Wi-Fi Might Have Made Us Smarter

Instead it has spawned an industry with the largest research budgets in history and the smartest people in the world dedicated to making us addicted.

Almost all Americans own a smartphone or a computer.
Each device contains the library of Alexandria.
The sum total of all world knowledge.
You can learn anything. Why don't you?
Too busy tracking social status.
Too enthralled by imagery your evolution can't resist.

Millennials: The New Victorians

When I grew up, Victorian was a term of ridicule. It meant stuffy people who couldn't tolerate the least bit of earthy reality. Most emphatically in matters of romance, Victorians found the sight of a table leg too sensuous.* Exposing an ankle was the sign of a shameless flirt.

At best, it was said that the Victorians' inability to confront human sexuality was compensated by their ability to confront death. I came to expect that these were exaggerations by people who needed to feel better than their grandparents but the word Victorian stuck as a synonym for irrational prudery.

The twentieth century moved steadily away from that ideal. Matt Ridley says the twenty-first is moving back (minus the care for others, fortitude, courage and economic success.) Illiberality in ideas has taken over for years. Now it seems that illiberality in behavior is next.

*It's not true but it is a myth we commonly shared.

Bellyaching about Autism

Now there's a claim that gut bacteria is related to autism.
Apparently gastrointestinal  problems are common among those with autism. This study claims that a transplant of fecal microbes reduces gastrointestinal problems 80%, not too surprising. More remarkable is that it improves social and sleep habits by 20%.

Professionalism and Professional Success

We like to think they go together. Here is an example of a doctor for whom they conflict.

“Why wouldn’t I give patients a Percocet prescription? It makes their life easier and my life easier.”

Staying Healthy Amid Pressure Not To

For decades people have grumbled that university environments can be unhealthy. The Coddling of the American Mind (A reference to this pivotal work) in the Atlantic examines popular trends in the context of the powerfully successful psychological field of cognitive behavioral therapy. They make the case that emotional reasoning, trigger warnings, labeling microagressions and “catastrophizing” are literally harmful to mental health. Solutions could come from contemporary psychology or ancient philosophers like Marcus Aureluis* or Buddha.

*Relevant at 2:00, Aurelius at 4:20 of 33:00.

(Aug'15) McArdle adds: College as a consumer experience serves to "shelter" students from any benefit. 

(Sept'15) After a massive response, Lukianoff responds to the controversies in this video.

"Learn better how to argue fairly with yourself."

...In case the implications of that original article weren't big enough for you.
The Real Reason We Need to Stop Trying to Protect Everyone’s Feelings

(Jan'16) The habits start in high-school.

(Jun'19) Now a book: similar to antifragile.

Ready for Bed

Swiss researchers say that screen time before bed makes it hard to sleep. It's not just that reading and thinking gets your mind wound up (though I am sure that's part of it.) Exposing yourself to light messes with the body's melatonin production. Having a low level of melatonin keeps your body in daytime mode and keeps you from being ready to sleep.

The new research shows that light from laptop screens, cellphones or tablets causes more disruption of melatonin than other lights. I don't see any mention of what the control lighting is: incandescent? CFL? LED? television?

Teenagers, already susceptible to confused sleep cycles, are especially affected.

My first thought: profitable app opportunity. Second thought: the app world is way ahead of me. From the comments:

"As for apps that filter blue light, I would recommend f.lux for OSX, iOS (iPhone/iPad) , Windows, and Linux, and Twilight or Lux for Android. I have tried others, but those are the best." -Andy

Truths That Will Not Go Away

 
Alternate title: Women Are Not Curvy Men . 

Though many assure us this is lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind, there is a fertility gap.

Feb'15: musical version
Feb'16: more music added

Emotional Intelligence for Aspergerites

The problem: how to show the sympathy and empathy that leads to great social interactions when the fact is, hell! you're not all that sympathetic.

Speaking of Mental Health

Are we training ourselves to be distracted, superficial thinkers?

Do You Know Someone Worried About Alzheimer's

It turns out that Alzheimer's disease looks a lot like vitamin B12 deficiency...and the test for B12 deficiency is expensive ($100 or so) so it is not done that routinely.

Is classroom drama stressful?

Army Physicians and Berkley researchers say that REM sleep (aka dreaming) takes the edge off painful events. If days are rough, it may be that nothing helps like a good sleep.


The fourth commenter points out a possible frustration. For people who have trouble sleeping: the harder they try to sleep, the harder it is to sleep. If this is you,