Post: #26

Random thought.

Think of all the hundreds of songs you know off by heart.

That is pretty amazing when you think about it.

With no effort - and without realising it - you have memorised tons and tons of information. Word perfectly. Even for those annoying songs you don't even like. And it is stored away in long-term memory for years on end and is available for instant recall with no effort.

Yet - when you try and memorise raw text - it is really hard. And when you do memorise it - it slips from your brain within a few days.

The simple addition of music and a melody seems to open superhuman powers in the memory part of the brain.

I wish people would research this, and find a way of utilising it for more useful stuff like the learning of a foreign language or the passing of exams.

Post: #27

(12-15-2013 08:08 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Random thought.

Think of all the hundreds of songs you know off by heart.

That is pretty amazing when you think about it.

With no effort - and without realising it - you have memorised tons and tons of information. Word perfectly. Even for those annoying songs you don't even like. And it is stored away in long-term memory for years on end and is available for instant recall with no effort.

Yet - when you try and memorise raw text - it is really hard. And when you do memorise it - it slips from your brain within a few days.

The simple addition of music and a melody seems to open superhuman powers in the memory part of the brain.

I wish people would research this, and find a way of utilising it for more useful stuff like the learning of a foreign language or the passing of exams.

Do you mean actually performing the music?

Yeah, it does seem pretty amazing.

I don't play much music now, but there was a time when I was in 4 or 5 separate bands. One of those was a surf covers/originals band where we'd do multiple sets in one night (at least 40 songs total). To be honest, those songs are pretty easy anyway -- all variations on I-IV-V chords.

But nowadays if I pick up a bass and try to play something complex (like Rush, or something jazz) I can barely do it. I do know the notes, but the muscle memory is so atrophied I can't make my hands do what my brain wants.

I think that's a big part of remembering songs -- muscle memory. It takes over after enough consistent practice, where after a couple years it does seem effortless.

If you're talking about just remembering melodies and lyrics, that's interesting too. Repeated listening obviously helps. But yeah, it seems like the brain holds a stronger memory when a melody is involved.

Post: #28

Sorry - my post was poorly written.

I just mean songs that you know from listening to them on the radio or from listening to your favourite bands on CD.

I literally know hundreds of songs off by heart - and some of them I have only heard 2-3 times.

It is amazing how the music and melody of a song helps you memorise the lyrics. Since memorising the lyrics alone would be quite difficult. I know this since I have favourite poems which I still haven't memorised.

To me - this is a genius type ability that we all have without realising it. When you hum a song to yourself in your head - that is the equivalent of having a photographic memory - except for sound and not images.

It is strange this isn't commented on more often since those who have photographic memories when it comes to visual information are praised for having genius/superhuman gifts.

Cardguy

PS @Sombro - I never learned to play music. So I can't comment on that.

Post: #29

Interesting thought, cardguy. I too know hundreds of songs off hand - some I've only heard a few times - and can recall having not heard them in years, almost perfectly.

I wonder if reading while listening to music helps retention. Whether read aloud or to oneself.

Curious point about music and learning a foreign language - I know the lyrics to a decent handful of Spanish and Italian songs, and have a basic command of the languages. But I'm more comfortable singing than speaking such.

Post: #30

Never thought I would write this.

But I don't think I can read history books.

I love non-fiction and have already mentioned before that I never read any fiction.

But - I seem to struggle with history books as well. I am not interested in becoming a wiser man through the study of history. If I want to become wiser I can just memorise a few clever quotes from a book of quotations.

When I read a book I just want it to be interesting and entertaining. But for some reason history doesn't do it for me. I read biographies, business, science, enonomics, politics, law and philosophy books. But with history it is like watching a soccer game where you already know what the score will be. And my brain doesn't seem to be able to engage with it. Like when you start seeing all those dates from the past - I just get a subtle sense of 'what the fuck is this shit?' - this shit is old and out of date.

Really weird. I always figured I would be a natural for history books. But now I am not so sure.

Post: #31

@MSW2007 - Singing and speaking seems to take place in different parts of the brain. I know this since everytime I read about somebody with a stutter - or somebody who has language problems (such as the cartoonist Scott Adams when he inexplicably lost his voice for a year), they always seem to be able to sing fine.

