I recognized this concept long before I knew what it was called. A sunk cost is actually a kind of logical fallacy. Simply stated, the cost of a thing does not dictate the value of a thing.

Consider an example. I am a millionaire and have invested $20 million to build a power plant. At this juncture, it will cost another $10 million to complete. However, during the time we've spent building the current facility, new and more cost effective designs have been developed such that it…

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An excerpt from the life of Kairan:

 

My mom and I are watching The Weather Channel in our condo on the east cost of Florida.  We want to see how nasty things will get for us with Hurricane Irene.  It turns out she's forecast to pass by us two-hundred miles out to sea, throwing 50 to 70 mph winds our way. 

 …

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hey guys! apologize for whatever glitch that was that prevented the post from going up last night! thanks to the surprising number of you that messaged me to ask "hey, I miss my Sunday School! What happened?" let's see if it'll work this time!

 

first, make sure you check out tonight's episode of the show. we're featuring a chat with…

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To paraphrase Michael Specter in a TED talk, "You are entitled to your own truths, but you aren't entitled to your own facts." This is a poignant message and one that deserves further exploration.



(Edit: the actual quote, as pointed out in comments on my blog was “...And listen, everyone’s entitled to their… Continue

The Backfire Effect



The Misconception: When your beliefs are challenged with facts, you alter your opinions and incorporate the new information into your thinking.



The Truth: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger.



Wired, The New York Times, Backyard Poultry Magazine – they all do it. Sometimes, they screw up and get the facts wrong. In ink or in… Continue

Humans can believe some pretty strange things. I have met people who claim to be able to see my "aura", and that depending on the "colour and shape" of this aura, they can make a determination of my physical or mental health. I've met others (actually sometimes the same people) who claim that by laying their hands on me, they can cure me of whatever ails me, from sore muscles to an upset stomach. Even stranger, I have met people who claim to be able to see into my future by "interpreting the… Continue

Ya know, I really should stop reading news articles from CNN and Fox. The comments made by Americans usually portray that "ignorant" stereotype we so like to give ourselves to the rest of the world. 

 

I'm pretty sure a few of you guys have heard the story where a man, claiming to be a prophet, decapitated a women in a supermarket. The story from the U.k plainly states the man's mental state. Let's take a look at the…

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It’s time for me to renew my license plates. Luckily, I received a card in the mail with a PIN number, License Plate Number, and some other information I would need to renew them online. Given the many wasted hours spent waiting in line at the DMV over the years, I was grateful for this new alternative.



So, I went to log into the site with the information provided. I was asked for my PIN and plate number (changed). The PIN Number was completely new to me, but I was pretty confident I… Continue

I find it quite difficult to find a reliable news source that doesn't interject too much of their own biases into stories. As a result I tend to gravitate towards BBC news, as I find their coverage usually to be somewhat more middle of the road.

 

I was reading this article this morning:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13068133

 

For those who are of the TL;DR crowd…

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Catching up on the local news today, I read about a teenager (18) who has been showing nude photos to under age people and allegedly also molested 2 others. 

The first article -from a local CNN affiliate- I ran into said:

A Henderson teen is under arrest, charged with statutory rape, sexually battery and a probation violation.The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint about 18-year-old Westley Aaron Williams, of Fletcher, showing nude pictures to…

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first off, the Think Atheist Radio Show podcast has returned! our first guest is John Loftus, former minister apologist turned atheist author. check it out! :)

 

what would Jesus do? be misinterpreted by millions of people for millennia.



the…

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Let me start with this statement.



When a person who already believes strongly about something is presented with evidence that is contrary to their belief, they can tend to react in one of, or a combination of three ways; ignore the information (citing that it is irrelevant or blatantly wrong),… Continue

Recently, political commentator S. E. Cupp has been popping up on various media outlets in order to promote her new book, Losing Our Religion: The Liberal Media's Attack on Christianity. (She has been discussed here,… Continue

I don't know why, but reading about Constance McMillian and the prom being cancelled by her high school because she wanted to wear a tuxedo to accompany her female date, reminded me of an incident several years ago. I worked for a transitional home for the chronically mentally ill, and we were having to find a new residence.

Well we found a house in a nearby community which fit the bill. But, the minister of a local baptist church, began a campaign to keep those "deviants" out of their… Continue