Why do smart people do stupid things? This is the question asked by Laurence Gonzales, author of “Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why” and “Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things.” Gonzales examines the mental scripts we follow as we live our lives and how these scripts prescribe our response to a situation based upon our past experiences. The problem is that sometimes these scripts result in wrong and possibly dangerous actions based on insufficient evidence or memory in our past experience. Gonzales’ work demonstrates how these scripts can sometimes lead to us being our own worst enemy.
To break from this cycle and encourage full understanding of a situation and wise decision making, Gonzales encourages “curiosity, awareness, and attention.” He writes, “Those are the tools of our everyday survival… we must all be scientists at heart, or be victims of forces that we don’t understand.”
In a series of two Radio Curious visits with Laurence Gonzales we discuss how our mental scripts are created both genetically and from our personal experiences and how to keep them from getting us in trouble.
I spoke with Laurence Gonzales from his home near Chicago Illinois on January, 19 2009. Our conversation began when I asked him how human behavior today has been shaped by that of our ancestors many thousands of years ago.
The book he recommends is “Survival in Auschwitz” by Primo Levi
A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming. Germany, France 24, and Japan.
This week, on the Global Research News Hour we take a special look at post-Assad Syria and its fate with two experts who bring us enlightened and seldom talked about perspectives on who’s in charge of the oldest current capital city in the world and the stakes for the country and the region. In our first half hour, Drago Bosnic, the commentator from last week joins us to talk to us about the role of the US and other foreign powers directing affairs in the West Asian country behind the scenes and why they are doing it. Then in our second half hour we are joined by Middle East analyst and commentator Laith Marouf about who the new regime is, what the people crossing the border into Lebanon experienced recently, and how the Middle East stands to be affected by the fall of the once strong supporters of Lebanon against Israel.
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The first half of today’s episode covers a story about a Virginia nurse accused of breaking the bones of several Black infants in the care of the NICU at which she was employed. This vile story sheds light on the very racism many folks say doesn’t exist and also explains how pervasive it can be when it goes unpunished.
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Our Way Black History Fact covers the first Black Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. William Carney, and the story behind his heroism.
Off the show goes to England, cheezily speaking, as we dig up some UK cheeze, a high school band gets into the hustle of things, and a celebrity slip up that, well......is just a wee bit o naughty...but more cheezy then anything else.
The Repository is an oubliette of musique concrete, nocturnal emanations and audio oddities. An hour of strange music, spoken word musical mash ups of questionable taste. All material is royalty-free, public domain or Creative Commons. This show makes perfect late-night fare. Please let us know if you are broadcasting this show. Our host, Jack Bailey will give your radio station a shout out! Email us at kzzh@accesshumboldt.net.
The Repository is an oubliette of musique concrete, nocturnal emanations and audio oddities. An hour of strange music, spoken word musical mash ups of questionable taste. All material is royalty-free, public domain or Creative Commons. This show makes perfect late-night fare. Please let us know if you are broadcasting this show. Our host, Jack Bailey will give your radio station a shout out! Email us at kzzh@accesshumboldt.net.
Chrystia Freeland is permitted to dodge question of why she supports Banderites in Ukraine today, just as her grand-father did in his years as an employee of Nazi intelligence. It is not a “long ago question”, it is today’s reality. That’s why all should read Peter McFarlane’s “Family Ties” (Lorimer).
On 4th Anniversary of January 6th Insurrection Democracy is on the Ropes; South Carolina Activists Protest Israeli Arms Maker Whose Weapons are Used in Gaza Genocide; Campaign Urges Biden to Publish Equal Rights Amendment Before Leaving Office.
Yanis Varoufakis is a former finance minister of Greece, university teacher, author in economics and technology, and engaged in European politics. A video of this candid and fact filled talk before a Chinese audience has recently surfaced.
How did China, on the flimsiest of pretexts, end up in the crosshairs of both Biden and Trump? Varoufakis reveals the related danger to the U.S. financial system that apparently is so serious that this new Cold War might even turn into a shooting war.
The video of this talk was recorded just before the U.S. November 2024 elections, and it is 12 precious minutes longer than this radio program. I highly recommend you find it on YouTube under the title “The new cold war that the United States unleashed against China - Yanis Varoufakis”.
DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: Nov. 13, 2024
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The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Show - A musical mid-life crisis -- a late-night search for meaning and happiness airs on WRIR LP Monday nights from 9 PM to 11 PM. Stream the show @ www.wrir.org