Which square is darker – A or B?

Answer: Squares A and B are exactly the same colour and shade.

Believe it? Have a look at http://lateralaction.com/articles/black-and-white-thinking/ for a clearer explanation.

By Dave Cohen

There is a paradox inherent in solving what I call the “consciousness problem” or simply “the box problem.” You must know you’re living in a box before you can escape from it. Solving this problem is harder than it sounds. Most people never do. It took me years to get outside the box, and even when I thought I was free there were still more miles to travel. Them that don’t know don’t know that they don’t know.

The box problem is best approached by example. Writer Joe Bageant is outside the box. In fact, he apparently got off the bus in Mexico and never came back, so he’s literally outside the box. To illustrate, I’ll use his essay Y UR PEEPS B SO DUM? Ignorance and courage in the age of Lady Gaga. There are many passages to choose from, but obviously I’m forced to select specific examples.

(to read more on this article, go to http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-01-12/thinking-outside-box)