Half a century ago, astute clinicians noticed that patients receiving the new anti-tuberculosis drug iproniazid experienced an enhanced sense of well-being, a chance observation that led directly to the development of antidepressants and the birth of psychopharmacology.

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Perception, observation, knowledge, a sense of certainty and the quiet confidence that the work one is accomplishing is worthwhile in the broadest sense will be found present.

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Figuring football's most overpaid players requires a mix of statistics, general observation and common sense.

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Most grown people will not come out and ask me about my condition, so in order to make sense of me they have to either watch and gather information through observation or use their own preconceived notions.

CNN: January 26, 2013 -- Updated 1642 GMT (0042 HKT)

Of course, this is really only a common-sense observation, but, given the atrocious decline in higher ed standards over time (Arum and Roksa report that their data indicate students nowadays typically spend fewer than 30 hours a week in academic pursuits), it is a desperately needed denunciation of the modern Ivory Tower.

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Such an invention could have serious implications for fields like surveillance and wildlife observation, but fear not, AIST hasn't lost its sense of humor -- the company used a Bullwinkle figurine rotating on a Lazy Susan to demo its latest invention at Printable Electronics 2011.

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To put a psychological bead on this observation: people who love what they do are self-actualized in the best sense of the term.

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