Cognitive Biases Mnemosyne Deck & Wallpapers

In an attempt to improve my ability to recognize cognitive biases in myself and others around me I've created a Mnemosyne deck based on the Visual Study Guide to Congnitive Biases that is derived from the Wikipedia page on the subject. I use the iSRS iPhone app to do a quick review of the cards when on the go.  I've also created 11 wallpapers from the visual study guide and use them as part of the image pool in my desktop background slide show.

Download Cognitive Biases Mnemosyne Deck (104 cards).
Download Cognitive Biases Wallpapers (11 images).

Spiderman@Harvard

I've been slowly going through the Michael Sandel Justice lectures at Harvard and enjoying them tremendously.  I was knocked off my ass laughing when I noticed that Spiderman was in the audience during lecture #6 on Immanuel Kant .

Spiderman attending justice lecture at Harvard

Bear Bells aren't as awesome as they sound

I first came across the idea of a bear bell when I was researching what gear I should be taking with me on a hike in the Mont-Tremblant national park.  The idea that I could have something with me that could generate enough lethal noise as to ward off a bear conjured up images of something along the lines of a sound canon similar to what was recently used during certain Occupy Wall Street protests in the states.

Imaginary Bear Bell

So without actually looking up what a bear bell looks like I ventured off the the hardware store to pick one up. Needless to say I was sadly disappointed...

Actual Bear Bell

This thing looks more like a diner bell than anything else.  If I was a bad ass bear in the woods stompin' around and I heard this I'd probably think it was snack time.

Review: You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 65 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself

You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 65 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself by David McRaney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a really enjoyable read. I particularly liked the way McRaney prefaced each bias/effect/illusion/fallacy with a simple The Misconception vs. The Truth explanation. The chapters are brief and to the point easily making this an enjoyable reference book to casually return to when needed.




View all my reviews

Some new Panoramas

From my time at Mont-Tremblant and Lac-de-L'Orignal.

First Strip

Here is my first go at making a strip. The humour is a little dark but that seems to be how my head works. I created the strip using the tools at Toonlet.com if anyone is interested in trying their hand at it.

Planning the Mont-Tremblant Hike

Nancie and I will be heading out to Mont-Tremblant soon and I'm in the beginning stages of planning some of the hikes I'll be doing there.  So far I've identified "Le Carcan" as the most likely trail.  It sports 14,4 km of trail with an estimated time of completion of 5h-6h.  Most notably it leads you on a climb of the second highest peak available in the park (883m) while visiting several waterfalls along the way.  I just hope I'm in good enough shape.