Modern Paleo

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

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:

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!"

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!

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

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 #156

2013-04-05T11:25:00.000-06:00

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 Top 10 Nutrition Facts That Everyone Agrees on posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "A list of the top 10 nutrition facts that almost everyone agrees on. Despite all the controversy in nutrition, there are a few widely accepted truths."

Neely Quinn presents Primal Life Kit: 30 Products for $39! posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "Paleo Plan is putting on a week-long sale to allow people to get all the most popular Paleo and Primal products for just $39! It includes ebooks, meal plans, magazine subscriptions, fitness programs, plus 8 discount codes on popular products."

Wendy Schwartz presents Debunking an Anti-Paleo TED Presentation posted at Go Paleo!, saying, "In this article, Wendy Schwartz, Paleo Expert, takes a look at anthropologist Christina Warriner's TED presentation called Debunking the Paleo Diet. She breaks down some of the inaccuracies that are presented to dispel the confusion and help those in the Paleo community get clarity."

Steve presents Some Thoughts on Paleo FX 2013 posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "Paleo FX was an educational experience that reaffirmed my commitment to paleo living. Here are some more specific thoughts and memories from a great few days in Austin."

Steve presents A Hurdle Made of ... Beer? posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "At Paleo FX 2013, one of the speakers told us that far more women than men are living a paleo lifestyle. Here are some obvious, and maybe not-so-obvious thoughts on why."

Emily Whitish presents ACT4Health: A New Approach to Cheating (on your diet) posted at Up Close and Edible, saying, "Using a mindfulness approach, this post challenges the assumptions of dietary cheating. Learn how you can free yourself from the tyranny of your thoughts and feelings and eat in a wise and healthy manner every day without ever feeling the need to 'cheat."."

Emily Whitish presents Roasted Radishes With Poached Duck Egg and Tarragon Butter posted at Up Close and Edible, saying, "Tarragon with eggs is pure heaven. And if you've never roasted radishes before, you need to start NOW! A beautiful dish for your Spring table."

Tarah presents Paleo Pen Pals Roundup - March 2013 posted at What I Gather, saying, "A roundup of the tasty recipes from this month's group of Paleo Pen Pals...even a Paleo girl scout cookie recipe!"

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Organic dog treats! posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Looking for dog treats that will make your dog happy and not compromise his health? Come see what my friend did."

Diana Hsieh presents Functional Fitness? Bah! posted at NoodleFood, saying, "SuperSlow passes yet another test of fitness with flying colors!"

Diane Sanfilippo presents Mini Mexi-Meatloaves posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "Meatloaf is a great way to take your basic ground meat and turn it into something delicious. After completing the recipes for Practical Paleo, I was almost shocked to look back and realize I didn’t include a meatloaf recipe, so this one will be featured in my next book, The 21-Day Sugar Detox (due out October 2013)."

Rebekah Reddy presents The Search for Soy-Free Chocolate posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "Soy-free chocolate may be hard to find, but it is not impossible! In this post I discuss why we want to avoid soy, especially in our favorite chocolatey treats."

Julie Campbell presents celery root salad posted at the crankin' kitchen!, saying, "based off an American colonial recipe, this is a great way to use up any remaining celery roots you might have stored in your cellar."

Annika McCann presents Paleo Mud Mug Cake posted at Pretty Good Paleo, saying, "April Fool's post - there are lots of recipes for 'paleo" mug cakes floating around. Well, here is a recipe for Paleo Mud Mug Cake using dirt as the main ingredient! Definitely more paleo than all those other mug cakes."

Ute presents On Chia and Quinoa posted at Grokette's Primal Musings, saying, "My take on chia seeds and quinoa. Why I eat one and avoid the other."

Ute presents The subject of sugar addiciton posted at Grokette's Primal Musings, saying, "“Eating sugar in front of a sugar addict is like doing tequila shots in front of an alcoholic.” This is what a friend of mine said today. “Sugar is a drug. It makes me think, there is crack in the house and I want it.”."

