Research Perspectives / Public Policy / Social Science
The Braess Paradox | Psychological Impact of I35W Bridge Collapse on Driving Behavior | SDP169
[Podcast] WHAT IS THE BRAESS PARADOX? Braess’ Paradox states that, counterintuitively, adding a road to a road network can slow down overall traffic through it. The paradox was discovered in 1968 by German mathematician Dietrich Braess as he examined humans driving behavior. At the root of this paradox is that every driver thinks for themselves…
Read MoreTruckers Getting Trounced | Essentially Forgotten Freight Haulers | Guest Jonathan Burger | SDP168
[Podcast] In March 2020, you awoke to find that the government deemed you essential or nonessential. Over-the-road (OTR) haulers, or truck drivers, were deemed essential. But as the arrival of healthcare workers was celebrated with fire engine parades, truck drivers were spared recognition and told to shift into overdrive and deal with peeled back restrictions,…
Read MoreCommunity Civic Organizations Vanishing | Jaycees, Lions, Kiwanis, & Rotary Fading Fast | SDP167
[Podcast] Doc calls our attention to the strange disappearance of civic organizations in America and the subsequent impact on youth safety and community safety. Peaking in the 1960s, tiny villages and big cities bustled with volunteers of all ages to build parks, serve as crossing guards, hold free throw shooting contests for kids, work voting…
Read MoreDo Sports Keep Kids Out Of Trouble? | How About E-Sports? | What the Research Says | SDP 166
[Podcast] Doc was recently interviewed by a large-market news company assembling a documentary about youth violence directed at adults. Ultimately, the question of “What can be done to prevent this?” was asked. A staunch proponent of increasing funding, research, and training on threat identification and reporting, Dr. Perrodin delivered his versed spell-binder on the matter.…
Read More3D Printing | The Future Has Arrived | 3D Printers For Every Home | 3D Printing in Disasters | Guest flyingRich | SDP165
[Podcast] When his pool vacuum cleaner’s bearings failed, a Florida man didn’t bolt to Amazon to order an expensive replacement vacuum (in the slight chance it was in stock). Instead, he found open source code for a similar bearing, modified it, and then programmed his home 3D printer to make a new bearing. With the…
Read MoreLoki the Chaos God | Blaming the Norse Mythology Trickster Straw Man for Life’s Woes | SDP164
[Podcast] Doc discusses the mythical Loki, it’s societal role over time, and our present-day tendency to offload responsibility and accountability to Loki. In addition, Doc also examines The Straw Man Fallacy, which is often found lurking in the same shadows as the Loki. DIRECT LINK to MP3 of this Episode: https://tinyurl.com/SDP164-AUDIO WHAT IS LOKI? Loki is…
Read MoreNew CDC K-12 Changes | Test to Stay for Schools | What You Should Know About Consent | SDP163
[PODCAST] On December 17, 2021, the CDC changed its guidance for students in schools who have been “close contacts” to persons that have tested positive for COVID-19. In this episode, Doc analyzes the new guidance, compares it to previous guidance, unpacks how contact tracing works in schools, and also takes a macro-look at overall immunization…
Read MoreEntropy of Structures and Systems | The New Fire Engine Effect | SDP159
[Podcast] Entropy is the gradual decline into disorder. An example of entropy is a melting ice cube. Water molecules are fixed and ordered in the cube. As it melts, the molecules become free to move and become independent and therefore become disordered. The second law of thermodynamics is that all things lead to entropy –…
Read MoreCOVID Chaos | Update on Parents Suing School Districts | Special Guest Attorney Lisa Linney | SDP157
[Podcast] The issue of masks and other COVID-19 precaution strategies in schools has become contentious, sparking a firestorm of lawsuits. Special guest Attorney Lisa Linney helps us understand behind-the-scenes strategizing when a parent sues a school district over insufficient virus mitigation protocols. What is the strongest argument for the plaintiff? Beyond the parent and the…
Read MoreJIT Manufacturing Ceding To 3D Printing | Supply Chain Experiencing Disruptive Transition | SDP156
[Podcast] One lesser-mentioned reason for the sustained and worsening supply chain disruption is that manufacturing has entered the “transfer portal” between JIT and 3D printing. In other words, an old technology is being usurped by a new technology. The pandemic hastened the process and the question centered on in this episode is how the baton…
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