Scientists claim that prohibition on Schedule 1 drugs impede neuroscience research

Researchers have published an article in Nature Reviews Neuroscience (a monthly review journal affiliated with Nature, a prominent science publication), arguing that prohibitions on Schedule 1 drugs in the United States have significantly impeded neuroscience.  I believe it's time to completely redo the scheduling of illicit drugs - the current system is confusing and unfair (in the sense that certain drugs carry increased penalties based on their schedule regardless of their danger).

Links: http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nrn3530.html (Full text of article) Overview: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/7467/20130612/scientists-believe-stats-psychedelic-drugs-key-research.htm

China in the process of moving 250 million people from villages to cities

The migration and resettlement of hundreds of millions of people is underway in China, both reducing acute poverty and transforming the economy. I hope they learn from some of the mistakes that other countries have made along the way, like Ireland, England, India, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/world/asia/chinas-great-uprooting-moving-250-million-into-cities.html

Margaret Sanger, Race, and Birth Control

Margaret Sanger, the nurse who founded Planned Parenthood, has been maligned unreasonably by people who oppose a woman's right to have an abortion.  She is compared to those in the Ku Klux Plan and to the Nazis.  The following source is a good reference on some of the things that are misattributed to her.  It will take more than reading this to make a difference.  We need to encourage others to read it as well and get informed.  Sanger's goals of self-determination and reproductive choice for women is necessary to reduce poverty and improve the livelihood of women from all walks of life.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about/thisispp/sanger.html

WHO to 'Usurp U.S. Sovereignty' with tobacco regulations

If only it were true!

Link: http://www.redstate.com/2013/06/05/world-health-organizations-continuing-attempts-to-usurp-american-sovereignty/

Please urge your Wisconsin representatives to support Family Care/IRIS Expansion

Hi there!  Please join me and the Wisconsin disability and long-term care advocacy community in urging the legislature to support the expansion of Family Care/IRIS.  As you probably already know, these programs allow people with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities, rather than facing seclusion and isolation.  In turn, Family Care/IRIS saves money in that when people can make their own decisions they tend to be healthier, happier, and less dependent on government assistance.

The form is super easy to fill out, and just takes a few minutes.  Do it right away because there is going to be a vote on the issue next week!

http://capwiz.com/dawn/issues/alert/?alertid=62716376

Meth used by Nazis, German military until 1980's

It is perhaps not surprising to hear that the same soldiers who committed atrocities such as the Holocaust were abusing methamphetamine during WWII due to its ability to cause psychosis and paranoia when used in large quantities.   It was used by the German military (both East and West) until 1988.  While also legal in the U.S. and used to treat ADHD and obesity under the brand name Desoxyn, the stimulant has numerous side effects as well as being highly addictive. Apparently, the U.S. military is also feeding drugs to soldiers which allow them to stay away for 90 hours at a time.

Link: http://www.thefix.com/content/meth-germany-nazis-pervitin91722 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine#Psychological

Another mass killing incident involving an AR-15, 4 dead in LA

The lines of argument are well known since the Newtown shooting several months ago. Gun groups like the NRA say guns save lives.  Public health and safety groups say they don't (and I would agree).  Meanwhile, people continue to  engage in mass murder.  Why won't anyone discuss what's wrong with that?

Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/us/santa-monica-college-shooting.html

Note:  This post has been updated.  There were 4 casualties, not 7.

U.S Soldier pleads guilty to mass murder of Afghani civilians

The guilty plea entered by Staff Sgt. Robert Bales allows him to escape the death penalty for the murder of sixteen civilians in what is considered to be one of the most serious atrocities committed during the decade-long Afghan war.  In the attack, he shot the unarmed villagers, mostly women and children, at point-blank range and then burned several of the bodies in violation of Islamic laws. The soldier and his lawyers were prepared to argue that he committed the crime due to drug and alcohol use, PTSD, and repeated deployments.

Link:   http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/army-judge-to-decide-whether-to-accept-guilty-plea-from-us-soldier-in-afghan-massacre/2013/06/05/441c0c42-cdae-11e2-8573-3baeea6a2647_story.html

Enrollment in Reduced or Free Lunch program jumps 20% over previous 10 years

The Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan school district (MMSD) has over 55% of its students enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs compared to 34% just 10 years ago. The national average, which has also risen, is about 48%.

The dramatic increase is probably due to Great Recession of 2009 as well as stagnant wages over the past decade, both resulting in increased poverty and low income rates.

Link: http://host.madison.com/ct/data/featured/visualizing-years-of-poverty-growth-in-dane-county-schools/html_c91fcbfe-cd5e-11e2-984e-0019bb2963f4.html

Great show on fitness, health, and running #TTBOOK

I was pleasantly surprised to learn from my wife this morning that a locally produced radio show, To the Best of our Knowledge, was featuring running as its topic for today's one-hour broadcast available via National Public Radio's website.  I highly recommend taking a listen if you or someone you know might be interested in the benefits of health, fitness, and overall wellness of running - and even if running may be difficult or impossible the show also has a lot of good information on movement in general.

Link:  http://ttbook.org/book/born-run