[bizarre nasa love triangle] simple explanation perhaps

First, the story here, including bio link, of the “apparent breakdown of Astronaut Lisa Nowak”, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal; Navy Achievement Medal, who tried to kidnap her love rival and possibly murder her.

Christopher Mims, blogger, says: If and when NASA finds out its astronauts have problems, what's it going to do in order to avoid embarrassment and possible tragedy? Take them off the flight list. What incentive does that leave astronauts to admit that they might have problems? None at all.

That’s one way to look at it. Another way is to ask what was a married woman with children doing vying for the affections of another astronaut anyway? Secondly, as she herself said, it was "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship." Yet she apparently wrote that she loved him.

So, a highly stressed, highly strung astronaut in the cold, clinical NASA world suddenly feels pangs of long dormant love – and what? Seems to me the man in it, the object of the affections, Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, needs to step in and put her straight about his own feelings, for a start.

Although driving in diapers and carrying weaponry and stun gas might be a little OTT, I can’t see that the emotion driving it is unusual in any way. I’d have been more worried if she'd been devoid of emotion, as cold as a fish.

NASA have given her extended leave to cool it and the media attempt to beat this up will fizzle away. Unless she truly is crazy, of course.

[dire commercials] pass the paper bag

One thing leads to another. Two Wolves is running a post on the American serial ‘Lost’, with a sickening line from the lead female and that got me thinking about sickening lines. The most sickening lines I’ve ever heard were in a Camay Soap commercial from the 70s:

Him [coming home]: Darling, where are you?

Her [in the bath, soft music in the background, light pink and white décor ad nauseam]: I’m up here, making myself beautiful for you. [She smiles sweetly at the camera and holds up a bar of Camay soap].

Pity because I’d really enjoyed that curry for dinner. There’s a brief paragraph about these commercials here.

What were the most sickening lines you’ve ever heard?

[drew gilpin faust] anyone know this lady

Great name and any deal she makes will give rise to some awful puns but still. Who is she? Look at the photo. Still in the dark?

The Corporation, as the governing board is known, will present its recommendation Sunday to the Overseers, an oversight board of about 30 alumni, the Globe reported today. The Overseers, who must approve the choice, wield far less power than the Corporation and are considered all but certain to approve the recommendation, as they have done in the past.

No? Still in the dark?

If the selection is approved by [the] alumni, [Drew Gilpin] Faust, the Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, will become the first woman to lead Harvard.

Here are one or two things about her.

Follow-up post in more detail here.

[jerusalem] closer and closer and closer

Third Temple

So, it’s started. I dearly wish I could have posted last evening’s piece on the scenario in the next few years because today’s news is very much part of the deal. The agents provocateur are out in force and I’m not referring to one particular group, as this article is:

Any encroachment on a holy site is seen as a challenge to the fragile status quo in Jerusalem. It may be a one-time incursion, but suspicions and anger run so deep it will no doubt be one of those often-referred-to-moments in this tireless conflict.

Tension had been building. Arab leaders around the world had been calling for Muslims to protest today. Many Arabs are furious the Israelis have started construction on a covered bridge that leads from the Wailing Wall Plaza to the Al Aqsa Mosque.

There is a small mound or hill under the bridge and it was an entrance into the Mosque at one time. Parts of the mound are being removed to make way for a new foundation for the bridge and many Muslims consider that sacred ground. Moderate Arabs are furious Israeli backhoes are taking away that hill without consulting any Islamic officials.

As most know, the conflagration starts the moment the red heifer is found and the cornerstone laid. According to my document, religious tensions get to the point where most people are sick to death of it all and religion is seen as tantamount to killing and terror. Someone steps up and says: “I’ll put a stop to the crazies,” and he/she is welcomed with open arms.

Hitler was welcomed thus as well.

[girlpower] blogfocus goes girl

Our girls are definitely not W.A.G.s.

More than a little excited about tomorrow evening – it’s a girls only bumper edition of 17 blogs!

Entitled Girlpower, for want of an imagination, the range of views is entertaining and the only regret I have is that the peerless Jackie Danicki still has me blocked, so I couldn’t include her blog. Also not in tomorrow's edition, sadly, are Michelle Malkin, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan.

Now ladies, I’m going to ask a favour from each and every one of you. Would you send me, either by commenting on the post tomorrow or else by e-mail, the link to one “girl site” you particularly like and which has not already been included?

Boys – you’re more than welcome to look in too and your turn will come, on Tuesday, to undergo the Higham grilling.

[macdonalds] masters of consumer psychology

McDonald's really are the masters of consumer psychology. In Australia, they have modified their product line to the point where the Heart Foundation have given nine of the meals their famous 'tick' of approval. An interesting article by Paul Harrison, senior lecturer in consumer behaviour at Deakin University, goes on to say:

What Maccas is doing makes sense: psychological research has shown us that humans are notoriously trusting, positive, and generally apathetic when it comes to thinking too much about habitual behaviours. So it takes only a little effort on the part of a big brand, such as McDonald's, to convince us that everything is OK.

McDonald's is [simply] using a tried and tested psychological theory — often used by large brands in an abundant marketplace — called bounded rationality. Simply put, bounded rationality is a theory that suggests most of our decisions are not fully thought through and, as such, we can be rational only within limits such as time, desire to expend effort, and cognitive capability.

Generally speaking, there are two major causes of bounded rationality: (1) the limitations of the human mind and (2) the structure within which the mind operates. Generally, we are creatures of habit in our purchase decisions, and rely on simple messages, and tap into stereotypes, values and emotions, to help us make sense of a complicated world.

In some irrational, illogical way, our mind interprets that having the healthier choices at McDonald's, and having the Heart Foundation tick of approval, means that McDonald's has nothing to hide. We feel reassured, and better about our choices, whether it is a salad, or a Big Mac and fries.

The McDonald's brand has much to gain from being associated with the Heart Foundation. A major concern, however, is that the Heart Foundation brand, and in particular, the tick, may suffer from the association with McDonald's if consumers believe that the Heart Foundation has "sold out" to a big corporation.