Post: #32

(12-15-2013 10:28 PM)cardguy Wrote:  @MSW2007 - Singing and speaking seems to take place in different parts of the brain. I know this since everytime I read about somebody with a stutter - or somebody who has language problems (such as the cartoonist Scott Adams when he inexplicably lost his voice for a year), they always seem to be able to sing fine.

Makes me wonder where singing vs. speaking intersects with memory.

Post: #33

For me learning languages start with memorizing a favorite song in that language. If there is no song which I like I don´t want to learn the language. There are many people who learned a language because of one artist who sings in that language.

Maybe with discipline one learns better but learning something with fun has it´s own merits. That´s why arts and entertainment are important imho.

Post: #34

(12-15-2013 11:27 PM)Bill Wrote:  For me learning languages start with memorizing a favorite song in that language. If there is no song which I like I don´t want to learn the language. There are many people who learned a language because of one artist who sings in that language.

Maybe with discipline one learns better but learning something with fun has it´s own merits. That´s why arts and entertainment are important imho.

A mnemonic trick I use is remembering etymologies of words. Usually works for me with Germanic or Romance languages. Also, consonant and vowel shifts over the centuries.

For example, in German to English the consonant "pf" or "ff" often turns to a "p".
"Apfel" becomes "apple."
"Affe" becomes "ape."
"Pfeife" becomes "pipe."

In Romance languages to English there is a g-to-w shift.
"Guerre" becomes "war."
"Guillermo" becomes "William."

So when you see these consonants/dipthongs in other languages, it gives you a clue to what it might be in English.

Helps in building vocab, if nothing else.

Check out Grimm's Law.

ymmv

Post: #35

(12-15-2013 10:25 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Never thought I would write this.

But I don't think I can read history books.

I love non-fiction and have already mentioned before that I never read any fiction.

But - I seem to struggle with history books as well. I am not interested in becoming a wiser man through the study of history. If I want to become wiser I can just memorise a few clever quotes from a book of quotations.

When I read a book I just want it to be interesting and entertaining. But for some reason history doesn't do it for me. I read biographies, business, science, enonomics, politics, law and philosophy books. But with history it is like watching a soccer game where you already know what the score will be. And my brain doesn't seem to be able to engage with it. Like when you start seeing all those dates from the past - I just get a subtle sense of 'what the fuck is this shit?' - this shit is old and out of date.

Really weird. I always figured I would be a natural for history books. But now I am not so sure.

I know exactly where you're coming from on that. I was only interested in memorizing major events and dates in history for the longest time. When I discovered Austrian economics, the idea of 'cui bono' changed that and now has me obsessed with how events played out in the past. Now I delve deeply into every event that has had a lasting impact on the world.

For example, I couldn't tell you about half the battles that took place during WW2, but I could tell you about every policy and treaty that led to the war.

I believe it is just an extension of my fascination with how and why systems work the way that they do. I've never been able to accept anything as "Well, that's just the way it is." Even as a child I always had to know shit like how my voice was transmitted over wires on the telephone, or how a camera was able to capture an image.

Post: #36

(12-16-2013 12:46 AM)Sombro Wrote:  

(12-15-2013 11:27 PM)Bill Wrote:  For me learning languages start with memorizing a favorite song in that language. If there is no song which I like I don´t want to learn the language. There are many people who learned a language because of one artist who sings in that language.

Maybe with discipline one learns better but learning something with fun has it´s own merits. That´s why arts and entertainment are important imho.

A mnemonic trick I use is remembering etymologies of words. Usually works for me with Germanic or Romance languages. Also, consonant and vowel shifts over the centuries.

For example, in German to English the consonant "pf" or "ff" often turns to a "p".
"Apfel" becomes "apple."
"Affe" becomes "ape."
"Pfeife" becomes "pipe."

In Romance languages to English there is a g-to-w shift.
"Guerre" becomes "war."
"Guillermo" becomes "William."

So when you see these consonants/dipthongs in other languages, it gives you a clue to what it might be in English.

Helps in building vocab, if nothing else.

Check out Grimm's Law.

ymmv

I am already speaking german, turkish, english and some all right spanish (Besides I had latin in school). I started little bit with russian but there are no good songs in russian and the language is not really beautiful to say the least so the motivation level is quite low.

Post: #37

@Katatonic - what books would be good places to start with for Austrian Economics? I have never made a proper study of that field.

Post: #38

(12-16-2013 08:20 AM)cardguy Wrote:  @Katatonic - what books would be good places to start with for Austrian Economics? I have never made a proper study of that field.

