We Have Concerns

A new article about the phenomenon of "phantom" phone notifications - those strange moments when you senses a vibration from your cell phone that didn't actually happen - has Jeff ranting on the crazy thoughts that such sensations evoke, and Anthony hearing voices.  Is technology making us crazy, or have alerts been messing with the human mind since the beginning of time? Enjoying the show? Review us on iTunes! It really helps out rating and ranking:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Article:  http://boingboing.net/2014/08/22/feeling-the-buzz-the-weird-tr.html

In an attempt to better understand pop music, Dr. Lior Shamir created an algorithm that can correctly identify and track the Beatles artistic output over the evolution of their career.  Now, the same technology is being used to predict whether songs, movies, and other entertainment will be popular, and could even replace creators altogether. Jeff is worried that an equation will never have the soul required to create true beauty, while Anthony is convinced all art can be reduced to math.     Support us on Patreon!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns   Jeff on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/acarboni   Article:  http://www.fastcolabs.com/3034237/this-is-going-to-change-how-you-listen-to-music-forever

Across all cultures and geographies, humans scrunch up their faces in the exact same way when they are angry, and a new article examines several possible evolutionary explanations for the consistency.  One theory is that older people are more intimidating, but Anthony is ready to fight any older person he meets.  Jeff admits to getting angry... and you wouldn't like him when he's angry.   Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns   Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni   Origns of the Anger Face:  http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/the-origins-of-the-anger-face/379475/   We Only Have Four Facial Expressions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW0PaKOXxQI   Village Designed Just For People with Dementia: http://gizmodo.com/inside-an-amazing-village-designed-just-for-people-with-1526062373

Jeff found an article in the Atlantic that posits that a certain type of negative thinking, called defensive pessimism, might actually be more conducive to productivity and well-being than thinking positively.  Anthony, of course, is all over this idea, and calls it pragmatic.  Could expecting the worst actually be beneficial?  What about if you're seven years old?   Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns   Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni   This show is entirely listener supported. See how you can help on our Patreon page:  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns   Article:  http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/dont-think-positively/379993/

Anthony found an article explaining how astronomers gussy up space photography to convey the scope and beauty of the cosmos, and now he has to break it to Jeff that every image he's ever seen of the galaxy isn't really as rich and vibrant as depicted.  Is it important for science to be strictly accurate, or does artistic license play into scientific method? This show is entirely supported by listeners like you! Please visit Patreon to find out how!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, why not take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen? Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://www.themarysue.com/how-space-images-are-made/

Researchers have now successfully transferred words from one conscious mind to another over long distances... is a sentence that is technically true, but the details of how they did it reveal that true telepathy is still a long way off.  That doesn't stop Anthony and Jeff from proposing ways real telepathic communication could be great and/or terrible.  Who needs the Apple Watch when you've got a brain-to-brain interface! This show is entirely supported by listeners like you! Please visit Patreon to find out how!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, why not take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen? Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://www.vox.com/2014/9/7/6115573/telepathy-brain-communication-EEG-TMS

Cooking a Chinese delicacy, a chef in Guangdong province died when the head of a cobra he was preparing bit his hand - long after it had been severed from its body.  This freak accident has Jeff and Anthony pondering the safety procedures necessary for serving venomous snakes in a restaurant, the weirdest foods they've eaten, and, of course, GI Joe. This show is entirely supported by listeners like you! Please visit Patreon to find out how!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, why not take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen? Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2732523/Chef-dies-spitting-cobra-cooking-bit-hand-20-minutes-cut-head-off.html  

A museum in Japan devoted entirely to mayonnaise prompts Anthony and Jeff to discuss the proper ways to consume condiments, the joys of seeing mundane "attractions", and the usefulness of obsession.  Also, Indiana Jones shows up. If you like the show, support us on Patreon!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni This week's story:  http://kotaku.com/of-course-japan-has-a-mayonnaise-museum-1626833662

An article about how one Chinese gamer turned his "gaming addiction" into a profitable business prompts Anthony and Jeff to discuss dreams, responsibility, passion, and choosing the right career.  Also, Sir Patrick Stewart's hidden love of crude oil. This show is entirely supported by listeners like you! Please visit Patreon to find out how!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, why not take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen? Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://kotaku.com/how-one-gamer-went-from-addict-to-entrepreneur-1626410573

There is evidence to suggest that a microbe that lives inside the human stomache may be the key to ending deadly peanut allergies.  Indeed, the microbiome that each of us carries around all the time may have far more to do with our physical and mental health than previously realized.  This makes Anthony and Jeff think twice about who they'd like to share bacteria with, and how exactly these microbes are getting into our bodies. Hey! If you’re enjoying the show please consider supporting it on Patreon!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns You could also take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://gizmodo.com/a-gut-microbe-could-be-the-key-to-stopping-peanut-aller-1626666964

