How our "Hidden Brain" thinks for us

Morning Edition (NPR.org, 1/25/10); Wisdom Quarterly

After making a silly mistake, it's not uncommon for a person to say, "Oops -- I was on autopilot." In his new book, The Hidden Brain, science writer Shankar Vedantam explains how there's actually a lot of truth to that.

Our brains have two modes, he tells NPR's Steve Inkseep -- conscious and unconscious, pilot and autopilot -- and we are constantly switching back and forth between the two.

Hidden Brain (Read excerpt)

"The problem arises when we [switch] without our awareness," Vedantam says, "and the autopilot ends up flying the plane, when we should be flying the plane."

The autopilot mode can be useful when we're multitasking, but it can also lead us to make unsupported snap judgments about people in the world around us. Vedantam says that when we interact with people from different backgrounds in high-pressure situations, it's easy to rely -- unconsciously -- on heuristics....

"Most of us think of ourselves as being conscious, intentional, deliberate creatures."

- Shankar Vedantam

Take Back The Controls

Racism can end (anothervoice-greenleaf.org)

In American society, [social] colorblindness is often held up as the ideal. And though it's a worthy aspiration, Vedantam says it's a goal that isn't rooted in psychological reality.
  
"Our hidden brains will always recognize people's races, and they will do so from a very, very young age," Vedantam says. "The far better approach is to put race on the table, to ask [children] to unpack the associations that they are learning, to help us shape those associations in more effective ways."
    

Going back to the autopilot analogy, Vedantam says it's not a problem that the brain has an autopilot mode -- as long as you are aware of when it is on. The Hidden Brain is about how to "take back the controls."
  
So if the human psyche is just a big constellation of conscious and unconscious cognition -- which thoughts represent the real you? More (LISTEN)

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World's Greatest Buddhist Site (photos)

UPDATE: Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; photostream by Michal Przedlacki (dziadek/flickr.com)

Afghan archaeologist examines the remains of Buddha statues discovered inside an ancient monastic complex in MES AYNAK, Logar province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 23, 2010 (AP).

• Original story: World's Greatest Buddhist Site
• PHOTO GALLERY: Mes Aynak, Afghanistan

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F Rodeo Drive! "A People's Guide to LA"

Whitney Friedlander, LAWeekly.com; Ven. Piyananda; Wisdom Quarterly

Saffron Days in L.A. (Read excerpts)

Let the tour buses take the throngs to visit Marilyn Monroe's handprints at Grauman's Chinese Theater or to press their noses up to the windows on Rodeo Drive and wander Beverly Hills like they're Julia Roberts. 

  

Despite what the entertainment industry would have us believe, the city of Los Angeles and its surrounding neighborhoods have a much richer, often conflicted history than just those landmarks -- and A People's Guide to Los Angeles, just released by UC Press, would like to make sure we don't forget it.

    

Researched for more than 15 years by Laura Pulido, Laura Barraclough, and Wendy Cheng -- three Southern California natives and academics with backgrounds in ethnic studies or sociology -- and cultivated from published and personal accounts of Los Angeles' long-standing political, social, and racial power struggles, the travel guide was released this month and includes 115 sites of interest for the progressive-minded explorer. 

  

"We're looking to reach a whole group of tourists who might find themselves dissatisfied..." More

"Hello" - When Karmin moved from Nebraska to LA, capital of the world

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O, iPhone, how dost thou enslave me?

Let Me Count the Ways

(AatmaStudio) Five amazing iPhone 5 concepts and holographic technology

• iPhone slave camp closed after 2,000 riot
• Foxconn's Taiyuan plant reopened, no impact on supply 
• Foxconn China plant closed after 2,000 riot
• Cracking your PIN code is easy 
• China factory unrest a fresh headache for Fox...
  • Foxconn China plant closed after 2,000 riot
  • Foxconn says 40 hurt in fight at China plant
  • Apple supplier's factory back up after China...
  • Chinese electronics factory closed after 2,000…
  • News Summary: Foxconn factory restarts produce...

  • Foxconn plant reopens after riot (Reuters)
    Foxconn plant closed in China after workers brawl

But isn't Samsung's Galaxy 3S better?