Jess presents Slow Cooked Beef and Lamb Stew posted at The Paleo Professional, saying, "Spring is here but it's still sooo cold! Healing soup is definitely still on the menu in my house. This is truly the easiest stew I've ever made and its 21-Day Sugar Detox appropriate too. A little grass fed meat, a little gelatin et voila!"

Nell Stephenson presents For One Week Only: The Primal Life Kit posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson writes about the Paleo Bundle Sale happening for one week only, where customers can get over $450 worth of Paleo or Primal products for $39, including a code to download any of her 6 week plans for free."

Paul Austin presents My Personal "Must-Have" Packing List for Travel (No Clothes Included!) posted at Travel 'N' Wellness, saying, "Discover 5 items every Paleo follower must pack on his or her next trip!"

Primal Kitchen's Family Grokumentarian presents Paleo Finds At WalMart posted at Primal Kitchen: A Family Grokumentary, saying, "One way our family affords buying grassfed beef and pastured pork in bulk from local farmers is by saving elsewhere. For some of our other grocery needs, we rely WalMart, which consistently saves us 10-50% on certain items compared with other grocers in our town. Here I list some of the our family's most commonly bought items that our WalMart carries, with price points and noting which items are specifically labeled as gluten free."

Hsieh Forbes OpEd: Is Concierge Medicine The Correct Choice For You?

2013-03-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Forbes has just published my latest OpEd, "Is Concierge Medicine The Correct Choice For You?"

I discuss the benefits of this practice model for both patients and doctors as well as dispelling some myths.

(Some of this material is drawn from my recent SnowCon 2013 talk, "Concierge Medicine: The Last Bastion of Health Care Freedom").

Denver-area readers might also be interested in this related recent short piece in 5280 Magazine:
"The Doctor Is (Always) In".

Philosophy Weekend: Philosophy in Action

2013-03-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

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

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio airs live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Please join us for this upcoming episode!

Upcoming Radio: Sunday Morning, 31 March 2013

I'll answer four 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? Check out the episode page for the full questions and other details.

To automatically download new episodes when posted as podcasts, subscribe to the Philosophy in Action Podcast RSS Feed in your music player:

Enhanced M4A Feed: Subscribe in iTunes or your RSS reader
Standard MP3 Feed: Subscribe in iTunes or your RSS reader

For more information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap.

Posted Podcasts

You'll find the full collection of past shows in the archives, which you can peruse by date or by topic. Here are the latest episodes.

Podcast: 27 March 2013: Robert Garmong on "Should We Fear or Embrace China?"

On Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio, I interviewed Professor Robert Garmong about "Should We Fear or Embrace China?." You can listen to or download the show below, and check out the the archive page for the show notes.

Is China the next capitalist paradise? Or is it a dangerous military threat? Perhaps it's neither.

Dr. Robert Garmong studied economics and political science at the University of Chicago, and has a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Texas (Austin). He currently teaches English language and Western culture at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, in Dalian, China. His blog is "Professor in Dalian."

Duration: 1:09:06

Download: Standard MP3 File (23.8 MB)

Tags: Business, China, Corruption, Culture, Economics, Foreign Policy, Japan, Law, Politics

Podcast: 24 March 2013: Q&A: Extramarital Affairs, Government Controls, Art, and More

On Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio, I answered questions on being someone's extramarital affair, epistemic effects of government controls, the boundaries of art, and more. You can listen to or download the show below, and check out the the archive page for the show notes and audio segments for each question.

Is it wrong to have a romantic relationship with a married person? How do government controls encourage short-range thinking in business? What counts as art?

Duration: 1:09:23

Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.0 MB) or Standard MP3 File (23.9 MB)

Tags: Aesthetics, Art, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Character, Ethics, Government, Honesty, Infidelity, Integrity, Moral Wrongs, Personal Values, Psycho-Epistemology, Regulations, Relationships, Rights, Romance, Sex, Spiritual Values

Blog Posts

Here are the posts to my blog NoodleFood from the last week.

