Bullsh!t
• Carl Bergstrom has become well known during COVID-19 (esp on Twitter) with many posts on epidemiology, the economy, the future. He is an evolutionary biologist at U of Washington and has studied epidemics for many years. Written before the pandemic, his (and Jevin West’s) book Calling Bullshit is full of information and graphs, but overall accessible.
• “The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it” (Alberto Brandolini). This quote recalls Jonathan Swift “falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it,” and FDR “a lie will gallop halfway round the world before the truth has time to pull its breeches on.”
• Calling BS covers misinformation (false claims not meant to deceive) vs disinformation (falsehoods spread deliberately), fake and real news media sensationalism, communication theory (we share information not just for the info itself, but to display/strenghten our connections to each other). Modern propaganda, bots, fake news sites out of Macedonia, fake human faces (and voices) that are very difficult to tell from the real thing.
• The middle chapters of the book cover causality, data visualization, big data, machine learning, a few common biases, and even science’s susceptibility to BS. The last two chapters on spotting and refuting BS give tools for practical use. My favorite part might be the principle of charity (excerpt below). Refute the argument, not the person.
• The book is apolitical (in contrast to Bergstrom’s Twitter feed), and flows well. Highly recommend.
“You might be wrong. You may think this is unlikely, but at least be mindful of the possibility. It could be that you misheard the statement or misinterpreted an argument. Don’t impute malice when incompetence is a sufficient explanation. Most people who write foolish things on the Internet or anywhere else do not have a nefarious underlying motive. They simply don’t know what they are talking about. Don’t assume incompetence when an honest mistake can account for error. We all make honest mistakes and say stupid things at times; it doesn’t mean that we are stupid or that we are incompetent.”
Gaming
• Looking for something to do with family and friends? This card game The Mind has been a huge hit with our family. My kids play it with their friends. Adults love it. It involves mind reading, not many games can say that. You have to order cards in each others hands from 1 to 100 without talking. 11 bucks. Hours of fun.
Omegas
• This deep dive podcast on Omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil, cardiovascular disease and general health will not disappoint. Unfortunately the show notes are not accessible unless you subscribe to Peter Attia’s page (I don’t). But the podcast is very cool. Who knew in 1979 Bill Harris was giving study subjects pounds of salmon to eat every day.
• Bottom line: eat more fish, consider taking fish oil, and get your omega 6 fats from whole food.
Breakfast
• Do you have a waffle maker? Do you have almond flour, eggs, and shredded cheese in your house? Then immediately go make these 3 ingredient waffles (chaffles). We preferred mozzarella cheese, but cheddar worked well too. Add some vanilla and a sweetener to get closer to the real thing. Thanks Alyssa for the recommendation.
Posttraumatic Growth
• Opposite of, but potentially coexisting with PTSD, PTG happens in more than 50% of cases of tragedy. As we process social unrest, economic trouble, and even COVID-19, we need to remember how resilient human beings are. Check out our article (published last week) on how to maximize chances for growth during the pandemic.
Open Letter
• In polarizing times, it helps to read and hear diverse perspectives from earnest voices. This compelling article from the Baltimore Sun was written by an active Baltimore police officer. Written on June 3, the letter is even more relevant now.
“At the end of the conversation, I would hope that you see me for who I am, not what I am. I would be tempted to bring things to a close by trying to say something magnanimous without sounding silly or robotic, perhaps by mentioning the oath that I swore to uphold. And so instead of repeating platitudes, I would simply remind you that even if you still hate me, if you ever dial 911 or call out for help, I will come running. I promise. I will come running. And then I would open my palm, and offer you my outstretched hand.”
Quotes
Instead of one quote, check out this post on 9 quotes by which to live your life. My favorite is probably:
“Thou knowest this man’s fall; but thou knowest not his wrassling.”
—James Baldwin
