Washington (CNN) – A majority of Americans think the federal government poses a threat to rights of Americans, according to a new national poll.
Fifty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation surveyreleased Friday say they think the federal government's become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. Forty-four percent of those polled disagree.
The survey indicates a partisan divide on the question: only 37 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Independents and nearly 7 in 10 Republicans say the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans.
According to CNN poll numbers released Sunday, Americans overwhelmingly think that the U.S. government is broken - though the public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what's broken can be fixed.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted February 12-15, with 1,023 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the overall survey.
**Click on the underlined words in blue for their definitions.**
Interesting quote:
“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson
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This post contains some really good vocabulary for addictions
By Judy Fortin CNN Medical Correspondent
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Susan Todd loves her daily coffee fix. "I can drink four or five cups, easily, comfortably," said Todd, 59, of Clinton Township, Michigan.
But if she skips her regular dose of caffeine, Todd warned, watch out.
"I feel lousy all over. It's not that anything hurts," she explained. "I just feel sluggish, and a cup of caffeine will cure that."
Todd is among the estimated 80 to 90 percent of North American adults and children who consume caffeine products every day. Experts estimate about half that number will experience headaches and other symptoms from caffeine withdrawal syndrome.
There are a number of reasons why someone might need to reduce or stop their daily caffeine intake. Experts tell pregnant women not to consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day (about one 12-ounce cup of coffee). Caffeinated products are not recommended for people who are prone to panic attacks or those who suffer from anxiety. Some surgical patients may also experience the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal syndrome on the day of surgery, because they are told not to eat or drink anything.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, recognized the condition as a disorder five years ago after reviewing decades of studies. They concluded the higher the caffeine intake, the more likely a patient was to suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms when denied the ingredient.
Researchers also reported that some caffeine users considered themselves addicted to caffeine because they were unable to quit or cut down on their usage.
Michael Kuhar, chief of the division of neuroscience at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, prefers to use the word "dependent" rather than "addicted." Even though he called caffeine a drug, Kuhar wouldn't go so far as saying it has reached the status of cocaine or heroin.
According to Kuhar, caffeine is a mild stimulant. "If you take a cup of caffeine you're likely to feel good and energized," he said.
Miss that cup of "Joe" or can of cola and don't be surprised if you start feeling funny, Kuhar warned. He said some people complain of "headache, fatigue, sleepiness, inability to focus and concentrate." Others report experiencing flu- like symptoms, irritability, depression and anxiety after skipping as little as one cup of coffee a day.
Kuhar explained that caffeine blocks receptors in the brain that can dilate blood vessels causing headaches. "Withdrawal symptoms can start from 12 to 20 hours after your last cup of coffee and peak about two days later and can last about as long as a week," Kuhar added.
It is not just coffee that can lead to caffeine withdrawal. While a 6-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains about 100 milligrams of caffeine, tea and cola have about 40 milligrams each, a bar of milk chocolate has about 10 milligrams and hot chocolate has about 7 milligrams.
Kuhar said that means adults as well as children may be suffering daily physiological and personality effects of caffeine withdrawal.
He recommended that people who are motivated to give up caffeine, or cut back on consumption, do so very carefully. "The thing to do is what we do with so many drugs -- basically you wean yourself off slowly," Kuhar suggested. "That doesn't mean it is going to be easy at every step, but it should be easier than going cold turkey."
Johns Hopkins researchers also endorsed a stepped approach to quitting caffeine. They instruct patients to gradually substitute decaffeinated products or noncaffeinated products over time in order to reduce the likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Kuhar suggested the process also can begin with reducing caffeine consumption by a half to a whole cup a day.
Technology consultant Skeet Spillane, 42, of St. Petersburg, Florida, started a step-down program after years of consuming up to three cups of coffee each day. He felt he was "drinking way too much caffeine."
Spillane said he knew right away that he was suffering from caffeine withdrawal when he started getting severe headaches. His wife told him he was cranky most of the time.
He now drinks tea instead, and occasionally sneaks a cup of coffee. Looking back, Spillane admitted going through withdrawal was "tough for a while," but he's feeling better these days and he's glad he's not so dependent on caffeine.
brewed adjective made by boiling, steeping or mixing various ingredients I love freshly brewed tea.
cold turkey idiomatic expression sudden stop to taking a drug or other chemical substance After years of smoking, she stopped cold turkey.
cranky adjective [mainly American] someone who gets cranky gets annoyed easily Travelling can make you cranky, tired and tense.
cup of Joe / cup o’ Joe/ cuppa Joe colloquial expression [American English- countable] cup of coffee Wanna go to Starbucks for a cup o’ Joe?
cure verb [transitive] to control or get rid of a bad habit, feeling or attitude Nothing seemed to cure him of his nervousness.
cut down or cut back verbal phrase [intransitive/transitive] to start doing less of something, especially because it is bad for your health The doctor advised him to cut down his working hours. I’m trying to cut down on salt.
disorder noun [countable] an illness or medical condition He had treated her for a stomach disorder.
