Outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite grows to more than 1,000 cases — The Associated Press

Good advice!  👍🏼

“How can you protect yourself from cyclospora? 😱

People who have diarrhea that hasn’t gone away on its own within a few days should see a health provider and discuss the possibility of cyclospora, officials say.
The best way to prevent infection with a parasite is to avoid food or water that may have been contaminated. 

Fresh produce should be thoroughly washed before being eaten. But be aware that cyclospora can really stick to some foods, so washing may not eliminate the risk of infection. 

As Michigan officials investigate the potential source, they recommend consumers purchase whole heads of lettuce rather than prewashed, bagged lettuce or salad mixes, and to remove the outer two to three leaves before washing the remaining leaves under running water.
They also say to cook vegetables when possible.”

Excerpt From
“Growing outbreak of parasite causing severe diarrhea is investigated in dozens of states”
The Associated Press
https://apple.news/AcT-CD1AATuSvKxIdUCQ2FQ
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How to stop A.I. from ruining how you think

How to stop ChatGPT from ruining how you think 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/news/content/ar-AA27nBJY?ocid=sapphireappshare

To prevent ChatGPT from diminishing your critical thinking and creativity, set boundaries, encourage skepticism, and actively engage your own cognitive processes rather than outsourcing them entirely.

Understand the Risks

Over-reliance on ChatGPT can reduce your ability to think independently. It can eliminate productive struggle, the mental effort required to connect ideas and solve problems, which is essential for creativity and memory formation 

Medium

. Using ChatGPT for instant answers can lead to cognitive offloading, where your brain stops storing information because it knows the AI can provide it on demand 

Forbes

. This may result in fuzzier thinking, reduced problem-solving skills, and a diminished sense of ownership over your ideas 

The Conversation

. Additionally, ChatGPT’s tendency to agree with you—known as sycophancy—can prevent you from stress-testing your ideas and recognizing flaws 

Practical Strategies to Maintain Independent Thinking

1. Customize ChatGPT to Challenge You
   Use the personalization settings to instruct ChatGPT to be skeptical and critical. For example, in the Custom Instructions box, you can write: “You are an expert who double-checks things, is skeptical, and does research. I am not always right, and neither are you, but we both strive for accuracy.”This encourages the AI to provide constructive pushback rather than simply agreeing 
2. Preserve Productive Struggle
   Start tasks on your own before consulting ChatGPT. Write your first draft, outline, or solution independently, then use the AI to refine or critique your work. This leverages the Generation Effect, which strengthens memory and understanding through active creation 
3. Limit Iterations and Options
   Avoid endless AI-generated alternatives. Limit yourself to a few options (e.g., three drafts) and make decisions based on your judgment. This reduces decision fatigue and prevents reliance on AI for every choice 
4. Schedule Tech-Free Thinking Time
   Dedicate blocks of time without AI or digital tools to engage in deep thinking, brainstorming, or problem-solving. Activities like walking or journaling can boost creativity and reinforce independent cognitive skills 
5. Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
   Treat ChatGPT as a supplement for fact-checking, idea refinement, or brainstorming, rather than a replacement for your own reasoning. Prioritize tasks that require genuine creativity and critical thinking for your own mental effort, and offload only routine or repetitive tasks 

Key Takeaway

By customizing AI behavior, preserving mental effort, limiting reliance, and creating tech-free spaces, you can use ChatGPT effectively without letting it erode your memory, creativity, or critical thinking. The goal is to maintain your cognitive independence while benefiting from AI as a supportive tool