Some time ago, I read an excellent book by Michael Lewis called The Premonition: A Pandemic Story. In it, the author follows a group of dedicated researchers and a public health officer who fearlessly follow the science of the emerging pandemic, frequently facing obstructions and even threats to their
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Writings of J. Todd Ring: Global Health System Failure – It’s Not What You Think
Who do we turn to for reliable health information? That is one of the critical questions we need to ask now. (Another is, when is it justified to suspend all civil rights, due process of law, and constitutional rule? Hint: never.) What the media is telling us is that: a)
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Coronavirus Update – Panic or Propaganda? Both? Or Simply Mass Insanity? All The Above
As of today, the mass media hype and hysteria over the latest exotic virus continues to spread, unabated. In its wake, mass insanity is spreading nearly as fast. Let’s step back, and look at the figures, to try and gain some much-needed perspective. As of today, 3,200 people have died
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Danger and Delusion: From ISIS to Ebola
There are very real dangers in the world, but let’s not lose all perspective. Perspective is everything. Don’t believe the hype. It must be stated directly: the majority of people have wildly irrational, and frankly delusional modes of thinking when it comes to risk assessment. And of course, pre-formed, unreflective
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Ebola, the President, and Quarantines: Who will protect Americans, and how?
Ebola nurse Kaci Hickox Today we saw an ebola nurse defy the order of the Governor of her state to remain in quarantine, after she returned from ebola-stricken Africa. Kaci Hickox took to the streets to indicate her opposition, by riding her bicycle. And Governor Paul LePage of Maine was
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: US CDC Autism Prevalence Estimates Challenged
I didn’t see this autism “controversy” brewing. The authors of an article published in the Sage Autism journal have challenged the credibility of the US CDC autism prevalence figures. The full article is on line and free for viewing (PDF also available free) at: Should we believe the Centers for
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Rates Reach New Epidemic Levels? Round Up the Usual Suspects!
“The usual suspects The people habitually suspected or arrested in response to a crime. The phrase is usually used in regard to scapegoats rather than actual perpetrators of the crime in question. This expression has a specific and unambiguous origin. It was spoken by Captain Louis Renault, the French prefect
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Canada’s Autism Epidemic? To Start With We Have to Use American Numbers 1in 88 Children, 1 in 54 Boys
The CDC in the US has released new numbers on the autism epidemic in the US. It now estimates that 1in 88 children (1 in 54 boys) have an autism disorder. There are no known, reliable estimates available for Canada which has not updated its autism estimates in several years.
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