Obama Can Dance….But Palin?! Huh….maybe the beginning of a new career.
Posted by Michelle Moquin on October 22nd, 2008
I just couldn’t resist keeping it light today! Did you not know that these two made an appearance the other night on the ‘Dancing With The Stars’ show? C’mon where have ya been?! And for you men out there…I think if you enlarge this photo, Palin might even be showing a bit of nip – exciting huh? Gotta love modern technology! Hey ‘zoom zoom’ guy – you out there? :)
But seriously, I have to get serious for a moment because I haven’t spoken about Palin for quite some time now, and again I could not resist. This woman is running for VP and she still doesn’t even know what the VP does…or is she just trying to re-write the constitution giving herself more power in the White House? As we all know, this woman is power hungry.
Four times she got it wrong! Is no one correcting her, schooling her, rib jabbing her? Frankly, I’m delighted that she is digging a deeper hole – It’s hopefully gonna wake up those that still can’t see past her ‘wink wink’, ‘awe shucks’, and that winning ‘beauty pageant smile’. Uh huh. For some reason I can’t see past that ‘deer caught in the headlight’ look.
- Just in case you didn’t see this video on the Olbermann show, it is worth a peek:
My suggestion: Maybe Palin ought to start her new career in reality because she is definitely living a fantasy. Her 15 minutes are almost over – two more weeks peeps.
Oh…we were phone banking again last night for Obama and Prop 2. There is still time to get involved. Get a group of your own peeps and make a night of it. We went with our two friends Elliot & Tracey, and I have to say doing it with friends is so much fun.
***********
Readers: What is on your agenda this week? How is life? And those of you overseas…I know the state of our economy, and the up and downs of our stock market are having an affect. I hope that you’re all hanging in there too. Comments? Thoughts? Blog me.
Peace out.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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October 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
UNDERSTANDING THE ADDICTED BRAIN
A few months ago I spoke with life coach Lauren Zander of The Handel Group private coaching about some of the psychological mechanisms at play in addiction. (See Daily Health News. But there’s also a physiological aspect that must be managed. With new research on brain imaging, doctors are learning lots about these physical issues and how best to control them.
I called Steven Grant, PhD, who studies the neurobiology of addiction at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). He told me that imaging methods like PET, SPECT and MRI enable scientists to actually see and study specific regions of the brain for the first time, rather than rely solely on information gained from animal studies as before. They’ve been surprised by what they’ve learned this way. Many long-held assumptions about the physiology of addiction are being overturned, thanks to the new imaging technologies.
ASSUMPTION 1: IT’S GENETIC
For many years research has focused on finding specific genes that create vulnerability to substance abuse, in particular alcoholism. Alcoholism seems to haunt some families, while it is virtually non-existent among others. Doesn’t it seem likely a gene is to blame? It turns out to be more complicated.
Latest: It appears no single gene creates vulnerability. Rather, a complex array of genes is apparently involved in addictive behavior. Furthermore, these genes do not necessarily determine how people respond to a drug when they first consume it. It appears that the genes that predispose one to addictive behavior are fundamental to central nervous system function. Dr. Grant says this is likely only one of several paths by which genetic factors cause addiction. Only time — and much more research — will tell us exactly how.
Implication: Genetic research is telling us that substance abuse may change the brain at a very deep biological level… but separate research is finding that the brain has more capacity to heal and repair than we ever imagined.
ASSUMPTION 2: IT’S ABOUT THE DOPAMINE
According to Dr. Grant, another persistent central finding from animal studies is that many substances of abuse act on the dopamine pathway in the brain. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger in the brain), increases the expectation of a pleasurable event or outcome so its role in addiction makes sense. Indeed, all drugs of abuse elevate dopamine levels and research shows that nicotine and alcohol act in a synergistic fashion to increase dopamine release — which may be the reason people experience more pleasure when smoking is combined with drinking.
