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Dunning-Kruger Effect
The more you know, the less you know you know. And it follows suit that the less you know, the more you think you know:
Across 4 studies, the authors found that participants scoring in the bottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grossly overestimated their test performance and ability. Although test scores put them in the 12th percentile, they estimated themselves to be in the 62nd. Meanwhile, people with true knowledge tended to underestimate their competence.
Psychologists call it the Dunning-Kruger effect, and it explains Bill O'Reilly, among other things. This is now my favorite socio-psychological phenomenon. Although, now I'm wondering what things I'm actually in the bottom quartile of... via Kottke.
Indy IV
I have the perfect plot: he has to beat Adolf Eichmann to an early bird special at an Argentina Applebees.
Nature reclaims a roller coaster
Hey gang! Let's go to the abandoned amusement park! Via KungFuGrippe.
Tuscan Raiders
Tell Virgil he (sort of) got it right: genetic research over the weekend shows that the Etruscans were from Turkey.
Stork lassos crack
Announcing the arrival of a beautiful new baby boy at St. Francis Health Center . . . Urhines Kendall Icy Eight Special K.
Via Neatorama.
Is Tony Dead?
Jeopardy! champion and author Bob Harris thinks so. I also got a kick out of this WaPo editorial's reading of the name "Holstens":
Tony then enters Holsten's diner (swell allusion to famed Swedish theologian Holsten Fagerberg, he of the Lutheran confessions).
Those of us who grew up on their sundaes might find that ridiculous. (Incidentally, we always pronounced it "holsteins" but that could've been a family thing.)
The woman who looks like Mao
The one on the left is a middle aged Chinese woman, present day. Via Neatorama.
Paging Dr. Westphall
The season finale of St. Elsewhere ends with the entire series being the dream of an autistic child, Tommy Westphall. Due to various crossovers, namedropping, and guest appearances, 280 separate shows can be said to belong to this alternate universe, ranging from I Love Lucy to Star Trek. No wonder that kid can't speak.
The complete list of crossovers has been meticulously cataloged here.
I'm on Jeopardy! tonight
Site announcement: I'll be on Jeopardy! tonight. Check your local listings for showtimes.
O Reilly lays it out
BO to John McCain:
But do you understand what the New York Times wants, and the far-left want? They want to break down the white, Christian, male power structure, which you’re a part, and so am I, and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have.
Yikes!
Adventures in moving
This is what happens to your truck when you're not clear to go through the Lincoln Tunnel. Via Neatorama.
