Modern Paleo

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-06-15T11:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 16 June 2013: Q&A on Ethical Foundations, Broken Relationships, Sex Scandals, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 16 June 2013.

Question 1: Life Versus Survival as the Standard of Moral Value: Is mere survival the standard of moral value? In "The Objectivist Ethics," Ayn Rand says that man's life is the standard of value. What does that mean? Is it mere physical survival? Is it mere quantity of years – or does the quality of those years matter too? Basically, what is the difference between living and not dying?
Question 2: Broken Relationships: When is a relationship broken beyond repair? Relationships can be severely strained, fraught with anger and frustration, and perhaps put on ice for weeks or months or years. Yet in the end, the two people can often reconcile in some way, so that they can enjoy a genuine (even if not deep) relationship again. In some cases, however, that's not possible. Why not? In such cases, must the problem be that one person (or both people) continue to behave badly? Or might reconciliation be impossible between two good people? If so, why?
Question 3: Armed Society: Is an armed society a polite society – or a violent society? Author Robert Heinlein famously said that "An armed society is a polite society." Many liberals, however, fear an armed society as barbaric and violent. Is widespread ownership and/or carry of arms a positive or a negative feature of a society?
Question 4: The Sex Scandals of Politicians: Should we stop caring about the sex lives of politicians? In response to the affair and resignation of David Petraeus, many argued that such sex scandals are the absurd consequence of American puritanism. These people claim that sex is easily compartmentalized in a person's life, such that sexual fidelity has no bearing on a person's intelligence, character, or suitability for public office. Is that right?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 16 June 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 19 June 2013: Monica Hughes on "Myths about Evolutionary Theory"

I'll interview biologist Monica Hughes about "Myths about Evolutionary Theory" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 19 June 2013.

Many Americans are woefully ignorant of the basics of evolutionary theory, even while they criticize or reject it. Biologist Monica Hughes will explain the basic claims of evolutionary theory, the evidence for the theory, and dispel common myths about it.

Monica Hughes received her master's and PhD degrees in mycology and forest pathology at SUNY-ESF (State University of New York College of Environmental and Forest Biology). Broadly trained in aspects of plant and fungal biology, Monica's research is focused on an obscure but diverse group of insect-associated fungi, particularly co-evolution of the fungi with their hosts, and description of new species: her research uncovered roughly 50 new species of fungi from New Zealand, including several new genera. Since obtaining her PhD in 2008, Monica has worked as a biology professor in the Community College system of Colorado and at Regis University in Denver.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 19 June 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

9 June 2013: Q&A on Libertarianism, Mental Illness, Rights, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Are Objectivism and libertarianism allies in the struggle for liberty? Can the consistent practice of wrong ideas lead to mental illness? Does a doctor violate a woman's rights by refusing to perform an abortion?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:10:28
Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.3 MB) or Standard MP3 File (24.2 MB)
Tags: Abortion, Activism, Compromise, Conservatism, Epistemology, Ethics, Libertarianism, Medicine, Mental Illness, Objectivism, Philosophy, Politics, Progressivism, Psychology, Rationality, Religion, Rights

12 June 2013: Trey Peden on "Online Marketing and Privacy"

I interviewed online marketing professional Trey Peden about "Online Marketing and Privacy" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

"What do online marketing companies know about you? How do they gather data? Should you be alarmed by that? If so, what tools can help you protect your privacy online?" Trey Peden is a seasoned online marketing professional who has been designing, building, and refining users' online brand experiences for over 15 years. He works for Acxiom Corporation – one of the largest marketing data, technology, and services vendors in the world – as a product marketer for their digital marketing suite of tools.

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 1:06:22
Download: Standard MP3 File (22.8 MB)
Tags: Business, Crime, Government, Law, Marketing, Privacy, Technology

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

June 9: Activism Recap
June 10: NoodleCast #220: Libertarianism, Mental Illness, Rights, and More
June 10: Help Miranda Barzey Become a Costume Designer!
June 10: Top Blog Posts: 30 Days
June 11: Preview: Wednesday Radio: Trey Peden on Privacy and Online Marketing
June 11: Happiness Versus Meaning? No Thanks!
June 12: New Questions in the Queue
June 13: NoodleCast #221: Trey Peden on Online Marketing and Privacy
June 13: Spitfire 944
June 14: Preview: Sunday Radio: Ethical Foundations, Broken Relationships, Sex Scandals, and More

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #166

2013-06-14T22:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to this week's edition of The Paleo Rodeo!

The Paleo Rodeo is a weekly blog carnival featuring the best paleo-related posts by members of the PaleoBloggers e-mail list. The past editions of the Rodeo are collected on this page.

What is "paleo"? As I say in Modern Paleo Principles:

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Neely Quinn presents Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferer Figures Out Her Own Version of Paleo posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "One RA sufferer discovers some rather surprising findings about what she can and can't tolerate on the Paleo diet."

Hadass Eviatar presents The First Rhubarb of the Year posted at My Coat of Many Colours, saying, "Spring has been very late here in Manitoba, but we finally have rhubarb, yay!"

Nell Stephenson presents Where is that Chicken From? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson writes about an extremely important and urgent cause that buying poultry.com is trying to raise funds for- a buying guide which will tell consumers where their poultry is coming from and how to choose their source wisely."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents The science experiment begins, a.k.a. How I learned to stop asking, "Is this paleo?" posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "is this paleo?' Who cares? "Is this real food that is good for me?" is a better question."

Eileen Laird presents Soup for Breakfast: It Does a Body Good! posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Soup for breakfast may sound funny, but for millions of people around the world, this is traditional. And how smart they are! It is far more nurturing, nourishing, healing and satiating than any typical breakfast in the U.S. It's now my favorite way to start the day."

Eileen Laird presents Paleo Autoimmune Protocol Grocery List posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Continuing my series on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol, today I have a shopping list of AIP-approved foods, to make meal planning easy."

Laura P presents Chipotle Beef and Wild Mushroom Paleo Tacos posted at Rising Moon Food, saying, "Paleo taco shells made with coconut flour, stuffed with spicy grass-fed beef and wild morel mushrooms...with all the taco fixings, of course!"

Kevin Geary presents The 10 Pound Problem posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "Have you fallen victim to the 10 pound problem? We need to pay attention to specifics so we can start diminishing hype."

Sean Coonce presents Fried Catfish with Spicy Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries posted at FreeRange Human, saying, "Tasty recipe for fried catfish (I caught myself) with Spicy Slaw and Sweet Potato fries."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Mango Melon Fruit Salad, A Refreshing Side, Breakfast, or Snack posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "This fruit salad is perfect for a sunny day at the park or beach or just for something fresh for breakfast! We like it a little spicy even!"

Rebekah Reddy presents Confetti Latkes (Sweet Potato and Carrot Pancakes) posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "This recipe was the result of some quick thinking and improvisation, and the tasty confetti-like latkes were a hit with the whole family!"

Rebekah Reddy presents FAQs: What kind of bacon can I eat on The 21-Day Sugar Detox? posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "We get lots of questions about what kind of bacon is okay to eat on the 21-Day Sugar Detox--here are the answers!"

Diane Sanfilippo presents FAQs: Is protein powder okay on a Paleo diet? posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "My usual response to whether protein powders are okay on a Paleo diet is that they aren’t food. However, sometimes there are exceptions to even my own “rules” and some folks may be “qualified” to consume protein in a non-food/powdered form. Read this post to find out who I'm talking about and what protein powders are acceptable."

Yoga and Bacon presents Why Modernized "Paleo" isn't Working For You... posted at Yoga and Bacon, saying, "The often ignored piece of “Paleo” that is leaving you bloated, uncomfortable, and unable to lose those last couple pounds…."

The Cavegirls presents Spinach and Walnut Pesto posted at Northwest Cavegirls, saying, "What do you think of pesto? I’ve never been much of a pesto person and hadn’t made pesto at all until yesterday. Boy, have I been missing out! I had some cilantro, spinach and garlic in my veggie box this week, and decided I’d give pesto a go. One recipe I found for making basil pesto used a mortar and pestle to crush everything together, but I don’t have a mortar and pestle, and like to use power tools for heavy duty mixing like this. So I fired up my blender to get everything mixed together well."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Why can't people think for themselves when it comes to food? posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "When it comes to food, many people let someone else do their research, and thinking, for them. I try to uncover why they leave such an important part of their health in the hands of strangers in my post."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Paleo belly dancing for fitness posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Do paleo and belly dancing go together like steak and eggs? Find out in my fitness post."

Artemis presents Playing Possum posted at Wildness and Domesticity, saying, "This newly hatched blog is about eating the way that human beings were designed to eat (tasty paleo food) while living in the modern world. Ingredients: recipes, ruminations, and rambling (and alliteration)."

Artemis presents "Lady Paleos," or "Fangirls in Polka-dots" posted at Wildness and Domesticity.

Many thanks to the PaleoBloggers who submitted to this edition of the The Paleo Rodeo! We love new members! So if you blog on paleo-related matters and you'd like to submit your posts to the carnival, please subscribe to the PaleoBloggers e-mail list. You'll receive instructions and reminders via that list.

Finally, you can find all of the blogs of the PaleoBloggers on this continuously-updated list:
Enjoy!

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-06-08T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 9 June 2013: Q&A on Libertarianism, Mental Illness, Broken Relationships, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 9 June 2013.

Question 1: Objectivism Versus Libertarianism: Are Objectivism and libertarianism allies in the struggle for liberty? Libertarians have long claimed that Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism (or just its politics) is a form of libertarianism, but Objectivists rejected that. More recently, however, notable Objectivist John Allison assumed the presidency of the thoroughly libertarian Cato Institute with the support of the Ayn Rand Institute, and he claimed that "all objectivists are libertarians, but not all libertarians are objectivists." Is that true? What is the essence of libertarianism? When, if ever, should Objectivists ally or collaborate with libertarians?
Question 2: Bad Ideas as a Cause of Mental Illness: Can the consistent practice of wrong ideas lead to mental illness? Often, the most consistent practitioners of an ideology – such as Naziism or Islam – seem to become increasingly unhinged over time. Does fully embracing a fantasy-based ideology entail or encourage mental illness, such as paranoia and delusions? If so, are such people then not responsible for what they say or do?
Question 3: Doctors Refusing to Perform Abortions: Does a doctor violate a woman's rights by refusing to perform an abortion? Many people on the left claim that a doctor who refuses to perform an abortion – or a pharmacist who refuses to dispense Plan B – is thereby violating the rights of the woman. Those doctors and pharmacists, however, claim that they're exercising their own freedom of religion. Who is right?
Question 4: Broken Relationships: When is a relationship broken beyond repair? Relationships can be severely strained, fraught with anger and frustration, and perhaps put on ice for weeks or months or years. Yet in the end, the two people can often reconcile in some way, so that they can enjoy a genuine (even if not deep) relationship again. In some cases, however, that's not possible. Why not? In such cases, must the problem be that one person (or both people) continue to behave badly? Or might reconciliation be impossible between two good people? If so, why?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 9 June 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 12 June 2013: Trey Peden on "Privacy and Online Marketing"

I'll interview online marketing professional Trey Peden about "Privacy and Online Marketing" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 12 June 2013.

What do online marketing companies know about you? How do they gather data? Should you be alarmed by that? If so, what tools can help you protect your privacy online?

