If you didn't get the quote from the previous blog, then watch this video clip of Palin and her latest fumble. They seem to be getting more and more embarassing as time passes. Poor lil' bugger.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tricking People into Doing the Right Thing
Here is an interesting article I read in Good Magazine today, because much like Sarah Palin, I read "all of em, any of em that have been in front of me over the years."
Tricking People into Doing the Right Thing
Words By Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
Anyone who has studied psychology knows just how puzzling human behavior can be. Busy people are trying to cope in a complex world, and this means they simply cannot afford to think deeply about every choice they have to make. The bottom line is that people are, shall we say, nudge-able. With subtle hints, you can convince them to do things they otherwise might not be able to do for themselves. And we think private and public institutions ought to offer carefully planned nudges—designing choices that are less heavy-handed and more effective than mandates and bans.
Here are a few possibilities:
Quit smoking without a patch. Committed Action to Reduce and End Smoking is a savings program offered by the Green Bank of Caraga in Mindanao, Philippines. A would-be nonsmoker opens an account with a minimum balance of one dollar. For six months, the client deposits the amount of money she would otherwise spend on cigarettes into the account. After six months, the client takes a urine test to confirm that she has not smoked recently. If she passes the test, she gets her money back. If she fails the test, the account is closed and the money is donated to a charity. MIT’s Poverty Action Lab found that opening up an account makes those who want to quit 53 percent more likely to achieve their goal. No other antismoking tactic, not even the nicotine patch, appears to be so successful.
Stop compulsive gambling. Over the past decade, several states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, have enacted laws enabling gambling addicts to put themselves on a list that bans them from entering casinos or collecting gambling winnings. The underlying thought is that many people who have self-control problems are aware of their shortcomings and want to overcome them. Sometimes recreational gamblers can do this on their own or with their friends; sometimes private institutions can help them. But addicted gamblers might do best if they have a way to enlist the support of the state.
Dollar a day. Teenage pregnancy is a serious problem, and girls who have one child, at, say, 18, often become pregnant again within a year or two. Several cities, including Greensboro, North Carolina, have experimented with a “dollar-a-day” program, by which teenage girls with a baby receive a dollar for each day that they are not pregnant. Thus far the results have been extremely promising. A dollar a day is a trivial amount to the city, even for a year or two, so the plan’s total cost is extremely low, but the small recurring payment is just enough to encourage some teenage mothers to take steps to avoid getting pregnant again. And because taxpayers end up paying a significant amount for many children born to teenagers, the costs appear to be far less than the benefits. Many people are touting “dollar a day” as a model program.
No Bite? No Drink. Those who want to stop biting their nails can buy bitter nail polishes such as Mavala Stop and Orly No Bite. A more extreme version of this concept is a drug called Disulfiram, which is given to some alcoholics. Disulfiram causes alcohol drinkers to throw up and suffer a hangover as soon as they start to drink. For some people suffering from chronic alcoholism, Disulfiram has had a strong and positive effect as part of a treatment program.
Stop men from peeing on the floor. Authorities at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam have etched the image of a black housefly into each urinal. It seems that men usually do not pay much attention to where they aim, which can create a bit of a mess. But if you give them a target, they can’t help but try to hit it. Similar designs have been implemented in urinals around the world, including mini soccer goals, bulls-eyes, and urine video games (seriously). Do they work? Since the bugs were etched into the airport urinals, spillage has decreased by 80 percent.
Tricking People into Doing the Right Thing
Words By Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
Anyone who has studied psychology knows just how puzzling human behavior can be. Busy people are trying to cope in a complex world, and this means they simply cannot afford to think deeply about every choice they have to make. The bottom line is that people are, shall we say, nudge-able. With subtle hints, you can convince them to do things they otherwise might not be able to do for themselves. And we think private and public institutions ought to offer carefully planned nudges—designing choices that are less heavy-handed and more effective than mandates and bans.
Here are a few possibilities:
Quit smoking without a patch. Committed Action to Reduce and End Smoking is a savings program offered by the Green Bank of Caraga in Mindanao, Philippines. A would-be nonsmoker opens an account with a minimum balance of one dollar. For six months, the client deposits the amount of money she would otherwise spend on cigarettes into the account. After six months, the client takes a urine test to confirm that she has not smoked recently. If she passes the test, she gets her money back. If she fails the test, the account is closed and the money is donated to a charity. MIT’s Poverty Action Lab found that opening up an account makes those who want to quit 53 percent more likely to achieve their goal. No other antismoking tactic, not even the nicotine patch, appears to be so successful.
