Articles for category: Education

Fuel pump showing petrol and diesel options.

Petrol is not just petrol

Well you (meaning me) live and learn. I made an assumption over 40-odd years that petrol was a particular molecular compound. It turns out from my investigation that it is a mixture of compounds. Ahhh.. so somebody will be wondering, “Why the devil is he researching that, now? Has he not got anything better to ...

The Serious Dangers of DDFM!

This is about Dinitrogen-Dioxygen Fluidic Mixtures, a previously not well recognised danger to humanity and economic systems. Without further delay, the list of risks and damage are as follows: Inhalation Dependency: Prolonged exposure to DDFM leads to severe dependence. Users have been known to seek it out constantly, with extreme cases requiring it every few ...

The Rise of Tribalism and the Decline of Critical Thinking in the Internet Age

The internet has revolutionised the way we communicate, access information, and form communities. However, this technological advancement has also brought about unintended consequences. Over the past decade, there has been a growing concern about the rise of online tribalism, political correctness, cancel culture, and the suppression of dissenting voices. These phenomena, while seemingly disparate, are ...

Logic v the crowd!

In September 1990, Marilyn vos Savant, known for her “Ask Marilyn” column in Parade magazine and her record-high IQ, received an intriguing question from reader Craig F. Whitaker about the now-famous Monty Hall problem. The problem The question was something like: Suppose you’re on a game show, and you’re given the choice of three doors: ...

The value of personal time.

In our quest to make the most of our personal time, we often find ourselves gravitating towards activities that bring us pleasure, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. Whether it’s indulging in leisure pursuits, exploring creative outlets, or engaging in community service, the ways we choose to spend our free time are deeply intertwined with ...

Focalism and related biases

This bias is quite common. Have you ever been in a conversation where you make a thoughtful point, only to have the other person latch onto a single word or phrase and totally miss your intended meaning? This common phenomenon is known as focalism bias, and it can lead to frustrating misunderstandings and derailed discussions. ...

Coffee mania

No – this is not about mania caused by coffee. You spotted some words and something jumped into your conscious mind, driven by the Labyrinth of your unconscious! This post is about the cost of coffee. In a previous post I am so cheap, I made some calculations based on price of a cup at ...