On the other hand, here's a thought about why checking his Google Reader RSS feeds constantly might be rotting his brain: intermittent rewards. Here are some links:
>One of Skinner's most important discoveries is that behavior reinforced intermittently (as opposed to consistently) is the most difficult to extinguish. In other words, intermittent rewards beat predictable rewards. It's the basis of most animal training, but applies to humans as well... which is why slot machines are so appealing, and one needn't be addicted to feel it.
http://therawness.com/the-compliance-recipe-part-3-intermitt...
>Intermittent rewards are as addictive as crack; human nature makes them impossible to resist.
http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2007/0...
>One of Skinner's most important discoveries is that behavior reinforced intermittently (as opposed to consistently) is the most difficult to extinguish. In other words, intermittent rewards beat predictable rewards. It's the basis of most animal training, but applies to humans as well... which is why slot machines are so appealing, and one needn't be addicted to feel it.