The Escapist - the reality of fantasy games

A web page devoted to the betterment of tabletop role-playing games and the education of the public and media of their benefits to society. Features sections on roleplaying with kids, promoting RPGs in the library and classroom, gaming and philanthropy, and much more. Continue reading ...

How We Decide

How We Decide
Ever wonder how it is that we make the choices we do? How does the brain process a decision, be it the split-second or the month-long rumination variety? Why did you choose that particular major? When you’re halfway across the street and a car is speeding toward mortal you, do you run across [...]

Ever wonder how it is that we make the choices we do? How does the brain process a decision, be it the split-second or the month-long rumination variety? Why did you choose that particular major? When you’re halfway across the street and a car is speeding toward mortal you, do you run across or turn back? Which first-date ensemble to wear, the obviously smoking hot one, or the more subtly smoking hot one? Paper or plastic? Large, Extra Large, Ridiculous, American, or Gigantic? Public or private? Which house should you buy, the one with enough bedrooms or the one with the amazing view?

Next month Jonah Lehrer’s newest book, How We Decide, comes out. Reading it will shed some light on the fascinating process that is human decision-making; how we make the choices we do, and how we can learn from the less-than-stellar ones and make better choices next time. Sometimes understanding the science behind it all helps.

A few reviews:

“Starred Review. Lehrer is a delight to read, and this is a fascinating book (some of which appeared recently, in a slightly different form, in the New Yorker) that will help everyone better understand themselves and their decision making.” - Publishers Weekly.

“Over the past two decades, research in neuroscience and behavioral economics has revolutionized our understanding of human decision-making. Jonah Lehrer brings it all together in this insightful and enjoyable book, giving readers the information they need to make the smartest decisions.” - Antonio Damasio, author of Descartes’ Error and Looking for Spinoza.

“An inviting, high-velocity ride through our most treasured mental act-deciding. This is truly one of the most accessible and richly-informed books on human choice. It’s a must read for anyone interested in the human mind and how cutting-edge research changes the way we think about ourselves. A marvelous success.” - Read Montague, Brown Foundation Professor of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine.

Posted by Alexa Harrington

Paul Andrew's E-Learning Resources Guide

Paul Andrew's E-Learning Resources Guide
This is another useful compilation of e-learning resources, well-organized and thoughtfully selected. ____JH (Thanks to OL Daily for the citation.)

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"On this site you will find my favourite links to free on-line services that allow you to provide your students with enhanced learning opportunities which you can then embed into, or link from, your school/college/university's website, course blog or VLE/MLE.

For a site/service to be included here it must be:

• Free
• Easy to use
• Produce high quality resources that can be used on any web enabled platform

Sites & services are arranged into the categories that you can see in the navigation menu the on the left, please click on one to get started.

Alternatively you can search this site using the search box at the top right of each page or click here to access the Sitemap."

Gov. Corzine to NJ mayors: Expect less from state

In the bluntest terms he has used so far to convey next year's doomsday budget proposal, New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Wednesday told dozens of municipal mayors to expect less aid from the state -- though he failed to say how much the aid pool would shrink. Read the rest ...