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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

New Research Points to Age of Fathers, not Mothers, in Schizophrenia and Autism in Children

A study published in the online version of the journal Nature has found a strong correlation between higher ages of fathers of children diagnosed with Autism or schizophrenia, but not related to the age of the mother.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/health/fathers-age-is-linked-to-risk-of-autism-and-schizophrenia.html

Harm, Toxicity of Synthetic Marijuana Unknown

Many people are using and selling legal (for now) synthetic marijuana under brand names such as Spice and K2.   However, the substance is new and not regulated by the FDA.  While I do not recommend prohibition to solve the problem of substance abuse, I do think some control is needed with these products - especially because they are being marketed (like tobacco and alcohol) to young people and the true effects are not known (short, medium, or long term).

Read more about these substances here:  http://host.madison.com/news/local/chris_rickert/chris-rickert-real-pot-preferable-to-new-synthetic/article_e1d732d6-eb2d-11e1-96ba-0019bb2963f4.html

or here:
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/spice_product/spice_product_article1.shtml

Friday, August 10, 2012

Milwaukee Shooter had History of Drinking Problems

While it is much to early to know for sure Wade Page's reasons for attacking and killing several worshipers at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, last week, it is clear that Page had a serious drinking problem that had caused him to lose jobs and get arrested in the past.  Alcohol may not have been directly involved in the shooting (i.e. he wasn't drunk at the time of the shooting), but a case can be made that it led to some of the precipitating events that led up to the shooting.  It may be possible to prevent these events in the future if we have more treatment options available for people who struggle with addiction to alcohol.

Link:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/excessive-drinking-cost-wade-michael-page-military-career-civilian-job/2012/08/07/274ccc7a-e095-11e1-a421-8bf0f0e5aa11_story.html

Here's a List of Famous Teetotalers from Popular Culture

(Please note that I haven't updated this list in a while, so it may or may not be correct.  - DN)

David Bowie
Russell Brand
John Coltrane
Tom Cruise
Dick Dale
Michael Eavis (Glastonbury Festival)
Brett Favre
Craig Ferguson
Gandhi
Ben Gibbard
Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim)
Moby
Crazy Horse
Samuel L. Jackson
Penn Jillette
Elton John
Anthony Kiedis
Kafka
Ian Khama (Pres. of Botswana)
Bruce Lee
Jennifer Lopez
Rob Lowe
Ian MacKaye
Tobey Maguire
Chris Martin (Coldplay)
Marshall Mathers (Eminem)
Eddie Murphy
Mike Ness
Nietzsche
Gary Oldman
Natalie Portman
Prince
Daniel Radcliffe
Terry Richardson
Henry Rollins
Sarah Silverman
Tilda Swinton
Tom Waits
Denzel Washington
Batman


Most practicing Hindus, Bahá'ís, Brahmins, Meivazhi-ites, Pillays, Mormons, Hare Krishnas, Muslims, Scientologists, Seventh-day Adventists, Brethren church, Christian Scientists, Jains, and Sikhs, can be considered to be teetotalers as abstention from alcohol is a tenet of all these religions. However, there are some exceptions.
One of the five precepts of Buddhism is abstaining from intoxicating substances that disturb the peace and self-control of the mind, but it is formulated as a training rule to be assumed voluntarily rather than as a commandment.
Many Christians such as Methodists and Quakers are often associated with teetotalism due to their traditionally strong support for temperance movements and prohibition. Abstinence is not a religious requirement, but the tradition is strong enough to make ritual and recreational alcohol consumption a controversial issue among some members. Members of the Salvation Army make a promise on joining the movement to observe lifelong abstinence from alcohol, but they do not consider partaking of alcohol to be inherently wrong. Catholicism, the Orthodox Churches, and Anglicanism all require wine in their central religious rite of the eucharist, and while many Protestant churches often allow grape juice or alcohol-free wine in their eucharistic celebrations, only a few Protestants require a non-alcoholic beverage as official policy. (See Christianity and alcohol.)

Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_teetotalers#List_of_notable_teetotalers

Looking into Juice and Fitness

I'm a big fan of juice as a part of my fitness regimen.  Researchers are looking at beetroot juice to help runners.

Link:  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/looking-for-fitness-in-a-glass-of-juice/

Sunday, August 5, 2012

At least 7 Killed in Milwaukee Shooting at Sikh Temple

Thoughts go out to the families and friends of those affected.  The cause of this tragedy is not yet known, but the underlying cause is obvious to me - our society's acceptance and widespread use of violence.  So sad.  I am not raising my children to accept this.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/us/shooting-reported-at-temple-in-wisconsin.html?_r=1