By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Feb 22, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET Well, this is terrifying. The FDA is getting ready to review AeroShot, a shot of inhalable caffeine. [Time]
We all know exercising is necessary for a healthy body, but how exactly does it impact the brain? [NY Times]
Read about the science behind why dancing gives you such a high. [Psychology Today]
A new study shows that children who watch movies with drinking scenes are twice as likely to start drinking alcohol themselves. [NPR]
574,000 one-ounce bottles of grape-flavored liquid infant Tylenol have been recalled after complaints that the dosing system was too hard to use. [Wall Street Journal]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Mon Feb 13, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET New research has discovered that a drug currently used to treat cancer patients can reverse Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Is a new Alzheimer’s treatment on the horizon? [Time]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Feb 8, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET Why the Obama administration’s contraception ruling might mean more to the 2012 election than you think: [Time]
Karen Handel, one of the top officials of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, stepped down Tuesday after the organization’s controversial decision to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood was reversed. [NY Times]
Online dating might make it easier to meet people, but does it make it harder to find The One? [CNN]
Good news, frequent flyers. New evidence shows there’s not a greater risk of blood clots when flying economy class versus first class (but it’s still a good idea to walk around mid-flight). [USA Today]
Double dipping might be a germaphobe’s biggest party nightmare, but how bad is it for you really? [Wall Street Journal]
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Feb 3, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET  “Happiness is knowing who to blame,” a friend of mine used to facetiously joke–especially when he was trying to nudge me into taking responsibility for a situation I was complaining about–and trying to blame someone else for creating.
I thought he was right then…and still think he’s right.
What he was really saying is that seeking to resolve frustration by blaming others only creates the temporary illusion of happiness–or relief. It’s not real and won’t last.
A better approach is thinking hard and honestly about what role I played–so I can own my part in an unpleasant predicament.
When I do that, I at least have some hope of changing things.
f it truly is another person’s fault, chances of changing that person—and then of that person changing the offending situation– leaves chances of things improving looking pretty bleak.
So, it seems, the more I am focusing on finding my role in displeasing areas of my life (instead of seeking out others to blame), the more hopeful I feel.
So maybe the saying should be “Hopefulness is knowing where I am to blame.”
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Feb 1, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation revealed yesterday it would be cutting its funding to Planned Parenthood. [CNN]
New research shows that your morning cup of coffee doesn’t just bring up your spirits… it also impacts your hormone levels. [Time]
Why is riding in a crowded elevator one so uncomfortable? [Psychology Today]
Hemophilia has no cure, but it’s also not a death sentence. [NY Times]
Check out these seven easy slow-cooker recipes. [Fitness]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Mon Jan 30, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET Yoga is a physically and mentally rewarding practice, but what dangers exist when it’s not led by a professional instructor? [CNN]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET The newest cure researchers are looking into for depression, addiction, and post-traumatic stress is… magic mushrooms? [Time]
We’ve all heard that high heels are bad for your feet, but new research actually shows the damage at a tendon and joint level. [NY Times]
You may have heard about the case of 12 girls at the same public school suddenly picking up Tourette’s-like symptoms of tics and verbal outbursts. Now, doctors finally have a diagnosis. [TODAY]
Here’s a reason to bring your ego down a notch: a new study finds that narcissistic men have higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. [CNN]
Read about the persistence of the white picket fence American Dream, and why it can lead to problems. [Psychology Today]
By Rod Jetton, on Mon Jan 23, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET  Rod Jetton’s First Response
[The RP’s Provocation; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #1; Rod Jetton’s Rebuttal #2; John Y. Brown, III’s Rebuttal #3; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #4; Robert Kahne’s Rebuttal #5; Artur Davis’ First Response; Michael Steele’s Rebuttal #6; The RP’s First Defense; David Host’s Rebuttal #7; Zack Adams’ Rebuttal #8; Artur Davis’ Second Response]
While Jonathan is right that we can’t say with certainty when a fetus is a life, science is finding out that a fetus is viable at a younger and younger date with each new medical advance. I had a very good progressive female friend who was strongly pro-choice and would debate the subject with me vigorously. After she was married and decided to have children she had a sonogram.
She had a photo of a hardly recognizable fetus and she pointed it’s heart out to me. She stopped drinking, took extra vitamins and lived the healthiest lifestyle I had ever seen her live.
