Links For November

“Several studies have indicated that, for men, regular blood donation results in a massive reduction in heart attack.” New idea for reducing heart disease: introduce vampires into the population.

Google’s targeted advertising is dumber than you expect. According to that page, my main interests are banking and makeup, which makes it sound like I’m planning a heist.

“there is a negative correlation between trading profits and the superstition index. We find that these losses arise from poor trades at nearly all price points for a superstitious trader … suggesting that superstition may be a symptom of a general cognitive disability in making financial decisions”

Should you believe that last link? “Echoing a recent disturbing conclusion in the medical literature, we argue that most claimed research findings in financial economics are likely false.” (via The Money Illusion)

An economist watches a Disney movie.

In the United States, if you move from making 8 thousand dollars a year to around ~23,000 dollars, your marginal tax rate on the income between is around 66%, and sometimes as high as 95%.

Speaking of which: How corrupt is your government? The corruption perception index.

Drunks are more likely to make utilitarian decisions in moral dilemmas. Maybe Canada’s strong showing on the corruption index is thanks to Rob Ford’s alcoholism.

And while we’re on the subject of scientific findings that sound implausible: Social science is a ghetto. (via gwern)

So, cooking pasta, allowing it to cool, and then reheating it makes it healthier. (Speculative-ish.)

Pew Poll finds that men are more likely than women to be harassed online. PBS faithfully reports the findings with, “Pew: Women Suffering Online Harassment Worse Than Men.” (via SlateStarCodex)

When it comes to running and foot strike — that is, where one’s foot first meets the pavement — there is incredible diversity, even among Olympians. So just do whatever you want.