Link-O-Rama (29 Mar)

ATLOSCon 2013 (29 Mar)

Preview: Sunday Radio: Protecting Privacy, Gay Marriage, Chinese Goods, and More (29 Mar)

Hanging Pictures with Cats (28 Mar)

Instructions for Announcements (28 Mar)

NoodleCast #203: Robert Garmong on Should We Fear or Embrace China? (28 Mar)

Yet Another Crazy Email (27 Mar)

Digital Manners (27 Mar)

Philosophy in Action's Calendar (26 Mar)

The False Dichotomy Between Honesty and Privacy (26 Mar)

Preview: Wednesday Radio: Robert Garmong on Should We Fear or Embrace China? (26 Mar)

Silly Pictures of Merlin (25 Mar)

NoodleCast #202: Extramarital Affairs, Government Controls, Art, and More (25 Mar)

Activism Recap (24 Mar)

Open Thread #387 (24 Mar)

Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed. Be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter too!

The Paleo Rodeo #155

2013-03-29T09:50:00.000-06:00

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 8 Ways to Make Your Coffee Super Healthy posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "Coffee, despite having been demonized in the past, is actually good for you. Here are a few tips to make sure your cup of coffee is as healthy as possible."

Miki Ben-Dor presents Debunking season – Debunking “Debunking the Paleo diet” by Christina Warinner posted at Paleo Style.

Neely Quinn presents If You're Craving Carbs, You Might Just Need Some Carbs posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "You might not be eating enough carbs on your Paleo diet..."

Crystal presents "Dear Paleo, it's not you, it's me..." posted at Eat Sleep Move, saying, "What do you do when you are getting worse despite eating a squeaky clean Paleo Diet? Instead of breaking up with Paleo, I have been taking a deeper look at what's going on with me."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Detox Beet Juice, A Healthy Breakfast Beverage posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "This fruits-and-veggies blended juice drink is sweet and delicious! It's perfect for breakfast on the go or as a snack, and is packed with anti-inflammatory benefits, anti-cancer benefits, antioxidants and is a great detox!"

Nell Stephenson presents Why Did I Eat That? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson muses on how she used to eat fake meat when she was a vegan, and considers why she did it."

Kristopher Cleary presents Magnesium For Constipation? posted at Real Constipation Remedies, saying, "What is the relationship between magnesium and constipation? Can magnesium deficiency cause constipation and can magnesium be a cure for constipation symptoms? Find out with Kris Cleary."

Danny J Albers presents Background stress: Is it the "Blue Pill" causing all this? posted at Primal North, saying, "The decline of personal health started along with agriculture. This has always been an associative relationship, and in this article I examine a confounding variable I call 'background stress", part of which is the idea of role specialization possibly going against our natural inclinations."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents Today's workout posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Looking for ways to exercise to aid your weight loss through eating the paleo way? You do not have to join a gym to get in a good workout. Visit my blog for posted workouts from Fitness Blender. I post a workout 3x a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They range in difficulty from easy to hard from low impact to kettle bell, HIIT, and tabata."

Paul Jaminet presents Around the Web: Palm Sunday Edition posted at Perfect Health Diet, saying, "Among other interesting items, we compile a list of recent reader reports, including better breast milk production by a nursing mom and happier babies, an IBS cure, a life-changing experience, better sleep, psoriasis cure, 20 pounds lost in 28 days without hardship, and a number of other successes."

Julie Campbell presents cilantro-lime fish cakes posted at the crankin' kitchen!, saying, "fish cakes don't have to be full of bread crumbs! fluffy mashed potatoes and an egg bind together flakes of white fish with plenty of lime zest and cilantro."

Ute presents The Primal Life Kit: 30 Products and 8 Discounts for $39 posted at Grokette's Primal Musings, saying, "I'm seriously stoked about this sale, because for once it includes almost all books I want... I know and LOVE Paleo Magazine, and I am honestly aware of the serious savings you'll be getting if you buy this deal."

Ute presents Marble Cake... German style posted at Grokette's Primal Musings, saying, "I decided it was time to paleofy my marble cake, and I'm pleased to report that it turned out really well, although it doesn't rise quite as well as the original. Still, it disappeared within just three days. Success!"

