Day: March 24, 2014

Big Pharma, Brain, Curiositys, Health, LivingLeave a comment

LSD Helps Terminal Patients Cope with Depression and Fear

Fernando Kaskais

            by Anna LeMind The psychoactive drug seems to help in combating the fear of impending death associated with a terminal illness. An incurable disease sooner or later makes the person face the fact of premature and inevitable (and possibly quite painful) death. This serious psychological problem should be solved, but it is clear that psychological means are not enough, and some medication that would increase the effect of psychotherapy is needed. In such cases the use of psychoactive narcotic medications is often recommended, despite the fact that it is not always justified by experimental … Continue reading LSD Helps Terminal Patients Cope with Depression and Fear

Curiositys, History, Living, Media&CultureLeave a comment

Queen Victoria on cannabis, and all the other things you never knew about drugs

Fernando Kaskais

Modern governments have long demonised drugs, but the world now may be inching its way back towards the more rational view held in the 19th century. by Steven Poole People who study drugs and human society can arrive at curious historical theories. Early in this book we learn of the idea that “the name Jesus actually meant something along the lines of ‘semen’ and that Christ meant something like ‘giant erect mushroom penis’”. It would be invidious, perhaps, to suggest that such symbolic interpretations occur only to researchers who are completely off their tits. Happily, Richard J Miller, an eminent … Continue reading Queen Victoria on cannabis, and all the other things you never knew about drugs

Activism, Big Pharma, Brain, Health, LivingLeave a comment

For Depression, Prescribing Exercise Before Medication

Fernando Kaskais

Aerobic activity has shown to be an effective treatment for many forms of depression. So why are so many people still on antidepressants? by Olga Khazan Joel Ginsberg was a sophomore at a college in Dallas when the social anxiety he had felt throughout his life morphed into an all-consuming hopelessness. He struggled to get out of bed, and even the simplest tasks felt herculean. “The world lost its color,” he told me. “Nothing interested me; I didn’t have any motivation. There was a lot of self-doubt.” He thought getting some exercise might help, but it was hard to motivate … Continue reading For Depression, Prescribing Exercise Before Medication

Art, Curiositys, Globalization, Matrix, TechnologyLeave a comment

This Is What a Facial-Detection Algorithm Looks Like in 3D

Fernando Kaskais

Mathematics made metallic onto a face of flesh by Robinson Meyer Once the heady stuff of films like Minority Report, facial recognition algorithms are now a part of so many technologies that it’s hard to keep track of them. iPhones, iPhoto, and Facebook all try to detect bodies and faces with biometric software. Just last week, Facebook announced that its proprietary algorithm correctly identified faces 97.25 percent of the time—meaning it works almost as well as humans do. But when these mathematical engines hunt for a face in a video, just what do they look for? How does software see … Continue reading This Is What a Facial-Detection Algorithm Looks Like in 3D

Activism, Animals, Curiositys, Eco, LivingLeave a comment

Abandoned Pit Bull Learns To Love Again, Reminds Us Of The Power Of Forgiveness

Fernando Kaskais

Gideon smooches his foster mom by Dominique Mosbergen An abandoned dog who’s had the courage to love again is teaching us about the power of forgiveness. In the video above, captured by Annie Hart, Gideon the pit bull undergoes a tremendous transformation after being rescued from starvation and sickness. Hart, the executive director of animal rescue group Bill Foundation, told The Huffington Post in an email that Gideon, who was found with a registered microchip, had been in terrible shape when she went to rescue him in December. The pooch, who had deep lacerations around his neck, was starving and … Continue reading Abandoned Pit Bull Learns To Love Again, Reminds Us Of The Power Of Forgiveness

Activism, Animals, Bizarre, Freak U.S.A, Media&Culture, RightsLeave a comment

How a Coyote Suffered Behind the Scenes at Animal Planet

Fernando Kaskais

This coyote was trapped at the request of Animal Planet, and was replaced with another when it was “sick and unresponsive,” according to two people involved. (See the uncropped photo here.) Mother Jones has uncovered photographic evidence of animal mistreatment behind the network’s top reality show. —By James West Mother Jones has uncovered photographic evidence of mistreatment and neglect of animals behind the scenes of Animal Planet’s hit reality show Call of the Wildman, a pattern first exposed in our seven-month investigation published on January 21. Additional documents we obtained also raise questions about whether the show operated in violation … Continue reading How a Coyote Suffered Behind the Scenes at Animal Planet

Bizarre, Brain, Globalization, Living, Matrix, Media&Culture, TechnologyLeave a comment

Video: Are Social Networks Breeding a Truly Lonely Society?

Fernando Kaskais

By Melissa Melton on March 22, 2014 Do you spend a lot of time on your Facebook page? Do you find yourself on there a lot? Author Margie Warrell asks this question a little better: Are you often checking in on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other one of the new social media networks? If so, then it’s very likely you’ve been unwittingly seduced by them. That is, that you’ve fallen into the trap of relying on them for affirmation, validation, and a sense of belonging that they can never fully provide. At least not for long. Which is why … Continue reading Video: Are Social Networks Breeding a Truly Lonely Society?

Activism, Curiositys, Health, Living, ManipulationLeave a comment

Consumer Alert: Hidden Ingredients in Sushi

Fernando Kaskais

By Aaron Dykes on March 23, 2014 ‘Fresh’ sushi includes aspartame, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors. As if Fukushima, dwindling fish populations and unsettling farming operations weren’t enough of a challenge for pescatarians and fish lovers, shoppers face hidden ingredients on store shelves – even in items like sushi. Just what are things like high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, FD&C #40 and Blue #1 doing in your sushi anyway? And with this ingredients linked to severe conditions ranging from obesity, diabetes, allergies, hyperactivity, visual impairment and more, can anyone still eat healthy when stuff like that crosses their … Continue reading Consumer Alert: Hidden Ingredients in Sushi

Bizarre, Fascism, Freak U.S.A, Media&Culture, PoliticsLeave a comment

Police Shoot Homeless Man During Camping Arrest (GRAPHIC VIDEO)

Fernando Kaskais

by Sebastian Murdock A homeless New Mexico man who was illegally camping in the Albuquerque foothills was fatally shot by police. New helmet camera video released by the Albuquerque Police Department on Friday shows the moment 38-year-old James Boyd turns his back to officers and then gets shot dead. Despite overwhelming criticism to the shooting, the department says its officers were justified, KRQE reported. Boyd was shot on Sunday, March 16. Police Chief Gorden Eden said officers approached Boyd, who was sleeping, to speak to him about illegally camping in an open space, according to the Albuquerque Journal. According to … Continue reading Police Shoot Homeless Man During Camping Arrest (GRAPHIC VIDEO)

Bizarre, Curiositys, Freak U.S.A, Health, Living, TechnologyLeave a comment

The Brutal Ageism of Tech

Fernando Kaskais

Years of experience, plenty of talent, completely obsolete BY NOAM SCHEIBER I have more botox in me than any ten people,” Dr. Seth Matarasso told me in an exam room this February. He is a reality-show producer’s idea of a cosmetic surgeon—his demeanor brash, his bone structure preposterous. Over the course of our hour-long conversation, he would periodically fire questions at me, apropos of nothing, in the manner of my young daughter. “What gym do you go to?” “What’s your back look like?” “Who did your nose?” In lieu of bidding me goodbye, he called out, “Love me, mean it,” … Continue reading The Brutal Ageism of Tech