: What Makes Us Tick
Those busy beavers, the scientists, are at it again – doing those danged experiments to figure out what makes us folks tick. Here is an actual experiment that made the news recently:
Subjects are asked to memorize lists of numbers. One group is asked to memorize a two digit number, while the other is asked to memorize a seven digit number. They are then instructed to go down a hallway to another room. On their way down the hallway, they are offered a snack to thank them for their participation. The snack? They can either have a luscious piece of moist chocolate cake or some healthy fruit. And here’s where things get interesting. The folks who had to memorize the seven digit number? They are twice as likely to choose the cake as the folks who only had to memorize the two digit number. This result is consistent across age and gender.
The conclusion is that when the rational part of our mind is hard at work it gets overloaded (ummm, gotta remember … 7624902, 7624902, 7624902, what was that?) and then our emotional brain takes over (yummmm, chocolate cake much tastier than healthy fruit).
You can get some very funny commentary here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122781981.
Or, if you want to spend $14, you can get a re-print of the original paper here: http://www.jstor.org/pss/2489734 “Heart and Mind in Conflict: The Interplay of Affect and Cognition in Consumer Decision Making” – now say that three times real fast.
You may use either your rational mind and/or your emotional mind to enjoy these performances….
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Nov 13, Saturday, 8-9:30 PM – Lunatic Fringe, Piano’s Bar & Grill, 36 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 743-7208 Reservations: (973) 429-1527
Lunatic Fringe is back in action and Carl L. has yet another chance to stretch his legs and get out of the house (sorry, that’s an in joke). If you voted Democrat, you can laugh away your concrns over the last election, if you’re Republican you can come and gloat. There is a cover charge of $12, $10 with a reservation.
http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53938723078&ref=ts
Nov 24, Wednesday, 8-12 PM – Kevin Kiley Blues Jam, Franklin Tavern, 97-99 Franklin Ave. West Orange, NJ 862-224-4063
The Franklin Tavern makes the mainstream media. There’s a great article in this week’s issue (Nov 15) of The New Yorker magzine about Bettye LaVette – and near the end of the article the writer describes a typical Wednesday night at the Franklin. If you’re at all familiar with The New Yorker, you know that the quality of writing is high caliber and this article is no exception. You will actually have to spend money to read the full article, but it will be money well spent. Nov 24th is the night before Thanksgiving, so you can stay out a little later than usual and catch some blues. There’s no cover charge, but it’s a good thing to buy a drink or soda and tip the bartender.
http://www.myspace.com/franklintavern
http://www.myspace.com/kevinkileytheoutpatients
Dec 3, Friday, 7:00-9:30ish PM – Eric Heilner at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair (973) 509-1134
It’s getting cold outside so Ruthie’s is going indoors for music. I’ll be doing a mix of New Orleans, boogie woogie, and a dash of good old rock & roll. BYOB.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/