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 'ben'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:57:52 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181908&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F26991622%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7ESales-Secret-The-Best-Time-to-Close.htm Want to close a sale? When choosing a time to meet with your customer, don’t just take the first appointment time offered to you. A recent study looked at decisions by judges, and revealed startling differences in outcomes at different times of day. Researchers at Columbia University and Ben Gurion University examined the decisions made [...] CommentsI don't doubt that a tipsy customer could be more pliable and ... by Roger Dooley“I’m not gonna suggest that we liquor a customer up and ... by Aman Basanti | Age of MarketingPlus 5 more...Related StoriesWhat’s Better Than an Excited Customer?Prediction Power: Asking Gets ResultsTime to Get Touchy? (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181908 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:03:28 +0100 5181908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057943&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2FFyhzJAHzvXw%2Fit-seems-the-fish-were-biting-along-with-everything-else.html Hey, you know how I always talk about Tyler Place as if everyone there walked around in an unshakeable haze of smiles, relaxation, and goodwill? Well, this summer Ben proved me wrong: I wasn't there when this photo was taken. I was probably doing something like cooking a meal or scrubbing a toilet or — ha ha ha haaaaaaaaa just kidding; more like kayaking with my spouse or lingering over coffee with new friends or reading a book on a chaise longue in the cool of the morning shade. Whatever I was doing, I certainly wasn't impaling worms, keeping a boat full of preschoolers from hooking each other, or, worst of all, touching fish. But Ben, I am told, had a fantastic time, and indeed he said so later. I can only suppose that in the moment, when the photographer said some... a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057943 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5057943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862514&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBrZgMjl4-q0%2F By Mark A. CalabriaThere’s a great piece in the spring issue of The Independent Review on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke by San Jose State Professor Jeffrey Rogers Hummel.  Although a bit long, its well worth the read for anyone wanting to understand both Bernanke’s thinking and his actions during and since the financial crisis. First, Prof. Hummel discusses the differences between Bernanke’s and Milton Friedman’s explanations for the Great Depression.  Those that debate whether Bernanke’s actions, especially the quantitative easings, would be approved of by Friedman will get a lot out of this discussion.  From this comparison, you get the point that Friedman was concerned about overall credit conditions and liquidity, whereas Bernanke is less focuse... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862514 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:15:18 +0100 4862514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841429&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdPEE57zMGPY%2F By Ilya ShapiroThis morning I outlined the stakes of today’s seminal cloture vote on Goodwin’s Liu’s nomination to the Ninth Circuit.  Well, now we have a result: cloture failed 52-43, with Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) joining all voting Republicans except Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) against cloture. Three Republicans plus Max Baucus (D-MT) were absent, while Orrin Hatch (R-UT) voted present because of his previous strong position against filibusters. This is the first judicial nominee filibustered since the Gang of 14 brokered an agreement on President Bush’s nominees in 2005, forestalling then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s use of the so-called nuclear option (changing Senate rules to eliminate the judicial filibuster).  That agreement, to the extent it&#821... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841429 Thu, 19 May 2011 19:21:57 +0100 4841429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780292&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-bKAEJ36A_Q%2F By Mark A. CalabriaThe Wall Street Journal has pointed out that in his recent press conference Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke used the words “inflation expectations” (or some variation) 21 times. His argument is that we need not worry about inflation because we will see it coming, and then the Fed will do something about it. Such an argument relies heavily on the ability of inflation expectations to predict inflation. Which of course raises the question, just how predictive are inflation expectations? The graph below compares inflation, as measured by CPI, and inflation expectations, as measured by the University of Michigan consumer survey, the longest times series we have on inflation expectations. Clearly the two move together. For instance, the correlation between c... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780292 Tue, 03 May 2011 17:17:37 +0100 4780292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758740&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAL-eC2nmqmc%2F By George Scoville New research suggests that there has been more monetary and macroeconomic instability since the Federal Reserve’s inception than in the decades preceding it. New thinking about the usefulness of government programs will help us from restore fiscal balance and economic well-being in America. New geopolitical circumstances should make us wonder: why are we still a part of NATO? New Deal-era jurisprudence may soon be overturned as challenges to the Affordable Care Act reach the U.S. Supreme Court. New means of funding public roads will increase efficiency by confronting drivers with the costs of using them, and reducing congestion: Reminder: If you’re in the DC area, please join us this Friday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern for a special sneak preview of Free or Equal a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758740 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:01:48 +0100 4758740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753665&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEysqe_Q8ZR0%2F By Mark A. CalabriaApril 27th begins a new chapter in Federal Reserve history: the Fed joins other major central banks in having a press conference after its monetary policy meetings (the Federal Open Market Committee).  Apparently the record lows in public support for the Fed, along with rising gas and food prices, have driven Bernanke to attempt to change the narrative.  After all, his appearance on “60 Minutes” did wonders for the Fed’s reputation.  I’m excited to hear even more about his childhood in Dillon, South Carolina or his time working at South of the Border.  Maybe an enterprising reporter could ask how much menu prices at South of the Border have increased since Bernanke took over the Fed. Perhaps you’ve noticed that I don’t have high ex... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753665 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:57:13 +0100 4753665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615426&cid=t_214300_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPl4PHiJPh2U%2F Over the past week, a note has been circulating on the Internet about the web site that Eli Lilly created for its Strattera ADHD medication for consumers in China. Specifically, the missive points out that the Strattera site offers very different info about the risks and benefits of the medication. As an example, the US Strattera site warns patients of suicide risk, but not the Chinese site. “Lilly’s web site in China says nothing about this risk; patients are told nothing about any Strattera side effects at all. Chinese readers are warned instead about the dangers of ADHD (deliquency, substance abuse, unemployment, depression and other serious problems, both personal and social) unless treated with medication,” according to the note that was distributed by Ben Hansen, a ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615426 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:42:06 +0100 4615426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517319&cid=t_214300_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2011%2F02%2F24%2Fmiddle-east-erupts-orchestra-seat-to-the-revolution%2F Libya is free. My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up. Middle East Erupts: Orchestra Seat to the Revolution. If the powers that be had realized the global implications of the Internet when it was invented, they probably would have found some way to kill it. Take a look at these early pages and the first site in World Wide Web history. Then take a look at this CNN footage the intrepid Ben Wedeman in Benghazi. In just two decades, the earth has shifted. I suspect that the 1989 slaughter of unarmed protesters in Tiananmen Square could not happen today, or at least not without severe international repercussions. Same with Rwanda. One wonders how much sooner Hitler and Stalin might have been stopped if the people in Europe had cell phones and digital cameras, and an Internet on which to uploa... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517319 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 03:52:16 +0100 4517319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501590&cid=t_214300_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FDuNIkML7OKA%2F Check out @ProfessorFunk's kinetic typography take on the utter weirdness of placebos, based on information from @BenGoldacre's superlative book, Bad Science. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501590 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:40:48 +0100 4501590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464480&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrGK3mnQK-UY%2F By Christopher PrebleHosni Mubarak's decision to step down as president of Egypt is welcome news. He could have taken a cue from Tunisia's Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, resigning quickly in the face of overwhelming popular opposition. Such a move on Mubarak's part would have avoided much of the confusion that has gripped Egypt for more than two weeks. At least 300 people have been killed during the protests, but thankfully Mubarak's exit was achieved without even more bloodshed. These protests were driven by popular discontent with Mubarak, rising food prices, rampant corruption, and limited political and economic opportunity. The Obama administration generally resisted calls to place the United States in the middle of what was a purely internal matter. Those who called for a heavy-handed U.... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464480 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:50:55 +0100 4464480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419111&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0fpYN8orlOk%2F By Michael F. CannonAn article at HealthPolicySolutions.org (“a project of the Buechner Institute for Governance at the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver”), about how ObamaCare is causing Colorado’s child-only health insurance market to implode, contains this startling admission by the top lobbyist for Colorado’s health insurance companies: “Requiring all the carriers to sell this sort of plan creates a level playing field,’’ said Ben Price, executive director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans. “This is one of those unusual situations where we’re asking for more competition. If everyone else is in the market, the risk is spread across the entire market. Each company can afford to take on more risk.” Catch that?  A ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419111 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:40:09 +0100 4419111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411503&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FDjnAj2SgJBM%2F By Jim HarperBen Friedman helpfully supplies more information to go with my positive reaction to the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to scrap color-coded threat warnings. Our colloquy leaves somewhat open what should replace color-coding. Because most threat warnings are false alarms, and because exhortations to vigilance will tend toward the vagueness of the color-coding system, Ben hopes “DHS winds up being tighter-lipped.” His points are good ones, but they don’t dissuade me from my belief that DHS should “begin informing the public fully about threats and risks known to the U.S. government.” The right answer here centers on who is better at digesting threat information—experts in the national security bureaucracy or the public? The... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411503 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:33:18 +0100 4411503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318332&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbad-science-and-the-gift-of-medical-skepticism%2F2011.01.06 Discover magazine had an article about Dr. Ben Goldacre, a British physician who writes for The Guardian, is the author of the new book “Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks,” and is considered a gift to skepticism. His column is also called “Bad Science,” and he recently gave a short and interesting talk about non-evidence-based medicine at the Pop!Tech conference held in Camden, Maine. Enjoy! Ben Goldacre Talks Bad Science from PopTech on Vimeo. *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318332 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:00:52 +0100 4318332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300537&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2bPnfCZSqhY%2F By David BoazCato senior fellow Johan Norberg, author of In Defense of Global Capitalism and Financial Fiasco, has the cover story in this week’s issue of The Spectator, the eminent 182-year-old British weekly. Titled “The great debt bubble of 2011,” it warns that governments are repeating their mistakes of the past decade: There is a broad consensus that the financial crisis of 2007 was at least in part a result of record-low interest rates, huge deficits and large-scale credit-financed consumption. Today, governments across the world are trying to solve the crisis — by means of record-low interest rates, huge deficits and large-scale credit-financed consumption. This time, they are also using more novel means of creating easy money: bank bailouts, stimulus packages an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300537 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:43:47 +0100 4300537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285202&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchinese-bloodletting-forbidden-in-california%2F2010.12.23 In November 2010, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) finally decided to act responsibly and forbid the prevalent practice of Chinese bloodletting by licensed acupuncturists. The practice became a concern for the DCA when allegations of unsanitary bloodletting at a California (CA) acupuncture school surfaced. The incident allegedly occurred during a “doctoral” course for licensed practitioners. The instructor was reportedly demonstrating advanced needling and bloodletting techniques. During the process, he took an arrow-like lancing instrument that is called a “three-edged needle” (三棱针), sharpened it with sandpaper, cleaned it with alcohol, and then asked a student-volunteer to roll a towel around his neck. The instructor then cleaned the student’s temporal ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285202 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:00:17 +0100 4285202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245288&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0CMv_mxQ5SM%2F By Mark A. CalabriaMuch of what drives the policy choices of Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve is a belief in the ability to trade higher inflation for lower unemployment, known within the economics profession as the “Phillips curve.”   