Monday, January 25, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Are All Psychotherapies Created Equal?
1/23/16. The effectiveness of psychological therapies is in the personality of the therapist --- and her/his experience, and knowledge of the research literature.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-all-psychotherapies-created-equal/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-all-psychotherapies-created-equal/
Confessions of a Paleo Diet Pioneer
1/23/16. Melvin Konner, anthropologist and medical doctor.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-evolutionary-guide-revised-on-what-to-eat-1453306447
http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-evolutionary-guide-revised-on-what-to-eat-1453306447
Friday, January 22, 2016
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Flint Water Crisis - in the Wall Street Journal
tc.)~r
Through Hell and Flint Water ,-L_!·-t-t
Through Hell and Flint Water ,-L_!·-t-t
|
The real scandal is
|
|
government failure-
local, state and federal. |
------------
|
M
|
ichigan Governor Rick Snyder apolo-
gized Tuesday for the contaminated
water crisis in Flint, and rightly so.
Hillary Clinton and most of the
media are peddling this as a
parable of Republican neglect
of a poor black city. But the
real Flint story is a cascade of
government failure, including
the Environmental Protection
Agency.
gized Tuesday for the contaminated
water crisis in Flint, and rightly so.
Hillary Clinton and most of the
media are peddling this as a
parable of Republican neglect
of a poor black city. But the
real Flint story is a cascade of
government failure, including
the Environmental Protection
Agency.
An auto factory town some 65
miles from De-
troit, Flint has been under emergency manage-
ment since 2011 after decades of misrule: More
than 40 of residents live in poverty; the popu-
lation has fallen by half since the 1960s to about
100,000. Bloated pensions and retiree health
care gobble up about 33 cents of every dollar in
the general fund.
troit, Flint has been under emergency manage-
ment since 2011 after decades of misrule: More
than 40 of residents live in poverty; the popu-
lation has fallen by half since the 1960s to about
100,000. Bloated pensions and retiree health
care gobble up about 33 cents of every dollar in
the general fund.
This grim financial reality
explains why in
2013 the city sought to save millions by switch-
ing water sources, dropping expensive, treated
aqua routed through Detroit. Flint's then-emer-
gency manager Ed Kurtz agreed to join a new au-
thority that would pipe water from Lake Huron.
The next day Detroit said it would kick Flint off
its water contract in a year, well before the new
pipeline was finished. In the interim the city de-
cided to slurp up the Flint River, not known for
cerulean clarity. For months residents com-
plained about murky water, but local officials of-
fered assurances.
2013 the city sought to save millions by switch-
ing water sources, dropping expensive, treated
aqua routed through Detroit. Flint's then-emer-
gency manager Ed Kurtz agreed to join a new au-
thority that would pipe water from Lake Huron.
The next day Detroit said it would kick Flint off
its water contract in a year, well before the new
pipeline was finished. In the interim the city de-
cided to slurp up the Flint River, not known for
cerulean clarity. For months residents com-
plained about murky water, but local officials of-
fered assurances.
The folks running Flint and
the Michigan De-
partment of Environmental Quality'(MDEQ) ap-
parently had no idea how to pump water through
Flint's rickety pipes-and thus corroded metal
leached into the water supply. A federal Lead and
Copper Rule stipulates that sprawling public wa-
ter systems must control corrosion. Flint and
MDEQ weren't handling this properly, if at all,
as emails obtained through the Freedom of In-
formation Act by Virginia Tech researcher Marc
Edwards reveal. Mr. Edwards told MDEQ in Au-
gust of last year that he intended to study Flint's
water and he turned up lead leaching in Septem-
ber. MDEQ initially dismissed his findings.
partment of Environmental Quality'(MDEQ) ap-
parently had no idea how to pump water through
Flint's rickety pipes-and thus corroded metal
leached into the water supply. A federal Lead and
Copper Rule stipulates that sprawling public wa-
ter systems must control corrosion. Flint and
MDEQ weren't handling this properly, if at all,
as emails obtained through the Freedom of In-
formation Act by Virginia Tech researcher Marc
Edwards reveal. Mr. Edwards told MDEQ in Au-
gust of last year that he intended to study Flint's
water and he turned up lead leaching in Septem-
ber. MDEQ initially dismissed his findings.
If there were ever a moment
for federal ac-
tion, this would seem to be it. MDEQ and the EPA
were chatting about Flint's system as early as
February. MDEQ said it wanted to test the water
more before deciding on corrosion controls,
though it isn't clear that federal law allows this.
tion, this would seem to be it. MDEQ and the EPA
were chatting about Flint's system as early as
February. MDEQ said it wanted to test the water
more before deciding on corrosion controls,
though it isn't clear that federal law allows this.
