Legalization October 23, 2009

Save the world Blogger Nicholas Farmer weighs in on the issue of Marijuana legalization

It is time for America to end one of the most unjust practices of our society: the criminal prohibition of marijuana. I am someone who has never used any currently illegal substances, nor plans to do so, but I am committed to fighting for the rights of others. As Americans, we have the right to liberty, that is, to act as we wish, so long as we do not harm anyone else, or cause unreasonable risk of harm. Given that incarceration is the most powerful punishment that a free society can inflict on its citizens, it should only be used for the most serious of offenses. Marijuana use, even production and distribution, does not cause harm to others; all the arguments claiming otherwise have been debunked by serious study. Alcohol, which is legal, can be a dangerous drug that causes harm to others. This example demonstrates how senseless the hypocrisy is which has ruined the lives of far too many innocent people. Whether or not we as a society approve of marijuana is inconsequential; what matters is liberty, and justice.

Self-Discipline And Persistence Leads To Success October 22, 2009

In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification — and how it can predict future success. With priceless videos of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.

Almost everyone, everyday, practices delay of gratification—whether deciding to skip dessert in order to lose weight or give up smoking in order to live longer. The ability to delay gratification is often a sign of emotional and social maturity. Young children, for example, find it more difficult to delay gratification than older children. A study at Stanford showed that when kindergardeners were offered one marshmallow and were told to wait for 15 minutes and if they did they would get two marshmallows, 72% chose to eat the marshmallow. This number decreased to 67% among first and second graders and 49% for third and fourth graders. By the fifth and sixth graders it had fallen to 38%, nearly half the rate for kindergartners.