I was browsing through the Study Finds web site, seeing if there might be something worth writing about, and I was just overwhelmed by the number of possible topics. So rather than pick one and offer my take on the study, I thought I would just share a few headlines and let you pick which one you may want to read.
Of course, if none of them interest you, just hit the like button and get back to whatever you were doing.
- Nomophobia frenzy: 9 in 10 college students battle fear of being without smartphone (side note – I asked my students the other day what cell phone they use – 56 out of 56 students use an iPhone)
- Secret weapon for dieters: Consuming your own fecal microbiome helps keep off lost weight (I can see how this would lead to weight loss – I’d be gagging myself for days…)
- Average American spends over $11K on toilet paper over a lifetime — enough to buy a Rolex! (I think I’d rather have a lifetime of TP than a Rolex.)
- ‘Loners’ play important role in evolution, serve as nature’s insurance policy (I always knew I had a role to play…)
- Prehistoric ‘terror crocodile’ grew to 33-feet, had banana-sized teeth for eating dinosaurs (and you wonder why I am terrified of reptiles.)
- Smiling more often — even faking it — ‘tricks’ your brain into feeling happy, study finds (let the fake smiling, mask or no mask, begin!)
There you have it.
I’ll be checking my stats all night and tomorrow to see which of these studies, if any, people clicked on…
“‘Loners’ play important role in evolution, serve as nature’s insurance policy (I always knew I had a role to play…)”
This was EXACTLY what I had in mind when the pandemic hit. There were friends who were pulling their hair out from the lockdowns, then there were people like me who were thriving from the isolation. And that’s when it hit me. Loners like me could help the species get through tough times like nuclear fallouts or famine (provided my body survives first). Thanks for the share, Jim!
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Us loners need to stick together… if that’s possible 🙂
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I clicked on the fake smiles tricking your brain piece. I’m a bit skeptical as I think our brains can “see” through that smokescreen.
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I don’t think my mind would fall for the fake smile thing either…
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I’ve heard that about smiling before.
Even if it doesn’t work, it cheers up the people you’re smiling at (although i suppose that depends how well you can fake the smile: sincere or eerie?)
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I think I can usually pick up a fake smile – they are kind of creepy…
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I clicked on them all just to throw your stats off….LOL 😁 A fun and unique way to give your readers a choice. Very creative!
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thanks, Brad! it was the lazy man’s way to writing a post… 🙂
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I didn’t click any, but enjoyed the headlines and your accompanying comments.
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thanks, Norah!
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jim, I love your adult version of choose your own adventure! I picked the college student/phone one. no surprise at all, I just love interesting words, and this had to have one
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yes, that was a new word for me as well!
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I clicked on the loners. Fascinating article even if I can now liken myself to slime. I knew about the power of smiling and I agree with it. I think that people get hung up on the “fake” part of it and are missing the point. Fake is the wrong word to use here: it’s forcing yourself to smile that will make it a second nature just like any other habit at its beginning.
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I prefer to think of myself more as a wildebeest 🙂
And I think Tony Robbins would support the idea of forcing yourself to smile even when you don’t feel like it…
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My sister and I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books when we were young. 🙂
I chose the smartphone one. I learned a new word. 🙂
It really is crazy how dependent we have become on our phones. I am guilty of it for sure! I am on my phone much more than the computer. I am mainly on the computer to write posts and thats about it.
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And apparently, you attempt to type your comments on your phone.
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“Funny!” But hey, now you know why there are the typos! Its the phone’s fault!!
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Yes, apparently your phone doesn’t spell-check for Pennsylvania Dutch.
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yes, the phone seems to have become a necessity for everyone, and we all assume everyone else has one…
new word for me as well!
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I’ll leave the clicking to others, especially the one that takes Gandhi’s habits to a new dimension. And I don’t think a Rolex would be as effective as toilet paper, unless your derrière wanted to know the time…
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what’s the reference to Gandhi? and yes, I could go a lifetime without a Rolex, but not without TP…
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His health regime included drinking his own urine – an early form of social distancing, as his breath must have been awful!
I’ve never ‘aspired’ to a Rolex, happy with my Apple Watch 😊
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that would be an effective form of social distancing.
And yes, to me there is no comparison between a Rolex and an Apple Watch – I’ll take the Apple Watch every time…
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It sure would!
Having the money to afford a Rolex might be nice, though…
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if I had that kind of money, I still would not spend it on a Rolex…
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Nor would I, but it might be nice to be wealthy!
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as would I!
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I am all for the smiling!!!
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🙂
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All interesting topics, Jim. Would like to read your 500 words on nomophobia before the end of the day please. Cheers!
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could I have an extension, Professor Mohan? 🙂
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Again? Your whole future is at stake, young man…
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🙂
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I’m late to the party today but clicked on the loner and also the crocodile. I liked both. Today saltwater crocs can reach 25 feet. You must have wealthy students if all 56 have iphones.
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those are some big crocs…
and I think it’s a combo of wealth and just simply that’s the phone must college kids want.
by the way, I saw a story in the WSJ about how airport businesses are struggling:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/airport-shopping-has-been-on-a-tear-for-years-now-what-11598709600?mod=itp_wsj&ru=yahoo
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This is a fun post, Jim. When I was young, about nine years old, we used to read a series of books called Choose your own adventure. Each chapter ended with a choice and then you moved on to a new section until the end. The you went back and selected the other choice to see what would happen in those circumstances. I loved those books.
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yes, those books were great. I remember our kids reading those…
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Smile OFTEN, think POSITIVELY, give THANKS, laugh LOUDLY, love OTHERS, dream BIG.
Anonymous
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great advicee…
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