How Do You Spell That?

     From Psychology Today:

Naming a baby is a big decision, one many parents agonize over. ...

In discussion groups online for expecting mothers, many say they want to choose a unique name because “different is good” or “I want him to stand out.” Others dismiss names that are “too popular” because “I don’t want them to be one of three kids with the same name in their class.” ...

In a 2010 paper, my co-authors and I found that the use of common names declined precipitously between the 1950s and 2007 in the Social Security Administration database of the name of every American with a Social Security number (which is nearly everyone). In the 1950s, 1 out of every 4 boys had one of the 10 most popular names. By 2007, only 10% did. Fitting in went from being desirable to being undesirable, and uniqueness went the opposite way. It was yet another sign of American culture becoming more individualistic – more focused on the self and less on social rules. ...

But then the Great Recession hit. People started talking about a “cultural reset,” and in fact charity donations and interest in social issues did go up, suggesting a rise in communalism. But signs of a sustained increase in individualism, such as a continuing rise in positive self-views, also appeared.

So what happened with names? In a paper published today, we found that the trend toward unique names continued during the recession, especially for boys. Unique names are more common now than they were 10 years ago. Thirty-four percent of boys received a name among the 50 most popular in 2004-06, compared to only 30% during the 2008-10 recession years and 28% in post-recession 2011-15. For girls, the decline was from 24% to 22% to 21%. ...

This research shows the hidden power of culture. Across the country over the last few decades, parents were collectively deciding not to choose common names for their children. How does something like that happen? It’s a mysterious process – somehow the value of uniqueness became more prominent. We know it happened, but exactly how and why is a bit of a mystery. For now, we can take comfort that our kids will be less likely to be confused with another who has the same name – but more likely to be asked the question “And how do you spell that?”

More Immigration Enforcement Problems

     Social Security is denying retirement benefits to a man who was born in Canada even though he served in the U.S. Army and his father is a U.S. citizen. The man worked in the U.S. for 48 years. 

     Sounds like where Ted Cruz may be in a few years -- although Cruz never served in the Army.

New Autism Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings effective January 17, 2017:

12.10 Autism spectrum disorder (see 12.00B8), satisfied by A and B:

     A. Medical documentation of both of the following:

      1. Qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction; and

       2. Significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

AND

     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):

          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).

          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).

          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).

          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).

New Anxiety Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairments Listings effective January 17, 2017.:

12.06 Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (see 12.00B5), satisfied by A and B, or A and C:

     A. Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1, 2, or 3:

          1. Anxiety disorder, characterized by three or more of the following;

              a. Restlessness;

              b. Easily fatigued;

              c. Difficulty concentrating;

              d. Irritability;

              e. Muscle tension; or

              f. Sleep disturbance.

          2. Panic disorder or agoraphobia, characterized by one or both:

               a. Panic attacks followed by a persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences; or

               b. Disproportionate fear or anxiety about at least two different situations (for example, using public transportation, being in a crowd, being in a line, being outside of your home, being in open spaces).

         3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by one or both:

            a. Involuntary, time-consuming preoccupation with intrusive, unwanted thoughts; or

               b. Repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety.

AND

     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):

          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1

          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).

          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).

          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4). OR

     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both:

         1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and

        2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already par t of your daily life (see 12.00G2c)

New PTSD Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings effective January 17, 2017:

12.15 Trauma-and [so in the original] stressor-related  disorders (see 12.00B11), satisfied by A and B, or A and C:

     A. Medical documentation of all of the following:

          1. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence;

        2. Subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event (for example, intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks);

          3. Avoidance of external reminders of the event;

          4. Disturbance in mood and behavior; and

        5. Increases in arousal and reactivity (for example, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbance).

AND

     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):

          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).

          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).

          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).

          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).

OR

     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both

     1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and

    2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c).

New Depression/Bipolar Listing

      From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings effective January 17, 2017:

12.04 Depressive, bipolar and related disorders (see 12.00B3), satisfied by A and B, or A and C: 

     A. Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1 or 2: 

          1. Depressive disorder, characterized by five or more of the following: 

               a. Depressed mood; 

               b. Diminished interest in almost all activities; 

               c. Appetite disturbance with change in weight; 

               d. Sleep disturbance; 

               e. Observable psychomotor agitation or retardation; 

               f. Decreased energy 

               g. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; 

               h. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or 

               i. Thoughts of death or suicide. 

          2. Bipolar disorder, characterized by three or more of the following: 

               a. Pressured speech; 

               b. Flight of ideas; 

               c. Inflated self-esteem; 

               d. Decreased need for sleep; 

               e. Distractibility; 

           f. Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that are not recognized;

or 
              g . Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation 

AND

     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F): 

          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1). 

          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2). 

          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3). 

          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4). 
OR

     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both: 

          1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and 

          2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c) .

New Eating Disorder Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings:

12.13 Eating disorders (see 12.00B10), satisfied by A and B:

     A. Medical documentation of a persistent alteration in eating or eating-related behavior that results in a change in consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impairs physical or psychological health .

AND

     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):

          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).

          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).

          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).

          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4)

If You Just Can't Stomach Clinton Or Trump

     If you can't stomach either Clinton or Trump you might consider voting for the Libertarian Party candidate, Gary Johnson. However, before you do, you might take a look at some of his positions. For one, he's in favor of abolishing Social Security. Not modifying Social Security. Abolishing it.