Logical Fallacy #1--Appeal to _, Part I

So, since I've been reading Logically Fallacious, the book I just reviewed, I decided to feature some of the related information on this site.  Naturally, I can't copy from this book or any other source, but I thought I would cite it because that's where I've learned a lot of these concepts, not to mention the author kind of, uh, defined a few of them for the first time ever.

So one big logic-related mistake is appealing.  It isn't necessarily bad in persuasive situations in which you are trying to get some very emotion-based, easily-impressed-by-flashy-lights-and-faulty-metaphors sort of person to buy your latest product from the Home Shopping Channel, but when being logical, it really is.

Here are my sources before we start, in case you'd like to learn more:
http://www.logicalfallacies.info/
Logically...Fallacious: The Ultimate Collection of Over 300 Logical Fallacies by Bo Bennett

The Appeals:
(All examples I give involve myself, because I don't want to bring up any controversial topics or blame anybody else.  Also, the rainbow colors are irrelevant and are merely there to make the whole thing a bit more readable.)

Appeal to Accomplishment
An accomplished person says that people should believe something they say because of their accomplishments, whether or not said accomplishments are relevant.

Example:  Because I have experience writing a deduction blog, I can tell you that operating a particle accelerator is quite an easy thing to do, as is understanding all of quantum physics.

Clearly, the fact that I write a blog has nothing to do with whether or not I know anything about a particle accelerator or quantum physics.  If my blog were actually about quantum physics, this may be a slightly different matter, but questionable nonetheless.
 
Appeal to Anger
People assume that because the person making a claim is outraged, or they themselves are outraged by someone's claim, that the claim is somehow true or false because of the outrage.

Example:  Aren't you angry that there are so few blogs about frogs?  Look at my blog today!

Unless my blog is actually about frogs, us both being angry about the lack of high-quality amphibious online content isn't a good reason for you to look at my blog.
 
Appeal to Authority
Referencing somebody who is supposedly an authority on a topic, as a credible source when talking about a different topic.

Example:  Sherlie Moriarty says that volcanoes are a completely useless topic, and she's an expert on something or another, so I guess that means the entire subject of vulcanology is meaningless to the field of earth science as a whole and nobody else realized it before.

I, an amateur deductionist, have no place deciding anything about volcanoes, because I find earth science to be one of the most boring and overdone topics on, well, Earth.  Me stating that they are completely useless is, at best, a somewhat facetious statement and/or an attempt at humor.

Appeal to Celebrity
A celebrity says that a product is the best there is, and we want to be like them somehow so we buy it.

Example:  Sherlie Moriarty said that red velvet cake-scented shampoo is the best shampoo ever made.  She has an online blog that has over 100 views so therefore she's probably right.

I may personally like red velvet cake-scented shampoo, and/or I may be being paid lots of money to endorse it, but neither of these are relevant to whether the actual ingredients of the shampoo are good for cleaning your hair, nourishing your body, waking you up in the morning, or any other things that shampoos are supposed to do these days.

Appeal to Coincidence
Stating that strong evidence of something was just a string of random events.

Example:  I'm not actually interested in deduction, I just read those ten books on the subject because they happened to be there on my bookcase.

Completely ignoring, of course, in true irrational style, that there's a reason they're on my bookcase: I bought them because I'm interested in the subject.

Appeal to Common Belief
Because a lot of people believe something, it is considered to be true.

Example:  According to most people on the Internet, Sherlie Moriarty knows more about deduction than anybody else, so I guess she must.

Even if people did believe this, which they don't, the fact that a lot of people think something doesn't make it more likely to be true.  Now, if they could somehow offer empirical evidence of my knowledge, such as some weird security camera tapes of me making deductions and being proven right, maybe this argument would hold up a little better, if one could overlook the blatant abuse of the purpose of CCTV's.

Appeal to Common Folk
Connecting to the audience by trying to seem like just another "regular person" like them.

Example:  Citizens of the Internet, I am just a normal person like you, because despite the fact that I live in a mansion full of dragons and cake and wear the Crown Jewels to work every day, I like videos of cute kittens and dancing babies.  Believe me when I say that the average Internet citizen needs at least one cute hamster with advanced deduction abilities in their life.

If I related to them by saying that I like videos of cute hamsters, this may be almost valid.
But alas, no.  I am far from an ordinary Internet citizen, so therefore my opinion on what sort of genetically-engineered pet is best for them is merely hypothetical.

Appeal to Consequences
Getting people to believe things with the promise of a consequence of their belief.

Example:  If you believe that my pet dragon Sebastian Watson is the supreme ruler of the universe, he will be very happy, so therefore he is actually a god.
If you don't believe that Sebastian is the supreme ruler of the universe, then he will be really unhappy, and he'd only be unhappy about it if he actually was the ruler of the universe, so therefore he is actually a god.

