Monday Sept, 23rd, 2024

September Heats Up

World Events and Politics — Attention Towards Middle East

Axios 

Hizbullah's deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, announced an "open-ended battle of reckoning" against Israel during a funeral for a Hizbullah commander who was killed by Israeli airstrikes on Friday. In retaliation, the militant group launched over 100 missiles into northern Israel, with some landing close to Haifa. The tensions between Hizbullah and Israel have intensified following the simultaneous explosion of electronic devices belonging to thousands of militia members on September 17.

Israeli forces stormed the offices of Al Jazeera, a news organization based in Qatar, in the West Bank and ordered the bureau to shut down for an initial period of 45 days. This follows previous raids in May when Israel targeted Al Jazeera's offices in Nazareth and East Jerusalem, citing national security concerns. Walid al-Omari, the West Bank bureau chief for Al Jazeera, accused Israel of attempting to “erase the truth.”

Science and Technology — Instagram Teen Account 

Getty

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has announced new restrictions and parental oversight features for teenage users under 18. By default, teen accounts will be private, have limited messaging capabilities, receive prompts to take breaks, and have restricted content filters. Teens aged 16+ can adjust some settings, while younger teens need parental approval. Parents can now see who their teen has messaged in the past week, set daily time limits, and block the app during certain hours. While not a complete solution, these changes aim to provide more safety and parental involvement for teens on Instagram.

Business and Finance — Marijuana, Has It Become Too Strong? 

Brain Finke 

The increasing potency of marijuana is becoming a concern for users and health professionals alike. Today's cannabis strains often contain THC levels of 20-30% or higher, a stark contrast to the 5% average of 25 years ago. This shift is driven by the preferences of heavy users who dominate consumption. While this trend satisfies dedicated consumers, it poses risks for casual users and especially teenagers, with reports of marijuana-induced psychosis and potential long-term brain effects on the rise. The legal landscape complicates matters, as federal prohibition has left regulation to individual states, resulting in markets often dominated by large multi-state operators focused on high-potency products. Without federal action to deschedule marijuana, implementing comprehensive safety standards and offering consumers real choice in potency levels remains challenging. Federal descheduling could pave the way for FDA oversight, standardized labeling, and better consumer protection in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry.

Health and Wellness — What Is Mental Rigidity? 

Mental rigidity, a concept in psychology, refers to an inflexible adherence to established viewpoints or behaviors, often manifesting as an inability to adapt to new situations or consider alternative perspectives. This trait has been studied since the early 20th century, with various psychologists offering definitions and theories about its nature and origins. Mental rigidity can be observed in mental sets, which are fixed ways of approaching problems based on prior experiences. It may have both learned and genetic components, and is often associated with conditions like autism spectrum disorder. The severity of rigidity can vary, ranging from strict perceptions to becoming an integral part of one's personality. Rigidity is frequently accompanied by both externalizing behaviors (like perfectionism and compulsions) and internalizing behaviors (such as obsessions). It can contribute to traits like ethnocentrism and may lead to negative consequences when rigidly held expectations are not met, including agitation, depression, and in severe cases, suicidal tendencies.

Cooking and Baking — Cream Cheese Pound Cake 

This recipe yields an exceptional cream cheese pound cake. After extensive testing and numerous setbacks, I discovered the ideal balance of ingredients to create a moist, dense, and delicious cake. With just 9 straightforward ingredients, this cream cheese pound cake recipe is sure to become your new favorite. To ensure success, be sure to adhere closely to the specified baking time and temperature.

Song Recommendation — Let Her Go by Passenger (ft. Ed Sheeran) 

Quote of the Day — Johanna Spyri 

“I’ll always say my prayers…and if God doesn’t answer them at once I shall know it’s because He’s planning something better for me.” — Johanna Spyri, Heidi 

Heidi is a classic children's novel written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri, first published in two volumes between 1880 and 1881. The story follows a young orphan girl named Heidi who is taken to live with her reclusive grandfather in the Swiss Alps, where she finds joy and friendship in her idyllic surroundings. However, her life takes a turn when her aunt sends her to Frankfurt to be a companion for a disabled girl named Clara, leading to themes of homesickness, friendship, and the healing power of nature as Heidi ultimately returns to the mountains.

Have yourself a great Monday. As always, enjoy your Americano.