Monthly Archives: January 2016

Grandpa Shaddle’s workshop

Posted on January 28, 2016 by BigBill

When I was growing up in north central Illinois, my grandparents lived just across the street. Most houses in the Midwest have full basements, but my grandfather’s was special. Grandpa Shaddle loved woodworking and had a workshop in his basement, … Continue reading →

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Total recall

Posted on January 22, 2016 by BigBill

I grew up in a small farming community in north central Illinois. It’s still pretty much like it was some 6 decades later, but with different players and the Internet. Everyone knows everyone else; people belong to bowling leagues and … Continue reading →

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Looking for keys under a streetlamp

Posted on January 14, 2016 by BigBill

Why do RCTs of nutritional supplements often show no benefit? As I pointed out in a previous post, many of the large intervention trials over the past few years that have looked at the effect of nutritional supplements on health … Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition and eating, Science | Leave a comment

Nerdly aside: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) defined

Posted on January 7, 2016 by BigBill

The placebo effect is a well-known phenomenon in medicine. If a person is told they are being given an extremely powerful and effective new medication, a significant percentage will improve, even if they are not told the product they are being … Continue reading →

Posted in General commentary on the world as I see it..., Nutrition and eating | Leave a comment

It’s 2016!

Posted on January 1, 2016 by BigBill

Hard to believe, but another year is behind us and a new one just beginning. Actually, that’s true every single morning, but it seems we only take note of it on this day. It would be interesting to find out … Continue reading →

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