MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with '.net'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:54:17 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750044&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtdnF4xKNAzE%2F By Jeffrey A. MironRecent debates about Arizona’s new immigration law have taken as self-evident that immigration restrictions are good policy, with the only question being which level of government should enforce the law, and how. Yet the case for immigration restrictions is far from convincing. Advocates of these restrictions rely on four possible arguments. First, that immigration dilutes existing languages, religions, family values, cultural norms, and so on. Second, that immigrants flock to countries with generous social welfare programs, leading to urban slums and inundated social networks. Third, that immigration can harm the sending country if the departing immigrants are high-skilled labor. Fourth, that immigration lowers the income of native, low-skill workers. All of these... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750044 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:05:13 +0100 3750044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3701711&cid=t_372379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F26%2Fif-i-stumble-if-i-fall-5-tips-when-failing%2F As a toddler, we learn to walk not by walking, but by falling. We push ourselves up, we take a few tentative steps, then we fall down. Some might say we fail, over and over again. But a parent looks at their baby trying to walk and thinks, “Look at her trying to walk! She’s doing so good. Look, she made it three steps further this time.” No matter what you call it, learning something new involves taking risks and risking failure. Not just once, but over and over again. It is something that we’re born into — it’s not something we choose. Of course some of us learn more easily than others. But for most of us, it’s a hard, sometimes trying process. It may result in failure time and time again, just like a little toddler learning to walk. But unlike th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3701711 Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:43:30 +0100 3701711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676849&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FfAEveQDsuO0%2Fbut-i-already-spent-that.php Have you ever thought of your willpower as a limited resource?  Like money?  You get a certain amount each payday, but once you spend what you've got, it's gone!During the day I do pretty good.  I wake up refreshed and restocked with a big bucket of willpower.  Then diabetes drinks it up.  I know that eating big means harder to manage blood sugars, or crazy amounts of exercise (which can work like magic to help manage BG's).  So I give up a cup of willpower and eat a breakfast that I can manage.  Repeat this process of surrendering precious willpower over and over, throughout the day.  Every day.  Most evenings, I'm all tapped out.  I've spent all my willpower already.  I have trouble making good decisions.  There is a really grea... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676849 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 03:35:03 +0100 3676849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607485&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNsFlrbiXSNI%2F By Jim HarperAmid charge and countercharge about who is shilling for whom in the debate over Internet regulation, Peter Suderman has the right focus in a short piece on Reason’s Hit & Run blog. The Federal Communications Commission’s Chairman is claiming that he only wants to regulate the Internet’s infrastructure, but one of his colleagues, Commissioner Michael Copps, is non-denying that he wants to censor the Internet. There may be exceptions, but it’s usually pretty safe to assume that anytime a politician or bureaucrat dodges a question while calling for “a national discussion about” the proposal at hand, what he or she really means is, “I want to indicate that I support this idea without actually going on record as supporting it.” Th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607485 Thu, 27 May 2010 15:43:17 +0100 3607485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3569791&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4VhUqDbTis8%2F By Jim HarperThe New York Times starts its commentary on proposed Internet regulations with a clever ad hominem argument: “The Republican attack on the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to classify broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service sounded a lot like the G.O.P. talking points on health care reform.” The GOP are being like themselves. Accordingly, Times readers should think their viewpoint is yucky. It’s not the most substantive argument you’ll come across today. There are good reasons not to encumber the Internet with regulations designed for the telephone system. Here are four: The Internet is not like the telephone system, and the FCC  doesn’t have the institutional ability to manage a changing, competitive system o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3569791 Mon, 17 May 2010 14:25:00 +0100 3569791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560232&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmassive-medical-blogosphere-in-china%2F2010.05.13 In the medical blogosphere, we talk a lot about medical community sites such as Sermo.com, Ozmosis.com or Doctors.net.uk and we always mention these as huge communities. While Sermo has over 110,000 physician members, the Chinese dxy.cn has over 1.4 million professionals on its site. It has a blog, a conference site, a pharmacy channel, biomedical business information platform, it covers more than a 100 specialties, and offers thousands of jobs. I tried to translate the mission statement with Google Translate: Lilac Garden Biomedical Science and Technology Network ( DXY.CN ) was established in July 23, 2000, and since its inception has been committed for the majority of medical professionals to provide a specialized life science platform. With professionalism and strong accumulation and th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560232 Thu, 13 May 2010 15:30:14 +0100 3560232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490622&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYcRga91QNG4%2F By Jim HarperA few weeks ago, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected the FCC’s claim of authority to regulate Internet service. That was good news—and it sure didn’t create a crisis. It meant that the FCC would have to get authority from Congress if it wanted to regulate the Internet. But a little hiccup in that plan quickly emerged: Congress won’t let the FCC regulate the Internet. Bills to do that have been floating around Capitol Hill for years, and they’ve never gotten traction. So the proponents of government-controlled Internet access services have worked up an end-run around Congress: They want the FCC to try to reclassify Internet access from an unregulated “information service” to a “telecommunications service,” su... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490622 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:45:01 +0100 3490622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479845&cid=t_372379_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F6Qhao8aVVnM%2F Cover for "Mom, Have You Seen My Leather Pants? by Craig A. Williams Patrick Sauer is funny. This is his third “Read It Like a Man” weekly column for Blisstree. Click to read his original intro, and first and second installments. Chapter 3: 80s Hair Metal I have this pet theory that the essence of what these here United States are all about can be summed by Van Halen. (Here me out – you’ll kill at the next happy hour.) We talk a big game about freedom, liberty, and democracy, but the most honest quote about our country came from one of its worst presidents, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, when he noted that “the business of America is business.” It took us almost a century to go to war over the idea that black people maybe weren’t property, and that was long after... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479845 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:53:54 +0100 3479845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479834&cid=t_372379_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F6Qhao8aVVnM%2F Cover for "Mom, Have You Seen My Leather Pants? by Craig A. Williams Patrick Sauer is funny. This is his third “Read It Like a Man” weekly column for Blisstree. Click to read his original intro, and first and second installments. Chapter 3: 80s Hair Metal I have this pet theory that the essence of what these here United States are all about can be summed by Van Halen. (Here me out – you’ll kill at the next happy hour.) We talk a big game about freedom, liberty, and democracy, but the most honest quote about our country came from one of its worst presidents, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, when he noted that “the business of America is business.” It took us almost a century to go to war over the idea that black people maybe weren’t property, and that was long after... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479834 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:53:54 +0100 3479834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479653&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fread-it-like-a-man-80s-hair-metal-books%2F Cover for "Mom, Have You Seen My Leather Pants? by Craig A. Williams Patrick Sauer is funny. This is his third “Read It Like a Man” weekly column for Blisstree. Click to read his original intro, and first and second installments. Chapter 3: 80s Hair Metal I have this pet theory that the essence of what these here United States are all about can be summed by Van Halen. (Here me out – you’ll kill at the next happy hour.) We talk a big game about freedom, liberty, and democracy, but the most honest quote about our country came from one of its worst presidents, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, when he noted that “the business of America is business.” It took us almost a century to go to war over the idea that black people maybe weren’t property, and that was long after... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479653 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:53:54 +0100 3479653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3448845&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhUMg-vT613I%2F By Jim HarperYesterday the D.C. Circuit ruled that Congress hadn’t given the Federal Communications Commission power to regulate the Internet and the FCC couldn’t bootstrap that power from other authority. It was a rare but welcome affirmation that the rule of law might actually pertain in the regulatory area. But the Open Internet Coalition put out a release containing threat exaggeration to make Dick Cheney blush: “Today’s DC Circuit decision . . . creates a dangerous situation, one where the health and openness of broadband Internet is being held hostage by the behavior of the major telco and cable providers.” That’s right. It’s a hostage-taking when consumers and businesses—and not government—hammer out the terms and conditions o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3448845 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:33:30 +0100 3448845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443676&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6a5p1qnovV4%2F By Jim HarperIn the fall of 2007, word emerged that Comcast had degraded the Internet traffic of some customers, whose use of a protocol called BitTorrent interfered with other Comcast customers’ Internet access. Comcast handled it badly, and sites like TechLiberationFront covered the “Comcast Kerfuffle” extensively. Consumers prefer unfiltered access to the Internet. By springtime, Comcast had sorted things out and made a deal with BitTorrent to develop a neutral traffic-management protocol. Four months later, the FCC weighed in, finding that Comcast had acted badly and telling Comcast not to do that again. Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded that the FCC exceeded its authority and reversed the FCC’s order against Comcast. The court&#8217... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443676 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:04:24 +0100 3443676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3440771&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6a5p1qnovV4%2F By Jim HarperIn the fall of 2007, word emerged that Comcast had degraded the Internet traffic of some customers, whose use of a protocol called BitTorrent interfered with other Comcast customers’ Internet access. Comcast handled it badly, and sites like TechLiberationFront covered the “Comcast Kerfuffle” extensively. Consumers prefer unfiltered access to the Internet. By springtime, Comcast had sorted things out and made a deal with BitTorrent to develop a neutral traffic-management protocol. Four months later, the FCC weighed in, finding that Comcast had acted badly and telling Comcast not to do that again. Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded that the FCC exceeded its authority and reversed the FCC’s order against Comcast. The court&#8217... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3440771 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:04:24 +0100 3440771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3126584&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FI-LnFZOaTR8%2F By Jim HarperFor more technical audiences, I wrote recently on the Tech Liberation Front blog about Google’s claim to favor “openness” when, in fact, its crown jewels—search and ad serving—are closed systems. Google is “free to be wrong about philosophy, of course,” I wrote. “It doesn’t matter at all—except when Google tries to impose its philosophy on others. And in the debate over ‘net neutrality’ regulation it has done exactly that.” Now Google is in the sights of those proposing public utility regulation of Internet search. It would be entertaining ironic comeuppance for Google, but “search neutrality” regulation would ossify an innovative business and deprive consumers of the benefits of competition. (Source: C... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3126584 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:41:41 +0100 3126584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3029789&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtU7CEmv67Fc%2F Former Google executive turned Obama administration deputy chief technology officer Andrew McLaughlin made some unfortunate comments at a law school technology conference last week equating private network management to government censorship as it is practiced in China. By many accounts, President Obama’s visit to China was unimpressive. It apparently included a press conference at which no questions were allowed and government censorship of the president’s anti-censorship comments. On its heels, McLaughlin equated Chinese government censorship with network management by U.S. Internet service providers. “If it bothers you that the China government does it, it should bother you when your cable company does it,” McLaughlin said. That line is wrong on at least two counts. F... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3029789 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:14:18 +0100 3029789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012363&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fzbr6LhwOBIQ%2F The American Consumer Institute has released a collection of essays addressing the likely consequences of ”‘Net Neutrality” regulation for investment in broadband and for consumer welfare. These are important things to consider, in case it needs saying. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012363 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:22:55 +0100 3012363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943759&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUM_O9uVGNSE%2F Though I hadn’t heard of it before, I was delighted to see a publication called VOIP News cite the Cato Institute as one of 15 “Greatest Enemies of Net Neutrality.” As VOIP News says, we are indeed a “voice of reason during political debates.” Alas, I’m selectively quoting. What they actually said, snidely, was that Cato is a “hired voice of reason during political debates, because of its pseudo-academic affiliations.” (I don’t know why they italicized “voice of reason” – I always thought Reason was the voice of reason.) But my selective quotation is as accurate as the selective research that VOIP News did for this fluffy hit piece. You see, Cato recently published a lengthy paper that articulates the benefits of net n... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943759 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:41:24 +0100 2943759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939272&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBMrmshKjlMk%2F One of the perennial tropes of the network neutrality debate has been the tendency of the pro-regulation side to paint it as a David-and-Goliath struggle between big, evil corporations and the little guy. Way back in 2006, James Gattuso pointed out how silly this is: in fact, the push for network neutrality is backed by some of the largest companies in Silicon Valley. Julian points out a particularly lazy example of this kind of ad hominum that happens to target Cato: It seems that we’re one of the “15 greatest enemies of net neutrality.” And that along with CEI, Cato “seems to draw its funding from a smattering of every major corporation ever to fund lobbyists.” As Julian points out, if “VoIP News” had done its homework, it might have discovered that Cato... