public health
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Science
The “Herd Mentality” is Not a Public Health Strategy..
Last night Strange and I tuned into the presidential debate, like many other Americans. Our family has decided (like many readers of this site) who we will support, but it feels like the duty of any responsible American to tune into some basic events – the State of the Union, the Presidential Debates, and statements from the Oval Office. I…
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Science
Personal Tolls of the Return to In-Person Teaching
I’ve been away from The Chicks for several weeks because I’ve been working on my promotion package. There are lots of people going through some seriously heavy shit right now. I’m more fortunate than most, but I’m not sure I’ll ever forget this summer. Getting ready for faculty promotion is already a high stress gambit. But, I did it in…
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Activism
Step Away From Your Z-Pack…
Our president is going to get people killed. I don’t say this lightly. His actions today fall nothing short of reckless. Earlier today, President Trump tweeted: ….be put in use IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE ARE DYING, MOVE FAST, and GOD BLESS EVERYONE! @US_FDA @SteveFDA @CDCgov @DHSgov — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2020 Yes, calling for the FDA to act…
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Featured
Water, Water, Lies About Water Everywhere
In Portland we are currently being treated to a three-ring circus of anti-fluoridation woo. In the first full week of May we will be voting on whether or not to fluoridate the public water supply. The debate about it seems to have been plucked almost directly from the John Birch Society circa 1961. There are shadowy conspiracies of doctors,…
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Activism
Bugs and Critical Thinking
I’m often asked why I consider my bugology writing to be skeptical. The connection between skepticism and entomology isn’t always immediately apparent, I guess, but it seems quite logical to me. There are many, many bogus devices that claim to repel insects, and I think it’s important to name names. There are far too few convictions for fraud in the insect repellent business. I’ve called…
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