But blink determinations can be particularly hazardous when they overpower judgments that should more properly be reflective and analytical, such as determining if someone is guilty of a crime. But we all want shortcuts. If we see in the newspaper or on the news that somebody's been accused of a crime, what is the first thing we want to do? We want to see the face of the accused.

You know, with everything I've read about the case, it never even occurred to me to wonder what Amanda Knox looked like. In retrospect I should have wondered much more about what kind of influence her appearance would have on the trial.