Although Sebby would certainly be delighted to be worshiped, preferably through the liberal offering of dragon treats, whether or not he would be happy if you believed in that has little to no bearing on whether that's true.  If he was a god, he would be unhappy if not worshiped, but that's an effect, not a cause.

Appeal to Definition
Assuming that the dictionary definition of something encompasses all aspects of that thing, however complex, controversial, or changing.

Example:  According to the dictionary definition of "dragon," a dragon is "a fire-breathing lizard creature."  Since Sherlie Moriarty's so-called "dragon" John Moran does not breathe fire, he is therefore not a dragon.

A dictionary definition takes into account general circumstances and commonly accepted ideas of what something is, not considering the possibilities of genetic engineering in order to protect one's designer dresses from a blazing inferno.

I hope this was a fairly informative and entertaining journey through the world of bad logic so far!  Stay tuned for Part II, coming soon.

Signing off,
SM

Book Review: Logically...Fallacious: The Ultimate Collection of Over 300 Logical Fallacies by Bo Bennett

I'm back with another book review, of something significantly more controversial than I Spy.  Please note that I am not advocating any particular political, social, or religious agenda with this blog, unless you count "Treat other people with respect," as a super-controversial agenda, in which case I really don't know what to say.  This book is interesting and informative, but also, well...prone to causing arguments.
Here are the facts:
Title: Logically...Fallacious: The Ultimate Collection of Over 300 Logical Fallacies by Bo Bennett
Genre: Adult nonfiction, rational thinking, philosophy
Content Rating: 5, for many politically and religiously controversial topics discussed, as well as some references to sexual topics that may be considered tasteless

For an academic book about formal logic, complete with Latin phrases, Logically Fallacious is oddly humorous.  Commonly known fallacies, such as Ad Hominem, the Strawman Fallacy, and Appealing to Emotion are thoroughly defined and discussed, as are other common logical slip-ups that few before Bennett even identified as fallacies.  These include such errors as Appeal to Definition, the God Wildcard Fallacy, and the Just Because Fallacy.  All of the explanations are fairly self-sufficient and entertaining.

Now, to the somewhat controversial bits.

Personally, I appreciated that Bennett avoided the common pitfall of trying to defend social injustice, as many so-called experts in logic and reason do.  He defines things such as Stereotyping and Tokenism as fallacies.  There are some arguments referenced as illogical regarding extreme religious sensitivity (such as defending violent practices) as a form of so-called "political correctness" but Bennett doesn't otherwise label any sort of sensitivity as wholly irrational.  He also mentions that different arguments can be made for sensitivity being rational or irrational.

The only true element of controversy involves religion, generally Christianity.  I am not sure of Bennett's religious affiliation or lack thereof, as he does criticize athiests from time to time.

He doesn't have a problem with pointing fingers and naming names, often citing examples related to
-religion as a whole
-Scientology
-Mormonism
-believing in ghosts
-athiests

The list also includes totally non-religious things, such as:
-wealthy people
-Americans
-anyone against same-gender marriage
-hippies
-racists
-Windows Vista, for some reason

And the list goes on. 
To his credit, Bennett never explicitly says that any of these things are outright bad, he simply points out common irrational arguments used to defend them.  Except maybe Windows Vista, which apparently a lot of people didn't like.

The bottom line here is, if you dislike anything you say possibly being proven illogical, if not outright wrong, don't read this book.  If you want to improve your logical argument skills, I think this is an interesting book.  I don't appreciate some of the more potentially offensive bits, but other than that the reasoning is pretty solid. 
Last notes:  Although the author recommends that the book be read cover to cover, it doesn't have to be.  That's not how I've read it; I have used it as more of an encyclopedia, since that is how it is written.
I will also be referencing this book in later blog posts about logical fallacies, as it's kind of sparked an interest.

Signing off,
SM 

List #16--More Great Music

So, I'm back again with more good music:

• Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
• An emo classic loved by 12-year-olds everywhere.
• Actually very pretty if you ignore the vampire/werewolf/Twilight/special-snowflake/zombie/anime subtext that the whole Internet put on top of it.
• For those days when you feel like an emo teenage girl who needs a really good-looking werewolf to make her life complete.
• I'd prefer a good-looking detective if I were in that position myself, but that's just me.
• Warrior Concerto by the Glitch Mob
• Introducing violin dubstep.
• Making violin cool again.
• Taking over the world, going through your mind palace, and dancing all at once.
• Hungarian Dances No. 5 by Johannes Brahms
• Beautiful pretentious violin music.  
• My kind of thing. 
• Maybe your kind of thing. 
• This blog's kind of thing.

I didn't want to post too much more, because I covered nearly everything in the last music post.
Enjoy!

Signing off,
SM 

Book Review: I Spy by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick

This is, no kidding, one of the first deduction books I ever read.  Or more exactly, observation book, because there weren't a whole lot of conclusions to be made.  Just finding things.

