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POPSTen cognitive distortions that mess you up David Burns is a pioneer in popularizing the cognitive-behavioral approach to mood therapy developed by Aaron Beck. As someone who has struggled on and off with crippling depression my whole life, I have found this list of "cognitive distortions" pretty useful in reframing certain elements of my thinking.
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POPSFree software to use after Windows reinstallation One day all software will be free, is the message at the top of the page, and the Author created the page/site after reinstalling windows clean, and outfitting the system with free and open source software. He goes through his installation step by step, and there are user comments under his post, with feedback and other freeware suggestions by users.
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POPSHow to Talk to a Global Warming Skeptic (FAQ) More common questions and myths answered at the source, thoroughly cross-referenced and conveniently categorized and sub-categorized by type of argument: Stages of Denial Scientific Topics Types of Argument Levels of Sophistication A nice reference that's updated with fresh comments. Many "skeptics" often are unaware (by choice or by circumstance) that their common questions have already been addressed by scientists long ago.
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POPSGot any nude photos of your baby? Shred them. Now! Several people, all of whom I'd objectively call "innocent," have been investigated by the FBI, humiliated, arrested, and effectively destroyed by scandal when photo-developing and computer-repair shops discovered that they had photographed their young children naked. One father lost custody of his kids for taking a photo of them mooning him. The argument is: "we all have to view innocent photos through the eyes of a pedophile, for the good of the children." Effing scary. I mean, I've taken several pictures of my son in the bathtub, and according to this article, that makes me effectively guilty of child pornography. Better take those shots off of Snapfish.com.
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POPSYour cell phone is a "roving bug" According to this report, the FBI can activate a remote tracking and listening device built into every recently-made cell phone without having to modify or handle the phone physically. The only way to defeat the bug is to remove the phone's battery.
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POPSThe language you speak affects your personality A study of bilingual women suggests that when you switch from speaking one language to another, your personality and your perceptions change as well. I've experienced this myself switching between German and English.
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POPSNewsflash about me: I got tenure! This is a personal note... This semester, I was up for tenure at the small Pennsylvania college where I work. I was just informed a few days ago that my tenure bid was approved. This clip says a little bit about what that means.
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POPSThe Fallacy Files I clipped this before, but pop restrictions burried the clip. In a very naive hope to keep discussions fallacy-free, better the debate and stimulate some self-criticism, I'm re-sharing this with you all. Anyway, the resource is huge, examples abundant, explications very clear and even etymological grounded.
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POPSLife after oil: time to get ready James Kunstler's trademark pessimism, which, sadly, is probably right on the money. According to the Dept. of Energy, world energy demand now exceeds supply; get ready for a rough ride down the other side of the peak.
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POPSChildhood "ending sooner", survey finds A survey finds that today's children stop believing in imaginary creatures much earlier than their parents did, and that many children are pressured by parents to perform well in school and extracurricular activities (this is new?).
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POPSAbraham Lincoln on religion Two lesser-known pieces of writing from Lincoln that give some hints about his religious beliefs. Lincoln was notoriously cagey about his religious commitments -- he never attended church regluarly, nor did he ever make a public proclamation of faith.
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POPSThe QuiverFull movement: having babies -- lots of babies -- for God Newsweek on the "QuiverFull" movement ("Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them." Psalm 127.4f.), which campaigns against birth control, espouses a relatively fundamentalist version of evangelical Christianity, and advocates having at least six children per family.
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POPSEmergency "grab-n-go" kit contents This is one of the better "go-kit" lists I've found. I live ten minutes downwind of a major nuclear plant, so I need something like this. Download the PDF at http://snipurl.com/1845p. Other useful links: The Red Cross sells a "deluxe" preparedness kit for $65 which is supposed to keep an adult going for three days. Link It's a little creepy, but I've seen www.SurvivorMall.com recommended Survivor Mall also hosts an extensive list of informational pamphlets for free. Link
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POPSGeorge Carlin's theology I never heard this routine until Carlin died. It's pretty brilliant. If you're religious and easily offended, don't read it.