SuperBrain Yoga, Another Helpful Piece of Crap

Placebo is real and effective, and so if it helps the unsophisticated find a little comfort from their anxiety, then by all means, let it.

Yes, sciency types know that it's the simple act of believing in a thing that can have real, measurable psychological effects on mood.  If someone believes themselves to be happy for real, then, by God and by definition, they are happy.  And we know that happy alters the stew of brain chemicals, hormones, and other real biochemical dynamics in the body, and can improve well being.  Never mind that it's all in the head.  Because the head (mind) is indeed a powerful force for good (or evil) in a person's life.

I do believe that someone who studies neuroscience and psychology a little deeper could find better ways to self-regulate that believing in magic by simply believing in the scientific principles that lead to similar results, because they they would be able to really optimize the effects.

When I saw the video, it was clear that the ritual focus on something aside from problems, no different than regular yoga, taking our minds off anxiety-fueling thoughts, finding a biophysical routine that helps the mind reach a calmer state, was in work.  No difference than learning a new dance and then practicing it.  Or working on the backhand (although this one is even more helpful because not only could it accomplish the same thing as SuperBrain Yoga -- using the same mental dynamics of physical and mental concentration, but it would actually improve one's backhand and make tennis more fun!  Yippee, tennis!  If one were to, while learning and practicing a better backhand, believe that it was also improving their brain, then I am confident that it would accomplish the very same miracles, probably even better, than SuperBrain Yoga.

On the other hand, it's enriching the bank accounts of several bandwagoneers.  Good for them.  And they're probably more effective in their pursuit of gold if they truly believe it's a thing.  I read an interesting article of the possible survival advantage of believing one's own lies.  It makes the lie less detectable, which is good for the liars.

In any case, just because it's bullshit doesn't mean it's not useful.  Manure is essential to the fertilization of real plants that become real food and nourish real people.  Turning bullshit into good shit is one of the fundamental functions of mankind.  Although I'm pretty sure we create more bullshit than we use.  But that's another story.

Mark Zuckerberg, Do This With Your Money

Incubate companies who write into the charters a few awesome elements:

• Wage inequality abatement: limits on senior executive salaries relative to the lowest paid employees.  If the average income of the lowest 50% of employees is 150K, the max salary of execs would be, say $450K.  And the C-levels get $650K.  Because the strength of America is more important than creating more Billionaires.
• Earth Friendliness, Sustainability
• Giving Away Personal Wealth once it hits $500MM
• Supports entrepreneurial spirit -- what makes America special.

This blog is called blather for a reason.  I've got to get back to work soon, and I haven't worked out the details, but somehow being a catalyst for decent living instead of ridiculous wealth accumulation, which is tantamount to financial cancer in the soul of a people.  Wage disparity could tear this country apart.