But does this trade-off actually exist?  While its true that many have found a negative correlation between inflation and unemployment prior to 1960, looking at U.S. data, this relationship appears to have broken down in the mid-1960s, just about the time policy-makers thought they could exploit it (Lucas critique anyone?). It is hard, looking at the graph, which displays the annual change in consumer prices over the previous year and unemployment, to see much of a relationship.  In fact, since 1960, the correlation between changes in CP... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245288 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:38:09 +0100 4245288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164578&cid=t_214300_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1298 No one could be more unhappy than Lindsay Lohan about the fact that soon there will be no more free drugs at any doctor’s office thanks to President Obama’s “healthcare reform law”.  While touted to bring access and affordability to all – naturally it doesn’t, and while it is now clear to the Democrat Congress and Senate who voted it in without reading the bill – here is another unseen but real consequence of their failures. Pharmaceutical companies give doctor’s offices free samples to give to patients who can’t afford medication, or need to “try them before they have to buy them.”  And they give us a lot of them! Pfizer Inc. 101 million samples worth $2.7 billion Merck & Co. 39 million samples worth about $356 mill... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164578 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:16:03 +0100 4164578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143012&cid=t_214300_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fjust-in-time-for-christmas_07.html Buy"Ben Goldacre, a British physician and author, has written a very funny and biting book critiquing what he calls "Bad Science.'' Under this heading he includes homeopathy, cosmetics manufacturers whose claims about their products defy plausibility, proponents of miracle vitamins, and drug companies and physicians who design faulty studies and manipulate the results . . . While it is a very entertaining book, it also provides important insight into the horrifying outcomes that can result when willful anti-intellectualism is allowed equal footing with scientific methodology." ----Dennis Rosen, The Boston Globe (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143012 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 03:03:00 +0100 4143012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133668&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEfYspog-5P8%2F By Mark A. CalabriaWhile it’s been obvious for years, Bernanke showed his rationale for more easing in today’s Washington Post.  He believes we are in danger of too little inflation.  While common sense might imply that price stability means neither inflation nor deflation, in Bernanke’s book, anything below the Fed’s target of 2 percent is bad. First of all, there really needs to be a public debate over the Fed’s 2% target.  After all, a 2% rate of inflation over, say, 30 years erodes almost half of one’s wealth.  How that can seriously be viewed as “price stability” is beyond me.  While a 2% rate of inflation is not going to bring the economy to a halt, it is still a massive theft of wealth over the long haul. Bernanke has also express... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133668 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:52:49 +0100 4133668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121856&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffor-halloween-just-a-flesh-wound-stickers%2F2010.10.30 To promote his new zombie book, “Rise Again,” author Ben Tripp is offering a printable sheet of flesh wounds that, to our relatively trained eyes, are reasonably accurate depictions of what undead flesh wounds would look like. You have to provide your own sticky sheets to print them on. (Note to medical students: Do not stick these on your anatomy cadavers.) Happy Halloween! SOURCE: “Stickers for Quick Undeadliness: Assorted Zombie Wounds“ *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121856 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 16:00:31 +0100 4121856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074476&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2FTdYmih0rFDg%2Ftheres-absolutely-nothing-creepy-about-this-right.html Ben, for one, welcomes our new potato overlords. (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074476 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4074476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013278&cid=t_214300_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2Fp96zPuhbF2U%2F I’ve been seeing a 10 year old boy with ADHD and Aspergers. He’s a genuinely likeable kid. He’s intelligent, he can be incredibly pleasant, but he’s also hyperactive to the max. He has tortuous rituals that take up large amounts of time and cause him to go berserk if they’re interrupted. If he sees a dog or a cat he flies into a panic. His Mum and Dad love him, but he’s very challenging, and he exhausts them. Methylphenidate has reduced his impulsivity, but hasn’t eliminated it. A quarter of a milligram of risperidone takes the edge off his agitation, but it’s made him gain weight and the consultant is reluctant to give any more than that to somebody so young. His parents use reward charts, but he isn’t good at recognising the value of ... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013278 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:21:31 +0100 4013278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980811&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FLL4jscd6HXc%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonTen years ago, the American Indian Charter School scored last among Oakland’s public middle schools. Today it’s the top-scoring public middle school in all of California, according to the state’s own Academic Performance Index ranking. What changed? It wasn’t the school’s demographics. American Indian’s enrollment is still almost all low income and minority, and contrary to almost everyone’s expectations, these inner-city kids now outperform their age-mates in even the wealthiest districts in California. And the school accepts all applicants, so, no, they don’t cherry-pick. The only cherry-picking that happens at American Indian is when elite East-Coast boarding schools recruit their middle-school graduates, offering ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980811 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:27:20 +0100 3980811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942963&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fben-holcomb-stormchaser%2F So as some of you know I’m debating pursuing a degree in meteorology.  I’ve always been interested in weather.  Well last night a storm chaser I once looked up to decided to make fun of me and Kate calling us ‘retards’ and ‘waterheads’.  The storm chaser I am referring too is Ben Holcomb.  Basically Ben [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942963 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:28:28 +0100 3942963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929430&cid=t_214300_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F09%2F02%2Fanother-depression-the-fed-and-ben-bernanke-to-the-rescue%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. Another Depression? The Fed and Ben Bernanke to the Rescue! Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: ben bernanke, cancer humor, comics, economy, political cartoon, recession, robert donna trussell, unemployment (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929430 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:00:20 +0100 3929430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3914984&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPEdWlxY7HdM%2F By Gerald P. O'DriscollEvery August, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sponsors a conference on monetary policy. It is the most valued invitation of the year for central bankers and Fed watchers. The Fed Chairman typically presents his views on monetary policy and the economy, and his talk inevitably makes headlines. (A select few reporters are invited.) This year, Ben Bernanke promised the Fed will do whatever it takes to aid the faltering U.S. recovery, and most of all to prevent deflation. The problem for the Fed Chairman is that the central bank is plainly running out of options, as some had the cheek to observe. He suggested the Fed could do more of the same (purchase long-term securities), or try something new and untested (tweak the interest rate it pays on bank reserves). Ber... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3914984 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:18:38 +0100 3914984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040821&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2FOmRE3VSGFDQ%2Fflew-scare.html Oh, God, your stories!  If you haven't read the comments on my last post yet, do.  You will probably never travel again, but you'll laugh.  You'll cry.  You'll stand in awe at the resilience of the indomitable human spirit.  You'll want to kick an airline or two squarely in the nuts.  And you will probably never travel again. Did I say that twice?  Well, it bears repeating, with swears. There was sweetcoalminer's kid running off through security.  There was KCC's trip, so bad that "at one point, I think I would have licked someone with ebola to make it end."  Jen's stomach-turning crab cakes, reminded me of a trip my aunt took, which included an immediate neighbor unwrapping ... a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040821 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040822&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2FbzMxA9kRwOY%2Fcome-fly-with-me.html I was standing in a convenience store in front of the racks of single-serving snacks, trying to decide between a cereal bar boasting 30% More Juicy Floor Sweepin's and a granola bar promising High Fructastic Flavorgasms in Every Bite.  The clerk noticed my indecision, I guess, because in a surprisingly courtly fashion he asked if he could help me find anything."No, thanks," I told him.  "I'm picking out snacks to take on an airplane with my kids.""In that case," he said, "may I recommend horse tranquilizers?"Tomorrow Charlie, Ben, and I are flying to Louisiana to visit my family.  I am terrified.  I flew with Charlie when he was this age, but by then he'd flown several times already, enough to be used to it. ... a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040822 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858440&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F08%2Fantipescatarianism.html God, it's just so funny, the way a two-year-old rages. There were three separate tantrums today, the most notable just after dinner. Ben had pronounced himself all finished, shoving his plate away resolutely, fish uneaten and asparagus ignored. The rest... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858440 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3858440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854784&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F08%2Fantipescatarianism.html God, it's just so funny, the way a two-year-old rages. There were three separate tantrums today, the most notable just after dinner. Ben had pronounced himself all finished, shoving his plate away resolutely, fish uneaten and asparagus ignored. The rest... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854784 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3854784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813221&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F08%2Ftwo.html Thank you all so much for your suggestions. Special shout-out to Jen; Catherine Newman's gingery Napa slaw was fantastic. Carrie, who pointed out that a chiffonade of mint "just sophisticates the shit out of a fruit salad," was absolutely right.... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813221 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3813221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3798850&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F07%2Fhelp-an-undisputed-master-of-hospitality-and-dedicated-architect-of-peace-in-the-middle-east-out.html I have a thousand things I need to do, and I'm sitting here doing everything but. My first task for the day is to write a bio for RESOLVE to use on its web site. I don't know, I find... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3798850 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3798850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3762897&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fasses-wearing-sunglasses-photo-of-the-day%2F These kick-ass donkeys are part of a 30-piece photography collection called Pencil vs. Camera. They’re amazing. They’re funny. They’re provocative. (And did you know donkeys keep all the other farm animals calm?) Check out Ben Heine’s entire series here. Photo from Flickr user Ben Heine Post from: BlissTree Asses Wearing Sunglasses: Photo of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3762897 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:00:09 +0100 3762897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726681&cid=t_214300_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F2_QN_YuShfc%2F Conclusion of the Pungent + Sweet = Yang Qi experiment) Part 4 (Beginning of the Sweet + Sour = Fluids experiment).  You’re on part 5, the conclusion of the Sweet + Sour = Fluids experiment, right now! Flavors Experience This section contains the experiences felt during the ingestion of each herb and pairings. Calibration Herbs The calibration process was to know the intimate experience of the herbs from a personal perspective and have a knowing that converged in a way that the authors of the Tang Ye Jing had.  Therefore, much of this is poetic serving a pivot role for the further experiences. This is a rehashing from the first experiement. Dang Shen The simple act of sipping this herb allowed for relaxation to pour through my entire body. Hints of warm milk were hidden in this a... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726681 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:14:21 +0100 3726681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718398&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealth-highlights-from-the-new-media-academic-summit%2F2010.07.01 I recently spoke at the panel on transparency at Edelman’s New Media Academic Summit. Ben Boyd was the moderator and Ellen Miller from the Sunlight Foundation was my fellow panelist. Reviewing some of the #nmas10 tweets from the audience, I figured I should provide some links for the anecdotes I mentioned: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Paul Levy’s blog is still the starting point when talking about transparency in medicine today. I had the chance to speak with him a few years ago. Ed Bennett has done an extraordinary job following hospital social media adoption and highlights effective new media policies as well. Hospitals are using twitter and billboards to broadcast emergency department waiting room times. This is not without risk, as billboards may not clarif... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718398 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3718398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714184&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdetecting-depression-in-online-text-and-blogs%2F2010.06.30 In a Thought Police kind of way, a new computer program can detect depression through your online writing. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in Beer-Sheva, Israel, have developed a program that detects depression in text without obvious terms like “depression” or “suicide.” In a sample of 200 positively-identified texts out of 300,000 which were screened by the program, there was a 78 percent agreement between the program and a panel of psychologists. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714184 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:00:21 +0100 3714184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714472&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F06%2Fapparently-i-will-tell-you-people-anything.html Parenthood makes you do things — stupid things, unforgivable things — you never imagined you'd do. In the aftermath you're left questioning everything you ever believed about yourself. You look in the mirror, or possibly down at your feet, and... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714472 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3714472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695536&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbonnie-raitt-and-ben-jerry-fight-plastic-waste-more-importantly-you-could-win-ice-cream%2F photo via Inhabitat from Ben & Jerry's Yep – that Ben and that Jerry. They’re teaming up for a challenge with Bonnie Raitt and the Green Music Group to fight disposable plastic bottle use and promote reusable bottles. Sounds good and green, right? But wait. We didn’t even mention the best part: You could win a year’s supply of free ice cream. Just take the pledge from the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and then upload a photo of yourself using your reusable water bottle. The deadline is July 2, 2010, so you’d better go green fast. via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree Bonnie Raitt and Ben & Jerry's Fight Plastic Waste. More Importantly, You Could Win Ice Cream. (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695536 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:39:45 +0100 3695536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644886&cid=t_214300_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FtmRzfBbYKgE%2F Quite some time ago, before the changes that are currently sweeping Deepest Health, I promised that I would discuss an “herb learning method” and eventually develop it into a course of some kind.  Well, those wheels are turning again.  You can already get a basic report about the first stages of the method by signing up for our newsletter. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll unpack some more advanced pieces of the method – including some application.  We’re getting closer to the point where I can release a fuller version of the method. First, I want to refresh your memory with some basic background material.  I think about herbs in a similar way as I think about people.  They have names, faces, general personalities.  They have families, friends, favori... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644886 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:17:56 +0100 3644886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3612052&cid=t_214300_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F29%2Fgreat-new-media-quotes%2F “If content is king, then conversion is queen.” John Munsell, CEO of Bizzuka “New marketing is about the relationships, not the medium.” Ben Grossman, founder and chief strategist for BiGMarK “By creating compelling content, you can become a celebrity.” Paul Gillin “Our head of social media is the customer.” McDonald’s “Social Media is about the people! Not about your business. Provide for the people and the people will provide for you.” Matt Goulart “If you’re looking for the next big thing, and you’re looking where everyone else is, you’re looking in the wrong place.” Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks “If the Army can figure out how to do secure social networking and break down silos and encourage informal problem solving within a rigid hierarchy... Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3612052 Sat, 29 May 2010 19:58:56 +0100 3612052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607853&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F05%2Fmuckraking.html I wanted to post last night but I just couldn't. We spent all day at the farm. And here I'm going to set a new record, hammering in a digression only two sentences into a post: Several summers ago, I... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607853 Thu, 27 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3607853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3589067&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F05%2Fi-see-a-bunch-of-people-here-who-love-you-like-crazy.html This Tylenol recall, man. I'm not saying my children are addicted or anything, but last night Ben woke me in the night, terrified and certain that bugs were crawling all over him and he just needed a taste, Mama, just... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3589067 Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3589067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577671&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F05%2Fdespite-all-appearances-this-post-is-just-five-words-long.html This afternoon I was gathering up some table scraps for Charlie to take out to the compost barrel. Compost! Black gold! In the last three days I've gotten totally into compost, having spent a great deal of money to acquire... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577671 Mon, 17 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3577671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538411&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F05%2Fsteps.html Okay, one more infertility thing and then I'll move on, at least until the next time I feel inclined to set the Wayback Machine for half-past Oh My God Things Just Keep Sucking. I don't think I mentioned here that... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538411 Tue, 04 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3538411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499250&cid=t_214300_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FD_-FVuLvIW0%2F Did you know that Jennifer Aniston is an environmental activist? The makers of the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove got Aniston and several other celebs motivated to become Dolphin Crusaders. Hayden Panettiere, Jason Mraz, Woody Harrelson, Naomi Watts, James Gandolfini, Ben Stiller, and Paul Rudd all banded together to create this new PSA in an effort to save the dolphins, brought to you by TMZ’s TooFab!, below. For more information, visit TakePart.com. Post from: BlissTree Jennifer Aniston, Hayden Panettiere, and Ben Stiller are Dolphin Crusaders (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499250 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:31:31 +0100 3499250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3482994&cid=t_214300_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2Fltk8v-rs50A%2F Here’s the second section of Mitesh’s paper, a continuation of last weeks’ post on the topic.  This is more set-up and mostly covers information about the herbs he used, including the Blue Poppy translations of each herb as described in the Shennong Bencao Jing.  He also explains the reasoning behind some of his herb choices, sometimes citing scholar and clinician Heiner Fruehauf. PS:  I will announce the results of the Deepest Health Reader Survey shortly, and have just contacted the winner of the Living Meridian Acupuncture Charts.  If I get permission from that person, I will divulge their name.  Thanks everyone for your time and input! Herb Selection and Essential Information Note on references : The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing version used was the Blue Poppy translat... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3482994 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:02:26 +0100 3482994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3483038&cid=t_214300_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FcFhRHaSyQcg%2F In honor of Earth Week, we scoured the Flickr Creative Commons for some inspiring nature photos. Ben Fredericson’s stunning photo, below, was one of our favorite finds: Landscape Photo from Flickr user Ben Fredericson Post from: BlissTree Earth Week Photo of the Day: Landscape by Ben Fredericson (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3483038 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:19:38 +0100 3483038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3476109&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F04%2Fmass-general.html Happy Oh My God What Is That Thing That Tried to Kill Me? Day! Wait, you don't celebrate? I do. Today marks the passing, and I do mean the literal passing, of the embryo that implanted in my right Fallopian... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3476109 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3476109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453888&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fv4Qyws5guZs%2F By Michael F. CannonFederal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a speech in Dallas yesterday where he inadvertently discredited claims that ObamaCare would reduce health care costs and the federal deficit.  According to The Washington Post: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke warned Wednesday that Americans may have to accept higher taxes or changes in cherished entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security if the nation is to avoid staggering budget deficits that threaten to choke off economic growth… While the immediate audience for the speech was the Dallas Regional Chamber, his message was intended for Congress and the Obama administration… Bernanke has urged Congress to address long-term fiscal imbalances in congressional testimony before, but usually only when he... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453888 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:44:29 +0100 3453888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3432840&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fgreenberg-isnt-all-that-bad%2F It may be backsliding, but I have a little crush on Greenberg. I’m referring to Ben Stiller’s character Roger Greenberg in Noah Baumbach’s latest movie. I don’t know what it is about the desperately needy, passive-aggressive, narcissistic misanthrope that sings to me, but there it is. Spoiler Alert! For those who haven’t seen the film or read reviews yet, here’s a summary: Roger Greenberg, recently released from the hospital after a nervous breakdown, goes to stay at his brother’s well-appointed L.A. home to house- and dog-sit while his sibling takes an extended vacation with his family in Vietnam. Roger’s plan is to do “nothing for a while.” Mostly, he writes letters to corporations that offend him (Starbucks, Hollywood Pet Taxi). He spends the rest of the time... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3432840 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:06:15 +0100 3432840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429136&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fgreenberg-isnt-all-that-bad%2F It may be backsliding, but I have a little crush on Greenberg. I’m referring to Ben Stiller’s character Roger Greenberg in Noah Baumbach’s latest movie. I don’t know what it is about the desperately needy, passive-aggressive, narcissistic misanthrope that sings to me, but there it is. Spoiler Alert! For those who haven’t seen the film or read reviews yet, here’s a summary: Roger Greenberg, recently released from the hospital after a nervous breakdown, goes to stay at his brother’s well-appointed L.A. home to house- and dog-sit while his sibling takes an extended vacation with his family in Vietnam. Roger’s plan is to do “nothing for a while.” Mostly, he writes letters to corporations that offend him (Starbucks, Hollywood Pet Taxi). He spends the rest of the time... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429136 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:06:15 +0100 3429136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350613&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F03%2Fpolyphonic-spree.html I have this friend. I've written about her before, I know. T. is many, many things I cherish in a friend: generous, dependable, clever, capable, responsive, and funny — my God, so funny. She had her kids at the same... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350613 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3350613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3307051&cid=t_214300_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F02%2F24%2Fben-bradlee-a-legend-after-all-the-presidents-men%2F Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward at The Washington Post My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up: “Nothing’s riding on this except the, uh, First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press, and maybe the future of the country.” That sentence was uttered by actor Jason Robards playing Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee in what is arguably the best performance of his career in “All the President’s Men,” one of the 100 greatest films of all time, according to the American Film Institute. Oh, the glory days of newspapers! What with Quinn Bradlee, son of Bradlee and columnist Sally Quinn, in the news (as reported by my Politics Daily colleague Annie Groer here and here) and last week a journalism award going to an anonymous bystander, I got to think... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3307051 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:14:05 +0100 3307051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239853&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F02%2Fcarrier-smidgen.html OkaybutsoIwas downtown a couple of days ago with Ben, leaving the library after story time. I stopped outside to get him into the Ergo carrier, a maneuver which, when performed solo, can, I admit, look alarming — like, drop-your-baby-on-his-head-on-the-cold-unforgiving-cobblestones alarming.... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239853 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3239853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220758&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F01%2Fchopsticks-also-known-as-nimble-lads.html There's something I don't get about the Tim Tebow story, and maybe you can help me out. In case you're not familiar with it — in case you know even less about major professional sporting events than I do, which... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220758 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3220758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216570&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtMuUx7G-x2I%2F By Chris Moody Cato experts will live-blog Obama’s State of the Union Address tonight. Join in, submit questions, and watch the speech right here on Cato@Liberty at 9:00 PM EST. A quick, ten-point libertarian State of the Union Address. One “Great Canard”: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke argues that the Fed’s monetary policy was not responsible for the U.S. housing bubble. About that non-discretionary spending… Podcast: “Obama’s Fiscal Right Fake” featuring Chris Edwards. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216570 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:43:17 +0100 3216570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149037&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2IJvlpe-flQ%2F By Peter Van DorenDavid Leonhardt’s column today in the New York Times, in reaction to Ben Bernanke’s recent speech at the American Economic Association meetings, asks an important question: If the Federal Reserve failed to detect the housing bubble when it occurred, why should we entrust it with that role in the future? But he doesn’t follow the logic of his question far enough and instead embraces a financial equivalent of the National Transportation Safety Board, as if technical solutions exist and could be implemented if politics got out of the way. In our recent Policy Analysis, Jagadeesh Gokhale and I examine a more complete list of technical and political problems that stand in the way of asset bubble management. Can bubbles be detected using scientific techniques (econometric... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149037 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:00:37 +0100 3149037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146231&cid=t_214300_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fbmjcom-ben-goldacre.html bmj.com: Just found this lovely response to The Bitch Doctor from Dr John Briffa on the BMJ website ........ it's old but worth revisiting.John P Briffa,Doctor and health writerWoolaston House, 25 Southwood Lane, Highgate, London N6 5ED Dr Goldacre’s opinion piece [1] takes a broad swipe at media nutritionists by focusing on some silly thinking and the ‘pseudoscience’ that undoubtedly can sometimes be found in the area. The author takes particular exception to Gillian McKeith’s claim that chlorophyll is rich in oxygen and that eating plenty of it will help to oxygenate the blood. In respect to this, Dr Goldacre comments “as any 14 year old biology student could tell you, plants only make oxygen in light: it's very dark in your bowel; and even if, to prove a po... Healthy Eating & Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146231 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:09:00 +0100 3146231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142523&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FE4qPMyOHaU4%2F By Mark A. CalabriaYesterday, at the annual meetings of the American Economic Association, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke offered a continued defense of the Fed’s monetary policies earlier this decade. Essentially he believes that monetary policy did not contribute to the housing bubble.  He also makes clear that he believes that the excessively loose policy stance of the Fed after the dot-com bubble burst was appropriate given the level of unemployment at that time.   Given that today’s unemployment level is even worse, Bernanke has offered us a clear indication that monetary policy will remain excessively loose for the foreseeable future, regardless of the Fed’s inability to actually create jobs. Bernanke’s remarks also illustrate the contradictions in his own think... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142523 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:26:35 +0100 3142523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142868&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F01%2Fchristmas-wrapup.html It was a great Christmas. I say this, of course, at the remove of several days, when no one is crabby from too many presents and too little sleep, too much rich food and not nearly enough strangers raising my... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142868 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3142868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178780&cid=t_214300_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2Flondon-news-220307_NEW.wmv This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178780 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3178780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056621&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FnW5hraShaXg%2F A few questions for Ben Bernanke: “Perhaps the most important question Bernanke should answer is: how will he re-build and maintain an independent Fed?” Before considering Bernanke’s role in containing the financial crisis, Congress should investigate the role of Fed policy in allowing the housing bubble to grow. Prepare to pay more: Today, an average insurance policy can cost about $2,985 for an individual or $6,328 for a family.  Under the Senate bill, those premiums will increase to $5,800 for an individual worker and $15,200 for a family plan by 2016. Why the White House “jobs summit” is unnecessary. Made on Earth: How global economic integration renders trade policy obsolete. Podcast: “ObamaCare the Budget Buster.” More, here. (Sour... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056621 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:37:34 +0100 3056621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3018979&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRiXVruPRDAs%2F The Wall Street Journal reported that Congress likes Fed Chairman Bernanke, but not the institution that he heads. There is growing consensus that the Fed needs to be reformed and restructured.  Most notably, there are calls to strip the Fed of its supervisory authority.  In practice, the new sentiment reflects the failure of the Fed to rein in risk taking by the largest banks. The Fed is pushing back.  One reserve bank president said that removing the Fed’s supervisory authority “would affect our ability to conduct monetary authority effectively.” He went on to say that without the supervisory authority, the Fed wouldn’t know enough about risks brewing in the economy.  This argument is shop worn. The Fed had the authority. It fueled the housing boom with its m... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3018979 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:02 +0100 3018979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2985033&cid=t_214300_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FX4LCGvmila0%2F Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, has asked the Pentagon for info on how many troops in war zones have been prescribed antidepressants while they were deployed. Cardin sent a letter Tuesday to US Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressing concern about how antidepressants are being administered troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cardin wants to determine if the Defense Department is prescribing antidepressants appropriately and is concerned about any connection between the meds and suicide rates among troops. In October, for instance, 16 active-duty US soldiers killed themselves, bringing the total number of active-duty suicides in 2009 to 134. At this rate, the number of 2009 suicides will eclipse last year’s total of 140 – the highest yearly number of suicides in Army histor... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2985033 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:50:53 +0100 2985033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2946994&cid=t_214300_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmessage-americas-physicians-purchasing-ehr-technology-shaky-state-affairs Much of the conversation and debate about physician EHR adoption has centered on the single issue of the (high) cost of purchase.  However, we'd like to suggest that the situation is much more complex and involves several more subtle variables. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2946994 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:33:54 +0100 2946994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943766&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FeqxSRn-xIZQ%2F In an exchange I had with Charles Murray earlier this month, he complained that there was no bulletproof scientific research documenting miraculous improvement in student achievement attributable to great schools like those of Ben Chavis. At the time, that objection was beside my point, which is that there is copious evidence that competitive market education systems yield very substantial (if not “miraculuous”) improvements over the status quo government monopoly. We don’t need miracles to prove that there is a much better way of organizing and funding schools. But that wasn’t enough for Ben Chavis. He called yesterday to pass along a proposition to Charles: come perform the research yourself. In fact, Ben offered to put Charles up in his own house. I don’t k... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943766 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:51:54 +0100 2943766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899040&cid=t_214300_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fehrs-and-domestic-abuse In a recent survey, health care executives predicted that the secondary use of data which is captured during the care process will soon prove useful in improving the quality of care and public health, reducing costs, and getting drugs to market faster. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899040 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:01:49 +0100 2899040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890622&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPodXECXXeLI%2F Scheduled for consideration before the House Financial Services Committee this week is a draft bill creating a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.  While there is a lot wrong with the bill — after all it is based on the premise that somehow consumers were tricked into not making a downpayment or re-financing thousands out of their homes, and then walking away — perhaps the most important provision, and the least discussed, is funding the agency by a transfer of cash from the Federal Reserve.  Section 119 of the bill requires the Federal Reserve to transfer an amount equal to 10 percent of its expenses to the new agency’s Director.  This I believe is the first time in history that Congress is using the Federal Reserve to simply fund another agency.  Why stop there, ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890622 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:37:13 +0100 2890622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871769&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Ffive-ways-to-become-happier-today-%25e2%2580%2594-big-think%2F From BigThink: “For however elusive happiness is to define, there are very specific things people can do each day that are proven to increase happiness: Tal Ben Shahar has spent his career studying them. He gave Big Think several practical happiness tips, including changing your calendar, buying a notebook, and changing your approach to car parking.” For a sample of related Situationist posts, see “Something to Smile About,” “Dan Kahneman on the Situation of Well-Being,” and “Martin Seligman on Positive Psychology.” (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871769 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:01:49 +0100 2871769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2872093&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F10%2Fcoal-goal-and-a-swab-in-the-hole.html It started with a high fever. Holding Ben was like clutching a sack of burning coal. An angry sack of coal, in fact, one that writhed and mewled and tried to escape from my arms. Okay, I'd say, and put... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2872093 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2872093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862469&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fm7V6xSpz6FU%2F Last week, I posted a chart on this blog showing the percent change in federal education spending and student achievement since 1970 (achievement has been flat while federal education spending has nearly tripled). After laughing out loud when he saw it, IQ expert and Bell Curve author Charles Murray mused that “such a huge proportion of a child’s educational prospects are determined by things other than school (genes and the non-school environment) that reforms of the schools can never do more than produce score improvements at the margin.” But consider the accomplishments of Ben Chavis, who spoke at Cato last Friday. When he took over the American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland in 2001, it was the worst school in the district. Under his leadership (imagine a hybrid... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862469 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:40:48 +0100 2862469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855544&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIbmJSv49OxM%2F This past week witnessed continued debate in congressional committees over changes to our financial regulatory system.  Perhaps catching the most attention was Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s appearance before House Financial Services.  Sadly missing from all the noise this week was any discussion over reforming those entities at the center of the housing bubble and mortgage meltdown:  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While many, including Bernanke, have identified the “global savings glut” as a prime force behind the historically low interest rates that drove the housing bubble, often missed in this analysis is the critical role played by Fannie and Freddie as channels of that savings glut.  After all, the Chinese Central Bank was not plowing its reserves into Countrywide sto... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855544 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:08:38 +0100 2855544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842835&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhip-smart.html I should tell you it didn't bother me, the misspelling on Ben's note. When I read Amy's comment — "Luckily even dumb people still manage to take decent care of our children!" — I had a frantic moment where I... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842835 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2842835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809662&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYN8MwjrmY-s%2F Nat Hentoff has a few tough questions for doctors who aided CIA torture. Is public option a private insurer killer? Larry McNeely and Michael Cannon debate. “Cap-and-Trade Is Dead. Long Live Cap-and-Trade!” Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says the recession is probably over. But was he the man who saved the economy? Podcast: Should the government have the power to punish you for speaking your mind? Many Americans think it should…so long as it’s people with whom they don’t agree. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809662 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:37:30 +0100 2809662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807913&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F09%2Fdespite-it-all-i-still-feel-pretty-good-about-having-ben-in-day-care.html (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807913 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2807913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807848&cid=t_214300_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fchaos-theory-ben-bernankes-good-news%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily: Ben Bernanke’s Good News. Posted in Politcal Cartoons Tagged: ben bernanke, economy, recession, unemployment (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807848 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:47:21 +0100 2807848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796413&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdK67S63RD0Q%2F Next Sunday, MSNBC will feature a sort of townhall meeting on how great schools can pull kids out of poverty. Though headlined by Bill Cosby, perhaps the most electrifying panelist will be charter school principal Ben Chavis. On October 2nd at noon, you can come to Cato to see Ben live, and ask him how we can replicate his stunning success. Also joining us will be Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews, who’ll talk about the growing KIPP network of (now 82!) charter schools. Other than perhaps KIPP’s founders, nobody knows more about them than Jay. I’ll be simultaneously acting as cheerleader (I love these schools) and devil’s advocate (I’m skeptical that they can be brought to the masses within the charter sector). To register, just visit the event page he... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796413 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:05:35 +0100 2796413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793134&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHQmw2pZGlFY%2F Today President Obama took his financial reform plan to the airwaves.  While there is no doubt our financial system is in need of financial reform, the President’s plan would make bailouts a permanent feature of the regulatory landscape.  Rather than ending “too big to fail” — the President wants us to believe that with additional discretion and power, the same Federal Reserve that missed the boat last time will save us next time. The truth is that the President’s plan will result in a small number of companies being viewed by debtholders as “too big to fail”.  These companies would see their funding costs decline, allowing them to gain market-share at the expense of their rivals, making these firms even larger.  Greater concentration in our fi... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793134 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:29:55 +0100 2793134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793450&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F09%2Fkeep-it-simple-sweetheart.html This morning Tertia wrote about how much easier it was to have a newborn the second time around. What she left out was a description of all the panicked messages she sent me before Max was born and my affectionate... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793450 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2793450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734000&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fv%2FsM9KcAS5_K4%26amp%3Brel%3D1%26amp%3Bcolor1%3Dd6d6d6%26amp%3Bcolor2%3Df0f0f0%26amp%3Bborder%3D0%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3Bhl%3Den%26amp%3Bautoplay%3D0%26amp%3Bshowinfo%3D0%26amp%3Biv_load_policy%3D3%26amp%3Bshowsearch%3D0 One of my favorite movies is 1776, the musical. In July 1776, Congress was working on the Declaration of Independence. A rather controversial undertaking with far reaching implications. In July 2009, Congress was tackling another controversial undertaking with far reaching implications. I am speaking of course about health reform. The parallels, and lessons learned, are striking. Today, health reform has its Gang of Six (Senators Max Baucus, Jeff Bingaman, Kent Conrad, Charles Grassley, Michael Enzi, and Olympia Snowe). Congress in 1776 appointed a Committee of Five (John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman) to assist with the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. President Obama observed that during July and August “everybody in Washington ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734000 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:56:51 +0100 2734000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645599&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F07%2Fwont-you-sign-in-stranger.html And then it got even weirder: "Mama, I spelled another word! Want to see it?" Jesus, no, I do not. "It says dead because there is a poison tank under the floor," he explained, "and it's filled with poison. If... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645599 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2645599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641287&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fswine-flu-news-7-medical-blogoshpere-is.html The defendants, the proprietors of a medical preparation called "The Carbolic Smoke Ball," issued an advertisement in which they offered to pay 100 to any person who contracted the influenza after having used one of their smoke balls in a specified manner and for a specified period. The plaintiff on the faith of the advertisement bought one of the balls, and used it in the manner and for the period specified, but nevertheless contracted the influenzaFull storyBeyond the hysteria, there are now some excellent resources surrounding the pros and cons of Tamiflu in the medical blogosphere.Anthony Cox is an academic pharmacist who writes an as always balanced review article on a drug that he concludes is probably safe, but which has potentially serious and unpleasant side effects. It is most ce... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641287 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:05:00 +0100 2641287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639567&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fswine-flu-news-7-medical-blogoshpere-is.html The defendants, the proprietors of a medical preparation called "The Carbolic Smoke Ball," issued an advertisement in which they offered to pay 100 to any person who contracted the influenza after having used one of their smoke balls in a specified manner and for a specified period. The plaintiff on the faith of the advertisement bought one of the balls, and used it in the manner and for the period specified, but nevertheless contracted the influenzaFull storyBeyond the hysteria, there are now some excellent resources surrounding the pros and cons of Tamiflu in the medical blogosphere.Anthony Cox is an academic pharmacist who writes an as always balanced review article on a drug that he concludes is probably safe, but which has potentially serious and unpleasant side effects. It is most ce... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639567 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:05:00 +0100 2639567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2625957&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5KElqCyhhK8%2F Here is the message members of Congress should send to Ben Bernanke during the Fed chief’s annual Capitol Hill testimony this week: He is fighting for his job. With his term up in January of next year, Bernanke needs to be called to account for the Fed’s many questionable actions during the financial turmoil of the past year. Even while correctly identifying the “global savings glut,” Bernanke sat by and did nothing about the unsustainable build-up of leverage in the housing market—the “bubble” which famously burst in late 2008. Bernanke also used Fed financing to bail out Bear Stearns and AIG—hotly political moves which should rightfully have been left to Congress—and oversaw the massive expansion of the Fed’s balance sheet from about $900 billion to over $2 trillion. ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2625957 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:24:29 +0100 2625957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2625963&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fj9AVWzqNpdc%2F In today’s Wall Street Journal, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has outlined “The Fed’s Exit Strategy.” He tells the reader how the central bank will avoid an inflation of historic proportions resulting from all the money and credit it has injected into the economy. All of the strategies he outlines are technically feasible ways for the Fed to implement monetary restraint. The op-ed has an air of a classroom exercise, however, rather than a practical central-bank strategy. Much of the article is devoted to explaining how the Fed can now pay interest on reserves, and how it could raise that interest rate so as to dissuade commercial banks from lending the reserves out. It could do that, but what would that rate need to be in order to meet a private bank’s threshold r... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2625963 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:15:52 +0100 2625963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598191&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FWpZvflg_xZQ%2F Recent weeks have seen a swirl of speculation over whether President Obama will or will not re-appoint Ben Bernanke to the Chairmanship of the Federal Reserve Board, when his current term as Chair expires in January 2010. Almost all of the debate has centered on his actions as Chairman. This narrow focus misses an important piece: his actions, and words, as a Fed governor during the build-up of the housing bubble. What should have been Bernanke’s greatest strength as a Fed governor and later chair, his understanding of monetary theory and his knowledge of the Great Depression, has ended up being a weakness. While correct in his analysis of the role of “debt deflation” — where the deflation increases the real burden of debts and correspondingly weakens the balance s... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598191 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:19:43 +0100 2598191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561212&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fr70NNXcLMmI%2F Last week Cato hosted a policy forum on “Bringing Transparency to the Federal Reserve,” featuring Congressman Ron Paul. As mentioned in CQ Politics, Rep. Paul’s bill, HR 1207, has been gaining considerable momentum in the House, with currently 244 co-sponsors, ranging from John Boehner to John Conyers Jr. In fact, the Senate companion bill was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke discussed the very topic of Federal Reserve Transparency at Cato’s annual monetary conference in the Fall of 2007. After praising moves toward greater transparency at the Fed, Bernanke argued that “monetary policy makers are public servants whose decisions affect the life of every citizen; consequently, in a democratic society, they have a responsibility to give the peo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561212 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:57:27 +0100 2561212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556087&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrdZiIACZYC4%2F Fed Chairman Bernanke’s term as Chair ends in January 2010. So far President Obama has offered Bernanke praise for his performance, but little else. After last week’s House Oversight Committee hearing focusing on Bernanke’s role in Bank of America’s purchase of Merrill Lynch, it is now readily apparent that the Chairman has few supporters on Capitol Hill. While his nomination will not be subject to the approval of the House of Representatives, or any of its Committees, the Senate Banking Committee’s reaction to Treasury Secretary Geithner’s plan to extend the Fed’s power serves as a useful proxy in gauging that Committee’s view of the Fed’s recent performance. Several recent polls show President Obama to be broadly popular with the American public, while the public holds ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556087 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:38:24 +0100 2556087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458085&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fben-bradshaw-nhs-and-bbc.html Ben BradshawThere was widespread relief in the NHS today when it was announced that Ben Bradshaw has given up his health portfolio to become Commissar for Kulture. Bradshaw was second only to Patricia Hewitt in terms of the hatred he engendered amongst those of us who work in the NHS. He was unsympathetic. He did not listen. He was consistently economic with the truth. The Guardian reports that, in his new role, which will include responsibility for broadcasting, he intends to "hit the ground running."It does not look good for the BBC. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458085 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:56:00 +0100 2458085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424548&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F05%2Fhope-swings-eternal.html Well, really, what is there to say? (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424548 Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2424548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398645&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fhealth-ministers-have-been-feeding-at.html Ben Bradshaw and Phil Hope with colleaguesMuch sport is to be had looking at MPs' expenses. It is always easy to attack the status quo, but this is a turkey shoot. They are all “at it”, some more than others, and even the saintly Dennis Skinner has made some claims.Two junior health care ministers, Ben Bradshaw and Phil Hope, feature in tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph story. Tories should enjoy it whilst they can, for next week they will be under the microscope. And then, before the furore dies down, it will be the Lib Dems. What has been done has been done within the rules. The rules are flexible and allow for much feeding at the trough.For sure, the rules need to be changed. Secretarial and administrative support should be provided but not be a back door through which MPs’ families ca... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398645 Fri, 08 May 2009 22:22:00 +0100 2398645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365265&cid=t_214300_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FsmPbe42mLiE%2F Ben Sawyer and I just agreed to create a new Cognitive Health track -Powered by SharpBrains- at the 5th Annual Games for Health Conference. I will host the 11-session track, covering a variety of cognitive health and brain fitness topics and an overview of SharpBrains' upcoming report The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2009. When and where: June 11-12th at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel in Boston, MA. Context: The Games for Health Conference is produced by The Serious Games Initiative and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The conference brings together researchers, medical professionals, decision-makers at healthcare and insurance providers, innovators and game developers. I have attended a few times, and have always been impressed by the caliber of both speakers and... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365265 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:50:27 +0100 2365265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307454&cid=t_214300_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F04%2Fquackery-without-scruples%2F With disappointment I report the existence of the organisation called “Homeopaths Without Borders” . Yes, really. They really do exist.  