Here's the basic info:
Title: I Spy by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick
Genre: Kids' puzzle/hidden object
Content Rating: 1

  You have one goal in I Spy: find all the things hidden in the images.  This is easier said than done, as the authors painstakingly created dioramas out of thousands of toys and objects just for this.  It's the visual equivalent of listening to a well-conducted orchestra or running your fingers through a bag of dry beans.
  There are multiple I Spy books, with themes such as fantasy, spooky night, island, etc.  Most of the time I spent "reading" them, if you could call it that, I didn't even look for the things in the pictures, I just stared at the pictures and took it all in.  I learned how to observe everything.  Deduction-wise, this is a 0% deduction book and a 100% observation book.  I highly recommend it for anybody working to develop a better eye for detail.  Other than that, there's little to say about these books other than...good luck searching!  That, and you will soon learn the feeling of "I found all the things but for some reason this one tennis ball is eluding me."  

List #15--Fun Summer Deduction Activities

It actually doesn't feel that long ago I put out Deduction #4: Summer Deductions, although it was about 11 months ago.  WoMD is, actually, a bit over a year old now!  I think I'm one of the few deduction blogs on this site that's made it this far.  (If you are a Blogspot deduction blogger and you have made it this far or farther and feel a need to correct me, please do so; I won't be offended.)

So, since it's summer where I am, here's a list of summer deduction activities:

1. Figuring out what different kinds of plants and animals are--Where I live, the weather is super sunny right now and all the plants are in full bloom, not to mention dozens of animals are running around.  Like, I saw a turtle in the middle of the street earlier today, not to mention squirrels everywhere. (The turtle was rescued from oncoming drivers by a friendly jogger.)  If you can obtain a field guide to your area, or even a printable .pdf (most American species), it's always fun to spend some time looking around at your natural surroundings, and it will increase your perception for detail.
2. People-watching during travel--Whether you're on vacation near or far, or even just in your hometown, it's always fun to watch people.  Observe beach activities, sports tournaments, or even just a community different from your own where you are traveling.
3. Family--If you're visiting family, look at their home decor a bit.  Maybe you never knew your aunt liked snails that much.  Naturally don't read their mail or anything like that, but take advantage of the opportunity to actually look at someone else's house, especially if you don't see them much.
4. Reading books--If you have a lot of free time on a plane or bus, try reading a book about deduction!  I will be reviewing a bunch soon and of course I also have that list (List #8).  Some people will probably look at you kind of funny for looking over "I Spy" puzzles on the bus, but hey, it's slightly less frustrating than Candy Crush Saga.
5. People-watching on the train/bus/plane--Anybody who's proposed that people should talk to people on the train is pretty much fighting a lost cause, because people have pretty much tried as hard as they can to not talk to each other on the train since trains were invented.  Currently, it's smartphones/Kindles/whatever but even before that people read books and newspapers and probably played with whatever the Industrial Revolution equivalent of a handheld Nintendo device was.  So if you're one of those 99% of people who doesn't want to talk to people in public but still wants to take a break from reading/smartphone/whatever, discreetly observe people.  I've seen quite a few good outfits on the Metro.
6. Going places that interest you--If you have any vacation time over summer, go to various places that you've always been curious about.  You know, like that museum in your town you've heard good things about or even some historic site a few miles out from a time period that interests you.  You can learn a lot about anything going to a new place, and who knows.  It could be useful one day.

That should be a good list to get you started.  Have a great summer!

Signing off,
SM

Forensic Science Topic #1--Organic Analysis

This is the first post in a series on Forensic Science, one of approximately 3 tracks of study I have on this site.  (Others being Deduction and Persuasion at the time being.  I plan to introduce Body Language sometime, as well as Memory).  My goal is to have as many tracks as possible, not to mention some as-yet uncategorized, unnumbered posts such as Mind Palace and Color Psychology in Persuasion.  Here at WoMD I definitely need to organize a bit better!

The first topic is Organic Analysis.  It is very important in detecting substances at a crime scene.  Organic analysis uses methods from chemistry and biology to find different substances in a compound or mixture and compare unidentified substances from a scene to known ones.

If you have any chemistry background, you will know a bit about matter and compounds.  For those unfamiliar, here is a simple description:  Elements and Compounds

From there, we have organic compounds.  An organic compound is any compound that contains the element carbon.  All others are inorganic, and are therefore analyzed using different methods.  Methods used for analyzing organic compounds include chromatography, electrophoresis, and spectrophotometry.

Chromatography separates mixtures into their different ingredients by bringing them from one place to another.  It is often used with unknown mixtures of illegal drugs.  The substance is attracted to something that stays in one place and is moved by another substance.

For example, gas chromatography moves one gas towards a liquid through another gas.  It takes place in a device called a gas chromatograph (x) which includes a detection device.  This detector creates a chromatogram, which is a graph comparing recorder response with time.

