There was a lot this week: The animosity at the G-7 summit between the US leaders and the European leaders, the Justice Department's move that could end the ACA's coverage for pre-existing condition, the critical importance of the flu vaccine, and the death of both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. It's odd how someone whom … Continue reading This week and Anthony Bourdain
Political/Social Ramblings
Exploring California Part 6: VOTE tomorrow in your primary elections
California primary election is coming up on June 5th (tomorrow) and if you are a California resident, please go out and vote. What the primary election does is it narrows down the field of possible applicants (which is what they are--they apply, we decide) for state positions. Like a few other states, California has a … Continue reading Exploring California Part 6: VOTE tomorrow in your primary elections
First they came for the Socialists.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a … Continue reading First they came for the Socialists.
Tolerance Through Books
So much of history is forgotten so quickly -- out of sight, out of mind as my mother says. We forget how quickly we can devolve in our worst selves. We stand upright, we opine on matters intellectual, we think for ourselves, but we can rapidly fall apart into an animalistic them vs us perspective. We need … Continue reading Tolerance Through Books
No thanks, University of Chicago
A lot has changed in the past few months. I am now an intern, we are less than a hundred days away from a historic election, parts of Louisiana are once again under water, Epipen prices are more than quadrupled in price since 2007, and University of Chicago sent out a letter to its incoming freshman … Continue reading No thanks, University of Chicago
When I Woke Up Yesterday
When I woke up yesterday, I checked my phone. Hillary Rodham Clinton took the popular vote in California. Not by a little but by winning nearly 56% of the vote, a wide margin. And with that, she effectively became the democratic presidential nominee. I did not think I would see the day that a major … Continue reading When I Woke Up Yesterday
Bad Science in the Media
According to the NYTimes and some researchers at the University of Washington, giving your kid a warning before turning off the TV doesn't help the transition go smoothly. Except that's not what the study found. They had parents keep diaries of children's screen time, and found that transitions that were preceded by warnings don't go any … Continue reading Bad Science in the Media
Something Happened To the Middle Class–They got Rich
A lot of political discussion over the last few months/years has been centered on the middle class--specifically how growing inequality has been rough, and the middle class has been "Hollowed Out". The Financial Times has a nice graph that shows just how true this is. Back in 1971, the income distribution looked almost like a … Continue reading Something Happened To the Middle Class–They got Rich
Free College For Northerners (or Why the South Votes Clinton)
As the primary season winds on, I hear a bit of dismay from Sanders supporters that he never seemed to get within 30 points of Clinton below the Mason Dixon line, without much thought about what this might mean beyond the electoral math. This is unfortunate, because while Sanders aims to fix the political system so it … Continue reading Free College For Northerners (or Why the South Votes Clinton)
DIY Candy Gifts 2016
Hello world! I'm doing a gift post before January! I'm so happy, it's an accomplishment really. The joys of being a fourth year medical student. Anyways, this year I've tried using the phrase "holiday gifts" or "winter gifts" rather than Christmas gifts to be more inclusive to those people that don't celebrate Christmas. I don't, … Continue reading DIY Candy Gifts 2016
The Clumsy Cook 