Typhoid Mamey Strikes

Another in a sobering series of food-borne outbreaks is recognized. This time, Typhoid Mamey was identified as the cause of smoothie (and milkshake) induced episodes of life-threatening typhoid fever here in California, as well as in Nevada.

Why the big alert, if only a few cases have been identified? First, typhoid is a serious infection. […]

Lady Gaga’s claim: Can you actually be an “occasional” cocaine user?

The last two days’ news have made it feel like cocaine week: President Obama finally signed a long-overdue law equalizing mandatory sentencing between powder cocaine and crack cocaine users. On a truly tragic note, a 21 year old UC student is reported to be brain damaged and living on life support after lying for three […]

What’s Really Happening In Haiti? An Interview With Two People Who Know?

As the six-month mark has arrived, there’s suddenly been more about Haiti in the news, tales of paralysis and corruption and despair. But almost all of these reports are from people who’ve flown in for a quick visit – one Esquire reporter even starts his story describing how he didn’t step outside his hotel during […]

5 Crucial (and Weird) Whooping Cough Facts To Know!

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As a whooping cough epidemic hits California, you may be asking yourself, “hey, weren’t we all vaccinated for that?” Even as the headlines imply a Victorian-level outbreak of hacking and coughing, perhaps you’re looking around and wondering where, exactly, this epidemic is located. And what you should know about whooping cough […]

Airline Fees At The Doctor’s Office

It finally happened. Last night, in a close vote along party lines, the Senate failed to block a scheduled 21% cut in Medicare pay to doctors. While there’s nothing less appealing than a doctor whining about their pay, keep in mind that this Medicare pay cut now means that your primary care doctor will be […]

Empathy, Character and Emotional Intelligence

Against the backdrop of a rapid decline of California whites into the minority, and with a California Democrat asserting that the Arizona immigration law was fueled by white supremacists, and the New York Times reporting that the California G.O.P. governor’s race will be defined by immigration, the battle lines seemed to have hardened on this […]