If an item is a solid, a process called pyrolysis will be used in order to decompose it into different gases.  For heat-sensitive items, high-performance liquid chromatography, which works at room temperature, is used.  Thin-layer chromatography, in which the substance is attracted across a solid plate, is used for solid and liquid items.

Electrophoresis is similar to thin-layer chromatography, only it uses electricity rather than a moving liquid to move the substance.  This is often used for blood, proteins, and DNA.  An electrophoresis process used to compare DNA samples for similarities and differences is called a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR for short.

Spectrophotometry measures the light absorption spectrum of a substance.  It is similar to chromatography in that the light absorption spectrum of a substance, like the distance traveled of a chromatographed substance, can be compared to a known substance.  A spectrometer is far more complex than a chromatography device and would take much longer to describe, so here's a more in-depth description: Spectrometer. Mass spectrometry allows for a completely unique pattern to be made for a substance while others are less exact.  Chromatography is often done before or alongside spectrophotometry.

Although spectrophotometry and electrophoresis require expensive lab equipment and probably some training to use, chromatography can be done at home.

At-Home Chromatography
What You Need:
-paper towels
-black pen or marker
-disposable cup
-water
Instructions: Fill the cup with water.  Tear the paper towel into strips, and use the marker to draw a line across the bottom of each one.  Hang each strip on the side of the cup so that it dips into the water.  Let it sit awhile.  Observe the paper towel strips.

(Though I don't like to give away all the results of a science experiment that I am instructing somebody on, it is important to know a bit of what will happen.  The black ink will separate into different sections.)  

That should be enough information for the first topic!  Next, I will likely cover inorganic analysis, as it seems to be the most rational transition.

Signing off,
SM

News and Views

Okay, that title sounded like some sort of watered-down political television programming.

But on to the views:
This blog has recently reached 616 views, 53 of which have been this week!  Readers, old and new, thank you for all of your support.  This may not seem like a ton of views but for a relatively new deduction blog this means a lot. : )

And of course, the news:
Since it's summer where I live, I will be spending a lot more time in the great outdoors!  I plan to put up some information about animal and plant identification because that may aid in deductions.  If you want to share any area-specific resources I would love your input!

Enjoy the weather!  I know it's not summer everywhere right now, but I love summer, winter, spring, and fall almost equally so all weather is good weather to me.*

Signing off,
SM
*Especially rain and fog, but that's not really season-specific.

Update and Intro to Book Reviews

I'm back!  I'm alive!  Miss me?
Okay, I did, like, disappear for a couple of months here.
Anyways, I should be back on schedule here; many of the big projects I've been spending time on will be finished soon.

So here's what you have to look forward to:
-Book reviews!  I have recently obtained a whole lot of books related to deduction, persuasion, psychology, and forensic science.  I will review them on this blog.

Now, some of my standard transparency/disclaimer stuff:

-Nobody is paying me to say anything about these books.  These authors do not even know that I am reading these books, much less reviewing them.  They could probably not care less what I say about these books because they have better things to worry about, like writing more books.

-If anybody ever does pay me to say anything about any of the books, gives me free copies (including advanced reading copies), or anything else that would add sufficient subjectivity to my reviewing, I will clearly write that.  After all, they are depending on me for advertising here if they're doing that.

-I do not necessarily endorse everything about a book, an author, and/or the author's other activities and books.  If an author writes/says/does/insinuates something in a book that somebody would consider significantly offensive, I will post that in the review.  I do not necessarily agree with anything an author says or does unless I say so.

-If you would like to purchase any of the books, I encourage you to get them from your local library or support your local independent bookstores.  I believe in giving back to the community and that's how I've gotten many of my favorite books.

That said, another important topic: forensic science!
I recently obtained a used forensic science textbook and am now curious and obsessed.  I will be posting some things about different processes, etc. used to obtain evidence.
Short(er) disclaimer:

-If you try anything at home, PAYOR.

-Read up on all equipment, chemicals, etc. before you try an experiment.

-I am not responsible for any forensic science experiments you do.

-I will be posting instructions and results of my experiments.  If you face a problem, particularly anything dangerous, please please please let me know so I can add a safety warning!

Stay tuned for more deductive reasoning!
Signing off,
SM

Colors on the Last Post

The colors on my music playlist are kind of messed up.  I tried to fix it, but it's not working.  I'll try again later.  Until then, just highlight any blank spaces so you can see the black letters.  Thank you for your patience!

-SM

List #14--Sherlie Moriarty's Ultimate Dark, Powerful, Somewhat Vainglorious Music Playlist (+ Ratings)

I've decided that this blog needs some music.  Not literally, as music can be distracting when you're reading, but some recommendations.  And with that I give you my ultimate dark, powerful, somewhat vainglorious music playlist.

