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How a Book about the Future Inspired Me to Look into the Neural Underpinnings of the Past
Scientific American: I’m about to make an embarrassing (to science fiction fans) confession: until last week, I had never read Dune. I wasn’t even aware that I was supposed to have read Dune. Nor did I know I should be embarrassed at the failure. Consider me properly chastised. Fifteen or so years too late, I have finally finished the book that calls itself—on the cover of the 40th anniversary edition—“science fiction’s supreme masterpiece.” I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I will say that I was surprised by the accuracy of some of its insights into the human psyche, especially when it comes to our ability to deal with stressful situations. Read the full story: Scientific American
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Old and On the Road: Can We Train Older Drivers to Be Safer?
Huffington Post: Mr. Magoo, a cartoon regular of early TV, was notorious for his hazardous driving. He was a retiree, befuddled and extremely nearsighted, yet he continued to drive despite these obvious failings. In the opening sequence to his long-running show, he has run-ins with a railroad train, a haystack and several barn animals, a roller coaster, a fire hydrant, a mud hole, and a high voltage line -- all while honking his horn and shouting, "Road hog!" Looking back, it seems like a cruel stereotype of the elderly, especially elderly drivers. But like all stereotypes, the Mr. Magoo caricature had a bit of truth to it.
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‘Phantom’ mobile phone vibrations: why we get them
The Sydney Morning Herald: Bzzt, bzzt. You check the supposed vibration in your pocket, yet no one has called or sent you an SMS. Known commonly as a phantom vibration, this sensation has been felt by many and left them baffled. But according to scientists, mobile users aren't necessarily imagining things and the vibrations may not be "phantom" after all. Some people believe there is a compulsive element to feeling the sensation, or believe that it occurs simply when there is friction in their pockets or they bump or brush up against something.
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Why People Believe Misinformation, Even After It’s Corrected
ABC News: Have you seen the photo of the dog that's as big as a horse? How about the deer on top of a telephone pole? And do you know about the Hollywood actor who needed emergency medical help because of a gerbil that went where no gerbil had gone before? That's all a bunch of bunk, or course. But we've heard those stories, or seen those photos, so many times that they have become a part of our world, even if they are totally false. These days we are bombarded with information, much of it incorrect, and long after the political campaigns are over a lot of it will still be buried in the part of our brain where we store our memories.
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Why Amazon Prime is the wave of retail’s future
msnbc: Anybody who knows me knows that I am a proud member of the Amazon Prime Cult. I only clean my house with products I can order through Amazon.com's Prime service. In December, I chose holiday gifts for my family based on what I could order through Prime. I scoff at brick-and-mortar prices when I do make my way out into the world. And, dear Fools, I say this with as little bias as possible: You will one day join me. Convenience is king, and if history is any indicator of consumer shopping habits, Prime is the future. In 1888, Richard Sears released the first Sears, Roebuck and Co. mailer to sell watches and jewelry.
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Online dating’s promise — and pitfalls
Los Angeles Times: Online dating has come a long way from its less-than-positive association with the personal ad. But is it actually a better way to meet that special someone? In some ways yes -- and in others, maybe not, according to a study on online dating released by the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest. "Romantic relationships can begin anywhere. When Cupid’s arrow strikes, you might be at church or at school, playing chess or softball, searching for a partner at a party, or minding your own business on the train," the authors write. "But sometimes Cupid goes on vacation, or takes a long nap, or kicks back for a marathon of Lifetime original movies.
