Focused Relatives

We don’t have an internal value meter that tells us how much things are worth.  Rather, we focus on the relative advantage of one thing over another, and estimate value accordingly.
—   Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
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On This Day In:
2022	Spring Colors
	Decisions, Decisions
2021	In Pursuit
	The Music Of Her Laughter
2020	Close, Sustained And Careful
2019	#45: Spread The Fear
	Fear The Beards
2018	Slice, Nick, Cut, Bled
2017	Like Most Blogs
2016	The Window Left Open
	Free Experience
2015	Reality == Perception / (Times Reported * 10)
2014	Tear Da Roof Off Da Sucka
2013	Exposed Spirits
2012	Ow-ow
2011	Focused Relatives

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Not Necessarily True

By the time we comprehend and digest information, it is not necessarily a true reflection of reality.  Instead, it is our representation of reality, and this is the input we base our decisions on.  In essence we are limited to the tools nature has given us, and the natural way in which we make decisions is limited by the quality and accuracy of these tools.
—    Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
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On This Day In:
2022	This Dot – Our Home
2021	The Imposition Of Position
	Rainin’ Fire In The Sky
2020	Stand Up!
	Crowd Sourced Scouting Report
2019	Only One Direction
2018	Respect Is Long Gone
2017	Dream Of Dreamers
2016	Dear Automakers
2015	And Some Not So Brave Too
2014	In My Lifetime…
2013	Democracy
2012	Borrowed Expectations
2011	Not Necessarily True

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Ownership Of Thought

Ownership is not limited to material things.  It can also apply to points of view.  Once we take ownership of an idea — whether it’s about politics or sports — what do we do?  We love it perhaps more than we should.  We prize it more than it is worth.  And most frequently, we have trouble letting go of it because we can’t stand the idea of its loss.  What are we left with then?  An ideology — rigid and unyielding.
—    Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
[Also known as “drinking the kool-aid”.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	A Little Epiphany
2021	Clear Global Standards
	A Girl Like You
2020	Life’s Mysteries
2019	I Doubt I Ever Will
2018	Who Will Thank (If Not Remember) Me
2017	Reinforced Learning
2016	I Choose To Believe
2015	What They Don’t Teach You At School
2014	Still Trying To Die (5)
2013	Honest Doubt
2012	Choice
2011	Ownership Of Thought

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Just Trippin’

But there’s one aspect of relativity that consistently trips us up.  It’s this:  we not only tend to compare things with one another but also tend to focus on comparing things that are easily comparable — and avoid comparing things that cannot be compared easily.
—    Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
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On This Day In:
2022	And Do The Right Thing…
2021	Rational Response
	This Can’t Go On
2020	A Different Premise
2019	Can Too
2018	To Get Strength
	Drip, Drip, Drip
2017	Bricolage Art
2016	Just A Shame
2015	Treasures Of The Mind
2014	Not Quite Exceeded Reach
2013	Who’s Side?
2012	Why I Joined The Army And Not The Navy…
2011	Is It Your Turn Yet?
	Just Trippin’

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Take Your Pick

If you’re a company, my advice is to remember that you can’t have it both ways.  You can’t treat your customers like family one moment and then treat them impersonally — or, even worse, as a nuisance or a competitor — a moment later when this becomes more convenient or profitable.  This is not how social relationships work.  If you want a social relationship, go for it, but remember that you have to maintain it under all circumstances.
—    Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
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On This Day In:
2022	Remember
2021	Now You’re 31…
	Versions: (Father And Son)
2020	Make A Fuss
2019	Hopefully, You’re Learning To Forgive
2018	Enjoy The Sunsets As Well As The Sunrises
2017	Enjoy
2016	I Got A Feeling
2015	Fiction Leading To History
2014	A Self-Correcting Process
2013	None But He Knows
2012	99% Are Demanding
2011	All In The Family
	Take Your Pick

