Holy Thimerosal! Vaccines do not have harmful chemicals - they are rigorously tested before being taken to market, and they are arguably the single-most effective preventive medicine in the history of the advancement of human health.

I think the data here really speaks for itself. I know that someone with the opposite perspective (like the journalist who runs the aforementioned site about australian helmet laws) could probably say the same thing, but well-run studies published in medical journals and reported by public health organizations all…

There has actually been substantial research into this, and it's extremely unlikely for an STI to be transmitted in this way. However, if your roommate has an enteric virus like Salmonella causing diarrhea or Norovirus - that's another story.

Using portable apps for firefox and chrome and syncing with Dropbox created an annoying problem for me. If, for example, I was using chrome on my laptop, put it to sleep with the browser still open, then went to go use chrome on my desktop, I'd end up with a bunch of duplicate files in the portable app folder due to…

While the connection between cholesterol and heart disease is controversial and nuanced, to call it unrelated to heart disease is an overstatement. While some research may be conflicting (this is actually common), it has connected cholesterol to plaque formation and atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke and heart…

Death is also a side effect of life.

I don't think volume is the only dangerous factor with respect to the safety of headphones while cycling. Even at low volume, the music itself is distracting and can reduce your attention and prolong your reaction time.

I realize that this advice is very general, but I'm surprised that moderate alcohol use isn't mentioned specifically - considering that obesity and tobacco get special mention.

I disagree. Cigarette smoke is more than just an unseemly odor. It's unhealthy, not just for your FiL, but also for his neighbors. It's not fair to say to new tenants: "there is a health hazard in this apartment that you're just going to have to put up with..."

Thanks for the clarification. I just realize that I was initially responding to ddrussianinja's question, and not yours - apologies.

While melatonin is a natural substance, there is actually some concern that over the counter melatonin may not actually be pure melatonin. This issue is currently being addressed by the FDA, which issued a June 2010 deadline to distributors, but the details are still being hammered out. ld be sure to buy from only…

How did it go? You also may want to think about what other foods or substances you are consuming throughout the day, particularly in the evening, that may contribute to difficulty falling asleep or bad sleep quality: ie, some allergy medications, alcohol, caffeine.

Sleep is very important. I think the teleological explanation is actually the most convincing: Every known animal on Earth sleeps, and if you consider the Darwinian disadvantage of being unconscious for a good chunk of the day, there must be something vital about sleep with respect to survival.

You should see a sleep specialist. There are a number of reasons this could be happening, and there are effective treatments for many of them! Among the many possibilities: sleep apnea (are you a snorer?) or Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (do you prefer to go to bed/wake really late?).

Floola is pretty easy - and free.

holla. also a great way to quickly lock the screen.

me, too. It's not often that it gets all the details right, though.

In Windows, is there a way to setup autologin, but just for the auto-startup (and not when you turn the computer on manually)?

Epocrates does this every year, so you can get it when you start med school. Good luck.

Maybe you already know this, but you can go directly to med school after college if you finish all your prereqs by the end of your junior year.