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939272 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:46:51 +0100 2939272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934652&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNVdsezqzPHA%2F Jeff Eisenach and Adam Thierer have a great essay in The American honoring the 50th anniversary of Ronald Coase’s article “The Federal Communications Commission.” It’s timely given the FCC’s proposal to establish public utility-style regulation of the Internet under the banner “net neutrality,” and it’s a good general warning to Neo-Progressives who “see market failure as the source of most problems, and government as the centerpiece of most solutions.” (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934652 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:22:23 +0100 2934652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927290&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJFugYms2TSU%2F Some people have labored under the impression that “net neutrality” regulation was about the government stepping in to ensure that large corporations would not control the Internet. Now that the issue is truly joined, it is clear (as exhibited in this Wall Street Journal story) that the debate is about one set of corporate interests battling another set of corporate interests about the Internet, each seeking to protect or strengthen its business model. The FCC is surfing the debate pursuing a greater role for itself, meaning more budget and power. Tim Lee’s paper, The Durable Internet, dispels the idea that owners of Internet infrastructure can actually control the Internet. The preferred approach to “net neutrality” is to let Internet users decide what they w... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927290 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:27:51 +0100 2927290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923238&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FoSkodqtmGXU%2F In an effort to achieve “network neutrality” online, the FCC is starting to write new regulations for Internet providers.  Reuters reports: U.S. communications regulators voted unanimously Thursday to support an open Internet rule that would prevent telecom network operators from barring or blocking content based on the revenue it generates. The proposed rule now goes to the public for comment until Jan. 14, after which the Federal Communications Commissions will review the feedback and possibly seek more comment. A final rule is not expected until the spring of next year. Cato Director of Information Policy Studies Jim Harper appeared on Fox News this week to discuss the FCC decision. “This is governmental tinkering with a market place that is working really well and gr... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923238 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:33:03 +0100 2923238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916379&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FrCCkBzHGjTY%2Fdo-you-ever-feel-like.php Do you ever feel like diabetes stops you from doing things that you want to do?  You shouldn't.  Even with diabetes, you can accomplish anything!  Just ask Peter Nerothin, founder of insulindependence.  After getting diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he didn't slow down at all.  In fact, he wanted to continue to do the things that he loved: mountain climbing, skydiving, and endurance training.  And he did.  After writing a letter to LifeScan, asking for testing supplies in exchange for competing in an Ironman competition, he went on a trip to New Zealand where he did exactly what he loved- including skydiving.  When he returned from New Zealand, he did just as he promised.  He competed in an Ironman triathlon.  Now, competing in a triathlon i... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916379 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100 2916379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908569&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2vm1pp43nT8%2F Some of the most prominent Internet companies sent a letter yesterday asking for protection from market forces. Among them: Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Twitter. A Washington Post story summarizes their concerns: “[W]ithout a strong anti-discrimination policy, companies like theirs may not get a fair shot on the Internet because carriers could decide to block them from ever reaching consumers.” No ISP could block access to these popular services and survive, of course. What they could do is try to charge the most popular services a higher tariff to get their services through. Thus, weep the helpless, multi-billion-dollar Internet behemoths, we need a “fair shot”! Plain and simple, these companies want regulation to ensure that ISPs can’t capture a larger s... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908569 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:14:27 +0100 2908569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894488&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FN9Bnxw99M1k%2F Last night, thanks to Craigslist and a Web-enabled cell phone, I unloaded two extra tickets to tonight’s World Cup qualifying game between the U.S. and Costa Rica in under an hour. (8:00, ESPN2 “USA! USA! USA!”) Wanting to avoid the hassle of selling the tickets at RFK, I placed an ad on Craigslist offering them at cost, figuring I might find a taker and arrange to hand them off downtown today or at the stadium tonight. Checking email as I walked to the gym, I found an inquiry about the tickets and phoned the guy, who happened to live 100 feet from where I was walking. A few minutes later, he had the tickets and I had the cash. This quaint story is a single data point in a trend line—the high-tech version of It’s Getting Better All the Time. Everyone living ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894488 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:33:20 +0100 2894488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855547&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fnwy9wHfuUmA%2F Peter Van Doren points me to some revealing passages in a new article in the Journal of Economic Perspectives. In “Subsidizing Creativity through Network Design: Zero-Pricing and Net Neutrality,” Robin S. Lee and Tim Wu caution against tiered pricing for Internet access services, writing: [U]nless sufficient bandwidth and quality of service can be guaranteed for the “free” Internet, there is a risk that . . . tiering will serve to sidestep de facto prohibition on termination fees. . . . [A] priced-priority system could simply become a de facto fee charged for all content providers if the “free” Internet was of sufficiently poor quality and consumers shifted their usage behavior accordingly. . . . [T]his might dampen the introduction of new content and se... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855547 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:11:53 +0100 2855547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838906&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FY3bsaNyxMtU%2F So asks the Washington Post in a cogent editorial about FCC Chairman Jules Genachowski’s speech proposing to regulate the terms on which broadband service is provided. (More from TLJ, Julian Sanchez, and me.) The WaPo piece nicely dismantles the few incidents and arguments that underlie Genachowski’s call for regulation. As the debate about “‘net neutrality” regulation continues, I imagine it will move from principled arguments, such as whether the government should control communications infrastructure, to practical ones: Will limitations on ISPs’ ability to manage their networks cause Internet brown-outs and failures? (This is what Comcast was trying to avoid when it ham-handedly degraded the use of the BitTorrent protocol on its network.) Will regulat... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838906 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:17:55 +0100 2838906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823965&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fsdu1WfuCVKQ%2F TechLawJournal is a consistently high-quality subscription service that provides news, records, and analysis of legislation, litigation, and regulation affecting the computer, Internet, communications and information technology sectors. It reported this morning on FCC chairman Julius Genachowski’s speech proposing to regulate the provision of Internet service. The TLJ piece includes background that I think might benefit Cato@Liberty readers wishing to understand the issues better, so I asked for and received permission to republish it here. [TLJ Report after the jump] Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski gave a speech [8 pages in PDF] in which he proposed that the FCC promulgate rules that contain network neutrality mandates. The other two Democratic ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823965 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:56:19 +0100 2823965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820200&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FCji2_WdGivM%2F Julian Sanchez has already done a fine job of assessing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s speech announcing his plan for federal regulation of the Internet. There was nothing really new in it. No substantial problems justifying regulation have emerged, and—Genachowski’s claims to modest aims aside—any ‘net neutrality regulation is likely to be a substantive morass. Says Julian: [I]t absolutely reeks of the sort of ad hoc ‘I know it when I see it’ standard that leaves telecoms wondering whether some innovative practice will bring down the Wrath of Comms only after resources have been sunk into rolling it out.” If the FCC goes ahead with regulating the Internet, the public will get a good look at what closed systems are really like. The FCC... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820200 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:06:23 +0100 2820200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820202&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fr0FOmOjG7YI%2F The health care plan now being debated in Congress is not reform. It’s an insurance-company bailout–and you’re going to paying for it. The true cost of financial regulation: “A detailed anatomy of the bubble shows that many of the policies and regulations meant to reduce financial risk actually increased it.” A great prep for the upcoming G-20 meeting: Here’s a quick crash course in global economics. Government: “Hey, let’s start meddling in the Internet business.” A better idea: Preserve net neutrality without regulation. Here’s how. Podcast: Do certain climate change policies threaten global commerce? More here. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820202 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:41:13 +0100 2820202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820206&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyOSuDWU6edg%2F I won’t go on at too much length about FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s speech at Brookings announcing his intention to codify the principle of “net neutrality” in agency rules—not because I don’t have thoughts, but because I expect it would be hard to improve on my colleague Tim Lee’s definitive paper, and because there’s actually not a whole lot of novel substance in the speech. The digest version is that the open Internet is awesome (true!) and so the FCC is going to impose a “nondiscrimination” obligation on telecom providers—though Genachowski makes sure to stress this won’t be an obstacle to letting the copyright cops sniff through your packets for potentially “unauthorized” music, or otherwise interfere wit... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820206 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:41:58 +0100 2820206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510435&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fmanaged-care-executives-will-not-limit.html We have posted before about how certain health care insurance companies/ managed care organizations in California were found to have cancelled individual health insurance policies after the people holding them made substantial claims, supposedly rationalized by minor errors or omissions in the information the people supplied to the companies on their individual applications found after the claims were made. Several companies were subsequently disciplined by the state government for these "rescissions." See posts on rescissions by WellPoint here, here, and here, and by Health Net here.Executives of several such companies testified before a US congressional committee recently, with remarkable results, as reported by Lisa Girion writing in the Los Angeles Times. First, by way of background, t... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510435 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:13:00 +0100 2510435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512799&cid=t_372379_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2F2009-asco-annual-meeting-highlights-ovarian-cancer-select-general-issues%2F The 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, Florida from May 29 through June 2, 2009.  We provide below select highlights from the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting that relate to ovarian cancer and other general issues. The 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512799 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:11:35 +0100 2512799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458165&cid=t_372379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Ffriday-flashback-for-june-5-2009%2F You know summer’s on its way when it starts heating up here in New England, so what better time to flash back to some classic posts from the Psych Central archives? 10 Years Ago on Psych Central Becoming Stuck Online In this classic post, I rant about the world of Internet mental health moving at a glacier’s pace, compared to the world of Internet technologies and services. I also allude to my moving on from the founding of Mental Health Net to take a short-lived position with the doomed Internet startup, drkoop.com. I wrote then, “My goal is to pursue and push others to explore the positive uses and effects of the Internet,” and never has that been more true than today. The Internet has opened so many doors for so many people, I still enjoy talking about all the p... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458165 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:30:04 +0100 2458165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452387&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGx8njAY3rrU%2F Politico reports that President Obama’s nominee to head the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, is expected to pursue “‘net neutrality” regulation of broadband Internet service. In his paper, The Durable Internet: Preserving Network Neutrality without Regulation, Tim Lee shows why regulation is not needed to preserve the good engineering principle he calls “end-to-end.” His paper also shows how regulation intended to serve consumer-friendly ends is often captured and used by regulated industries to suppress competition and artificially raise profits, denying consumers the benefits of free markets. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452387 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:21:23 +0100 2452387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256069&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2Fshould-i-have-mentioned-that-bush-dared.html I am applauded and criticized for my comments about President Obama's rescission of the Bush "alternative method" executive order over at Belief Net--from the version of the criticism I posted on the First Things blog, which contained slightly different language than I put here on the same topic. Thus, David Gibson wrote:Why didn't Obama say more about the promise of adult stem cells--and do something to promote that promise? He said that the administration will support "promising research of all kinds, including groundbreaking work to convert ordinary human cells into ones that resemble embryonic stem cells." And yet his executive order yesterday also revoked Executive Order 13435 of June 20, 2007, which provided federal backing for promising adult stem cell research. At First Things, Wes... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256069 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:45:00 +0100 2256069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195006&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=36200&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.jammedph.com%2Fbest-online-casino-reviews%2F Want to play online poker, but don’t know where you’re going to play to?  