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 'house,'. Tue, 04 May 2010 18:19:47 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522774&cid=t_299651_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrcksRd-F9EQ%2F You’re busy: We get it. But now that it’s the weekend, it’s time to catch up on your Blisstree reading. Here are ten things we think you should read from the past week, in no particular order: Food Pyramid Makeover: How the South Beach Diet, Abs Diet, and Perricone Diet Stack Up – would the USDA approve of your weight loss plan? Michelle Obama’s White House Garden is Not Organic – the first lady loves her garden, but why isn’t it organic? Healthy Food: How the World’s Best Food Bloggers Stack Up – we love to drool over food blogs, but which ones are really good for you? Sandra Bullock, Kate Winslet, Michelle Obama: 30 Women Through the Ages – We Rebut Esquire’s May Issue – we don’t care what Esquire says, these wome... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522774 Sat, 01 May 2010 13:00:28 +0100 3522774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522612&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fthe-top-ten-this-weeks-blisstree%2F You’re busy: We get it. But now that it’s the weekend, it’s time to catch up on your Blisstree reading. Here are ten things we think you should read from the past week, in no particular order: Food Pyramid Makeover: How the South Beach Diet, Abs Diet, and Perricone Diet Stack Up – would the USDA approve of your weight loss plan? Michelle Obama’s White House Garden is Not Organic – the first lady loves her garden, but why isn’t it organic? Healthy Food: How the World’s Best Food Bloggers Stack Up – we love to drool over food blogs, but which ones are really good for you? Sandra Bullock, Kate Winslet, Michelle Obama: 30 Women Through the Ages – We Rebut Esquire’s May Issue – we don’t care what Esquire says, these wome... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522612 Sat, 01 May 2010 13:00:28 +0100 3522612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508206&cid=t_299651_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fboing-splat-boing-splat.html The fish is famous! (But buy it here, not on Amazon.) (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger) Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508206 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:05:00 +0100 3508206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494269&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fearth-week-video-of-the-day-president-obama-marks-40th-anniversary-of-earth-day%2F Happy Earth Day! President Barack Obama on the environmental policy in the United States, and on what you can do to take action for Earth Day’s 40th anniversary. Visit “A New Foundation for Energy and the Environment” at WhiteHouse.gov for more info. Post from: BlissTree Earth Week Video of the Day: President Obama Marks 40th Anniversary of Earth Day (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494269 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:32:23 +0100 3494269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3483052&cid=t_299651_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FUfnWUHW0C4I%2F Happy Earth Week! These eco-friendly DIY cleaning solutions use natural compounds like salt, baking soda, and vinegar to help spruce up your home without all those harsh toxic chemicals. Clean Up the Can Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl and let it set for 15 minutes. Drizzle the baking soda with vinegar and then scrub with a toilet brush. You’ll Want to Do Windows No need for Windex or other chemical cleaners. Add three tablespoons of vinegar to one gallon of cool water to clean windows and other glass surfaces. Get a streak-free shine by using newspaper instead of paper towels. Wipe Out Mix three tablespoons baking soda to one quart warm water to create a non-toxic cleanser that can be used on counter tops, bathroom fixtures, and sinks. Oven Troubles Are Over While your oven is ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3483052 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:34:27 +0100 3483052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3483039&cid=t_299651_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FUfnWUHW0C4I%2F Happy Earth Week! These eco-friendly DIY cleaning solutions use natural compounds like salt, baking soda, and vinegar to help spruce up your home without all those harsh toxic chemicals. Clean Up the Can Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl and let it set for 15 minutes. Drizzle the baking soda with vinegar and then scrub with a toilet brush. You’ll Want to Do Windows No need for Windex or other chemical cleaners. Add three tablespoons of vinegar to one gallon of cool water to clean windows and other glass surfaces. Get a streak-free shine by using newspaper instead of paper towels. Wipe Out Mix three tablespoons baking soda to one quart warm water to create a non-toxic cleanser that can be used on counter tops, bathroom fixtures, and sinks. Oven Troubles Are Over While your oven is ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3483039 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:34:27 +0100 3483039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3482875&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fgreen-cleaning-tips-kori-done%2F Happy Earth Week! These eco-friendly DIY cleaning solutions use natural compounds like salt, baking soda, and vinegar to help spruce up your home without all those harsh toxic chemicals. Clean Up the Can Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl and let it set for 15 minutes. Drizzle the baking soda with vinegar and then scrub with a toilet brush. You’ll Want to Do Windows No need for Windex or other chemical cleaners. Add three tablespoons of vinegar to one gallon of cool water to clean windows and other glass surfaces. Get a streak-free shine by using newspaper instead of paper towels. Wipe Out Mix three tablespoons baking soda to one quart warm water to create a non-toxic cleanser that can be used on counter tops, bathroom fixtures, and sinks. Oven Troubles Are Over While your oven is ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3482875 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:34:27 +0100 3482875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479846&cid=t_299651_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FdZAq0arWIvI%2F Blisstree’s favorite Apartment Therapy posts from the past week: House to Drool Over: Kim & Scott’s Happy “Yellow Brick Home” DIY Project: How To Make an Indoor Wall-Mounted Clothesline Objects of Desire: Josh Jakus Smart, Sustainable Designs The Spring Cure Project: Week 5 – Getting Into The Thick Of It House Greening: Small Space Recycling Solutions Post from: BlissTree On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479846 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:56:36 +0100 3479846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479835&cid=t_299651_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FdZAq0arWIvI%2F Blisstree’s favorite Apartment Therapy posts from the past week: House to Drool Over: Kim & Scott’s Happy “Yellow Brick Home” DIY Project: How To Make an Indoor Wall-Mounted Clothesline Objects of Desire: Josh Jakus Smart, Sustainable Designs The Spring Cure Project: Week 5 – Getting Into The Thick Of It House Greening: Small Space Recycling Solutions Post from: BlissTree On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479835 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:56:36 +0100 3479835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479654&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fon-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy-4%2F Blisstree’s favorite Apartment Therapy posts from the past week: House to Drool Over: Kim & Scott’s Happy “Yellow Brick Home” DIY Project: How To Make an Indoor Wall-Mounted Clothesline Objects of Desire: Josh Jakus Smart, Sustainable Designs The Spring Cure Project: Week 5 – Getting Into The Thick Of It House Greening: Small Space Recycling Solutions Post from: BlissTree On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479654 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:56:36 +0100 3479654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475813&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbYTh49sJfuA%2F By Mark A. CalabriaIf there is one, almost universal, point of agreement on drivers of the financial crisis, it is that our financial system simply had way too much leverage.  Much of that discussion has focused on financial institutions, leading many to suggest increased capital standards, so that banks have more equity and less debt.  Often lost in the mix is the excessive leverage on the part of home owners. We know, for instance, that the number one predictor of mortgage default is whether the borrower has equity or not.  And while that should lead us to debate appropriate downpayment requirements, at least when the government backs the mortgage, we should not forget that our tax code encourages excessive leverage on the part of home buyers.  And there’s no bigger incentive t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475813 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:19:22 +0100 3475813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463544&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fpfizer-settles-one-lawsuit-loses.html It's deja vu all over again for Pfizer Inc, the world's largest pharmaceutical company.Settlement of Suit Alleging Neurontin Risks ConcealedPfizer has kept busy in court defending against charges that a company it acquired promoted Neurontin (gabapentin) for uses not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and not well supported by the evidence.  Most recently, it was convicted by a jury in California of being a racketeering influenced and corrupt organization (RICO) because of a long-term "racketeering conspiracy" involving Neurontin marketing (see post here). Now additionally, according to the Wall Street Journal, Pfizer Inc. said it reached a settlement agreement in a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed her husband's use of the antiseizure drug Neur... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463544 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:45:00 +0100 3463544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460331&cid=t_299651_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FG9rmSdKKyvQ%2F Spring cleaning your home can seem like a daunting task, but these tips can make the mess feel a lot more tolerable during this necessary annual ritual. Clean one room a day – Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking about the entire house. But make it a rule: Don’t leave the room until you’re done. Your home will be sparkling clean in no time. Get organized – Bring boxes or bins to each room labeled “Trash,” “Storage,” “Recycle,” and “Donate.” Start cleaning out the closets or cabinets first. Move on to cleaning the light fixtures, windows, counters, and other surfaces. Finish with window coverings, baseboards and floors. Don’t forget wiping out the refrigerator and oven cleaning in the kitchen. Turn up the music –... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460331 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:33:20 +0100 3460331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460140&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fquick-spring-cleaning-tips%2F Spring cleaning your home can seem like a daunting task, but these tips can make the mess feel a lot more tolerable during this necessary annual ritual. Clean one room a day – Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking about the entire house. But make it a rule: Don’t leave the room until you’re done. Your home will be sparkling clean in no time. Get organized – Bring boxes or bins to each room labeled “Trash,” “Storage,” “Recycle,” and “Donate.” Start cleaning out the closets or cabinets first. Move on to cleaning the light fixtures, windows, counters, and other surfaces. Finish with window coverings, baseboards and floors. Don’t forget wiping out the refrigerator and oven cleaning in the kitchen. Turn up the music –... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460140 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:33:20 +0100 3460140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420702&cid=t_299651_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautistic-appointment-placed-on-hold-council-on-disability-ari-neeman%2F Autistic Ari Ne’man’s appointment to the National Council on Disability has been placed on hold anonymously in the Senate according to news resources.  Ari Ne’man is the founding president of ASAN or the Autism Self Advocacy Network and has done large amounts of advocating on the Federal level.  Recently President Obama announced he would be [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420702 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:04:20 +0100 3420702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403853&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwalls-that-dont-talk-toxic%2F Mod Green Pod's vinyl-free wallpaper "Delight" Volatile organic compounds – also known as VOCs – don’t make good roommates. In fact, they stink. Besides their olfactory offense, VOCs have been linked to ozone depletion, smog build-up, respiratory problems, and even cancer. Yet some folks cozy up with VOCs day in day out by choosing vinyl wallpaper or carbon-loaded paint to cover their walls. But there’s no need to. In the past few years, the number of eco-friendly paints on the planet has proliferated; and now, their quality has caught up. This month, Consumer Reports published the results of its 2010 interior paint survey: Nearly all the high-scorers contained 50 grams or less of VOCs per liter. Low-VOC Behr Premium Plus Ultra received top marks in all categories (fr... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403853 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:14:54 +0100 3403853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395250&cid=t_299651_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2Famacupuncturehttp%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fbribe-bully-and-buy-house-votes-to-win.html To get the 216 votes necessary congressmen had to be bought, bribed, bullied, and pressured to get the win.   We elected a president with his promise to change Washington politics.    He indeed did.  Now voters are furious with the earmarks, insider deals, and lack of transparency.As a medical physician for over 51 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects, and help your read betwwen the lines. You must come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary. This results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarette... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395250 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:46:00 +0100 3395250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3390736&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fcontroversy-of-the-day-health-care-reform%2F Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Obama’s health care reform bill (without Republican support and by a slim three-vote margin), which Obama will sign into law this week. What are your thoughts on this historic vote? How will health care reform affect your life and the lives of those around you? Blisstree wants to know, so share your comments below. photo: Thinkstock Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3390736 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:35:44 +0100 3390736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3382819&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F6Rr6HcI8fCE%2F The big day is almost here… The House is voting on the health care reform bill. President Obama has been calling undecideds like Rep. Jason Altmire — and about 57,000 (of the 59,000) nuns in the country defied the bishops — stood up to the man — and sent a letter supporting the bill — calling it “the real pro-life choice” because it lets pregnant moms get prenatal care. (Talk about Disruptive Women!) Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Related posts:POLL: Should Rich People Pay for Poor People’s Health Insurance? Poll: Determining the Value of an Egg Poll: The Next President’s Top Priority (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3382819 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:21:17 +0100 3382819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378436&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Frelationships-love-on-the-front-burner%2F My biggest relationship problem is that I rarely understand the problem. Instead, I develop back pain. I’m not a particularly reflective person. I’m constantly in motion (except when I’m watching “House”). In relationships, this usually means that I’m doing something for my boyfriend – cooking, or attempting to improve his footwear choices. I rarely take a moment to sit and think about the relationship in any context. I’m always trying to make something better: My apartment, my body, my skin, my gnocchi. This isn’t necessarily a bad habit, but it’s a terribly effective way to block out thought. When you’re in a relationship, you’re supposed to take time to think about how you feel and what you want. I never do that. Instead, I receive signals fro... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378436 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:47:11 +0100 3378436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378448&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMNi1Fk2h2x8%2F By John SamplesThe leaders of the House of Representatives plan to address health care through a “deem and pass” strategy.  Professor Michael McConnell believes this strategy violates the Constitution.  But put that aside for now. Ms. Pelosi has chosen “deem and pass” because, as she said, “people don’t have to vote on the Senate bill.” The “people” in question are House Democrats whose votes are essential to passing the bill.  These members fear voters would penalize them for voting for the Senate bill. As the Washington Post put it, “deem and pass” would “enable House Democrats not to be on record directly as supporting the Senate measure.”  A House Democrat running in a tough election will be able to deny ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378448 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:29:19 +0100 3378448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378449&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FD8FXSTYtAVk%2F By Michael F. CannonHouse Democrats claim that a not-yet-released Congressional Budget Office report puts the cost of their revised health care overhaul at $940 billion over the next 10 years. Though I have yet to see the CBO score, I’ll bet anyone a fancy lunch that it does not claim the legislation would cost the federal government just $940 billion from 2010 through 2019. As former Congressional Budget Office director Donald Marron has explained over and over, the figure that Democrats consistently cite for the cost of their bills is only the CBO’s estimate of the cost of federal spending related to the expansion of health insurance coverage.  It is not the full cost to the federal government, because each bill also spends taxpayer dollars on other items. Marron examined th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378449 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:26:23 +0100 3378449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378456&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZ5r_O6He898%2F By Chris Moody Busy with an ambitious domestic agenda, the Obama administration has put trade issues on the back burner. Let’s hope it stays that way. A little lesson on how government works. (As opposed to how it’s supposed to work.) There has been talk that House Democrats are planning to “deem” the health care bill into law without calling for a vote. If you’re not sure how that process works, read this. Contrary to a growing belief in Washington, revaluing China’s currency will not cure the trade deficit. Podcast: “ObamaCare Threatens Innovation” featuring Michael F. Cannon. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378456 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:10:12 +0100 3378456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374107&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBYj8y6F3eFY%2F By David BoazEveryone in America, I presume, has just received a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau urging us to fill out our Census forms. Seems like a very expensive way to tell us to watch for the form to arrive in the mail. But I’m particularly interested in why they say we should promptly fill out the form: Your response is important. Results from the 2010 Census will be used to help each community get its fair share of [federal] government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete, accurate census, your community may not receive its fair share. Obviously this is a zero-sum game. If my neighbors and I all fill out the form, then you and your neighbors will get less from the common federal trough. But ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374107 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:33:08 +0100 3374107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374096&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F3-things-we-think-are-cool%2F photo: Thinkstock From Blisstree to you, three things we like, in no particular order: 1. Crowdrise: A philanthropic social-networking site for hipsters? You had us at “philanthropic”. 2. Natural Wines: Different than organic wines. Cloudy, funky, unfiltered, sulfite-free, and weirdly delicious. 3. Milk Paint: Beautiful, old-timey, and environmentally friendly. What’s not to love? Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374096 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:01:06 +0100 3374096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374108&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKC4ZNnXHHFE%2F By Michael F. CannonI’ve already posted two series of such queries.  But every day brings new questions to mind.  So here are a few more: What does it say that pharmaceutical-industry lobbyists are meeting with House Democrats to write this legislation behind closed doors?  Or that the pharmaceutical industry is preparing to spend millions of dollars on advertisements in support of the legislation? Does it trouble you that a former federal judge writes, “Under Article I, Section 7, passage of one bill cannot be deemed to be enactment of another“? Does it trouble you that Speaker Pelosi says of the proposed “deeming” strategy, “I like it because people don’t have to vote on the Senate bill“? (Emphasis added.) What does it say that left-of-... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374108 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:09:39 +0100 3374108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366460&cid=t_299651_180_f&fid=38619&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FALifeCoachsBlog%2F%7E3%2FaqYyXOncEbo%2F I was watching 24 the other night and thinking to myself Jack Bauer is a bit mental. I know as a Life Coach it’s not really the done thing to make such derogatory statements about people I don’t know (or even those I do know for that matter), but I’ll make an exception for the gravelly voiced one, because he really does have a few kangaroos loose in his upper paddock. If he finally breaks free of CTU he’s going to need a small army of psychotherapists, life coaches and probably even magicians to help him get his life back on track. And that’s presuming he doesn’t kill them all first for glancing at him in the wrong way, denying they’re in possession of weapons grade nuclear material or overacting more than he is. Then I thought to myself; “No, he doesn’t need a team of pe... Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366460 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:56:24 +0100 3366460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3358962&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FABQC4mmx4-k%2F By Michael F. CannonAccording to MSNBC, Democratic leaders have given up on trying to appease pro-life House Democrats: House leaders have concluded they cannot change a divisive abortion provision in President Barack Obama’s health care bill and will try to pass the sweeping legislation without the support of ardent anti-abortion Democrats.A break on abortion would remove a major obstacle for Democratic leaders in the final throes of a yearlong effort to change health care in America. But it sets up a risky strategy of trying to round up enough Democrats to overcome, not appease, a small but possibly decisive group of Democratic lawmakers in the House… Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman of California, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee…predicted some of the anti-abo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3358962 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:32:20 +0100 3358962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354303&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8hO8LijGrCU%2F By Michael F. CannonWhat does it say that the American polity has consistently rejected a wholesale government takeover of health care for 100 years? What does it say that public opinion has been consistently against the Democrats’ health care takeover since July 2009? What does it say that Democrats are having this much difficulty enacting their health care legislation despite unified Democratic rule?  Despite large supermajorities in both chambers of Congress, including a once-filibuster-proof Senate majority (see more below)?  Despite an opportunistic change in Massachusetts law that provided that crucial 60th vote at a crucial moment?  Despite a popular and charismatic president? What does it say that 38 House Democrats voted against the president’s health plan? What does it say... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354303 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:40:33 +0100 3354303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350263&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FluB_VDwyGy8%2F By Julian SanchezSen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has just fired off a letter to Barack Obama urging him to finally appoint some members to the long-vacant Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, echoing a similar recent request from a coalition of civil liberties groups. I don’t think anyone should make excuses for Obama’s appalling about-face on Patriot Act reform, but at least in that case there’s a real, difficult, and complex policy debate that needs to play out in a preoccupied Congress for anything to happen. But there is no reason whatever that seats on this board should sit vacant a year into this presidency. Congress agreed to create the independent board—after a predecessor within the White House was deemed to lack sufficient independence—back in 2007. There&... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350263 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:50:14 +0100 3350263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335567&cid=t_299651_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPH9ZazU-oc0%2F A hearing on drug safety is scheduled for next Wed., March 10, and will be held by the House Energy & Commerce committee’s subcommittee on Health. And the featured speaker will be deputy FDA commish Josh Sharfstein, as well as other FDA folks, according to The Pink Sheet. No particular reason was cited, but the impetus for the hearing isn’t being attributed to Avandia. You may recall the GlaxoSmithKline diabetes pill was the subject of a recent Senate Finance Committee report that found internal dissent among FDA staffers over what to do about cardiovascular risks (see here). Importation, however, is expected to be on the agenda. The hearing will be held because the committee hasn’t had any public discussion of drug safety since the FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335567 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:57 +0100 3335567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331269&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FuR5Ih82A_N4%2F By Daniel GriswoldPresident Obama is taking a break today from promoting a more federalized health-care system to sign a bill creating a federalized tourist promotion campaign. In a closed ceremony at the White House, the president signed the Travel Promotion Act. After gaining final passage by the Senate last week, the bill will raise an estimated $200 million a year by imposing a $10 tax on visitors to the United States from countries where they are not required to obtain a visa. The revenue will be used to create and fund a new agency, the Corporation for Travel Promotion, that would work with the U.S. tourism industry to promote the United States as a global travel destination. I’m all for promoting tourism to the United States. Tourism is an important “service export” that gener... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331269 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:57:23 +0100 3331269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306821&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Flkyb7Jpk8Wk%2F By Cato EditorsThe White House meeting on health care will begin at 10:00 AM EST Thursday and Cato health policy experts will be here to offer live commentary on the event. We’ll also stream the meeting live here at Cato@Liberty. Questions for the experts during the live-blog are welcome. Cato Experts Live-Blog Health Care Summit (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306821 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:19:10 +0100 3306821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298551&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myelomablog.com%2F2010%2F02%2F22%2Fthe-white-house%2F Torri is in Washington, DC this week, and she sent this picture today.  How cool!  I love history and the places where history has been made. I’m so glad they got out to see some of the sites. Possibly Related Posts: MRIs and Mutliple Myeloma and gadolinium, oh my! Required reading Pilot Mountain astronomy observation Saturday Night Miracle of survival North Carolina spider identification (Source: beth's myeloma blog) beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298551 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:29:50 +0100 3298551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298600&cid=t_299651_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWkDRZGE4H5o%2F The White House proposal forces both brand name and generic drugmakers to give something up. The brand-name industry will have to cough up another $10 billion - for a total of $90 billion - over 10 years to help close the Medicare donut hole. On the plus side, pharma is expected to gain revenue, and the fees won’t kick in until 2011, instead of this year. Meanwhile, just one month after the Federal Trade Commission made a very public push to end pay-to-delay deals, the White House wants to give the FTC enforcement power. The White House proposal would make any such deal “unlawful and anticompetitive” in which a generic drugmaker gets anything of value from a brand-name drug maker, and a generic drugmaker must “limit or forego” R&D, marketing, manufacturin... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298600 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:10:52 +0100 3298600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3272885&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftv-not-good-teacher-of-emergency-care%2F Many of us love to watch them: medical dramas. From Grey’s Anatomy to House now and Marcus Welby, MD, a generation or two ago, medical dramas are often a popular genre. Sometimes, these shows are quite helpful because, particularly these days, they may tackle health issues that were generally not discussed in public. But, as a nurse and former first aid instructor, I often watch and catch something – shouting out “That’s NOT the way you do it. Unfortunately, my husband is the one who gets to hear that and he’s getting less and less amused every time I do it. For sure, medical shows are getting better about being realistic. But even with their medical advisers, they still get some things wrong – and it’s frustrating from my point of view and maybe d... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3272885 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:35:57 +0100 3272885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3266887&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FS2p8MVmdQ_4%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThe White House recently released the Economic Report of the President. In a post at the White House blog, Christina Romer brags that the stimulus legislation was a big success. This Act is the great unsung hero of the past year.  