Plsstics....

 

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🚨Massive MAHA win today on phthalate chemicals!

The Trump EPA just completed our TSCA risk evaluation of phthalates; the most comprehensive assessment of phthalates ever conducted by EPA. We are now announcing that, following gold standard science, promoting radical…

— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) December 31, 2025

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Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human HealthP

thalates are a series of widely used chemicals that demonstrate to be endocrine disruptors and are detrimental to human health. Phthalates can be found in most products that have contact with plastics during producing, packaging, or delivering. Despite the short half-lives in tissues, chronic exposure to phthalates will adversely influence the endocrine system and functioning of multiple organs, which has negative long-term impacts on the success of pregnancy, child growth and development, and reproductive systems in both young children and adolescents.

essentially, these are some of the chemicals in plastics that leech out into the enfvironment: or directly to you (plastic bottles leech it to you).

and these chemicals induce problems, including metabololic syndrome, aka pre diabetes and obesity.

Grok summary because it is easier to understand than my descripgionn or the description on many medical sites like the one I posted above:

What Are Phthalates?Phthalates are a group of synthetic chemicals primarily used as plasticizers to increase the flexibility, durability, and longevity of plastics, especially polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Common examples include:

• DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)
• DBP (dibutyl phthalate)
• BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate)
• DEP (diethyl phthalate)
• DINP (diisononyl phthalate)

They are also used as solvents in cosmetics, fragrances, and personal care products to retain scents or improve texture.

Examples of phthalate chemical structures (e.g., DEHP, DBP, and others).Sources of Human ExposurePhthalates are ubiquitous due to their widespread use and ability to leach from products. Primary routes include ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption, and medical procedures.

Source Category	Common Examples	Primary Exposure Route
Plastics & Packaging	Food containers, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, toys	Ingestion (leaching into food), inhalation (dust)
Personal Care Products	Fragranced lotions, shampoos, perfumes, nail polish	Dermal absorption, inhalation
Food Processing	Gloves, tubing in factories	Ingestion (contamination of processed foods)
Medical Devices	IV tubing, blood bags	Direct (during procedures)
Household Items	Paints, adhesives, air fresheners	Inhalation, dust

Visuals showing common sources like cosmetics, plastics, and pollution pathways.Nearly all humans have detectable phthalate metabolites in urine, with higher levels in children and women due to product use.Impacts on Human HealthPhthalates are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), interfering with hormone systems. They have short half-lives but chronic low-level exposure causes cumulative effects. Vulnerable groups include fetuses, infants, and children.Key health concerns, supported by epidemiological reviews and animal studies:

• Reproductive Health — Strong evidence links prenatal exposure to reduced anogenital distance in boys, lower semen quality, altered hormone levels (e.g., testosterone), endometriosis, and fertility issues in adults.
• Developmental Effects — Associations with neurodevelopmental issues (e.g., ADHD, autism traits), lower IQ, behavioral problems, and childhood asthma.
• Metabolic & Other — Links to obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, thyroid disruption, and potential cancers (e.g., breast).
• Mechanisms — Anti-androgenic effects, oxidative stress, epigenetic changes, and interference with nuclear receptors.

Infographics summarizing health effects and exposure risks.While some industry sources emphasize benefits (e.g., in medical devices saving lives) and low exposure risks, scientific consensus from bodies like the EPA and reviews highlights unreasonable risks at real-world levels, especially cumulatively.Regulations and Trends (as of 2026)

• US Federal → CPSIA bans 8 phthalates (>0.1%) in children's toys/childcare articles. EPA is evaluating risks for additional phthalates under TSCA, with recent findings of unreasonable risks in industrial uses.
• State-Level → Bans/restrictions in cosmetics (e.g., Washington), food packaging, and toys (e.g., New York effective 2025).
• FDA → Revoked many food contact authorizations; monitoring remaining uses.
• Global → EU has stricter limits; some countries ban specific phthalates in more products.

