This week, for our dialogue series, we decided to profile two of the most used, abused, and revered AD(H)D medications: Adderall and Vyvanse.

The over-diagnosing and prescribing of these medications have led people to call it an epidemic, or question if some students are over-achievers, or if they have the help of “brain boosting” medications like Adderall and Vyvanse.

The effects of these two high-profile medications are two-fold; not only do they help you focus, but they also curb your appetite.  In a society that places so much emphasis on a thin, trim physique with a high powered job that requires extreme-laser focus in order to get ahead, it’s no wonder that some are dubbing the abuse of these medications, which are popped like candy at all levels from middle and high school students, to soccer moms, to high powered executives, our generation’s amphetamine crisis.

Yes, when prescribed, and then…

Image: The Guardian

So much for Leave No Trace. Apparently Midburn damaged, perhaps even destroyed, a cultural site  150,000 years old. Ironically, they erected their Temple right above the site.

From Asssociated Press:

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli Antiquities Authority says revelers at a Burning Man festival famous for its pyrotechnic spectacles have accidentally torched some remnants of prehistoric man.

Archaeologist Yoram Haimi says organizers of Midburn, an Israeli affiliate of the Nevada carnival, burned a wooden temple Saturday on a hilltop scattered with flint tools from the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

The site was discovered 30 years ago by an Israeli archaeologist. The area is not marked with signs and it is hard to see the ancient remains. He says the extent of the damage is unclear.

Eyal Marcus, Midburn spokesman, said antiquities officials only approached organizers in the middle of the festival.

“We are sorry,” Marcus…

Festival season has arrived, and with it comes a slew of camping festivals all over the world, as well as the traditional three day in-and-out festivals.

Camping festivals can be SUPER daunting, especially if you have never been to one before. Lucky for you, all camping festivals go by the following 5 major guidelines:

1. NO GLASS! All beverages / liquids MUST be in plastic or in a can.
2. Do not bring any sharp objects! Not only can they poke through your luggage, but they’re universally prohibited items.
3. Activate your wristband! Most festivals are cashless these days, and you can add money to your wristband by activating it prior to the festival; however, some wristbands also provide some other really great info, like your emergency contact info in the event of an emergency. You also can’t scan in to the festival unless your wristband is activated.
4. Make a list. It’s a…

In our monthly dialogue about festivals on twitter,  @staysafeseattle, @NYDanceSafe, @terrygotham, and I talk about festival safety, best practices, and how to generally stay comfortable.

This month, we have chosen to tackle the multi-day festival that spans many venues. You are probably most familiar with MMW/WMC (Miami Music Week / Winter Music Conference) which happens to be capped off by Ultra Music Festival each year at the end of March. You are probably also familiar with The BPM Festival, which happens in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, for 10 days, every January.

So, how exactly do you manage to stay hydrated, safe, get enough rest, and not experience FOMO (feat of missing out) during events like these? Here are my top 10 tips as a BPM vet for not burning out, and still maximizing your fun!

I can’t breath, the dying words of Eric Garner became a rallying cry in New York against police brutality and now the famed Russian band Pussy Riot has given the words new power in their latest song. To be honest I’ve never seen the video of Eric Garners murder. I have a hard time watching people die so this song was the first time I’ve heard the audio of that event. It’s not easy to listen to and it shouldn’t be. This song is a reminder of why we are fighting. Why we shut down bridges and tunnels, because there’s a portion of our population that is stopped every day because of the color of their skin. Because they get murdered over selling a god damn cigarette and our justice department won’t even have a trial. Marches are long, thanks Pussy Riot for giving me a good song to listen…

THE SCENE, Hard. — Too many people think of hardcore retirement as a problem for people in their 30s and 40s. The truth is, the earlier you start planning your hardcore retirement, the better. The last thing you want is to be the 50-year-old forgetting his band’s lyrics and getting winded half way through the first song. We don’t want anything like that to happen to you, so here is The Hard Times’ “Guide to Hardcore Retirement Planning” in five stages.

 Stage 1: Ages 12-14

• Be productive; don’t just sit back and observe what’s going on around you. Make a zine, record a demo, or start some online drama.
• Start making a name for yourself in the scene. Literally, just make up a name for yourself. Something like “Pitz”, “Tik-Tack” or even “Slimey” will work fine.
• Don’t let anyone see you get dropped off at shows by Mom. Tik-Tack…

Welcome to 2015! I hope you all danced your way into it in stunning fashion! For the first #FestFriday of 2015, we worked with some quadrouple OG ShipFam members to help you set sail for the first weekend of Holy Ship as prepared as possible! Missed it on twitter? Check out some of the tips below, and browse the hashtag on twitter: #ShipTips.  Sail safely! xo

Need anything on the ship? Here are the @NYDanceSafe volunteers that will be onboard and have supplies for you:

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