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Start Here…

Let me start with a fundamental observation:  most people don’t know what they want unless they see it in context.
—    Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
[This is why we do prototyping!    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	Dust Under Your Fingertips
2021	Stopped Counting Decades Ago
	Just Enjoying The Sun
2020	To My Idealistic Sister
2019	Respect For My Sister
2018	I Trust Cows
	No Boundary
2017	Don’t Sink Now
2016	A Burning Passion To Teach Freedom
2015	Before Debit (And Credit) Cards
2014	Herding Cats
2013	Ooops!
2012	Understand A Great Truth
2011	Start Here…
2010	Random Acts of Vandalism On Easter Weekend…

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Wake Up

But in the larger context, we need to wake up to the connection between nonmonetary currency and our tendency to cheat.  We need to recognize that once cash is a step away, we will cheat by a factor bigger than we could ever imagine.  We need to wake up to this — individually and as a nation, and do it soon.
—  Dan Ariely
From his book:  “Predictably Irrational“
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On This Day In:
2022	Guitar Music
	Yesterday
2021	Maybe Faith Is Based On Hope
	I Want To See You Smile
2020	Thank You (To Those Who Serve)
	Hanging In There
2019	Her Job, Too
2018	Just Another Song I Like
	Earlier Still
2017	Ten To Go
2016	Unstable Emergence
2015	88
2014	Some One-Liners Are Too Easy
2013	Greatness
2012	Memories Of Arlington
2011	Wake Up

