Squibs from the notebook (part V)

The four previous posts in this series can be viewed via the 'squibs' tag.

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"[...] if you exercise self-control you can increase it a little bit over time. But the really sad thing is to really build up your self-control, outside of, you know, sleeping for the night and so on, is to consume sugar. So, for example, if you drink sweet tea with actual sugar rather than one of those artificial replacements, you all of the sudden rebuild your self-control." -Dan Ariely on Marketplace

Interesting example of irrationality: Testosterone actually makes people behave *more* fairly unless they think they are taking testosterone, in which case their prejudices cause them to behave unfairly. (Source)

Why is keyless entry to cars so common, but not keyless entry to homes?

"All rituals, all sacraments are ways of preparing us for the inevitable truth that shit happens." -Gregory Boyd

Most questions are statements in disguise.

"The openness and acceptance that there are things I will never "know" makes life's journey not only tolerable but allows us, again and again, to experience awe: that moment of insight into meaning other than ourselves, meaning in the small things." -Carl Hammerschlag

To what extent do questions about the meaning and purpose of life matter? Seeing as we will never *know* the answers, why not make something up and live accordingly? And why not deliberately change your answer every once in awhile?

"The person you are talking to is always more important than the point you are trying to make."

For language, vocabulary is high on the hierarchy of needs. Emphasizing vocabulary in education is misguided when it means kids infusing their sentences with smart-sounding adjectives.