With the millions of sites offering online casinos - a Google search of the keywords “online casinos”, already returns 30 plus millions of pages tackling about the keyword - and probably half them are scams, choosing the best and genuine one can be confusing.  That’s where online casino reviews do its role. Online casinos have paved a way to an increasing numbers of poker players worldwide.   With the increased numbers of interested players, poker sites and online casinos are consequently spurting everywhere.  But only a few of them can be considered the “best ones”.    Good thing, online casino reviews like Online Casino Bluebook exists to give as the bests of us onlin... Jammed: Full into Capacity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195006 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:49:18 +0100 2195006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017910&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=36200&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.jammedph.com%2Fwatch-pacquiao-vs-dela-hoya-with-pldt-mydsl%2F PLDT MyDSL, in cooperation with Solar Sports, treats its existing subscribers with a free online beta live streaming of the “Dream Match” between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Oscar “Golden Boy” Dela Hoya.  This treat is available for subscribers of Plan 999 and above. To watch, simply go to http://www.mypad.net and register an account.  To be eligible, you have to have a PLDT MyDSL existing account.  This is available for Plan 999 and above only. Registration is until December 6, 2008 at 10 PM and it’s based on a first-come, first-served basis.   So hurry, get a MyPad account now. (Source: Jammed: Full into Capacity) Jammed: Full into Capacity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017910 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:06:20 +0100 2017910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996323&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2008%2F11%2F803 When I saw this article (h/t DrCris) I thought it was a joke, or at least a ‘teaser’ headline with a more reasonable qualification in the body text. I read on, slack-jawed at this arrogant, delusional, and megalomanical opinion piece passed off as serious reporting. I don’t know what grotesque acts the other CAOC Lifetime Achievment Awardees had to peform but this Gerry Spence has certainly got them beat:   “We are the most important people in America. There is no other profession in America that fights for freedom, that fights for what America is about, that fights for justice for ordinary people. I want to ask you which would be more important: If all of the doctors in the country somehow disappeared or all the trial lawyers in America somehow disappeared? We... Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996323 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:06:11 +0100 1996323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1977552&cid=t_372379_125_f&fid=38161&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fdentalheroes%2F%7E3%2F460363688%2F First of all, I want to thank everyone who is currently subscribing to the Dental Heroes RSS feeds. I hope you’re enjoying the blog and the valuable content that I’m pumping out as fast as I can. For those of you who haven’t yet subscribed to the Dental Heroes RSS Feed, please take a couple of seconds to do so. This would not only make me happy :), but you’ll also be able to stay on top of all of my latest posts and not miss a beat. Subscribe now. Finally, for any of you who may be confused about just what the heck an RSS Feed is, Darren Rowse at Problogger.net provides a fantastic explanation. Subscribe to the Dental Heroes RSS Feed (Source: Dental Heroes) Dental Heroes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1977552 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:49:55 +0100 1977552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512082&cid=t_372379_125_f&fid=38161&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalheroes.com%2Fsubscribe-rss-feed%2F First of all, I want to thank everyone who is currently subscribing to the Dental Heroes RSS feeds. I hope you’re enjoying the blog and the valuable content that I’m pumping out as fast as I can. For those of you who haven’t yet subscribed to the Dental Heroes RSS Feed, please take a couple of seconds to do so. This would not only make me happy , but you’ll also be able to stay on top of all of my latest posts and not miss a beat. Subscribe now. Finally, for any of you who may be confused about just what the heck an RSS Feed is, Darren Rowse at Problogger.net provides a fantastic explanation. Subscribe to the Dental Heroes RSS Feed (Source: Dental Heroes) Dental Heroes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512082 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:47:02 +0100 2512082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947193&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2008%2F11%2F796 In the October 2008 issue of the American College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP) Journal, an op-ed was posted entitled “Medical Blogs: Communication Vehicle or Social Contract?” (if the link takes you to a sign-up page, close the window and click it again–there’s a strange cookie that’s set that will bypass the registration screen) As I read it, the first thing that struck me was the comically dated language and information. The death knell of this article’s significance was already ringing in the first paragraph: According to the Internet phenomenon Wikipedia, blogs (short for Web-logs) are Web sites, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentaries, descriptions of events, or other materials such as graphics and video. T... Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947193 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:02:49 +0100 1947193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1886385&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2008%2F10%2F789 Hello all! Yes, I know it’s been too long since I posted anything of personal substance, and yes, I know I said it wouldn’t happen again anytime soon, but you love me anyway, right? I actually have a really good reason (two, really) which I’ll get into just after this post, but this travesty I’m writing about now would be reason enough for scandal. I’ve been robbed–ROBBED–I say! Celeste, a long time commenter and reader of this blog, pointed out to me that National Public Radio (NPR) has taken one of my old posts and stolen it, without reference, without a “hat tip,” without anything, in their feature entitled “Playing Five Beats To The Measure.”  My post entitled “5/4″ obviously is the victim of an NPR five-f... Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1886385 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:05:04 +0100 1886385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1873042&cid=t_372379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F13%2Fhow-does-a-bridge-suicide-net-work%2F As we noted a few days ago, the Golden Gate Bridge is finally getting a suicide barrier. However, it’s not so much a barrier as it is a net. A steel net, to be specific. The net will be suspended from either side of the iconic span, and reach out about 20 feet. Out of the five barrier proposals considered, this is the only suicide barrier that will not interfere with tourists’ view from the bridge. It will also allow the 16 painters employed on the bridge to continue their current work routines (the other four barriers would’ve required additional effort and risk for the painters to do their work). When people jump from the bridge into the net, it will hold them there, suspended some 740 feet over the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. Denis Mulligan, the chief engi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1873042 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:10:18 +0100 1873042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1713995&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F368351710%2Fdiabetes-and-pregnancy-at-diabetes-talkfest.php This Tuesday (tomorrow!) at 9pm (EST) Diabetes Talkfest is hosting a chat with Nicole Johnson about pregnancy.  As a pregnant woman, I couldn't think of a better time for this chat to be taking place!  I know there are a... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1713995 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:51:43 +0100 1713995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1704780&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F364134645%2Fi-have-to-admit-that.php I have to admit that I haven't been the best diabetes blogger recently.  Aside from being extremely busy at work, I have not spent much time thinking of or reading about diabetes related anything.  