Stop compulsive gambling. Over the past decade, several states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, have enacted laws enabling gambling addicts to put themselves on a list that bans them from entering casinos or collecting gambling winnings. The underlying thought is that many people who have self-control problems are aware of their shortcomings and want to overcome them. Sometimes recreational gamblers can do this on their own or with their friends; sometimes private institutions can help them. But addicted gamblers might do best if they have a way to enlist the support of the state.
Dollar a day. Teenage pregnancy is a serious problem, and girls who have one child, at, say, 18, often become pregnant again within a year or two. Several cities, including Greensboro, North Carolina, have experimented with a “dollar-a-day” program, by which teenage girls with a baby receive a dollar for each day that they are not pregnant. Thus far the results have been extremely promising. A dollar a day is a trivial amount to the city, even for a year or two, so the plan’s total cost is extremely low, but the small recurring payment is just enough to encourage some teenage mothers to take steps to avoid getting pregnant again. And because taxpayers end up paying a significant amount for many children born to teenagers, the costs appear to be far less than the benefits. Many people are touting “dollar a day” as a model program.
No Bite? No Drink. Those who want to stop biting their nails can buy bitter nail polishes such as Mavala Stop and Orly No Bite. A more extreme version of this concept is a drug called Disulfiram, which is given to some alcoholics. Disulfiram causes alcohol drinkers to throw up and suffer a hangover as soon as they start to drink. For some people suffering from chronic alcoholism, Disulfiram has had a strong and positive effect as part of a treatment program.
Stop men from peeing on the floor. Authorities at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam have etched the image of a black housefly into each urinal. It seems that men usually do not pay much attention to where they aim, which can create a bit of a mess. But if you give them a target, they can’t help but try to hit it. Similar designs have been implemented in urinals around the world, including mini soccer goals, bulls-eyes, and urine video games (seriously). Do they work? Since the bugs were etched into the airport urinals, spillage has decreased by 80 percent.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Letterman rips poor lil' old McCainypoo.
If you aren't aware, John McCain was scheduled to appear on The David Letterman Show last night, but canceled at the last minute, saying he was needed immediately in Washington to assist with the negotiations regarding the 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout. Letterman was absolutely fuming and the results are hilarious! John McCain should be very sad today.
The Washington Independent wrote a succinct but apt article comparing Letterman to Walter Cronkite in his condemnation of the Vietnam War. Read the article here.
And just as a little side note, I decided to look at Obama's myspace page... whatever, looks cool and everything. So then I thought to look at McCain's myspace page. Curiously, his page didn't even work. A couple pictures popped up and then rest of the page was just broken. I found it to be a bit amusing. Oh, and Obama has about five times as many friends as McCain has, too. What a loser. I probably have more friends than Johnny has.
The Washington Independent wrote a succinct but apt article comparing Letterman to Walter Cronkite in his condemnation of the Vietnam War. Read the article here.
And just as a little side note, I decided to look at Obama's myspace page... whatever, looks cool and everything. So then I thought to look at McCain's myspace page. Curiously, his page didn't even work. A couple pictures popped up and then rest of the page was just broken. I found it to be a bit amusing. Oh, and Obama has about five times as many friends as McCain has, too. What a loser. I probably have more friends than Johnny has.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Placemats
The Replacements' 1984 release Let It Be has a special place in my heart. My dad used to listen to Pleased To Meet Me when I was a kid, I guess I was 11 at the time, and I liked it, but I never totally latched on to it like I did some of the other music he listened to when I was young (Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, Talking Heads, etc.). But years later when I was working at Music Trader, a German guy named Marc told me about this record and he said in a heavy accent, "You have to listen to it. It's badass," or something to that effect. So I bought it, as well as the two albums preceding it, Sorry Ma..., and Hootenanny. Out of the three, Let It Be struck deep with me and stayed there. These songs are so manic and loose, so trashy, so funny, so gut-wrenching, and just plain exciting. This is definitely shower/morning music for me. Songs that you can't help but sing along to and wonder how Paul Westerberg came up with such awesome and simple melody. Let It Be is definitely their finest achievement.