It has provided a tax cut to 95 percent of America’s working families and thousands of small businesses.  It has meant the difference between hanging on and destitution for millions of unemployed workers who had exhausted their conventional unemployment insurance benefits.  It has kept hundreds of thousands of teachers, police, and firefighters employed by helping to fill the yawning hole in state and local budgets.  And, it has made crucial long-run investments in our country’s infrastructure and jump-started the transition to the cl... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3266887 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:10:33 +0100 3266887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259264&cid=t_299651_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FzgtC32NWH4A%2Fepharma-summit-2010-healthcare.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259264 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:24:00 +0100 3259264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243786&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FpUaVfsdpLaE%2F It could not escape notice this week that the Virginia state Senate passed legislation that would make it illegal for any government body to require individuals to purchase health insurance.  The bill is expected to be passed by the state’s House of Delegates and then signed into law by Governor Bob McDonnell. Virginia is one of the first states to take such action, but it almost certainly won’t be the last.  According to the American Legislative Exchange Council, legislative measures or proposed constitutional amendments have been filed in 35 states to challenge the idea of health insurance mandates. This is a significant problem for the future of health reform.  One of the most popular components of the health reform bills that have passed both houses of Congress is the provision ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243786 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:01:03 +0100 3243786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3235826&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2nRZd6KqDWQ%2F By Jim HarperThe New York Times dutifully reports that the Director of National Intelligence says it is. But it’s hard to know what that means. The word “cyberattack” has no usefully fixed definition. And the important questions—plural—include: 1) whether cyberattacks—plural—are growing in number and sophistication more quickly than the capability of infrastructure owners to fend them off and recover from them; 2) which, if any, owners lack incentives to secure their infrastructure and what security externalities they might create; and 3) what levers—such as contract liability, tort liability, or regulation—might correct any such market failures. Some lines in Director Blair’s statement are quite telling. Compare this: Terrorist g... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3235826 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:36:45 +0100 3235826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3204835&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fd8BAbrjpHac%2F By Michael F. CannonThe American people don’t want President Obama’s health care plan (see below). Massachusetts voters don’t want it. The White House knows that the people don’t want it.  In Ohio last week, President Obama said: the process has been less than pretty. When you deal with 535 members of Congress, it’s going to be a somewhat ugly process…when you put it all together, it starts looking like just this monstrosity. And it makes people fearful. And it makes people afraid. And they start thinking, you know what, this looks like something that is going to cost me tax dollars and I already have insurance so why should I support this. Yet Democrats still want ObamaCare to become law, and they are very close to making it happen.  If Speaker Nancy... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3204835 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:42:38 +0100 3204835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197610&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F46Mw8U1RmtU%2F By Daniel GriswoldThis has not been a good week for the national Democratic Party. Along with losing the Massachusetts Senate seat, the party took another step toward making hostility to trade liberalization a plank of party orthodoxy. As my Cato colleague Sallie James flagged earlier today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a press release yesterday criticizing a Republican candidate in upstate New York for contributing to the Cato Institute. And, of course, everyone knows that Cato is “a right wing extremist group that has long been a vocal advocate for extremist, unfair trade policies that would allow companies to ship American jobs overseas.” Among our sins, in the eyes of the DCCC, is that Cato research has supported tariff-reducing trade agreements, such as t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197610 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:23:51 +0100 3197610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197613&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FoUBxLSn8xTQ%2F By John SamplesThe Citizens United decision is barely out, and incumbent members of Congress are vowing to restore restrictions on political speech. Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) said: “In the coming weeks, I will work with my colleagues to pass legislation restoring as many of the critical restraints on corporate control of our elections as possible.” In the House of Representatives, Robert Brady, Chairman of the House Administration Committee – the panel responsible for campaign finance regulations – sent out an email that said: “I will be working directly with my colleagues, the Leadership and the White House to study the Court’s decision and to put together a timeline for legislative action that ensures the Court’s decision will not define the ways election... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197613 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:27:56 +0100 3197613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3187965&cid=t_299651_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2010%2F01%2F20%2Fhaiti-7%2F Jacmel, haiti – January 19, 2010 Houses marked with red are to be destroyed, because they are too dangerous and risk falling apart anytime. Many houses in the lower part of Jacmel are marked with red. Yellow and black means they are to be fixed. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3187965 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:05:46 +0100 3187965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189217&cid=t_299651_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F20%2Frevisiting-arden-house-and-the-situation-of-aging%2F For those of you who would like to do some interesting listening, here is an excellent podcast featuring Situationist friend Ellen Langer. From the BBC MindChangers Series: Arden House: (30 minutes) Claudia Hammond presents a series looking at the development of the science of psychology during the 20th century. * * * She re-visits Ellen Langer and Judith Rodin’s 1976 study, conducted in a New England nursing home, Arden House. * * * When the two psychologists set up the experiment so that residents on two floors of the 360-bed home for the elderly would experience some changes in their everyday life, they had no idea that they were introducing factors which could prolong life. * * * While residents on both floors were given plants and film shows, only those on the fourth floor ha... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189217 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:01:26 +0100 3189217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167092&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FgeFiJfl40nQ%2F By Doug BandowRemember when President George W. Bush was pushing war for democracy.  Excited neoconservatives promised that a new wave of democratization was about to roll through the Middle East, sweeping out authoritarian and anti-American regimes. Oops. Reports the Washington Times: The most significant finding of the latest report is the decline in freedom in the Middle East, [Arch Puddington] said. Three countries — Jordan, Yemen and Bahrain — were reclassified from “partly free” to “not free,” and freedoms declined in Morocco and Iran. “Freedom House saw the region as a whole as headed slightly in the right direction after 9/11,” he said. “But that has changed.” Not only are countries moving backwards, but America’s friends a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167092 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:45:05 +0100 3167092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153355&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9SAHBGsYaRw%2F By Thomas FireyWashington is fretting this week over news that mortgage applications fell dramatically in November. Coupled with earlier indications of renewed softening in the housing market, there is growing fear that housing is headed for a “double-dip downturn” that could further damage the economy. As a result, Federal Reserve policymakers are considering additional stimulus, while the National Association of Realtors is suggesting an(other) extension of the “temporary” homebuyer tax credit. Remarkably, neither policymakers nor the media are asking the obvious question: Given all of the emergency interventions in housing that government has undertaken, and the fact that the housing market continues to erode, do such interventions do much good? Since... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153355 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:44:22 +0100 3153355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146102&cid=t_299651_123_f&fid=39041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrnabong.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fchildproofing-checklist.html first things first get all the poisonous substances(detergent, bathroom cleaners...) and put on higher ground (so children can not reach)make sure the sharp edges of the tables and corners are protected by edge bumpersdoor stops and door holders are essentialdo not put the cribs close to the blinds with the strings hanging, babies can get strangulated on these cordssmoker detectors (make sure you have one at each level of the house)all swimming pools at home should be gated accordingly adhering to the federal standardssafety latches and locks (especially for the kitchen and the bathroom cabinets and drawers)safety gates (preferably the ones that screws on the walls)window guards(bars in guard should not be more than 4 inches apart)-make sure you have a window that can be used as a fire esc... Dr Nabong's Pediatric Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146102 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:52:00 +0100 3146102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142789&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F01%2F05%2Fwhite-house-gate-gate%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily. White House Gate-Gate. Posted in Politics Daily Tagged: chaos theory, gate crashers, obama, political cartoon, president, security breech, state dinner, white house (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142789 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:41:03 +0100 3142789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139268&cid=t_299651_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2010%2F01%2Firon-chef-takes-on-white-house.html Last night while many here in NJ were watching the New York Jets defeat the Cincinnati Begals (37-0!), we all gathered around the TV to watch a battle for the best using vegetables, greens and herbs from the White House garden. The contenders were Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse against Bobby Flay and the White House Executive Chef, Cristeta Comerford. Usually we record anything Iron Chef to our DVR to watch when we're ready, but this event we watched live. We started out at the White House with Alton Brown introducing First Lady Michelle Obama in a very special guest appearance, inviting the chefs to take anything from the garden..with care, of course. It was the first time I'd seen the garden in full bloom, and it was beautiful! I guess the show must have been recorded some time ago, as ... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139268 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:27:00 +0100 3139268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3133583&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAdXDT33zON0%2F By David BoazThis is not the change we hoped for. President Obama rose to power on the basis of his early opposition to the Iraq war and his promise to end it. But after a year in the White House he has made both of George Bush’s wars his wars. Speaking of Iraq in February 2008, candidate Barack Obama said, “I opposed this war in 2002. I will bring this war to an end in 2009. It is time to bring our troops home.” The following month, under fire from Hillary Clinton, he reiterated, ”I was opposed to this war in 2002….I have been against it in 2002, 2003, 2004, 5, 6, 7, 8 and I will bring this war to an end in 2009. So don’t be confused.” Indeed, in his famous “the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow” speech on the night ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3133583 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:22:13 +0100 3133583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3104981&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fracism-on-television-non-verbal-but-there%2F It’s very likely that many of us in groups that aren’t usually discriminated against tend to think that racism is on the decline. After all, there are laws to protect those who may be discriminated against in the workforce, in schools, and in every day society. But racism doesn’t have to be outright “No ____ allowed” to be racism. Sadly, racism is alive and well in many parts of the world where we think of ourselves as being better than that. Researchers are constantly looking at how we see each other and how we treat each other. And new research has shown that although racism may not be voiced on television, it still comes through, albeit nonverbally. In a study done by Tuft’s University researchers and published this past week in the journal Science, r... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3104981 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:45:33 +0100 3104981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092671&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fz-MP3WO3KNI%2F By Jim HarperThe headline strikes fear: “House Takes Steps to Boost Cybersecurity,” says the Washington Post. What boondoggle are they embarking on now? Cybersecurity is hundreds of different problems that should be handled by thousands of different actors. The federal government is in no position to “fix” cybersecurity, as I testified in the House Science Committee earlier this year. But this is a good news story. Realizing that its own cybersecurity practices are not up to snuff, the House of Representatives will be ramping up training for its staff. Better awareness of the ins and outs of securing computers, data, and networks will disincline Congress to undertake a rash, sweeping “overhaul” of the systems and incentives that produce and advance cyber... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092671 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:57:49 +0100 3092671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079322&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTGslb_rm3AA%2F By Daniel IkensonAs described in the current Cato Policy Report, one of the “Hard Lessons from the Auto Bailout” is that management at GM is likely to be “highly erratic, as the president and Congress wrestle for decisionmaking primacy at this majority taxpayer-owned entity.”  The “dealerships” issue is Exhibit A. One of GM’s first decisions upon emerging from bankruptcy was to announce closures of a number of dealerships to help reduce costs. Then-nominal-CEO Fritz Henderson explained that the planned closings would save GM about $100 in distribution costs per vehicle–a few hundred million dollars per year when factoring in the millions of units GM expects to produce. But many of GM’s congressional CEOs cried foul, demanding reco... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079322 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:39:39 +0100 3079322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056618&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FfB-YnI-ojB4%2F Speaking of White House gate-crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi (as we were trying to think of an excuse to do, to increase blog traffic), Slate says they might be guilty of a federal crime. What crime? Well, possibly trespassing on federal property. Or maybe the “broad prohibition on lying to the federal government.” Title 18, section 1001 of the U.S. Code can be used to prosecute anyone who “knowingly and willfully … falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact” or “makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation” to the government. That could include lying about your arrest record on a government job application, claiming a fake deduction on your taxes, or telling someone you&#8... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056618 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:11:24 +0100 3056618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056621&cid=t_299651_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=3047111&cid=t_299651_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F12%2F02%2Fsouth-africa-3%2F Photo: Kenneth Tong Khayelitsha, Cape Town – July 2009 New, unfinished houses in Khayelitsha, a sprawling township mired in poverty on the outskirts of Cape Town. In the streets of Khayelitsha there’s a saying: “Living with HIV, dying from TB”. It sums up life in this place, where nearly one in three is HIV positive and HIV related infections are the leading cause of death. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3047111 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:37:56 +0100 3047111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048091&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FH6-RLz6ONVk%2F At a conference yesterday, White House National Economic Council Director Larry Summers repeated a superficial critique of the U.S. corporate income tax that we’ve heard often from the Obama administration. Politico notes that Summers suggested “that U.S. corporate tax rates are relatively low, despite complaints from U.S. corporations.” And they quote him: “If you look at taxes paid by corporations as a fraction of profits, they’re actually very low” because the U.S. tax code is replete with “evasion and avoidance.” The Obama team’s solution to the supposed problem is to pile more complex IRS rules and regulations on U.S. corporations and to increase taxes on their foreign earnings. There are lots of problems here. One is the implication that the U.... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048091 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:45:46 +0100 3048091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023105&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fqe-aFuDa-I4%2F Leaders of the Church of Christ, Scientist, are pushing to get a provision into the health care bill that would mandate equal treatment for “spiritual healing,” such as Christian Science prayer treatments. Sens. John Kerry and Orrin Hatch are trying to get it inserted into the Senate bill, according to the Washington Post. Kerry’s spokeswoman, Whitney Smith, told the Los Angeles Times that insurers would not be forced to cover prayer. Instead, she said, “the amendment would prevent insurers from discriminating against benefits that qualify as spiritual care if the care is recognized by the IRS as a legitimate medical expense. Plans are free to impose standards on spiritual and medical care as long as both are treated equally. It does not mandate that plans provide... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023105 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:57:40 +0100 3023105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015270&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6xiawI6-at4%2F In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Professor Joseph Gyourko, chair of the Wharton School’s Real Estate Department, lists what he sees as the five biggest myths about homeownership. Given the central role of federal housing policy, particularly Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in our recent financial crisis, it is worth following Professor Gyourko’s suggestion and question whether a national policy of ownership, all the time for everyone, really makes sense. Professor Gyourko’s five myths: 1.  Housing is a great long-term investment. 2.  The homebuyer tax credit makes buying a house more affordable. 3.  Homeowners are better citizens. 4.  It’s safe to buy a house with a very low downpayment. 5.  Owning is always cheaper than renting. You’ll have to read the op-... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015270 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:02:41 +0100 3015270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008402&cid=t_299651_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FigpCGfon0IA%2F In the wake of reports that drugmakers raised prices by as much as 9 percent, on average, this year, the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a report on recent trends in prescription drug pricing. The letter also requests that GAO submit a proposal to ensure ongoing monitoring of pricing practices (back story). The price hikes came as health care reform legislation was crafted, suggesting drugmakers raised prices in anticipation that a bill would hurt their ability to raise prices in the future. The letter was signed by Charles Rangel, who chairs of the House Ways and Means Committee; Henry Waxman, whos chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee; Pete Stark, who chairs the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee;... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008402 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:40:42 +0100 3008402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003723&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5hXmRdohMh0%2F Yesterday I described the brief Alan Gura filed on behalf of the petitioners challenging Chicago’s gun ban in the Supreme Court — asking the Court to apply the individual right to keep and bear arms to the states. Late last night, Orin Kerr at the Volokh Conspiracy sketched out his predictions of whether the individual justices would go for Gura’s main argument: that the indefensible Slaughter-House Cases should be overturned and thus that the Court should “incorporate” the rights at issue via the Privileges or Immunities Clause.  (Cato supports this argument, as we’ll show in the brief we’ll be filing next week.) He concludes that Justice Thomas is the only vote available for this claim. According to Orin, the Chief Justice and Justices... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003723 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:37:47 +0100 3003723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999501&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FoLDCE2IdLZg%2F Alan Gura, who successfully defended the individual right to keep and bear arms under Second Amendment in District of Columbia v. Heller has now filed his brief in the case that seeks to apply that right to the states, McDonald v. City of Chicago.  (Cato earlier filed a brief supporting Alan’s cert petition, the background to which you can read about here.) The question presented in this case is: Whether the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is incorporated as against the States by the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges or Immunities or Due Process Clauses.  Remarkably, only 7 of the brief’s 73 pages are devoted to the Due Process Clause, which is the constitutional provision by which almost all the the Bill of Rights has been “incorporated” agai... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999501 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:54:47 +0100 2999501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977265&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4Q16OtSUC8I%2F According to CBS News, President Barack Obama will send most, if not all, of the 40,000 additional troops that General Stanley McChrystal requested and reportedly plans to keep those troops in Afghanistan for the long-term. Watch CBS News Videos Online If the CBS report turns out to be true—the White House has backed away, and other news outlets are leaving the story alone for the moment—the president’s decision is disappointing, but expected. Last month, the administration ruled out the notion of a near-term U.S. exit from Afghanistan, arguing that the Taliban and al Qaeda would perceive an early pullout as a victory over the United States. But if avoiding a perception of weakness is the rationale that the administration is operating under then we have already lost by allowing our ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977265 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:57:18 +0100 2977265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2973906&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbHBenHALa9c%2F The fat lady hasn’t even started to warm up yet. The narrow 220-215 victory in the House on Saturday night was a step forward on the road to a government takeover of the health care system.  But as close and dramatic as that vote was, that was the easy part.  The Senate must still pass its version of reform—which will not be the bill that just passed the House.  Nancy Pelosi was, after all, able to lose the votes of 39 moderate Democrats.  Harry Reid cannot afford to lose even one.  A conference committee must reconcile the two vastly different versions.  And then, Pelosi must hold together her 3 vote margin of victory (if it gets that far).  Yet several House Democrats who voted for the bill on Saturday said they did so only to “advance the process.” Their vote is far from... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2973906 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:18:15 +0100 2973906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2970198&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8Jr4iSPVdIc%2F This morning, Politico Arena asks: Will the House pass healthcare this weekend — or not My response: In his post below, my colleague Michael Cannon links to his devastating analysis of the way House Democrats have buried the true cost of their healthcare scheme. This is legerdemain of the first order, but it is business as usual here in Washington. Here we have a Congress that cannot fix Medicare, which will go broke even before Social Security does, a Congress that still hasn’t met the October 1 budget deadline for the ninth year in a row, and it wants to fundamentally reorder healthcare in America with a scheme that no one understands and no one knows how to fund. Any private business that ran its affairs that way would long have been out of business. Given this record of i... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2970198 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:14:52 +0100 2970198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967273&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fp7YBAVv_WCo%2F If House Democrats hold a vote on their health-care overhaul this weekend, they might as well vote to abolish the Congressional Budget Office too. It would be no more audacious (and much more honest) than the way they have gamed the CBO’s rules to hide $1.5 trillion of the cost of their legislation — which has to be the biggest fiscal obfuscation in the history of American politics. Here’s how they did it. C/P Politico (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967273 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:58:39 +0100 2967273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2958816&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwjQRYX3dyZs%2F This morning, Politico’s Arena asks: “Election 09: What’s the message?” My response: A note on NY 23, then to the larger message in yesterday’s returns. Already this morning we’re seeing an effort to spin the NY 23 outcome as a warning to Republicans and a hopeful sign for Democrats. Yet the striking thing about that outcome is how close a third-party candidate came in the face of opposition from the Republican establishment. And the ultimate outcome can doubtless be explained simply by absentee ballots, plus voters unaware of the last-minute developments in the race. Thus, given those factors, the NY 23 outcome is perfectly consistent with returns in the rest of the country. (In fact, Conservative and Republican votes in that race total more than 50 per... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2958816 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:18:12 +0100 2958816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2946994&cid=t_299651_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=2931132&cid=t_299651_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Feastman-dental-and-halloween%2F Did you know the original Eastman Dental building on East Main street is haunted? Every October the building is  transformed into a haunted house and opened to the public for tours. According to “paranormal investigators” the House of Pain has  a history of ghost activity. The Rochester Dental Dispensary, established by George Eastman was eventually  renamed the [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2931132 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:45:00 +0100 2931132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2924805&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAjokq2GsjlU%2F There was some buzz earlier this year when the White House used the free, open-source Drupal content management platform for Recovery.gov. Now the administration’s marquis Web site Whitehouse.gov will be using it. The AP story linked just above does a good job of recounting the benefits of open source in this application: chiefly, low cost and high security. Arnold Kling wrote recently on the Library of Economics and Liberty blog relating the work Elinor Ostrom did to win the Nobel prize in economics to how the Internet enables private provision of public goods—no regulation, little to no centralized authority at all. Open source is nothing if not an example of that, and it’s good to see this use of open source joining many others across the big, beautiful Internet. (Sour... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2924805 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:29:35 +0100 2924805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923436&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F23%2Fovarian-cancer-research-funding-slashed-in-half-take-action-call-your-u-s-congressman-senators-today%2F As a result of a recent U.S. Senate mark-up, the funding for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (DOD OCRP) has been slashed in half from $20 million to $10 million. Research conducted under the DOD OCRP program is critical because it is solely dedicated to ovarian cancer. … Please help us [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923436 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:31:11 +0100 2923436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920513&cid=t_299651_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fnew-house-checklist%2F5502%2F If you are looking at moving, here is a checklist of not-so-obvious things to consider: What time does the mail come? I still prefer reading a newspaper.  Most newspapers are delivered via the postal service now, so I let my last two subscriptions expire because the mail didn’t come until late in the day.  We just moved to a new house, and the mail comes at 9:30–much more convenient for reading financial news. How many minutes is it from the nearest grocery store? It isn’t a bad idea to time how long it takes to get to the places you plan to go on a regular basis.  Just because a house is physically closer, it doesn’t mean that it will take less time to get there. What types of internet access are available? For me this is a big one.  Not only is it important ... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920513 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:00:27 +0100 2920513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916083&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FG7xTnco9RUA%2F According to The Hill, House Democrats are considering re-branding their new government-run health insurance program.  A “public option” evidently isn’t catchy enough.  