‘Florida is on fire’

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Local Interest,Leave a comment

The Florida Democratic Party chairman resigned Friday in shame. A Republican state senator faces possible expulsion for sexual harassment. The state Senate’s top Democratic leader abruptly stepped down after admitting an extramarital affair with a lobbyist.

Even amid the flood of sexual misconduct revelations that have rocked state capitals across the country, the nation’s biggest swing state has lived up to its reputation for political drama and excess over the past month, with major implications for next year’s contested U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections — and the next presidential race.

‘Florida is on fire’ – POLITICO

Oh, Florida….

Duchess of Kent pays tribute to “brave” former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna

On By peanutgallerynhIn House of Windsor,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Duchess of Kent pays tribute to “brave” former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna | Tennis News | Sky Sports

An ending to such a good sports story. RIP Jana

Secrets of Social Capital

On By peanutgallerynhIn Media and Culture,, Modern Parenting,Leave a comment

The lack of social status is what makes an untouchable appear repulsive. This is why the single most effective peer intervention for eliminating bullying is for children to befriend those who are targets. But out of fear that associating with an untouchable could result in their own fall down the social ladder, children manufacture reasons to dislike low-status children, and justify their refusal to spend social capital to help them.

…Going against someone at the top of the status hierarchy is risky. In those situations, although people may want to speak out, stand up, or fight back, they are often counseled not to. It rarely seems like a good idea.

…Natalie didn’t know anyone. This time, however, another student, seeing that she looked lost, befriended her.

…All it took was one person. With one friend, she was no longer untouchable. She could make other friends––and she did.

…So after she changed schools, whenever she saw someone eating lunch alone, she would invite them to join her friends at their table. She knew that by saying “sit with us,” she protected other children from becoming untouchable.

Meet the Teen Who Discovered the Secret of Social Capital | Psychology Today

hmmmm

Lebanon’s PM Saad Hariri backs off from resignation

On By peanutgallerynhIn Middle East,Leave a comment

In his resignation speech, Hariri blamed Iran’s “meddling” in the country and its Lebanese ally, the Hezbollah movement for his decision, adding that he feared an assassination attempt.

The sudden move plunged Lebanon – a country with fragile political stability – into an ongoing period of uncertainty, raising fears of a potential war between Saudi Arabia and Iran with Lebanon on the front lines.

…Lebanese officials previously said they would only accept his resignation if it was delivered on Lebanese soil.

Hariri’s political rival, Hezbollah, also refused to acknowledge the resignation.

In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused Saudi Arabia of forcing Hariri to quit and holding him against his will. The Lebanese unity government that Hariri formed a year ago includes Hezbollah members.

Lebanon’s PM Saad Hariri holds off resignation | News | Al Jazeera

hmmm

Turning to Kratom For Opioid Withdrawal

On By peanutgallerynhIn Addiction,, Drugs & Drink,1 Comment

Eric Mayhew Jr. wanted to break his more than decade-long addiction to opioids — one that started when his doctor prescribed them for knee pain.

…When it comes to withdrawing from opioids, medical experts and addiction counselors agree that you will be far more successful with support than trying it alone. But traditional treatment can be expensive and time-consuming, if it’s even available. Many treatment centers have long waitlists.

…A study published in July 2017 found kratom is used for self-treatment of pain, mood disorders, and withdrawal symptoms that come with prescription opioid use. It was found to have few negative effects, including nausea and constipation, but generally only at high doses or when taken frequently.

…“I think the cool thing about it is this guy went from injection drug use to nothing, and all he had was a runny nose,” [director of academic development in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Edward W.]Boyer says. “It’s similar to something like methadone or any other opioid, but what is different is withdrawal from those substances is far more involved.”

People who use kratom typically don’t have withdrawals, says McCurdy, the University of Florida professor.

“That it helps them stop their cravings for going back to opioids and helps them with their mood. They feel good. They mention that they aren’t lazy like when using opioid prescriptions or addicted to opioids. They feel more productive and are doing things they love again, returning to a normal lifestyle.”

McCurdy’s research on mice shows kratom has a clear potential to treat opioid withdrawal with few side effects.

“It is probably addictive, but its addictive equivalent is something like coffee, which isn’t surprising because the leaf is in the coffee family,” McCurdy says. “We firmly believe that it will be very good for treating opioid withdrawal.”

…FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, says people who use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction cut their risk of death from all causes in half.

Turning to Kratom For Opioid Withdrawal

What’s the hurry to classify Schedule I? Is someone about to lose money over it?

What makes someone a white nationalist?

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Media and Culture,, Race,Leave a comment

Hatred of outsiders has been a cyclical thing in America, and we seem to be in such a cycle now. Economic and social insecurity fuels bigotry, and new forms of communication — the internet, especially — helps it spread. But psychologists and sociologists over the last few decades have begun to understand the qualities that make a person susceptible to what was once called “xenophobia,” meaning fear of outsiders — a useful term that perhaps deserves to be resurrected in Trump-era America.  And understanding how people are recruited into hate is a first step in combating it.

What makes someone a white nationalist?

hmmm

This one photo tells you all you need to know about Syria

On By peanutgallerynhIn Middle East,Leave a comment

The Assad regime now controls most of the cities that it practically can, or that remain standing and desirable, despite Assad once expressing ambitions to retake the entire country.

Other northwestern areas are held by Turkish-backed rebels, and in the northeast, US-backed Syrian Kurds control much of the territory.
These Sochi talks are likely to spell out these internal borders. But they will also address Turkey’s ambitions for the awkward northwestern part, where Syria’s tormented and disenfranchised majority — its Sunnis — have a homeland of sorts.

This one photo tells you all you need to know about Syria – CNN

hmmm

Tillerson Turns a Blind Eye to Countries Using Child Soldiers – Flagrantly Violating Federal Law

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Middle East,, Military,Leave a comment

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been accused by about a dozen members of his department of breaching a federal law aimed at preventing foreign militaries from enlisting child soldiers. The bizarre move by government employees highlights the apparent disarray Tillerson has brought to the department, and is emblematic of the tensions [between] the former Exxon Mobil CEO [and the] more experienced diplomats under his direction.

Tillerson allegedly violated the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) in June, when he decided to exclude Iraq, Myanmar and Afghanistan from a U.S. list of offenders regarding the use of child soldiers, according to a confidential “dissent” memo from July 28 obtained by Reuters.

Does Rex Tillerson Support Using Child Soldiers? Secretary of State Accused of Violating Federal Law

Useless asshat.

Drug Labs Used By The Taliban In Afghanistan Are Now A U.S. Target

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Drugs & Drink,, Middle East,, Military,Leave a comment

The United Nations found in a survey released last week that opium production has nearly doubled since 2016. Poppy cultivation has increased by 63 percent. Afghanistan is the world’s main cultivator of the poppy, from which heroin and opium are made.

Drug Labs Used By The Taliban In Afghanistan Are Now A U.S. Target After Trump Authorizes Strikes

hmmmm