Here is a free download of the newly re-released version of Let It Be, with bonus tracks and everything. If you already have this album, you may want to download it for the extra material anyway. Here's the track list:
- I Will Dare
- Favorite Thing
- We're Comin' Out
- Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
- Androgynous
- Black Diamond
- Unsatisfied
- Seen Your Video
- Gary's Got A Boner
- Sixteen Blue
- Answering Machine
- 20th Century Boy
- Perfectly Lethal (Outtake)*
- Temptation Eyes (Outtake)*
- Answering Machine (Solo Home Demo)*
- Heartbeat - It's A Lovebeat (Outtake - Rough Mix)*
- Sixteen Blue (Outtake - Alternate Vocal)*
A Mention in the SF Weekly
Our friend Jamie Jams has been receiving a fair amount of attention for his 90's night at The Knockout called Debaser. I have never been able to attend because I'm never in San Francisco when he does it, but everything I've heard is good. Anyway, they got another write up in the SF Weekly, and the reporter mentioned us in the article. Pretty cool. Read the article here.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Free Floating Agression 9/23/08
Shitty commercial time!
Last Sunday I got a text message from my friend reading, "The NFL is using a Smiths song." Incredulous, I asked, "Which one?" He replied, "Everyday Is Like Sunday." I couldn't believe it. It's actually a Morrissey song, but anyway, I was watching tv last night and the very commercial comes on. But it's a really shitty cover version. I wonder if Morrissey gave his consent or if that's even required?
The next one is a Snickers commercial for BBC that was pulled off the air because it is perceived as being homophobic. You tell me what you think.
And here's a little blurb I found on Youtube with some more gay-bashing rant from our buddy, Mr. T.
Last Sunday I got a text message from my friend reading, "The NFL is using a Smiths song." Incredulous, I asked, "Which one?" He replied, "Everyday Is Like Sunday." I couldn't believe it. It's actually a Morrissey song, but anyway, I was watching tv last night and the very commercial comes on. But it's a really shitty cover version. I wonder if Morrissey gave his consent or if that's even required?
The next one is a Snickers commercial for BBC that was pulled off the air because it is perceived as being homophobic. You tell me what you think.
And here's a little blurb I found on Youtube with some more gay-bashing rant from our buddy, Mr. T.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Great job!
This weekend I play records for some fools.Oh, and I'm happy to say that Duh Boody Bassmens won the award for Best Hip-Hop Nightclub For White People in the San Diego Musics Award. Congratulations, guys! Great job!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Stripper Shit
I was reading the Skull Knotrol blog today and I pept the Am I Demon video by my mans Danzig, and it made me think of the She Rides video. We show the old Danzig video collection video at Booty Bassment in San Francisco sometimes and I always love when the She Rides video comes on because it looks so much like a Booty Bassment flier to me: scantly clad young ladies, metal dudes, and a stark background... perfect. I especially love the beginning of the video with the swaying thoia-thong over the bad 80's butt tattoos. This is the ultimate lap dance song, right? And Glenn's hair? Incredible. Danzig wishes he was still this cool.
And the award for the Worst Movie Ever goes to...
So, we all know that Johnny Knoxville is an idiot, but last night I watched a movie that really set him as the linchpin in the world of idiocy: The Ringer. If you haven't seen this movie, you absolutely must. It sucks so many sweaty llama balls that it makes I Am Sam look like Shakespeare.
The basic premise is that Knoxville is forced by unfortunate circumstance to enter into the Special Olympics (even though he is not technically "special") with the express purpose of dethroning the reigning champion decathlete, simultaneously winning his broke and gambling addicted uncle a large bet and earning enough cash to have the three fingers his gardener inconveniently lost in a lawn mower accident sewn back on. Yeah, it's stupid and offensive; always a good combo. As you who know me may well attest, I am not necessarily opposed to offending folks, but this one takes it there.