Sure, I've got my day to... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1704780 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:24:29 +0100 1704780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1679277&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F08%2Ftheyre-picking-on-me-over-at.html One Summer Johnson takes exception to my SHS post suggesting that egg selling be banned. (Whimper). From his entry:Somehow it seems unjust to me to ask women to undergo what all acknowledge to be a difficult, painful, and for some women risky process to donate eggs--whether for altruistic or other reasons--and at least not compensate her for her time and on some sort of model of "hazard pay". So explain this argument to me, Mr. Egg Man, why is it okay to ask women to undertake the health risks for no pay, yet compensation for time or effort would be so horrible as to recommending banning the practice? That may be because he is a member of the buying class and apparently believes it is acceptable for women to risk their health and fertility so that cloning researchers can do their thing. M... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679277 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:19:00 +0100 1679277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1649120&cid=t_372379_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.com%2F2008%2F07%2F23%2Fsearching-for-answers%2F Let’s see a show of hands.  Who all has Googled an entire question? or just a statement? For some reason-people end up here looking for answers. We’re not all knowing; but pretend to be, like to think we are. Here are a few samples: (with helpful, non-professional advice included….we are not liable if you have no common sense and [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1649120 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:16:10 +0100 1649120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1618022&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fdr-neil-bacon.html RaptorsI have always been uneasy about Doctors.net.uk. I do not visit it often and I rarely read the forums. NHS BLOG DOCTOR articles are sometimes mentioned in the chat rooms and whilst, like any blogger, I am grateful for the increased traffic, I don't usually follow up any comments. It’s a bit ostrich-like, I know. And it means that sometimes I miss the start of important medical stories.There is nothing like a good bitch over a good pint about matters medical and that is what goes on in the Doctors.net.uk forums. Trouble is, the forums are not as private as members think. I know a lot of medical journalists and, believe me, it is not difficult to get into Doctors.net.uk despite the apparent professional security.Bitching over a pint is one thing. But some of the serious issues that c... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1618022 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:29:00 +0100 1618022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1577232&cid=t_372379_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2F326605721%2Fnet_neutrality_the_internets_d.php Maybe you already know about net neutrality or have heard of it. If you haven't, American Independence Day seems a particularly apt time to bring you the message, since it's all about the independence of the internet. If you read this and other blogs, you probably already value the freedom of the internet. I don't like a lot of the stuff but I do appreciate that whatever my interests or concerns or politics I can find a place on the internet that caters to it. I certainly don't want my ISP, the much and justly hated Comcast Company, or Verizon or Time Warner or any of the other corporate giants, to decide what I should or can be interested in or be able to say to you. So like most bloggers I am a proponent of net neutrality, as are a wide variety of politicians, both Democrat and Republica... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1577232 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:55:14 +0100 1577232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1349699&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=36200&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.jammedph.com%2Ftnxnet-sell-links-on-every-page-of-your-site%2F It has been over a month since I joined TNX.net. I was at first hesitant to register because of the on going PR sweeps as Google’s penalty to sites for doing paid links, in fact I already dumped my TLA publisher plugin for this website to avoid such slap. However, after reading several good reviews about it I decided to give it a try. After several weeks of signing up using one of my blogs, I found several good things about TNX, which are beneficial to both advertisers and publishers. For advertisers: By advertising through the TNX Marketplace, advertisers can get a very reasonable price for every link purchased (for as low as $11 a month you may get up to 10,000 static links to your website) and the ability to promote hundreds of keywords with just few clicks. There will also be mi... Jammed: Full into Capacity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1349699 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:14:13 +0100 1349699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1266545&cid=t_372379_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2F242936551%2Fcomcast_is_crapcomtastic.php There are so many hot button issues today it's not possible to pick "the" biggest one. But certainly in the top five (unfrtunately there are 100 things in the top 5) must be "net neutrality." Essentially it is whether commercial internet service providers (like Comcast or RCN) should be allowed to give preference to certain kinds of traffic over others, in effect controlling which websites we can see and which ones we can't. Net neutrality, which is in theory what we have now, would make it mandatory that service providers be neutral in how they treat traffic. Data packets are data packets, irrespective of content. Needless to say those of us who depend on free and unfettered use of the internet (and that should be almost all of us) strongly support net neutrality. Not surprisingly the Big... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1266545 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:54:53 +0100 1266545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1253211&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fjudge-cites-health-nets-egregious-and.html More than two years ago, we noted that Health Net Inc,, the large US health insurer/ for-profit managed care organization, had settled a class-action lawsuit brought by California physicians under the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) standard. Late last year, we noted that HealthNet was fined by the state of California for offering bonuses to employees who retroactively cancelled the most individual health policies after their holders got sick and filed claims, and that the company was under investigation in Connecticut for allegedly sending deceptive messages to pharmacists that denied payment for some low-income childrens' medication.Last week, Florida Health News reported,Medicare officials have ordered Health Net, Inc., one of the largest publicly traded health ins... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1253211 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:18:00 +0100 1253211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1240242&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=36200&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.jammedph.com%2Fhow-to-edit-your-psd-file-for-free-without-using-photoshop%2F I found a great theme for my health blog but my only problem is how can I edit the psd files to change the banner when I don’t have a Photoshop. So I tried to look for free softwares that will let me edit the psd files in the absence of Photoshop. Here are what I found as suggested by users: 1. GIMP or GIMPShop. Everybody knows that this is the highly recommended free alternative for Photoshop. However, I think it does not support layers in PSD. 2. Paint.NET with the PSD plugin. Paint.NET is a free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. Isn’t it great that the web always has the an... Jammed: Full into Capacity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1240242 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:59:25 +0100 1240242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221287&cid=t_372379_145_f&fid=35710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstoryofhealing.com%2F2008%2F02%2F11%2Fmedia-in-medicine-still-about-mending-the-broken%2F The use of media in medicine is a tool. It