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Ignoring science at the risk of the next generation – water distribution of the Colorado
Elite Universities are just cartels.
Where’s the beef?
Where’s the chicken?

Since 2020, we have been able to buy Advil Dual Action, OTC pills that contain a fixed dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil). Who benefits from combining two medicines into one pill? Is it patients – or GSK that makes the product? I maintain it's the latter.

The pandemic has been with us for nearly four years, and while it is down, it is not yet out. Reactions to it varied across the nation, and looking back now to see how we have dealt with it seems appropriate.

Inevitably, there will be disruptions on airline flights due to unruly passengers. On rare occasions, passengers will need to assist the flight attendants in subduing a violent passenger. They should be prepared.

Unlike many colleagues, I did not come from a “medical” family. In my formative years, my father sold appliances and later real estate – he was flipping homes long before it became fashionable or lucrative. In any event, I think watching him sell and going for our Saturday outing to an open house gave me a slightly different view of communication with patients. Like those presidential candidates making the rounds in Iowa, medical communication is all about retail sales.

In 2019, I joined ACSH's contributing writers group because I admire the mission, and sought an outlet for some long-held dilemmas concerning the health effects of air pollution. Since then, my interests, along with those of my long-time colleague Sheldon Lipsky, have morphed along three tracks: air pollution, climate change, and original research on COVID-19. Here are a few articles on those topics.

Over the last 12 months, I continued with my preoccupation over EPA’s misrepresentation of the science in its treatment of PFAS, the “Forever Chemicals.” But Fluoride and Dutch Innovation also caught my fancy.

And here’s a soundoff of my favorite articles of the last year.

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of the topics I have covered this past year.
[apologies to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II]

The week between Christmas and the New Year has traditionally been a time of reflection on the past year. I joined the writing staff of the American Council on Science and Health at the beginning of 2023. As I look back over 100+ articles, ranging from “Holiday Heart” to Sickle Cell Disease, and from advances in science and health to shortcomings in communicating developments in public health, here are a few of my favorites.

My favorites of 2023, poor taste included.

Yours truly, Kris Kringle, has been informed that my fans are truly miffed because they haven’t seen me around lately. Truth be told, I am hiding out from the paparazzi, an occupational hazard of all the great and famous. But because you, my loyal ACSH fans, deserve to know. Truth be told, I am being sued.

Why do penile fractures occur more often around holiday time? Beats me. Get ready to sing.

For about a year, KinderFarms has been marketing a “non-toxic” pain and fever reliever for kids – except it’s really not non-toxic. What supposedly makes this medicine “safe” is the absence of “chemical preservatives.” Too bad. Had KinderFarms co-founder actress Jessica Biel put preservatives in her product, it might have been safer for us – and for her company’s bottom line.

Lars Larson began our most recent conversation by noting the increase in life expectancy in the U.S., largely due to advances in drug development. However, he quickly pivoted to criticize current drug shortages, which was the subject of a recent article of mine.

For those aching for a do-over on First Amendment rights and censuring COVID (mis)information on social media, your wish has been granted. Last month, the Ninth Circuit ruled on Facebook’s alleged censoring of anti-vaxx postings by RFK Jr.’s Children’s Health Defense.

While Congress twiddles its thumbs, pharmaceutical giants like Lilly, Pfizer, and Nova Nordisk are revolutionizing healthcare by slashing prices and tossing medical responsibility around like a hot potato. With their new direct-to-consumer model, they’re not just cutting out the middleman but slicing through the fabric of the physician-patient relationship. Who needs accountability when you’ve got savings and convenience?

This week’s reading is a mix of innovation, brainy body connections, and a dash of debunking. Apple engineers are turning AirPods into hearing aids—why stop at music when you can reinvent healthcare? Meanwhile, the vagus nerve is doing its mysterious thing, linking brain and body. And it turns out, that in the Blue Zones, living forever might just be creative bookkeeping.

Calley Means, co-founder of TruMed, recently raised concerns about conflicts of interest within the FDA and the influence of corporate funding on public health guidelines. Thereby, he joined the ranks of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr and his newfound friend, former President Trump, who argued for "a special Presidential Commission of independent minds who are not bought and paid for by Big Pharma."

Ukraine has recently begun deploying drones that drop burning thermite on Russian positions. Thermite, a 130-year-old invention, has proven to be a highly destructive weapon rooted in simple chemistry. However, while the science behind thermite is straightforward, its devastating consequences are far from it.

Ever wonder what it's like to participate in a medical study? When I signed up for a research study, I thought I’d learn something new about diet and health. It turns out that the real learning came from navigating blood tests, stool samples, and questionable food diaries — all while pretending that this was somehow a fun way to spend my time. At least I got a front-row seat to the unglamorous world of clinical research, where the hurdles are real, and the “patients” get a crash course in patience.

Some patients taking weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic, are beginning to report slower or no weight loss as their bodies build up a tolerance to the medication. Does this spell trouble for obese people looking to slim down long-term? Dr. Chuck Dinerstein reports his personal experience with the so-called Ozempic plateau.

Scientists often think they're smarter than they are because of their narrow academic expertise, according to a new study. Recent history is littered with corroborating examples in which experts made false declarations about COVID-19 and refused to acknowledge their errors. What drives this hubris, and how should the public respond to it?

Health is a complex equation with multiple variables: genetics, socioeconomic status, birthplace, luck, and more. The presence or absence of disease is not the only consideration for leading a healthy life. This has shifted how people seek medical care and guidance.

A long-time family friend had to decide whether to undergo five years of antiestrogen therapy following surgery and radiation for her breast cancer. The odds were high that she would be OK without the treatment and only slightly higher with it. Seven years ago, Elle Macpherson had to make the same decision. The right answer? There really isn't one.