Recordings of conversations played a part in the impeachments of President Nixon (resigned), President Keun-hye Park, and in the probable impeachment of Brazilian President Temer.
Wondering if there are recordings of President Trump regarding the dismissal of FBI Director Comey, among other goodies.
Meanwhile in Korea, it seems like the rich may be taxed fairly eventually. Good news! But not for the rich. hehe
Friday, May 19, 2017
How To Convince The Politically Radical?
This article in Scientific American outlines how to approach and present facts to people who believe in false things.
If Korean politicians knew how to do this, then only the ones that presented the facts clearly would be popular. Guess the same is true all over the world.
Scientific American: Sometimes, Facts Can Actually Trump Ideology - It's hard to get people to look past their ideological blinkers, but behavioral science research shows it's not impossible.
I remember another article in Scientific American. It was about how to persuade people with serious cognitive dissonance. They both state similar methods, but from different perspectives.
If Korean politicians knew how to do this, then only the ones that presented the facts clearly would be popular. Guess the same is true all over the world.
Scientific American: Sometimes, Facts Can Actually Trump Ideology - It's hard to get people to look past their ideological blinkers, but behavioral science research shows it's not impossible.
I remember another article in Scientific American. It was about how to persuade people with serious cognitive dissonance. They both state similar methods, but from different perspectives.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Korean Prosecutors Received Envelopes Filled With Money
Korean prosecutors received money from a superior from the Justice Ministry just after they closed a case. At first, they said it was a "normal" customary practice. No shame! Now, officials are offering to resign over the incident. Resign? They should be jailed, IMHO. The official who handed out money (from $800-900 each to over 6-7 people) was one of those investigated in the case that was closed by the prosecutors without anyone being indicted.
It is still a struggle in Korea. TV and media is still mostly titled towards the goals of the powerful and rich.
President Moon is trying to get justice for any serious crimes committed by the last administration. He was the one who ordered the investigation into use of government funds for investigation that was misused to entertain prosecutors with food, drink and money.
For details on this scandal, please read the following article;
Yonhap News: Senior prosecutor, ministry official offer to resign after Moon's inspection order
It is still a struggle in Korea. TV and media is still mostly titled towards the goals of the powerful and rich.
President Moon is trying to get justice for any serious crimes committed by the last administration. He was the one who ordered the investigation into use of government funds for investigation that was misused to entertain prosecutors with food, drink and money.
For details on this scandal, please read the following article;
Yonhap News: Senior prosecutor, ministry official offer to resign after Moon's inspection order
Monday, May 15, 2017
Detaching Ourselves From Personal Perspective Leads To Better Morality
That's what I said, sort of. So did Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed and others.
Now the scientific community is saying the same thing.
The following excerpt is from a review in the New York Times on Steven Pinker’s “Better Angels of Our Nature”. A book that promptly reached the best seller list after Bill Gates recommended it.
"Pinker argues that enhanced powers of reasoning give us the ability to detach ourselves from our immediate experience and from our personal or parochial perspective, and frame our ideas in more abstract, universal terms. This in turn leads to better moral commitments, including avoiding violence."
NY Times: Is Violence History?
Now the scientific community is saying the same thing.
The following excerpt is from a review in the New York Times on Steven Pinker’s “Better Angels of Our Nature”. A book that promptly reached the best seller list after Bill Gates recommended it.
"Pinker argues that enhanced powers of reasoning give us the ability to detach ourselves from our immediate experience and from our personal or parochial perspective, and frame our ideas in more abstract, universal terms. This in turn leads to better moral commitments, including avoiding violence."
NY Times: Is Violence History?
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Conscious and Unconscious Minds
It appears that both the conscious and unconscious mind are both at work in our brains. The unconscious mind is always working in the background automatically guiding our decisions and perception in many cases.
BBC: Why It Feels Weird To Step On A Stopped Escalator
The following was the number one song in the the US in 1969, beating out songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jackson 5, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder. I remember liking the song. Must be getting really old.
Michael Jackson in 1969.
BBC: Why It Feels Weird To Step On A Stopped Escalator
The following was the number one song in the the US in 1969, beating out songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jackson 5, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder. I remember liking the song. Must be getting really old.
Michael Jackson in 1969.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Brain Functions
The brain has different areas for different functions, and some neurons are huge and extend through the body.
It also seems like there are many brain states, for dreams, deep thought, and so on.
I think there are two types of operating modes or more for the brain. One is the action mode where thought is directed towards physical action, and simple "two-dimensional" decisions. The other is thought directed towards reflection, silence, in many cases with eyes closed, deep concentration, solving very complex problems with seemingly no solutions, and such.
It seems these two types develop sort of independently in adulthood. If one talks too much, and spends time only doing things, then that "action" brain function develops.
If one spends a lot of time in deep thought, that "thinking" brain function develops and "worthwhile" knowledge accumulates.
Seems like a lot of people spend their lifetimes acting out their lives, rather than thinking before they act. The barrier seems to be thoughts about death, purpose in life, running out of money and such. These thoughts are a headache and people want to avoid thinking about these in depth. It is hard and takes decades to get over hangups and complexes about these matters. Once one gets over their hangups about death, purpose, material wealth, and some other things, then thinking becomes very enjoyable and beneficial. Some never get past their hangups.
That's just my thinking. What's yours?
It also seems like there are many brain states, for dreams, deep thought, and so on.
I think there are two types of operating modes or more for the brain. One is the action mode where thought is directed towards physical action, and simple "two-dimensional" decisions. The other is thought directed towards reflection, silence, in many cases with eyes closed, deep concentration, solving very complex problems with seemingly no solutions, and such.
It seems these two types develop sort of independently in adulthood. If one talks too much, and spends time only doing things, then that "action" brain function develops.
If one spends a lot of time in deep thought, that "thinking" brain function develops and "worthwhile" knowledge accumulates.
Seems like a lot of people spend their lifetimes acting out their lives, rather than thinking before they act. The barrier seems to be thoughts about death, purpose in life, running out of money and such. These thoughts are a headache and people want to avoid thinking about these in depth. It is hard and takes decades to get over hangups and complexes about these matters. Once one gets over their hangups about death, purpose, material wealth, and some other things, then thinking becomes very enjoyable and beneficial. Some never get past their hangups.
That's just my thinking. What's yours?
Friday, May 12, 2017
Life After The Park Keun-hye Administration
It's only been a few days since President Moon took office, but already the atmosphere is different. The winds have suddenly shifted, on TV, in the news, in government policies, in people's attitudes. Small changes, but still you can tell.