The current attack on ultra processed foods by RFK Jr is just a simpleminded binary. He’s treating food as medicine and then vilifying certain ingredients as bad or dangerous. What do you expect from someone with no training in public health? Take food coloring. Ever look at the pills you take: Advil, decongestant, laxative? Those […]
As a PhD student in genetics, my fellow grad students and I didn’t think the human genome would be sequenced in our lifetime. In the event, I got *my* genome sequenced years ago for $200. I’m happy to have been wrong. My point here is that prophecy about future technology is risky. So, what about […]
Personally, I think all inheritances should be taxed as income from the first dollar. If I inherit money, it’s effectively income. If you want your kids to have your money tax-free, give it to them before you die. If you have a household wealth of $2 million, you are in the top 10% of American […]
One of the bizarre features of American healthcare is that oral health is treated separately from the rest of healthcare. “Key Takeaways• Periodontal disease was linked to increased white matter damage, raising concerns for brain health.• Poor oral health also raised the risk of ischemic stroke and major cardiovascular events.• Neurologists were urged to include […]
My paternal grandfather grew up in Argentina. When I knew him in the 1960s and 70s, he was a bank VP in New York City. He would occasionally recite something in Spanish. The only thing I can recall is “Cinco pesos poca plata.” It’s even truer now than when he said it. “Finalizing a $20 […]
Asthma and hay fever rates among people who grew up in the former West Germany are significantly higher than among people who grew up in the former East Germany. In the GDR, factors like less pet ownership, different nutritional patterns, and exposure to pollutants like coal and wood smoke were linked to lower rates of […]
Preparing for old age needs to start when you’re young. Life habits of regular exercise, healthy diet, regular medical and dental check-ups, challenging mental activity and healthy social life. The goal is a long healthspan, not just a long lifespan. Financial planning is also important. Wealth and health are statistically correlated. “The wealthiest older Americans […]
Folks who had chicken pox as a child are at risk for shingles. In its extreme manifestation, shingles patients suffer pain to the point of suicidal ideation. The good news is that there’s a vaccine for that. And it not only prevents shingles. “Having shingles boosted the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such […]
Cryptocurrencies are a manifestation of The Greater Fool Theory of investing. A justification for cryptocurrencies is that they are unmoored from any government-regulated currency. Their primary utility, it turns out, is funding criminal activities. Stablecoins are a form of cryptocurrency linked to a government currency (the dollar, the rouble, etc). Of course, tethering the value […]
When we visited Rhode Island in April 2022 on a house-hunting trip, the housing market was red hot. We made offers on three houses, all in Providence. For the first, we made a cash offer but conditioned on inspection. That offer was immediately rejected. Our other two offers didn’t stipulate inspection, but we were out-bid. […]