Several high profile colleges have teamed up to create a universal index of basic knowledge for robots.  The theory is that robot brains will need to know how to process even the most elementary interactions with everyday objects, and one consolidated resource for this information could be used in all future robot AI. How are they doing it?  Stock photos and YouTube. Anthony just hopes the plans include robot dogs, while Jeff worries that this may lead to a world of Minecraft-addicted robots.   Your support makes this show possible.  Please visit Patreon to find out more!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/25/robo-brain/?ncid=rss_truncated  

Plug your email address into a particular part of Google and you'll see a map of everywhere you (and your smartphone) have been in the last month.  Anthony isn't surprised and thinks anyone who is worried must be 70 years old.  Jeff envisions a world of massive amounts of searchable history of your life - a giant online diary.  Who's naive and who's paranoid?  Is this kind of record keeping useful, or will it lead to the subjugation of the public? Your support makes this show possible.  Please visit Patreon to find out more!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here’s the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://junkee.com/google-maps-has-been-tracking-your-every-move-and-theres-a-website-to-prove-it/39639#BJBHDg2uRrbbJsIS.0

When a monkey grabbed his camera in Indonesia, snapped the perfect selfie, and the photo went viral, British photojournalist David Slater assumed he'd make a pretty penny from the iconic image.  But the in a 1,222 page report, the US Copyright Office just announced that any picture taken by an animal, plant, or deity is cannot be owned by man.  This makes Anthony and Jeff wonder what kind of crazy photography is going on inside the US Copyright Office. Support the show on Patreon!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/08/monkeys-selfie-cannot-be-copyrighted-us-regulators-say/

Researchers in California are planning to treat Alzheimer patients by replacing their blood with blood of young people.  Even crazier, there is reason to believe it may work, since old mice have become healthier and more youthful when their circulatory systems carried the blood of younger mice.  This, combined with the story of a jellyfish that can reverse its aging process when sick or injured, has Anthony and Jeff pondering the possibility of immortality.  That, and the inevitable vampire grandpas who'll be stealing young blood to live forever. PATREON!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Articles:  http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329831.400-young-blood-to-be-used-in-ultimate-rejuvenation-trial.html?cmpid=RSS%7CNSNS%7C2012-GLOBAL%7Conline-new

A writer for Wired clicked 'like' on every single article, update, or advertisement that Facebook presented to him over the course of two days, and described what it did to his feed. It turns out, the algorithm can go pretty wild if you're willing to follow it down the rabbit hole of thumbs up.  This leads Anthony to rail against social media and socializing in general, and Jeff to wonder what it means to be a machine. Support us on Patreon!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni Articles sent in by Sam Nolan:  http://www.wired.com/2014/08/i-liked-everything-i-saw-on-facebook-for-two-days-heres-what-it-did-to-me/   and Eric Trapp:  http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/08/hate-facebook-or-your-life.html

The "impossible" propulsion drive, which uses microwaves and invisible matter to theoretically power space travel - and which seems to violate the laws of physics, has actually been validated by NASA.  This causes Jeff to go bananas, dreaming of a fantasy sci-fi future in his own lifetime and... wait for it... HOVERBOARDS.  Anthony is not having any of it.   Hey! If you're enjoying the show, consider supporting us on Patreon!  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns   Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni   Article sent in by Dustin Lakin:  http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-07/31/nasa-validates-impossible-space-drive

Humans controlling waterways by building dams has caused major problems for salmon, who must return to fresh water to breed. But a new company - Whooshh Innovations (not making that up) - has developed a better way to help salmon get upstream: a giant salmon cannon.  Anthony thinks this is the perfect Rube Goldberg solution to the problem, while Jeff worries about a country that solves every problem by turning things into guns. HEY LOOK IT'S OUR PATREON! Help support the show! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni Watch the Salmon Cannon in Action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kICS32kady4 Go thank Will Sinclair for suggesting today's story! http://twitter.com/sinclairwill

Researchers have determined that individual ant colonies have their own distinct personalities, and that these personalities are shaped by their environments.  This leads Jeff and Anthony to wonder if all animals have personality, and if humans might have personalities that are shaped by their environments, too.  Also, only eat animals that are dicks. Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns   Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28658268

Fossils discovered in the Antarctic reveal a penguin that reached the approximate size of Lebron James, 6'8 and 250 pounds.  That's a big penguin.  Jeff and Anthony try to figure out exactly how they would defeat such a creature in an ice-fight at the top of the food chain. Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni Article:  http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/giant-6-foot-8-penguin-discovered-in-antarctica  

A woman on Reddit discovered that her husband had been leaving vile comments on web sites, so she kicked him out of the house.  Anthony and Jeff celebrate this principled woman, discuss the nature of internet trolls, and examine what constitutes an online dealbreaker. Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's horrible story:  http://www.themarysue.com/woman-discovers-husband-is-internet-troll/