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Sleep - One Tip Only

First thing you need to do is figure out how much sleep you need. Six, eight, or ten hours, it doesn't matter. If you cheat your body on sleep, your body will cheat you on performance.

Fraud and Fakes in AI are on the Way.

Consider just a few ways that AI can be used to create fraud through omission, latency, commission, oversampling, or bias. We already have AI created fake voices and fake images. This is just the beginning. A. First of all, much of the purported AI is little more than standard statistical analysis, with error criteria unmentioned at best or concealed at worst. B. Error that creep in to AI results are forever. There seems no continuing validation. Very important in medicine. C. AI results and conclusions may dominate human conclusions and decisions, deprecating the human factor. Already students are using AI to generate original assignments. D. Generative AI can be used to create new (i.e. fake) data and images, which in turn can be sold to other data centers as original data. This will impact business decisions, government regulations, and even scientific results - to mention just a few. I expect in the next few years, the issues of fakes and fraud with AI will explode on the

A Tip for the Depressed

A TIP FOR THE DEPRESSED If you are depressed or have too many depressive thoughts, here's a remedy. It is a self-help, five-step plan. Start a blog* devoted to optimistic topics only. Your first couple of blogs will be difficult, very difficult. After a few more, it will get easier. By the time you're at number 20, you'll start believing the stuff and finding truth in it. By the thirtieth, you're cured. The reason you’re cured is that you have learned the positive side of life, in particular your life. This is important because now you can reflect on why you’re depressed. You have learned a good habit of mind. You understand your depression is self-imposed. You have changed your course. You can see or at least find positivity everywhere. You may even have followers that depend on your good words. There are dozens of free websites such as BlogSpot and WordPress.

Modern Journalism

Modern Journalism. Old maxim (modified): If you lie down in the dirt, you wake up dirty. Applied to journalism, we witness a new breed of journalists altogether. Gone are the days of carefully researching an article, checking and re-checking sources, and isolating the story from personal bias. These days we have. 1. Echo journalism – Just repeat what another source prints. 2. Attack journalism – Get your opponent using any tools. 3. Talking points journalism – Equipped with talking points, just regurgitate them. 4. Hypothetical journalism – Well, it could be true; so print it. 5. Narrative journalism – All articles must conform to a preset story – no deviations allowed. 6. Biased journalism – You don’t like the true story, so secrete your personal opinions inside your article. 7. Legitimate journalism (Gone are the days, my friend, I thought ...)

Problem-Solving --- Persistence

The Persistence of Problems Many problems seem to persist, despite our best efforts to solve them – assuming only the tools provided by critical thinking. Some problems are just too hard. We’ll see some problems are solved and solved again, each time with unsatisfactory outcomes. Still others are shrouded in complexity, vagueness, and wickedness. Let’s consider the root origins of these problems in ten steps. 1. We don’t have the tools (yet) to solve them, intellectual, theoretical, or instrumental. Example. Origin of the universe. 2. We don’t know what the real problem is. Example. Explaining matter - from antiquity to wave-particle duality. Disease. 3. We make a solution. It catches on. It becomes the solution until it fails. Then we begin again. New failure. Begin anew, and on and on. Example. Explaining planetary motion took several tries. Pedagogy. Fads! 4. We assume what the solution should be and persist in using i

How Are Theories Formed?

How Are Physical Theories Formed? Here’s a brief overview of the process for physical theories. Theological and philosophical theories are similarly formed, mostly without the data component. The vague word "truth" is used below. Roughly, it means consensus, consistency, and predictability. Important it is to note that in the five steps below, answers are compounded through the vehicle of problems, or asking questions. A. Observation : It starts with observations focused on a particular topic, such as the moon, fish, or trees. At this and the next stage axioms, the accepted truths, are formed. B. Data Collection : Once metrics are defined, the observations are converted into empirical data, often represented as numerical values. C. Hypothesis Formation : Hypotheses are then developed—educated guesses about how things work or behave. D. Theory Development : When enough hypotheses are confirmed through experimentation and analysis, the framework of a theory begins

How can I Prove or Disprove a Statement?

Problem-Solving: Disproving or Proving a Statement There are several strategies to demonstrate the falsity of a statement: Contradiction: If a statement directly conflicts with a well-established fact or theory, it can be considered false. However, this is not an infallible test, as groundbreaking theories often challenge existing paradigms. Expert Opinion: While relying on experts can be helpful, it's not definitive. Even experts can be mistaken. Personal Belief: Personal beliefs, especially without a strong logical foundation, are unreliable for determining truth. Logical Falsification: In fields like mathematics and science, proving the conclusion of a statement false through accepted logical methods can be a strong indicator of its overall falsity. Lack of Replicability: If a statement or experiment cannot be replicated, it raises doubts about its validity. Author's Reputation: If the author has a history of

Ending War

Ending War One of the greatest deterrents to long-term warfare is when the combatants run out of guys (to die). The American Civil War, at least for the South, is an example. WWI, with 35 million dead, is also. Now, with Putin recruiting criminal defendants for his army, possibly Ukraine/Russia will be another. https://www.oann.com/newsroom/putin-will-allow-criminal-defendants-to-join-military-to-escape-trial/

Can a good argument be made with a bad premise?

Can a good argument be made with a bad premise? Yes. This is done all the time. Not so much in science because all the practitioners know the premises and are not easily deceived. It is a part of their training. You will find the most excellent arguments made upon bad premises* in politics, political speech, and social communication. Sometimes, bad premises are the basis of demagoguery, to incite, to pass legislation, to go to war. Sometimes, we all make great arguments to others, though with an error in the premises. Now, let’s look for a moment at the many types of bad premises. 1. Wishful thinking, or you just hope it is so, or you think it should be so. These are deadly to the listener and the speaker. Both parties are deceived. 2. Expressly for deception. Lawyers make their livings this way with their interpretations of the statues or perhaps what a witness has said. 3. Vagueness is a leading cause for bad premises, as it can lead the reader or listener to

Opportunity

Tied up? Tied down? Have the courage to take advantage of every opportunity.

Can I critically analyze information from sources such as books?

Critical Analysis of Books and Journal Articles Unless you are an expert in the subject, you are often left with no choice but to accept the information presented and attempt to understand it. Critical analysis, particularly in technical fields, is not something everyone can easily engage in; it takes years of experience to develop the necessary expertise. Readers should assume that articles are written and reviewed by experts, with the expectation that both processes are conducted in good faith. This forms the credibility of the sources. When encountering new or unvetted material, skepticism is warranted, but true critical analysis is typically beyond the capacity of students or amateurs. While there are rare exceptions, they are uncommon. If the material you're reading is primarily opinion-based, it’s important to approach it with a healthy level of skepticism. However, you must also ask yourself whether you possess the expertise to confidently reject the claims being made. If