I have to agree with PZ Myers who, given the brazen adulteration the good name of MSF (”Doctors Without Borders”), thinks that “Quackery Without Scruples” is more appropriate. The propagation of any practice - especially something [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307454 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:00:26 +0100 2307454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2262789&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F03%2Ffriday-ramble.html When I picked Charlie up from day care a couple of days ago, the kids were out on the playground. He and two particular friends can usually be found raising a low-grade preschool kind of hell, and that day was... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2262789 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2262789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2255981&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtviCb3eW8cA%2F In a CNBC spot with Steve Liesman & Erin Burnett, I tried to explain why investors in bank stocks had good reason to be pleased with part of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech.  Judging by the response of Steve and Erin, and others on CNBC over the following day,  I must not have been persuasive. For clarification, I am quoting the exact language from Bernanke’s talk, with my emphasis added. My main point is that Bernanke admitted that when it comes to the “financial crisis” of some big banks, this is largely an artifact of unduly harsh regulation being applied at the worst possible time: There is some evidence that capital standards, accounting rules, and other regulations have made the financial sector excessively procyclical–that is, they lead financial insti... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2255981 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:27:45 +0100 2255981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210318&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fjonathan-richards-talented-broadcast.html A talented broadcast journalist of the utmost integrity?The furore caused by Jeni Barnett’s irresponsible and ill-educated foray into matters medical has still not died down. Indeed, due to Jonathan Richards' inability to deal with the problem, it is now being considered at the highest level.Early Day MotionEDM 754MMR VACCINE AND THE MEDIA10.02.2009Lamb, NormanThat this House expresses its support for the use of the combined MMR vaccine; notes with concern the re-emergence of measles and the loss of life and long-term health problems which will afflict children as a result of the decline in the vaccination rate which followed Dr Andrew Wakefield's now discredited research paper suggesting a link between MMR vaccine and autism; expresses its disappointment that ill-informed comments by pr... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210318 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:47:00 +0100 2210318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060690&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F10_things_science_says_will_make_you_happy.php Image via Wikipedia With all the bad news floating around, lets hear what science says about happiness. While there is no magic here, statistics show a trend towards this sort of behavior when a person reports they are happy. Which came first? Happiness or happy behavior? In my experience, happiness is a state of mind relatively unrelated to events. A person who values his life based more on who he is, appreciates what he has, who takes concrete steps towards his goals, and makes a conscious effort to see his glass half full, rather than half empty more often reports being happy. AlterNet "In the last few years, psychologists and researchers have been digging up hard data on a question previously left to philosophers: What makes us happy? Researchers like the father-son team Ed Diener... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060690 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:00:55 +0100 4060690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177463&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fchallenge-to-lbc-give-dr-ben-goldacre.html Stifling freedom of speech in LondonThe debate between Ben Goldacre/Jeni Barnett has taken a turn for the worse. It seems that Jeni Barnett has received a number of personally abusive emails and is upset. LBC, oddly, has contacted Ben Goldacre to complain.As I said earlier, abusive ad hominen attacks have the opposite effect to that intended.I find it hard to have much sympathy with Jeni Barnett. She is a provocative and outspoken broadcast journalist. That is what LBC pay her to be. She lives in a glass house of her own making, and she throws stones. Her broadcast on MMR was, as she has admitted, ill considered and ill researched, and she was rude about a nurse who tried to have a rational discussion with her. She purported to be prepared to debate the issues on her blog, but has now take... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177463 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:20:00 +0100 2177463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177464&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fwhat-happened-to-smallpox-and-apology.html Smallpox is an acute contagious disease caused by variola virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family. Smallpox, which is believed to have originated over 3,000 years ago in India or Egypt, is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. For centuries, repeated epidemics swept across continents, decimating populations and changing the course of history. In some ancient cultures, smallpox was such a major killer of infants that custom forbade the naming of a newborn until the infant had caught the disease and proved it would survive.Smallpox killed Queen Mary II of England, Emperor Joseph I of Austria, King Luis I of Spain, Tsar Peter II of Russia, Queen Ulrika Elenora of Sweden, and King Louis XV of France.The disease, for which no effective treatment was ever developed, killed ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177464 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:45:00 +0100 2177464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2170625&cid=t_214300_88_f&fid=38203&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprecordialthump.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F02%2F09%2Fhomeopathy-revisited%2F A month ago I wrote a post about homeopathy. Since then I have unearthed a few nuggets of gold that have lead me to revisit the subject. HOMEOPATHS WITHOUT BORDERS That’s right! This organisation really exists. I agree whole-heartedly with PZ Myers who suggests that “Quackery Without Borders” might well be a more appropriate name… BAD SCIENCE Dr Ben Goldacre is author of Bad Science. He wrote a couple excellent articles on homeopathy that were published in late 2007. “Benefits and risks of homeopathy” was published in the Lancet and concisely reviews the (lack of) evidence for homeopathy, but also shows how homeopathy can benefit a patient. However, I think the placebo effect should be better harnessed by medical professionals rather than left to quacks... AEQUANIMITAS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2170625 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:52:44 +0100 2170625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2168215&cid=t_214300_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1061 Jump to follow-up I’m a bit late on this one, but better late than never. The opinionated and ill-informed actress turned talk show host, Jeni Barnett, spent an hour or so endangering your children (and hers) with what most surely be one of the worst ever accounts of measles vaccination. The chart shows the result of the activities [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2168215 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:09:23 +0100 2168215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167518&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fim-believer-mmr-measles-autism.html click to enlargeWelcome to Thoughtful House"Thoughtful House is fighting to recover children with developmental disorders (autism, PDD, Asperger’s syndrome, ADD, ADHD and NLD) through the unique combination of medical care, education, and research."+++++++++++It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? All those well-dressed, smiling professionals at the top.  Do you recognise the “professional” on the right of the photograph? It’s Dr Andrew Wakefield. “Thoughtful House” is his refuge in Texas. The place he has now found from which to flog his dubious wares.What, precisely, is Andrew Wakefield’s status? He has no professional training in the management of autism, or ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. He is not a psychiatrist. He is not a paediatrician. Already, therefore, we wonder whethe... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167518 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:50:00 +0100 2167518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414834&cid=t_214300_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1061 Jump to follow-up I’m a bit late on this one, but better late than never. The opinionated and ill-informed actress turned talk show host, Jeni Barnett, spent an hour or so endangering your children (and hers) with what most surely be one of the worst ever accounts of measles vaccination. The chart shows the result of the activities of people like her (see BBC report). Chart from BBC report She was abominably rude to a well-informed nurse who phoned in to try to inject some sense into the conversation. The LBC tried to stop Ben Goldacre from publicising this horrific show by legal action. Blogs are the new journalism. The response has been wonderful.  People of all ages sat up late into the night transcribing the entire broadcast.  Unlike the doubtless highly-paid actress, th... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414834 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:37:52 +0100 2414834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2089919&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fben-bradshaw-gets-it-wrong-again.html Hamish and the pillockI don’t know how it works for Hamish up in Bridlington but in my practice (and many modern ones) we are democratic to the point of tedium. The “senior partner” is the one who has been there the longest. The senior partner reigns, (s)he does not rule. The duties of the position, such as they are, are purely ceremonial. We have an “executive” partner, appointed by mutual consent, usually one of the younger partners, who does the paperwork. The rest of us do a bit of this and a bit of that.Hamish may be a "senior partner" but apparently he only works one day a week in his practice and so it is likely that his duties as “senior partner” are likewise purely ceremonial. Indeed, if he tried to exercise any excutive powers, it is unlikey his partners would stand... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2089919 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:05:00 +0100 2089919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2073932&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fhappy-new-year-from-medical-gulag.html Dr Grumble, the Jobbing Doctor & Dr CrippenThe year reaches its end with the news that Ben Bradshaw, that embodiment of over-promoted political mediocrity, is to nationalise Neil Bacon. Bacon, you will recall, is the egregious little shit who has been trying to make a fast buck by setting up a website that allows people to make critical remarks about doctors. Bacon poses as some kind of kidney “specialist” but is nothing of the sort. He is not on the GMC hospital specialist register. He is not on the family doctor register. He does not have a sense of humour either. He had a major sulk when the gloriously vulgar origami maestro and doctor, Fishgoth, posted a clearly “doctored” composite photograph on a Doctors.net.uk forum purporting to depict Bacon, dressed in a basque, having... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2073932 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:55:00 +0100 2073932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077026&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2008%2F12%2Fdear-santa-clau.html Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a tape recorder. And maybe some other stuff. [Pause.] This note is to remind you. [Longer pause.] Now do what I say. — Charlie, dictating his 2008 letter to Santa (first draft)Christmas kicked my... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077026 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2077026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039902&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Finfluenza-hypocrisy.html Oh Dear! I fear I am going to get in trouble for this one.I have never had a flu immunisation. OK, I don’t have any of the high risk conditions like asthma and COPD and so on but I am a "health care worker."Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "It's very worrying. People - even doctors - have forgotten what flu is. They have not seen real, serious flu for years and are not getting their vaccine. It is putting patients at risk - not only from catching flu but from staff being off sick. Healthcare workers have a moral duty to get the vaccine."BBCI must admit to some bias. I’m not a fan of Steve Field. I was not happy that he popped up at the top of my profession. Not quite sure how he managed that – except to say that he is, of course, a ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039902 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:15:00 +0100 2039902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017834&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F4SCUw62fj9k%2F MMR and autism have become indelibly linked in the public consciousness. What about MMR and asthma? A study in the December 1st American Journal of Epidemiology asks if there is an association between receiving the MMR vaccine and asthma in early childhood. 871,234 children were examined; researchers Anders Hviid and Mads Melbye looked at rates of hospitalization in those with asthma diagnoses and (for a subset of the cohort) the use of anti-asthma medications. Significantly larger numbers of children who had received the MMR vaccine were less often hospitalized with an asthma diagnosis and also used anti-asthma medication less than unvaccinated children. Researchers concluded that these results are compatible not with an increased risk of asthma following MMR vaccination but rather with t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017834 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:27:54 +0100 2017834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1970827&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2008%2F11%2Ftraveling-and-u.html Whoa, hey, that was kind of a long hiatus, huh? Sorry about that. I got a little sidetracked, what with holding the first-round auditions for performers, renting a fleet of chauffeur-driven bumper cars, and doing exhaustive background checks on ponies... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1970827 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1970827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908723&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fplugging-bad-science.html Bad Science by Dr Ben GoldacreThere are not many books on Amazon that get 25 unsolicited reviews from the general public within a few weeks of publication, and none (to my knowledge) that gets a consistent 5 star rating from all the reviewers.Bad Science is by Dr Ben Goldacre, well known to Guardian readers for his regular column, and also within the medical blogosphere for his leading blog of the same name.Ben graduated from Oxford with a 1st class degree in medicine and still found time to edit Isis. He has picked up a qualification in philosophy somewhere along the way, and is currently a research psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital. It’s an impressive career to date, and there is more to come.The book is a joy. It is easy to read, at times very funny. But do not be deceived by the ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908723 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:09:00 +0100 1908723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909340&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2008%2F10%2Fyou-can-be-acti.html Hi! So! That was awesome, huh? Glad you liked it, because as it happens, I have a lot more to say about abortion, politics, and the upcoming elec—whoa! Hey! Was that a picture of a cute baby? All right. Now... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909340 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1909340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909345&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2008%2F10%2Fprobably-too-yo.html Julie, falsetto: Iiiii know a boy who's stuck in Folsom Prison! Yes, I do! Yes yes yes I do! Who is it? Who could it be? Let's guess! Let's guess! Is iiiiit...you? [Index finger on the tip of Ben's nose.]... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909345 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1909345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841252&cid=t_214300_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F406419528%2F On November 3, the US Supreme Court will review a case involving preemption, the legal notion that FDA approval supercedes state law claims challenging drug safety, efficacy, or labeling. Pharma and the FDA argue agency actions are the final word on safety and effectiveness. And so the court will be closely watched because its ruling will determine whether patients can sue a drugmaker through state law when a product has already been approved by the FDA. But in a recent column, Ben Zipursky, a Fordham Law School professor, wrote that Wyeth vs. Levine may not be a good case to decide preemption (back story). We asked him to explain… Pharmalot: Why do you call this case an unfortunate example of preemption to have the court decide? Zipursky: The nature of Supreme Court adjudication is ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841252 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:59:22 +0100 1841252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909349&cid=t_214300_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2008%2F09%2Fa-brief-illustr.html Today I dismantle the co-sleeper. It's the same one Charlie used, the single piece of baby furniture we had in the house when he was born. The first time we were told he was to be discharged from the hospital... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909349 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1909349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833163&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F09%2F26%2Fpeta-asks-ben-jerry-to-make-ice-cream-with-breast-milk%2F Letter from PETA to Ben & Jerry Ice Cream… “Won’t you give cows and their babies a break and our health a boost by switching from cow’s milk to breast milk in Ben and Jerry’s ice cream?”   Ben & Jerry’s response… “We applaud PETA’s novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother’s milk is best used for her child.” (source) Tags: ben & jerry ice cream, breast milk, Healthbolt, healthy options, PETAShare This (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833163 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:52:50 +0100 1833163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812830&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F2NjYyw3eglk%2F Something to watch: The September 16th New York Times reports on Reabilities: The First Annual NY Disabilities Film Festival, which will be held from September 21-23. Among the films is Ben X, a Belgian film about an autistic boy who “hides from the harsh reality of being bullied in school by escaping to his favorite online computer game.” And somethings more on the West Coast: Creativity Explored is a San Francisco-based non-profit visual arts center where “artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art.” Go here to see an online gallery of artwork. The colors and forms on this painting of cakes by Camille Holvoet draw me in. At Back to School night, Charlie’s teacher had mentioned that she was trying to work out an arrangement with the... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812830 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:36:13 +0100 1812830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770620&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_yuautKfH1E%2F Here’s what readers have been saying in a very busy week in which we learned, or learned again, that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism: Norah on whether the term “mild autism” is still in use and Larry on the “pop psychology typical of wired [magazine].” Ongoing discussion about stem cell therapy as an autism treatment, and about the death of Shirley Meade at a camp after being given the wrong medication. Jaz on what it’s been like in Illinois on a 49-year-old younger brother who was “on a waiting list for a home for 20 years after contacting an advocate he got one of the two places that 52 people were waiting for.” Regan adds to a discussion on the MMR controversy and notes an interview with Ben Goldacre. Bonnie Sayers on school security... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770620 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:36:32 +0100 1770620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746381&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgIjonmZDlo0%2F Sometimes I think this blog is in danger of becoming a vaccine blog, as vaccines are so frequently a topic here. There’s what some refer to as their right to vaccinate or not. There’ve been recent outbreaks of measles and mumps, with many cases among unvaccinated persons. There’s the fear that vaccines or something in vaccines might be connected to autism. Indeed, it’s “fear of autism” that is the reason for the continued talk about vaccines and autism. Anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine-safety advocates say that they want to “change the schedule” and to “make vaccines safer” to ensure that future generations of children do not get autism. But, while it seems hard to mention autism these days without vaccines being brought up, the number of... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746381 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:32:25 +0100 1746381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711782&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FyuGljrjApwA%2F Today’s New York Times weighs in not so much about the movie Tropic Thunder’s use of the r-word, as on the more general phenomenon of certain Hollywood movies seeking to top levels of tastelessness and crassness, and un-PC-ness, all in the name of box office revenues. The r-word is kind of r-rated around here and, indeed, just simply rude. And a sign of a rube? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, beats, ben stiller, disabilities blog, disability, dream works, Family, family blog, films, Health, hollywood, intellectual disabilities, jack black, jr., Language, Movies, new york, parenthood, Parenting, pdd-nos, r-rated, robert downey, special olympiShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711782 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:06:47 +0100 1711782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709272&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fu-yuPYW3BrU%2F I read about Jenny, a “special-needs elephant” (per the New York Times; she has, among much else, “crippling depression”). In the midst of discussions about the “r-word” in the Tropic Thunder movie, the words we use to refer to “kids who are different” or “academically challenged” or “special ed/special needs” resonate. When did “special” come to mean “needs SPECIAL education,” with undercurrents of, “not the most academically gifted student; not even average”? It’s not an academic question to me. My son Charlie’s academic abilities are “way way below” those considered “average” for his grade and age. And yet Jim and I, and his teachers too, aren&#... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709272 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:28:07 +0100 1709272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1704770&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FcHtQ07CYw9M%2F Regarding this boycott of the movie Tropic Thunder over its use of the term “retarded” and director and star Ben Stiller’s portrayal of “a weak-minded character named Simple Jack” : It’s starting to seem that, really, Hollywood’s got the “developmental delays”—is being “a little slow to get it”—-at least when it comes to understanding why mocking the “retarded” may be the last acceptable prejudice. And, why they should stop doing it. Here’s an article on the Special Olympics website about the boycott. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, beats, ben stiller, disabilities blog, disability, dream works, Family, family blog, films, Health, hollywood, intellectual disabilities, jack black, jr.,... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1704770 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:00:04 +0100 1704770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696280&cid=t_214300_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgShimX5nu7o%2F More than a dozen disabilities groups—including the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People With Disabilities—-are calling on Monday for a boycott of the movie Tropic Thunder, which is to be released this Wednesday. The film is directed by actor Ben Stiller and is, according to the August 10th New York Times, a “movie-industry spoof”: A particular sore point has been the film’s repeated use of the term “retard” in referring to a character, Simple Jack, who is played by Mr. Stiller in a subplot about an actor who chases an Oscar by portraying a mindless dolt. ….. DreamWorks and Paramount have shown “Tropic Thunder” in more than 250 promotional screenings around the country since April, but sign... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696280 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:33:25 +0100 1696280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1575387&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fben-bradshaw-gets-it-wrong.html Ben Bradshaw might be forgiven for hating GPs. He fought his first general election in Exeter against the appalling, self-promoting, god-bothering, pole-dancer hating, homophobic GP Dr Adrian Rogers.Dr Adrian RogersPrior to the 1997 general election Ben Bradshaw, the openly-gay Labour candidate in Exeter, faced a sustained campaign to ‘Stop the Pink Flag flying over Exeter’. Opposing candidate Dr Adrian Rogers distributed leaflets at schoolgates and Exeter FC deriding homosexuality as: “sterile, disease-ridden and God-forsaken”. Bradshaw secured a higher than average 11.91 per cent swing to Labour on polling day. (Stonewall) The victory in Exeter was welcome but there is little else to recommend about Ben Bradshaw. He has now risen to his level of incompetence and survives only bec... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1575387 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:44:00 +0100 1575387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1536435&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fwhy-we-should-all-read-daily-mail.html Most intelligent people caught reading the Daily Mail will have an explanation. “I found it on the train” or “They delivered the wrong paper this morning. I normally get The Times”. Truth be told, apart from the title, The Times is increasingly indistinguishable from the Daily Mail. But I digress. Ben Goldacre of “Bad Science” has a column in The Guardian, so you would think he reads The Guardian. And he probably does. But he reads the Daily Mail too. His excuse seems to be that “he has to” because he is a medical journalist. OK, Ben, I can go with that.In discussing the effect of popular medical journalism he says:A 2005 study in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at the impact of Kylie Minogue’s breasts on mammogram bookings, looking at appointments made before, du... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1536435 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:56:00 +0100 1536435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526948&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F17%2Fjonathan-haidt-on-the-situation-of-moral-reasoning%2F We recently published a post called the “Moral Psychology Primer,” which briefly highlighted the emerging work of several prominent moral psychologists, including Professor Jonathan Haidt from UVA. Haidt’s important work is relevant to law, morality, and positive psychology – all topics of interest to The Situationist. We thought it made sense, therefore, to follow up the primer with some choice excerpts from Jon Haidt’s terrific book, The Happiness Hypothesis. (We are grateful to Professor Haidt for his assistance in selecting some of these excerpts.) * * * I first rode a horse in 1991, in Great Smoky National Park, North Carolina. I’d been on rides as a child where some teenager led the horse by a short rope, but this was the first time it was just me and a ho... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526948 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:08:28 +0100 1526948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1494275&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fprivatising-nhs.html The Privateer"Our experience is that you can when you bring in, not just the private sector, but the voluntary sector, help drive up standards in local health areas.Ben BradshawOK, Ben, many would accept that bringing in the private sector would improve the NHS. Now that you have accepted that too, why not privatise the whole service?Or are you frightened of those nice people at Doctors for Reform? (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1494275 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:48:00 +0100 1494275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1406919&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fvitamin-and-enzyme-supplements.html click to enlargeAlison, a highly intelligent patient, came in last night clutching something a friend had cut out of one of the Sunday papers. Alison is in her late sixties, had a heart attack four years ago, has two coronary artery stents and has a cholesterol of 4.1. She is on Simvastatin. Her friend is also on a statin. They compared notes. The friend started to get painful joints on the statin and so started taking CoQ10. Her joints are much better. Alison is a keen walker and, after a few miles, her knees hurt and so reasonably enough she has concluded that CoQ10 might help. And you can buy CoQ10 for "only" £15.19 from Boots. What is more, Boots advertise CoQ10 on the internet, with a lot of other vitamin and enzyme supplements.Kaneka Q10 (Coenzyme Q10)Natural source, high quality an... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1406919 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:18:00 +0100 1406919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1407046&cid=t_214300_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2F280023869%2F Detailed blog posts will follow when I have some additional cycles, but thought I’d share some quick thoughts on day 1 of Bio-IT World. My conference started with a workshop on data visualization, which was mostly about the importance of visualization for making sense of multidimensional data sets and what kind of visualizations could be done. My take aways from the talks There was a distinction made between statistical methods and data mining and presenting information to humans. Life science data is inherently multiscalar and reducing dimensions without losing information or creating artifacts is not trivial Importance to create systems that can help scientists go through a workflow and predict visualizations, and help guide the user to the most appropriate visualization for the r... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1407046 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:54:07 +0100 1407046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1378006&cid=t_214300_132_f&fid=35011&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fmndoci%2F%7E3%2F271811959%2F Lots of talk on data lately. Paul Kedrosky, for example, wants to bring on the data blogs. So in that spirit I wanted to mention some cool data-related sites and APIs and put up some data of my own. Google has its charts API. Swivel and Many Eyes are also familiar to many people who read this blog. To that list I would like to Trendrr, which I first read about on ReadWriteWeb. Haven’t quite tried it out yet, but it definitely looks very interesting. There are a lot of public datasets available, and while accessing them or finding them isn’t as easy as one would like, and the fact that more data should be openly available is always there, it is becoming increasingly available to do things with those data via APIs or services like Freebase (I think that’s where Freebase re... business|bytes|genes|molecules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1378006 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:25:52 +0100 1378006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1282308&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F246512960%2Fjerry_greenfields_community_bu.html Business and caring communities intersect naturally for Jerry Greenfield … co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. Do they come together where you work? Most would agree that a firm’s economic and creative pulse depend on rhythms of emotionally intelligent and motivated work communities.  Yet too often we hear more about toxins than caring tactics at work. The problem solving and technology challenges continue to grow rapidly … while the number of people who bring a community building knack to work, is increasingly shrinking.Sadly, there is an alarming lack of interest in nurturing communities within some business bureaucracies. What would it take to tap into the brainpower of even one community builder … and ensure an organization consistently cares?... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1282308 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:14:27 +0100 1282308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455334&cid=t_214300_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fdr-ben-goldacre-quackiest-of-quacks.html Cultural DwarfsQuackiest of Quacky Quackpot Bad Scientists Awards I think I may be one of the few people around in the Natural Health Industry who thinks that the vitriolic, potentially libellous, cynical and vindictive ramblings of Dr Ben Goldacre have been partly a good thing. He has probably done more than anyone to unite the Complementary Medicine Industry and help a vast new audience examine health alternatives more closely. Even just by highlighting the fact that there ARE alternatives to the grossly ineffectual NHS system.Thousands more desperate people failed by the NHS having suffered from 13 years of 'IBS' (irritable bowel syndrome) , or even more years from constipation have suddenly found there was no need to be suffering and suddenly find themselves with relief after a few wee... Healthy Eating & Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455334 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:03:00 +0100 1455334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1017857&cid=t_214300_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F182317595%2F Ever since the flood of Vioxx lawsuits arrived in courts around the country, there was an expectation that Merck would eventually settle, despite a oft-repeated strategy of fighting every case. Liability estimates went as high as $50 billion. But over the past two years, Merck racked up mostly victories in courtrooms and now, sensing opportunity, has reached a $4.85 billion settlement. But is it a good one? We chatted with Ben Zipursky, a mass torts expert and professor at Fordham University School of Law, who has followed the Vioxx litigation since it began. Pharmalot: Is Merck getting off cheap? Zipursky: Well, if they don’t settle, it could be more than a decade without a settlement. So if you take the potential exposure and the litigation expenses (reserves total $1.9 billion), t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1017857 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:52:31 +0100 1017857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=841708&cid=t_214300_132_f&fid=35001&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nodalpoint.org%2F2007%2F09%2F05%2Fsemantic_biomedical_mashups_with_connotea The Journal of Biomedical Informatics, will soon be publishing their special issue on Semantic Biomedical Mashups (can you fit any more buzzwords into a Call For Papers?!). Ben Good and friends have submitted a paper on their Entity Describer which extends connotea using some Semantic Web goodness. They'd appreciate your comments on their submitted manuscript over at i9606. As Ben says, their pre-publication turns out to be an interesting experiment "figuring out how blogging might fit into the academic publishing landscape". If this interests you, get commenting now! read more (Source: nodalpoint.org - A bioinformatics weblog) nodalpoint.org - A bioinformatics weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=841708 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:14:41 +0100 841708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=802226&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2F144764367%2Fhats-off-to-troublemaker.html The winner of the Sunshine Troublemaker of the Week: Ben Hansen. Yes, the same Ben Hansen who has been digging up records regarding antipsychotic use in Michigan and the same Ben Hansen whose website you can check out here. Keep up the good work, Ben! (Source: Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look) Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=802226 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:30:00 +0100 802226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=755629&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fobserver-mmr-story-has-disappeared-from.html Quick update. Dr Ben Goldacre has just posted a note to say that Observer MMR Story Disappears From Archives.For obvious reasons of propriety I have studiously avoided having an inside track on anything to do with this piece from the beginning, so I have no idea what is going on here.Were The Observer nibbled to death by ducks in trying to find out where to start for the corrections? Has that desperate email by Dr Fiona Scott convinced them that they had this story badly wrong? Is there going to be a retraction? The Observer badly needs to retract that story albeit the damage is done and those infamous figures have been widely quoted as evidence of an autism epidemic. Maybe there will be a retraction. Must go, I've just been told that pigs are flying and that there is to be an announcement... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=755629 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:26:00 +0100 755629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=741436&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fben-goldacre-breaks-his-silence-on.html I recently complained about the standard of coverage of MMR and autism issues in the UK media alongside the ubiquitous hagiographies of Dr Andrew Wakefield.The belief in a link between MMR-vaccines-mercury-autism has cultish overtones. Most religions have an act of contrition. UK media collectively need to make an act of contrition and perform an act of reparation. The latter, of course, should take the form of some informed coverage. I would nominate Ben Goldacre (who is uncharacteristically/ominously quiet at present) but then what would somebody who is medically qualified and known for promoting the public understanding of science (awards and everything) have to add to this discussion?Ben Goldacre has broken his silence with an article in the BMJ: MMR: the scare stories are back (also a... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=741436 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:18:00 +0100 741436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707847&cid=t_214300_85_f&fid=34692&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolitedissent.com%2Farchives%2F1693 A convenient list of all the back-up strips I’ve featured over the past several years: Dr. Dan Dazzler Backup strip from Dell’s Ben Casey comic, featuring the adventures of the intrepid intern, Dr. Dan Dazzler Dial EMERGENCY… Dan rescues a young boy stuck in a hole, all the while obsessing on a crossword puzzle (from Ben Casey #2) Rumble..! Dan gets involved in a gangland fight (from Ben Casey #3) One Heartbeat from Death Dan rescues a man from downed power lines (from Ben Casey #4) Deadly Playmates Dan visits the circus and meets a few snakes (from Ben Casey #5) Open-Shut Case On vacation in the mountains, Dan is called on to rescue an injured hiker (from Ben Casey #6) 9 Lives Has Dr. Dazzler Dan has too much luck, both good and bad (from Ben Casey #7) I Can’t Bre... Polite Dissent blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707847 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:11:38 +0100 707847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707621&cid=t_214300_85_f&fid=34692&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolitedissent.com%2Farchives%2F1692 Discussion questions: 1. Bad things always seem to happen around Dr. Dazzler. Could that be why he doesn’t have any friends? 2. Even if Dr. Dazzler does talk in his sleep, why was Dr. Jay close enough to hear? 3. Do you really think that making an unconscious person swallow a salt solution is a good idea? And doesn’t the guy bringing the solution look like Igor? 4. It’s nice that Dr. Dazzler is trying not to contaminate the wound by using a clean sheet, but it would probably be better if wore gloves, or at least washed his hands first. 5. Just how long is that ambulance? *Dr. Dan Dazzler was the four-page back-up comic that ran in Dell’s Ben Casey comic book. Further adventures and information on Dr. Dazzler can be found here. Tags: comics dell ben casey dazzler b... Polite Dissent blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707621 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:00:57 +0100 707621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674889&cid=t_214300_85_f&fid=34692&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolitedissent.com%2Farchives%2F1674 Discussion questions: 1. If Dr. Dazzler has been to the circus many times before as the doctor on call, why is he still an intern? Does the circus come to town that often, or has he been an intern for a long time? 2. Does Dan really think he can suck all that poison out through that tiny straw? Personally, I would tie the tourniquet and then just take her to the hospital ASAP. 3. Wouldn’t this story be so much better if it featured the Flying Graysons instead of the Zooming Zamprellis, and Dr. Dazzler just happened to be there the night Dick Grayson’s parents were killed? He could have tried to save them, but to no avail. That would be great! 4. Does John Philip Sousa know that the ringmaster stole his outfit? *Dr. Dan Dazzler was the four-page back-up comic that ran in Dell&#8... Polite Dissent blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674889 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 09:31:09 +0100 674889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675456&cid=t_214300_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F13%2Fjanuvia-actos-set-to-benefit-from-avandias-plight%2F Filed under: Type 2, Drugs, ResearchAvandia, a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes, has been in the news of late following the release of controversial study results which concluded the drug leaves patients at an increased risk for heart trouble. My fellow blogger Bev has touched on the conundrum now facing diabetics on Avandia regimens. You can quit taking Avandia, but then what? Thousands of Americans are now facing this predicament and many have opted to switch their prescriptions to something else. The Philadelphia Inquirer is running a feature about this and talks to some diabetics who have opted for the "try something else" route. The Inquirer profiles, among others, pharmacist Ben Briggs, 59, who switched to Merck's Januvia in the wake of the Avandia scandal, but was sorely disappoin... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675456 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=644746&cid=t_214300_85_f&fid=34692&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolitedissent.com%2Farchives%2F1663 Discussion questions: 1. Why did the flower pot crash before it even hit the ground? Did Dan knee it with some of his Doctor-Fu? 2. Did Dr. Dazzler cause the truck accident? 3. Does the ambulance driver just drive around aimlessly looking for a doctor? 4. Why is Dan’s uninjured leg in traction? How did he break his right arm — it looked OK to me when he fell backwards? *Dr. Dan Dazzler was the four-page back-up comic that ran in Dell’s Ben Casey comic book. Further adventures and information on Dr. Dazzler can be found here. Tags: comics dell ben casey dazzler (Source: Polite Dissent) Polite Dissent blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=644746 Wed, 30 May 2007 19:05:34 +0100 644746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623438&cid=t_214300_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2F117764110%2Flooking-under-rocks.html Ben Hansen, an activist in Michigan, has been busy filing freedom of information act (FOIA) requests regarding the use of psychotropic meds in his home state. He's currently trying to figure how how many children under age five are on various psychiatric meds, and his request is being denied, citing confidentiality reasons. I'm having a hell of a time following the argument that knowing how many kids are on Seroquel is going to violate patient confidentiality. Drug companies have access to the number of prescriptions that individual physicians write for various drugs and that is considered perfectly legal. Am I missing something? He's also looking at drug cocktails in adults who receive state-funded mental health care, and here's what he's found: …the number of adults taking three are [s... Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623438 Fri, 18 May 2007 17:15:00 +0100 623438