Instapopulist

What Happens in My Vagus Stays in My Vagus

Get away from my neck, you medical-device vampires!

A highly unpleasant spotlight, which turned me into a Vagus showgirl for five years, has finally been turned off. I just completed a Cyberonics, Inc., clinical trial of the Vagus Nerve Stimulator, to assess its effectiveness in helping those who suffer from treatment-resistant depression. It was a ridiculous, scandalous experience.

The E-Cigarette Seduction: Are We Blowing It?

E-cigarettes are fun and flirty, hip and tasty! They're diabolical!

After having smoked since high school, I finally gave it up 10 years ago. I broke the habit. I was free. I was sad that I had to give up this comfort, but I was gratified that I had moved on.

Enter e-cigarettes. The moment I first saw someone on TV exhaling a cloud of vapor, a little devil in my brain (or maybe it was an angel who felt deprived of simple pleasures) cried out, "Oh boy!"

Yet Another Trade Deal Outrage

There is yet another outrage against citizens of nations.  This time the plan is to allow corporations to sue nation-states when they do not like their labor and environmental laws.  This nefarious agenda is currently being negotiated between the United States and the EU.  The trade agreements Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, and TAFTA, the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement is where these new corporate powers would be activated.

Hackers Love Black Friday, Just Ask Target

Ho,Ho, Ho, data theft we go.  It wasn't just gullible shoppers were in a frenzy on Black Friday.  Seems hackers love the marketing hyped retail bonanza as well.  Target was hacked and a whopping 40 million credit and debit cards were ripped off from November 27th to December 19th.  The speed of the massive theft is unprecedented in cyber-crime history.  Target is the second largest generalized merchandise retailer in America.

A Tax Loophole For the Rich So Wide It Even Has a Name

We've all heard about that terrible death tax, hated by the super rich across America.  This is the inheritance tax where Uncle Sam is supposed to get 40% of the estate that is passed onto heirs.  The reality is this tax is not paid unless someone has a very poor financial planner and attorney.  There is a loophole in the law which allows billionaires and their heirs to pay nothing in taxes on inheritance.

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