Firstly, by "dark," I generally mean topics such as:

• asking intense questions of one's conscience
• loneliness
• revenge
• assassination
• simply setting a dark sort of mood, including instrumental pieces  

By "powerful," I mean stuff like

• intelligence
• taking over the world loving oneself to a great extent, sometimes at the expense of others
• power, obviously, including action adventury upbeat kinds of songs

As for "vainglorious," well, here's the definition from dictionary.com:

excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements, abilities, etc.; boastful vanity.

I am also introducing a Content Rating system that I will use for all media I recommend on this site.  I'm not going to talk about which are "best" or "coolest" or "greatest" because that is totally subjective, but I am rating these based on content some people may find unpleasant.  I'm also not going to say that you shouldn't listen to these things; I am only putting this here for people who wish to avoid certain topics or levels of intensity.

Since this is an all-ages site, I understand that some of you readers may have parents, guardians, and/or younger siblings who may have opinions about and/or listen to your music, and I do not want any of you to get in trouble because of this blog.

Here is the system, which I will also use on a couple of earlier posts and link to on the main page.  (Please note that references to movie and video game ratings for comparison are based on American ratings and may not reflect all systems.  I apologize for any confusion, this is just to give a better idea of content compared to other media.):

1--Equivalent to the "general audiences (G)" rating of movies, or the "everyone (E)" video game rating, these songs are appropriate for anybody to listen to.  They contain no bad language or adult themes and are the sort of thing one would hear on the radio.  They are also not very dark, just intellectual and self-esteem-filled.

2--Equivalent to the "parental guidance (PG)" rating of movies, or the "everyone 10+ (E-10+)" video game rating, these songs may have mild violent or sexual themes, but no bad language.  They are still the sort that would be heard on the radio, but have lyrics that some young children perhaps should not be exposed to.

3--Equivalent to the PG/PG-13+ rating of movies or the E-10+/Teen(T) video game rating, these songs have mild language and/or content in songs rated 2.  This means either milder words, or fewer instances, such as a "stronger" word only being included once or twice, outside of the chorus, title, or any repeated lines.  Some of these may have clean/explicit versions.

4--Equivalent to the PG-13+ rating of movies or the T rating of video games these songs have medium language, including stronger words and any words used in the chorus, title, or repeated lines.  They also may have more explicit "dark" themes.  These generally have clean and explicit versions to choose from. 

5--Similar to 4, these songs have more intense language, such as stronger words used more often, and themes that are much more sexual and/or violent.

6--The 6 rating is reserved for songs with explicit, very dark themes that may be triggering to some people and not recommended for anybody under the age of 13.

Now for the songs, organized by rating.  I am including short descriptions, because I personally like to know a bit about what I will be hearing when I see themed playlists and for further content purposes. The title will come first, then the artist name.

Rating 1--For the rating category that is the equivalent of the kiddie pool, it's actually some pretty good stuff.

• Oh No!--Marina and the Diamonds
• A celebration of self-esteem that also satirizes obsession with television.
• Not actually very dark.
• Music video is interesting.
• Skyfall--Adele
• Not truly "dark," but has a dark sort of mood and was in a James Bond movie that I haven't seen.
• Beethoven--Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• Exhilirating instrumental violin piece.
• To me it sounds kind of like the process of getting angry and empowered, but maybe that's just me.
• Waltz No. 2--Dmitri Shostakovich
• Instrumental waltz with a majestic feeling to it, with some definite dark undertones.
• This is the song that will play when I take over the world.
• I'm Alive--Shinedown
• A power/revenge song.
• Originally made for the Avengers superhero movie, but not included within it.
• I Speak Six Languages--The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Broadway Show)
• A girl is talking about all the great things she can do.
• This is a very humorous song, not dark at all, just intellectual!
• Everybody Loves Me--One Republic
• Again, not dark, just very self-esteem filled.

Rating 2--These are still pretty mild, but I don't recommend them for young kids.

•  Dance With the Devil--Breaking Benjamin
• This is dark in a very emotional but beautiful way, like much of Breaking Benjamin's music.
• Part of the reason this is on the 2 list is that I understand some people do not want to listen to a song with a title like "Dance with the Devil."  It is not actually demonic, as far as I know, but I understand people interpret these things in very different ways.
•  Whispers in the Dark--Skillet
• This song seems to be about relationships, one of which is possibly unhealthy, so it made the 2 list.
•  Heartbreaker--Pat Benatar
• This could almost go on the 1 list; it isn't all that dark, there's just a couple of lines here and there that put it here.
• Take Me Out--Franz Ferdinand
• A love song with assassination subtexts by a group named after an assassinated Austro-Hungarian archduke whose death sparked a world war.
• The video is pretty cool!  It's really well-animated and designed.
• I Don't Care--Fall Out Boy
• This is the definition of "action adventurey upbeat."  It's very much a self-esteem song, the kind that makes you want to run out and get revenge on some multinational corporation.
• There is not any bad language, though some of the lyrics, depending on interpretation, have a bit of an adult theme.
• Emperor's New Clothes--Panic! At the Disco
• This song is, in fact, based on the fairy tale of the same name.
• I just discovered this one, and it is basically the feeling of sitting on a throne while wearing the Crown Jewels (yes, the famous ones from England) and eating red velvet cake right after being released from jail.
• You're probably wondering if I, Queen Moriarty, have actually experienced what I described in the previous sentence...we don't talk about that.
• I Will Not Bow--Breaking Benjamin
• This one's pretty intense.  It's about shutting the world away and refusing to give in, with a really powerful chorus.
• So Cold--Breaking Benjamin
• Another deep emotional work by Ben Burnley, brilliant guitarist and cat lover.
• Secret--The Pierces
• This one just sounds really creepy.
• Paint It Black--The Rolling Stones
• Some American classic rock with a gothic twist.

