dan collier

As part of my job, I read a fair number of medical abstracts and occassionally an article. The vast majority of them read like the author was the one subjected to unusual but assuredly benign, if not curative, experimental treatments. But a well done abstract delivers more information in a limited space than any other documentation I’ve read. I’m trying to work it into my new model for business and project documentation.

I thought the abstract below was noteworty, but for content over style. It is missing the formula I’m growing to love: Background, Objectives/Design, Materials/Participants/Data Sources, Methods, Results, Conclusions. What it does have is the promise of a little real data on why we do what we do.

Too good to be true? The handicap of high socio-economic status in attractive males

Personality and Individual Differences. 15 November 2006.
Simon Chua, Romy Hardakerb, John E. Lycett

Abstract

Empirical evidence concerning human mate-choice preferences suggests that females should select partners on the basis of cues to genetic quality and/or ability to contribute resources to childcare. Paradoxically, while high levels of both factors should be an attractive combination to females, they might also dissuade females from entering into a relationship with such males since, by definition, they are likely to be highly attractive to other females, and therefore might increase the likelihood that such a male may cheat or desert the relationship. If so, females should be wary of entering into long-term relationships with physically attractive, high status males as compared with males of lower physical attractiveness or status. We asked females to rate a number of different males in terms of attractiveness as a long-term partner. Females were presented with attractive, average and unattractive male faces paired with lonely-hearts advertisements implying high, medium or low socio-economic status. Highest ratings were consistently given to attractive males of medium status rather than high status. We suggest that females see physically attractive, high status males as being more likely to pursue a mating strategy rather than parenting strategy. Under particular circumstances, high socio-economic status in males can be subtly counter-productive in terms of attractiveness as a long-term partner.

Keywords: Mate choice; Attractiveness; Infidelity; Humans

If that’s not enough myth-busting for you, there was this story about the wives-tale that pregnant woman with heartburn have babies with more hair. It’s true. Let me know if you care enough to read the articles.

Craig Ferguson’s take on alcoholism, Britney, Anna Nicole, personal responsibility and comedic schadenfreude. A heart felt 15 minute monologue from the Late Late Show.

The Awakening of Hanoi: Modern art in the Vietnamese capital is the topic of this NYTimes.com travel article.

Jaxon took this picture. I’ve been looked at it frequently for months and I really like it. I’ll have to get around to posting more of the kids stuff.As best I can tell, it is a picture out our slider door around sunset that captures a partial reflection of the inside. To capture as much sky as is present, he was close to the door and the figures in the picture are at least 5 feet behind him.Or it could be something else entirely, maybe really slow shutter speed and a quick turn? Digital interference? Fnord? I don’t know. I like it. Taken Monday, December 04, 2006, 5:43:06 PM