Blog Post 1 "The Jersey Devil"

 As I was looking over the lectures I noticed that Lecture 2 was about "The Jersey Devil" which is something Ive always been curious about. After going through the slides this lecture specifically reminded me of a show I watched called "Ghost Hunters" as well as the show "Ghost Adventures" which is all about people encountering paranormal activity and a belief that there are ghost haunting certain houses or places. First off, there are many similarities in both these shows and in The Jersey Devil. The Jersey Devil consists of reports from over 300 years ago and was witnessed by many people where odd things would happen in the state of New Jersey and people would automatically assume it had to be the Jersey Devil. this was the same for the show in which there was numerous reports of ghost in buildings from certain noises or acts like a door shut without someone touching it. Both things that are reported in The Jersey Devil are the same things that are reported in these shows. This included some apparent rare sightings, odd noises and more importantly the belief that what caused this paranormal activity was what people wanted it to be. More importantly no real evidence in ether situation whether it be on video or a picture.

While there was no actual proof of sightings of ghost in the shows as well as no proof that the Jersey Devil was actually committing these problems it is said in both that their answer is the only answer for why this could be happening. In both claims from the shows and tale of the Jersey Devil the paranormal activity continues to be reported as well as people keep investigating looking for proof with no real results or actual proof. Its funny how the examples in both show and The Jersey Devil included the same paranormal activity like sensing a presence, hearing unexplained noises or partly seeing something. Although there continues to be a belief and or investigation for these possibilities people always end up unable to provide convincing real evidence and proof for the existence of the Jersey Devil or ghost in the shows. To add, with all this knowledge at hand there is still a poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University which consists of 44% of New Jersey residents consider ghost to be somewhat or very likely to be real. To make things more interesting the same place Fairleigh Dickinson University has a poll that states 16% of New Jersey residents believe that the Jersey Devil is real. As well as 18% believe its not very likely but possible it could be real.

Book Report

Book Report on Viral BS

Viral BS is a witty, sharp, and insightful dive into the world of medical misinformation. Written by Seema Yasmin, a physician and former Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, the book tackles some of the internet’s most persistent myths about health and science. Yasmin began writing the book in 2018, but the topics remain highly relevant today, touching on everything from how diseases actually spread to whether trendy wellness hacks are effective.

What sets Viral BS apart is Yasmin’s ability to not just correct falsehoods, but to tell the stories behind them. She breaks down the flawed studies, questionable scientific methods, and public misunderstandings that often lead to viral misinformation. Her tone is accessible and humorous, with occasional personal insights and opinions that add originality and personality to her writing.

While the book excels at debunking myths, one notable shortfall is its limited exploration of why misinformation spreads so easily. Yasmin presents the "what" clearly and engagingly—but at times, the reader is left craving a deeper dive into the cultural, psychological, or systemic reasons behind the spread of false health claims. A bit more reflection on her own research or first-hand experiences could have added valuable depth.

Both Viral BS and the class focus on thinking more critically and not just believing something because it sounds good. 

I especially enjoyed Chapter 15 on Aspirin and Nazis as it read like a story, which made it easier to understand. Chapter 46 felt like the perfect conclusion, connecting fake news and misinformation to modern politics in a way that felt relevant. Reading that chapter made me think about the role of fact-checkers during recent live presidential debates. Fact-checkers try to correct false claims in real time, but the damage is already done because the audience often remembers the original statement more than the correction. Chapter 46 also helped me better understand why that happens and why misinformation spreads so easily, even when the truth is available. I also liked how theory-based it was, which was something I wish had been expanded on more in the rest of the book. Finally, the kit at the end reminded me of what we’ve learned in class, but also added useful tips like “follow the money”.