Yearly Archives: 2025
The Name/Letter Effect
submitted by ghostsniper via Comments
The name-letter effect is the tendency of people to prefer the letters in their name over other letters in the alphabet. Whether subjects are asked to rank all letters of the alphabet, rate each of the letters, choose the letter they prefer out of a set of two, or pick a small set of letters they most prefer, on average people consistently like the letters in their own name the most. Crucially, subjects are not aware that they are choosing letters from their name.
Discovered in 1985 by the Belgian psychologist Jozef Nuttin, the name-letter effect has been replicated in dozens of studies, involving subjects from over 15 countries, using four different alphabets. It holds across age and gender. People who changed their names many years ago tend to prefer the letters of both their current and original names over non-name letters. The effect is most prominent for initials, but even when initials are excluded, the remaining letters of both given and family names still tend to be preferred over non-name letters.
Most people like themselves; the name is associated with the self, and hence the letters of the name are preferred, despite the fact that they appear in many other words. People who do not like themselves tend not to exhibit the name-letter effect. A similar effect has been found for numbers related to birthdays: people tend to prefer the number signifying the day of the month on which they were born. Alternative explanations for the name-letter effect, such as frequent exposure and early mastery, have been ruled out. In psychological assessments, the Name Letter Preference Task is widely used to estimate implicit self-esteem.
There is some evidence that the effect has implications for real-life decisions. In the lab, people disproportionately favor brands matching their initials. An analysis of a large database of charity donations revealed that a disproportionately large number of people donate to disaster relief following hurricanes with names sharing their initial letter (e.g. Kate and Kevin following Hurricane Katrina). Studies that investigate the impact of name-letter matching on bigger life decisions (where to live, whom to marry, which occupation to take on) are controversial.
Continue reading →A Poem I Didn’t Write…
but, wish I had.
Published by Jean August 6, 2007
Found it in a book called Kiss Me Like A Stranger by Gene Wilder.
"After A While" by Veronica A. Shoffstall
After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that
love doesn't mean leaning
and company doesn't always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure,
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth.
and you learn
and you learn
with every good-bye you learn.
good stuff, eh?
Continue reading →Well, There I Was
stopping for gas someplace in mid-Missouri
This guy came out of the store, walked over in my direction, set his phone down, did this handstand, picked up the stuff fallen from his pockets, went back in.
Never said a word ...
I finished filling up and continued on my way.
Continue reading →Tipping
Story from Fox News
Some guy was on a date at an unspecified restaurant. He thought the service was less than it should be but left a 10% tip anyway:
The waitress allegedly "lost" his drink twice, brought him and his girlfriend the wrong appetizer and "vanished for what seemed like an eternity" when they wanted to order dessert. He paid and left a 10% cash tip, which he felt was "reasonable given the circumstances," he said.
"We were just standing up to leave when [the waitress] came over, took the cash and said, 'Seriously? This is it?'" he continued. "She had said it audibly. [apparently, the entire restaurant heard her comment]
"Then she added, 'You know, servers can't pay their rent because of people like you … If you can't tip properly, don't dine out.'"
He went back to the table, pocketed his cash tip and "left without another word."
Some people thought he was wrong.
I don't disagree with his action.
Waitress: You don't work for me, I don't sign your paycheck - you work for the restaurant. It is not my job to pay your salary; a tip is a gift, a reward/incentive for good (or exceptional) service. If you don't make enough to pay your rent, talk to your employer, not your employer's customers. Or find another job. If you don't get tips, perhaps your customers aren't satisfied with your service.
If you had acted like that towards me, not only would you have lost a tip, your employer would have lost a customer.
Tunes For Tuesday – Gregory Alan Isakov “The Stable Song”
A sample of some obscure – and some maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.
Today’s selection: Gregory Alan Isakov "The Stable Song" 2007
Born in South Africa (1979), raised in Philadelphia, living in Boulder, he is the owner and operator of Starling Farm in Boulder County, Colorado, described as "a six-acre farm focused on small-scale, bio-intensive market gardening". Many of his works are available on Utube.
"The Stable Song" is one of Isakov's most popular works.
remember when our songs were just like prayers
like gospel hymns that you called in the air
come down come down sweet reverence,
unto my simple house and ring…
Those Who Ignore History Are Doomed
to repeat it.
"German defense minister says troops ready to kill Russians"
If at first you don't succeed ...
Someone really wants a war but doesn't want to take the blame for starting it. It's like a hockey game: it's not the instigator that takes the fall, it's the responder.
Damn.
I feel like I'm watching a fuse burn when I can't do anything to put it out.
I need to stop reading the news ... but then, I need to get some warning of when it all comes down.
Twice In Twenty Years…
Published by Jean August 30, 2007
It isn't about the flowers. Or any other gift.
It's about the effort.
It's about letting her know you value her.
Slow dance with her... in the kitchen, on the porch.
Even if you can't dance you can hold her tenderly
and sway with the music. Then tell her she smells nice.
Even if she isn't wearing perfume.
Tell her she's pretty when she isn't dressed up.
Leave a note on her pillow. Write, "I love you."
Bring her a flower when there is no special occasion.
Don't take it for granted that she knows how you feel
just because you're still around.
She wants to hear it. She wants to see it.
Do you like her laugh, her eyes, her hair, her legs?
Tell her.
If you don't love her enough to keep letting her know it...
leave.
Break her heart once, not every day for the rest of her life.
Something Wicked This Way Comes
or is it just the same ol', same ol'?
I tend to think both ... but "comes" implies future tense; "is here" may be better words.
A sign from ... somewhere
Epstein
It could have been Harobama instead of Trump ... Frying pan or fire?
It's just my opinion - worth what you pay for it ...
But I'm thinking it may be a good time to "take profits" from your savings or stock plans and if nothing else, leave it as cash in the account.
Better yet, I'm also suggesting it may be time to make a significant deposit to the Bank of Mattress.
'cause everyone knows the govt would never shut the banks down.
And I could be just talking through my hat ...
Continue reading →