Dr. X's Free Associations

Burma: Oppression and Courage

Thanks to Patrick for posting these compelling images at Et Cetera.

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Sound Meets Salt: Design without Designer

Check this cool video at Mixing Memory.  Read the comments for an explanation.

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Photo of the Day: Pin Boys (by Lewis Hine)

Brooklyn, NY (1910). Click photos to view full-size.

 

Lowell, MA (1911).

Brooklyn, NY (1910).

New Haven, CT (1909).

New Trenton, NJ (1911).

From Ken Burns's The War: A Case of Conversion Disorder?

One of the individuals interviewed for Ken Burns's documentary, The War, reports intermittent conversion symptoms triggered by his dreams.  Quentin Aanenson of Lucerne, Minnesota flew the P-47 "Thunderbolt" in Europe.  Aanenson recalled some disturbing images from a time when he shot up a column of retreating German soldiers.  As he was returning to his base in England, Aanenson's right hand went numb.  He had to reach over with his left hand to handle the stick and land his plane safely.  Aanenson said that he still dreams about the incident and when he wakes up his right hand is paralyzed briefly.

Aanenson discusses his experiences in this video, although he doesn't mention the paralysis in this particular clip.

Ahmadinejad at Columbia

It wasn't a pro-Islamic fundamentalist rally.

Pro-Nazi German-American Bund rally at Madison Square Garden (1939).

There has been plenty of hysterical bloviating over Ahmadinejad's appearance at Columbia, but it isn't clear that his appearance there will have meaningful consequences -- just a lot of armchair theorizing that isn't acknowledged as such.  I haven't heard anyone say that they've changed their opinions on U.S.-Iran relations, Iran's nuke program or, for that matter, on the nature of evil.

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Psychology, Mind and Neuroscience Roundup

• Mixing Memory discusses fascinating research showing that specific guided eye movements improved the ability of study participants to solve a complex spatial reasoning problem.

• Dinah at Shrink Rap explains how she chooses an antidepressant.  Her co-blogger, Roy, elaborates here.

• Humans don't simply have higher general intelligence than our closest primate relatives.  What distinguishes us from our primate cousins is our social intelligence (Mindblog).

• Can accounts of fabricated traumatic events be distinguished from accounts of real traumatic events? (Deception Blog)

• Happiness is a warm electrode: deep brain stimulation to treat depression. H/T: Mo at Neurophilosophy

• Thoughts on the biopsychosocial model of Illness in Writhe Safely.

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Ahmadinejad's Idiotic Smile

In a previous post I wrote about duper's delight -- the experience of pleasure betrayed by the smile of a lying psychopath.

Every time he evades the truth or tells an outright lie, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad busts an idiotic smile for his audience.  His stupid grin expresses a moral perversion extending beyond the psychopath's simple pleasure in the power of deception.  He takes obvious delight in making offensive claims that are so transparently false his audacity shocks the moral sensibilities of his listeners.

Ahmadinejad knows we don't believe him when he speaks.  Our belief is not what he wants.  Listening to him and watching him even briefly, it becomes abundantly clear that he is gratified by a sense of diabolical power that accompanies his ludicrously, offensive statements.

Life expectancy for political leaders like Ahmadinejad tends to be short.  Perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is a Persian noose or an Iranian manufactured bullet that wipes that shit-eating grin off his face permanently.

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Shoplifting Seagull Filches Doritos In Scotland

A seagull in Scotland has developed the habit of stealing chips from a neighborhood shop.

The seagull waits until the shopkeeper isn't looking, and then walks into the store and grabs a snack-size bag of cheese Doritos.

Once outside, the bag gets ripped open and shared by other birds.

The seagull's shoplifting started early this month when he first swooped into the store in Aberdeen, Scotland, and helped himself to a bag of chips. Since then, he's become a regular. He always takes the same type of chips.

Customers have begun paying for the seagull's stolen bags of chips because they think it's so funny.

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Chemical Weapons Protection for Kids

Above: A baby carriage outfitted to protect from chemical attack (Britain, 1940). Click to view full-size.

Below: Little American girl wears Mickey Mouse Gas mask (1942).

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Photo of the Day: 1932 Olympic Wrestlers

American wrestlers practice: 1932 Olympics Los Angeles.  Click photo to view full size.

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