University of Cincinnati marketing professor James Kellaris has coined a new term for the songs that often get stuck and people's heads. He calls them "earworms." Kellaris began studying the phenomenon in 2000, and has heard from people from all over the world requesting help or offering solutions. Kellaris says, "I quickly learned that virtually everybody experiences earworms at one time or another. I think because it's experienced privately and not often a topic of conversation. Maybe people really long for some comparison. They want to know if other people experience what they experience."

Kellaris says his most pervasive earworm is Byzantine chants, which likely has something to do with his wife's job as a church music director. Last year he surveyed about 500 students, faculty, and staff on campus about the type, frequency, and duration of earworms. He is researching possible causes and cures for stuck songs.

Kellaris' work interests marketing firms who want to give consumers something memorable, but fear the negative impact of an annoying jingle stuck in someone's mind. Advertisers are always seeking music that will trigger the kinds of emotions of feelings they want a consumer to experience.

—http://news.com.au, No cure for songs stuck in your head, October 21, 2003. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

This research demonstrates how important it is to keep a close reign on the things we allow into our minds, even something as simple as a song, or commercial.

2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "Don't believe everything you think."

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (GW) "The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people's defenses, that is, their arguments [5] and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ."

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” grandma used to say. She may have been closer to correct than we supposed. Psychological Science is publishing a study in which Katie Liljenquist, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management claims they have proved you can regulate ethical behavior through cleanliness.

“In two separate experiments, participants who sat in a room spritzed with citrus-scented Windex were more likely to act fairly and charitably than those in an unscented room.”

In the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin last year another paper claimed “people are more critical and judgmental about certain moral issues when exposed to a fart-scented spray.”

--Time, November 16, 2009. P. 53. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The two studies would indicate that we act as we smell. The Bible teaches that we act how we think.

Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Research shows that “anxiety, depression, and other mental-health issues are far more prevalent among youth today than during the Great Depression.” The increase is dramatic. “On average, five times as many students in 2007 reported signs of mental illness than did those in 1938.”

The reasons given for this “depressing” news is varied. Some believe it is the pressure put on teens to be “rich, skinny, and hot.” “We have become a culture that focuses more on material things and less on relationships,” psychologist and lead author Jean Twenge tells ABCnews.com.

“Other researchers suggest that overprotective parenting, which keeps kids from developing independence and coping skills, and even a lack of sleep contribute to the pandemic of mental illness.”

--The Week January 29, 2010, P. 23. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The battle for minds is never ending. We become what we think about and allow our minds to dwell on.

Philippians 4:8 (NASB77) “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”

Sherriff’s deputies investigating the theft of an SUV in central Florida were surprised to discover the suspect had a lot more experience than they thought. Deputies found the stolen 1998 Dodge parked in the driveway of a home, and inside they found the suspected thief playing the popular video game, “Grand Theft Auto.” Authorities arrested 30-year-old Michael Ray Ekes, and charged him with grand theft auto, burglary, and drug possession. When they arrested Ekes, a check of his records indicated he had just bonded out of jail on another charge of auto theft.

--Alleged car thief found playing 'Grand Theft Auto'; http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100122/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_grand_theft_auto ,January 22, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Philippians 4:8 (CEV) “Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.”

Peter Bergman was one of first people in line to purchase a new iPad from Apple. He was also one of the first to return the computer because he brought it back within a matter of days. On his personal blog, Bregman explained his reasoning, saying the iPad was too easy, and offered too much accessibility. He said the computer did everything he wanted, and that was the problem. Bregman said his iPad was the gadget that kept on giving. He said he enjoyed the device so much that he never got bored, but he had to return it because he felt it was taking over his life.

Bregman said after standing in line for hours to purchase the tablet computer Bregman said he could not put it down. He wrote e-mails on it, wrote articles, checked the news and weather, and even watched episodes of his favorite television drama. Bregman said he was never bored, and that was not acceptable. Bregman wrote, “Being bored is a precious thing, a state of mind we should pursue.” He added,” My best ideas come to me when I am unproductive. To lose those moments, to replace them with tasks and efficiency, is a mistake.” On his blog, Bregman said he had discovered a new way to spend his slower moments, spending time with his eight year-old daughter.

--Man returns iPad Because He Missed Being Bored, http://www.aolnews.com/tech/article/peter-bregman-returns-ipad-because-he-missed-being-bored/19519315; June 16, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (GW) “and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.”

A typical smartphone can make calls, send texts, and surf the Internet. Now, thanks to a Danish research team, phones can conduct brain scans. The team has developed an app that can monitor brain activity when coupled with a special headset. Presently the app only works with one smartphone model, using a small commercially available EEG headset, and the team says it is portable enough to use at home, at the office, or at the game. When users put on headphones and open the app, a three dimensional image of the brain appears which lights up indicating activity in various brain centers.

When asked why someone would need such an application, development team head Jakob Eg Larson said someone could use the device to monitor conditions like epilepsy, ADHD, or addictions, without requiring a hospital visit. Larsen says this is the first time a phone had had the capacity to power an EEG headset. He says, “Traditionally, in order to do these kinds of EEG measurements you have to have big lab setups that are really expensive. You have to bring people in, isolate them, and give them specific task.” Larsen admits it is not as powerful as hospital based machines, but thinks it could one day become a handy tool for neurologists and perhaps something fun for anyone interested in what happens inside the mind.

--New brain scan app allows easy monitoring of gray matter, http://news.yahoo.com/brain-scan-app-allows-easy-monitoring-gray-matter-042405198.html ; September 21, 2011. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

If this technology blows you minds, consider this, The Lord knows all of our thoughts.

Psalm 19:14 (CEV) Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, LORD, because you are my mighty rock and my protector.