Trey Peden is a seasoned online marketing professional who has been designing, building, and refining users' online brand experiences for over 15 years. He works for Acxiom Corporation – one of the largest marketing data, technology, and services vendors in the world – as a product marketer for their digital marketing suite of tools.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 12 June 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

2 June 2013: Q&A on Abortion, Obama, Infidelity, Family Time, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Can abortion rights be justified based on Judith Thomson's "violinist" argument? Will Obama's second term further damage American culture and values? Should marital infidelity be illegal? Should I limit my time away from family in deference to their cultural expectations?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:10:19
Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.3 MB) or Standard MP3 File (24.2 MB)
Tags: Abortion, Academia, Activism, Adult Children, Adultery, Barack Obama, Children, Colorado, Conservatism, Crime, Culture, Divorce, Education, Egalitarianism, Elections, Ethics, Family, Honesty, Independence, Intuitions, John Rawls, Judith Thomson, Law, Marriage, Objectivism, Personhood, Philosophy, Politics, Respect, Rights, Trolley Problem

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

June 1: Happy Birthday, Lila!
June 2: Activism Recap
June 3: NoodleCast #219: Abortion, Obama, Infidelity, Family Time, and More
June 3: Internet Satire, You're the Best
June 4: No Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday
June 4: My Approach to Answering Sunday's Questions
June 5: Don't Procrastinate: Clear to Neutral
June 6: New Questions in the Queue
June 6: More on Arranged Marriages
June 7: Preview: Sunday Radio: Libertarianism, Mental Illness, Sex in Politics, and More
June 7: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #165

2013-06-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Neely Quinn presents The Great Wild Asparagus Hunt posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "A hunter gatherer's quest for wild asparagus in rural Colorado."

Nell Stephenson presents Prevalence of Pseudo Paleo posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson writes about how many products are popping up into the mainstream that call themselves paleo that are not."

Eileen Laird presents Reintroducing Foods on the Paleo AIP posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Part 2 in my series on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol, today's post guides you through the process of reintroducing foods. Learn how to do it wisely, and how to know when a food is safe to eat, or best to avoid."

Eileen Laird presents Paleo Autoimmune Protocol FAQ posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Part 3 in my series on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol, today's post answers frequently asked questions and gives tips for success."

The Cavegirls presents Box Oven Pumpkin Cupcakes posted at The Northwest Cavegirls, saying, "On a recent camping trip I was charged with coming up with a recipe for paleo cupcakes made in a Box Oven. I created both a pumpkin cupcake recipe and a chocolate chip cupcake recipe that were gobbled up by kids and adults alike. (cupcakes can be made in a regular oven as well, but that's not nearly as much fun!)."

Elizabeth Leitch-Devlin presents What can we learn for breast milk? Part 1: Macronutrients posted at Mostly Meat Is What I Eat, saying, "Breast milk is low in protein and high in both fat and carbohydrates... Or is it? Here we examine how to an infant breast milk is actually high in protein and fat, and low in carbohydrates, how? Read this article to find out more."

Rebekah Reddy presents Reinventing Leftovers posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "Tired of leftovers? Here's what I did to reinvent my leftover barbequed chicken, plus more ideas about how to make those leftovers into something new and delicious."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Tropical Cod, A Fish Entrée with Mango Red Pepper Salsa posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "This recipe for Tropical Cod is easy and refreshing! Try it with one of our fruit salsas like Mango Red Pepper or Pineapple Cilantro! Perfect for the summer!"

Kevin Geary presents How to Eat Healthy: The Definitive Guide to Avoiding "ANTI" Foods posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "ANTI' Food is a new, easy acronym you can use and share with others that guides healthy eating decisions in an effective and personal way."

Chris Hiestand presents Starting the Paleo Diet in 3.5 Easy Steps posted at PrimalPal, saying, "Spinning your wheels with the paleo diet? Want to kick-start your success? Check out this 3.5 steps to starting a paleo diet."

Rebekah Reddy presents FAQ: Pre/Post Workout Tips posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "In another guest post, Crystal Meadows gives some pre- and post-workout tips for athletes doing the 21-Day Sugar Detox."

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #90: Paleo Pitfalls – part 2 posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "Liz and Diane explore more Paleo Pitfalls in this week's podcast. Topics include sugar, treats, and keeping your goals in mind; overdosing on nuts; diet vs. lifestyle; and bacon."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Paleo Friendly, Nightshade Free Chicken Casserole Recipe posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "An easy and tasty one dish meal."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Doing a 30 Day Paleo Challenge? posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Some tips to help you succeed on your next paleo challenge."

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-06-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 2 June 2013: Q&A on Abortion, Obama, Infidelity, Family Time, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 2 June 2013.

Question 1: Abortion Rights and the Violinist Argument: Can abortion rights be justified based on Judith Thomson's "violinist" argument? Even if we accept that an embryo is a person with a right to life, can't abortion rights be justified on the basis of Judith Thomson's famous "violinist" thought experiment – meaning, on the grounds that one person does not have the right to use another person for life support?
Question 2: Obama's Cultural Impact: Will Obama's second term further damage American culture and values? I'm not as worried about the tax hikes, foreign policy, and other concrete policies of Obama's second term as I am about the cultural change that his administration will instill in society over the next four years, just as it did over the last four years. The next generation of liberals – college age kids, that is – are little socialists who repeat the phrases like "social justice" and "fair share." Is such cultural change a genuine problem? If so, what can be done to combat it?
Question 3: Laws Against Marital Infidelity: Should marital infidelity be illegal? Many states, including Colorado, have laws against marital infidelity on the books. These laws are rarely if ever enforced. Politicians often attempt to repeal them, but those attempts are often unsuccessful. Many people think that the government ought to "take a moral stand" even if the law isn't enforced. Does that view have any merit? Should these laws be repealed? Why or why not?
Question 4: Managing Demands for Family Time: Should I limit my time away from family in deference to their cultural expectations? My family comes from a conservative Turkish background. They see the amount of independence granted me as a 19-year-old as more than enough. I see it as unsatisfactory. In fact, they feel pushed to their limit by the amount of time I ask to spend away from family on a daily basis. They believe I should not ask for any more independence, as they are already trying their hardest to accept me having even a small amount. However, what I'm allowed is very little compared to most people my age. It affects what I can do or not with my life, not just in the short-term but in the long-term too. Should I respect my family's wishes on this point, given that they are already trying their hardest within the context of their own cultural values? Or should I ask for more independence, even if that violates their beliefs?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 2 June 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Note: Philosophy in Action Radio will not broadcast on Wednesday, 5 June 2013.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

26 May 2013: Q&A on Open Relationships, Innate Personality, Alimony, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Can open relationships be moral? Can personality be innate? Is it wrong for parents to have another baby to save the life of their sick child? Should alimony payments upon divorce be abolished?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:14:10
Download: Enhanced M4A File (26.7 MB) or Standard MP3 File (25.5 MB)
Tags: Abortion, Alimony, Children, Communication, Determinism, Divorce, Ethics, Free Will, Health, Honesty, Law, Love/Sex, Marriage, Medicine, Parenting, Personality, Polyamory, Respect, Romance, Tabula Rasa

29 May 2013: Jason Crawford on "Free Objectivist Books for Students"

I interviewed entrepreneur and activist Jason Crawford about "Free Objectivist Books for Students" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

"The Free Objectivist Books for Students web site aims to help more students read Ayn Rand. It does that by enabling donors to send books by Ayn Rand or about her philosophy of Objectivism to students eager to read them. Jason Crawford explained how the project works – including the unusual way it connects donors and recipients – and why he thinks students should read Ayn Rand." Jason Crawford is a software developer and entrepreneur in San Francisco. He was co-founder and CTO of startup Kima Labs, and has worked at Amazon and Groupon. He was introduced to Objectivism in 1992 and has been a part of the Objectivist movement ever since.

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 56:04
Download: Standard MP3 File (19.3 MB)
Tags: Activism, Atlas Shrugged, Education, Objectivism, Young Adults

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

May 24: Link-O-Rama
May 25: Personal Research on Open Relationships
May 27: Activism Recap
May 27: The Problem of Absent Tone in Email
May 27: The Plight of a Good Samaritan
May 28: NoodleCast #217: Open Relationships, Innate Personality, Alimony, and More
May 28: Preview: Wednesday Radio: Jason Crawford on Free Objectivist Books for Students
May 28: May's Tip Jar Needs Your Love!
May 28: Cat-Friend vs Dog-Friend
May 29: New Questions in the Queue
May 29: People Caught on Camera… Being Good
May 29: Paul Hsieh PJM OpEd: Is Obamacare's Fatal Flaw Taking Effect?
May 30: NoodleCast #218: Jason Crawford on Free Objectivist Books for Students
May 30: Challenging Your Own Entrenched Beliefs
May 30: Facebook Word Cloud
May 31: Preview: Sunday Radio: Abortion, Obama, Infidelity, Family Time, and More
May 31: Judith Thomson's Violinist Argument for Abortion Rights
May 31: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #164

2013-05-31T11:25:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents 6 Ways “Heart-Healthy” Whole Wheat Can Destroy Your Health posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "Many new studies suggest that wheat (even 'heart-healthy" whole wheat) can contribute to several adverse effects and serious diseases."

Nell Stephenson presents Is IBS...BS? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson shares how her own IBS diagnosis prior to finding Paleo was BS."

Kevin Geary presents What Do You See When You Look in the Mirror? posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "Nobody mentions looking in the mirror as a health and nutrition tip, but perhaps it's the most critical one..."

Eileen Laird presents What is the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol? posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Confused about the ever changing paleo AIP? This post is a simple summary of what constitutes the core autoimmune protocol and optional variations."

Eileen Laird presents Pork Chops with Rhubarb Chutney posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Looking for a new way to cook pork chops? Take advantage of seasonal rhubarb to create a recipe that is easy enough to make on a weeknight, but delicious enough to serve guests. This recipe packs a flavor punch!"

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Asparagus, Mushroom and Pork Stirfry, A Quick Dinner Idea posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "Our Asparagus, Mushroom, and Pork Stir Fry recipe is fast, easy and perfect for those nights where you want something awesome that doesn't take much time...and so good for you too!"

Amy Kubal presents The 'F' Word... posted at Robb Wolf, saying, "How often do use the 'F' Word? It's not what you think, but it's just as evil!"

Rebekah Reddy presents FAQ: Can I do the 21-Day Sugar Detox while I have a cold? posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "Many people wonder what to do if they get sick during the 21DSD. Continue? Stop and start again when the cold passes? Read here for recommendations from moderator Brooke Hartle!"

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #89: Guest Jonathan Bailor of “The Smarter Science of Slim” posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "This week the dynamic Jonathan Bailor of The Smarter Science of Slim and Slim is Simple stopped by to chat with Diane. We talked about some common nutrition myths, why some folks are naturally slim easily while others aren’t, how long it might take to “fix” a damaged metabolism, and more. We even talked about how much food Jonathan was able to eat some nights on the Low Carb Cruise!"

Rebekah Reddy presents Cherry Picking Fun posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "Last weekend we went cherry picking and ended up with 15 pounds of delicious cherries! Read about our fun day and what we did with all that fruit."

Jess presents Paleo Strawberry Rhubarb Gelatin Jam posted at The Paleo Professional, saying, "It's the time of year to enjoy sweet and tart rhubarb! I created this quick and easy jam with the help of gut healing gelatin and maple syrup for a hint of sweet. Enjoy with your favorite paleo treat such as biscuits or pancakes or as a fruit topping for your main dish, such as pork chops."

Hsieh PJM OpEd: Is ObamaCare's Fatal Flaw Taking Effect?

2013-05-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

The 5/22/2013 edition of PJ Media published my latest OpEd, "Is Obamacare's Fatal Flaw Taking Effect?"

I discuss how ObamaCare requires voluntary cooperation of people who will be harmed by the law -- which gives Americans a powerful weapon. Don't be a willing accomplice to a law you don't support!

I'd also like to thank Dr. Megan Edison for allowing me to quote her.

Update: I'm also encouraged by the fact that some former supporters of the law appear to now be having second thoughts: "Unions break ranks on ObamaCare" (The Hill, 5/21/2013)

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-05-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 26 May 2013: Q&A on Open Relationships, Innate Personality, Alimony, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 26 May 2013.