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Irrationally Predictable

Book Review:
Yesterday, I finished reading “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely (2008©).  Mr. Ariely is a behavioural economist.  In traditional economics, we (the buyer) are expected (“supposed to”) make all of our purchasing decisions based on rational consideration of which option brings us the greatest perceived benefit (which is not necessarily our greatest economic benefit).  As it turns out, this is “frequently” not a valid assumption.   A behavioural economist studies why this is true and looks for underlying causes in decision-making.  In effect, they are looking for the causes of our irrational behaviour.
I admit up front, prior to reading this book, I had no idea there even was a field of study called “behavioural economics”, although I have been aware for some time that people do things (make decisions) which appear irrational (to me).  For example, why do mid-Westerners and Southerners consistently vote for conservatives (mostly Republicans), when conservatives do not (for the most part) represent these voters economic interests.  (This has always been a curiosity to me, because I always assume that given two candidates, one would always vote for the one who represented your economic interests.)
The book offers individual chapters on a number of “hidden” factors in our decision making processes.  Among them are ownership, positioning, and poor math relational skills.  For example, many people keep things beyond the items utility period because we already own the item.  We even are willing to continue to spend on maintaining ownership – over and above the cost of the item – to continue ownership.  How many of us know someone who rents storage space (in economic terms, cluttered garages and attics are equal to rented storage space although the monthly payment is indirect) to hold items (furniture, books, albums, clothing) which we will never use again?  How many of us do this ourselves?
Anyway, this book is a very fast and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in gaining a better insight into why people seem to make irrational economic decisions.
Comments on world news:
First Libya – Let me put this as clearly as I can state it – NOOOOOOOO!  NO MORE WARS!!!
This morning’s quote was from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.:  “The laws are not to change the heart, but to restrain the heartless.”  The U.S. is NOT the law.  The U.N. is NOT the law.  Remember, the Reagan administration supplied (money and weapons) the Afghans in their war against the Soviets and the result was the Taliban.  There is a law of unintended consequences.  With the best of intentions, you are getting precipitously close to the unintended consequences which will result when we get involved in something we know little about and absolutely cannot control as a final outcome.
I wish we could make the world a better place by removing Muammar Gaddafi and his family from Libya, but it is already too late.  Once a dictator decides it is acceptable to kill everyone who stands against him and then proceeds to do so, it is too late to do anything about it.  A no fly zone will not stop his army (tanks and artillery) from pulverizing the opposition.  Ground troops will be required.  Who is going to send them?  The French? The Italians? The other Arab states?  We can “try” to establish a no land travel and no artillery zone – but the cost of maintaining such an effort from the air (and from aircraft carriers) will be astronomical.  Ground troops will be required.  Let’s not kid ourselves…
And even if Gaddafi chooses not to murder his opposition directly, he can blockade them and starve them to death.  Does anyone seriously think anyone (the U.S., France, the U.K.) will be willing to air-drop food and supplies to the opposition for any protracted period of time?
Does anyone seriously believe the tribal warlords who would control Libya’s various regions, will be more democratic than Gaddafi if they should happen to win (with our support)?  Are we really promoting a democratic Libya?  In all honesty, I don’t know either, but I doubt it.   I think we are deciding we know enough about the current devil, that we’re willing to take a chance on the devil(s) we don’t know about in the future.
So where is our national interest?  As near as I can tell, we have no direct national interest in this conflict.   Of course we have a humanitarian interest, but has the U.S. EVER gone to war over a humanitarian interest?  Now, Europe has “national” interests in Libya – oil, not the promoting of a democratic state in North Africa.  So are we willing to help Europe with their oil problems?  If yes, what can we expect to get out of this?  Do we really expect France to support our continuing efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan?  Will they commit air power and troops?  Don’t make me laugh!
Please, President Obama – as much as it pains me to say this – because I know the U.S. would love to be shut of Gaddafi – leave this one alone!!  You are getting bad advice, AGAIN!!  Stay out of it.  And get us out of Iraq AND Afghanistan now!   They are already bleeding us dry (economically and spiritually) NOW!   Mr. President, please read the book reviewed above and maybe you’ll have a better understanding of why this is a terrible decision!!!
Tonight I continue to pray for the people of Libya, for world peace and for the withdrawal of American forces from around the globe.
Second, the disaster in Japan –  my heart goes out to the people of Japan.  No one could watch the TV and not be overcome by the magnitude of carnage.  You are in our prayers.  Today I donated $10 to the Red Cross Japan Relief efforts.  I realize this is more than my $1 donation page generally asks for, but during the last week I read of an elderly man bowing deeply to a relief worker when the man was handed the equivalent of a bowl of rice for a meal.  His simple act of gratitude and civility made me cry.  I am also struck by the courage of the 50 (now approximately 200) brave men who have sacrificed their own lives to save their families and their country (and probably the world) from the nuclear disaster which is unfolding before our eyes on TV.  Please give anything you can spare.  Honor courage!
Other thoughts:
I make no effort whatsoever to conceal the fact I am completely opposed to the nuclear energy industry.  There is no such thing as a safe nuclear reactor.  There are only one-in-a-thousand-years or one-and-a-million-years accidents waiting to happen.  The problem isn’t the odds against when something will happen.  The problem is the result when it does happen.  In this case, the “real” problem isn’t the fuel in the reactors.  It is the spent fuel laying next to the reactors.  There is NO safe place on earth to put spent fuel!  This is the fundamental problem with the industry.
Three Mile Island.  Chernobyl.  Now, Fukushima.  How many nuclear plant disasters and how many deaths have to happen before we abandon nuclear energy?  The only thing a nuclear plant is good for is making nuclear arms and I’m not convinced that’s such a good thing either – but the genie is already out of the bottle on that one.  I’m not saying burning coal, or oil, or natural gas are any better for the environment in the long-term.  All I am saying is the catastrophic risk of damage is less.  And you’ll note I have intentionally qualified my statement to the plant.  We have NO idea what long-term effects the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico will have on the oceans or the world.  We are playing Russian Roulette with the planet and we have no idea how many chambers or how many rounds are in the game.
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On This Day In:
2022	Be Someone For Somebody
2021	Genius (And Other Details)
	I Don’t Know Why
	Going Into The Deep End
2020	Repercussions For Health
2019	Chained To #45
2018	Some Men Make Their Office As Small As Themselves
2017	Too Many
2016	Not Yet, Anyway
2015	On Pornography
2014	Nudge, Nudge
2013	The Journey Will Be Joy
2012	Hopeful Flights
2011	Irrationally Predictable
	Lawful Restraint

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