Ebola–like many viruses, including the recently popular enterovirus 68–is spread by filth. Ebola thrives on poverty and disparity. Decency for the poorest is what makes a developed country a developed country: a place where one does not die from easily prevented diseases (among other things). Decency isn’t our long suit.

Sixteen thousand people volunteered for the study; unlike most, these weren’t people engaging in high risk behaviors like sex work or IV drug abuse. All received condoms, HIV prevention counseling, and an offer for HAART therapy if they became positive. Eight thousand received a placebo shot, the other half six doses of two distinct (and […]

Autism is not caused by vaccination. Autism is not caused by vaccination. Autism is not caused by vaccination. Autism is not caused by vaccination. Autism is not caused by vaccination. Autism is not caused by vaccination: …..a special federal court ruled Thursday that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and vaccines that contained a mercury-based preservative were not […]

For our little war on drugs, we’ve willfully ignored vast chunks of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments. We might imprison the highest percentage of the population and the greatest absolute number of people in the world–leaving #2 China deep in our dust in this one measure–but, surely, our population is one of the most […]

Dear Bill, Congratulations on your last day at Microsoft and welcome to the world of biomedical research! Everyone I know who endured a ‘billg’ review agrees—you’re apparently a bit of an ass. Quick to question and call bullshit, to point out errors or inconsistency, and to demand the best, willing to yell if yelling is […]