Hadass Eviatar presents A Paleo Passover - and I'm on a Jimmy Moore Podcast!! posted at My Coat of Many Colours, saying, "Celebrating Passover when you don't eat grains, and I got to be on a Jimmy Moore podcast!!"

Rebekah Reddy presents Detoxing for Athletes posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "Crystal Meadows is an avid CrossFitter and Sugar Slayer! In this post, she gives some tips for athletes, including those who work out regularly but may not be training for a specific athletic competition."

Charissa Talbot presents 5 Questions with Jaclyn, author of Bone Broth A Recipe For Health posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "I had the pleasure of interviewing Jaclyn, author of Bone Broth: A Recipe for Health. We could not be happier to introduce this great new book and resource to you."

Rebekah Reddy presents The Easiest Thai Curry Ever! posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "This is a simple, but spicy and delicious recipe for green Thai curry that is Paleo and 21DSD-approved. Enjoy!"

Melissa Joulwan presents Thyroid Update: Cleared For Takeoff posted at The Clothes Make The Girl, saying, "After a year of conscious self care, my adrenal fatigue is healed and my thyroid hormones are working properly. Kudos to Dr. Sebring and eating Paleo!"

Penny presents The Water-Hydration Myth posted at Health Coach Penny, saying, "Our ancestors didn't chug copious amounts of water...why should we?"

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents My new baby to aid in food prep posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Planning food for use in an emergency can be done- even by, and for, we who eat the paleo way. A bit of pre-planning and the right equipment can go a long way toward stocking your shelves with healthy, allergen and chemical free foods."

Wendy Schwartz presents Is Fiber Always a Good For You? posted at Go Paleo!, saying, "While the mainstream touts fiber for digestive health, the evidence doesn't support the benefits and for some, fiber can be a mistake. Read more..."

Cavebaby Cora Eats Ribs

2013-03-28T09:36:00.000-06:00

NOMNOMNOM:

Cora puts everything in her mouth... and she looks so delighted to discover something tasty. (I'm such a proud honorary auntie!)

P.S. Happy Belated Third Anniversary, Modern Paleo! The site launched on March 15th of 2010! My thanks to everyone, particularly Christian Wernstedt and the other bloggers, who've contributed to its success!

Vitamin D and Respiratory Infections

2013-03-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here's some good news from The Vitamin D Council on the role of Vitamin D in preventing respiratory infections (upper and lower).

Recently, Dr Jaykaran Charan and colleagues of the Indian Institute of Public Health published a meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials of vitamin D and respiratory tract infections. ...

Dr Charan combined the five randomized controlled trials he found that were conducted ... and found that the combined relative risk for a respiratory infection was about half for those taking vitamin D (relative risk = .58). The dose of vitamin D in the five trials ranged from 400 IU/day to 2,000 IU/day, with one using a single dose of 100,000 IU. The length of the trials ranged from 3 months to three years.

The authors concluded,

"On the basis of this study, we conclude that vitamin D is useful in prevention of respiratory tract infections."

Indeed, that has been the experience of many who supplement with Vitamin D, including me!

Personally, I keep my Vitamin D at about 80, and that requires taking about 2,000 IU per day. (Based on what I've read, I want it above 60 and below 100.) However, people vary wildly in their respond to consumption of Vitamin D, so I'd recommend blood testing. If that's not convenient to do through your doctor, you can order this test from ZRT lab for $65.

As for the kind of Vitamin D, be careful that it's not in some nasty oil like soy, as the capsules often are. I've used these drops from Carlson for many years. They're in coconut oil.

Also, I routinely take an extra 10,000 IU of Vitamin D when I travel -- or when I feel like a cold might be coming on. I keep an extra bottle in my travel kit for just that purpose... because wow, those respiratory infections suck!

