Writer Michael Pollan echoes this thought when he cites the paucity of cultures and civilizations that have existed without the use of any psychoactive substances. The difference between heroin, which will promptly get you arrested, and codeine, morphine, or oxycodone, which we frequently prescribe in clinics, is merely a few atoms. We freely accept the deadliest of drugs by the score—tobacco and alcohol, along with dozens of addictive, intoxicating prescription drugs—yet we have demonized much less dangerous drugs.

This incident makes me well understand the reluctance and fear of non-natives in this country to even try to speak English. Some time ago, I was teaching an English as a Second Language class, and some of my students shied away from speaking at all. They most likely believed their heavy foreign accents would unjustly subject them to ridicule and make them seem unintelligent. They might have feared their classmates would have the audacity to laugh at them even as some of those students also kept silent when it was their turn to speak.

The problem with a BRICS currency would be that it would only be useful for purchasing imports from other BRICS countries. It would not be convertible into dollars or other currencies. It could not be used to purchase U.S. Treasury securities nor to pay off foreign debt. It would be impractical for use in FDI, even in other BRICS countries. FDI generally involves construction and infrastructure projects, requiring raw materials that could not be purchased using BRICS currency.

This is the prevailing legal standard that would apply to Trump. The fact of his indictment and potential trial is irrelevant to his qualifications for office under the Constitution. Nevertheless, there seems no question that indictment, conviction or both – let alone a prison sentence – would significantly compromise a president’s ability to function in office. And the Constitution doesn’t provide an easy answer to the problem posed by such a compromised chief executive.

This example of getting along came in marked contrast to how some legislators in Congress (mis)behaved during President Biden’s February 7 State of the Union address. As Biden talked about how a minority of GOP members aimed to cut spending for the Social Security and Medicare programs, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and a few of her fellow Republicans interrupted the speech by booing, shouting out rude objections, and generally making fools of themselves.

The short explanation of what happened to SVB is that it was hit by a run on the bank. Due to the fractional reserve banking system used in the United States and other countries, if every depositor decided to withdraw their money on the same day, the bank would run out of funds. Only a small percentage of all deposits are held in a bank. The rest are loaned out, and this is how banks earn money.

We were in sync, gliding across the soft brown dirt as one. We beat 50 horses, won second best, and earned a national championship title. I had hot, streaming tears down my face as the numbers “3-4-5” blared out of the auditorium speakers, giving me a national title and putting a blanket of tricolored roses: yellow, red, and white across Raya’s shoulders. They put the 6-ft long blue ribbons on her bridle and my jacket. 

In a new video, Highbrow Magazine contributor Darius Taghizadeh chats about the 2022-2023 NBA season, and shares his opinions about important trades, players making their mark, and focuses on the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and the L.A. Lakers.  Watch the video below to hear Darius discuss highlights of the current season.