The news is out that a way to objectively document a patient’s pain is being developed: A team at Stanford University in California used computer learning software to sort through data generated by brain scans and detect when people were … Continue reading →
On body perception and the brain: This phenomenon doesn’t surprise me in the least. After my arm surgery, when my right elbow was frozen for a long time, I lost some of the sense that the arm belonged to me. … Continue reading →
I was going to write a post about the second anniversary of Lockerbie bomber al Megrahi’s release, commenting on my lack of surprise at his continued existence despite the initial prediction that he had only three months to live. Meanwhile, … Continue reading →
…and hope for the best. The latest suggestion is that nothing much that you can do matters—although of course it’s best not to off yourself prematurely if you want to reach three figures. One thing that might help would be … Continue reading →
I can’t say I knew much about Amy Winehouse until her death, although I’d vaguely heard of her. But from what I’ve read since, it appears she exemplified a type of addict who is extraordinarily difficult to help—defiant and resistant … Continue reading →
Until someone else wins the Republican nomination, or until Michele Bachmann drops out of the running—whichever comes first—there will be a relentless drumbeat to destroy her. This much I know. The latest salvo is the allegation that she gets severe … Continue reading →
Last week I visited two elderly relatives who’ve recently moved to an assisted living facility not too far from me. They’re in their mid-eighties, and although they’ve been married for more than 50 years they live in separate wings of … Continue reading →
Competitive eating is an exceedingly odd—not to mention distasteful—sport. I’m not at all into watching people stuff their faces at rates that seem physically impossible and at the very least highly undesirable. But I was reminded of it recently because … Continue reading →
While we’re talking about diets (and we were, yesterday), let me just say that I don’t think much of the Atkins diet. It’s an eating plan a number of commenters touted on yesterday’s thread. I’m sure it’s fine for some … Continue reading →
Strauss-Kahn’s accuser appears to be quite a piece of work. She’s a serial liar and an operator, at least as far as her immigration story goes. She said she was gang-raped in Guinea, and apparently this was not the case. … Continue reading →
There’s evidence that one of the main reasons people are more overweight these days is that they eat more snacks. I can believe it. Remember when we were young, and people weren’t supposed to eat between meals? When was the … Continue reading →
Perhaps I should have known better than to eat at IHOP, a place I hadn’t visited in years. I ordered an omelet with cheese and spinach. Sounds healthful enough. And it was rather tasty, too. Came with mediocre hash browns … Continue reading →