Question 1: The Ethics of Open Relationships: Can open relationships be moral? Can it ever be moral to have sex with someone else while in a relationship, assuming that you're honest with everyone involved? If not, why not? If so, what might be some of the pitfalls to be aware of? For example, should the criteria for selecting sexual partners be stricter than if you were single? How should you navigate the tricky territory of opening a previously closed relationship?
Question 2: Innate Personality: Can personality be innate? In past shows, you've indicated that you think that some aspects of personality are innate, rather than acquired by experience. What does that mean? What is the evidence for that view? Moreover, wouldn't that be a form of determinism? Wouldn't that violate the principle that every person is born a "blank slate"?
Question 3: Conceiving Again to Save a Child: Is it wrong for parents to have another baby to save the life of their sick child? In 1990, Marissa Ayala was born in the hope that she might be able to save her 16-year-old sister Anissa from a rare form of leukemia. (The parents went to extraordinary lengths to conceive.) Happily, Marissa was a suitable bone marrow donor, and Anissa's life was saved. At the time, many people criticized the decision as "baby farming" and treating the new baby as a "biological resupply vehicle." Yet today, the Ayalas are a close family, Anissa is alive and well, and Marissa is happy to have been born. Were the Ayalas wrong to attempt to save the life of one child by having another? What moral premises would lead a person to condemn this act?
Question 4: The Justice of Alimony Payments: Should alimony payments upon divorce be abolished? Traditionally, a man was obliged to financially support his ex-wife upon divorce. Recent reforms have decreased the amount and duration of alimony in some states, as well as made it gender neutral (in theory). But are such payments ever justifiable? If so, under what conditions?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 26 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 29 May 2013: Jason Crawford on "Free Objectivist Books for Students"

I'll interview entrepreneur Jason Crawford about "Free Objectivist Books for Students" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 29 May 2013.

The Free Objectivist Books for Students web site aims to help more students read Ayn Rand. It does that by enabling donors to send books by Ayn Rand or about her philosophy of Objectivism to students eager to read them. Jason Crawford will explain how the project works – including the unusual way it connects donors and recipients – and why he thinks students should read Ayn Rand.

Jason Crawford is a software developer and entrepreneur in San Francisco. He was co-founder and CTO of startup Kima Labs, and has worked at Amazon and Groupon. He was introduced to Objectivism in 1992 and has been a part of the Objectivist movement ever since.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 29 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

19 May 2013: Q&A on Individualism, Disabled Children, Arranged Marriages, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Does individualism imply social isolation and atomism? How can I make my boss more communicative? Should disabled kids be kept out of the public eye? Are arranged marriages legally and socially valid?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:02:20
Download: Enhanced M4A File (22.4 MB) or Standard MP3 File (21.5 MB)
Tags: Adult Children, Ayn Rand, Benevolence, Business, Career, Children, Collectivism, Communication, Disability, Egoism, Epistemology, Ethics, Family, Independence, Individualism, Job, Marriage, Metaphysics, Objectivism, Parenting, Personality, Politics, Relationships, Respect, Rights, Sacrifice, Society

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

May 18: Two Videos of Me Jumping Lila
May 19: Activism Recap
May 20: NoodleCast #216: Individualism, Disabled Children, Arranged Marriages, and More
May 20: Partisan Hackery Rule of Thumb
May 20: Craziest Chemical Reaction
May 21: No Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday
May 21: Color Video of London in 1927
May 22: New Questions in the Queue
May 22: Hidden Sources of Stress
May 23: Jason Stotts on Polysexuality
May 23: Horse Athletes Kick Your Ass
May 24: Preview: Sunday Radio: Open Relationships, Innate Personality, Alimony, and More
May 24: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #163

2013-05-24T21:31:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents 101 Healthy Low-Carb Recipes That Taste Incredible posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "A list of 101 healthy low-carb recipes with photos and instructions. All the recipes taste awesome and are made with healthy ingredients."

Neely Quinn presents Do you, dear readers, like promos and giveaways? posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "We'd love some feedback about the promos and giveaways we've been doing on Paleo Plan. What products would YOU like to see discounts and giveaways for, if any?"

Mary Catherine presents 50 Party-Perfect Paleo Appetizers posted at Nourish Paleo Foods, saying, "With Memorial Day and summer parties right around the corner, I've compiled a round up of 50 all-paleo appetizers from some of my favorite bloggers that I've made or want to at my next get-together!"

Nell Stephenson presents Nut and Seed Oils... Paleo OK? posted at paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson writes about how to carefully include nut or seed oils into your Paleo regime once in a while."

Eileen Laird presents Paying Attention posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "It’s a fact of human nature that we tend to notice what’s wrong, more than we notice what’s right. In my guest post on The Paleo Mom blog, I talk about the power of writing things down, and how that can affect our awareness, our choices, and our mindset."

Eileen Laird presents I Wish I Could Be Primal posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "How it feels to be on a restricted diet when cheating isn't an option, and the 80/20 rule doesn't apply to you."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Pork Carnitas, A Puerto Rican Entrée posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "Looking for a recipe that won't break the bank or take a lot of time to prep? Well, look no further! This recipe for carnitas is awesome - everything goes into a pot and comes out 3 hours later...juicy, falling apart meat, but not smushy or overcooked, with vibrant flavors that speak to Puerto Rico. With instructions and ingredients this easy, how can you NOT make a fantastic meal for the family!"

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Paleo Friendly, Nightshade-free, Stuffed cabbage Recipe posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "A yummy recipe for stuffed cabbage that will leave you feeling full without causing inflammation."

Elizabeth Leitch-Devlin presents Phytic Acid nutrients posted at Mostly Meat Is What I Eat, saying, "How does removing phytic acid from your diet change the amount of nutrients you need?"

Diane Sanfilippo presents Easy Recipe: Hot and Sweet Ginger-Garlic Chicken posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "These Asian-style chicken thighs are a great choice to enjoy while on The 21-Day Sugar Detox."

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #88: Guest Danielle Walker of “Against All Grain” posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "Having battled ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease, the modern-medicine way for many years, Danielle Walker took matters into her own hands and set out to regain her health through the medicine of food. She runs the popular grain-free recipe blog Against All Grain and has a cookbook by the same name hitting shelves July 30th."

Rebekah Reddy presents How to navigate The 21-Day Sugar Detox vegetarian style. Plus 7-day meal plan! posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "Today's guest post is by Chanda Guerin, a nutrition student, professional fundraiser, blogger, and vegetarian who successfully completed the 21-Day Sugar Detox. She has provided us with some great tips for navigating the 21DSD on a vegetarian diet, and she also created a free 7-day meal plan!"

Rebekah Reddy presents Grain-free Strawberry Crumble posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "Combine sweet summer strawberries with a honey-nut granola topping and you get a delicious Paleo dessert."

Sabine presents Sprouts 'n Shrimp posted at CrossFit CatCave, saying, "If you don't like Brussels sprouts, you will now!"

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents A Little Bit More About Everything Affecting Everything posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "Whereupon our hero discovers that when all is really chill – like on vacation – the paleo rulebook can be loosened up a bit. Stress management really is the key to happiness."

Hadass Eviatar presents Eating Weeds posted at My Coat of Many Colours, saying, "Spring has finally sprung, and there are fresh dandelion greens in my yard! Bliss."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents Where to eat out during a paleo challenge (you are going to hate the answer) posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "Nothing beats preparing your own paleo food, especially when detoxing and healing during a 30-day paleo challenge. Do it right and avoid restaurant food for a month; it's only a month."

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-05-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 19 May 2013: Q&A on Individualism, Disabled Children, Arranged Marriages, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 19 May 2013.

Question 1: Individualism Versus Anti-Social Atomism: Does individualism imply social isolation and atomism? Many critics of Ayn Rand argue that her individualism is hostile to love, concern, and respect for other people. They claim that her "atomistic individualism" doesn't permit, let alone support, groups or community. Are these criticisms true? What is the right view of human society and sociability?
Question 2: Poor Communication from the Boss: How can I make my boss more communicative? My boss hardly ever tells me company news affecting my projects, even when critical. As a result, I've wasted days and weeks on useless work, and I've gotten into needless conflicts with co-workers. I'm always guessing at what I should be doing, and I just hate that. What can I do to make my boss to be more communicative with me?
Question 3: Visibility of Disabled Children: Should disabled kids be kept out of the public eye? Recently, a waiter at a restaurant refused to serve one party after hearing them make fun of a child with Down's Syndrome sitting with his family in a nearby booth. Both parties were regulars to the restaurant. Some people have praised the waiter's actions because he took offense at overhearing the first party say "special needs kids should be kept in special places." He called them on their rudeness and refused to serve them. Others think he was wrong: his catering to the party with the disabled kid is indicative of a culture that embraces mediocrity and disability. What is the proper assessment of the remark made and the waiter's response? Should people with disabilities be kept from public view?
Question 4: Arranged Marriages: Are arranged marriages legally and socially valid? A coworker of mine in his early 20s grew up in India. His parents have arranged his marriage to a young woman who also now lives in the US. He appreciates that his parents selected a wife for him: he doesn't want to spend the time or take the risk of finding a wife himself. Should such a marriage be considered legally valid? Is it just a marriage of convenience? Is the practice of arranged marriages immoral and/or impractical?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 19 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Note: Philosophy in Action Radio will not broadcast on Wednesday, 22 May 2013.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

12 May 2013: Q&A on High Taxes, Infanticide, EMTALA, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Are high taxes comparable to slavery? Is killing a baby born after an abortion a form of murder? Do people have a right to emergency medical care?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:08:57
Download: Enhanced M4A File (24.8 MB) or Standard MP3 File (23.7 MB)
Tags: Abortion, Activism, Altruism, Apocalypticism, Charity, Children, Crime, Egalitarianism, Emergencies, Epistemology, Ethics, Free Society, Government, History, Infanticide, Justice, Language, Law, Medicine, Politics, Poverty, Pregnancy, Rights, Slavery, Taxes

15 May 2013: Paul McKeever on "Winning Elections with the Freedom Party of Ontario"

I interviewed Freedom Party of Ontario Leader Paul McKeever about "Winning Elections with the Freedom Party of Ontario" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

"Can a political party based on principles of individual rights win elections? Perhaps so – and Paul McKeever has a strategy for doing so with the Freedom Party of Ontario." Paul McKeever is the Leader of Freedom Party of Ontario. Paul joined Freedom Party in 1992. He first ran as a candidate for Freedom Party in Ontario's 1999 election. He became a Freedom Party spokesperson that year in 1999, and the party leader in 2002.

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 1:13:40
Download: Standard MP3 File (25.3 MB)
Tags: Alcohol/Drugs, Canada, Elections, Epistemology, Ethics, Libertarianism, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Politics, Voting, Voting

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

May 12: Maternal Affection by Hugues Merle
May 12: Activism Recap
May 12: Mr. T for Mother's Day
May 13: NoodleCast #214: High Taxes, Infanticide, EMTALA, and More
May 13: Examples of Moral Amplifiers
May 13: Hero Gives Damn Funny Interview
May 14: Preview: Wednesday Radio: Paul McKeever on Advancing Liberty via a Political Party
May 14: Awesome Promotion of Philosophy in Action Interview
May 14: Ideas for First Dates
May 15: New Questions in the Queue
May 15: Jon Stewart on the Obama Scandals
May 15: Grumpy Cat Versus Illiterate Religious Spam
May 16: NoodleCast #215: Paul McKeever on Winning Elections with the Freedom Party of Ontario
May 16: Help Versus Dictating
May 16: Old Spock Versus New Spock
May 17: Memo to Tea Party Patriots: Stop Harassing Me with Robo-calls!
May 17: Preview: Sunday Radio: Individualism, Disabled Children, Arranged Marriages, and More
May 17: Disabled People in the Public Eye
May 17: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #162

2013-05-17T08:12:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents 5 Brain Nutrients Found Only in Meat, Fish and Eggs (NOT Plants) posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "Many nutrients in plants and animals are critical for proper function of the brain. These 5 brain nutrients are only found in animal foods."

Neely Quinn presents SexyBack Summit! Let's Talk about Sex, Shall We? posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "Sean Croxton's newest, biggest summit - all about sex! Free video series on how to improve your sex life..."

Sean presents Homemade Chorizo posted at FreeRange Human, saying, "Quick and easy method to making homemade chorizo without any of the fillers you find in the store."

Sabine presents Green Curry Chicken posted at CrossFit CatCave, saying, "Delicious first time green curry! Will make this every week now!"

