Category Archives: Media Criticism

Business, Health, Media Criticism, Science And Society, Technology and Society

Statin-Induced Diabetes

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What is the scope of the problem?

I had my first real physical in years last week. My cholesterol was normal (for me): 140+, with a good ratio and very low tri-glycerides. But per the guidelines he wanted to put me on statins. I not only refused, but told him that not only would they not help with my situation (per the Pfizer web site, which he’s probably never actually read) but that I also thought they are vastly overprescribed, when diet is much more effective. He was surprised on both counts.

Business, Culinary, Economics, Health, Media Criticism, Philosophy, Political Commentary, Social Commentary, Technology and Society

Free-Market Meat

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Some thoughts on the tradeoffs with animal cruelty. I would love to get pork in a cruelty-free way, and I’d vastly prefer factory-manufactured steak and bacon, if it was indistinguishable in every way from that obtained by killing cattle and pigs.

[Update a while later]

This seems related, somehow: Vegan “pork” rinds.

I disagree with this, though:

Apparently, the gourmands have discovered pork rinds. Yes, the deep-fried, not at all good for you, salt-laden, very high fat, treat found rarely if ever outside the US South or (as chicharones) where there is a sizeable Mexican consumer pool.

They’re actually quite keto, because low carb (close to zero). There’s nothing wrong with high fat, as long as it’s not seed oils.

Business, Economics, Education, History, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Social Commentary, Technology and Society

Venezuela

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The collapse is near.

Via Stephen Green, who writes: “We’re watching the last chapter of Atlas Shrugged play out in Venezuela in realtime.”

Yes, it was supposed to be a cautionary tale, not a how-to manual.

[Update a few minutes later]

Aaaaand the water plants have shut down.

[Update mid-afternoon]

Trump’s biggest challenge: Educating the kids on socialism. We shouldn’t have to do this, but the schools clearly haven’t. And unfortunately, that’s no accident.

Business, Economics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Science And Society, Technology and Society

Keep Cars, But Don’t Make People Drive Them

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An alternate, and more realistic version of the Green Leap Forward.

Two points: I fear the day that we won’t be allowed to drive, except in special circumstances (like amusement parks).

Point Two: I suspect that a lot of current auto traffic will move to the air, with the advent of Urban Air Mobility, particularly if the vehicles can be powered from the ground (e.g., Jeff Greason’s and Dan DeLong’s Electric Sky is working on such a concept). Airbus has an interesting concept of moving passengers via passenger modules that are moved from one vehicle type to another, like cargo containers, in which you’d share a pod with people from your door to an aircraft, to a long-range aircraft, to another aircraft, to the other door. That’s a lot more interesting and flexible concept than high-speed rail.