Now they’re thinking, “Medicare Part E” as in, Medicare for Everyone. By all means, model a new government program after Medicare, which: Drags down the quality of care for all patients, both publicly and privately insured Literally kills people by fueling the epidemic of deaths due to medical errors (as many as 100,000 annually) Is responsible for the fragmented delivery system about which the Left complains Has required one tax increase every four years, still has an unfunded liability approaching $90 trillion, and will therefore be the driving force behind income-tax rates essential... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916083 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:11:20 +0100 2916083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916084&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9sV2N-M6zn4%2F In today’s Politico Arena, the editors ask: White House Strategy: Will Obama’s effort to undermine critics undermine Obama instead? Is it overdue or overdone? My response: Obama is losing it. His increasing moves to marginalize his critics, richly detailed this morning at Politico, mark him as an amateur. America is not Chicago. Nor are those who oppose his agenda synonymous with the Republican Party. They’re far more numerous than that, and their numbers are growing. Politics is one thing: “It ain’t beanbag,” Mr. Dooley noted. But scorched-earth politics is something else. It’s over the edge, like Nixon’s enemies list. It has no place in America, except in political backwaters like Chicago. (Personal note: In 1972 my wife and I served as Rep... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916084 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:51:33 +0100 2916084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916086&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4MAgFTaVjz0%2F Today the House of Representatives is debating H. Res. 672, which would call on the government of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom. Here is an article or two about what is happening with Vietnamese bloggers. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916086 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:57:20 +0100 2916086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912161&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAFMF6rgESk4%2F Just like the Senate Finance Committee’s government takeover, the House of Representatives’ government takeover hides more than half of its cost by pushing those costs off the government’s budget and onto the private sector. So when Speaker Pelosi says the House bill would cost under $900 billion, what she actually means is that it would cost around $2.25 trillion. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912161 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:32:34 +0100 2912161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908575&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPfrTVhvf31w%2F Today’s  Arena question over at Politico asks: Is Fox News a “legitimate news organization?” Is the White House smart, or not so smart, to take on Fox? Is Fox News a “legitimate news organization?” As compared to what? The New York Times? NPR? MSNBC? Please. The Obama team, Democrats like my good friend Walter Dellinger, and the so-called Mainstream Media (MSM) howl about Fox News for two main reasons. First, Fox is covering news the MSM ignores because it doesn’t “fit.” And second, in part because of that, the Fox audience continues to grow while the MSM audience is shrinking, raising a serious question about whether the MSM is any longer “mainstream.” Let’s not pretend that the MSM doesn’t “manage” the n... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908575 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:56:40 +0100 2908575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2905148&cid=t_299651_180_f&fid=38616&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifelearningtoday%2Fwlyf%2F%7E3%2Fr14cm2QOSEI%2F Too much stuff is not only bad, it’s worse than you think. And it’s not just about the environment. It’s about people too and the quality of their lives. Check out this preview video of “The Story of Stuff.” If you are interested, you can view the full version which is just below the first video. And before you become depressed or start feeling hopeless, know that there are things YOU can do to actually make a difference. Identifying a problem is the first step in a brighter future. Check out the top 10 things you can do to make a difference here. Preview of “Story of Stuff” Full version of “Story of Stuff” (only 20 minutes) What You Can Do to Change the “Story of Stuff” There are many ways to get involved. The Story of St... Life Learning Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2905148 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:45:07 +0100 2905148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2904862&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKJVwVWrl6K8%2F I’m not a fan of the House Democrats’ proposed takeover of the health care sector.  (If there’s one thing that legislation is not, it’s “reform.”)  But at least House Democrats were honest enough to include the cost of the $245 billion bump in Medicare physician payments in their legislation, unlike some committee chairmen I could mention. Unfortunately, House Democrats have since decided that dishonesty is the better strategy.  They, like Senate Democrats, now plan to strip that additional Medicare spending out of health “reform” and enact it separately.  (Democrats are already trying to exempt that spending from pay-as-you-go rules, making it easier for them to expand our record federal deficits.)  Why enact it separately?  Because excising that spending from the �... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2904862 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:44:36 +0100 2904862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890897&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F10%2F13%2Fchaos-theory-the-house-and-senate-always-wins%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily: The House – and Senate – Always Wins. Posted in Politcal Cartoons, Politics Tagged: congress, corruption, economy, house, senate (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890897 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:46:28 +0100 2890897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876196&cid=t_299651_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fmore-short-cuts-on-daily-tasks-to-save-time-and-energy%2F I’ve been reading your replies to my blog last week when I shared with you the importance I have found in finding and using shortcuts in my life. Unless you live with chronic pain, you might find it difficult to understand but it’s a simple matter of ease and mathematics. If you only have so much time and a limited amount of energy, you have to make the most out of both of them. The ease comes in by saving both time and energy and it also saves your sanity somewhere along the way. When you have pain everyday, you need to give yourself a break. Actually, you need every break you can get your hands on. Each of us who live this way tries to keep life on as normal a level as humanly possible. Try living the way you always have but on a shorter clock, a half-pound when you used to have a fu... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876196 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:49:36 +0100 2876196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871883&cid=t_299651_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fmore-short-cuts-on-daily-tasks-to-save-time-and-energy%2F I’ve been reading your replies to my blog last week when I shared with you the importance I have found in finding and using short cuts in my life. Unless you live with chronic pain, you might find it difficult to understand but it’s a simple matter of ease and mathematics. If you only have so much time and a limited amount of energy, you have to make the most out of both of them. The ease comes in by saving both time and energy and it also saves your sanity somewhere along the way. When you have pain everyday, you need to give yourself a break. Actually, you need every break you can get your hands on. Each of us who live this way tries to keep life on as normal a level as humanly possible. Try living the way you always have but on a shorter clock, a half-pound when you used to have a f... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871883 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:49:36 +0100 2871883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865636&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVyYV4F2ZbNc%2F Through my work on agriculture, I get occasional media calls on obesity and the agri-industrial complex supposedly behind it.  On Sunday, for example, I gave an interview on NPR about the USDA’s push for — and subsidisation of — farmers markets and “eating locally” as the solution to poor nutrition. (This a recurrent theme of the Obama administration: Michelle Obama has made people’s food habits her business, growing a White House Garden and driving in a convoy of 36 vehicles to the H Street farmers’ market in a photo-op to promote it. The USDA even has a “People’s Garden“.) So an article in today’s New York Times caught my eye. According to a recent study, the push for calorie postings in restaurants has had no affect on p... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865636 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:41:55 +0100 2865636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862688&cid=t_299651_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fhouse-md-aspergers-psych-hospital%2F So I have been watching the new episode of House, the season opener for this season.  In it House is in a psych ward.  In the episode there is a lot of nonsense, including House getting a very sexual visit with someone while in the psych ward, him getting to go to a dinner with [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862688 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:10:24 +0100 2862688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857492&cid=t_299651_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fwj-iii-braille-adapted-achievement.html Sorry.  After making this post there were reported technical difficulties with links.  Can't figure it out just yet.  Will update in the future (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857492 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:01:00 +0100 2857492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823955&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9d_QjFkWqlY%2F As Michael Cannon discussed in an earlier post, the White House is trying to claim that health care “reform” does not mean higher taxes. This is a two-pronged issue. First, there is a mandate to purchase health insurance. Second, there is a tax (the White House calls it a fee) on people who fail to purchase a policy. The White House claims this mandate is akin to state-level requirements for the purchase of health insurance, and that the newly-insured people will be getting some value (a health insurance policy) in exchange for their money. These assertions are defensible, but that does not change the fact that a tax is being imposed. It might be plausible to argue that the mandate is not a tax if the value of the insurance policy to the individual was equal to the cost. But ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823955 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:45:48 +0100 2823955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804189&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fchaos-theory-spanking-joe-wilson%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily: Spanking Joe Wilson. Posted in Politcal Cartoons, Politics Tagged: congress, democrat, house gop, joe wilson, nancy pelosi, republican, you lie (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804189 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:14:46 +0100 2804189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803886&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FlMgOXjofQRg%2F The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsiblilty Act will probably be approved by the House of Representatives today, and to push it along the bill’s sponsor, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), makes clear for whom he is working: Let’s remember whose voices really matter here. It’s time to listen to our students and our families. First of all, do the voices of taxpayers not matter at all? You know, the folks who are going to foot the bill for all this largesse? Oh yeah – concentrated benefits, diffuse costs. And have students and their families really been trees falling in the wilderness with no one to hear them? With inflation-adjusted aid per full-time-equivalent student (table 3) rising from $4,454 in 1987 to $10,392 in 2007 — a 134 percent increase — it sure does... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803886 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:37:04 +0100 2803886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804191&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F09%2F16%2Fchaos-theory-joe-wilson-bar-talk%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily: Joe Wilson Bar Talk. Posted in Politcal Cartoons Tagged: democrat, house gop, joe wilson, republican, you lie (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804191 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:26:52 +0100 2804191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800363&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUUQ4IyLMCw8%2F Page one of today’s Washington Times—above the fold—has a fascinating story indicting the White House for failing to disclose that it will collect and retain material posted by visitors to its pages on social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube. The story is fascinating because so much attention is being paid to it. (It was first reported, as an aside at least, by Major Garrett on Fox News a month ago.) The question here is not over the niceties of the Presidential Records Act, which may or may not require collection and storage of the data. It’s over people’s expectations when they use the Internet. Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said the White House signaled that it would insist on open dealings with Internet u... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800363 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:02:00 +0100 2800363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800368&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FxOw9xtYLqc8%2F Anger about Obama’s many “czars” is rising, reports the Washington Post: On paper, they are special advisers, chairmen of White House boards, special envoys and Cabinet agency deputies, asked by the president to guide high-priority initiatives. But critics call them “czars” whose powers are not subject to congressional oversight, and their increasing numbers have become a flash point for conservative anger at President Obama. Critics of the proliferation of czars say the White House uses the appointments to circumvent the normal vetting process required for Senate confirmation and to avoid congressional oversight. I have tended not to take concern over “czars” very seriously. After all, advisers to the president can’t exercise any power that ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800368 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:18:21 +0100 2800368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800370&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJFzVq5na4N4%2F Yesterday, President Obama’s lawyers informed members of Congress that the president does not want any provision of the  Patriot Act to expire.  Turns out that  Obama wants to have the sweeping powers.  This is just the latest example of the cacophony that pervades Washington.  When Bush was in the White House, the Dems postured against his runaway spending, his military quagmires, and his constitutional violations.  With Obama in the White House, Bush’s most misguided policies either continue or worsen. Obama is in the news today for his “off-the-record” comment about Kanye West.  It would have been better had a reporter overheard Obama saying something like, “John Ashcroft was a terrific Attorney General, but  I’ll never admit tha... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800370 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:44:08 +0100 2800370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800666&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F09%2F15%2Fchaos-theory-house-gop-daycare%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily: House GOP Daycare. Posted in Politcal Cartoons, Politics Tagged: house gop, joe wilson, obama, republican (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800666 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:58:51 +0100 2800666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796402&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQC5hrp9VWks%2F Columbia University IR guru Robert Jervis has a smart post at Foreign Policy’s “Af-Pak” blog.  For those who couldn’t get enough at yesterday’s Cato forum on Afghanistan, Jervis’ post is well worth a look: Prof. Robert Jervis Most discussion about Afghanistan has concentrated on whether and how we can defeat the Taliban. Less attention has been paid to the probable consequences of a withdrawal without winning, an option toward which I incline. What is most striking is not that what I take to be the majority view is wrong, but that it has not been adequately defended. This is especially important because the U.S. has embarked on a war that will require great effort with prospects that are uncertain at best. Furthermore, it appears that Obama’s com... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796402 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:21:55 +0100 2796402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774596&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fbreastfeeding-the-security-blanket%2F My family just moved from a rental home to a new home we purchased one town away. Out of all my family members, I would say my 13-month-old has handled the move the best. Not only has she survived, she has thrived. She is excited about all the new places to explore and she thinks we’re on a grand adventure. The beloved security blanket by Barron I believe that breastfeeding allows her the ability to thrive in this new environment because breastfeeding (and the closeness with me) is a constant. She knows that she is free to explore but she can always come back to the security and safety of snuggle time with Mama. My older children are handling the transition well, but the baby is absolutely loving it. It hasn’t bothered her to change bedrooms or beds. She nurses to sleep and nur... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774596 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:55:02 +0100 2774596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758068&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2Fbarack-obama-proclaims-september-2009-as-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month%2F Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2009 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month helps educate women and men about the importance of knowing the early warning signs and symptoms of the disease, scheduling routine doctor visits, and continuing robust scientific research. Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758068 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:06:22 +0100 2758068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741320&cid=t_299651_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F28%2Ffriday-foolery-2-how-to-use-your-inhaler-not%2F For the first time seen on Allergynotes: “Compliance” or “Are you using your inhaler right.” I really had to laugh out loud when I saw it, and so did my daughter and husband. Therefore I would like to share it with you. Text with the video: As a doctor half the battle is figuring out if your [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741320 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:42:59 +0100 2741320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2727371&cid=t_299651_135_f&fid=35274&url=http%3A%2F%2Facidrefluxweb.com%2F%3Fp%3D3909 fag in sign language This week I met with a guy with whom I’d been chatting for quite sometime. After a few initial messages, he does him very own reveal that surprised me. “I’m deaf……etc” I wrote back saying that’s cool. In fact while living in Winnipeg in mypartying days, our group was mixed between hearing and non-hearing folks. J, she was an sign interpreter married to a deaf fellow M. Her good friend, Darryl, came to Winnipeg to study interpreting from Toronto, and died a few years later. There were a few others part of our gang,most of them are not around any more to my great sadness. Back in those days we did tons of drugs. Once we set M. off packing for his deaf baseball tournament in Tuxedo completely f.ed on mushrooms. The rest of us, who... acidrefluxweb.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2727371 Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:40:36 +0100 2727371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715925&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiSDJzCS6uyM%2F Earlier this summer, the House of Representatives approved legislation intended to, as Rep. Frank, put it, “rein in compensation practices that encourage excessive risk-taking at the expense of companies, shareholders, employees, and ultimately the American taxpayer.” While there are real and legitimate concerns over CEOs using bailout funds to reward themselves and give their employees bonuses, Washington has operated on the premise that excessive risk-taking by bank CEOs, due to mis-aligned incentives, caused, or at least contributed to, the financial crisis.  But does this assertion stand up to close examination, or are we just seeing Congress trying to re-direct the public anger over bailouts away from itself and toward corporations? As it turns out, a recent research pa... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715925 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:34:59 +0100 2715925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699809&cid=t_299651_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F6PvCOl2D3Xc%2F It’s tough enough for a family to have someone suffer from a genetic disorder but to have three in the family is just heart-breaking. And that’s what the Shaffer family from Oregon is going through as their three young sons are treated for a rare genetic condition that affect the nervous systems (video). Two 8-year old twins and their younger brother have leukodystrophies (adrenoleukodystrophy or ALD), a disorder that causes damage to the membrane (myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve cells in the brain. Adrenoleukodystrophy is commonly inherited as an X-linked (or sex-linked) trait, as the gene is located on the X-chromosome and passed from mother to her children. If the mother is a carrier (say XX for one abnormal allele), then she will pass that defective gene to all her sons (XY).... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699809 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:33:18 +0100 2699809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695442&cid=t_299651_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FMjDnCUQInBo%2F A recent article pointed out several ways to become healthier, and one of those ways has nothing to do with diet and exercise. It has to do with cleaning and furniture. Specifically: a cluttered bedroom. Now, I don’t know about you, but I love piles of books in my bedroom. There’s something very comforting about looking over at a shelf full of literature, or checking out a pile I might have on the nightstand. I’m a bit of a bookaholic, truth be told. But one article says that too much “stuff” in your bedroom (like books, magazines, and even piles of pillows) can attract dust mites and make your bedroom a place that might even make you sick. Allergies aren’t the same as colds, but there are times when they certainly feel very similar. So if allergies a... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695442 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:42:21 +0100 2695442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2677640&cid=t_299651_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F08%2F06%2Fsudan-2%2F Photo: Brendan Bannon Yambio, South sudan - June 2009 Houses in Yambio southern Sudan at night. LRA attacks along the border belt area of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan have displaced tens of thousands of people from homes like these. Click here to see a slideshow with more images and commentary by the photographer, Brendan Bannon. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2677640 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:35:30 +0100 2677640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2664137&cid=t_299651_177_f&fid=38134&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbabybound.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F02%2Fi-need-a-moment%2F Ever have one of those moments when you’re reorganizing your life and you find out that The Container Store discontinued your color? Oh and then, as if that wasn’t bad enough, your bff laughs her ass off when you tell her because she’s dead inside (I think she peed a little bit). I am, in fact, living this dream. You all know me right? I label. My life has order and symetry. I can’t deal with this color disaster. It’s far too great an investment to switch to a new one. And mixing!?! Ugh I’m still looking for a solution – sans laughing bff who I’m probably gonna give the silent treatment for at least 3.58 days – and until I find one, I’m gonna be mopey and sad like a 3 year old who doesn’t get to use her crayons on her bedr... B a b y B o u n d blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2664137 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:43:20 +0100 2664137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2644137&cid=t_299651_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F07%2F27%2Fguatemala%2F Photo: Kenneth Tong, MSF | Olopa, Chiquimula, Guatemala Olopa, Chiquimula, Guatemala - May 2005 In the municipality of Olopa, Chiquimula, live one of the most forgotten population of Guatemala. MSF was working in a project to improve the rural populations’ access to general health services, and in the prevention and treatment of Chagas disease. Chagas is a little-known infectious parasitic disease transmitted into the human bloodstream by the bites of insects living and reproducing in rural areas. MSF teams provide diagnosis and treatment to general population, ethnic minorities and children under 15 years old. The photograph here was taken during home visits by MSF doctors. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2644137 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:14:28 +0100 2644137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645269&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fq8DOqyA2Dec%2F Over the last week, speaking at a variety of events, I heard three different representatives of the Left; first a Democrat US Senator, then a senior member of the Obama Administration, and finally a “consumer” advocate, all repeat the same narrative:  all was fine in the housing market until predatory lenders forced hard-working honest families into foreclosure, which reduced house prices, bringing the economy to a crash.  That’s correct, apparently the Left believes we all would still be seeing double-digit home price appreciation if it wasn’t for those evil lenders. Undoubtedly foreclosures, especially those that result in houses that remain vacant for a considerable amount of time, have an adverse impact on surrounding property values.  Many constitute a serio... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645269 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:32:12 +0100 2645269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2625946&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FNWMxvdU1wFQ%2F As the New York Times reported, House Democrats proposed a hotly debated bill where families who make $500,000 would have to pay an extra $1,500 to help subsidize health insurance for the poor. (And if a family makes more than $1 million, they would have to pay $9,000.) Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2625946 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:59:05 +0100 2625946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610881&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIDp9dUjVBBY%2F The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has two charts showing what health care regulation looks like now… …and what it would look like under the House Democrats’ health care plan: (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610881 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:10:01 +0100 2610881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610891&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpUTtm370xTY%2F As Mike Tanner has written, the health care bill means a big tax hike — indeed, a lot of tax hikes.  It also means a reversal of one of President Ronald Reagan’s great achievements, bringing down the top marginal income tax rate.  Reports the Washington Times: Small-business owners are warning that the economy would suffer under a health care bill proposed by House Democrats, which would drive tax rates for high-income taxpayers to levels not seen since before President Reagan’s tax reform of 1986. The top federal income tax rate, which Mr. Reagan and a bipartisan Congress lowered from 50 percent to 28 percent, would reach 45 percent in 2011 if Congress and President Obama enact the surtaxes that are part of the health care reform plan that House Democrats announced Tue... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610891 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:03:03 +0100 2610891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2605945&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6_XbFFeVUIM%2F House Democrats released their 1,018 page health care reform bill, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, yesterday. This bill is a dog’s breakfast of bad ideas paid for by more than $500 billion in new taxes. The reform would impose an individual mandate on individuals, requiring every American to buy a government designed insurance package or pay a new tax equal to 2.5 percent of their income. At a time of rising unemployment, businesses would be required to provide health insurance to workers or pay a new tax equal to 8 percent of workers wages. These new taxes could drive the total cost to taxpayers much higher than the $500 billion in direct taxes in the bill. In addition, the bill includes a host of new insurance regulations that will drive up the cost of insurance ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2605945 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:24:02 +0100 2605945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2601961&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQqwtjZG3HNk%2F The New York Times reports that House Democrats want to raise money for health care with a $550 billion tax hike on people who produce the most wealth. The Times says, the proposal is perhaps the clearest expression yet of the mandate that Democrats believe they won last November, when voters expanded Democratic majorities in Congress and sent Barack Obama to the White House. If Democrats think they won a mandate for huge tax increases — without talking about them — then 2010 ought to be fun. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2601961 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:37:50 +0100 2601961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598234&cid=t_299651_88_f&fid=34729&url=http%3A%2F%2Fallscrubbedup.