Wasting Time for Science

                              Gordon Studer

Are you aware that your sleeping position can reveal a lot about your personality? If you said, "No, that is a load of crap," you are correct! Still, this kind of nonsense not only clogs the Internet, it actually takes up the time of some "important" people like "doctors" and "research scientists" who think it matters. For example, in a lead story on AOL today, an "expert" named Dr. Kevin Campbell asserts that, "according to a study of 1,000 people out of Great Britain, if you sleep in the fetal position you are potentially shy and sensitive." Those who sleep with their legs slightly bent and their arms tucked under their pillow are often "suspicious, always have a plan, always up to something." It goes on.....

Okay, first of all it's Great Britain. They have a Queen who lives in a castle guarded by soldiers in funny costumes who cannot move or speak. Secondly, studies of no value to anyone are done for every little thing, and many people are actually paid to do them. In fact, our very own Pentagon was inundated with so many studies in 2010 that it commissioned a study to determine how much it cost to produce all those studies. (Last sentence worth a re-read.)

Here are just a few of the results of time and money wasted in the name of scientific research:
A total of 15,008 couples were observed holding hands in public. Across differences in height, age, hand preference, ethnicity, culture, and sex of the initiator, men were significantly more likely than women to have the uppermost hand.”

Elephants have now joined apes and dolphins in being part of a small group of animals that are able to recognize themselves in the mirror.  

Fenugreek is the overall favorite flavor of horses, followed by banana, cherry, rosemary, and cumin. Carrot came in a mere sixth, trailed by peppermint and oregano."

 

Fleas on dogs and cats can reach different heights. The highest jump was 25cm for a dog flea and 17cm for a cat flea. 

 

The length of a man's ring finger is linked to facial attractiveness. This is known as "2D: 4D," which is a ratio that compares the length of a man's right index finger and his ring finger. 

If you want more nonsense, just go Google it--the lists are endless, and will give you lots to read. Before you know it, it's lunchtime! And don't feel bad about doing it: A Pew Research study found that 86% of people go online for no good reason.