Rating 3--Here's some mild language, ages 12+

• Villain--Theory of a Deadman
• This song should have been in the Despicable Me franchise somewhere, but those movies were made for 9-year-olds, and the one inappropriate word in here is pretty clear.
• This is more of a dark humor song than a very dark one.
•  Animal I Have Become--Three Days Grace
• A dark, loud conscience song.  Definitely a Three Days Grace classic.
•  Seven Nation Army/Sweet Dreams Mash-Up--The White Stripes/Eurythmics
• Both songs are good on their own, but the multitude of mash-ups of these two that I've found on YouTube and the like are pretty good.
• This is the feeling of planning a government break-in with your best friend, another thing we don't talk about.
•  Boulevard of Broken Dreams--Green Day
• At this point in time, in America, everyone at the approximate age of 10-12 has heard this song a ton of times on the radio, but if you pay attention to the lyrics, it's a relatable loneliness ballad.
• According to some source I can't remember, it is technically a ballad, which isn't quite how I'd describe it otherwise, but who cares.
• There is one bad word in here, although as long as you just skip over it or get a clean version, you should be alright.  
• I knew the tune of this song even before I knew the title, and if you've even been to America in the past ten years or so you probably know the tune, too.  I can't speak for its popularity elsewhere, but chances are if you've been on Earth in the past 10 years you know this tune.

Rating 4--A level up from 3...

• House of Wolves--My Chemical Romance
• This is a morally complicated conscience song.  It's really upbeat, danceable, and even singable...
• ...if you like singing about running around an ambulance and blood dripping down walls.  It's not dark enough for rating 5, half the people who listen to this song are 12, but it's...up there.
• You're Gonna Go Far Kid--The Offspring
• Another 12-year-old favorite.  However, the untrustworthy theme and the bad word that's in every chorus gives the whole thing a bit of an obnoxious flavor to a lot of people.
• This song has described my life for the past few years.
• Most of the people who like this song are nerds, anime fans, and anybody who's not popular and is therefore desiring of revenge.
• Let's Kill Tonight--Panic! At the Disco
• Another new discovery suggestive of murder.
• That feeling when you and all your consulting criminal friends decide to drive around in a convertible wearing dark sunglasses and shooting rubber squid at people on a summer night.
• Don't ask.
• When You're Evil--Voltaire
• There's actually no bad language, but there are constant references to demons and violence.
• It's actually fairly humorous, but it's not something one wants their little siblings hearing.
• This Ain't A Scene It's An Arms Race--Fall Out Boy
• For those days when you feel like the king of the world.
• Or queen, in my case.
• But I will still sing at the top of my lungs, "I'm a leadin' man, and the lies I weave are oh so intricate..."
• Definitely a self-esteem/power song.

Rating 5--Some Darker Territory

•  Don't Mess With Me--Temposhark
• Another recent discovery.
• This one I appreciate the sound of, but the lyrics are kind of disturbing.
• Sexual references that make me feel uncomfortable as somebody whose idea of a fun date is eating cake? Check!  Violence references that are just kinda scary?  Check!
• Something people under 13 shouldn't be listening to?  Check!
• It's worth a listen or few for the unique sound and feeling, but you're not missing much if you avoid it.

Rating 6--Really, I don't blame you for just avoiding this category.  Plenty of people listen to this stuff, but it is not appropriate for children and kind of disturbing.

• Innocence--Disturbed
• Okay, this is a serious one.
• This song is a commentary on world events, and it's very cleverly written, but also very intense.
• It's not sad intense, it's angry intense, without any bad language, but with references to real-world problems.
• This doesn't make it too serious for this list; however, it's not for everyone.

That's it for now.
I'll probably come up with more later, and you can suggest more in the comments; this is just what comes to mind now.

I am also applying the ratings to some earlier posts, so you may want to look back a bit if that's something that interests you.