In a May email to the EPA, a MDEQ staffer said
that requiring a corrosion study "will be oflittle
to no value" because, hey, we're heading to Lake
Huron any day now. EPA did
not intervene.
that requiring a corrosion study "will be oflittle
to no value" because, hey, we're heading to Lake
Huron any day now. EPA did
not intervene.
EPA Region 5 water expert
Miguel Del Toral worked up an
internal memo in June flagging
the lack of corrosion control as
"a major concern" for public
health. He further noted that Flint's testing might
be producing misleading results, as the city told
residents to flush toilets before collecting a sam-
ple, which can wash away lead. If contaminated
water had flowed somewhere inhabited by a man-
atee, the feds would have sped to Michigan.
Miguel Del Toral worked up an
internal memo in June flagging
the lack of corrosion control as
"a major concern" for public
health. He further noted that Flint's testing might
be producing misleading results, as the city told
residents to flush toilets before collecting a sam-
ple, which can wash away lead. If contaminated
water had flowed somewhere inhabited by a man-
atee, the feds would have sped to Michigan.
But here's how the region's
top EPA official,
political appointee Susan Hedman, responded
in a July 1 email to Flint's Mayor Dayne Walling,
after Mr. Del Toral's memo was leaked: "When
the report has been revised and fully vetted by
EPA management, the findings and recommen-
dations will be shared with the City and MDEQ
and MDEQ will be responsible for following up
with the City." She also noted over email that it's
"a preliminary draft" and it'd be "premature to
draw any conclusions." The EPA did not notify
the public. This report rotted and wasn't re-
leased for months while tawny, infected water
ran from faucets across Flint.
political appointee Susan Hedman, responded
in a July 1 email to Flint's Mayor Dayne Walling,
after Mr. Del Toral's memo was leaked: "When
the report has been revised and fully vetted by
EPA management, the findings and recommen-
dations will be shared with the City and MDEQ
and MDEQ will be responsible for following up
with the City." She also noted over email that it's
"a preliminary draft" and it'd be "premature to
draw any conclusions." The EPA did not notify
the public. This report rotted and wasn't re-
leased for months while tawny, infected water
ran from faucets across Flint.
None of this exonerates
Governor Snyder, but
at least he sacked people at MDEQ in December,
including the director. Ms. Hedman still works
at the EPA, which now says that "necessaryac-
tions were riot taken as quickly as they should
have been," and no kidding. On Wednesday af-
ternoon Mr. Snyder released his emails pertain-
ing to the crisis, a good move for ensuring that
all involved are held accountable.
at least he sacked people at MDEQ in December,
including the director. Ms. Hedman still works
at the EPA, which now says that "necessaryac-
tions were riot taken as quickly as they should
have been," and no kidding. On Wednesday af-
ternoon Mr. Snyder released his emails pertain-
ing to the crisis, a good move for ensuring that
all involved are held accountable.
Flint switched back to
Detroit's water in Octo-
her, but the pipes had already been damaged.
The water in Flint still isn't safe to drink, and
President Obama has declared a state of emer-
gency. Mr. Snyder asked the legislature for $28
million to send to Flint, though there's no quick
fix for an infrastructure problem.
her, but the pipes had already been damaged.
The water in Flint still isn't safe to drink, and
President Obama has declared a state of emer-
gency. Mr. Snyder asked the legislature for $28
million to send to Flint, though there's no quick
fix for an infrastructure problem.
The broader lesson is that
ladling on layers
of bureaucracy doesn't result in better oversight
and safety. It sometimes lets agencies shirk re-
sponsibility for the basic public services like
clean water that government is responsible for
providing.
of bureaucracy doesn't result in better oversight
and safety. It sometimes lets agencies shirk re-
sponsibility for the basic public services like
clean water that government is responsible for
providing.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
How Groucho Marx Invented Modern Comedy
1/16/16. Lee Siegel in the WSJ.
On the Marx brothers:
"...These are not people who merely act on their impulses. These are people who lack a filter between their conscious and unconscious, and who refuse to stop being themselves no matter what social boundaries and prohibitions surround them..."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-groucho-marx-invented-modern-comedy-1452889052
On the Marx brothers:
"...These are not people who merely act on their impulses. These are people who lack a filter between their conscious and unconscious, and who refuse to stop being themselves no matter what social boundaries and prohibitions surround them..."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-groucho-marx-invented-modern-comedy-1452889052
Friday, January 15, 2016
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Therapy Wars: The Revenge of Freud
1/9/16. Science? Religion? Beliefs?