I didn’t bring it up, but she told me the whole pregnancy experience had made her think about abortion in a whole new way. She still believed a women had a right to control her own body, but the thought that that fetus might be a living person who could survive caused her to re-evaluate her position.
Read the rest of…
The RPs Debate Tim Tebow: Rod Jetton Responds
By Jonathan Miller, on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 3:30 PM ET The RP’s Closing Argument
[The RP’s Provocation; Jason Atkinson’s Rebuttal #1; The RP’s First Defense: Jason Atkinson’s First Response; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #2; The RP’s Second Defense; Artur Davis’ First Response; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #3; Jeff Smith’s Rebuttal #4; The RP’s Third Defense; Artur Davis’ Second Response; Jeff Smith’s First Response; David Host’s Rebuttal #6; Don Digarolamo’s Rebuttal #7]
To Artur: If there is any message where there is common ground in this debate, it’s been the one you’ve raised — it is critical that we revisit discriminatory enforcement practices against minorites. We may not all agree that the drug should be legalized; but all people of good faith should insist that we treat all Americans equally in the criminal justice syste,.
To Jeff: There is no denying that you are right that we have lost the War on Drugs, and I agree that we need a cease-fire when it comes to marijuana. I just can’t go as far as you do when it comes to harder drugs. Society has to draw a line somewhere when it writes laws, and I simply think that the dollars we could save in reducing enforcement of harder drug use and distribution are not sufficient to countenance the lives that would be destroyed if the drugs are made more available.
To David: I appreciate your conflict on this issue as you apply your conservative values to this debate, and applaud you for understanding the need to revisit the harsh prison terms applied to marijuana users and distributors. And no question, we can never lose the message that marijuana is terrible for kids. Where I disagree is that I believe that it will be very easy for law enforcement to distinguish between the drugs that do great harm to society and those that don’t, as we have since Prohibition. I also don’t think keeping marijuana illegal will do anything to help law enforcement crack down on the sale and distribution of harder drugs. My ultimate point is that society can and must draw a line between soft and hard drugs and develop policies that protect people on both sides of the line.
To Don: I’m very grateful to you for sharing your obviously very passionate and educated views on the subject, as well as stories of how the War on Drugs has gone tragically wrong at times. I also am fascinated by the Portgual example and want to investigate further. However, for reasons I have elaborated in earlier posts and in my response to Jeff above, I feel strongly that we must draw a line between marijuana and harder drugs; that as a society, we cannot countenance legalizing a drug whose very use — not abuse, but simply use — causes harm to its user, and which has been demonstrated to dramatically increase the propensity to violence.
To the RP Nation: Thank you for joining us in what has turned out to be one of the most excited and most trafficked days of the site. I promise many more debates like these as the weeks progress,a nd I look forward to your opinions and input on topics.
By RP Nation, on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET Don Digirolamo: Rebuttal #6
[The RP’s Provocation; Jason Atkinson’s Rebuttal #1; The RP’s First Defense: Jason Atkinson’s First Response; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #2; The RP’s Second Defense; Artur Davis’ First Response; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #3; Jeff Smith’s Rebuttal #4; The RP’s Third Defense; Artur Davis’ Second Response; Jeff Smith’s First Response; David Host’s Rebuttal #6]
The author is an Oscar(TM) and Emmy(TM) award-winning sound engineer, as well and a student of metaphysics and reason for more than two decades.
On March 26, 2009, in a CNN town hall meeting, President Obama stated (slightly edited), “There was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high, and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation, [and I don’t know what this says about the online audience, but this was a fairly popular question], and the answer is no, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy.”
On the campaign trail a couple of years earlier, our President admitted that there was a time when he smoked cannabis, and when asked if he inhaled, he said he did, that was the point.
Obviously no one would suggest that President Obama has been stunted in his personal or political aspirations as a result of engaging in this (by federal definitions) immoral, illegal, and criminal activity: indeed, we elected him to the highest office in the land.
So what is the story with criminality and drugs? People take drugs, and take them for all kinds of reasons; and I think it’s safe to say, there has never been a point in history when there have been so many drugs to choose from.
Read the rest of…
The RPs Debate Legalizing Marijuana: Don Digirolamo Rebuts
|
The Recovering Politician Bookstore
|
