Hong Kong to Implement Web Accessibility Standards by 2013

In what is great news for people with disabilities or other accessibility needs, Hong Kong will require all government bodies to implement increased web standards by the end of next year.

Link:  http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=20&art_id=118281&sid=34876899&con_type=1

Vets to Receive Free Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Addictions

An innovative treatment program based in California is offering free intensive outpatient treatment for addictions to U.S. veterans anywhere in the world through a web-based videoconferencing system.  The Lionrock center is offering up to nine hours of treatment per week for up to three months.  This looks like a great program for anyone who lives far away from a treatment center.

Read More:  http://www.thefix.com/content/recovery-center-free-treatment-addicted-veterans7091

Cannabis and Hard Cider Profiled in PBS' Botany of Desire

Two leading intoxicants are explained in depth in the PBS documentary based on Michael Pollan's book, The Botany of Desire.  The program suggests that instead of plants working for us, it's actually the other way around.  In addition to the story of apples and hard cider, which had a lot to do with alcohol prohibition, marijuana's history is also featured - particularly in the United States.

Link:  http://www.pbs.org/thebotanyofdesire/

New Mexico's Heffter Institute and DMT Research

I have just become aware of a clinical research center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which has been involved in psychedelic studies since the early 1990's - the Heffter Institute.  They apparently conducted a large study showing positive results with DMT (demethyltryptamine).  The institute continues to work with research centers at Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and NYU.

Links:  http://www.kasa.com/dpps/news/news_other_4/psychedelic-research-rooted-in-nm_4020400 and http://www.heffter.org/about.htm

Yet Another Accidental Gun Death

A fifteen-year-old Amish girl was killed in Ohio today by a gunshot wound.  The bullet was discharged over a mile and a half away, when a gun owner fired his rifle accidentally while cleaning it.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/12/20/us/AP-US-Buggy-Shooting-Death-.html?ref=us

Wisconsin Governor's Attack on Women's Health

Wisconsin's ultra-right-wing Governor, Scott Walker, has decided to mount a frontal attack on a popular health screening program for uninsured women between the ages of 45 and 64.  The Well Woman Program, as it is known, is being cut throughout the state in counties where Planned Parenthood (a nonpartisan and nonprofit health care group).  Claiming that the group is 'too controversial,' Walker is seeking to veil his contempt for a woman's right to choose to have an abortion.  While Planned Parenthood does provide abortion services, it is only about 3% of their clinic expenditures.  Most of their budget goes towards cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease prevention and treatment, and contraception.  It is not clear where the uninsured women will turn when the Well Woman Program ends services in the selected counties.

The Hidden Overdose Story

The Hidden Overdose Story: "Despite all the headlines about heroin overdoses, the misuse of prescription painkillers is an even bigger problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 20 people in the United States, ages 12 and older, have used prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons, with nearly 15,000 people dying each year from overdosing on these drugs. This outweighs the combined number of deaths from heroin and cocaine overdoses."

NPR Story on Temper Tantrums

I don't remember my daughter (now 8) having them too often, but my son (age 4) is right in the midst of some terrible tantrums.  I know it's normal, but I still want to make sure that he's not going to hurt himself or have any long term problems.  This story on National Public Radio really helps me understand what's going on with the tantrums and help them get past them.  Best advice from the story?  Do nothing!  :)

Link:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/05/143062378/whats-behind-a-temper-tantrum-scientists-deconstruct-the-screams

How to Stay Safe Exercising in Cold Weather

It's the time of year to put away your summer and fall gear if you live in Wisconsin, and getting ready for sleet, snow, and ice on the pathways and roadways.  It's far easier to get injured or get exposed to dangerous weather conditions as well.  However, that doesn't mean you need to stop exercising!  I personally like to take things indoors - hitting the treadmill as opposed to keep running when it's so dreary (and dark!) out.  Treadmills are nice because you can pace yourself a little better from day to day, or even minute to minute, unless you have a training watch or other device.  The problem with treadmills, in my opinion, is that I need a changing room and locker (at a minimum) - and a place to shower doesn't hurt either.  Being an all-weather cyclist I'm accustomed to taking a spill or two on my bike every winter.  I have never been hurt that bad - the impact is usually on my shoulder or butt.  Falling on ice when you're on your feet puts you at a greater risk of a sprain or twist of some kind.  That's my experience, anyhow.  I've been thinking about getting a pair of Yaktrax (see photo below) to put on the outside of my cross-trainers.  We'll see.  I am really afraid of an injury - especially to a knee or ankle.  It would sink my exercise goals and set me back quite a ways if I even miss a couple weeks of running.  I know that swimming is a good option to recover from an injury (and works well in the winter, too), but that will definitely require more time (the closest one is at a local community college, about a half hour bike ride away).  We'll see about that too!  Meanwhile, here's a good article on exercising safely in the winter from Lifehacker.  Peace!

Link:  http://lifehacker.com/5864465/how-to-stay-safe-when-exercising-outdoors-in-cold-weather

What Can You Do to Observe World AIDS Day?

December 1st is World AIDS Day.  AIDS is the 6th leading cause of death worldwide - about 2 million people die from the pandemic every year - almost half of whom live in poor or low-income countries.  As a comparison, there are 7.6 million people who die every year from cancer worldwide.

To find out what you can do to address AIDS, click on the image below, or visit http://aids.gov/world-aids-day/:

Former Drug Policy Adviser to President Obama Explains Why Medical Marijuana is Currently a Bad Idea

I definitely want to give all points of view on medical marijuana and drug policy reform a fair hearing on this blog, and this post by Kevin Sabet is a great followup to the news stories I posted yesterday about the issue.  Mr. Sabet was a drug policy expert who worked for President Obama from 2009-2011.  His main argument is that more research is needed before marijuana is considered a legitimate medicine, and that based on current evidence we know that marijuana that is smoked is indeed quite dangerous. Check out his article and visit his website at http://kevinsabet.com to learn more about his point of view.