using a computer to speak through your mind...nuts

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Supreme Court Take Case on President’s Power to Detain

Exciting stuff:

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide the most fundamental question yet concerning executive power in the age of terror: Can the president order the indefinite military detention of people living in the United States? (full article)

atheist placard alongside nativity scence--what's the fuss?

The Freedom from Religion Foundation put a sign celebrating the winter solstice and denouncing religion next to a Nativity scene in the Legislative Building of Olympia, Washington. While calls of appreciation are pouring in (25% of residents are unaffiliated with religion or atheist), so are angry residents and Christian organizations.

On the issue, Governor Gregoire commented, ""I happen to be a Christian, and I don't agree with the display that is up there,but that doesn't mean that as governor, I have the right to deny their ability to express their free speech."

Thanks, Governor. You are exercising rational thought.

Read the full article.

tits, tees, and treadmills

The other day I thought I would pop downstairs and hit the gym in my building--but alas, it is closed for renovation. So I hopped in the car and drove to my actual gym.

I got there and realized, that since I was doing a quickie at home, I had skipped the sports bra. The funny thing is, I rarely ever wear bras in everyday life. Frankly, I don't need them. Secondly, I think my own shape is more attractive. Thirdly, I am all about female nipple liberation. Fourthly, I am all about comfort.

But I couldn't help but wonder, why was I so insecure about my bitties at the gym? Is it all that moving around on the elliptical that made me feel over-exposed?

So I ran the internal dialogue in my head. Self, compulsory over-regulation of the female body is irrational and oppressive. Self, my body is no one's business but my own. Self, I reject male privilege and the notion that any and every word out of my mouth or article of clothing on my body is some sort of calculated sexual message. Self, I reject the notion that I am only a walking, talking sexual message.

It is funny that I have to worry about what I do or don't do under the privacy of my own clothes...

a musical against Prop 8

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

OMG IM SAVED

I was just lamenting the loss of designer shoes a few posts ago...

And now, I have seen the messiah.

olsen Haus.

Britney...why?

No one loves Britney as much as I do. I could not get through the gym without all of the leaked tracks from Circus.

And while I admit that the Circus video is smoldering...DID SHE HAVE TO USE EXOTIC ANIMALS? Those animals are not treated well, have poor living conditions, and are subjected to discomfort or abuse for the purposes of training. They can often be scared by conditions on sets, and are not allowed to be in their natural habitats and do natural animal things.

Zoos make me cry. Britney, I love you--but your video breaks my heart.

the happiness equation

H=S+C+V

There you have it. According to Heidt, happiness consists of your genetic set point, conditions in your environment, and voluntary actions.

The equation has certainly held true for me--but then again, one could argue that I have certain genetic characteristics that make me more self-initiated and determined. I firmly believe that there is no seemingly automatic and unproductive psychological tendency in me that I cannot identify, explore, and resolve. Perhaps it is my unwavering belief that has allowed me to take more control of my life, become more self-aware, and enjoy myself much more.

Speaking of increasing happiness, a study just came out today finding that happiness can be contagious.

I also would like to point out a very fun fact: natural selection does not favor my happiness, because I don't want to make babies.

I think I can give better things to the world than by genes anyway.

AT&T cuts job

AT&T has announced that it is cutting 12,000 jobs in the next year.

The least it can do is use the savings to improve its shitty service.

I have decided, at least when it comes to First Amendment cases involving sexual content, that the "activists" are the originalists, and the "originalists" are the activists.

In fact, at least when it comes to First Amendment cases involving sexual content, the "originalists" are just conservative d-bags in a black robes.

More on this some other time...when finals are over...

post-traumatic growth: a reappraisal of trauma and adversity

In The Happiness Hypothesis, by Jonathan Haidt, the author dedicates a chapter to the uses of adversity. His claim is that, instead of post-traumatic stress, an individual can actually achieve post-traumatic growth. This occurs in three ways:

1. Rising to the challenge reveals hidden strengths and abilities and can change your self-concept. Appreciating one’s own strength can increase one’s confidence. People can also become inoccuous to future stress, and recover more quickly because they know how to cope.
2. Adversity also filters out good relationships from bad ones, by sorting out those who are supportive or helpful. We usually feel love and gratitude for those who have cared for us in our time of need. Susan Nolen Hoeksema found that the most common effect of losing a loved one was greater appreciation of and tolerance for others in our lives.
3. Trauma can also change priorities and philosophies toward the present, i.e. live life to the fullest.
   

Haidt claims that if the strong version of the adversity hypothesis is true, "people must endure adversity to grow" and "the highest levels of growth and development are only open to those who have faced and overcome great adversity" (141).

It goes like this: "When tragedy strikes, it knocks you off the treadmill and forces a decision: Hope back on and return to business as usual, or try something else?" (143). Apparently, this window of opportunity ranges from a few weeks to a few months--but the changes might stick.

Turns out, the nature of human trauma is irrelevant--what matters is what people do afterward.

I do have to say, the adversity hypothesis has undoubtedly held true in my own life, and I think I am a much happier and "better" (according to my standards) person for it.

hormones to cure obesity?

This concerns me:

Researchers are studying variations of a family of human hormones - known as N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines, or NAPEs - for their effectiveness in controlling appetite and therefore obesity. (full article)

Obesity is not about some abnormal and insatiable hunger. I lack exact scientific figures, but I would venture to guess that actual obesity is caused by binge eating that is likely emotional, and/or poor understandings of food, health and nutrition, and/or lack of physical activity.

Learning how to process emotions alone can drastically curb emotional or compulsive eating.

Try a holistic approach--not simply hormones in pill form.