May 19, 2012

Russell Brand’s Ridiculous Testimony To Parliament About Addiction

Russell Brand Parliament

Comedian and “recovering addict” Russell Brand recently testified in front of a committee in Parliament about drug policy.  If you want to watch it, here’s the full video, his portion goes 29 minutes long, or you can skip it and read my points below: What’s wrong with Russell’s pitch? I’m sure his intentions are nothing [...]

Alec Baldwin’s “Gaming Addiction” and Other Nonsense

alec baldwin american airlines

Alec Baldwin has been labeled an addict for an altercation over cell phone use on a plane. This case makes it clear that addiction hysteria is all about judgment. The so-called mental illnesses of hoarding, Facebook addiction, texting addiction, gaming addiction, and substance addictions are not real illnesses – they are simply behaviors unapproved of by others.

A Critic’s View of Drugs, Music, and Creativity

kurt-cobain-smokes

Drugs and art, art and drugs. Is drug use and addiction a necessary evil for the artist? The myth that the best modern music is the result of drug use pervades our culture despite some important weaknesses in this assumption. Let’s examine some critical issues in this debate.

Penn & Teller Bullshit: Alcoholics Anonymous

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A lot of people think Charlie Sheen’s claims about Alcoholics Anonymous are crazy. Penn & Teller did a great job exposing the truth about AA, addiction, and alcoholism on their show, Bullshit!. See the video here.