27 November 2016
Baader-Meinhof
[bahr-duh mahyn-hof]
noun
– otherwise known as frequency illusion, recency illusion or Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, occurs when one hears, sees or becomes aware of something for the first time and then sees that thing everywhere. It occurs because the brain gets stimulated by learning something new and sub-consciously seeks that thing out. As the thing is now noticed more than before, confirmation bias kicks in and one becomes convinced that they are seeing the thing more than before, even if it is only once or twice that they’ve noticed it.
Origin
Named after the West German terrorist group, the Baader-Meinhof gang, active in the 1970s. The St. Paul Minnesota Pioneer Press online commenting board was the unlikely source of the name. In 1994, a commenter dubbed the frequency illusion “the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon” after randomly hearing two references to Baader-Meinhof within 24 hours.
Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/baader-meinhof-phenomenon.htm
Example
I decided my new car would be a Nissan Micra and bada bing, bada boom, I experience Baader-Meinhof and see Micras everywhere.
Anagram
a bonehead firm
fine hem aboard
deem of Bahrain
hide barman foe
Today’s quote
I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for religion – I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more – I could be martyred for my religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that.
– John Keats
On this day
27 November 1940 – birth of Bruce Lee. (born as Lee Jun-fan), martial artist and actor. Died 20 July 1973.
27 November 1942 – birthday of Jimi Hendrix. American guitarist and singer-songwriter. Died 18 September 1970.
27 November 1975 – Ross McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness Book of World Records, is shot dead outside his house in North London. Police suspect the Irish Republican Army (IRA) of the murder, as McWhirter had posted a £50,000 reward for information that lead to the arrest of IRA bombers.
27 November 1999 – Helen Clark is elected as New Zealand’s first female Prime Minister. She represented the centre-left of the Labour Party.