Latest info: It’s more than just dopamine at work. Other neurotransmitters play a role in substance abuse, including serotonin and norepinephrine.
Implication: Research must shift its focus to a wider range of neurotransmitters, learning not only how they work in the drug addict’s brain/body but also how drug use affects the brain chemicals.
ASSUMPTION 3: THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE IS KEY
Much of the scientific literature concerning substance abuse in the past focused on the pursuit of pleasure gained from the release of dopamine and, now we know, other neurotransmitters. But Dr. Grant says that scientists have gone beyond that simpler assumption to incorporate a wider range of alterations in brain function apart from the subjective experience (what people perceive as happening when they take the drug). We now understand that the substance causes their brain to adapt in many ways, not all of which are reflected in the subjective experience of the user.
Latest: Substance abuse acts on the pleasure circuits in the brain, and also changes the parts of the brain that affect high-level cognitive functions — attention, decision making and impulse control. Changes in this system shape how people perceive their experiences (their subjective response) and also what people can perceive because the substance persistently causes long-term changes in a wide range of brain functions. The question is — was the problem present in the system before the person started using drugs or alcohol (which would lead to greater vulnerability to their use) and how much did drug abuse exacerbate it? The answer, according to Dr. Grant, is probably a balance of both.
Implication: We don’t yet know, but research in this area has already opened new approaches to treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy, as explained below.
TREATMENT — MEDICATIONS
Based on recent findings, many resources today are aimed at developing new medications to treat substance abuse, where in the past the focus was on drugs targeting the dopamine system. But again, it’s a complex pursuit and there has been some disappointment in the effectiveness of medications thus far. Dr. Grant explains that substance abuse alters the cellular structure in the brain. The daunting question is how to change it back. However, he remains enthusiastic about the potential to develop useful medications. The brain does not lose its ability to change and adapt (called “plasticity”) even after drug use. One type of medication that is being investigated may help change the brain back to its healthier state. But it’s equally important to support the body’s healing and balancing process by living a healthful lifestyle — diet, exercise and stress management are all key.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY
Dr. Grant and others are also enthusiastic about psychotherapeutic methods, especially cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for recovering addicts. CBT provides different coping skills to help addicted individuals increase their range of productive behaviors as well as their ability to monitor their behavior — precisely the skill drug addicts lack.
One form of treatment, called contingency management, uses the principle of small rewards intended to distract addicts from their focus on drugs. Dr. Grant explains that when people are addicted to drugs or alcohol, their entire world revolves around their next opportunity to “use.” Contingency management uses ongoing but surprisingly small rewards such as restaurant coupons that serve to keep people coming back to treatment — a supportive healing environment that teaches them new skills for coping and living.
All effective methods of treatment change more than behavior. In a particularly exciting finding of brain imaging, scientists have discovered that the process of effective treatment itself, including cognitive behavior therapy as mentioned above, changes the brain, just as drug abuse altered it previously. Eventually scientists hope to track more precisely how changes evolve in the brain so that they can identify the most effective therapies for individuals. All effective treatments should ultimately aim to change both behavior and the brain. But in the meantime just knowing that treatment contributes to making the brain stronger and healthier is yet another reward for the difficult challenge of becoming — and often even harder, staying — clean or sober.
For more information on the science of addiction and treatment methods, go to the NIDA Web site. Local governments usually provide information and services as well.
Source(s): ??Steven Grant, PhD, who studies the neurobiology of addiction at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
Unbelieveable! Perhaps she might as her coach, McCan’t for the answer. Or maybe their buddy Joe Six-pack or Joe the plumber! She is telling everyone straight out that it is her intent to carry on where the Bush administration left off and try to gain even more power to the Executive branch than the Bush/Cheney gang did through changing the Constitution to read that the VP has actual power. Cheney was able to pull this off without that, so why would she waste the legislative branch schedule with her desire to make those Constitutional changes? They will have enough to do trying to figure out how and why they spent over a Trillion dollars in a few months with money that they don’t have…?
