Tik Tok

Foods like potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers, all members of the Solanaceae flowering plant family, contain small amounts of naturally occurring nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and is often cited as the reason why it's so difficult to quit smoking. However, studies have shown that the nicotine found in food might actually be beneficial. In 2013, CBS reported that eating food containing nicotine actually reduced the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

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The CEO of Constellation Brands says that people are looking for lower and no alcohol options in drinks.

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In a 2022 survey of A.I. researchers, nearly half of the respondents said that there was a 10 percent or greater chance that the long-run effect of advanced A.I. on humanity would be “extremely bad.” This year, an A.I. researcher argued that natural selection favors A.I. over humans.

Tik Tok

Is there another side to Tik Tok? Is a free nation hampered in how efficiently it can protect itself? Does freedom protect an organization even if it's planning the nation's overthrow?

In banning TikTok, the government is eliminating a forum used by millions of Americans to express themselves. Creators have used TikTok to entertain viewers, non-profits have highlighted their causes and work, and struggling small businesses have found new audiences that are interested in their products or services. Just as individuals choose to express themselves in different ways in an analog era, different social media platforms provide different opportunities for expression. So, while there are competing platforms like Instagram’s Reels and YouTube’s Shorts, removing users’ access to TikTok as their chosen platform would be like the government banning the New York Times and arguing it was not a First Amendment violation because the Washington Post exists.

As currently drafted, the RESTRICT Act likely runs afoul of the First Amendment, erodes Americans’ privacy protections, and would open the door to not only more misguided protectionism, but also government investigations, fines, and even imprisonment of Americans who engage in common online activities deemed too “risky” by the executive branch alone. Regardless of whether the act becomes law, that it quickly garnered 25 Senate co-sponsors is a troubling indication that even the most egregiously bad legislation can attract a crowd these days if it’s sold as countering the “China threat.” And it shows that the risks to Americans’ wealth, safety, and security come not from China alone.--from Cato