is a resource that enhances how health professionals communicate with each other thereby facilitating the rate of transmit of information and/or personal thoughts on published facts or theories involving developments in medicine. It is an open line that could, but not be limited to, service patients’ immediate concerns not necessarily warranting a trip to the emergency room. Therefore, the use of media in medicine is an addition to the practice of medicine rather than a replacement, nor is it an electronic substitute for an actual physician. While many are still “offline” or have limited “online” connectivity between both the physician and patient populations, some have started swinging in this direction. I personally... the story of healing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221287 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:26:42 +0100 1221287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194826&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fhealth-20-dont-get-me-started.html A few weeks ago, Christopher Berry e-mailed me that he was launching a new site called DiabeticLive. I have been far too slow in updating my links section, but have since added it. Chris also runs diabeticdiscussion, which has an active message board and community.The launch came just prior to the introduction of another social networking site, this time diabetesfriends.net, which Kerri eloquently addressed the other day. The site has a very inviting feel and the members are quite hospitable. But as Kerri noted, "Another feather in the Health 2.0 cap or a real trailblazing network? We'll be the judges on that." and she's right. The real issue for me is that much as the nonprofit world has evolved with charities focused on every conceivable niche one could possibly imagine, to some extent, ... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194826 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:30:00 +0100 1194826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1191454&cid=t_372379_85_f&fid=36194&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesstermulo.com%2F2008%2F01%2F31%2Faudio-ads%2F Most bloggers are already utilizing pay-per-post and affiliate programs that requires you to place their text and image ads in the sidebars. However, after a while, this practice can really clutter the sidebars and will make it difficult for readers to focus on your content because of the “distractions” in your sidebars. What to do about this? An alternative is to try on PPP (pay-per-play) or Net Audio ads. This kind of ad will play 5-second audio ads whenever visitors access your blogs or websites. There are no clicking of links needed. The audio ads are not obtrusive in your blog’s content. What’s more interesting is that it has a free affiliate program that, unfortunately, is going to cease being free on February 1, 2008 (that soon!). Of course, those who’d sign up before that... Prudence and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1191454 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:04:50 +0100 1191454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1087707&cid=t_372379_113_f&fid=35752&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjseidman.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F12%2F11%2Fix-medicaid-and-hit%2F The Center for Children and Families at the Georgetown Health Policy Institute has just released a series of issue briefs on “Strengthening Medicaid.” I authored one of these papers, “Health Information Technology: Innovative Applications for Medicaid,” which discusses strategies that states can use to improve the quality and efficiency of Medicaid programs. The paper addresses how HIT relates to health disparities, health literacy, and the digital divide. To see more about these issues, see the robust Ix discussion on the patient-centered health information technology (PCHIT) blog. (Source: Information Therapy...and Other Ways to Change the World) Information Therapy...and Other Ways to Change the World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1087707 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:47:40 +0100 1087707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1057326&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2007%2F11%2F727 Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday on Monday via email, Facebook, telephone and telepathy. I really appreciate it. In the future, though, if any of you want to band together to get me a gift basket–not just limited to my birthday–the picture below is a nice example of a proper “man’s gift basket” that will sure to be received with much cheer and joy. I’m just sayin’… Related posts No related posts. (Source: Mexico Medical Student) Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1057326 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:27:38 +0100 1057326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1036874&cid=t_372379_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fhealth-net-statements-inoperative-in.html A little while ago we posted about accusations that Health Net Inc, a for-profit managed care organization, cancelled individual health insurance policies after the policy-holders became ill and filed claims. Now the company is also accused of trying to conceal related information from state regulators.The San Francisco Chronicle reported thatState health regulators fined Health Net Inc. $1 million Thursday for lying to investigators about paying employees bonuses based on the number of contracts they canceled after those policyholders got sick.The penalty was the first levied on a health insurer for withholding information about incentives given to its employees.Health Net, along with other major health insurers, is being investigated for combing through applications of members after they... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1036874 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:23:00 +0100 1036874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024344&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F184171494%2Fdo-you-like-diabetes-daily.php Then nominate us for the Diabetes O.C. Blog Awards! Voting will start on December 3rd, but we have to get nominated first! Allison over at Lemonade Life puts a lot of work into this each year, so be sure to... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024344 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:31:50 +0100 1024344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=904538&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2007%2F09%2F678 The 1975 JC Penney’s Catalog. I definitely don’t remember this one, but my childhood was full of dreaming of getting things from phonebook-sized catalogs, like the Sears Wishbook, to smaller-sized but no less desirable merchants, such as Radio Shack. Given that I was 3-4 at the time this came out, my entire formative years would have been immersed in imagery such as this in everyday life. I’m going to need more therapy than I thought… Something worthy of mention: Brooke Shields is actually one of the models in the girl’s clothing picture! And for those of you who think (correctly) that the fashion industry nowadays sends the wrong message to girls to be unreasonably thin, check out that same picture which advertises “also chubby sizes.” (!!!) That... Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=904538 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:23:10 +0100 904538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=850154&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F153500513%2Fdiabetes-and-skin-conditions.php As people that have diabetes we are prone to a lot of complications from elevated blood sugar levels. Some of these complications are as serious as kidney disease and eye problems, others are on the less severe side like dry... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=850154 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:56:41 +0100 850154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758078&cid=t_372379_113_f&fid=35752&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjseidman.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F25%2Fhealth-literacy-or-death%2F Lots of interesting Ix-related stories have been in the media recently, but none more dramatic than the study from the Archives of Internal Medicine that demonstrated a significant relationship between inadequate health literacy and all-cause mortality in seniors. In fact, Baker et al (7/23/07; abstract at http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/167/14/1503) found that literacy is a more powerful predictor of death than education. Tthe authors also highlight past research that links inadequate health literacy to less knowledge and worse self-management skills for people with chronic disease. This research should reinforce the call to action to deliver information to people that is tailored to their individual needs. Although using plain language is one useful strategy, effective t... Information Therapy...and Other Ways to Change the World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758078 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:06:49 +0100 758078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=720869&cid=t_372379_113_f&fid=22291&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medgadget.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F07%2Fwellcome_trust_releases_its_medical_images_collection_under_creative_commons_licence.html Vast collection of illustrations from the Wellcome Library is now available over the internet in a recently opened Wellcome Images, presented under the Creative Commons License, which allows users to copy, distribute and display images, provided the source is fully attributed and it is used for non-commercial purposes. Shown above is the cut-away model of the human HIV virus. Everything from an oil painting of Florence Nightingale and a picture depicting Charles Darwin as an ape, to a photograph of Alexander Fleming in his laboratory are part of this unique collection. The images aid teachers and researchers to illustrate themes from medical and social history through to contemporary healthcare and biomedical science, and to bring complex biomedical concepts to life. Catherine Draycott, H... Medgadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=720869 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 720869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=714713&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2007%2F07%2F645 While searching results on something at Google today, I wound up back at the home page, and saw this: What’s wrong with this? There’s no cool Independence Day graphic! I was at the real google.com, not google.com.mx, where I’d see this: (by the way, this is hilarious because the button for “I’m feeling lucky” has been translated to “Voy a tener suerte,” which literally says, “I will have luck,” or as one would colloquially read it, “I’m gonna get lucky.” I don’t think Google has that much control over everyone quite yet…hehe) Then I thought, “I wonder if I’m not seeing it because it knows my IP is in Mexico?” I then VPN into UH (becoming a local node on the campus network via a sec... Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=714713 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:16:44 +0100 714713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676421&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F125119857%2Fwhat-doctors-really-think.php New York Magazine interviews five top docs anonymously and serves up the straight talk. If you ever wanted the inside scoop, read this. (Hat tip, Soso.) Here are some of the questions answered: Are most doctors good?Where do I get the best care?Does big pharm wining and dining influence your decisions?What's your biggest ethical lapse? (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676421 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:53:22 +0100 676421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=650990&cid=t_372379_93_f&fid=34899&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicomedstudent.com%2F2007%2F05%2F625 Here’s a small clinical vignette for you: A 43-year-old man with no significant medical history presents to his primary care provider (PCP) complaining of a “wound that won’t get better” on the left side of his neck. He states that the wound has been slowly growing over the past 2 years after it first appeared as a small pimple. In his efforts to heal the wound, he has used a variety of over-the-counter topical remedies such as hydrogen peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment; however, the wound has continued to spread and worsen. He was finally encouraged to visit his PCP when his brother noticed the now several-centimeters-long lesion (Images to follow). The patient denies having weight loss, fevers, or chills. He has not traveled during the past 5 years. On phys... Mexico Medical Student blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=650990 Thu, 31 May 2007 09:55:40 +0100 650990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=583752&cid=t_372379_135_f&fid=35263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fronhudson.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fannouncing-guest-writer-stephan-adelson.html Launched on March 1st, HIVConnect.net is a unique site that connects all sectors of the HIV/AIDS community. This new social network is a place of free dialogue for people with HIV/AIDS, Community Based Organizations, AIDS Service Organizations, and the family / friends of HIV-positive people.The site brings organizations together with each other and their clients on-line, taking the concept of a local "drop in center" to the internet. The goal of HIVConnect.net is to deepen the interaction between clients and the organizations that seek to support them.HIVConnect.net includes a place for member profiles while offering a library of current articles with topics from "co-infections" to "Issues for Native Americans." Members are invited to post articles and comment on ones currently posted.The... 2sides2ron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=583752 Tue, 01 May 2007 17:29:00 +0100 583752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=624792&cid=t_372379_86_f&fid=35596&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibiblio.org%2Fsecretlibrary%2Filib%2F%3Fp%3D8 1 2 multimedia learning sites via davidrothman.net: RedAtlas.org - Recognizing Eye Disease: A Visual Review of Opthalmic Disorders Integrated PubMed searching for each illustrated eye disorder. From the site: This website is a free, electronic atlas of eye disorders designed to help Ophthalmologists and Optometrists-in-training learn to identify eye diseases through pattern recognition. A Visual Guide to Physical Examination a selection of high-quality videos teaching comprehensive physical examination; from California State University, Dominguez Hill College of Health and Human services thanks David! davidrothman.net, eye disease, images, multimedia learning tools, physical examinations, video, visual review (Source: iLib) iLib blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=624792 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:37:42 +0100 624792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=525895&cid=t_372379_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F107170850%2Flos-cincos.php Five Questions, asked by Kerri over at Six Until Me.. A little break from Diabetes for the weekend, if you will... 1. Well well, my fellow bride-to-be. Your wedding fast approaches. How are you feeling? Excited. Nervous. Not because I’m getting married, but because I want this party to go off without a hitch. You devote so much of your time engaged running around and planning for this wedding that will only last a weekend. It’s very stressful. I keep having nightmares about my dress being too big and falling down, to being 2 hours late to my wedding to not having anyone show up…Which I know will not happen, and I don’t feel like this at all until I fall asleep…. But in the end, I am the happiest girl (maybe tied with Kerri) around because I get to marry the man of my dreams. 2. ... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=525895 Fri, 06 Apr 2007 20:40:25 +0100 525895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=396882&cid=t_372379_86_f&fid=34461&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigicmb.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fis-europe-ready-for-millennials.html Forrester Consulting published a report in November 2006 -prepared for Xerox- on "Is Europe ready for The Millennials? : Innovate To Meet The Needs Of The Emerging Generation? Are the senior executives across Europe aware of the working styles of the younger generation? And did there companies adopted processes and technologies? Are senior executives any different from librarians, educators, etc? Millenials want to use the same tools they are using their personal life all day long, for gathering information and communication. That sounds like my target group of future library users. Nice reading.Tags: Millenials, Net-generation, user environment, libraries This item is automatically generated from the DIGICMB Blog of Guus van de den Brekel (Source: DigiCMB) DigiCMB blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=396882 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:32:00 +0100 396882