Really? I must read on...
DO you smile because you're happy, or are you happy because you are smiling? Darwin believed that facial expressions are indeed important for experiencing emotions. In The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, he wrote that "the free expression by outward signs of an emotion intensifies it...[whereas]...the repression...of all outward signs softens our emotions." This idea was subsequently elaborated by the great psychologist William James, who suggested that "every representation of a movement awakens in some degree the actual movement which is its object."
Botox, which is used by millions of people every year to reduce wrinkles and frown lines on the forehead, works by paralyzing the muscles involved in producing facial expressions. A study due to be published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that by doing so, it impairs the ability to process the emotional content of language, and may diminish the quality of emotional experiences.
#4
#3 What emotion goes with Pelosi's deer-in-the-headlights look?
Well, I would be happy.
Oh, wait. You didn't mean actual headlights, did you?
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/21/2010 16:18 Comments ||
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#5
Geek content alert for what follows.
There is a growing body of neuroscience evidence gathered over the last 10 yrs or so that strongly suggests that when we imagine concepts, situations or internal events (such as emotion) we also mentally simulate those events by partially activating the same neural networks that we would if we were experiencing directly.
Combined with evidence that the brain is affected by the limbic system as well as sending messages out, this adds up to a much greater body/mind/emotion bond that some believed in the past.
i.e. it may in fact be more difficult (not impossible, but more difficult) to feel emotions that are usually reflected on the face if the face is partially paralzyed.
#6
And, you know, the thing about a shark... she's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When she comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... until she bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'....
#2
Interestingly, there's a new book out that outlines the many references and commands in the Koran about the Jewish homeland in Israel. No doubt these verses and traditions will be found to date back to when Mohammed was trying to seduce the Jews with the idea that he was their messiah, and were therefore superseded by the later jihad verses, but even so. The article also references several Muslim organizations and individuals who support Israel -- the longed for and believed to be mythic moderate Muslims.
#5
This is clear case of misunderstanding 'fundamentalism'. That refers to going back to the fundamentals of something. In the case of Islam, it would be the Koran and maybe the early hadith.
Notwithstanding that Nazi propaganda was sensationally successful in the Arab world. The message fell upon ears that longed to hear.
Posted by: lord garth ||
04/21/2010 17:10 Comments ||
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#6
The Nazi message fell on ears that longed to hear. Pretty much summarizes what happened.
General Motors will make a big splash in the news today by announcing that the automaker will repay several billion dollars loans from the federal government earlier than expected. But it's not really coming out of the GM wallet.
The issue came up yesterday at a hearing with the special watchdog on the Wall Street Bailout, Neil Barofsky, who was asked several times about the GM repayment by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), who was looking for answers on how much money the feds might make from the controversial Wall Street Bailout.
"It's good news in that they're reducing their debt," Barofsky said of the accelerated GM payments, "but they're doing it by taking other available TARP money."
In other words, GM is taking money from the Wall Street Bailout - the TARP money - and using that to pay off their loans ahead of schedule.
"It sounds like it's kind of like taking money out of one pocket and putting in the other," said Carper, who got a nod of agreement from Barofsky. "The way that payment is going to be made is by drawing down on an equity facility of other TARP money."
Translated - they are using bailout funds from the feds to pay off their loans.
For you and me, that might be like using one credit card to pay off another, eh?
"When do you think we'll have really good news from GM?" Carper asked.
"I don't have a crystal ball on that Senator," Barofsky replied.
Most of Uncle Sam's bailout money that was given to GM has now been turned into stock in the U.S. automaker."The assumption is that, over time, hopefully the value of the stock will appreciate," said Carper.
Long term that could prove to be a money-making investment for the feds - or if things go the wrong way for General Motors - a big, fat loss for Uncle Sam.
Here's what the president said in Hollywood yesterday while raising bajillions for Mickey Kaus' primary opponent:
But here is what I want you to know: I have never been more optimistic about America's future. And I am optimistic because I know there are people like you out there and I know there are people like Barbara Boxer in the Senate who's fighting to change this country for the better. And because you are out there fighting and because Barbara is there fighting, I draw inspiration. And there are people all across this country who are dreaming of a better tomorrow, and then they are willing to fight for those dreams to come true.
And you know what, that's the story of California. This is a state that always drew dreamers, men and women with the courage to pursue their dreams. It's a state that inspired pioneers to head out across an unforgiving wilderness; a state that spurred glory-seekers to rush westward for gold; the state that draws innovators and entertainers, from Hollywood Hills to Mountain View. And there's always been something about California that inspires us to dream; that's called on us to build a better life; that has helped us imagine the world as it is and then recognize that the world as it might be is out there.
And I'm absolutely confident that if folks in Washington can recapture that same spirit -- that same boundless, resilient American spirit -- we're not only going to rescue our economy, we're not only going to rebuild it stronger than before, but we're going to do what generations did before and make the American Dream more secure for our children and our grandchildren. That's what Barbara Boxer is about. That's what you're about.
