Open Thread

“Dogma always comes with a set of though-terminating clichés, which help believers hide their close-mindedness–mainly from themselves.” — Jeff Schmidt, Disciplined minds.

“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.” —Fyodor Dostoevsky

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“This longitudinal cohort study of 73,254 children
composed of prospectively collected healthcare data from the Florida Medicaid system for the period 1990–2012”
“adjustment for covariates”

“Fluoridated water exposure revealed a dose-dependent relationship”
“When comparing the fluoride-exposed subcohort to fluoride-unexposed subcohort, significant increased (or decreased for tooth decay) risks”
Autism OR 6.317
other intellectual disability OR 2
Specific delays in development OR 1.3
Tooth decay Or 0.26

The absolute risks per 100 children were
6 less cases of tooth decay
1 additional cases of autism
0.5 additional cases of intellectual disability
4.9 additional Specific delays in development

https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-025-05601-z
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“We studied 500 mother-child pairs from the MINIMat (Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions in Matlab) birth cohort in rural Bangladesh.”
“fluoride concentrations were measured in the pregnant women at gestational week 8 and in their children at 5 and 10 years”

Fluoride exposure was –in a dose dependent manner– associated with decreased cognitive abilities

https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP14534
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“Here, we investigated the dose- and time-dependent impacts of sodium fluoride (NaF) on neuronal morphology, viability, oxidative stress, and synaptic function using both in vitro and in vivo mouse models.”

“Acute exposure led to neuronal swelling”
“prolonged exposure reduced neuronal viability”
“NaF dose-dependently elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production”
“Synaptic development was also impaired,”
“impaired synaptic function”
“Morphological analysis showed decreased dendritic spine density and head diameter.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-025-04003-5
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“Long-term fluoride exposure can induce inflammatory responses in various tissues”
“Our study demonstrates that even low-dose fluoride can induce the disruption of the inflammatory microenvironment in both humans and rats.”
“that the effects of fluoride on the body have both cumulative and long-term consequences.”

“This study included 327 participants, who were divided into three groups”
“Our field investigation and animal experiments show that fluoride exposure promotes the recruitment of Tregs in immune organs, suggesting that fluoride accumulation intensifies the inflammatory response”
“inhibit the proliferation of T lymphocytes”
“promote the apoptosis (cell death)”
“fluoride-induced immune imbalance”

https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/2/95
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That is what the “experts” consider one of the top 10 greatest public health achievements in modern history.
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“Real critical thinking means uncovering and questioning social, political and moral assumptions; applying and refining a personally developed worldview” —Disciplined minds, Jeff Schmidt

“One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.” ― Jiddu Krishnamurti

“The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I have a question and a thought experiment for the minds here.

If every major government, mega-corp, intel agency, and more are all racing towards AI “far beyond human capabilities” with minimal regard to safety since the risk of losing is potentially existential for them, then are we about to experience the world’s greatest period of change/chaos? Let’s talk about the possibilities. How would you position yourself for what’s coming if you have a sharp mind but minimal financial net worth?

Below is a link to a timeline made by AI researchers (read their credentials). As I understand it, one of them risked 2 million in vested stock (85% of his family’s net worth) in order to speak out.

https://ai-2027.com/

NLTJ

The New York Times joined the propaganda barrage attacking RFK, Jr over the measles outbreak and the MMR vaccine. RFK has called for studying treatment options and this heresy is calling forth some fierce attacks.

Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, has called for firing RFK. One of his “charges” is: “Promoted unscientific therapies such as vitamin A to treat measles, which has resulted in significant liver injury from its use among some children in Texas.”

In fact, administering vitamin A in high doses to hospitalized measles patients is the established standard of care. So, definitely NOT unscientific.

The NY Times dutifully reports on two cases of children sustaining liver damage after prolonged prophylactic administration of cod liver oil (a source of Vitamin A) by panicked parents. There is zero evidence that Vitamin A is effective prophylaxis. But, this essential distinction is not made.

The therapy pushed by The NY Times? Tylenol (yes, by brand name) to reduce fever. Tylenol has a dangerously steep dose curve and overdoses are a major cause of liver damage, but this fact gets no mention. Cod liver oil requires a doctor’s care, though, according to The NY Times.

RFK, Jr does officially endorse the MMR vaccine as the best means of prevention, but he also continues to question why there are not good quality safety studies.

I cannot offer a view of my own beyond noting the careless irresponsibility in the propaganda, but that irresponsibility is disturbing.

My only point, since I do not “do my own (medical) research”, is about the politics: we seem to be experiencing a crisis of competency. And that crisis is not limited to the figure of RFK, Jr — he’s a response to the long-building crisis of competence and a trigger for moral panic among the incompetent and irresponsible establishment.