Alternative Medicine (cont.)

A JunkScience.com fan sent a note of inquiry about a surge in alternative medicine talk and linked me to an item on WebMD about Alternative and Complementary methods of treating pain. Actually that is one place where the placebo effect of unscientific medicine can have good effects.
Let’s consider. Medicine for pain and psych stuff should always be liberally sprinkled with placebo laced methods. They work.
Benefits from placebo effect don’t mean you’re faking, it means you are cooperating and finding some chemical neurohumeral and psychological benefits.
Continue reading Alternative Medicine (cont.)

Sewerage? Now there's a Wonderful Idea

In a good share of the world public health policy making is about important stuff–not big gulps and sugary drinks, but real progress like sewers and toilets and a safe water supply. India is developing or developed country (in some areas), just like any 3rd world country, they have a way to go for much of their population.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/Building-Toilets-Key-to-Improving-Public-Health/2013/12/28/article1968656.ece

Breast Cancer Screening

I won’t wear out the debate on mammography.
Here are the recommendations that focus on the high risk BRCA genetic trait. You might recall a very intense debate on mammogram screening of young women and then another debate on prophylactic mastectomy. Lots of strong opinions, the rate of cancer of the breast is very, very age related with a few exceptions.
http://acsh.org/2013/12/task-force-updates-breast-cancer-screening-recommendations/

Oh the Fear, Oh the Anxiety–Resistant Bugs Caused by Farmers

I have been practicing medicine now for 42 years and I am still using Amoxicillin, a penicillin family (called beta lactam) antibiotic, for respiratory infections in children, with great success. Amoxicillin became available in the 60s as I recall, as a better form of penicillin. I have personally prescribed a river of Amoxicillin, the pink bubble gum stuff, as the mommies say.
So why do journalists declare another “crisis” related to resistant bugs? Because that’s what journalists do and a crisis makes news.
Continue reading Oh the Fear, Oh the Anxiety–Resistant Bugs Caused by Farmers

This is Summer in the Antarctic–What's going on?

Goddard has got me confused–a while ago on a post that I did about increases in Antarctic Ice I screwed up because the report was old, from the previous winter in the Antarctic, now Goddard has me all confused on this new record cold and ice for Antarctica–this is Antarctic Summer ice? Record for Summer? I would suppose.
The date is Dec 25.
The color coded planet map shows Antarctic is dark blue? Of course I always point out its freezing down there all the time.
https://twitter.com/SteveSGoddard/status/416194792691748865
I need to take a nap.

From the NYT Vault–Climatology is ??

This is good stuff from the archives.
Weather and meteorology guys get a forum to criticize climatologists, in the NEEEW YOOOOORK TIIIIMES
http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2013/12/25/1977-meteorologists-said-that-climate-scientists-arent-real-scientists/

More Education Babble from the Feds

Now the Sec of Education claims that the Feds aren’t trying to influence the Common Core development. They claim it is a state driven thing, but we know better, don’t we? The carrot is money, the states always sit up for money.
Continue reading More Education Babble from the Feds

EPA air pollution scare debunked by best data set ever assembled on particulate matter and deaths

Airborne Fine Particulate Matter and Short-Term Mortality: Exploring the California Experience,2007-2010. Continue reading EPA air pollution scare debunked by best data set ever assembled on particulate matter and deaths

Obamacare is Built on a Pile of Junk Science

By John Dale Dunn MD JD
Junk Science can be a basis for bad policy, let’s consider Obamacare–the fix that has failed. Failed the great American Healthcare System and may auger its demise. Shame on us. I cannot provide you with enough information on this tragedy if you are not already alerted. Too bad, you’re stupid.
Continue reading Obamacare is Built on a Pile of Junk Science