A showboating Bill Gates caused a momentary flurry of fear when he released a bunch of mosquitoes at the high-powered TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference, indicating to the prestigious movers and shakers he was addressing there that they should … Continue reading →
The California woman who gave birth to octuplets last Monday is now revealed to be the mother of six other children. What’s more, they are alleged to be living with her and her parents, and not a father in sight—except … Continue reading →
Depressed about the recession? If you are, research indicates that, unless you are directly affected by losing your job or some other dramatic loss, the downturn in your mood won’t last long. And even if you have been directly affected … Continue reading →
After the Panetta debacle, it’s a tremendous relief to hear of a possible Obama appointee I can support with enthusiasm: CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General. First of all, there’s the lovely euphony and alliteration of it all: SanjayGupta/SurgeonGeneral. … Continue reading →
Just as in Lake Woebegone, where all the children are above average, it seems that most “older” people (defined as over seventy) are convinced they look younger than they actually are. About ten years younger on average, in fact. They … Continue reading →
It’s come to this, I’m afraid. Social engineering against obesity in England has reached new heights (depths?): In Manchester, Britain’s third largest city with half a million people, residents will begin carrying electronic tracking tags that log how far they … Continue reading →
It turns out that having a Walmart in the neighborhood is associated with a slight weight loss in the surrounding population. Researchers are at a loss (pun intended) to determine the reason this might be. But their guess is that … Continue reading →
I grew up in an era in which abortion was both difficult to obtain and physically dangerous. Today’s commonplace alternative of raising the child as an unwed single mother was socially unacceptable in the extreme. Effective birth control was nowhere … Continue reading →
It’s an odd fact that in recent decades a startling proportion of Presidents have been left-handed, and no one really has a clue why, although guesses abound. The list includes Truman, Ford, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II—as well … Continue reading →
I’m with Rachel Lucas on this one. Boy, am I ever. Rachel has unearthed a study that should be nailed to the doors of every nursing home in America. It found that the widespread practice of talking to the elderly … Continue reading →
Susan Estrich has written a lovely tribute to Tony Snow. Yes, Susan Estrich, she of the grating voice (with an abrasive timbre almost identical to that of Carol Channing) and the liberal viewpoint. But that didn’t stop her from liking … Continue reading →
In my continuing quest to lighten up and at least slightly de-Obamafy this page, I’m weighing in on the pressing question posed by this Time Online piece: does breast augmentation lead to—or is it a sign of—impending divorce? Since I’m … Continue reading →