If you want to know more about what Vitamin D does for the body... and how most people are deficient, go peruse the site of the The Vitamin D Council, starting with this page: About vitamin D.

one-pot mustard and lemon chicken

2013-03-25T08:05:00.000-06:00

One-rimmed-baking-sheet chicken. Whatever. This is easy chicken. Perfect weekday night dinner. Joe's sister Louise requested a recipe of her own on here - one that would be nice and simple. This is a good example of what I might do on a weekday night (you know, because I don't always make ridiculous dinners on a Tuesday). It's to the point, but not lacking in flavor, and super good. And look, it's carrots again. That's another thing I do; obsess over ingredients.

It's tough for me to settle on a recipe that's simple like this. Should I have included onions? Other root vegetables? I guess I feel like it has to be like the definitive one-pot chicken and carrot dish. The BEST way to make them together. Or, at least the best way to make them together with a mustard lemon sauce. But sometimes it's just nice to have a different way of making your normal weeknight meat and vegetables. You don't want to marinate the chicken overnight, even if will make a wonderful difference; you don't want to roast the vegetables at one temperature and the chicken at another; and on the other end, you don't want another dinner of steamed broccoli and boring chicken. It's shocking how many dinners I eat that are seasoned only with salt. I sure do love salt. Salt and fat. But I've got a reputation to upkeep here. I'm fancier than salt. I use lemon and mustard. Watch out.

My life is about to get stupider. The Biggest Loser is back on. Here go two hours of my life each week, subjugated to schlocky music swells, jiggling fat camera shots, and product placements such as the ever-healthful Subway sandwich restaurant chain. I just love it. And one of the owners of my gym was on it, briefly. I feel so vindicated. And jealous. Did I ever tell you about the dream I had where I was a contestant on The Biggest Loser? I got so stressed in the dream, because I was just waiting for all the 400 pound contestants to realize that I shouldn't be on there... Pretty dumb dream.

So if you would like to change this recipe, let me suggest that you could use whatever cut of chicken you like best. If you don't want to cut up a whole chicken, you could use all thighs or drumsticks. Cutting up a chicken is just so nice because whole chickens are cheap and the bones make great stock. And yes, you can add onions, and other thinly cut root vegetables - parsnips sound real good to me.

one-pot mustard and lemon chicken

1 chicken, cut up into 10 pieces (breasts each cut in two pieces)
2 pounds carrots, cut into small sticks (they won't roast well unless they're on the small side)
2 lemons, quartered
1/4 cup mustard
juice of one lemon, then its rind quartered
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Mix mustard and lemon juice together, then combine with chicken in a large bowl. Toss to coat.

3. Arrange carrots and lemon quarters on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Nestle chicken amongst the carrots, pouring remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle additional coarse salt and freshly ground pepper on top of the chicken.

4. Bake for 40 - 50 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and carrots are tender, flipping the carrots once halfway through. Time will depend on the size of your chicken - I get mine from a local farm and they're on the small side.

When you serve, make sure to spoon up the pan juices! If you didn't do such a great job cutting the carrots thin enough (ahem, me), you can remove the chicken and put the baking sheet back in the oven for a but longer until the carrots are to your liking.

This was originally posted on my blog, the crankin' kitchen!

Philosophy Weekend: Philosophy in Action

2013-03-23T10:00:00.000-06:00

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

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio airs live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Please join us for these upcoming episodes!

Upcoming Radio: Sunday Morning, 24 March 2013

I'll answer four questions on Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio: Is it wrong to have a romantic relationship with a married person? How do government controls encourage short-range thinking in business? What counts as art? How should a person respond when pressured to reveal private information? Check out the episode page for the full questions and other details.

Upcoming Radio: Wednesday Evening, 27 March 2013

I'll interview Professor Robert Garmong about "Should We Fear or Embrace China?" on Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio. Check out the episode page for more details.

To automatically download new episodes when posted as podcasts, subscribe to the Philosophy in Action Podcast RSS Feed in your music player:

Enhanced M4A Feed: Subscribe in iTunes or your RSS reader
Standard MP3 Feed: Subscribe in iTunes or your RSS reader

For more information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap.