I must say though that for me, it's actually Knoxville's performance that causes the big stench. I know you're saying, "No big surprises there," but really, the sheer ineptitude of his "Jeffy" character is remarkable, as late as this review may be. Constantly referring to himself in third person is enough to drive anyone up a wall ("Jeffy likes you."), but to see him dancing around with a stunned-mullet grin at a Kids Of Widney High concert just takes the cake. It must be seen to be believed, so below is a montage of clips from the movie.
And here is the music video "Pretty Girls" by The Kids Of Widney High. A certified platinum hit, sure to get some play at this Thursday's Worst Music Ever.
I just had an epiphany- I think that this Thursday (September 18) at the Worst Music Ever at The Knockout in San Francisco we will start the night with a showing of the Worst Movie Ever, The Ringer. Yes, I think that sounds great. We shall start the movie at approximately 9 pm. Thank you.
The basic premise is that Knoxville is forced by unfortunate circumstance to enter into the Special Olympics (even though he is not technically "special") with the express purpose of dethroning the reigning champion decathlete, simultaneously winning his broke and gambling addicted uncle a large bet and earning enough cash to have the three fingers his gardener inconveniently lost in a lawn mower accident sewn back on. Yeah, it's stupid and offensive; always a good combo. As you who know me may well attest, I am not necessarily opposed to offending folks, but this one takes it there.
I must say though that for me, it's actually Knoxville's performance that causes the big stench. I know you're saying, "No big surprises there," but really, the sheer ineptitude of his "Jeffy" character is remarkable, as late as this review may be. Constantly referring to himself in third person is enough to drive anyone up a wall ("Jeffy likes you."), but to see him dancing around with a stunned-mullet grin at a Kids Of Widney High concert just takes the cake. It must be seen to be believed, so below is a montage of clips from the movie.
And here is the music video "Pretty Girls" by The Kids Of Widney High. A certified platinum hit, sure to get some play at this Thursday's Worst Music Ever.
I just had an epiphany- I think that this Thursday (September 18) at the Worst Music Ever at The Knockout in San Francisco we will start the night with a showing of the Worst Movie Ever, The Ringer. Yes, I think that sounds great. We shall start the movie at approximately 9 pm. Thank you.
Friday, September 12, 2008
A nice lil' sweet article about our boy.
Today I got my daily newsletter from the Rasmussen Reports and it read, "The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows John McCain up by three points, his largest lead since Obama wrapped up the Democratic Presidential Nomination. " Needless to say, I began to have a slight anxiety attack. I really, really don't get it. Why on earth do people like Sarah Palin so much all of a sudden? It's such a sham and the Republicans (and swing voters for that matter) can't even see it.
Then I received an email from a member of the San Diego Obama campaign that made me feel a bit more at ease. This article in The American Prospect is very well written, and has enough links to occupy your paranoia riddled mind for at least an hour. A welcome respite in this, my hour or torment.
Please read this and pass the link along!
Read the article here.
And it would like to let it be known at this point, I am completely obsessed with the election at this point, and I will most likely be in a state of frenzy until November 5. Just sayin. Please bear with me.
Then I received an email from a member of the San Diego Obama campaign that made me feel a bit more at ease. This article in The American Prospect is very well written, and has enough links to occupy your paranoia riddled mind for at least an hour. A welcome respite in this, my hour or torment.
Please read this and pass the link along!
Read the article here.
And it would like to let it be known at this point, I am completely obsessed with the election at this point, and I will most likely be in a state of frenzy until November 5. Just sayin. Please bear with me.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
On the Seven Year Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks.
If you don't watch any other video on this page, please watch this one. This is a monologue by Keith Olbermann yesterday about the blatant disregard for the memory of those killed in the attacks on the WTC. Olbermann says it best-
"This is supposed to be a day of remembrance. Remembrance of the attack, remembrance of the national unity which followed it.
Most important of all, remembrance of the dead.
But 9/11 has become a brand name. A Republican campaign slogan. Propaganda of the lowest form. 9/11 has become 9/11 with a trademark logo."
Please watch this and pass it along!
"This is supposed to be a day of remembrance. Remembrance of the attack, remembrance of the national unity which followed it.
Most important of all, remembrance of the dead.
But 9/11 has become a brand name. A Republican campaign slogan. Propaganda of the lowest form. 9/11 has become 9/11 with a trademark logo."
Please watch this and pass it along!
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