Elizabeth Leitch-Devlin presents Protein Propaganda Pisses Me Off posted at Mostly Meat Is What I Eat, saying, "Tied of vegan lies that kale is a great source of protein? This post will blow you away with it's actual data and what really is the best source of protein and a little tidbit on how we're not herbivores."

Nell Stephenson presents A New Treatment for MS- Gilenya? How About Food Instead? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson writes about the backwards approach to treating MS- with drugs, not food."

Eileen Laird presents No-Fail No-Pound Sauerkraut posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Have past efforts at homemade sauerkraut failed? Have you been afraid to try to make it yourself, because you've heard stories of funky smells or strange tastes, or how the conditions need to be just right? This recipe simplifies everything."

Eileen Laird presents Personalize Nutritional Healing for YOU posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "The paleo template is a powerful tool for healing, but it is a template, and one size does NOT fit all. If you aren't healing on the paleo protocol, get help to find out what your body needs! In this post, I share online directories of paleo physicians and dieticians."

Peggy Emch presents Paleo Kid's Menu for Home or Daycare posted at The Primal Parent, saying, "One full week of kid friendly meals and snacks! Really simple foods here."

Danny J Albers presents Sorry Anthony Colpo - Truly Keto Athletes Do Exist posted at Primal North, saying, "As a NEW approach to performance, its amazing what can be accomplished on a ketogenic diet. Here we examine a few low carb athletes and a few truly ketogenic athletes. Are they elite? You decide. A lady powerlifter squatting 500+, an ultra runner 30 miles (not a typo) ahead of the pack 23 hours in. Another finishing 1st place male in a 100 mile race. And a legend of body building. Perhaps if ketones alone can power these guys through their insane training loads, it can also support the more modest aspirations of those of us just trying to lose some more weight and get fitter? So for those that have stated its impossible, my response."

Emily presents Savory Slow Cooker Short Ribs posted at Girl meats Paleo, saying, "A quick to prep, slow cook up of readily available ingredients for something special on a week day night."

Amy Kubal presents C'mon Get Happy! posted at Robb Wolf, saying, "Are you 'chasing a dangling carrot'? Is happiness really in a deadlift weight or body fat percentage? Don't you think it's time to get HAPPY??"

Max Ungar presents 41 Lessons I Learned From Freshman Year posted at Caveman College, saying, "Here are some lessons I learned over my Freshman Year of college."

J. Stanton presents The Calorie Paradox: Did Four Rice Chex Make America Fat? (Part II of "There Is No Such Thing As A Calorie") posted at GNOLLS.ORG, saying, "Several studies and statistics which conclusively prove that a calorie is not a calorie, the '3500-calorie rule" is bogus, and "calorie math" doesn't work."

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #87: Paleo Pitfalls – part 1 posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "This week's podcast explores some of the common pitfalls that people face as they adopt a Paleo diet/lifestyle including gluten and vegetable oil exposure, eating the proper amount of carbohydrates, and sources of calcium in the Paleo diet."

Rebekah Reddy presents Simple Asparagus with Butter posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "This no frills approach to one of my favorite spring vegetables is quick and easy to make and has butter, of course!"

Hsieh Forbes OpEd: Why 3D Guns Could Be Good For America

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

The 5/7/2013 online edition of Forbes published my latest OpEd, "Why 3D-Printed Untraceable Guns Could Be Good For America".
Here is the opening:

In the past few days, Forbes writer Andy Greenberg broke a pair of dramatic stories on Cody Wilson’s quest to build an untraceable plastic gun using commercially available 3D-printing technology. First, Greenberg published exclusive photos of the completed firearm, then he reported on a successful test firing of a live .380 cartridge.

Although the technology is still in its infancy, Wilson’s innovation has already sparked heated debate. Some gun rights advocates (including Wilson) argue this means current gun laws will soon be obsolete. They welcome the fact that home hobbyists may soon be able to build functioning firearms without any background check or government record. Others are alarmed, concerned that this would enable criminals to more easily obtain firearms. Congressman Steve Israel has already stated his intent to modify current laws to ban such guns.

However, Congressman Israel may be too late. Once thousands of motivated hobbyists start downloading open source gun designs and posting their refinements, we’ll likely see rapid technical advances. But Cody Wilson’s real impact on America may not be technological but political — and in a good way...

(Read the full text of "Why 3D-Printed Untraceable Guns Could Be Good For America".)

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-05-11T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 12 May 2013: Q&A on Taxes, Infanticide, EMTALA, Communication, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 12 May 2013.

Question 1: Taxes Versus Slavery: Are high taxes comparable to slavery? On Facebook, some friends suggest that America is becoming more like Nazi Germany. Others share images comparing Americans workers to slaves picking cotton in the antebellum south due to our ever-higher taxes. I think these comparisons go way too far: Americans are still some of the freest people the world has ever known. No doubt, our freedom is being chipped away, but are we really like slaves or serfs?
Question 2: Infanticide After Abortion: Is killing a baby born after an abortion a form of murder? Kermit Gosnell is currently on trial for murder, due to accusations that he killed infants who were delivered in abortions at his clinic. If the facts are as reported, should he be convicted of murder? What should be done when a baby is born alive during an abortion? What are the likely cultural and political implications of this trial?
Question 3: Emergency Medical Care: Do people have a right to "stabilizing medical care"? EMTALA (a.k.a. the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) is a federal law that requires ERs to stabilize any patient with an emergency medical condition, regardless of the patient's ability to pay. Is that proper? Is that the same as a right to medical care? Does it matter that EMTALA only applies to emergency rooms that accept Medicare patients?
Question 4: Poor Communication from the Boss: How can I make my boss more communicative? My boss hardly ever tells me company news affecting my projects, even when critical. As a result, I've wasted days and weeks on useless work, and I've gotten into needless conflicts with co-workers. I'm always guessing at what I should be doing, and I just hate that. What can I do to make my boss to be more communicative with me?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 12 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 15 May 2013: Paul McKeever on "Advancing Liberty Through Politics"

I'll interview political activist Paul McKeever about "Advancing Liberty Through Politics" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 15 May 2013.

Can a political party help advance the cause of liberty? Perhaps so, in a parliamentary system. Paul McKeever will explain how and why he advocates for individual rights via the Freedom Party of Ontario.

Paul McKeever is the Leader of Freedom Party of Ontario. Paul joined Freedom Party in 1992. He first ran as a candidate for Freedom Party in Ontario's 1999 election. He became a Freedom Party spokesperson that year in 1999, and the party leader in 2002.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 15 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

5 May 2013: Q&A on Sense of Life, Taxing Friendship, Rights-Violators, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

What is the relationship between personality and sense of life? Am I obliged to help a friend in trouble due to her own poor choices? Is it wrong to be indifferent to the rights-violations of people who advocate rights-violations?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:11:20
Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.7 MB) or Standard MP3 File (24.5 MB)
Tags: Activism, Benevolence, Celebrities, Charity, Communication, Emotions, Ethics, Friendship, Integrity, Judgment, Justice, Moral Wrongs, Objectivism, Personality, Personal Values, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Rights, Self-Destruction, Sense of Life

8 May 2013: Dr. Doug McGuff on "Avoiding the Emergency Room"

I interviewed emergency medicine physician Dr. Doug McGuff about "Avoiding the Emergency Room" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

"People often think of major medical disasters as unpredictable "black swan" events. In fact, emergency physicians see the same injuries from the same causes time and again, and ordinary people can lessen those risks by their own choices. Dr. McGuff explained the risks, how to mitigate them, and how to best cope if you or a loved one lands in the emergency room." Dr. Doug McGuff is an emergency medicine doctor practicing in South Carolina. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio in 1989, and then trained in Emergency Medicine at the University of Arkansas, where he served as Chief Resident. From there, Dr. McGuff served as Faculty in the Wright State University Emergency Medicine Residency and was a staff Emergency Physician at Wright-Patterson AFB Hospital. Today, Dr. McGuff is a partner with Blue Ridge Emergency Physicians. I interviewed Dr. Doug McGuff about fitness, weightlifting, and high-intensity exercise in December 2012.

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 1:10:52
Download: Standard MP3 File (24.4 MB)
Tags: Crime, Ethics, Health, Medicine, Persistence, Relationships, Risk, Sports, Stress, Values

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

May 6: Activism Recap
May 6: NoodleCast #212: Sense of Life, Taxing Friendship, Rights-Violators, and More
May 6: Dr. Beth Haynes on Health Insurance
May 6: Words I Love: Contronyms and Autoholonyms
May 7: Preview: Wednesday Radio: Dr. Doug McGuff on Avoiding the Emergency Room
May 7: CSG at the Colorado Supreme Court Tomorrow
May 7: Free Objectivists Books Project
May 8: New Questions in the Queue
May 8: Personal Motives for Benevolence
May 8: Two Chips, Too Funny
May 9: NoodleCast #213: Dr. Doug McGuff on Avoiding the Emergency Room
May 9: Make More Progress
May 9: Fourteen Years of Marriage
May 10: Preview: Sunday Radio: Taxes, Infanticide, EMTALA, Communication, and More
May 10: Magic in Denver: Sleightly Impossible
May 10: Link-O-Rama
May 10: Paul Hsieh Forbes OpEd: 3D-Printed Guns Could Be Good For America

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #161

2013-05-10T16:24:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Elizabeth Leitch-Devlin presents Calcium posted at Mostly Meat Is What I Eat, saying, "What are good sources of calcium, what nutrients are needed for healthy bones, and how much calcium do we really need anyway? Find out more in my latest post."

Kris Gunnars presents Top 11 Superfoods That Can Save Your Life posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "Some foods are healthier than others. These 11 foods are either highly nutritious or contain unique bioactive compounds that have powerful health benefits."

Sean Coonce presents 1500 Facebook Fan Giveaway posted at FreeRange Human, saying, "Celebrating the 1500 facebook fan milestone, I'm hosting a giveaway featuring US Wellness, Fatworks Tallow, Pure Indian Foods Ghee, new copy of Gather and a Bacon for a Cure T shirt."

Sabine presents Shakshuka Sunday posted at CrossFit CatCave, saying, "From now on, Sundays are Shakshuka Sundays!"

Neely Quinn presents Wise Choice Market $100 Giveaway! posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "Get $100 in organic fermented veggies and coconut ice cream!"

Nell Stephenson presents Gluten Free is Not A Punishment posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson shares her sentiments on gluten free, Paleo living being a gift, not a punishment and encourages readers to do the same."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Seafood Paella, A Puerto Rican Inspired Entrée posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "This recipe is based on Angel's father's authentic Puerto Rican recipe and we promise, you will be so glad you tried it! Even better? It freezes really well, so you can make extra and have ready to go dinner...just reheat and enjoy!"

Peggy Emch presents March Against Monsanto posted at The Primal Parent.

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents A little more on eating whatever you want posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "The key to 'eating whatever you want" is learning what you really want. When you,work all that out is when paleo/primal eating really gets fun."

Eileen Laird presents Healing Foods: Juice Jello posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Healing foods can be fun! Learn more about the benefits of gelatin and how to make this tasty treat at home."

Eileen Laird presents When Painkillers are GOOD for You posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Striving to bring balance to the discussion of pain in the real food and alternative health communities."

Patrick Clark presents Getting the Sleep of Your Dreams by Optimizing Circadian Rhythms posted at Paleo All the Way, saying, "This article summarizes three decades of personal study and experimentation on sleep, diet, health and metabolism. Since this is presenting mostly theory, there was a need to somehow test the hypothesis."

Diana Hsieh presents Dr. Doug McGuff on Avoiding the Emergency Room posted at NoodleFood, saying, "On Wednesday, I interviewed (paleo) emergency medicine physician Dr. Doug McGuff about how to avoid offing yourself prematurely on my internet radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio. The interview wasn't about diet or nutrition per se, but rather about the risky activities that land people in the emergency room or morgue... and that's not where any of us want to be!"

The Cavegirls presents Chocolate Birthday Cake posted at Northwest Cavegirls, saying, "Made my non-paleo Hubby this very Yummy chocolate chip birthday cake with a dark chocolate drizzle icing for his special day. He and the kids loved it!"