Posted Podcasts

You'll find the full collection of past shows in the archives, which you can peruse by date or by topic. Here are the latest episodes.

Podcast: 20 March 2013: Stephen Bailey on "Limiting Government by Constitutional Amendment"

On Wednesday's Philosophy in Action Radio, I interviewed former Republican congressional candidate Stephen Bailey about "Limiting Government by Constitutional Amendment." You can listen to or download the show below, and check out the the archive page for the show notes.

Could an amendment to the US Contitution provide an effective check on government power? Stephen Bailey, a Republican congressional candidate in 2010, has a proposal for a constitutional amendment that deserves consideration.

Stephen Bailey was the Republican candidate to represent Colorado's 2nd congressional district in 2010. Since November of 2010, Stephen has been analyzing the U.S. Constitution, contemplating its flaws and searching for a path to a restoration of individual rights and personal liberty.

Duration: 1:06:41

Download: Standard MP3 File (22.9 MB)

Tags: Activism, Free Society, Government, Juries, Law, Politics, Rights

Podcast: 10 March 2013: Q&A: Universalization, Regretful Parents, Online Privacy, and More

On Sunday's Philosophy in Action Radio, I answered questions on universalization as an ethical test, regretful parents, online privacy, disruptive kids in public school, and more. You can listen to or download the show below, and check out the the archive page for the show notes and audio segments for each question.

Are arguments of the form "what if everyone did that" valid or not? What should parents do if they regret ever having children? What kinds of privacy can people reasonably expect online? How should a public school teacher discipline unruly students?

Duration: 1:02:58

Download: Enhanced M4A File (22.7 MB) or Standard MP3 File (21.7 MB)

Tags: Children, Duty Ethics, Education, Ethics, Government, Internet, Justice, Kant, Moral Wrongs, Parenting, Personal Values, Privacy, Responsibility, Rights, Universality

Blog Posts

Here are the posts to my blog NoodleFood from the last week.

Link-O-Rama (22 Mar)
Preview: Sunday Radio: Extramarital Affairs, Government Controls, Art, and More (22 Mar)
New from Matt Nathanson: Mission Bells (21 Mar)
NoodleCast #201: Stephen Bailey on Limiting Government by Constitutional Amendment (21 Mar)
Stephen Bailey's Proposed Constitutional Amendment (21 Mar)
Valuing Life Versus Inflicting Suffering (20 Mar)
New Questions in the Queue (20 Mar)
The Untimely Demise of Google Reader (19 Mar)
Preview: Wednesday Radio: Stephen Bailey on Limiting Government (19 Mar)
The Holocaust, Everywhere (18 Mar)
Activism Recap (18 Mar)

Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed. Be sure to like our Facebook Page and subscribe to our Newsletter too!

The Paleo Rodeo #154

2013-03-22T10:10:00.000-06:00

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 Top 11 Paleo and Low-Carb Registered Dietitians With Blogs posted at Authority Nutrition, saying, "The top 11 paleo and low-carb friendly registered dietitians with their own blogs and websites, where they share their expert opinions."

Miki Ben-Dor presents Paleofantasy or Paleofantastic? posted at Paleo Style, saying, "A critical look at Prof. Mrlane Zuk new anti-Paleo book Paleofantasy – What Evolution Really Tell Us about Sex, Diet, and How we Live. The post try to shows that the book 'really" tell us that Paleo is the most sensible way to eat based on the information it brings to the table."

Paul Jaminet presents Paleofantasy and the State of Ancestral Science posted at Perfect Health Diet, saying, "In this essay stimulated by Marlene Zuk's Paleofantasy and another anthropological critique of Paleo, I look at the scientific foundations of Paleo, and consider whether we need to move away from the discordance hypothesis toward a more biology-based approach, which might lead us to think of 'Paleo" as standing for a "Paleozoic Diet" rather than a Paleolithic one."

Victoria Prince presents Pop a Squat- Ob Edition posted at Principle into Practice, saying, "Many advocate that squatting to defecate prevents (or even heals) a number of ills, but squatting isn't just useful in the bathroom (and of course in the gym). When it comes to giving birth, squatting (and other traditional positions) may have a number of advantages over the modern reclined position."

