wisdom

The Power Of Eyes

At the University Of Newcastle they have a lounge where you can get
coffee. People are encouraged to pay a fair price, and there is a
suggested price list. Money is simply dropped in a box.
Researchers went to the lounge to do an experiment. They started
with the idea that people are better-behaved when they are being
watched, but some wondered if that "watching" needed to be real or
if it could be symbolic and still have a similar effect. So they
put a picture of flowers next to the price list in the
coffee-lounge, and later put a picture of two eyes looking out at
the coffee drinkers.

On average, the amount people put in the box while the eyes were
there was almost three times the amount they put in the box when
the picture of the flowers was there.

Vegetation Still

A garbage bag placed over the end of a leafy tree branch will fog
up inside from the moisture that is given off by the leaves.
Eventually this condensation will form droplets that run down and
collect in the lowest part of the bag. Find a branch that is in the
sun for maximum effect. You can collect the water by detaching the
bag and pouring it out, or you can tear a small hole in a corner of
the bag to drink from, and then rotate the hole up to the top (so
water doesn't run out) if you want to continue to use the still.

A more effective way to create a vegetation still is to...

(Continued in Chapter 10 of A Survival Guide for Interesting Times)

Jurors Can Judge The Law

Judges, lawyers and others in the justice system tell jurors they
may only judge the facts in the case, and not let their opinion of
the law, their conscience, or the motives of the defendant affect
their decision. This lie is told because authorities don't want to
lose control of the process of "justice" to mere citizens. "Jury
nullification of law," as it is sometimes called, has been a
recognized right since...