September 2013
A look at fracking
September 30, 2013
This HND piece examines the Greenie's latest target: Fracking, a superb source of cheap natural gas
As I note:
The attitude of the environmental movement toward fracking is…interesting. You may recall not too long ago, that the Greens spoke with great praise of "clean-burning natural gas." Gas was even referred to as "The bridge fuel to the renewable energy future," and, its much lower carbon emissions were constantly touted. Note that this praise was lavished on natural gas before the rise of fracking.
To find out the simple—if sick—reason behind this, read the complete article.
Loren Feldman on comments
September 30, 2013
Based on recent experience on some big websites for which I write, I am inclined to agree (around 90 percent, anyway). In one particular case relating to a health care matter, a commenter seemed to delight in—paraphrasing a certain Jesus of Nazareth—ignoring the "plank" in his argument, while scrutinizing the speck in mine.
I have encountered this often, among what I tend to call "stat freaks," those who would endlessly and misguidedly analyze the quality of data while missing the obvious point of the research. Ironically, stat freaks tend to criticize the few good studies out there, while ignoring the junk science.
On political websites, you might see the "regulars" gang up on a newbie, just for being a newbie.
This sort of "engagement" probably scares off more visitors than it attracts.
More infection control woes
September 29, 2013
This HND piece examines the ongoing, ever ongoing problem of highly preventable infection control breaches. As I point out: Obamacare is driven by the "quite absurd notion that lack of universal insurance coverage is the biggest problem facing American health care."
Hardly. The biggest problem facing American health care is that we are paying drastically more than any other country in the world for our care, but our outcomes on average are markedly inferior. The single most important reason for this pathetic state of affairs is that our system hugely favors procedural and acute medicine over cognitive and preventive medicine.
Not surprisingly, infection control is a stepchild, even though there are at least 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections each year in the US, causing 99,000 deaths. Nearly all of these are preventable. This piece discusses two current cases.
The Promise Of mHealth
September 29, 2013
This HND piece covers the rapidly expanding world of the use of mobile and wireless devices to improve health outcomes, health care services, and health research—called "mHealth" for short.
While there are plenty of benefits with mHealth, few people seem to realize that it also provides virtually unlimited regulatory opportunities for the Feds. New vistas are thus being opened for the FDA, FTC, FCC, and HHS. Just what we need: More federal control of health care.
Read the complete article.
Prisoners
September 28, 2013
My review of this overrated pic is posted at the Mike's Comments. As I note, "Despite near unanimous critical praise, there are gaping plot holes, PC cliches galore, and precious little character development."
I could have done without the silly anti-Catholic sentiments, as well. The late Roger Ebert would probably have been quite conflicted about this movie. Read the complete review.