The Mormons also converted a ton of Danes and Swedes who then emigrated here. I think at least 10 percent of the population still claims one of those backgrounds. Tall blondes aplenty but probably a lot of dour genes in the mix.
If altitude is the culprit, why does Bolivia have a lower suicide rate than Paraguay?
There's no such thing as Paraguayan marching powder.
At least 400 million people live at or above the elevation of Salt Lake City.
The story implies (this could have been a lot more clear) that people who move to altitude are a lot more susceptible than those who grew up there. Actually, the story makes it sound as if that's true of depression, but not euphoria, but it wasn't all that well-written, so who knows what was deliberate and what accidental.
But the management appreciates your googling efforts.
The low number of suicides and other problems in Minnesota undercuts the suggestion in 1. Minnesota's low numbers look bizarre to me given the characteristically long, dark, cold winters we get. I mean, we had like nine hours of sun today and often it's cold enough that getting any of it on you is a challenge. But maybe that's evidence for the altitude suggestion. (Or possibly just evidence for the claim that Minnesota is a nice place to live.)
Whatever the exact mechanism it's clear that taking Scandinavians out of their natural habitat causes behavioral problems. Without their miserable sunless winters they fail to thrive.
Missouri isn't dark enough for you?
Of course that article's been flying around my Facebook, but.. well, it's really hard to say. A culture of guilt and perfection, easy access to handguns, mountain isolation... and iirc the study defines altitude as over 3000 feet, so.. well, hard to say.
Or, as I quipped to my intro class: "Highest rates of anti-depressant use; highest self-reported happiness -- proof that the drugs work, right?"
I was skeptical about this when I first heard about it, but after reading the article the evidence seems a lot stronger than I would have thought. It still can't explain Alaska's astronomical suicide rates, though.
Alaska has one hell of a selection problem, though. Only really strange people move there voluntarily.
They're not the ones killing themselves.
Eh, no reason to feel bad. We are pretty strange.
The Latest Comments is making me think about the part of the intro to the Simpsons where Bart is writing on the board
The hands-down most depressing book I ever read was "A Poison Stronger Than Love". I sincerely and passionately hope that it was a crock of shit.
9: that isn't what people mean when they say Missouri is "benighted"
This would have been a better story for the appreciation of brain imaging equipment.
Yes but then you will miss the sentence "he continues to suffer from problems associated with having had the worm living in his brain" which I feel is a sentence that deserves applause.
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I'm inordinately amused by the episode of Elementary featuring an elaborate plot by a Yudkowsky/Bostrom-like existential-threat-from-killer-robot worrier who tries to frame a computer for murder in order to build popular support for an anti-AI movement. I want to buy whoever wrote this ridiculous but awesome story a drink or something.
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Possibly, credit goes to a worm in the brain.
Is Elementary the Sherlock with Lucy Lui as Watson?
"I" before "u" except after "cy l".
Anyway, I saw it once and liked it O.K.
Lots of people don't believe in evolution, but only the proud few to slap it in its metaphorical face.
(After 2:40, it gets better)
I'm to tired or appalled to type. Goodnight.
After 2:40, it gets better
Having now watched the video, I feel like you have a very different definition of "better" than I do. (Also a different attitude toward pigeons, but that probably goes without saying.)
32 etc - JLM's one of yours now, so it would be a nice sign of your appreciation if you could watch it more. Kid A and I watch it - ridiculous stories, but the Sherlock/Watson relationship is so much more pleasant to watch than Cumberbatch/Freeman. And I love Watson's clothes.