I came across an article discussing at the results of a study of antidepressants.

The study found that the anti-depressant Paxil (and in theory all SSRIs) do more than alleviate the patient’s depression, it found that the anti-depressant actually changed the personality of those taking the drug.

In the study, people who took Paxil (paroxetine), a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), had a drop in neuroticism, which is a tendency toward emotional instability and negative mood. They also had an increase in extraversion, which is a tendency toward outgoingness, compared to similarly depressed people taking placebo.

As someone who takes anti-depressants, am I unsure how I feel about this.

The drugs I am changing may well be changing my entire personality, and not just alleviating my depression? Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

Part of me is disturbed by the idea of a personality change, but the greater part of me enjoys being more outgoing, and I definitely prefer being emotionally stable to the alternative. (I’m prone to mood swings anyway, and if they annoy me, I’m sure they’re far worse for those around me.)

So emotional stability is a good thing, and for me, an increase in extroversion is a good thing. But is it possible someone could decide that introversion itself is something that should be treated? Would it be acceptable to treat someone with an SSRI because they are introverted, even if they aren’t depressed? Would an SSRI even affect the introversion of someone who was not depressed?

As usual, I have no answers, only more questions. But for me, I’m pleased with the effect that the anti-depressant I am taking has upon both my mood and personality, so I’ll take that as a good thing.

New poll today – best Christmas song. This does not include hymns or carols, but rather the songs you hear on the radio.

But I’ll take comments for hymns and carols.

What does it say about me that upon seeing the following in my Inbox:

I immediately thought, I hated HIGHLIGHTS! Why do I want a radio station for it?

You should know the rules by now.

Today’s word: code

I’ve learned something new! MUAHAHAHA!

I’ve modified the search resultsof my library database search so that for most search results, you can sort the results by clicking on the heading.

If you aren’t a geek, you’ll want to go and play with the search, rather than read than read the code bits that follow.

I got that using “switch”

if(isset($_GET[‘sort’]))
{
switch($_GET[‘sort’])
{
case ‘a’:
$order_by = LastName ASC, FirstName, Series, Year’;
$a = “{$_SERVER[‘PHP_SELF’]}?sort=b”;
break;

case ‘b’:
$order_by = ‘LastName DESC, FirstName, Series, Year’;
$a = “{$_SERVER[‘PHP_SELF’]}?sort=a”;
break;

default:
$order_by = ‘LastName, FirstName, Series, Year’;
$sort = ‘a’;
break;
}

$sort = $_GET[‘sort’];
} else {
$order_by = ‘LastName, FirstName, Series, Year’;
$sort = ‘a’;
}

Isn’t that nice?

But even better, I managed to get a more accurate sort for my “title” results. I got it to ignore a, an, and the when they start a book title. Which means the title results are now truly alphabetical.

ORDER BY trim(LEADING ‘The ‘ FROM trim(LEADING ‘A ‘ FROM trim(LEADING ‘An ‘ FROM Title))) DESC

Isn’t that lovely?

You wouldn’t believe how long it took me to find that. Most of what I came across wanted me to modify the book title to place the definite articles at the end of the title followed by a comma, or in a separate column, or even create a separate column for sorting, all of which were overkill for what I wanted.

But trim(LEADING ‘The ‘ FROM trim(LEADING ‘A ‘ FROM trim(LEADING ‘An ‘ FROM X))) DESC worked like a charm.

Michael made bourbon balls this weekend (I helped). The thing about bourbon balls is you need to make them ahead of time and let them sit. We usually make them around Thanksgiving, but that didn’t work out this year.

Bourbon Balls
1 box Vanilla wafers
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
3 tbsp corn syrup
1/2 cup bourbon
3 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp espresso powder
Confectioners powder and/or cocoa powder

Crush the vanilla wafers.

Dump all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Mix until you have a dark brown gooey mass.

Allow mixture to stand for several minutes. This is a good time to make the second batch of “dough”.

Form dough into small balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar. Place bourbon balls into waxed paper lined tin, placing a layer of waxed paper between each layer.

Place tins aside for several weeks.

In theory, you can use stale/toasted cake instead of vanilla wafers, but I never have stale cake on hand.

I’m serious about setting them aside for several weeks. They’ll be much much better if you wait.

I love this recipe. It’s from one of my favorite books, no longer in publication. Which is really too bad.

I usually substitute peanut butter chips, because Michael loves peanut butter.

She suggests refrigerating this dough before baking, but I can never wait that long, because once I make these cookies I want to eat them NOW!

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup flour
1/2 cup dutch process cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
8 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Beat butter and sugars until creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture until just incorporated. Stir in nuts and chips.

Scoop 1 tsp balls onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through.

Once you have pulled the cookies out of the oven, go pour yourself a glass of milk, because you are going to burn your mouth eating these cookies immediately.

For the cookies you don’t eat immediately, cool them on a rack.

From: Alice Medrich’s Cookies and Brownies

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The Pearl Harbor attack kliied 2,403 and wounded 1,178. Twenty-one ships were sunk or damaged, including the USS Arizona, which remains on the harbor floor, and the USS West Virginia, which was eventually refloated, repaired, and rejoined the fleet towards the end of the war.

Images from the Pearl Harbor attack.

USS Arizona Restoration

Information about the Pearl Harbor Attack.

The USS West Virginia, including pictures of the ship from the 20s through the “mothballing” of the ship in the 1950s (She was later broken up and sold for scrap).

The USS Arizona, from the University of Arizona, including a brief history and online exhibits.

President Roosevelt’s speech in response to the other attacks that day.

Cook Third Class Doris Miller, USN

Doris (“Dorie”) Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on 12 October 1919. He enlisted in the Navy in September 1939 as a Mess Attendant Third Class. On 7 December 1941, while serving aboard USS West Virginia (BB-48), he distinguished himself by courageous conduct and devotion to duty during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on this occasion.

Doris Miller served aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35) from December 1941 to May 1943. He was then assigned to the escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56). Cook Third Class Miller was lost with that ship when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on 24 November 1943, during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

USS Miller (DE-1091) was named in honor of Cook Third Class Doris Miller.

“I have no idea why I keep falling off Grandmom’s ottoman.”

I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn’t it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserved them? So, now I take comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe.
— Marcus Cole, “A Late Delivery From Avalon”, Babylon 5

Nothing to see here. Move along. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.

It’s that time of the week.

For the passing of my mother-in-law’s husband, this week’s word is in honor of Bill:

Model T

Obama Weather (via Wait Wait)

The IgNobel Please Stop I’m Bored mug.

The stupidest idea I have ever seen in my life. (Make sure to check out the “other views”.)

And if you have time on your hands, the Amazon Oddities Community.

Assume: A spherical, frictionless chicken, in a vacuum.