think of Romeo and Juliet as the ultimate love story, but with the poor casting of modern adaptations, we sometimes forget that in the original play, Juliet is only 13 years old.
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Rather than creating this idealized version of what the depths of "true love" should cause us to do, I think Shakespeare was simply trying to show us how dumb teenagers really are.
November 5, 2009
Do You Half-Wave at Yield Sign Holding Construction Workers?
I've done this for as long as I can remember. I assume my mother or father did this, and I inherited it from them. So now, when I'm driving in a construction zone, and there's a construction worker with a yield/stop/slow sign directing traffic, I always give them a little half-wave.
Do you do this? And if so, why them and no one else?
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November 4, 2009
Why Andrew Johnson Sucked: The Song
#17. Andrew Johnson
Capo 4
Em, G, D/F#, Em
the tenure of the office act
required that the senate back
anyone the pres would want to boot
Johnson vetoed it straight it down
the senate overrid his crown
but Johnson said I’m bigger than all you
dismissed ol’ Edwin Stanton
said you undermind me
but what Johnson didn’t mind was federal law
the senate said you serious?
you think you can get away with this?
who in your name do you think you are?
impeached, impeached
it’s not an ice cream flavor
it’s a political wager saved for scum
just because you’re president
don’t mean you’re king of government
you presican’t do anything you want
November 3, 2009
You Must Not Only Do Easy Things
It is silly to assume you should only pursue things that come naturally to you. You must pursue the things you feel compelled to, regardless of initial ability.
Fight for it!
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November 2, 2009
Ditch the Plastic Pumpkin for a Pillowcase
I was surprised at how many trick-or-treaters this year were exceptionally polite.
"Trick or Treat!...Thank you!" was the norm...well, as far as I could overhear from the couch while my lovely wife did all the manual candy labor.
And now, more than ever, I am convinced that common courtesy is a learned behavior. That when I come across an annoying kid, they simply have no good examples to imitate in their life, and therefore, are not expected to live out a lifestyle I prefer. So, they don't.
So, three cheers for you parents within a 2-block radius of my house for being great examples of social awareness for your child. But, please... ditch the plastic pumpkin for a pillowcase. Those things hold nothing.
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