Signing off,
SM  

Fun Stuff #1

So I've done it yet again.  I've had a long hiatus.  I'm sorry about this.  I know all of you want to read more blog.  But, I'm extremely busy doing stuff (like learning Danish, Irish, and French, not to mention rocket science, quantum physics, how to run the government, environmental science, marketing, and other such things), and it's been, ironically, hard to find things to write about recently.

So here's some random educational stuff that I recommend:
-Try making pneumonics as a memory device--like for the planets (My Very Elegant Mother Just Served Us Noodles) or whatever.  This is just a really useful skill.

-Look up OCEANS.  This is a commonly accepted system of personality classification that, in my opinion, is more flexible and easier to understand than others.  Knowing about these common personality traits is useful in understanding people and doing any sort of deduction/persuasion.

-Learn more about your country's government.  I am taking a course in American government and there's so much information I didn't know even though I've lived here my whole life.  It's just something I think everyone should know about, because the government's decisions have a great effect on citizens.

Anyway, that's it for now.

-SM

Deduction #9--What I've Learned as a Door-to-Door Salesperson

Hello!  It's been about a month since I last blogged.  Also known as, way too long.  I've been busy with a lot of things, including but not limited to rocket science, applying for minor government positions, and musical theatre.  Oh, and door-to-door sales.

So, for the past nine years, I have been selling products door-to-door for fundraisers.  It has been a huge part of my life and I have sold up to six hundred packages in a specific sale period.  This activity is also how I first got into deductive reasoning.  Here is what I have learned.  I put it into a category of its own, because there are a few different topics covered here.
"They" refers to the people living in a house.
What to Look For

• Cars 
• If more than one car is in a driveway, the house probably belongs to a couple or a family.
• This also means one or more person is probably home.
• An empty driveway suggests they are not home.
• An empty driveway, but with a garage, means they are either not home or keep one or more vehicles in a garage.
• A driveway that has one car and a long streak of dirt and dust next to it indicates that they have more than one car.
• Pets
• When knocking on a door, you may hear a dog barking.  This is fairly self-explanatory.
• If you hear some shuffling noises accompanying the dog barking, and the dog barks get quieter, a person is trying to calm the dog.
• If there are blinds covering up a tall window next to the door, and the blinds towards the bottom seem bent, they may have a dog or cat that pushes up against the window to try to see out.
• Paw prints in mud, snow, dirt, or printed on cement in water will tell you the size of a dog.
• Pet toys and structures like cat trees will tell you what type of pet they have.
• Some people put stickers on their doors or windows telling what types of pets they have so firefighters and other public safety officials know to protect the animals in case of emergency.
• Small cages with bars indicate mice, rats, hamsters, birds, or gerbils.
• Larger cages indicate chinchillas, guinea pigs, birds, or rabbits.
• Tanks without water indicate lizards, frogs, snakes, hermit crabs, or sometimes small rodents like mice, rats, hamsters, or gerbils.
• Tanks filled with water indicate aquatic animals, such as fish and some invertebrates.
• Look for fur on anything.
• Plants
• Perfect circles on cement that are darker or lighter than the cement itself indicate that a plant pot once sat there.
• If there are a lot of plants in the yard, evenly arranged and in groups, the person is most likely a gardener.
• Look for shovels, trowels, knee pads, thick gloves, hoses, watering cans, plant pots, and other indications that the person is a gardener.
• If the plants have little labels on them, the person is most likely very organized.
•  Kids
• Look for shoes by the door.  Smaller ones suggest kids.
• Also look at toys in the yard.  Are they for older kids or younger kids?
• Girls are more likely to have toys in "feminine" colors like pink or purple, but this isn't a hard-and-fast rule.  Girls often have toys in other colors, too, and there are plenty of boys who like pink and purple.  So look at colors, but don't automatically assume gender.  A mix of colors probably suggests more than one kid, and/or a kid with various interests.
• Bends in the blinds at the middle level suggest a small child trying to look through, as do fingerprints or noseprints on windows.  Kids really will press their faces to the window sometimes!
• Look for characters that recur.  The kid(s) probably like that show or movie.

That's it for now!  Remember, don't go on people's property without their permission, PAYOR and use your best judgement.
Signing off,
SM

List #13--10 Interesting Branches of Psychology

I've decided to continue my branches of science series, because as a deductionist, it's good to know a bit from all the branches of science...and there are a LOT of them.
This week it's psychology, a particularly relevant topic.

1. Abnormal psychology--The psychology of abnormal behavior that psychotherapists and counselors are often involved in.
2. Biopsychology--Similar to neuroscience, although about how the brain affects behavior as opposed to the simple structure and workings of the brain.
3. Comparative psychology--Comparing psychology of humans vs. other animals.  Probably a pretty fun job, if you get to work with cute animals all the time.
4. Educational psychology--The official job of psychologists who work in schools, talking to students about their problems and the like.
5. Cognitive psychology--The psychology of the ways people think, like problem solving, attention, making decisions, and other mental processes.
6. Experimental psychology--Psychological research and experimentation, using the scientific method.
7. Forensic psychology--The relationship between psychology and the law.  Lots of work with both criminals and victims.
8. Personality psychology--The study of what makes people unique, regarding feelings, behavior, and such.
9. Social psychology--Psychology that focuses on human interaction.
10. Health psychology--Relationships between biology, psychology, disease, and health in general.