The Cavegirls presents Paleo Sandwich Bread posted at Northwest Cavegirls, saying, "I was looking for a great sandwich bread for my kids lunch. This one has a nice crunchy crust, moist middle and goes great with almond butter and paleo jelly!"

Kevin Geary presents How to Eat at a Restaurant and Escape Unscathed posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "Eating at restaurants isn't optimal, but it's inevitable. Here's seven actionable tips for making the best of it and escaping unharmed."

Rebekah Reddy presents Half Indian Pantry Staples: Ghee posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "Ghee is a wonderful cooking fat that is versatile and delicious, and often well-tolerated by those who don't tolerate dairy products. It is easy to make, too, and something any lover of Indian food should have in their pantry."

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #86: Talking Paleo pregnancy, baby and books with Arsy! posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "Arsy Vartanian is the author and chef of the Paleo recipe and lifestyle blog, Rubies and Radishes and the cookbook, The Paleo Slow Cooker. In an effort to achieve optimal health and wellness, she discovered Crossfit and the Paleo diet in 2008. On today's podcast, we talk Paleo pregnancy, babies, and motherhood with Arsy."

Rebekah Reddy presents 21-Day Sugar Detox Success Stories {February-April 2013 Groups} posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "This week we're sharing some of our 21-Day Sugar Detox success stories from the last few months. These Sugar Slayers are an inspiration to us all!"

J. Stanton presents Interview: J. Stanton on the “Everyday Paleo Life and Fitness” Podcast with Jason Seib posted at GNOLLS.ORG, saying, "A podcast interview with Jason Seib of EPLifeFit.com – in which we discuss three studies proving that a calorie is not a calorie, my basic four-point weight-loss plan for beginners, sustainable motivation for diet and life changes, and much more!"

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-05-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 5 May 2013: Q&A on Sense of Life, Burdensome Friend, Rights-Violators, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 5 May 2013.

Question 1: Personality and Sense of Life: What is the relationship between personality and sense of life? What is the difference between them? How does a person's sense of life relate to his personality? Does understanding someone's sense of life help us to understand his personality and vice versa?
Question 2: Helping a Self-Destructive Friend: Am I obliged to help a friend in trouble due to her own poor choices? I have a friend who is emotionally draining to me, and she is especially "down on her luck" this month. However, her situation is a direct result of especially poor personal choices over the last year, and there is no good path to get her out of the hole of poverty and depression. We don't have much in common other than similar-aged kids, and active participation in a local moms' group, but because I have come to her aid in the past, I feel an unspoken obligation to continue. (Maybe it's guilt or pity, or empathy?) What are my obligations in a friendship that has recently become more taxing than beneficial? I don't dislike her, and we have many mutual friends, but I just don't think I can muster the time, financial resources, or energy this time to help bail her out of the latest fiasco. Is it morally acceptable to refuse to help? Should I talk to her about why now – or wait until she's less vulnerable?
Question 3: Taxes Versus Slavery: Are high taxes comparable to slavery? On Facebook, some friends suggest that America is becoming more like Nazi Germany. Others share images comparing Americans workers to slaves picking cotton in the antebellum south due to our ever-higher taxes. I think these comparisons go way too far: Americans are still some of the freest people the world has ever known. No doubt, our freedom is being chipped away, but are we really like slaves or serfs?
Question 4: Concern for the Rights of Rights-Violators: Is it wrong to be indifferent to the rights-violations of people who advocate rights-violations? Some celebrities actively promote the violation of rights by lending their support to political groups. For example, former American Idol contestant Krista Branch has actively campaigned against gay marriage on behalf of Focus on the Family. However, in a recent interview, Branch complained that people were pirating her songs. I know that Branch's intellectual property rights should be respected, and I would never pirate her music. Yet I can't feel any sympathy for her, given that she advocates violating other people's rights. I'm of the opinion that people who advocate for the use of force against others should not be spared from the consequences of the kind of culture that creates. Is that wrong? Am I being malevolent? Should I defend her rights, even though she advocates violating my rights?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 5 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 8 May 2013: Dr. Doug McGuff on "Avoiding the Emergency Room"

I'll interview ER physician Dr. Doug McGuff about "Avoiding the Emergency Room" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 8 May 2013.

People often think of major medical disasters as unpredictable "black swan" events. In fact, emergency room doctors see the same injuries from the same causes time and again, and ordinary people can lessen those risks by their own choices. Dr. McGuff will explain the risks, how to mitigate them, and how to best cope if you or a loved one lands in the emergency room.

Dr. Doug McGuff is an emergency medicine doctor practicing in South Carolina. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio in 1989, and then went on to train in Emergency Medicine at the University of Arkansas, where he served as Chief Resident. From there, Dr. McGuff served as Faculty in the Wright State University Emergency Medicine Residency and was a staff Emergency Physician at Wright-Patterson AFB Hospital. Today, Dr. McGuff is a partner with Blue Ridge Emergency Physicians. I interviewed Dr. Doug McGuff about fitness, weightlifting, and high-intensity exercise in December 2012.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 8 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

28 April 2013: Q&A on Marriage, Religious Ceremonies, Space Travel, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Can marriage be self-interested? Is it wrong for an atheist to refuse to attend a sibling's religious ceremony? Is multigenerational space travel immoral? Is taking antidepressants and other prescribed drugs for mental problems a form of evasion?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:06:24
Download: Enhanced M4A File (23.9 MB) or Standard MP3 File (22.9 MB)
Tags: Atheism, Children, Communication, Compromise, Egoism, Ethics, Evasion, Family, Free Society, Health, Integrity, Judaism, Marriage, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Parenting, Psychology, Religion, Rights, Romance, Sacrifice, Sanction, Self-Interest, Siblings

1 May 2013: Jim Manley on "Concealed Carry on Campus" I interviewed gun rights litigator Jim Manley about "Concealed Carry on Campus" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio: "Many people assume that college campuses are – and should be – gun free zones. Jim Manley explains why concealed carry permit holders should be permitted to carry on campus." Jim Manley is a Staff Attorney at Mountain States Legal Foundation. He received his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, where he served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review and President of the Federalist Society. Jim was the lead attorney on the many Mountain States Legal Foundation cases concerning firearms, including Students for Concealed Carry on Campus v. Regents of the University of Colorado, which was a state court challenge to the University's ban on licensed concealed carry on campus. You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 55:59
Download: Standard MP3 File (19.3 MB)
Tags: Activism, Colorado, Democrats, Firearms, Government, Rights, Self-Defense

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

April 27: Merlin Loves Prosciutto
April 28: Activism Recap
April 29: NoodleCast #210: Marriage, Religious Ceremonies, Space Travel, and More
April 29: Cato Libertarians for Gun Control?
April 29: Expressions of Mere Opinion
April 30: Preview: Wednesday Radio: Jim Manley on Concealed Carry on Campus
April 30: Computer Security Versus User Stupidity
May 1: God, Tips, and Privacy
May 1: Paul Hsieh Forbes OpEd: Big Brother Has A New Face, And It's Your Boss
May 2: NoodleCast #211: Jim Manley on Concealed Carry on Campus
May 2: Interest Rates and Hard Currency
May 2: Over 18,000 Listeners on Sunday!
May 3: Preview: Sunday Radio: Sense of Life, Taxing Friendship, Rights-Violators, and More
May 3: Life's Great Potential
May 3: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #160

2013-05-03T15:46:00.002-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents Top 11 Health Foods That Can Kill You posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "Not all 'health foods" are actually healthy, even though it says so on the label. Here are 11 unhealthy foods mistakenly considered to be healthy."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Succotash, A Vegetable Medley with Ham and Sausage posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "This delicious succotash is perfect for any meal - Breakfast? Yes, tastes great re-heated! Lunch? Awesome! Dinner? Fantastic. Hearty and with a little kick, this recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser!"

Nell Stephenson presents According to a Study posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson expresses her frustration with studies being conducted on inane subjects rather than proving that Paleo works as a cure for many diseases."

Adam Farrah presents Strong Keeps Getting Stronger posted at Practical Paleolithic, saying, "Strong is the New Skinny on Facebook just passed 100,000! This post is a commentary on SINS, Paleo, CrossFit and how a 'perfect storm" came together to make it all happen."

Neely Quinn presents From 50% to 10% Body Fat and Allergies and Heartburn Gone posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "A fantastic success story with Paleo!"

Kevin Geary presents The 100 Calorie Snack Pack Lie posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "The '100 calorie snack pack" proves that the calories-in, calories-out model is severely broken. It's time to point out how insane the idea of a 100 calorie pack of something really is."

Peggy Emch presents Birth Control, NuvaRing, and Deception posted at The Primal Parent, saying, "The recent news about the NuvaRing lawsuit is one of hundreds of lawsuits filed against big drug companies. Consumers and doctors call into question the safety of certain prescription drugs and the marketing practices of companies like Merc and Co.."

Danny J Albers presents Rich, thick, delicious Primal High Fat Caesar Dressing posted at Primal North Recipes, saying, "Ideal for those who welcome dietary fat! A Caesar dressing worthy of the title 'mighty". Inspired by the gut friendly recipes at the Digestive Health Institute with my own Primal North twist."

Suz Crawt presents 20 Unusual Uses For Avocado posted at The Paleo Network, saying, "20 things you didn't now you can do with avocado..."

Patrick Clark presents footloose and chairfree: the hunter/gatherer/GEEK posted at Paleo All the Way, saying, "How to turn your sedentary office into an all day workout using a new way of thinking about furniture and creating a space for the hunter/gatherer/Geek."

Eileen Laird presents Traveling on the Paleo Diet posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "When you're on a restricted diet, traveling can seem out of reach, but the world is too big and beautiful for us to stay house-bound. Thankfully, bloggers across the internet have written some wonderful advice on how to eat GAPS and Paleo on road trips, plane trips, and even international travel."

Eileen Laird presents Carrie's Story posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Another autoimmune success story! Carrie healed Hashimoto's through GAPS and Paleo principles, and shares her journey in a detailed interview."

Charissa Talbot presents ER nurse transitions to Paleo and now uses Practical Paleo as a textbook posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "An ER nurse in Bend, Oregon discovered the benefits of the Paleo diet and is using Diane Sanfilippo's Practical Paleo as a textbook in a Real Food Academy to help others improve their health. A real life inspiration!"

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #85: Dating, wine, pre-colonoscopy food, being too clean? posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "This week's podcast topics include dating and Paleo, pre-colonoscopy prep, wine, and probiotic cleansers. And we now have a full transcript available for last week's podcast!"

Rebekah Reddy presents Pastrami Roll-ups posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "Need a light lunch or snack? Pastrami Roll-ups combine all the goodness of pastrami and spicy brown mustard without the grains. And there is a secret ingredient that makes it even more delicious!"

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents Why would I want to do a paleo challenge? posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "Our CrossFit gym is starting a 30-day paleo challenge soon, and I thought I would encourage participation, but not so much for the 'challenge" part. Instead, I want folks to participate so, at the end of 30 days, the real fun can begin: figuring out an individualized food/diet plan that really works for every participant."

Sabine presents Doro Wat with Chicken posted at CrossFit CatCave, saying, "Delicious recipe based on the Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents What's up with your gut? posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Sometimes, the damage from eating grains for so long is so bad in a person, that it is necessary for them to reset their gut. On Monday, I will be eating nothing but pemmican for at least 1 week. I will record on, my blog, what does, or does not, happen with my body as a result. If you have need of a gut reset, or have been wondering about pemmican for you and/or your family, this is the place to read more about it."

Louise Yang presents Paleo Kale and Chives Egg Muffins posted at Ancestral Chef, saying, "A simple and delicious recipe for getting more kale into your breakfast!"

Hsieh Forbes OpEd: Big Brother Has A New Face, And It's Your Boss

2013-04-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

Forbes has just published my latest OpEd, "Big Brother Has A New Face, And It's Your Boss".

I discuss how government policies linking employment to health insurance create a powerful incentive for your boss to control his costs by controlling your lifestyle.

