Live Free or Believe Anything: Matt Drew’s War on Vaccines: An Open Letter to Representative Matt Drew

Dear Representative Drew, House Bill 1811, your effort to repeal all statutory vaccine mandates in New Hampshire, was decisively rejected by the House on a 192–155 vote. Thirty‑four Republicans crossed over to join Democrats in killing the bill, a notable rebuke given the chamber’s narrow partisan balance. The margin suggests that, whatever sympathy some membersContinue reading "Live Free or Believe Anything: Matt Drew’s War on Vaccines: An Open Letter to Representative Matt Drew"

Adventures in Forensic Psychology: Continuing Education, Pseudoscience, and the CEU Shell Game

January Again: The Biennial Panic It's January, and it is already time for me to start making belated plans for fulfilling my continuing education requirements. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me, but this happens every two years. I put it off and put it off month after month until I really have to hustleContinue reading "Adventures in Forensic Psychology: Continuing Education, Pseudoscience, and the CEU Shell Game"

Pseudoscience, Protein Wars, and RFK Jr.’s Merry Band of Nitwits

I can’t help but be fascinated by RFK Jr. It’s kind of like driving by a motor vehicle accident-horrifying and yet you can’t look away. Granted, we live in strange times and there is so much to be horrified by that I have to take it in small doses. For years I’ve tried to helpContinue reading "Pseudoscience, Protein Wars, and RFK Jr.’s Merry Band of Nitwits"

Adventures in Forensic Psychology: Competence to Stand Trial

Whenever people ask me what I do for a living, and I say that I’m a forensic psychologist, I generally get some version of “Oh, that must be so cool!” I get it; the only exposure most people have to the professions is what they see on “L.A. Law” or “CSI.” Generally, they see aContinue reading "Adventures in Forensic Psychology: Competence to Stand Trial"

A Holiday Potpourri

Ok, we made it through X-mas relatively unscathed. It was actually pretty good. My son, his wife, and their dog. Gifts were exchanged, and large quantities of salmon, shrimp, steak tips, mashed potatoes and gravy and mushroom casserole were consumed. This was followed by Kay’s whisky cake and key lime pie, plus several other pies.Continue reading "A Holiday Potpourri"

From Practice to Presence: Pottery, Wabi-Sabi, and the Brain’s Subroutines

It’s Sunday, and over the last year I’ve developed a routine. I don’t really sleep late anymore, so on Sundays I’m usually up and around by 7 AM. A couple cups of French press half-caf, some net surfing, and maybe throw in a load of laundry. I’m usually at the pottery studio by noon; thisContinue reading "From Practice to Presence: Pottery, Wabi-Sabi, and the Brain’s Subroutines"

The House of Identical Lamps

Once upon a time there was a woman named Kay. She lived in a house with her husband, Eric. Kay liked to tap dance and play the ukulele. One evening, she sat thoughtfully in her living room, looking at the furnishings. A few years back, a hotel near their Manchester, New Hampshire, office had closedContinue reading "The House of Identical Lamps"

Gluten Sensitivity

In some of my earlier posts on subjects such as ivermectin and fluoride, I talked about ways that reasonably intelligent non-scientists can evaluate research. I think being able to do this is important for several reasons. Science denial and willful ignorance seem to be all around us these days, and while the right and MAGAContinue reading "Gluten Sensitivity"

Live Free or Die? Prohibition in New Hampshire

You may be aware that the state motto of New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die.” I once heard a comedian comment on this: “There’s a state that has had way too much coffee.” But you have to admire the sentiment; it's right up there with “Give me liberty or give me death” and “It'sContinue reading "Live Free or Die? Prohibition in New Hampshire"

Adventures in Fermentation: The Wonders of Kveik Yeast

I’ve mentioned in other posts my ongoing interest in brewing and fermentation. It started early, mostly as a byproduct of my desire to get hammered, but then it became what I would call a compelling interest. This reminds me of a quote from Freud in “Civilization and Its Discontents.”  “Life, as we find it, isContinue reading "Adventures in Fermentation: The Wonders of Kveik Yeast"