'Economics in One Lesson' by Hazlitt is the big one http://mises.org/document/6785/Economics-in-One-Lesson

'Human Action' by Ludwig von Mises http://mises.org/document/3250/Human-Action

Those are free, plus many others including Rothbard, Thornton, Gordon etc. on Mises.org.
iTunes U has quite a few great lectures by the Mises Institute in their library as well.

Post: #39

(12-15-2013 10:19 AM)Architekt Wrote:  

(12-15-2013 10:15 AM)Bill Wrote:  I read often in standing position, sometimes I do even some shadow boxing to up my energy level. It´s all about energy. Sitting kills.

I find it helps retention and focus. Probably something to do with slight increase in blood flow to the brain or something along those lines

Though for deep thinking sitting is better as brain capacity is not spent for motoric stuff while standing. But in that case stuff should be better interesting otherwise one gets sleepy quite quickly.

Standing position probably also stimulates the reptile region in the brain. It makes one more emotionally active and alert. You come in to fight modus. Imagine Hitler motivating the people from a sittin position. It would not work well.

Hemmingway was a mofo no wonder he didn´t sit while working. Rather he blow his head off.

Post: #40

I have already read ECONOMICS IN ONE LESSON. Really great book - the best introduction to economics I have seen.

Will check out the other book!

Post: #41

Just finished Animal Farm. There were several times I just wanted to put it down and rage at something

Post: #42

Started reading The Manipulated Man by Esther Vilar. This is the most hardcore, truth-dropping, worldview-challenging book I think I've ever had in my hands. I could knock it out in the next hour or two but I want to read and re-read every chapter until the words have firmly taken root in my brain. Holy shit.

Post: #43

While surfing on longform.com there was an article about Roosh in Denmark. Nothing special nothing we don´t know but a nice quick read.

http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/c...stribution

Post: #44

(12-16-2013 08:29 PM)MSW2007 Wrote:  Started reading The Manipulated Man by Esther Vilar. This is the most hardcore, truth-dropping, worldview-challenging book I think I've ever had in my hands. I could knock it out in the next hour or two but I want to read and re-read every chapter until the words have firmly taken root in my brain. Holy shit.

Yeah - that is some next level shit. And written by a woman to boot.

For some reason, I thought she was a lesbian - but she is actually straight.

Post: #45

One of the best conservative blogs that leans red-pill/manosphere.

Been a faithful reader (not as much since joining the forum) for about 3 years:

http://ozconservative.blogspot.com/

Post: #46

(12-18-2013 03:56 AM)2Wycked Wrote:  One of the best conservative blogs that leans red-pill/manosphere.

Been a faithful reader (not as much since joining the forum) for about 3 years:

http://ozconservative.blogspot.com/

Cool blog, lots of insightful and interesting posts. Just found this in one of them: http://womenformen.org

Quote:A new website called Women for Men has been launched. If you read the mission statement you'll notice that some of its aims fit in well with traditionalism.

First, there is a recognition that equality doesn't have to mean sameness:

At WFM, we know there’s an alternative view of equality than the one our culture teaches. The word equal implies two things are interchangeable, which men and women are not. That doesn’t mean the sexes aren’t equally valuable...It just means that, generally speaking, men and women choose different life paths based on their inherent, biological differences.

Second, the website breaks with the portrayal of men as privileged oppressors of women:

The American male is tired of being told there’s something fundamentally wrong with him. He’s tired of getting shafted in family courts, or even in college tribunals, where men are assumed guilty until proven innocent. Decades of feminist propaganda have landed us in a place where women are hailed as heroes, and men are viewed as perpetrators—or just losers.

That’s what WFM seeks to remedy. The battle of the sexes will begin to erode when America stops making men pay for women’s so-called oppression. If we do, marriages and relationships will improve—as will the health of the American family.

Post: #47

Heard a cool thing about the new Anchorman film.

The guys had so many jokes that didn't make the final edit - that when the film is released on DVD there will be an alternate version of the entire film.

With every joke taken out and replaced with a different one.

Pretty neat.

Post: #48

This comic is quickly turning into one of my favourites

Post: #49

Greart comic. I really enjoy thinking about Gettier problems as well. That is a nice analysis above!

Post: #50

Just discovered a collection of several hundred history books on my laptop.. Some interesting looking titles in there