Surprised they're allowed to use an image of a Beholder since it's not released under the Open Game License. There's a running joke on a D&D based comic strip online about how they're not even supposed to say the name.
Here's a re-post of a comment I made on Mental Floss about this issue:
That article about Adderall breaks my heart. As someone who works in public education in a low income area and also personally has ADD, I can say that drugging children to make up for issues caused by their surrounding environment is horrific. Yes, these kids NEED, desperately need, SOMETHING to help, but pharmaceuticals are not the answer.
Giving these children and their parents access to things like community child care, prenatal care, and early childhood development programs should be the goal. These children need stability. They need things like a proper diet and a good night's sleep. Their schools need to be a safe place for them to go. Schools should be a place with adequate funding for access to a well rounded education. Bankrolling the cash cow that has become the American health industry at the cost of side effects, potential drug addiction, and life long dependency is not a solution, it's a profit grab. It also creates another drug issue in communities where there are, historically, already drug problems and crime as a result. The many issues of educating low income children need to be addressed as what they are: a socioeconomic problem.
Adderall is a drug meant to help people with an actual mental difference/disorder that can cause learning difficulties. The drug does have its place, in an appropriate use for the disorder it was created to help people overcome. It is a valuable tool in the treatment of AD(H)D and can mean a world of difference and better opportunities for children and adults with the disorder. I can personally attest to that. AD(H)D is badly understood in our society currently. The potential for the disorder to be further misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and even dismissed as a result of doctors using the diagnoses to treat children without the disorder is troubling. Even more troubling is the fact that there already are problems with Adderall shortages because of the manufacturing quotas set by the Drug Enforcement Agency. If more prescriptions are written for children who do not have the disorder it creates the potential for someone who really needs the drug being unable to obtain it.
These drugs have side-effects that can be difficult for adults to cope with; I cannot imagine what children who truly need these drugs go through. Typically, drugs that alter brain chemistry and activity require close monitoring at the onset of usage because of these side effects, as well as continued monitoring for any issues that may come after prolonged usage. There has to be a clear understanding of what is an acceptable side effect versus the side effects that can be detrimental and even life threatening. Handing this out to children who an unstable home life and parents with poor parenting skills sounds like a recipe for disaster on many levels.
Having worn prosthetic ear tips for a costume, I would HIGHLY recommend skipping the spirit gum and using something like Ben Nye Prosthetic Adhesive. It is MUCH, much easier to work with and has better staying power. It also did not bother my incredibly sensitive, allergy prone skin. After the application I couldn't feel it and could even gently tug on my fake ears. I let a small child give one of them a tug to see if they were my "real" ears. She was quite wide-eyed when the ear tips behaved like real ears and stayed put. Her smiles and sense of astonishment really made my day. They do make a remover for the adhesive as well, but as I recall I didn't have any issues getting the stuff off with just soap and water.
" And what's this thing coming toward me very fast? So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like 'Ow', 'Ownge', 'Round', 'Ground'! That's it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it'll be friends with me? Hello, Ground!"
I like the new design and huge thanks to Alex and Rommel for getting me back in the comment system! Was having a heck of a technologically frustrating morning earlier (multiple systems I was trying to get into weren't working and none of it was MY fault!) Really surprised at the very fast response!
There was also the "I can eat glass it doesn't hurt me." Project. Basically, it was translated into every language so that you could say it to someone in a country and not sound like a tourist but like a crazy native instead.
I recall reading about this research product several years back (probably when it first started.)
The only thing I can think of is "Yeah, kill all the cavity causing bacteria. We all know that worked so well with other varieties of bacteria. Why worry about the potential for creating a resistant variety that worse then the one we have now? Great idea."
Also this from the article: "The molecule targets the bacteria known as streptococcus mutans, which keeps dentists in business by turning sugar into lactic acid, which in turn erodes tooth enamel. Once the streptococcus mutans is eradicated, mouths stay cavity-proof for several hours."
So it only lasts for several hours, could be added to candy (which is already a health threat for several reasons,) and we are talking about the potential for creating another mutated streptococcus variety. Yep, great idea.
; )
That article about Adderall breaks my heart. As someone who works in public education in a low income area and also personally has ADD, I can say that drugging children to make up for issues caused by their surrounding environment is horrific. Yes, these kids NEED, desperately need, SOMETHING to help, but pharmaceuticals are not the answer.
Giving these children and their parents access to things like community child care, prenatal care, and early childhood development programs should be the goal. These children need stability. They need things like a proper diet and a good night's sleep. Their schools need to be a safe place for them to go. Schools should be a place with adequate funding for access to a well rounded education. Bankrolling the cash cow that has become the American health industry at the cost of side effects, potential drug addiction, and life long dependency is not a solution, it's a profit grab. It also creates another drug issue in communities where there are, historically, already drug problems and crime as a result. The many issues of educating low income children need to be addressed as what they are: a socioeconomic problem.
Adderall is a drug meant to help people with an actual mental difference/disorder that can cause learning difficulties. The drug does have its place, in an appropriate use for the disorder it was created to help people overcome. It is a valuable tool in the treatment of AD(H)D and can mean a world of difference and better opportunities for children and adults with the disorder. I can personally attest to that. AD(H)D is badly understood in our society currently. The potential for the disorder to be further misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and even dismissed as a result of doctors using the diagnoses to treat children without the disorder is troubling. Even more troubling is the fact that there already are problems with Adderall shortages because of the manufacturing quotas set by the Drug Enforcement Agency. If more prescriptions are written for children who do not have the disorder it creates the potential for someone who really needs the drug being unable to obtain it.
These drugs have side-effects that can be difficult for adults to cope with; I cannot imagine what children who truly need these drugs go through. Typically, drugs that alter brain chemistry and activity require close monitoring at the onset of usage because of these side effects, as well as continued monitoring for any issues that may come after prolonged usage. There has to be a clear understanding of what is an acceptable side effect versus the side effects that can be detrimental and even life threatening. Handing this out to children who an unstable home life and parents with poor parenting skills sounds like a recipe for disaster on many levels.
After the application I couldn't feel it and could even gently tug on my fake ears. I let a small child give one of them a tug to see if they were my "real" ears. She was quite wide-eyed when the ear tips behaved like real ears and stayed put. Her smiles and sense of astonishment really made my day.
They do make a remover for the adhesive as well, but as I recall I didn't have any issues getting the stuff off with just soap and water.
The only thing I can think of is "Yeah, kill all the cavity causing bacteria. We all know that worked so well with other varieties of bacteria. Why worry about the potential for creating a resistant variety that worse then the one we have now? Great idea."
Also this from the article: "The molecule targets the bacteria known as streptococcus mutans, which keeps dentists in business by turning sugar into lactic acid, which in turn erodes tooth enamel. Once the streptococcus mutans is eradicated, mouths stay cavity-proof for several hours."
So it only lasts for several hours, could be added to candy (which is already a health threat for several reasons,) and we are talking about the potential for creating another mutated streptococcus variety. Yep, great idea.