Goodman Firm Blawg

A Star Is Born

Here is an interesting NY Times article discussing a study of pro athletes and what make them better than other athletes. Is is just coincidence that many pro soccer players are born in the early months of the year? According to the article, the old sayings that "there is no substitute for hard work" and  "practice makes perfect," appear to be correct:

Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of pursuits, including soccer, golf, surgery, piano playing, Scrabble, writing, chess, software design, stock picking and darts. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiments with high achievers.

Their work, compiled in the "Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance," a 900-page academic book that will be published next month, makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers — whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming — are nearly always made, not born. And yes, practice does make perfect. These may be the sort of clichés that parents are fond of whispering to their children. But these particular clichés just happen to be true.

Medical Misdiagnosis

Here is an eye-opening NY Times article discussing the current state of medical care in the US. According to the article, doctors still misdiagnose nearly 20% of all major illness. This may not seem like much, but the numbers are important...and the doctors themselves realize they could be doing much better. The problem lies in the fact our medical system is geared towards testing and dispensing drugs and not necessarily taking the time to confirm the original medical diagnosis.

New Information on Chronic Pain

As a workers' comp lawyer, I often run into clients complaining of chronic pain. In some cases, the chronic pain complaints are given names such as RSD or peripheral neuropathy, but in many cases, there are no known causes of the pain complaints. This article discusses new findings that normal nerve fibers may actually be the cause of abnormal pain signal transmissions. We will need to keep an eye on this development.

Thank You Adenosine

According to this article, I need to thank my brain for producing adenosine which allows me to become a "deep sleeper." Hopefully this does not mean I am "asleep at the switch" during waking hours.....

First We Had Mice With Human DNA...Now This?

Scientists have re-created the Spanish flu virus responsible for the 1918 epidemic that killed 50 million people! They claim this procedure was done to gain a better understanding of the current avian "bird" flu currently making headlines in Asia. I consider myself fairly scientifically inclined, but this type of unknown lethal power being resurrected does cause me a great deal of concern....I have visions of George Costanza working in the lab and dropping a flu sample vial on the floor and shrugging it off with an "Oh well..."

Human Chromosome 21 Has Been Transplanted in Mice

This Reuters story outlines the recent announcement that scientists have successfully transplanted the human chromosome 21 into mice. This particular chromosome is the root of Down's Syndrome birth defects, when offspring inherit three copies of the chromosome (trisomy 21)instead of the usual pair.

I understand the potential for scientific development with this technology, but it does make me uneasy knowing there are now animals running around with human chromosomes in their bodies....thank goodness they used mice instead of rats...we certainly don't need a new breed of lawyers to deal with!

A Teenager's Brain?

Now there is proof that something biological (not just a bad attitude) is going on inside your teenager's head. As the father of a soon to be 13 year old, I can already see the changes!

Cobblestones Anyone?

According to this article, we would all be healthier if we start taking the road less traveled...especially if it is a cobblestone road.