This site has a lot of information: Branches of Psychology on About.com
(Note:  This site is not mine.
Many of these, especially #1, #4, #7, and #9, can be used in making deductions.

Signing off,
SM 

Deduction Challenge #3--My Shopping List

Here's another deduction challenge for you!  I was doing this list thing where I make a bunch of lists about random stuff because it's fun.  One of them was a list of random things that I'm going to get soon.  I looked it over and realized that a lot could be deduced about me from this.

Sherlie Moriarty's Shopping List

• pens
• mechanical pencil lead
• robot parts
• sheet protectors
• casting resin
• sheet music
• stationery
• dog treats
• duct tape
• stickers
• bulk pack of plastic goldfish
• fish food
• notebooks

Let me know what you deduce in the comments.

Signing off,
SM

Deduction Challenge #2-- Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I hope all of you readers had a great 2015.  Thanks for checking out the blog in its first 7-8 months.

Here are my New Year's Resolutions, if you're curious:

• I will finally get organized.  This includes getting all of the weird science experiments that I haven't touched for weeks out of my house, building my mind palace to be bigger and better, and actually writing down all of my many appointments with people so I don't have to waste mental energy making silly mnemonics all the time.
• I will not worry about people's self-imposed problems.  These include "problems" such as
• being in trouble for not doing things they are responsible for
• having to act like adults when they offend others, apologizing and thinking about their actions instead of blaming whoever they offended for overreacting 
• other people finding out the truth after they've blatantly lied to them
• any other such things that people expect will elicit my compassion for some irrational reason.
• I will be more assertive.  Next time that werewolf tries to kill me and we happen to be next to a cliff, I will push him over into the mouth of the great white shark conveniently lurking below rather than making a weak effort with my laser gun and only escaping because somebody from my network owed me a favor and incapacitated the werewolf momentarily, saving me with her helicopter.
• I will make people more aware of my intelligence so they take what I say seriously.  Not that I'm not already a world-renowned expert, but I'll just try to be more of a world-renowned expert.
• I'll try to understand other people's perspectives better.  I don't think I need to explain why this is a good idea; it's just part of life.
• I will be more persuasive.  Also self-explanatory.
• Last but not least, I will update this blog more!  If you're reading this, no matter how observant you are, you can see why this is a good idea.

If you make any deductions about me from this list, please tell me in the comments below.

Signing off,
SM 

Deduction #8--The Ultimate Guide to Deducing Holiday Presents

I know I've mentioned deducing what your presents are a few times, in a couple of lists, but I never really wrote much about it.  Here's the process.  I myself celebrate Christmas, which generally utilizes much wrapping paper, tissue paper, bags, boxes, and other sorts of coverings, partially due to the whole commercialization of the holiday.  To my understanding, this is not the norm in all holiday celebrations, cultures, or families, and there are many variations in wrapping methods, so I will try to include as many variations as I know of.

What to Look For

• It should be fairly easy to discern whether the object is a box or not.  If it is a box, hold tight and stay tuned.
• If it is not a box, squeeze it gently.  If it is hard, you should probably stop squeezing.  If it is soft, it is probably clothing or some other fabric product.
• If it is hard, it may be metal or glass.  Try to bend it gently.  It may be cardboard or plastic packaging.  If there seems to be friction, it may be rubber.  If it resists, you should probably stop bending.
• If there is a part of the paper that is not directly on top of the object, it is an irregularly-shaped present, probably with some sort of packaging.  An example could be a USB drive in plastic clamshell packaging.  
• If you find out that it is clamshell packaging, I feel sorry for you and encourage you get a good pair of scissors or another cutting implement so you can cut through the cardboard and zipties while hopefully not slicing your skin open.
• Thin tissue paper
• Most of the same stuff as shiny paper, only easier to accidentally stick your finger through during the squeezing process.
• Box
• Shake the box.  Do you hear metallic noises?  Probably metal.  If you don't hear anything moving around, it's probably one object. 
• If you hear objects hitting against each other, there is more than one physical object.
• If you hear general "clunking" noises, there is one object, but it does not fill up the whole box and there is little or no extra wrapping, such as tissue, surrounding it.
• If you hear things rolling around, there is a sphere or cylinder of some sort. 
• If something seems to be bouncing (not something I've experienced, but it's possible), it is probably a rubber ball. 
• Fabric
• Look at what the fabric is after you use the shiny wrapping paper techniques.  It could be a napkin, dish towel, or article of clothing that is also intended to be a gift to you.

That's all I can think of right now.
Signing off,
SM