Why We Hate Words Like “Wet”, “Oldest Hotels in America” and “Best Movie Soundtrack of the Century”
This week we check out some of America’s oldest hotels worth visiting, why people hate words like wet, the best movie soundtracks since 2000, and more – all in our Brain Buffet!
How oil got into everything: our sneakers, clothes and cosmetics
Oil, also known as good old oil, is in everything. It’s fuel, of course, but it’s also present in our running shoes, most of our cosmetics and body products, and even the clothes we wear. But how did this happen and how did we move so smoothly to this oil-and-oil society?
The Planet Money podcast this week focuses on the history, the switch to oil-based products and synthetics for just about everything, how it made huge leaps in both scientific and textile research, and of course the impact it has had on our planet. , our society and, of course, our future dependence (or lack thereof) on oil as we move forward. This particular episode is the fourth installment of a five-part series, and while it touches on this particular topic, you may find it engaging enough to come back and listen to others. [ via NPR ]
Oldest hotels in America (really worth a visit)
It is one thing to be one of the oldest hotels in America, and quite another to be an old hotel worth visiting. The Oyster Hotels website lists the 12 oldest hotels in America that are truly worth staying in , and some of the names may be familiar to you if you’re studying history (or even studying film history). Places like the Willard InterContinental in Washington DC, The Peabody in Memphis and The Beverly Hills Hotel in – you guessed it – Beverly Hills are all on the list along with their legendary stories and what makes them so remarkable.
Several other impressive names also make the list, including the Buccaneer, a hotel on Santa Cruz Island, which began life in 1653 as a sugar factory, and the 129-year-old Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. They are all still open, still serving visitors in luxury and comfort, and are all worth a visit if you want to know a little about the history of your next vacation. [ via Oyster ]
The Science of “Word Aversion” or Why We Hate Words Like “Wet”
I don’t have much of a problem with the word wet, but I know people who have problems. And you probably do too, as Scientific American points out. According to a report by psychologists at Oberlin College (PDF), about 20% of people equate “moisture” with the sensation of nails on a chalkboard almost like nails. But why do people have such an aversion to certain words? Why does “moisture” make people cringe? In the article, they offer one possible explanation that makes a lot of sense:
A separate possible explanation that has not been tested in current research but is acknowledged by the author is based on the facial feedback hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that facial movement can influence emotional experiences. In other words, if the facial muscles are forced to tune in to match certain emotional expressions, this may be enough to actually trigger the experience of the emotion. According to this explanation, pronouncing the word “wet” may require activation of the facial muscles involved in prototypical expressions of disgust, and therefore trigger the experience of emotion. This can explain the instinctive reaction of people who think about this word. Separate studies have identified specific facial muscles involved in feeling and expressing disgust, but so far no study has examined whether the same muscles are required for the word “wet.”
Of course, this is not the only possible factor. In simple terms, this word can be associated with bodily functions that people find gross or too personal to discuss, so it elicits an internal reaction – but of course, this explanation is not enough, and it can be several things at once. Check out the entire Scientific American article to find out more, and if you’re one of those people who don’t care about the word, well, get ready. [ via Scientific American , thanks Boing Boing ! ]
50 best movie soundtracks of the 21st century (so far)
This is not entirely fair because we are, after all, only sixteen years old in the 21st century, but that doesn’t mean that since 2000 there haven’t been some amazing films to listen to – or that you may not have heard yourself. They have collected their 50 favorite songs in the Playlist, and Kottke has built some of them into Spotify playlists, which you can keep open in a tab and listen to at your leisure.
You will either love this list or hate it, or perhaps more in moderation, wonder how some great soundtracks (like The Lord of the Rings ) have been missed, or support your specific favorite films like Requiem for a Dream or Girl with Dragon Tattoo “ , ” The Imitation Game “ or” Cloud Atlas “ are some of the many. Even The Dark Knight is # 1 on the list (and for the record, Ghost Dog , whose soundtrack is embedded as a playlist above, is number 39 on the list, and I was struggling to embed it or the soundtrack in Inception .) Check out the full list and share your opinion with us. [ via playlist , thanks Kottke ! ]
First Person: Hot Wheels ride jumps, loops and underwater
Wrapping up our Brain Buffet this week is a fun, fun and well-edited addictive ride from Hot Wheels POV across an incredibly long track, incredibly tough track, and all manner of impossible terrains. Just looking. This is two minutes of pure pleasure. Have a nice week. [ via Boing Boing ]
Everyone this week! If you have thought-provoking stories, interesting podcasts, eye-opening videos, or anything else that you think is perfect for Brain Buffet, share it with us! Email me , leave it as a comment below, or send it in any way convenient for you.