endorse verb [transitive] to express support for someone or something, especially in public All endorsed the treaty as critically important for achieving peace.
fix noun [singular] an amount of a drug that someone feels they need to take regularly Let’s take a break, I need my coffee fix.
intake noun [singular] the amount of something you eat or drink; the amount of substance or chemical that enters your body Reduce your intake of salt, sugar and junk foods. a good intake of vitamins
likelihood noun [singular/uncountable] the chance that something might happen The likelihood of developing cancer is increased in people who smoke.
lousy adjective bad or unpleasant I’m a lousy singer. lousy weather
peak verb [intransitive] to reach the highest amount or level, before becoming lower Interest rates peaked at 19%.
prone to adjective likely to do something or be affected by something, especially something bad The coastal region is prone to earthquakes. He’s prone to gain weight.
skip verb [transitive] to avoid doing or having something It’s not a good idea to skip breakfast. She’s been skipping lessons all year.
sluggish adjective not performing or reacting as well as unusual Sasha woke up this morning feeling tired and sluggish. a sluggish economy
sneak verb [transitive] to take someone or something secretly or illegally I sneaked the book out of my father’s study. She managed to sneak him another piece of cake. Let’s sneak some pizza into the cinema.
wean someone off or wean someone from phrasal verb [transitive] to make someone gradually stop depending on something that they like and have become used to, especially a drug or bad habit We’re trying to wean ourselves off watching too much television.
withdrawal noun [uncountable] a period when someone feels ill because they have stopped taking a drug or other substance that they are addicted to
A court has lifted a ban on identifying a man charged with one of a number of deadly wildfires that scorched southwestern Australia this month.
The man, 39-year-old Brendan Sokaluk, did not appear in Monday's hearing in Melbourne Magistrates' Court, the Australian Associated Press reported. An order banning the publishing of Sokaluk's street address or his image remains in place.
Public passions are running high in the aftermath of the fires that have killed scores of people. One T-shirt says, "The bastards who lit Victoria's fires should: Burn in hell."
Sokaluk is suspected of lighting a fire on February 7. He was charged with arson causing death, intentionally or recklessly lighting a bush fire, and possessing child pornography, Victoria state police said last week. The fire Sokaluk is accused of setting killed at least 21 people in Gippsland.
The death toll in a string of fires across Victoria climbed to 189 on Monday, police reported. The number of fires burning had dropped to six, from about a peak of about three dozen, the Country Fire Authority said.
Meanwhile, more than 150 detectives were working on the arson investigation, authorities said. The fires have destroyed more than 1,800 homes and displaced about 7,000 people.
to charge someone with
to assert that someone is guilty of a particular crime (official crime mentioned – e.g. arson, first degree murder, armed robbery, assault, etc...) EX. The police are charging him with armed robbery.
to charge someone over
to assert that an activity may be the result of a crime committed (activity or event where a possible crime took place – death of husband, protest event, car accident, etc..) EX. Authorities may charge Phelps over his bong use.
to lift a ban
to put an end to something that has been forbidden or restricted EX. Turkey’s prime minister’s attempt to lift the ban on headscarves was anti-secular.
to scorch
to burn and destroy EX. The lava flow from Mount St. Helens completely scorched the forests around the mountain.
a hearing
a) a court appearance before a judge other than a formal trial; b) a formal meeting of an investigative body or legislative committee where evidence or testimony are given EX. State Real Estate Commissions hold hearings to investigate complaints filed against licensed salespersons.
passions are running high
An expression to mean that people are experiencing strong emotions. EX. Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, passions are running high on both sides of the controversy.
the aftermath (uncount noun)
the consequences or state of affairs resulting from something EX. In the Maldives, there are severe problems in the aftermath of the tsunami.
scores (in the plural)
large numbers EX. Scores of people attended the Obama presidential campaign rallies.
to light (irregular verb – lit, lit)
to set on fire or ignite EX. To create a romantic mood at dinner, he lit the candles on the table.
suspected of
to be thought guilty without proof EX. Because of her connection to the victim, she was suspected of murdering him.
arson (uncount noun)
the crime of purposely setting fire to a building or property EX. Vehicle arson is unfortunately an annual event in Strasbourg on New Year’s Eve.
recklessly (adv.)
not regarding the circumstances, irresponsibly, dangerously EX. His driving at 160 kilometers an hour on the motorway in the rain recklessly endangered his life and of those around him.
a bush fire or a bushfire
a fire that occurs in the bush (collective term for the countryside in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia) EX. In south east Australia, bushfires tend to be most common and most severe during summer and autumn.
accused of
to have legal action brought against EX. He was accused of murdering his ex-wife because his fingerprints were found at the crime scene.
death toll
the number of dead EX. The death toll in Africa due to AIDS may hit 100 million by the year 2025.
a string of
any series of things in close or uninterrupted succession EX. Obama’s string of victories in the presidential primaries gave him enough delegate votes to win his party’s nomination.
a peak
the highest or utmost point of anything; height; maximum EX. In December, the flu season was at its peak.
has about 10 milligrams and hot chocolate has about 7 milligrams.