My takehome point:

...[I]t’s wrong for the government to use economic carrots and sticks to induce private employers to become enforcers of healthy behavior. This is just a subtler form of “nanny state” controls, such as NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg outlawing soft drinks he considers unhealthy.

And once employers start monitoring employee behavior on the grounds of “health costs,” there’s no end to the potential meddling. Who will be the next politically disfavored group after smokers or the obese? Do we want bosses discouraging their employees from owning guns or enjoying mountain biking on the weekends? This is a dangerous road.

(Read the full text of "Big Brother Has A New Face, And It's Your Boss".)

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-04-27T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 28 April 2013: Q&A on Marriage, Religious Ceremonies, Space Travel, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 28 April 2013.

Question 1: Self-Interest in Marriage: Can marriage be self-interested? Most people describe marriage as requiring compromise, sacrifice, and concession. Is that right? Is a happy and fulfilling marriage possible where each person pursues his or her own values, without such compromise, sacrifice, or concession? Is some different approach to marriage required?
Question 2: Attending Religious Ceremonies: Is it wrong for an atheist to refuse to attend a sibling's religious ceremony? I've decided not to attend the religious ceremony of my younger sister's upcoming Bat Mitzvah. I'm an atheist, and while I don't think attending would be immoral, I don't want to support any kind of religiosity or connection to religion. Other family members have criticized me for that decision, saying that I should support my sister and not pressure her into agreeing with my own views. Should I attend? If not, how should I handle the family dynamics?
Question 3: Multigenerational Space Travel: Is multigenerational space travel immoral? According to a panel at SETICon 2012, the designs for multi-generational space ships are already in the works. Are there ethical problems with people bearing children who will never see Earth, and likely never set foot on a planet? Would they be robbed of any ability to determine their own fate? Or is it a moot point since had the circumstances been different, they might not have ever been born at all?
Question 4: Drugs as Treatment for Mental Illness: Is taking antidepressants and other prescribed drugs for mental problems a form of evasion? I'm new to the philosophy of Objectivism, and I've seen that it's rapidly helping cure the last parts of a depression I went through last year. I started taking Adderal about 8 months ago, and it has helped extensively. But I wonder: Is taking these drugs or other antidepressants conflicting with the principle that a person should never evade reality?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 28 April 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 1 May 2013: Jim Manley on "Concealed Carry on Campus"

I'll interview gun rights litigator Jim Manley about "Concealed Carry on Campus" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 1 May 2013.

Many people assume that college campuses are – and should be – gun free zones. Jim Manley will explain why concealed carry permit holders should be permitted to carry on campus.

Jim Manley is a Staff Attorney at Mountain States Legal Foundation. He received his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, where he served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review and President of the Federalist Society. Jim was the lead attorney on the many Mountain States Legal Foundation cases concerning firearms, including Students for Concealed Carry on Campus v. Regents of the University of Colorado, which was a state court challenge to the University's ban on licensed concealed carry on campus.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 1 May 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

21 April 2013: Q&A on Mental Illness, Abused Children, Resisting Police, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Is mental illness nothing more than a myth? What should the state's role be in dealing with abused children? When is it moral to resist police action?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:09:09
Download: Enhanced M4A File (24.9 MB) or Standard MP3 File (23.8 MB)
Tags: Children, Crime, Ethics, Firearms, Free Society, Government, Health, Justice, Law, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Meta-Ethics, Parents, Philosophy, Police, Psychology, Relativism, Rights, Self-Defense, Subconscious, Subjectivism

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

April 20: Vitamin D and Respiratory Infections
April 22: Activism Recap
April 22: NoodleCast #209: Mental Illness, Abused Children, Resisting Police, and More
April 22: The Lone Juror
April 23: No Philosophy in Action on Wednesday
April 23: Password Security
April 23: Cuddling Our Cats
April 24: New Questions in the Queue
April 24: Joshua Lipana
April 25: Spiritual and Financial Fuel for Philosophy in Action
April 25: Write to Oppose the Disastrous Internet Sales Tax Bill Today
April 26: Preview: Sunday Radio: Marriage, Religious Ceremonies, Space Travel, and More
April 26: Pimp Fascist Philosopher
April 26: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #159

2013-04-26T10:30:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents 10 Things Dietitians Say About Low-Carb Diets That Don’t Make Sense posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "There are many myths out there about low-carb diets, even among health professionals. Here are 10 things dietitians say about low-carb diets that are false."

Neely Quinn presents Bad News, Guys: Coffee Can Look Like Gluten to Your Body posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "Thought your coffee was above all scrutiny? Just consider this for a moment."

Paul Austin presents How to Deal With Gluten Intolerance While On The Road posted at Travel 'n' Wellness, saying, "Do you have celiac disease or are you intolerant to gluten? If you travel at all, this post is a must-read for you!"

Nell Stephenson presents A Paleo Revolution posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleoista Nell Stephenson thanks her readers and supporters for all their positive feedback the Dr. Oz show on April 22, 2013 where she was featured with Dr Loren Cordain, PhD as a Paleo Expert and wonders if it could mean the start of a Paleo Revolution."

Kevin Geary presents Are Crossfit Workouts a Good Choice for Reaching Weight Loss Goals? posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "Crossfit is gaining in popularity; stay at home moms, CEO dads, and everyone in between are flocking to it in droves for exercise and weight loss. But is it a good strategy for everyday people, or is it a potential nightmare?"

Danny J Albers presents Yes, you can be spiritual AND Paleo! posted at Primal North, saying, "A post on the absurdity of dismissing a person's nutritional thoughts due to their spiritual belief system. We could also call this 'In Defence of Jimmy Moore."."

Eileen Laird presents Beef Heart with Chimichurri Sauce posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "If you can get over the shock factor, beef heart has a taste and texture similar to steak, but with much more nutrition. In this article, I walk you through the steps, to a delicious finished meal."

Eileen Laird presents My Body is NOT My Enemy posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "When we have health problems, we often feel betrayed by our bodies, and conventional medicine definitely promotes this view. I offer an alternative perspective, that our bodies need (and deserve) our love, instead."

Amy Kubal presents Veggie Burgers, Meatless Chicken And Paleo Bread posted at Robb Wolf, saying, "Crossing the lines - are we pushing the limits of paleo??"

Rebekah Reddy presents Real Food Pregnancy posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "My real food journey has changed tremendously through my three pregnancies (the last one still in progress!). Read about how my eating habits have evolved over the last seven years to become more nutrient-dense and nourishing for both baby and me."

Rebekah Reddy presents FAQ: How do I modify the 21DSD if I am pregnant or breastfeeding? posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "Pregnancy and the postpartum period are filled with many changes to women’s bodies, and they are both times when moms may reevaluate their diets and lifestyles to provide the best nutrition for their own bodies and those of their growing babies. This post details the modifications that pregnant and breastfeeding women need to make in order to successfully complete the 21-Day Sugar Detox."

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #84: Guest Kendall Kendrick of Primal-Balance.com posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "This week on the podcast, Diane and Liz talk with Kendall Kendrick of Primal-Balance.com about local food policy, urban homesteading, and her upcoming poster presentation at AHS 2013."

Chris Hiestand presents Who's in charge here? The 7-Day Take Charge Challenge posted at PrimalPal, saying, "Are you taking charge of your health and fitness? Why or why not? If you could use a little help take this 7-Day Take Charge Challenge."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents "I eat whatever I want" posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "At Paleo FX, one of the highlights was when Sarah Fragoso explained, 'I eat whatever I want." The key to her inspiring talk was learning what you really want."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents Everything Affects Everything posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "The most important part of paleo/primal eating is taking control of your life by learning what really works for you, foodwise. And the most important realization along the way is that everything you do – sleep, food, exercise – affects everything else."

Peggy Emch presents Traveling With a Baby and a Kid posted at The Primal Parent, saying, "Have you traveled with your kids? If you've been afraid to get out there with little ones, don't be. It's an experience to remember!"

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-04-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 21 April 2013: Q&A on Mental Illness, Abused Children, Resisting Police, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 21 April 2013.

Question 1: The Reality of Mental Illness: Is mental illness nothing more than a myth? It seems that many members of the free-market movement are enthused about the theory, promulgated by the likes of Thomas Szasz and Jeffrey A. Schaler, that there is no such thing as mental illness. They say that if one cannot pinpoint a direct physiological cause for behavior considered "mentally ill," there are no grounds for referring to that behavior as a symptom of some "illness." Furthermore, they argue that the concept of "mental illness" is simply a term that the social establishment uses to stigmatize nonconformist behavior of which it does not approve. Is there anything to these claims? If not, what's the proper understanding of the basic nature of mental illness?
Question 2: The State's Role with Abused Children: What should the state's role be in dealing with abused children? The state needs to remove children from homes where they're being abused--where their rights are being violated. But what should it then do with them? Should the state care for them until it can find a new home for them? How should it provide that care? If it cannot find a new home for a child, what happens to that child? Should the State raise the child to adulthood?
Question 3: Resisting Illegitimate Police Action: When is it moral to resist police action? Last year, the governor of Indiana signed a bill into law granting protection to citizens that resist the unlawful actions of a public servant. If a police officer enters your home without your knowledge or consent – legally or illegally – and you have no way of knowing whether he is an unlawful intruder, are you morally justified in taking violent action against him? When is it moral to forcibly resist police actions?
Question 4: Attending Religious Ceremonies: Is it wrong for an atheist to refuse to attend a sibling's religious ceremony? I've decided not to attend the religious ceremony of my younger sister's upcoming Bat Mitzvah. I'm an atheist, and while I don't think attending would be immoral, I don't want to support any kind of religiosity or connection to religion. Other family members have criticized me for that decision, saying that I should support my sister and not pressure her into agreeing with my own views. Should I attend? If not, how should I handle the family dynamics?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 21 April 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Note: Philosophy in Action Radio will not broadcast on Wednesday, 24 April 2013.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

14 April 2013: Q&A on Obesity, Parental Consent, Negative Terms, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Is it right or wrong to condemn people for being obese? Should minor girls be required by law to obtain parental consent for an abortion? Should people define themselves using the negative term "atheist"? Should a life-loving person always wish to live longer?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:07:25
Download: Enhanced M4A File (24.3 MB) or Standard MP3 File (23.2 MB)
Tags: Abortion, Atheism, Communication, Culture, Death, Discrimination, Epistemology, Ethics, Food, Health, Law, Life, Medicine, Meta-Ethics, Motivation, Nutrition, Obesity, Parenting, Pregnancy, Relationships, Religion, Rights, Sex, Values, Young Adults

17 April 2013: Eric Barnhill on "Cognition, Movement, and Music"

I interviewed pianist and graduate student in medical physics Eric Barnhill about "Cognition, Movement, and Music" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

"How does cognition connect to physical movement, tone, and rhythm? Can moving to music help the development of cognitive skills and capacities, particularly in children?" Eric Barnhill is a Juilliard-trained concert pianist and the creator of Cognitive Eurhythmics music movement therapy. He is pursuing a Ph.D in medical physics at the University of Edinburgh, where he studies brain-muscle interaction using magnetic resonance physics.

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 1:02:34
Download: Standard MP3 File (21.5 MB)
Tags: Children, Education, Epistemology, Mind, Mind-Body Connection, Music, Parenting

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

April 13: Never Too Rich or Too Thin?
April 13: My Farrier at Work
April 14: Open Thread #390
April 14: Activism Recap
April 15: NoodleCast #207: Obesity, Parental Consent, Negative Terms, and More
April 15: Three More Tips on Managing Email
April 15: Punctuating Sexual Desire
April 16: Preview: Wednesday Radio: Eric Barnhill on Cognition, Movement, and Music
April 16: On the Boston Marathon Bombing
April 17: New Questions in the Queue
April 17: A Teaser for Tonight's Interview with Eric Barnhill
April 17: Technology in War
April 18: NoodleCast #208: Eric Barnhill on Cognition, Movement, and Music
April 18: A New Documentary from Chris Mortensen on Education?
April 19: Preview: Sunday Radio: Mental Illness, Abused Children, Resisting Police, and More
April 19: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #158

2013-04-19T08:54:00.001-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents 7 Healthy Low-Carb Meals in Under 10 Minutes posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "These 7 meals are healthy, delicious and very low in carbs. They are made with simple ingredients, taste good and can be prepared in under 10 minutes."

