1. The Devil's Advocate

Time Stamp: 8:26

* Prayer is Prevarication Ritual is Reality - Part 2* 02 October, XLVI A.S. - Part 1 (9 years ago)* Prevarication is a sneaky lie* Mass ritual in Jerusalem at the wailing wall and getting rain* I am less concerned about proving the fallacies of other religions than I once was. I don’t care if people believe in prayer and pray to save me.* I take the intention and use it as a benefit.* People also pray when they feel like something is out of their control, and they need help from a 'higher power.'* A 2011 study found prayer can help reduce anger and aggression.http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1010.259&rep=rep1&type=pdf* Another study found that when dating and married partners prayed for one another, they tended to be less aggressive and more inclined to forgive.https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-21606-001* Why Rituals Workhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-rituals-work/* even simple rituals can be extremely effective. Rituals performed after experiencing losses do alleviate grief, and rituals performed before high-pressure tasks do in fact reduce anxiety and increase people’s confidence.* rituals appear to benefit even people who claim not to believe that rituals work* The outcome of the ritual isn’t as important as the act of the ritual itself to support future action.* We use the vigor gained from ritual to take further control of our lives* Whether you believe in prayer or ritual is not as important than realizing their potential benefits* Do what works for you, and ignore the rest.

2. The infernal Informant

Time Stamp: 26:24

* Trump signs executive actions after stimulus talks break down on Capitol Hillhttps://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/politics/trump-executive-order-stimulus/index.html* President Donald Trump tried to assert executive power by signing four actions on coronavirus relief Saturday, one of which will provide as much as $400 in enhanced unemployment benefits after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach an agreement on a stimulus bill this week.* But that memorandum on enhanced unemployment benefits has more strings attached than the White House acknowledged and is seen as a cumbersome effort that may not help a lot of the unemployed.* The other three actions he signed include a memorandum on a payroll tax holiday for Americans earning less than $100,000 a year, an executive order on "assistance to renters and homeowners" and a memorandum on deferring student loan payments.* A state must agree to enter into a financial arrangement with the federal government for any unemployed person living there to get any of the additional benefits. And the federal government is requiring states to pick up the tab for 25% (or $100) of the $400 additional benefit each person may able to receive weekly in additional aid.* But when asked about the President's executive action asking states to pay 25% of the $400 unemployment relief, an official from a northeastern state run by a Democ...