Some data in a new report by the Surgeon General on the risks and frequency of teen smoking cigarettes:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2012/March/08/teenagers-and-smoking.aspx

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/surgeon-generals-report-takes-aim-at-youth-smoking/2012/03/07/gIQAddsByR_story.html

and some teens may have a neurological predisposition to addiction:

http://twocircles.net/2012apr30/brain_networks_explain_why_some_teenagers_smoke.html

Some tips for hiring and training teens:

http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/15852/braintrust-query-teenagers-have-changed-what-it-takes-for-them-to-succeed-in-retail

A recent article from TIME magazine on the neuroscience of willpower:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2107518,00.html?iid=pw-hl

An article that questions the common assumption that we all need 8 hours sleep to function best:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783

A NSFW article on the experience of quitting smoking:

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-life-lessons-you-only-learn-through-quitting-smoking/

The blog will be offline from Saturday, February 18 – Sunday February 26 due to school vacation.

an article regarding the proposed changes in the new DSM:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/conditions/autism/parents-of-autistic-kids-fear-diagnostic-changes-will-mean-reduced-services/article2334223/

When a baby cries, it is not being manipulative, it is trying to communicate the only way it knows how:

http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/article_e4edc1e8-4ea6-11e1-9447-001871e3ce6c.html

An opinion piece foe parents who play video games on how to appropriately share the experience with your kids:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/01/22/how-gamer-parents-should-talk-to-their-kids-about-games/

The American Psychological Association is considering restructuring Autism spectrum and Asperger’s diagnoses in the new Diagnostic manual:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/apa-considers-new-definition-for-autism-a-change-that-could-limit-kids-access-to-special-education/2012/01/22/gIQAb2rWJQ_blog.html