Category Archives: Science/Medicine

Math Doodles

This is for Benjamin:

Via Robert Krulwich’s Blog.

Posted in Science/Medicine | 1 Comment

Richard Holbrooke, RIP

Another, if rather grim, reminder of how lucky I am to be doing so well.: Veteran Diplomat Richard Holbrooke Dies

I’ve read that if you don’t make it to the hospital within an hour of the aorta bursting, that’s pretty much it for your chances. I walked in maybe 20 minutes after the back pain started, and ended up collapsing in the receiving area of the emergency room while answering the paperwork questions. Which if you are going to pick a place to collapse is not such a bad choice.

Since my discharge from the hospital, I’ve met a lot of medical personnel and EMTs who tell me that a burst in the aorta is one of the things that they train for, over and over — but not something they see that often. And clearly, a walking, talking, fairly hale survivor is even more unusual.

Earlier: Aortas in the News.

Posted in Personal, Science/Medicine | 3 Comments

Aortas in the News

Richard Holbrooke has suffered an aortic dissection. This is more or less the same thing that happened to me nine months ago. Being 69, his prognosis cannot be good. Being one of the lucky ones, partly because I was much younger, I can’t help but hope he somehow pulls through. If he does, don’t expect him on any shuttle diplomacy for a while: I’m not 100% yet myself, although I’m getting there.

Posted in Science/Medicine | 2 Comments

It Was Just a Fad

Hand sanitizer only last for two minutes, not effective at killing germs long-term

And we have these things up all over the campus.

Posted in Science/Medicine | 5 Comments

Most Terrifying Headline of the Day

It's only 8:30 am here, but I confidently predict I have seen the most terrifying headline of the day: Energy Committee Chairman Candidate Says God Promised no More Catastrophic Climate Change after Noah.

Elections have consequences. They are not always good consequences.

Posted in Science/Medicine | 8 Comments

Ed Felton to FTC Chief Technologist

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Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz today announced that Ed Felten, one of the best technology & society people I know, will be the FTC's first ever Chief Technologist.

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz today announced the appointment of Edward W. Felten as the agency’s first Chief Technologist. In his new position, Dr. Felten will advise the agency on evolving technology and policy issues.

Dr. Felten is a professor of computer science and public affairs and founding director of the Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton University. He has served as a consultant to federal agencies, including the FTC, and departments of Justice and Defense, and has testified before Congress on a range of technology, computer security, and privacy issues. He is a fellow of the Association of Computing Machinery and recipient of the Scientific American 50 Award. Felten holds a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering from the University of Washington.

Dr. Felten’s research has focused on areas including computer security and privacy, especially relating to consumer products; technology law and policy; Internet software; intellectual property policy; and using technology to improve government.

“Ed is extraordinarily respected in the technology community, and his background and knowledge make him an outstanding choice to serve as the agency’s first Chief Technologist,” Leibowitz said. “He’s going to add unparalleled expertise on high-technology markets and computer security. And he also will provide invaluable input into the recommendations we’ll be making soon for online privacy, as well as the enforcement actions we’ll soon bring to protect consumer privacy. We’re thrilled to have him on board.”

Dr. Felten currently is a part-time consultant for the FTC. He will start full time as Chief Technologist in January.

This is good. Congratulations to the FTC, and thank you to Ed for doing this.

Posted in Science/Medicine | 3 Comments