Send in the Clowns

Is sugar addictive? Since it was cultivated in the Americas a couple of centuries ago, it has become a staple throughout the world. People love it. While sugar effects are so benign and the craving is so universal, it has not been determined to be addictive or not. (See, the wonderful book, 1493, by Charles C. Mann.) A good case can be made for addiction, but the chemistry is subtle. Well, sugar does add calories, and our wonderful legislatures wish to do something about apparent consequent obesity. For most legislatures, doing something must involve money in some way, giving it out or taking it in. The latter is preferred. The solution this new year in Philadelphia is a sugar tax on sugary soft drinks at the rate of 1.5 cents per ounce**. For example, the tax on a 42-ounce big gulp will be 63 cents, and for a gallon of sweetened tea, it will be $1.92. Alcohol is excluded, as are orange, tomato and apple juices – the healthy stuff I guess. Fans of energy drinks such as Red Bull will also be awarded a tax. However, there seems no tax on candy bars, ice cream, and honey buns. So, for many, the new normal will now be two candy bars and a diet coke. Yummy.

Let’s follow the logic. The next law to be passed by these clowns will be to legalize heroin and then place a whopping tax on its use – thereby reducing addiction and consumption. :)

**https://billypenn.com/2017/01/03/philly-soda-tax-the-big-list-of-drinks-that-are-and-arent-taxed/

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2017 brings new laws about cell phones. It is now against the law in some states even to hold a cell phone while driving*. We know cell phones and particularly texting are distracting and thereby disastrous to on-road safety. It appears finally, our governments are doing something practical. This is not right-speak or right-think, a preferred target. This is actually something like an achievement. Yet, a few contradictions obtain. However, what remains is that in any car two friends, enemies or four can carry on a loud conversation, which can be totally distracting. Ditto, double ditto, for playing sounds (aka music) at such a volume you can hear it in your car while their car passes you all too quickly. This is particularly true for younger drivers, as their brain’s wonderful capacity of neuroplasticity has not adjusted to maintain a sense of safety regardless. Adults have learned after many years to maintain this sense. But when adults are texting they are in the same situation as the younger drivers. They lose track; they make big mistakes; lives are lost.

*http://www.abc10.com/news/local/california/the-low-down-on-californias-newest-cell-phone-law/327561414

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Behavioral Science and Problem-Solving

I. I. Introduction. Concerning our general behavior, it’s high about time we all had some understanding of how we operate on ourselves, and it is just as important how we are operated on by others. This is the wheelhouse of behavioral sciences. It is a vast subject. It touches our lives constantly. It’s influence is pervasive and can be so subtle we never notice it. Behavioral sciences profoundly affect our ability and success at problem-solving, from the elementary level to highly complex wicked problems. This is discussed in Section IV. We begin with the basics of behavioral sciences, Section II, and then through the lens of multiple categories and examples, Section III. II. ...

Where is AI (Artificial Intelligence) Going?

How to view Artificial Intelligence (AI). Imagine you go to the store to buy a TV, but all they have are 1950s models, black and white, circular screens, picture rolls, and picture imperfect, no remote. You’d say no thanks. Back in the day, they sold wildly. The TV was a must-have for everyone with $250 to spend* (about $3000 today). Compared to where AI is today, this is more or less where TVs were 70 years ago. In only a few decades AI will be advanced beyond comprehension, just like TVs today are from the 50s viewpoint. Just like we could not imagine where the video concept was going back then, we cannot really imagine where AI is going. Buckle up. But it will be spectacular. *Back then minimum wage was $0.75/hr. Thus, a TV cost more than eight weeks' wages. -------------------------

Principles of Insufficiency and Sufficiency

The principles we use but don't know it. 1. Introduction . Every field, scientific or otherwise, rests on foundational principles—think buoyancy, behavior, or democracy. Here, we explore a unique subset: principles modified by "insufficiency" and "sufficiency." While you may never have heard of them, you use them often. These terms frame principles that blend theory, practicality, and aspiration, by offering distinct perspectives. Insufficiency often implies inaction unless justified, while sufficiency suggests something exists or must be done. We’ll examine key examples and introduce a new principle with potential significance. As a principle of principles of these is that something or some action is not done enough while others may be done too much. The first six (§2-6) of our principles are in the literature, and you can easily search them online. The others are relatively new, but fit the concepts in the real world. At times, these pri...

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