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Monday, February 13, 2012

Reading Matter

Here are some interesting things I came across this week:

  • Are we living in a computer simulation (God I hope so)?  Philosopher Nick Bostrom tackles this question in this thought provoking article.
  • Here is an article which presents some data about how running can improve your fluid intelligence.
  • Wired magazine brings us this article entitled: “Why Being Sleepy and Drunk Are Great for Creativity.”
  • Ok, it turns out that Mom was right after all.  Here is an article detailing a study which showed that High School students did best on tests with seven hours of sleep.  Perhaps my three hour a night high school sleep regimen was ill advised?
  • A new study apparently claims that eating chocolate cake for breakfast could help you lose weight.  I am skeptical, but you can read about it here.  Tuesday it will no doubt be cake time!

12 comments:

Patience_Crabstick said...

Lots of interesting stuff here. I'm a runner, so I'm glad to see it is doing more than exercising my legs. I think I'll have to share that link.

bch said...

the article from wired magazine is so interesting. probably explains why i work best at 4am!

Laoch of Chicago said...

pc, I think the reasons the author ecplictde mad eosme sense.

bch, creativity is such a complex topic that it is really hard to get a good idea about what is going on with creative people. It is an interesting thought that I had not heard before.

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

If we're living in a computer simulation, I bet it's a beta.

Laoch of Chicago said...

tsb, hahahahaha, nice one.

Kerry said...

:D @ tsb!

Very interesting Wired article. Many musicians and artists feel like they are more insightful with the help of alcohol and/or drugs. A slippery slope for sure. But maybe a reason why I like to have a glass of wine while I write at night.

Anybody else notice there was a second solution to the second Roman numeral equation? (Also requires a direction change in one of the lines.)

cj Schlottman said...

Thank for the links. I will have to read them later, but I think it is very cool that you shared them.

Namaste.........cj

Laoch of Chicago said...

Kerry, I did not notice the alternate roman numeral solution: well done

Laoch of Chicago said...

Cj, it is always cool to learn new stuff.

KittyCat said...

I'll check out the running one. I hate to run. But do it cause I have to. Not so sure I've really benefitted from it.

Laoch of Chicago said...

Kitty, exercising has a lot of subtle good effects.

Suze said...

If computer is defined as something which manipulates data toward a desired end and a simulation is defined as a model representing a system, then there remains no doubt that we are 'living in a simulation.' I found the gist of the article -- on ancestor simulations -- to be surprisingly non-stimulating. But, as far as I can understand from extensive reading, cogitating and, yes, even pontificating, our experienced 'reality' is a simulation constructed by the ultimate in personal computing -- the brain.

Finally, running grows the brain? I'll be damned! This must mean that running facilitates richer, more nuanced simulations.

Hot dawg.