Adam Farrah presents You Can't Start Earlier Than Now posted at Practical Paleolithic, saying, "A blog post about starting where you are and accepting past mistakes, bad decisions and the state of your life, health and fitness in this moment."

Neely Quinn presents My Rebuttal to Kimberly Snyder's Attack on Paleo posted at Paleo Plan, saying, "Yet another person has written a poorly researched article against Paleo. Kimberly Snyder’s article is entitled “The Ugly Truth About the Paleo Diet”..."

Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres presents Paleo Berry Frozen Yogurt, A Snack or Dessert with No Added Sugar posted at Paleo Effect, saying, "Curious about this Yonanas Craze? Wait! Don't buy that machine! We have a quick and easy, no-sugar added recipe for frozen yogurt that will satisfy your craving for fro-yo without breaking your Paleo diet! Best of all? No gimmicks required."

Steve presents Truth Hits Everybody posted at The Paleo Drummer, saying, "There I was, standing in my kitchen, eating grassfed liver pâté with a spoon, like it's chocolate pudding, and washing it down with bulletproof coffee that looks likes something you wouldn't feed your dog, when it all hit me.... So I did the natural thing: I blogged."

Melissa,a.k.a. Cavechic presents The gelding of American men through food posted at Paleo Connections, saying, "Feeling less than, 'up to the task' lately, so-to-speak? What you eat can decrease sexual desire and impair your ability to have, or enjoy, sex. Eating the paleo way could change your sex life...for the better!"

Wendy Schwartz presents Strong Likelihood our Ancestors Ate Lots of Fat posted at Go Paleo!, saying, "The early forefathers of modern Paleo initially believed that because animals caught in the wild are lean, hunter gatherers probably ate little fat. Boyd Eaton and Loren Cordain, most likely influenced at least somewhat by the lipid hypothesis, couldn’t imagine that the svelte cavemen and women of the paleolithic era actually had a high fat diet. Read more..."

Nell Stephenson presents Is Milk Really That Bad, Then? posted at Paleoista, by Nell Stephenson, saying, "Paleo expert Nell Stephenson addresses a reader's question about whether or not milk is really all that bad."

Jess presents Introducing Minute Mondays posted at The Paleo Professional, saying, "Introducing Minute Mondays where I share a recipe that requires just minutes to complete. This week's recipe is Paleo Flourless Chocolate Cake! Paleo approved and ready in 5 minutes or less, what's not to love??"

Hadass Eviatar presents #blogExodus - Matzah posted at My Coat of Many Colours, saying, "Ah, Passover. How do we do Passover without gluten? And what compromises do we make in the name of love and tradition?"

Diane Sanfilippo presents FAQs: What is Paleo? posted at Balanced Bites, saying, "“Paleo” is short for Paleolithic, but the name is actually less important than the power of the overall approach. My approach to explaining a Paleo type of diet is less about demonizing the foods we look to avoid (grains, legumes, pasteurized dairy, and refined foods) and more about helping you to understand how food should work in your body."

Charissa Talbot presents Sugar Part 2: How real is sugar addiction? posted at The 21-Day Sugar Detox, saying, "Our friend Kendall Kendrick from www.primal-balance.com is back again with part two of her three-part series on sugar addiction."

Rebekah Reddy presents "Faux-co-roons" posted at Half Indian Cook, saying, "This is my version of the Coco-roon brand macaroons--much cheaper and easy to make yourself! And they're egg-free as well (unlike many macaroon recipes). Enjoy!"

Suzanne Crawt presents 43 Awesome Paleo Cooking Hacks You Aren't Using posted at The Paleo Network, saying, "Here are 43 cooking hacks to transform the time you spend in the kitchen!"

J. Stanton presents There Is No Such Thing As A Calorie (To Your Body) posted at GNOLLS.ORG, saying, "Our bodies aren't steam engines – and the concept of the 'calorie", as applied to nutrition, is an oversimplification so extreme as to be untrue in practice."