Danny J Albers presents Life without plants - Lessons from the Inuit and today's zero carbers posted at Primal North, saying, "What can we learn from those who do not eat plants? Lessons from the practical application of life without plants in this attempt to sort out some facts from dogma."

Sabine presents Whole 30 Tips posted at CrossFit CatCave, saying, "Tips and guidelines to help the Whole30 Journey on it's way!"

Nell Stephenson presents Still Drinking Milk as a Calcium Source? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson writes about the misconception that dairy is a good way to get one's calcium."

Neely Quinn presents The Art of Losing Weight without Exercise posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "A couple things you should keep in mind if you can't exercise for some reason and you're trying to lose weight."

Wendy Schwartz presents Corporate Greed Prevents Sound Nutrition Advice posted at Go Paleo!, saying, "Pharmaceutical companies and major food manufacturers often fund studies and pay experts in order to slant the research results to their favor despite the actual outcome of studies. This article takes a look at how corporate greed influences science."

Kevin Geary presents Quiet the Resistance: Overcome The Voice of Fear and Failure While Rebooting Your Body posted at The Rebooted Body, saying, "Conquer the fear and inner voice of failure that consumes so many during weight loss, health, and fitness transformation."

Louise Yang presents Why Aren't Potatoes Paleo? posted at Ancestral Chef, saying, "Why aren't potatoes paleo but sweet potatoes are? This post compares their nutrition profiles and looks at GIs and saponins."

Patrick Clark presents Paleo Sleep Challenge Interview with Patrick Clark posted at Paleo All the Way, saying, "Interview with paleo Sleep Expert Patrick Clark, who spent two months taking Paleo Diet and LIfestyle to the ultimate test, living in a tipi in mid winter with no heat, testing sleep/metabolism factors like sleeping on a hard surface, circadian rhythms, grounding, and Cold Thermogenesis. Results were amazing!"

Danny J Albers presents 5 Simple Workouts You Will Never Outgrow posted at Primal North, saying, "5 simple workouts that only get harder as you get fitter."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Paleo Bridal Boot Camp posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "You don't have to be getting ready to walk down the aisle to give yourself a paleo booster. Need to tighten up your eating plan or workouts? This is the place to come. This is 'old school' paleo. mostly fats and meats kind of eating. If you start now, by the end of May, you could look even more amazing!"

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Paleo friendly and nightsahde free avocado dip posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "A tasty avocado dip/spread that will not aggravate your joints and is paleo all the way."

Diana Hsieh presents Never Too Rich or Too Thin? posted at NoodleFood, saying, "Why you might want to take some care before complementing someone on weight loss..."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents A little clarity amidst the coffee and awesomeness.... posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "Fasting all morning, fueled by coffee, can be a great fat burner and great for mental clarity, but you can't combine that with an early a.m. workout.. The two just don't work together."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents "Shouldn't" versus "Don't" posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "How you think about non-paleo food may determine how much of a struggle it is to stay away from it. Here's an idea...."

Eileen Laird presents My Body is NOT My Enemy posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "A reflection on the power of words in the healing process."

Eileen Laird presents Beef Heart with Chimichurri Sauce posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "We all know we should eat organ meats. My goal is to show they can be as delicious as they are nutritious. Heart meat actually tastes a lot like steak."

Rebekah Reddy presents Grain-free, Sweetener-free Pumpkin Pie Muffinettes posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "These 'muffinettes" look like cookies, but taste like pumpkin pie muffins! They are sweetener-free and great for breakfast or snacks. And they're 21DSD-friendly!"

Diane Sanfilippo presents Podcast Episode #83: All about digestion: bloating, constipation, IBS and more posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "This week's Balanced Bites podcast focuses on digestive issues including bloating, constipation, IBS, and more."

Rebekah Reddy presents Recipe Roundup from Fellow Sugar Slayers posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "We’ve recently added a recipe index to the 21-Day Sugar Detox blog, but there are some Sugar Slayers who have been developing and posting recipes that are 21DSD-compliant (and they look delicious, too!). Take a look for some new recipe ideas."

Chris presents The Simple 3-Step Process to Achieving Your Health and Fitness Goals posted at PrimalPal, saying, "Achieving your health and fitness goals doesn't have to be difficult. Use this easy three step process to achieve any health and fitness goal you have."

Jess presents Crunchy Kale posted at The Paleo Professional, saying, "A little inspiration and a time saving tip for your homemade kale chips."

The Cavegirls presents Coconut Flour Pumpkin Muffins posted at Northwest Cavegirls.

Sabine presents Vegetarian to Carnivore posted at CrossFit CatCave, saying, "How to switch from being a vegetarian into a Paleo carnivore. My rekindled relationship with meat after 15+ years!"

Peggy Emch presents Starch, Carbs, and Paleo posted at The Primal Parent, saying, "According to Dr. Ron Rosedale, starch breaks down into glucose and glucose is toxic... As Dr. Kresser explained last year at AHS, the evidence against starch doesn’t add up... Paul Jaminet, who popularized the term “safe starches,” advocates moderate starch intake on a Paleo diet as opposed to the low carb approach that so many others favor. I am with him on this. Since learning to navigate the restrictions of fructose malabsorption, I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl."

Yes, You Can Be Too Thin

2013-04-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

Last week, I stumbled on this blog post -- Think Twice Before You Praise Someone For Losing Weight. It piqued my interest because I often ponder questions about weight, health, and body image. Also, it seemed relevant to the question I would answer on moral judgments of obese people on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio.

The blog post begins:

It's really the most natural reaction: when we see a friend, colleague, family member, or acquaintance who has visibly lost weight, we love to say to them, "You've lost weight! You look great!"

These statements are usually made with the best of intentions. We are genuinely happy for them, we want to show them that their hard work and sacrifices are being noticed and deserve to be acknowledged. But I want to say something that may seem controversial: we should all think twice before acknowledging or praising someone's visible weight loss.

Why?

First, we don't always know how or why that person lost the weight for which we are commending them.

For example, my friend Anna has Lupus, and at one point, she rapidly lost 30 pounds in a couple months. She was constantly getting positive affirmations about how great she looked and to keep up the good work. For a number of reasons, Anna chose to keep her diagnosis confidential (to most people). So, she was caught between two worlds: one in which she had to reveal why she was losing weight, and another where she just had to grin and bear it.

Anna said, "Every time I heard those words, it was like a punch in the stomach. It not only made me feel disgusted about my body, but it also put me in a position where I wanted to share my diagnosis with people, just to shut them up."

My cousin's professor faced a similar dilemma when she returned to the university from summer break, having lost a visible amount of weight. She was greeted with the same seemingly positive affirmations. What no one realized was, her mother had died weeks before. Her weight loss was a result of stress.

The smiles and the effusive praise offered to these two women were in direct opposition to the pain that caused the weight loss to begin with.

And even when someone isn't dealing with an uncontrollable circumstance, like a death in the family, or a terminal disease, we don't know how someone arrives at his/her weight loss.

It's a good article, and I definitely recommend reading the rest of it: Think Twice Before You Praise Someone For Losing Weight. (It goes on to discuss some other cases, as well as make some important qualifications.)

Obesity is undoubtedly very common in our culture, and as people have packed on the pounds, the view that low body weight means good health seems to have taken hold in a very strong way. Yes, that's been a change in the culture, as these 1950s weight gain ads for women show.

Yet the fact is that being underweight is often a sign of health problems -- or it's a risk factor for death if a person becomes ill, because their body lacks reserves (muscle or fat) for survival. I'm not making that up, as various studies (such as this one) show that being underweight is associated with increased mortality.

My point here is not to extol obesity or anything, since that comes with its own practical difficulties and health concerns. Rather, my point is that we (me included) need to reject the now-standard assumption in our culture that a thinner person is a better person -- healthier, sexier, happier, whatever. Often, weight loss is for the best... but not always!

As for the question about moral judgments of obese people that I answered on Sunday's Radio Show... the question was:

Is it right or wrong to condemn people for being obese? Obviously, obese and morbidly obese people have made mistakes in their lives. Are they morally culpable for those mistakes? How should other people judge their characters? If I see an obese person on the street, should I infer that he is lazy and unmotivated? Should I refuse to hire an obese person because I suspect he won't work as hard as a non-obese person? Is obesity a moral failing – or are there other considerations?

My Answer, In Brief: Given that weight is not a good metric for health and that obesity has many causes, for a person to assume that obese people must be morally or psychologically weak is empirically false and morally unjust. If you notice that in yourself, fight it!

Download or Listen to My Full Answer:

Duration: 25:58
Download: MP3 Segment

Via Vital Objectives, our own Christian Wernstedt shared the link to the podcast on Facebook, with the following remarks, which I agree with wholeheartedly:

This audio clip has has a good discussion on what one should keep in mind when judging weight problems in both oneself and in other people. As a coach/practitioner I would add that helping people getting rid of excess fat is one of the most difficult issues to deal with because it takes time and effort to achieve in a *sustainable* and *healthful* way, but is very simple to do in a shortsighted and harmful way. You want to lose fat and pose for before and after pictures? Tape worms, starvation or HCG would do the trick! But...the body stores fat for reasons which often add up to the life serving option versus the alternatives. Therefore, simplistically and narrowly targeting the fat storage process (my fancy way of saying "fad diet" or "60 day detox"), and you might, for instance, each time you do this, functionally age your hormonal profile and ultimately end up buying the loss of 10 pounds today for being awarded the body comp of an ostrich later.

Alas, I've lived that. The main reason why my thyroid gave up the ghost, I think, was that I was fasting too often for too long in an effort to lose a few more pounds. The result was months of mental and physical disability, followed by years of health problems, plus 30 pounds of weight gain. Lesson learned.

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-04-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 14 April 2013: Q&A on Obesity, Parental Consent, Negative Terms, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 14 April 2013.

Question 1: Moral Judgments of Obese People: Is it right or wrong to condemn people for being obese? Obviously, obese and morbidly obese people have made mistakes in their lives. Are they morally culpable for those mistakes? How should other people judge their characters? If I see an obese person on the street, should I infer that he is lazy and unmotivated? Should I refuse to hire an obese person because I suspect he won't work as hard as a non-obese person? Is obesity a moral failing – or are there other considerations?
Question 2: Parental Consent for Abortion: Should minor girls be required by law to obtain parental consent for an abortion? Normally, parents are legally empowered to make medical decisions for their minor children, and minors cannot obtain medical procedures without parental consent. How should that apply in the case of pregnancy? Should pregnancy and abortion be treated differently from other medical conditions? Should parents be allowed by law to force a daughter under 18 to carry a pregnancy to term or to abort against her will? Should minor teenagers be granted more power over their medical decisions? Should the law grant exemptions in cases of potential abuse or neglect if the pregnancy or abortion were discovered?
Question 3: Atheist as a Negative Term: Should people define themselves using the negative term "atheist"? To me, a rational person sells himself short when he calls himself an "atheist": he's only saying what he doesn't stand for, not what he does stand for. Plus, to use the term "atheist" seems to be accepting the religious frame of reference. A rational person values individual healthy human life, and everything else he believes follows from that, such as respect for reality, reason, and rights. When a person defines himself in those positive terms, what he's against follows. So, can a person be more clear and persuasive when he focuses on what he's for rather than what he's against? If so, what terms might he use to describe himself?
Question 4: Living Longer: Should a life-loving person always wish to live longer? Suppose that a person was offered some medical therapy that would extend his life by 10 or 20 years, while preserving or even improving health. Would a life-loving person always choose to do that, assuming that he could afford it? Would refusing that therapy constitute a kind of passive suicide, perhaps even on par with that of a drug addict? In other words, assuming good health but no personal tragedies, might a life-living person not wish to live any longer?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 14 April 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 17 April 2013: Eric Barnhill on "Cognition, Movement, and Music"

I'll interview pianist and graduate student in medical physics Eric Barnhill about "Cognition, Movement, and Music" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 17 April 2013.