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
The attempted theft of the Presidency is on. The full weight of the federal government and republican controlled states’ administrations have been activated to prevent large numbers of registered democrats and OTWs from voting. They are using the new statutes enacted by the republican controlled Senate and House to enable this purge to occur legally to eliminate the competition before they get a chance to vote.
They are attacking those voters that they can not eliminate by the first scheme by eliminating as many OTWs as they can when they show up to vote. They use legally established impediments designed to help them do this to challenge and deny OTWs their chance to vote.
They are attacking those voters that they can not eliminate by the second scheme by manipulating the software so that a vote for Obama becomes a registered vote for McCain. Presently in early voting more that 3,000 voters have complained that their votes were stolen in the state of Ohio via machines that registered their vote for McCain rather than Obama.
Many are being forced to use provincial ballots. The republicans simply peruse them and throw away any who voted for the democrats. That’s was what the governor of Florida told Bush when he called to say he had Florida for him in 2000.
There is a huge panic in the southern states because if Obama gets elected with a substantial increase in both Houses, he will propose legislation that will eliminate those schemes the republicans made legal to keep government in the hands of whites in all those red states one sees when the Presidential election history map is proposed.
The people are told in those states that they vote republican when in reality the republicans have been rigging the vote count for more than a hundred years. If every legal voter is allowed to vote and every vote really counted most of those states will be blue.
The bush boys so fear the election of Obama and the lost of vote rigging in those states that they have launched a program to get more whites to come to this country. The bush administration has dropped visa requirements for most european countries and Korea.
The purpose is to increase the white population in America. These bigots hate anyone not white. They despise the Koreans, but they know that the Koreans, even more than the Japanese, hate blacks. But the crucial factor about Koreans is their fanatical insistence on keeping their race pure. Hence, republicans bigots are willing to allow their states to be populated by Koreans.
The people who really run the republican party and use the racial button to motivate the party base to follow blindly are worried that if Obama wins, many of them will be outed for their crimes and a few will have to do jail time.
The resulting power shift from an Obama effort to clean up the ability for each citizen to legally vote has made the republicans rabid. Many of the facts about those states will change in the very next election in which all the people get to legally vote.
Federally, state wide, and locally the policies, entitlements, and relationships will change. There will be more people of all races, religions, sexes, etc gaining voices in the way their local, state, and federal government are run. This is the fear of those white males who have held that power for 230 years and counting.
Anonz
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 am
Mischa, Polls show that people would prefer Tina Fey as VP than Palin.
Tina Fey said recently (of her imitations) that if she (Palin) wins, I’m done, I can’t do that for four more years, And by done ‘I mean I’m leaving earth’ – has she been in touch with the Tao group : )
That video is brilliant too bad Palin is not. I can’t argue with repubs anymore, it’s making me want to bitchslap someone and that’s not right, we’re all entitled to our own opinion, yet the only people I can actually understand wanting a repug in office would be someone like my sweet pea, and he can’t even do it this year bc it’s just wrong.
Sweet pea, your commentary yesterday was the ultimate luvfest, and it was filled with the most honest and perfect sentiments for me to hear and right in the nick of time for a variety of reasons. It completely melted my heart, your wording shows me you’ve been paying attention to the Lady Lilly and what I choose to say/not say/how I say it and that means a lot to me. You have my permission to be presumptive, you are my sweet pea and I believe you will be a precious treasure of a man to be with, you have little in the way of true competition. Most men get caught up in form (mine, maybe even their own…) and spout things designed to impress, and you have always been honest even when it didn’t present you in the best light, I admire that and much more…
I cannot imagine that we would not have ‘live’ chemistry, I used to think about how disappointing that would be if we didn’t, but I don’t even think about it anymore. I’m sorry…I can’t even continue to comment right now, just know that I am very touched by your words. oh and please reassure me that you won’t be putting yourself in the line of fire in Darfur should you choose to go.