When seeing is still not believing

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Lady Gaga barfs on stage (video) + Sutra

Amber Dorrian, Bela, Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; video courtesy of HowToGetMad

(thehollywoodgossip.com)

BARCELONA - Demonstrating the influence of little Justin Bieber to set trends, previously fashion-forward lipsyncher Lady Gaga vomited live on stage in Spain while performing "The Edge of Glory." 

  

She was on the edge of finishing up her 24 song set when, sometime during Song 23, a visceral constriction created a spontaneous rhythmic ejection of the contents of her stomach with what seems to be a pink (perhaps bloody) phlegm-like substance. Then it happened again and yet again. How long before Ashley Simpson jumps on the bandwagon?

I won't be outdone by that kid!

During his Believe Tour, The Beebs blamed it on junk food consumed with radio personalities before the show. Goodness knows what Lady Gag' will come up with. But she is being good humored about it. And the most amazing thing is, she kept dancing! Does that mean she's lip-syncing through her entire tour? Or is she trying to lose those extra 25 pounds she padded on eating junk food the old-fashioned way? Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a serious syndrome, much worse than BDSM cravings!

The professional dancer along side her was unfazed in his performance proving what many of the greats say: "The show must go on!" At least that was the underlying message in "Moulin Rouge" when Nicole Kidman did all that Indian dancing for Baz Luhrmann.

The translation on one of the videos reads, "During her concert in Barcelona on October 6, the new queen of pop, it seems, felt unwell and vomited on stage!" Gags simply tweeted, "SPAIN, you took the piss outta me. Thats some hard bodied pop stuff. I'll never forget tonight Barcelona. FOREVER."

The Real Thing
Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly translation; C.B. Varma (Baveru Jataka, Jt. 313, 339)

Buddha, Mandalay (gorbulas_sandybanks/flickr.com)

Once upon a time the merchants of Varanasi traveled to Baveru Island. They carried a crow with them. At that time there were no birds anywhere on the island. So most people had never seen one. When the crow was put on display, the people thronged to look with great curiosity.

Some remarked, “Look at its glossy color!” Others said, “Look at its silky fur! Still others marvelled, “Look at its pretty beak and jeweled eyes!” In this way many people praised the crow.

They approached the merchants and pleaded, “Sirs, you have others like this in your land. Sell us this one, and you find another.” They offered one piece of money for the bird. The merchants agreed to sell but demanded a higher price. Finally, they made a deal -- 100 pieces for the crow.

The islanders gleefully carried their new pet in a pompous procession throughout the island then placed it in a golden cage. The crow was treated to a variety of foods and desserts and lived happily in spite of being known for ten evil characteristics, enjoying all sorts of gain and praise.

A New Arrival

Merchants arrive with new bird (jathakakatha.org)

When the merchants next visited Baveru, they brought along a peacock. The peacock was trained to sing at a finger snap and dance at the clapping of hands. When it was put on display, it greatly amused the islanders with its singing and dancing.

The new peacock proved far more alluring than the old crow. Charmed, the people went to the merchants and eagerly expressed a desire to purchase it. They reasoned with the merchants: “Sirs, you have birds like this in your land. Sell us this one, and you find another in your land”

Royal peacock (geraldguild.com)

The merchants, wanting a better bargain, replied: “Sirs! We first brought a crow, and you took it from us. Now we bring a peacock, and you want to take that, too? Next time we will not bring any bird here.” The people insisted offering a higher and higher price. Finally, a deal was agreed on of 1,000 pieces of money.
 
The people placed the peacock in a cage made of seven jewels. They then treated it to all sorts of food, honey, fried snacks, and so on. The crow hardly got any attention at all. Nobody offered it anything.

One day seizing the opportunity it flew out of its cage with a shrill “Caw, caw!” and settled on a dunghill.

Before the crested peacock appeared

The crow enjoyed gain and was revered

Since to Baveru the honey-voiced peacock came

The crow was shorn of all its praise and fame.

So people to diverse priests due honor paid,
Till the Buddha the full light of truth displayed:
For when the sweet-sounding Buddha preached the law,
From heretics their gifts and praise people withdraw.

The Buddha concluded the Rebirth Tale (Jataka) with these stanzas and by pointing out that in the past the crow had been the Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira, the founder of Jainism) and the Bodhisatta himself had been the peacock.

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