sb admin
Posts by this author
In this post: the large versions of the Environment and Humanities channel photos, comments from readers, and the best posts of the week.
Environment. A glacier off the coast of Patagonia. From Flickr, by angela7dreams
Humanities. De humani corporis fabrica in Hunting Library, San Marino, CA…
Despite a short 30-day comment period, dozens of interested individuals and organizations provided comments to Asst. Secretary Leon Sequeira about his proposed so-called risk assessment policy. I've pulled some of my favorite excerpts for your consideration:
"The proposed rule is a parting…
In this post: the large versions of the Life Science and Physical Science channel photos, comments from readers, and the best posts of the week.
Life Science. A cheetah in the San Diego Wild Animal Park. From Flickr, by HBC4511
Physical Sciences. A Foucault pendulum in Milan, Italy. From…
The Labor Department has rejected calls from numerous public interest groups and even the chairman of its legislative oversight committee to conduct public hearings and extend the time period to provide feedback on its worker health risk assessment proposal. That…
Updated below: 9/29/08 5:00 pm
Over the last year, Matthew Faraci has served as the MSHA spokesman, providing official statements, for example, about the Crandall Canyon investigation, touting the Agency's progress implementing the MINER Act, and defending …
Bora and his crack team of editors are working on Open Laboratory 08, a collection of the year's best writing on ScienceBlogs. Head over there and nominate some stuff, from this blog and others.
That is all.
Morgellons "disease" is not a disease in any classic sense. There are no agreed-upon definitions of a case, so all else is meaningless. That being said, people are suffering. Since they feel ignored by doctors, they seek help elsewhere.
It's a problem in thinking, in some ways. When you don't…
I'm off to the west coast (of Michigan) for a few days, and if I don't blog, I shall die...or something. So I have a few posts from my old blog to share with you.
Often in the discussion of cult medicines such as homeopathy, acupuncture, and reiki, supporters fall back on "the wisdom of the…
I'm off to the west coast (of Michigan) for a few days, and if I don't blog, I shall die...or something. So I have a few posts from my old blog to share with you.
Sure, we all have our biases about food and health. I think chicken soup is great when you're sick---but not because of any proven…
I'm off to the west coast (of Michigan) for a few days, and if I don't blog, I shall die...or something. So I have a few posts from my old blog to share with you.
As my child approaches school age, I worry about school board battles a little bit more. I hate politics, but I can see myself forced to…
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced the winners of its 2008 MacArthur fellowships (or "genius grants").
Maggie Mahar at Health Beat links back to past stories on geriatrician Dr. Diane Meier and critical care specialist Dr. Peter Provnost.
Andrew…
What is my blood pressure? Is it OK?
Have I been checked for diabetes?
How is my cholesterol? Is that OK?
Am I due for any vaccinations?
Do I need any cancer screening, such as PSA, colonoscopy, mammogram, pap smear?
How is my weight? What is my body mass index (BMI)?
Here is my medication list--…
In this post: the large versions of the Medicine and Health, Brain and Behavior and Technology channel photos, comments from readers, and the best posts of the week.
Medicine and Health. From Flickr, by sevenbirches
Brain and Behavior. From Flickr, by Mandroid
Technology. Control…
But apparently he'd rather have me fill it with coffee. Really...I mean it. I love coffee, but c'mon now! I can't stand that this idiot is given time on public television during pledge drives to peddle his woo...
I stumbled across a website that goes on and on about the supposed vast conspiracy of…
by revere, cross-posted at Effect Measure
The Chinese food contamination scandal continues to widen. The European Union (EU) is now banning imports of all Chinese baby foods that contain milk. The problem is the presence of melamine, a cheap chemical used to make plastics that looks like protein in…
I'm off to the west coast (of Michigan) for a few days, and if I don't blog, I shall die...or something. So I have a few posts from my old blog to share with you.
This is rich. This is really rich. Mercola is speaking out against the one thing that keeps him in business: the scientific illiteracy…
Four U.S. Senators have written to Labor Secretary Chao and OSHA Asst. Secretary Foulke expressing serious concern that "OSHA has failed to make significant progress in addressing the continuing hazards" of diacetyl. They asked for a response by October 8 to four simple questions, including…
by revere, cross-posted at Effect Measure
Like a lot of other research scientists supported by NIH I got an email yesterday from NIH Director Elias Zerhouni announcing his intention to leave his position "to devote much of my attention to writing." At least it wasn't the hackneyed "to spend more…
Once a cancer has been diagnosed, we must use our knowledge of biology, medicine, and clinical trials to plan treatment. Treatment can be curative or palliative (that is, with a goal of reducing symptoms or extending life, rather than effecting a cure).
Understanding cancer treatment requires a…
In this post: the large versions of the Education and Career and Politics channel photos, comments from readers, and the best posts of the week.
Education and Career. From Flickr, by foundphotoslj
Politics. British anit-war protest. From Flickr, by dAVIDb1
Reader comments of the week:
The…
Itâs become increasingly evident over the past few years that many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained mild traumatic brain injuries, often from being in the vicinity of a powerful blast. (See last monthâs New York Times article for details.) Symptoms can range from…
J. Davitt McAteer, who served as acting Solicitor of Labor for nearly two years,* submitted formal objections today on DOL's proposed risk assessment rule, and indicated that if the Administration "refuses to withdraw the proposal," he asks for public hearings [plural] and an extension…
By Olga Naidenko
Maybe our government should listen to what the people have to say? I mean, not all the time, not every day â surely, that would be too much to ask for â but at least every once in a while? Occasionally? And even consider those public opinions with a modicum of respect? Ah, what a…
In this post: the large versions of the Environment and Humanities and Social Science channel photos, comments from readers, and the best posts of the week.
Environment. The ocean off Jamaica. From Flickr, by rappensuncle
Humanities and Social Science. A crowd in Venice Beach, California.…
Once again, I find myself straying into a political issue (although I'd argue that it's more a human rights issue). I understand that I'm probably in the minority in this country in my opposition to the death penalty. My fellow Americans generally vote to allow it, and my vote only counts once.…
Environmental Health News is a key resource for people who want to stay up-to-date on environmental issues, and itâs now gotten even better. John Peterson Myers, whoâs made the site (especially its Above the Fold daily news update) an invaluable resource that so many of us rely on, has now…
This story is disturbing for a host of reasons, but there's a medical ethics issue hiding in here.
Apparently, if you work for the Long Island Railroad, you can retire at 50, then claim disability for a job you no longer have, and collect both a disability check and a pension. I shit you not. But…
In this post: the large versions of the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences channel photos, comments from readers, and the best posts of the week.
Life Sciences. Solenostemon, a genus of perennial plants native to tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia. From Flickr, by (Bill and Mavis) - B&M…
During a recent one-on-one interview with the Charleston Gazette, MSHA chief Richard Stickler said his agency will not be issuing more protective health standards to protect miners from coal workers' pnuemoconiosis during his tenure. In Ken Ward's article (Sept 14), Stickler says:
"There's…