Mediated Humanities

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In addition to touching on synchronized ovulation, metrosexual baboons, and Picasso’s Guernica, Robert Sapolsky has some interesting insights about what drives human behavior. He suggests, for example, that dopamine is not just about reward but about working with the anticipation of reward. What increases dopamine levels more than anything? The “maybe” that comes with the work between the signal and the reward. The thought that one might not get the reward for the work actually helps drive the work. The differences between humans and primates are how long we can hang on between the signal and the reward; the crazy complexity of the work that we can get done in that time; and how we can be driven by contradiction.

Skip the intro.

There’s a big part of me that wants to be skeptical about the “sustainability” of bamboo bikes made with metal components and resin. That same part wants to suggest that exporting the bike-making techniques to other countries is just a way for privileged Brooklyn hipsters to travel the world under the guise of “making a difference.” That part of me is kind of an ass who should STFU.

The better part of me knows that Bamboo Bike Studio has support from credible partners, mad skills, and an ecological understanding of problem solving. The bamboo bike deal is pretty well thought out and if the ass part of me (or you) needs more convincing that this is not greenwashing, there’s even a white paper (pdf).

I updated my wordpress blog, which actually meant reverting to the default theme w/ very light customization. No muss, no fuss, tweets included, and I can post from my iPod. But I’m not sure why I would post rather than tweet since they both go here. I guess this is longer than a tweet.