Because of intermittent, random reinforcement for our beliefs (i.e. Skinner's schedules of reinforcement), it is difficult for many professionals to abandon a theory of psychological treatment.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jan/07/therapy-wars-revenge-of-freud-cognitive-behavioural-therapy
Because of intermittent, random reinforcement for our beliefs (i.e. Skinner's schedules of reinforcement), it is difficult for many professionals to abandon a theory of psychological treatment.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jan/07/therapy-wars-revenge-of-freud-cognitive-behavioural-therapy
Thursday, January 7, 2016
When Black Lives Mattered --- to Other Blacks
1/7/16. Jason Riley - staff writer for the Wall Street Journal.
http://www.city-journal.org/2016/bc0106jr.html
http://www.city-journal.org/2016/bc0106jr.html
James Q. Wilson on Morality
From "What Is Moral, and
How Do We Know It?" by polit-
ical scientist James Q. Wilson
(]931-2012) in Commentary
magazine, June 1993:
How Do We Know It?" by polit-
ical scientist James Q. Wilson
(]931-2012) in Commentary
magazine, June 1993:
Almost
every important
tendency in modern thought
has questioned the possibility
of making moral judgments.
Analytical philosophy asserts
that moral statements are
expressions of emotion lacking
any rational or scientific basis.
Marxism derides morality and
religion as "phantoms formed
in the human brain," "ideologi-
tendency in modern thought
has questioned the possibility
of making moral judgments.
Analytical philosophy asserts
that moral statements are
expressions of emotion lacking
any rational or scientific basis.
Marxism derides morality and
religion as "phantoms formed
in the human brain," "ideologi-
cal reflexes" that are, at best, view of
human nature, one
mere sublimates of material that assumes that people are
circumstances. Nietzsche writes naturally endowed with cer-
dismissively that morality is tain moral sentiments. We
but the herd instinct of the in- have a peculiar, fragile, but
dividual. Existentialists argue persistent disposition to make
that man must choose his moral judgments, and we gen-
values without having any erally regard people who lack
sure compass by which to this disposition to be less than
guide those choices. Cultural human. Despite our wars,
anthropology as practiced by crimes, envies, snobberies,
many of its most renowned fanaticisms, and persecutions,
scholars claims that amid the there is to be found a desire not
exotic diversity of human life only for praise but for praise-
there can be found no univer- worthiness, for fair dealings as
sallaws of right conduct .. " well as for good deals, for
mere sublimates of material that assumes that people are
circumstances. Nietzsche writes naturally endowed with cer-
dismissively that morality is tain moral sentiments. We
but the herd instinct of the in- have a peculiar, fragile, but
dividual. Existentialists argue persistent disposition to make
that man must choose his moral judgments, and we gen-
values without having any erally regard people who lack
sure compass by which to this disposition to be less than
guide those choices. Cultural human. Despite our wars,
anthropology as practiced by crimes, envies, snobberies,
many of its most renowned fanaticisms, and persecutions,
scholars claims that amid the there is to be found a desire not
exotic diversity of human life only for praise but for praise-
there can be found no univer- worthiness, for fair dealings as
sallaws of right conduct .. " well as for good deals, for
I wish to argue for an older honor as well as for
advantage.
These desires become evident
when we think disinterestedly
about ourselves or others ....
when we think disinterestedly
about ourselves or others ....
Mankind's moral sense is
not a strong beacon light, radi-
ating outward to illuminate in
sharp outline all that it
touches. It is, rather, a small
candle flame, casting vague
and multiple shadows, flicker-
ing and sputtering in the
strong winds of power and
passion, greed and ideology.
But brought close to the heart
and cupped in one's hands, it
dispels the darkness and
warms the soul.
not a strong beacon light, radi-
ating outward to illuminate in
sharp outline all that it
touches. It is, rather, a small
candle flame, casting vague
and multiple shadows, flicker-
ing and sputtering in the
strong winds of power and
passion, greed and ideology.
But brought close to the heart
and cupped in one's hands, it
dispels the darkness and
warms the soul.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
When Are You Really An Adult?
1/6/16. When you do something even though your parents told you to do it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/01/when-are-you-really-an-adult/422487/
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/01/when-are-you-really-an-adult/422487/
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
The Year of Living Dangerously
1/5/16. Bret Stephens in the WSJ.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-year-of-living-dangerously-1451953556
http://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-year-of-living-dangerously-1451953556
How the Clintons Have Changed America
1/5/16. Harry Stein traces the history of the Clintons.
"The Clintons Could Find a Loop Hole in a Stop Sign."
--- George Will
http://www.city-journal.org/2016/eon0104hs.html
"The Clintons Could Find a Loop Hole in a Stop Sign."
--- George Will
http://www.city-journal.org/2016/eon0104hs.html
Monday, January 4, 2016
Mnemonic Device for Quick Evaluation of Suicide Risk
1/4/2015. Nothing is foolproof, but IS PATH WARM is a good start to help.
IS PATH WARM
I Ideation
S Substance Abuse
P Purposelessness
A Anxiety
T Trapped
H Hopelessness
W Withdrawal
A Anger
R Recklessness
M Mood Changes.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
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