This podcast on conspiracy theories was a very informative. It explained the difference between grand and small conspiracies. I also thought the point about blind rejection of authority is not actually skepticism, but a form of cynicism.

A really awesome interview with Elizabeth Dunn, author of the book, Happy Money.  She covers simple things you can do to be happier with the money you already have, and talks about some of the cognitive biases that lead to mistakes in our decision making about spending our time as well.

She even talks about curing the boredom that sets into long term relationships!

i am fortunate

to be led by someone i

The Misconception: Willpower is just a metaphor.

The Truth: Willpower is a finite resource.

If you want the most control over your own mind so that you can alter your responses to the world instead of giving in and doing what comes naturally, stay fresh. Take breaks. Get some sleep. And until we understand just what ego depletion really is, don’t make important decisions on an empty stomach.

I love David McRaney's blog You Are Not So Smart. Today's article discusses how arousal -- that feeling of excitement or anxiousness, analogous to a long-term adrenaline rush -- can confuse the brain. When we are in an aroused state, we have very little of an idea of what's causing our arousal. So, our brain guesses from context clues, and this is not always accurate.

There is a reason playful wrestling can lead to passionate kissing, why a great friend can turn a heaving cry into a belly laugh. [...] You settle on something – the person beside you, the product in front of you, the drug in your brain.