- The swooning lady Lilly (I have never used that word before but it’s perfect)
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Anonz
Zen Lill isn’t the only woman in the world who can write. What do you know about her other than what you have read? Isn’t she a married woman? Why not consider the field of single women? We are more available.
If it is a blog you are interested in, I am launching one as soon as I finish my web classes from Mac.
Loren
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I work for one of those republican committees that decides which votes will count and which will be discarded. For more than twenty years we have been throwing away the votes of the minorities in this state.
We have been doing this for as long as I have worked here. I got my daughter a job. I told her to tell them she was a republican. She was appalled at what we were doing to the democrats.
I fear that I have lost my daughter’s respect. She has refused to go back to work and says that she will never think of me the same way until I quit.
I can’t quit. I have belonged to that committee for 27 years. Zen Lill, Michelle, somebody, please tell me what to say to my daughter.
Mildred
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:16 am
WHAT MAKES LIFE SATISFYING
Age brings wisdom, it’s said. Which is what came to mind when I read about a new study from the University of Alberta and University of Victoria in Canada showing that for seniors, the perception of having “enough” in the areas of health, financial resources and relationships enhances the overall quality of their lives. These folks didn’t require a perfect body, a big bank account or a dreamy relationship — the study participants (all senior citizens) simply wanted to have enough to meet their needs. “It’s about people’s perception of their position in life relative to their own standards and beliefs,” Gail Low, RN, PhD, lead researcher told me.
IS IT ENOUGH FOR YOU?
Using a quality of life questionnaire developed in association with the World Health Organization, the researchers were interested in assessing whether older adults’ perception of their health, financial circumstances, meaning and purpose in life, emotional support, and home and physical environment would influence their responses to the question, “How would you rate your quality of life?” It showed that for seniors, seeing themselves as having sufficient financial resources, good health or meaning in life positively influenced their overall quality of life.
Quality of life is a complex perception to measure. This World Health Organization Quality of Life survey featured questions that ranged from, “How satisfied are you with the level of intimacy in your life?” to “To what extent do you find your life to be meaningful?” Participants were not asked to provide information specifically on how much money they had nor were health measures clinically taken — they were asked instead for their perceptions on these matters. Those giving positive answers to the specific questions also tended to rate their quality of life the highest overall.
LIFE LESSON
It’s a basic finding, but I think an important one. If you have enough to meet your needs, if you have purpose and meaning and emotional connection in your life, and if you are healthy enough to live without extensive physical limitations, you’re likely to have a more positive view of your life. With media constantly providing theoretical examples of what we should all have or be, it is important to keep in mind that sometimes you can’t change your circumstances, but you can usually change your perception of them. It’s about what is right for you, not what the media says you should be or have. That goes far toward making life better for everyone… not just seniors.
Source(s): ??Gail Low, RN, PhD, assistant professor of the faculty of nursing at the University of Alberta. Dr. Low is actively involved in research focusing on quality of life among older adults.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
OMFG. She is so god damn stupid. I wonder how she has been able to run a state… Well… It was Alaska, so nobody probably noticed how incompetent she is, (No offense Alaska)
But seriously, how can Cain think for one second that she is fit to be Vice President? Well, his Alzheimer has taken over. He obviously think she is his nurse or some crazy shit… Because no man with his mind in the right place would even be in the same fucking room as Palin.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 am
I voted early in W. Virginia. When I pressed the button to vote for Obama my vote came up as McCain. I called over the person in charge and he told me it was just a mistake. I have since talked to others who voted there, some of them had the same experience. No one it talked to who said that they voted for McCain had there vote come up Obama. This shit smells of what that Mr. Anonz said was happening.
George
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
Anonz, interesting that you wrote this voter info yesterday, I’d watched a hacker special on TV and wrote about it the aft before but released last night (since it was Weds and I like a different subject on that day) – how do the Dems go about getting a brilliant hacker to right this wrong? http://www.lilliandevin.com/ ‘Employed hackers – Government employed?’