While I appreciate any shout-out to my home state, what California's Democratic elite are "about" is enabling their union backers to drive a once-thriving economy into a bottomless pit of unemployment, perennially busted budgets, and unfunded pension contributions that transcend most human comprehension. This is not a spirit Washington should try to "recapture," unless the goal is 12.6 percent unemployment (with a bullet!), a credit rating hurtling toward junk-bond status, and a perpetual round of bailouts from a faraway government entity.
And here's the kickerObama in his speech said that "one of the main reasons our economy faltered was because some on Wall Street made irresponsible bets, with no accountability." The exact same language could be used, with 100 percent accuracy, to describe public officials all over Californiaincluding Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who just today is unveiling his latest too-little, too-late package of reforms. All of these labor-backed bureaucrats bet irresponsibly that they could more than double pension promises to state employees over the past decade, because the "accountability" moment was deferred to when those payments came due. Well, they're only beginning to come due now, and it's a damnable mess:
This year, the city of Roseville will spend about as much to fund its pension plan as it does on parks and recreation.
San Luis Obispo County will spend five times as much on pensions as it does prosecuting criminals.
And Stanislaus County's pension costs will be nearly double its $23.5 million general fund budget deficit. [...]
Yet today's escalating annual pension payments barely touch the looming shortfall: $28 billion in unfunded liabilities the difference between what pension systems have and the pension benefits their employees have earned at the 80 largest city and county governments in California, according to an extensive Sacramento Bee review of pension plan valuation reports.
On top of that, those cities and counties owe about $8 billion in pension-related bond debt all in a time of shrinking budgets. In many areas, the total pension shortfall is more than the annual payroll; in some, it is more than the general fund budget.
California Democrats (and plenty of Republicans too) should not be flattered, they should be locked up.
#2
And you know what, that's the story of California. This is a state that always drew dreamers, men and women with the courage to pursue their dreams.
Now, California is in a state of chaos and confusion; it the state of shattered dreams and and is broke thanks to politicians and public unions.
#4
This state is a walking cluster-f#@$. Mrs. Warthog and I will be leaving in the next 2 years or so when able. Too bad...I've been here 11 years and saw it go from tolerable to worse. I can't imagine how long timers must feel..sad
#5
When I was born in California the population was about 7 Million and represented about 5.2% of the US population.
We had the best schools, roads, babes and weather (Except for smog)- plus we had money to burn. Our politics were mixed between trunks and donks.
In 1992 the donks took control of everything both on the federal representative level and state elected officials. They have been doing their magic since in spite of the RINO governator.
Now the population is about 38 million and represents 12.5% of the US. The schools turn out illiterates, the roads are full of potholes, the babes are covered in tattoos and the state is broke, but the weather is still great.
I hope Global Warming doesn't screw up the weather and/or bring on catastrophic earthquakes.
#7
CA has 12.5% of the US population but over 1/3 of the US' welfare recipients. CA is has twice population of NY but has 5 times the number of welfare recipients.
Obama enjoys a 60% approval rating in CA. Any guesses as to why he has that high of a popularity rating?
#1
The question is, where are the Muslim millionaires and billionaires and what have they done to alleviate the plight of other [Muslims?]
the Afghans who have suffered immensely in a more than 30-year war imposed on them first by the collapsed Soviet Union and now by the United States and Europe?
Afghan Muslims have been subjected for more than three decades to one of the worst forms of killings and atrocities ever known in human history. Despite its ancient and rich history it is today a bankrupt wasteland.
Seems like more of a "hit" piece on the West than a "hit" piece on the fat-cat muslim rich.
What about the various attacks on the U.S. and other Western countries; the killing of innocents, the muslim sponsored atrocities? Hi-jackings, beheadings, plane, train, ship, and embassy bombings. 911. The fat-cat muslims have sent a lot of money to radical islamic schools and mosques, terror camps, and imans who preach hate. Farook; go farook yourself!
#1
Huh. I heard him talking on NPR on the drive in this morning, it sounded like he was some sort of Arafat-nostalgist. Reading that, I see that I misunderstood his drift.
The rest of that NPR piece was really dispiriting. They were quite frenetically sewing the sow's ear of Lebanese capitulation to Syrian hegemony into some sort of kumbaya silk purse of co-existence.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
04/21/2010 9:46 Comments ||
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#2
I read the article and for the most part it was blah, blah, blah, blah, blah until I came to the following phrase:
the United States had fought a short, successful war -- the best kind -- and pushed Iraq's Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. And America was now well-positioned to bring Arabs and Israelis across the diplomatic finish line.
I concluded it is best to negotiate from a position of strength.
he gets some things right but sadly can't bring himself to admit, for example, that Hamas is genocidal at their core, that the Hamas-Fatah conflict is going to be bloody for the foreseeable future and that intra Hamas fights between shia-favoring factions and shia hating factions is also going to be blood for the foreseeable future
Posted by: lord garth ||
04/21/2010 10:59 Comments ||
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#4
Blessed be the Peace Makers. Let us anoint them with boiling oil.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
