Rules for life:

• Russ Roberts, who wrote the commentary on Adam Smith’s moral thesis, posted his 12 rules for life.• #2- find something healthy to worship, could be called a healthy addiction or obsession. #8- give up a lot to make it to funerals is a cool one you don’t often hear. #9- always take your child’s hand when it is offered is excellent advice, because they will stop offering someday. 

Capital:

• What is capital? Can it be dead? This book by Hernando de Soto gives a definition of capital and a resulting big-picture view of inequality throughout the world.• He presents data showing that many developing nations are actually sitting on billions of dollars of dead capital. The reason they remain impoverished is the lack of legal property systems.• In the evolution in the US, for example, squatters were able to integrate their extralegal ownership into the legal system. Developing countries now have more difficulty accomplishing this due to the massive scale as compared to the US 200 years ago. Very cool book and still quite relevant (written in 2003).

Too much of a good thing:

• Interesting article on deep brain stimulation and artificially induced happiness. One quote “It is not my job as a neurologist to make people happy.” Wonder if it will be someday. Eerie ending with the patient who had a sore on her finger from pressing the brain stimulator button so many times. • Fits well with the last article about happiness. We may need some unhappiness as a contrast to be able to appreciate happiness. 

Violence:

• In San Diego for the AAEM Scientific Assembly, heard a moving talk by Dr Roger Mitchell Jr. (@rmitch_jr). The talk was on violence in America. Suicide, Homicide, the insane statistics on murders in Chicago, the heavy burdens carried by our patients who are victims and perpetrators of gun violence, the importance of building bridges after breaking down barriers. • He gave everyone a call to action to talk to your patients (or friends / family) about gun violence. Work with community support services to intervene. Sadly, the US continues to lead the world in firearm related deaths. 

Sweeteners:

• They are all giving us cancer, diabetes, altered bowel flora, more sweet cravings, hurting the environment. No sweetener is safe from criticism, even sugar. This is a decent option. Natural and likely no insulin effects. Can find at most groceries. 

Quote:
In my experience, men who respond to good fortune with modesty are harder to find than those who face adversity with courage.
– Xenophon / Cyrus the Great