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fepisode-of-house.html From GraphJam. Hilarious. All they forgot was the seizures. Why is it that there is at least ONE seizure per episode of House. SA Doc tells me it's a lot more exciting than real life. Even the Baragwanath pit. (Source: All Scrubbed Up) All Scrubbed Up blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598234 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:30:00 +0100 2598234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598191&cid=t_299651_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=2593100&cid=t_299651_93_f&fid=35707&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHemodynamics%2F%7E3%2Fh3pZIqvA1ac%2Fbecoming-fat-man.html Sleep-deprived and worried for my interns, I start spouting half-true or all-wrong or kind of right aphorisms as if I was aspiring to be the new Fat Man:"All patients lie. All patients are crazy. And it is our job to love them anyway." (Said to an intern who is tempted to believe everything his patients tell him, to his patients' potential detriment.)A pair of nurses, overhearing this, do a double take and tighten up as they hear me start this, then visibly relax as I finish. One says, "You saved yourself with the last part there." I try to save myself a bit more: "Well, we all lie sometimes, even when we don't realize it, and we're all a little bit crazy, right?" Still, I thought, Am I really the resident who blurts out cheap half-truths as if they were wisdom?It is an inevitable temptati... hemodynamics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2593100 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:15:00 +0100 2593100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591429&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fp7H3Y8iTh1w%2F “[O]nce it is clear that a bill will be coming to the president’s desk, the White House will post the bill online,” White House spokesman Nick Shapiro told New York Times reporter Katherine Seelye for her June 22 story on President Obama’s “Sunlight Before Signing” campaign pledge. “This will give the American people a greater ability to review the bill, often many more than five days before the president signs it into law.” The story, titled “White House Changes the Terms of a Campaign Pledge About Posting Bills Online,” was about the White House effort to walk back from President Obama’s campaign pledge to post bills he receives for five days before signing them. When the New York Times published the story, five bills had been present... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591429 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:50:35 +0100 2591429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584137&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4vdUQe8OnVQ%2F The AP and other sources have been reporting on a “cyberattack” affecting South Korea and U.S. government Web sites, including the White House, Secret Service and Treasury Department. Allegedly mounted by North Korea, this attack puts various “cyber” threats in perspective. Most Americans will probably not know about it, and the ones who do will learn of it by reading about it. Only a tiny percentage of people will notice the absence of the Web sites attacked. (An update to the story linked above notes that several agencies and entities “blunted” the attacks, as well-run Web sites will do.) This is the face of “cyberwar,” which has little strategic value and little capacity to do real damage. This episode also underscores the fact that &#8220... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584137 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:42:45 +0100 2584137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576679&cid=t_299651_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fama-and-emrs-continued.html Last month, I wrote a rather scathing piece on the BNET Healthcare blog about the American Medical Association's annual House of Delegates meeting. I wrote another one for FierceEMR. Admittedly, I focused on a handful of fringe ideas, though one of the more audacious ones actually wound up in a resolution that the House of Delegates adopted as AMA policy. For BNET, I wrote:[A]nother resolution directs the AMA to tell the federal government that the EMR incentive program "should be made compliant with AMA principles by removing penalties for non-compliance and by providing inflation-adjusted funds to cover all costs of implementation and maintenance of EMR systems."It's one thing to ask for more money to cover ongoing expenses. It’s another thing altogether to conclude that the government... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576679 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:34:00 +0100 2576679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556087&cid=t_299651_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=2517348&cid=t_299651_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Ffighting-back-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Almost everyday, life moves more quickly than I do. Sometimes I wish I could “freeze frame” and pause all of those items in my life that have the audacity to keep on going. Dust keeps gathering on furniture and floors. Weeds keep popping up, even in pots on the porch and deck. Food in the refrigerator keeps outdating or worse yet, rotting. It looked so good in the store but when faced with the reality, I far too often go for the easy to cook dinner. I, and I’m certain you, are surrounded by life as it grows, sheds, re-creates and molds. That’s one of these activities I can identify with, molding. Life just keeps on ticking and sometimes it’s very aggravating. Yesterday, some of that accumulation of life really got to me. You know when some things just begin to... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2517348 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:15:02 +0100 2517348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510265&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FXBUQraZSFt8%2F Join us this evening at 10:00 PM EST, when ABC News airs a special report from within the White House on Obama’s health care reform proposal. Join Cato health care policy experts Michael D. Tanner and Michael F. Cannon, as they live-blog ABC’s “Prescription for America.” Health Care Experts Live-Blog ABC White House Special For more, visit Healthcare.Cato.org. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510265 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:04:33 +0100 2510265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510270&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FzkfAK4lAw5Y%2F Tonight at 10:00 PM EST, ABC News will broadcast a “special report from the White House” on President Obama’s plan to revamp the nation’s health care system. Cato scholars Michael D. Tanner and Michael F. Cannon will offer live commentary and analysis when the program begins. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear another voice in the health care debate. Sign up below:   For more on Cato’s research on health care, visit Healthcare.Cato.org (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510270 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:47:16 +0100 2510270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477542&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fcy8wOcJPGRw%2F Columnist Robert J. Samuelson, writing in this morning’s Washington Post: It’s hard to know whether President Obama’s health-care “reform” is naive, hypocritical or simply dishonest. Probably all three. The president keeps saying it’s imperative to control runaway health spending. He’s right. The trouble is that what’s being promoted as health-care “reform” almost certainly won’t suppress spending and, quite probably, will do the opposite… The president summoned the heads of major health-care groups representing doctors, hospitals, drug companies and medical device firms to the White House. All pledged to bend the curve. This is mostly public relations. Does anyone believe the American Medical Association can control t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477542 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:02:54 +0100 2477542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453268&cid=t_299651_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Ffood-inside-the-obama-white-house%2F I was watching NBC’s Special Inside the Obama White House. I have to take pride in that my husband was on the production team making it happen. Of course, the food expert in me has to find my personal interest hook – the food! So here’s a play-by-play of what was covered. Apples by the basketfull! Obama wants to encourage healthy snacking by making apples available on hand in nearly every room. Apples have natural sugars – carbohydrates for quick energy, fiber for fullness, and even some vitamin C to keep the immune system supported. All this for under 100 calories! M&M’s – Is it any surprise that there would be candy too? M&M’s are the perfect tiny piece of chocolate Americana you’d expect to see on hand for staffers to nosh on. Als... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453268 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:16:14 +0100 2453268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452445&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fassisted-suicide-issues-debated-in-britain%2F Swiss clinic Dignitis and the issue of assisted suicide have been in the British media spotlight lately, mainly due to a debate that is taking placing before the  House of Lords. This debate revolves around an old law and a new case. The old law, the 1961 Suicide Act bans assisted suicide in Britain and criminalises anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures someone else’s suicide. The new case -  a 46-year-old woman with progressive multiple sclerosis who wants to travel abroad to die and wants to ensure her husband Omar Puente won’t be  prosecuted if he helps her travel. The law as it stands can allow for the prosecution of  relatives and friends who travel with someone planning to undertake assisted dying overseas. Granted, government law officers readily admit that thos... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452445 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:08:47 +0100 2452445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441167&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYkkSrqS1mZE%2F Last week, I complained loudly that the “Speeches” section of the Whitehouse.gov Web site had only four speeches on it, the most recent coming at the end of February. And, voila, today the site is transformed. A new “speeches and remarks” page at that location has a 28-page list of official utterances from President Obama since he took office. Does it matter a lot that people can now more easily find what President Obama has said? It kinda does. Americans will go a little more often right to the source rather than relying on media interpretations of what the president is saying. In the aggregate, we’ll have a better informed, slightly more skeptical, and more empowered populace. Kudos to the folks at the White House for making the change. In retrospect, it app... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441167 Thu, 28 May 2009 23:37:20 +0100 2441167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2436742&cid=t_299651_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fhouse-resolution-raises-awareness-of.html Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., recently introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to raise awareness of sleep apnea. The resolution “encourages all Americans to educate themselves and others about the consequences of sleep apnea and its potential treatments.”What are these consequences? The resolution points out that “untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.”The resolution also notes that anyone can suffer from sleep apnea. It “can strike anyone, at any age, at any time, including children.”But the good news is that sleep apnea can be treated. The resolution states that “lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea.” These breathing devices – ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2436742 Tue, 26 May 2009 15:05:00 +0100 2436742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2417069&cid=t_299651_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F5CvJJDv9Cao%2F I’ve long had issues with medical shows presenting fair and truthful information. I know the shows are meant for entertainment and I take a lot of their stuff with a grain of salt - such as their usual pathetic portrayal of nurses in the real world. But when they misrepresent health issues, that bothers me a lot. A couple of months ago, the popular television show House had a bad (in my opinion) plot line that showed a man with “locked in syndrome” diagnosed as brain dead and the emergency room physician wanted to take his heart for donation - something that would never happen in the United States. Now, there are complaints about the season finale of another popular medical show, Grey’s Anatomy. I have to admit, I haven’t watched this show since its first year... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2417069 Mon, 18 May 2009 02:42:13 +0100 2417069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405023&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNDxdjh4svC0%2F Obama’s new drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, says it is time to move away from the “war” rhetoric surrounding federal drug policy.  Since Kerlikowske has just assumed office, this is exactly the right thing to do — set a whole new tone from the militarized approach we have seen over the past 20-30 years.  Drug abuse is a problem that must be dealt with, but we don’t need to send troops to Latin America, we don’t need former generals like Barry McCaffrey to oversee drug policy, and we don’t need police officers conducting raids on American homes with machine guns and  flash bang grenades. The political climate on drug policy is shifting.  Republican governors like Arnold Schwarzenegger are calling for a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405023 Thu, 14 May 2009 17:21:32 +0100 2405023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405025&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJBpC4vSvZRs%2F This morning in The Wall Street Journal: The Obama administration’s new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting “a war on drugs,” a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use. …Gil Kerlikowske, the new White House drug czar, signaled Wednesday his openness to rethinking the government’s approach to fighting drug use. Mr. Kerlikowske’s comments are a signal that the Obama administration is set to follow a more moderate — and likely more controversial — stance on the nation’s drug problems. …The Obama administration is likely to deal with drugs as a matter of public health rather than criminal justice alone, with treatment’s role gr... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405025 Thu, 14 May 2009 14:22:01 +0100 2405025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405041&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fai72rSSZ0jA%2F According to an unnamed “top White House official”: It’s hard to talk about socialized medicine when the hospitals, doctors, insurers, the private sector players are working with us at the White House. Let me get this straight.  A president who is ideologically committed to socialized medicine is negotiating with an industry that’s committed to making as much money as possible off of socialized medicine. But don’t worry.  If there’s one thing they’re not discussing, it’s socialized medicine. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405041 Wed, 13 May 2009 14:04:29 +0100 2405041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2386829&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fga735KhuYWE%2F Just when you thought you’d seen everything, ol’ Kaiser Bill emerges from the Beyond to castigate the U.S. president: Mr. President, Gott im Himmel! Enough with the czars! You’ve named 18 so far, according to something I read in Foreign Policy. That includes a border czar, a climate czar, an information technology czar and — I don’t think Thomas Jefferson grew enough hemp in his lifetime to dream up this one — the “faith-based czar.” Your car czar, Steve Rattner, was in the news last week, trying to keep Chrysler out of bankruptcy. It took Russia 281 years to accumulate that many czars. Even with hemophilia, repeated assassinations and a level of inbreeding that would gag a Dalmatian breeder. You did it in less than 100 days. And every one of... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2386829 Mon, 04 May 2009 12:47:20 +0100 2386829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380721&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FXnGJVy-Jw4s%2F A small group of Chrysler debt holders rejected the Obama administration’s restructuring plan last night, leaving Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the most salient option for the company. The Obama administration accused the investors who walked away of “failure to act…in the national interest.” But it’s not difficult to understand why these secured creditors rejected the government’s offer of essentially 29 cents on their investment dollar. If that is how the Obama administration treats capital markets, how exactly do they expect to spur private investment in American companies, as the White House claims it wants to do? Bankruptcy reorganization will probably yield a better deal for investors than the government’s plan. It also will imbue the process with more financial sanity than ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380721 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:45:15 +0100 2380721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380737&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FoAqNmoBztts%2F I am reliably informed that the rumor that I perpetuated to which I responded here is untrue: House Republicans will not be endorsing an individual mandate. Now let’s hope that Senate Republicans (and House Democrats, and Senate Democrats) show similar good sense. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380737 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:07:20 +0100 2380737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367424&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fmeatless-mondays-good-for-your-health%2F Did you know that… The meat industry generates nearly 1/5 of the man-made greenhouse gases that are accelerating climate change worldwide, far more than transportation. About 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S.(2) Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. The estimated 634 gallons of fresh water required to produce one 5.2 ounce hamburger would be enough for a four-hour shower. Compare this to the 143 gallons of water required to produce the same quantity of tofu. 2/3 of Americans are overweight or suffer from obesity. 6 Studies show that individuals on vegetarian or low-meat diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. Chronic preventable conditions l... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367424 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:00:40 +0100 2367424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365041&cid=t_299651_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fhurting-for-translations-come-hear-me.html Hurting for translations? Come hear me talk tomorrow at 7pm, at Temple University Student Center (Philadelphia Center City, 13th and Montgomery) on why we publish Yiddish translations of kids' books. It's in English and free; books for sale! (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger) Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365041 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:46:00 +0100 2365041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2356865&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKB3vRBkUGPQ%2F From today’s Washington Post: In another sign that the Department of Agriculture is embracing sustainable food, the agency today will unveil expanded plans for a People’s Garden that will include the entire six-acre grounds of the Whitten Building, the department’s neoclassic marble headquarters on the Mall. The plans, to be announced at the agency’s Earth Day celebrations, include a 1,300-square-foot organic vegetable garden — slightly larger than the one at the White House — as well as ornamental flower gardens and bioswales, or mini-wetlands designed to reduce pollution and surface water runoff. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find out exactly what a “bioswale” is, and why I should pay for one in our new “People&#82... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2356865 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:38:21 +0100 2356865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347782&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5HNxxwVlass%2F At first, I thought the calendar was wrong and it must be April 1 and the White House was playing an April Fool’s joke. That seemed like the only logical explanation for a story in today’s Washington Post stating that the President wants all government departments to identify $100 million in supposed budget cuts. With 14 cabinet-level departments, that adds up to $1.4 billion of savings — and those savings almost certainly be measured against an ever-increasing budget baseline, which means that they would merely be reductions in planned increases. This is a shallow and insincere stunt to trick taxpayers. This is the same President, after all, that just squandered nearly $800 billion on a so-called stimulus bill. And this is the same President that just rammed through a $3... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347782 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:15:31 +0100 2347782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347785&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FgkSo9avkEJU%2F Did you ever notice how astronauts are praised simply for being astronauts? They have heroism imputed to them simply for what they might do in the future. So it is with political appointees, such as the chief technology officer President Obama named Saturday morning during his weekly radio and Internet address. Reports the Wall Street Journal: Silicon Valley execs and tech bloggers sounded genuinely excited about Obama’s choice Saturday morning and tech industry lobbying groups TechNet and the Business Software Alliance quickly released statements of support, as did several tech heavyweights. Would any group with business before the government, hoping for influence and goodies from the White House, not praise an appointee? We learn from these paeans precisely nothing. To me, Aneesh Chopr... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347785 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:37:23 +0100 2347785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349514&cid=t_299651_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2Fsenator-barbara-boxer-reintroduces-legislation-to-better-diagnosis-ovarian-cancer%2F On March 31, 2009, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) reintroduced the Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act of 2009 (H.R. 1816) legislation to develop new technologies to detect and fight ovarian cancer.  The Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act bill, if ultimately enacted as law, would authorize $30 million each year for four years to fund research [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349514 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:44:30 +0100 2349514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347985&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fsuffer-little-children-child-writes.html Dr Marenthiran PerinpanayagamIn "Suffer the little children..." a few days ago we looked at the Kendall House children's home scandal and, in particular, the role of the Church of England. Now a comment comes in from one of the children who was there. Yes, it's one side of the story only, but it has the ring of authenticity.In 1979 there was an outcry after an article that appeared in a care magazine regarding Kendall House. That was ignored by the church, the police, the government, Dr Perinpanayagam and the local authorities who knew of the concers as stated in a letter carried on placing girls in Kendall House. Then in 1980 the story broke in the media again after a documentry was aired where Kendall House was in the firing line.The namely Miss G--- in a very senior position within the ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347985 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:01:00 +0100 2347985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313541&cid=t_299651_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F06%2Fmothers-act-to-drug-americas-moms-for-fake-postpartum-depression%2F Wake up, people who care about mental health. Wake up, people who work to prevent child abuse, people who work to prevent suicide, people who work to prevent preterm births, people who care about healthy families. Wake up, psychiatric professionals, nurses, gynecologists, pediatricians. Here’s an actual text of a communication being sent far and wide by the very loud and vociferous opposition to the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act to support increased funding, education and research for postpartum depression: “This MOTHER’S Act, with its innocuous sounding name will mandate “mental screening” for Pregnant women. This will lead to many more young mothers being labeled with fraudulent psychiatric conditions and many of them will be put on dangerous psychiatr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313541 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:36:01 +0100 2313541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302670&cid=t_299651_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F03%2F21%2Fwhite-house-to-have-a-garden%2F We’ve been doing a garden at our house with the girls for the past 4 years. As they have grown they are able to do more. Needless to say, I was very happy to hear that the Obamas were starting a garden at the White House for the first time since the first time since first lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted her “Victory Garden” during World War II. Michelle Obama shared her thoughts on the garden: We want to use it as a point of education, to talk about health and how delicious it is to eat fresh food, and how you can take that food and make it part of a healthy diet. Michelle Obama This video shows twenty-six elementary schoolchildren wielded shovels, rakes, pitchforks and wheelbarrows to help first lady Michelle Obama break ground on a produce and herb garden on the White ... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302670 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:20:47 +0100 2302670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284363&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBJigwYiGzI8%2F There is a government brawl underway over cybersecurity. The Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) is legally responsible for cybersecurity for nonmilitary parts of the government. It is also supposed to help state and local government and the private sector protect their networks. But Shaun Waterman reports that the guy running that center just quit because the National Security Agency (the wiretapping intelligence agency) was basically running his office and taking over its function. According to Walter Pincus’ article in today’s Washington Post, Strategic Command (the nuclear weapons command) is in charge of offensive cyber attacks and defending US military networks from cyberattack. But the NSA oversees Stratcom’s cybersecurity ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284363 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:08:15 +0100 2284363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284365&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMSSiU82djm0%2F In The New Republic, Jonathan Cohn makes some interesting observations about how Barack Obama’s campaign and administration approach policy issues, particularly health care. In early January, most of Barack Obama’s senior staff assembled with the president-elect . . . It was a pivotal moment in Obama’s transformation from candidate to commander-in-chief. Obama’s advisers had taken all of his campaign pledges, factored in his promise to reduce the deficit, and put together a provisional blueprint for governing. For the first time, Obama would get a sense of how his proposals fit together in the real world. Does Cohn suggest that candidate Obama just threw out proposals without considering their cumulative, real-world impact?  That Obama launched a new administrati... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284365 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:03:04 +0100 2284365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2288926&cid=t_299651_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhom-hitech-bill-tolls As part of a sweeping effort to address the woes of the current US economy, the government has placed $19 billion on the table for HIT, aimed at containing healthcare costs and creating new jobs. The ultimate instruments for implementing this HITECH bill are America’s physicians and there is much confusion and apprehension in the physician community regarding the net effects of this bill on doctors in particular and healthcare in general. The HIT stimulus effort will not reach its stated objectives without voluntary adoption by our doctors. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2288926 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:19:02 +0100 2288926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2270487&cid=t_299651_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F03%2Fsmith-bell-and-the-art-of-observation%2F Sir Sydney Smith had humble beginnings in a village at the heart of the Otago gold fields, near the southern tip of New Zealand. After a stint in the New Zealand Army during the First World War and a colourful career as a medical investigator in colonial Egypt, he went on to hold the Chair [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2270487 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:00:53 +0100 2270487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2263788&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqUgF6udQmUI%2F One hopes not. But the White House’s 60-day review of cyber security, ongoing now, could set the stage for it. In a TechKnowledge piece out today, I argue against federal responsibility for private cyber security. A common law liability regime is the best route to discovering and patching security flaws in all the implements of our information economy and society. The smarties at the Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton recently sat down to discuss these issues too. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2263788 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:32:15 +0100 2263788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256082&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fus-president-advocates-for-research.html US President Barack Obama announced a new emphasis on the integrity of science used to help make public policy decisions. As summarized by the NY Times,President Obama’s directive on Monday to 'guarantee scientific integrity' in federal policy making could have a far-reaching impact....The document orders Mr. Obama’s top science adviser to help draft guidelines that will apply to every federal agency. Agencies will be expected to pick science advisers based on expertise, not political ideology, the memorandum said, and will offer whistle-blower protections to employees who expose the misuse or suppression of scientific information.The idea, the president said in remarks before an audience of lawmakers, scientists, patients advocates and patients in the East Room, is to ensure that 'we ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256082 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:23:00 +0100 2256082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249699&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRZ0qanrTr0w%2F When President Obama opened today’s summit on health care  reform at the White House, he said: In this effort, every voice has to be heard. Every idea must be considered. Of course, he spoke those words to a room that contained not a single advocate of free-market health care reform. No one from the American Enterprise Institute (ranked the #5 think tank in the world for health policy) No one from the Cato Institute (ranked #7) No one from the National Center for Policy Analysis (ranked #10) No one from the Manhattan Institute No one from the Pacific Research Institute No one from the Galen Institute No one from the Heritage Foundation The list goes on… Obama did, however, invite people from left-wing think tanks, including avowed advocates of socialized medicine.  That mak... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249699 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:07:16 +0100 2249699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2232509&cid=t_299651_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fmeet-new-boss-same-as-old-boss-health.html Today we learned that President Obama has announced his new picks for Secretary of Health and Human Services and for Director of the White House Office for Health Reform. The choice of Nancy-Ann DeParle for the latter position raises some issues. The NY Times provides some background:He also named Nancy-Ann DeParle to coordinate health policy for the administration. Her position, counselor to the president and director of the White House Office for Health Reform, is not subject to Senate confirmation.Ms. DeParle was commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services from 1987 to 1989. Under President Bill Clinton, from 1997 to 2000, she was administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, now known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Since then, she has gain... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2232509 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:14:00 +0100 2232509