Dr. X's Free Associations

Neuroimmunological Theory of Mental Illness

NY Times:

He Got Schizophrenia. He Got Cancer. And Then He Got Cured. A bone-marrow transplant treated a patient’s leukemia — and his delusions, too. Some doctors think they know why.

A Conservative Appeal To Swing Election Voters

Look at this photo conservative voters in WV, ND, IN, FL, MO, MT, MI, TN, AZ, NV https://t.co/qcKAUj7R5b

— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) September 27, 2018

Just a random photo Matt Schlapp wants you to look at. Pictured are Senators Hirono, Booker and Harris.

And here's a random photo of what Matt Schlapp looks like without a white hood.

Schlapp is the head of the American Conservative Union. His wife, Mercedes, is a senior staffer in the Trump White House.

Daily Aspirin For Healthy Seniors... Maybe Not

Science Direct:

In a large clinical trial to determine the risks and benefits of daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older adults without previous cardiovascular events, aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical disability).

[...]

The group taking aspirin had an increased risk of death compared to the placebo group: 5.9 percent of participants taking aspirin and 5.2 percent taking placebo died during the study.

ASPREE is an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 19,114 older people (16,703 in Australia and 2,411 in the United States). The study began in 2010 and enrolled participants aged 70 and older; 65 was the minimum age of entry for African-American and Hispanic individuals in the United States because of their higher risk for dementia and cardiovascular disease. At study enrollment, ASPREE participants could not have dementia or a physical disability and had to be free of medical conditions requiring aspirin use. They were followed for an average of 4.7 years to determine outcomes.

So if you're an older adult, and not afflicted with dementia or cardiovascular disease, it might not be a good idea to take a daily preventive dose of aspirin.

*Merrick Garland*

Sarah Sanders says every Supreme Court nominee deserves a vote https://t.co/b45t9cypGr pic.twitter.com/hxNuNpMmDj

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) September 25, 2018

Woman Who Vouched For Kavanaugh Hurt By Yearbook Insinuation

Slate:

“The word ‘Renate’ appears at least 14 times in Georgetown Preparatory School’s 1983 yearbook, on individuals’ pages (including Kavanaugh's page) and in a group photo of nine football players, including Judge Kavanaugh, who were described as the ‘Renate Alumni,’” the Times reports. “Two of Judge Kavanaugh’s classmates say the mentions of Renate were part of the football players’ unsubstantiated boasting about their conquests.” The former students the Times spoke to offered differing versions of what “Renate Alumni” meant exactly, with the more charitable reading asserting it was a reference to those that dated Schroeder.

Earlier this month, Renate Schroeder Dolphin was one of the 65 women who signed a letter in support of Kavanaugh in response to the sexual assault allegation from Christine Blasey Ford that dates back to their high school years. “We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983,” the letter begins. “For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect.”

“I learned about these yearbook pages only a few days ago,” Dolphin said in a statement to Times about the yearbook. “I don’t know what ‘Renate Alumnus’ actually means. I can’t begin to comprehend what goes through the minds of 17-year-old boys who write such things, but the insinuation is horrible, hurtful and simply untrue. I pray their daughters are never treated this way. I will have no further comment.”

George Gehring at Commonweal writes about contradictions in Catholic prep school formation that can foster both a sense of macho entitlement and an attitude of service to others.

From the video description: Bay of Islands NZ Animal Rescue volunteer Lucie Green was taking 9-year-old Kawakawa rescue dog Lily for a walk when she decided to treat the pedigree basset hound to a sausage.

The President of The United States

I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018

Incredibly dumb, even for Trump.

Boy, oh boy.

Yesterday we learned that Michael Cohen has been participating in hours of interviews with Robert Mueller. So now it appears Cohen is cooperating with Mueller on Russia matters, with the federal attorney for the SDNY regarding campaign finance matters & possibly other non-Russia matters (e.g. banking issues, money laundering), and addressing charitable foundation issues with the NY AG.

Emily Jane Fox of Vanity Fair and Donny Deutsch have been speaking with Cohen for some time, and they commented this morning in appearances on Joe Scarborough's show:

Fox: [Cohen] also feels like the president did absolutely nothing to protect him. In fact he did things to actively hurt him. He has absolutely no reason, no feeling like I'm going to do anything to protect him [Trump].

On why the president didn't bring Cohen into the White House to protect him:

Fox: My sense is that the president knew that Michael Cohen had done bad things on his behalf and on his own and so cut bait. That was the strategy.

Michael Cohen still lives in the building where Jared and Ivanka live. This is someone who is so inextricably tied and linked to the entire Trump family, who worked side-by-side with all three of his adult children. He also has felt in the last couple of months that there has been a concerted effort by Don Jr, by Jared Kushner, by Rudy Giuliani to throw him under the bus. Not just the president, but his children as well. It's just a dangerous place for the Trump family.

Donny Deutch: I think there's more loathing towards Junior and Jared, particularly Junior because there was this built-in affection for the boss for a long time. There's that scorned feeling. But his brow would even furrow more when he would talk about the kids. But to the opening tease, Trump has a lot to worry about... a lot. And Emily and I have both been privy to a lot of things that Michael knows and uh... boy, oh boy.

I thought Mexico was paying for the wall

I want to know, where is the money for Border Security and the WALL in this ridiculous Spending Bill, and where will it come from after the Midterms? Dems are obstructing Law Enforcement and Border Security. REPUBLICANS MUST FINALLY GET TOUGH!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2018

Franklin Graham's strange notion of "respect"

Boldface added.

 Franklin Graham:

Well, there wasn't a crime committed.

These are two teenagers and it's obvious that she said no and he respected it and walked away...

He just flat out says that's not true. Regardless if it was true, these are two teenagers and she said no and he respected that so I don't know what the issue is.

From Blasey Ford's account:

Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help.

Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing with REDACTED, who periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh's hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.

From across the room a very drunken REDACTED said mixed words to Kavanaugh ranging from "go for it" to "stop."

At one point when REDACTED jumped onto the bed the weight on me was substantial. The pile toppled, and the two scrapped with each other. After a few attempts to get away, I was able to take this opportune moment to get up and run across to a hallway bathroom. I locked the bathroom door behind me.