How does cognition connect to physical movement, tone, and rhythm? Can moving to music help the development of cognitive skills or capacities?

Eric Barnhill is a Juilliard-trained concert pianist and the creator of Cognitive Eurhythmics music movement therapy. He is pursuing a Ph.D in medical physics at the University of Edinburgh, where he studies brain-muscle interaction using magnetic resonance physics.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 17 April 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

7 April 2013: Q&A on Gay Marriage, Is-Ought Gap, Political Disagreements, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Is "gay marriage" a valid form of marriage? What is the solution to the is-ought problem? What's the proper response to the dissolution of a friendship within a social group? Can people with divergent political views enjoy a good romantic relationship?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:02:17
Download: Enhanced M4A File (22.4 MB) or Standard MP3 File (21.4 MB)
Tags: Christianity, Communication, Culture, David Hume, Epistemology, Ethics, Friendship, GLBT, Justice, Law, Marriage, Meta-Ethics, Moral Wrongs, Objectivism, Philosophy, Politics, Relationships, Religion, Romance, Values

10 April 2013: John P. McCaskey on "Libertarianism's Moral Shift"

I interviewed professor John P. McCaskey about "Libertarianism's Moral Shift" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

"As the libertarian movement has become more mainstream in recent decades, its justification for liberty has changed. How so – and is that change for the better? Is the libertarian movement today capable of offering a vigorous and compelling defense of liberty?" Dr. John P. McCaskey is an historian of philosophy who spent twenty years in the computer industry before returning to academia. He has been teaching at Stanford University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and most recently in the Political Science department at Brown University.

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more.

Duration: 1:12:27
Download: Standard MP3 File (24.9 MB)
Tags: America, Conflicts of Interest, Ethics, Friedrich Hayek, History, John Rawls, Libertarianism, Objectivism, Politics, Rights

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

April 6: Cavebaby Cora Eats Ribs
April 7: Open Thread #389
April 7: Activism Recap
April 8: NoodleCast #205: Gay Marriage, Is-Ought Gap, Political Disagreements, and More
April 8: Conditional Defenses of Liberty
April 8: My Strange Brain
April 9: Preview: Wednesday Radio: John P. McCaskey on Libertarianism's Moral Shift
April 9: Addiction and the Myth of Lost Control
April 9: Bart Ehrman in Colorado Springs on Thursday
April 10: New Questions in the Queue
April 10: John McCaskey's Class on the Moral Foundations of Capitalism
April 11: NoodleCast #206: John P. McCaskey on Libertarianism's Moral Shift
April 11: Lance Armstrong and the Problem of the Credible Liar
April 11: Happy WTF Day!
April 12: Preview: Sunday Radio: Obesity, Parental Consent, Negative Terms, and More
April 12: Link-O-Rama

If you're interested in more from Philosophy in Action, be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter!

The Paleo Rodeo #157

2013-04-12T11:30:00.000-06:00

A "paleo" approach to health uses the evolutionary history of homo sapiens, plus the best of modern science, as a broad framework for guiding daily choices about diet, fitness, medicine, and supplementation. The core of paleo is the diet: it eschews grains, sugars, and modern vegetable oils in favor of high-quality meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

The purpose of The Paleo Rodeo is to highlight some of the best blogging of the ever-growing paleosphere.

Here is this week's edition:

Kris Gunnars presents 7 Reasons Why Butter is Good For You posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "Butter is rich in fat soluble vitamins and unique fatty acids with powerful health benefits. It has recently been making a comeback as a 'health food."."

Ute presents How to stay away from sugar posted at Grokette's Primal Musings, saying, " It’s easy to stay away from gluten filled foods. I know they’re bad, and I know they don’t fill me. But how do you stay away from all the other sugary treats? The chocolate and gummy bears, the m&ms and ice cream?"

Mary Catherine presents Sweet and Savory Sardine Salad posted at Nourish Paleo Foods, saying, "A recipe for a simple sardine salad, giving you one more way to easily enjoy these paleo wonder fishies."

Nell Stephenson presents Seasonal Allergies Getting to You? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson discusses what Paleo really is, and how it can benefit those who suffer from allergies."

Neely Quinn presents Hungry All Day? Snacking A Lot? Let's Fix That. posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "Some tips for you to keep away the hungries."

Sean Coonce presents Blood Orange Mango Margarita posted at FreeRange Human, saying, "Summer is almost here so this is a great twist to the classic NorCal Margarita. Same principles but blood orange and mango is added."

Wendy Schwartz presents Go Paleo! Product Watch: Juice, Deodorant and T-Shirts posted at Go Paleo!, saying, "The Go Paleo! Product Watch highlights products that are the market and critiques them. In this edition, Wendy Schwartz discusses a great new deodorant called Primal Pit Paste, an awful 'unjuice" called Tropicana Farmstand and reveals the new Go Paleo! t-shirts...Read on."

Julie Campbell presents root vegetable chicken soup posted at the crankin' kitchen!, saying, "say your goodbyes to winter with this hearty home made chicken soup full of root veggies."

Eileen Laird presents Wahls Veggie Protocl: Q&A posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Dr. Terry Wahls reversed her MS through the paleo diet combined with 9 cups of vegetables daily. Learn more about her protocol: which veggies, how to prepare them, and how to fit them into your day."

Eileen Laird presents The Power of an Internet-Free Day posted at Phoenix Helix, saying, "Good health is about lifestyle as much as diet, and taking a day off the internet can be powerfully renewing to the body and spirit. Learn how."

Max Ungar presents 6 Tips to Slowing Down The College Lifestyle posted at Caveman College, saying, "If you live a busy life, read this post."

Diana Hsieh presents Cavebaby Cora Eats Ribs posted at NoodleFood, saying, "In case you need your daily dose of cute...in this video, baby Cora eats ribs... and NOM NOM NOM, they're so delicious!"

Tarah presents Chipotle Citrus Turkey Burgers posted at What I Gather, saying, "Flavorful turkey burgers spiked with mandarin orange juice and zest and a hint of chipotle!"

Amy Kubal presents Why Am I Still Broken? posted at Robb Wolf, saying, "Does it seem like you're the only one that's not seeing miraculous results and transformations living a Paleo lifestyle? What's wrong with you anyway and are you alone?"

The Cavegirls presents Paleo 7 lb Itch posted at Northwest Cavegirls, saying, "Cavegirl Kate bares all (well, some) on the first day of her challenge to lose 7 lbs (or half a stone since she's a Brit) by being more conscious of portion sizes, and fruit and nut consumption."

Angie presents The Northwest Cavegirls Bake posted at Angie's Suburban Oasis, saying, "The Cavegirls have gotten requests for a book compiling our recipes into an easy to search format; so, we've put together the first of hopefully many such eBooks. This eBook, The Northwest Cavegirls Bake, features 34 cookie, cupcake, muffin, scone and pie recipes, many of which have never before been published and are exclusive to this eBook. We've included many colorful photographs of these tasty treats as well."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents "Is this paleo?" A.k.a., fooling yourself with paleo things posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "Some paleo/ancestral eaters seem to be striving for technical compliance with a set of rules/ingredients instead of just eating real food."

Steve, the Paleo Drummer presents "Tales of Paleo Disasters" – the world's shortest book? posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "I feel like I read a new hit piece on paleo every few weeks, but never one that – scientifically, or even anecdotally – focuses on a paleo person (or persons) who have been harmed by paleo/ancestral eating. All I ever hear are success stories, with good reason I suspect."

Chris presents Dangerously Delicious Chocolate and Banana Stuffed Crepes posted at PrimalPal, saying, "These delicious grain-free crepes are perfect for Saturday brunch. We stuffed them with a paleo chocolate spread and sliced bananas for a sweet treat."

Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

2013-04-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Sunday Morning, 7 April 2013: Q&A on Civil Unions, Is-Ought Gap, Political Disagreements, and More

I'll answer these four questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday morning, 7 April 2013.

Question 1: Gay Marriage Versus Civil Unions: Is "gay marriage" really a kind of marriage? Many people support civil unions for gays, but they think that such unions shouldn't be called marriage. Usually, they claim that marriage is essentially religious, that procreation is central to marriage, or that marriage concerns a man and a woman. Should gay unions be considered a valid form of marriage, legally or socially? Would civil unions be an acceptable alternative?
Question 2: The Is-Ought Gap: What is the solution to the is-ought problem? David Hume famously claimed that statements about what ought to be cannot be derived from statements about what is the case. Does that mean that ethics is impossible? Can the gap be bridged, and if so, how?
Question 3: The Destruction of a Friendship: What's the proper response to the dissolution of a friendship within a social group? I loved your your May 6th, 2012 discussion of "unforgivable acts," and I have a follow-up question. Now – after cutting my losses with a best friend, after years of giving second chances, talking with him repeatedly, and determining that there's no more basis for a friendship – how do I judge mutual friends of ours? Some of them think that my actions weren't justified. Some resent me for breaking up a group of friends. Many want me to either make up with this person or tolerate him at gatherings. Is this reaction by these mutual friends fair? How should I respond to them?
Question 4: Mixing Politics and Romance: Can people with divergent political views enjoy a good romantic relationship? Some of my liberal friends won't date conservatives, and some of my conservative friends are horrified at the thought of dating a liberal. Is that reasonable? Since I'm in favor of free markets, should I only date other advocates of free markets? Can people with very different political views enjoy a good romantic relationship?

The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 7 April 2013. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Wednesday Evening, 10 April 2013: John McCaskey on "Libertarianism's Moral Shift"

I'll interview historian of science John McCaskey about "Libertarianism's Moral Shift" on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday evening, 10 April 2013.

"As the libertarian movement has become more mainstream in recent decades, its justification for liberty has changed. How so – and is that change for the better?"

Dr. McCaskey is an historian of philosophy of science who spent twenty years in the computer industry before returning to academia. He has been teaching at Stanford University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and most recently in the Political Science department at Brown University.

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Wednesday, 10 April 2013. The podcast will be posted later that evening. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

31 March 2013: Q&A on Protecting Privacy, Gay Marriage, Chinese Goods, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

How should a person respond when pressured to reveal private information? How might social conservatives be convinced to support gay marriage? How can a person deal with overzealous ideologues? Is it moral to buy products from Chinese companies?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:12:02
Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.9 MB) or Standard MP3 File (24.8 MB)
Tags: Activism, Business, China, Communication, Conflict, Culture, Ethics, Foreign Policy, Friendship, GLBT, Honesty, Integrity, Justice, Marriage, Objectivist Movement, Paleo, Politics, Privacy, Rationality, Relationships

31 March 2013: Q&A on Protecting Privacy, Gay Marriage, Chinese Goods, and More

I answered these questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

How should a person respond when pressured to reveal private information? How might social conservatives be convinced to support gay marriage? How can a person deal with overzealous ideologues? Is it moral to buy products from Chinese companies?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

Duration: 1:12:02
Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.9 MB) or Standard MP3 File (24.8 MB)
Tags: Activism, Business, China, Communication, Conflict, Culture, Ethics, Foreign Policy, Friendship, GLBT, Honesty, Integrity, Justice, Marriage, Objectivist Movement, Paleo, Politics, Privacy, Rationality, Relationships

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

March 30: Functional Fitness? Bah!
March 31: Open Thread #388
March 31: Activism Recap
April 1: NoodleCast #204: Protecting Privacy, Gay Marriage, Chinese Goods, and More
April 1: Correction on Chinese Gulags
April 2: No Philosophy in Action on Wednesday
April 2: Robert Garmong on Cultural Influence via Trade with China
April 3: Charming Interview with "I Fucking Love Science"
April 3: Hsieh Forbes OpEd: "Is Concierge Medicine The Correct Choice For You?"
April 4: Help Joshua Lipana Beat Cancer
April 4: Tim Minchin: Thank You God
April 4: New Questions in the Queue
April 5: Preview: Sunday Radio: Civil Unions, Is-Ought Gap, Political Disagreements, and More
April 5: Three Tips on Managing Email
April 5: Link-O-Rama
April 5: Some Arguments Against Gay Marriage

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