White Coat Underground
Archives for July, 2009
No, I’m not tipping over
Posted by PalMD on July 22, 2009 If you look to your left, you may notice me paddling a black and white cedar-strip and canvas canoe. I am not about to dump into the water—the “lean” is proper solo canoeing posture. A few years decades back, I was the canoeing director at a Canadian summer camp and taught hundreds of kids how…
What’s up with Michael Jackson’s doctor?
Posted by PalMD on July 22, 2009 Since I abhor the entombment of real news beneath the Michael Jackson story, I didn’t think I’d be posting about it, but here I am. You see, Jackson was reportedly under the “care” of a privately hired physician when he died, and was being treated with medications not normally used outside the hospital. I have…
Having a daughter in my late 30′s, I began my fatherhood journey a bit later than many. I don’t have much to compare it with, but I do wonder how I’m going to keep up with the little princess. Mrs. Pal got us a Trail-a-Bike for Father’s day—that’s one of those “half bikes” you hook…
Open Letter to Fred the Pool Nazi
Posted by PalMD on July 21, 2009 Dear Fred: First, I’d like to thank you for guarding the integrity of the swimming pool in my folks’ neighborhood. I know they feel safer because of you. On that proud day twenty years ago, the day they handed you the thin cotton t-shirt with the banded collar and sleeves that reads “Pool Monitor”, who…
DSHEA: a travesty of a mockery of a sham
Posted by PalMD on July 20, 2009 In 1994, Congress enacted the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). This act allows for the marketing and sales of “dietary supplements” with little or no regulation. This act is the work of folks like Tom Harkin (who took large contributions from Herbalife) and Orrin Hatch, whose state of Utah is home to many…
Caritas, tzedakeh, etc.
Posted by PalMD on July 19, 2009 One of my Sciblings, one Ethan Siegel has issued a charity challenge. If one hundred commenters head over to his place and leave a comment assuring him that they will donate 10 USD to the charity of their choice, and name the charity, he will cut off his luxuriant locks. Please, do it. His hair…
Yes, this post is a repeat from long ago, but I was reminded dig it up after reading a piece at a friend’s blog. Thanks for indulging me. –PalMD If Bob Dylan provides the soundtrack for much of my life, then coffee provides the “smelltrack”. I did not start to drink coffee until I was…
PalCast 13: Medicine, Communication, Quackery, and Death
Posted by PalMD on July 19, 2009 Yes, the new PalCast is finally up. Get it through the feed or on iTunes. Perfect for 18min30sec car rides!
Unscientific America: When being right isn’t enough
Posted by PalMD on July 17, 2009 If you’ve dipped even one toe into the science blogosphere lately, you’ve seen discussion of Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum’s new book, Unscientific America: How scientific illiteracy threatens our future. I have very little interest in the arguments currently raging but not because I don’t care. The book makes interesting arguments, some of which I…
Are we insane?
Posted by PalMD on July 16, 2009 An old medical joke goes like this: An oncologist goes to check on his patient, a 90 year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease and metastatic pancreatic cancer. The doc is about to start him on a new round of chemo, but when he goes to the patient’s room, he’s not there. He demands of the nurse,…