Exposure to some phthalates has declined due to substitutions, but replacements (e.g., DINCH) need monitoring.Reducing Exposure

• Choose phthalate-free or fragrance-free personal care products.
• Avoid heating food in plastic containers; use glass/stainless steel.
• Minimize processed foods and vinyl products.
• Dust/vacuum regularly to reduce household accumulation.

Overall, while phthalates provide practical benefits in plastics, substantial evidence supports minimizing exposure, particularly for reproductive and child health. Ongoing research and regulation aim to balance utility with safety.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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one problem: how does one replace this chemical without a huge increase in prices and maybe replacing it with something else that ha it's own dangers?

Catching up on the fraud

like most folk, I have been busy with my family over the holidays, and now am catching up on the big story of the week: The Somali immigrants have found a new way to make money: but as DOGE found out, this is just the tip of the iceburg on stealing/diverting government money:

My lower bound guess for how much fraud there is nationally is ~20% of the Federal budget, which would mean $1.5 trillion per year. Probably much higher. https://t.co/T6URzaqHqY

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 29, 2025

 posted for watching later on my tablet: Dilbert discusses fraud in the news:

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🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable

We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025

 this is not of course limited to Somalis or the Democratic operatives. Nor is it limited to daycare centers... And it is in many states. 

As a physician I know that Medicare/medicaid/insurance billing fraud has been widespread for years.

so I asked Grok to summarize billing fraud identified from clinics in recent years: (And remember:  a lot of the fraud is never caught):

link from Grok

Medicaid fraud by clinics involves providers billing state Medicaid programs for services that were never provided, medically unnecessary, substandard, or involving illegal kickbacks. This exploits vulnerable populations (e.g., those needing addiction treatment or mental health services) and drains taxpayer funds.

 Fraud types include phantom billing, upcoding, kickbacks for patient referrals, and billing for unlicensed care.

Historical Context

Medicaid fraud enforcement dates back to the 1970s, with Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) established in states starting in the late 1970s to investigate provider fraud and patient abuse/neglect. Federal oversight by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) and DOJ has intensified since the 2000s via Health Care Fraud Strike Forces. Early cases often involved nursing homes and home health, but clinics (e.g., pain, mental health, substance abuse) became prominent in the 2010s–2020s, especially with opioid epidemic-related schemes.

Improper payments (including but not limited to fraud) have declined over time due to better detection: Medicaid's improper payment rate fell from ~15.6% in 2022 to ~5.1% in 2024 (mostly paperwork errors, not fraud). Recoveries by MFCUs reached ~$1.4 billion in FY 2024, with trends showing increased focus on criminal cases.

Hmmm.  did the improper payment rate really fall that much over a two year period:  from ~15.6% in 2022 to ~5.1% in 2024 , or was it overlooked or missed? Just wondering.... 

Notable Cases Involving ClinicsClinics, especially substance abuse, mental health, and pain management facilities, have featured in major cases:

2025 Arizona Scheme — A billing executive conspired with 41 addiction treatment clinics to bill Arizona Medicaid ~$650 million for unprovided or worthless substance abuse services, targeting Native Americans. Part of the DOJ's record $14.6 billion national takedown. 

Kentucky Opioid Clinics (2025) — Owners of addiction treatment facilities fraudulently billed Medicare/Medicaid >$8 million for non-performed or misrepresented services. 

New York Suboxone Clinic (2025) — A clinic owner billed ~$85 million for unnecessary services and improper narcotics prescribing. Other Examples — Cases include kickbacks for unnecessary urine testing, billing for unlicensed mental health care (e.g., $25 million Massachusetts settlement), and schemes in Minnesota involving recruited patients for unprovided services. Trends and EnforcementFraud schemes have evolved toward telehealth, kickbacks, and transnational networks. Enforcement has ramped up, with annual DOJ takedowns charging hundreds and recovering billions. MFCUs recover ~$3–$4 per $1 spent on investigations, with 2024 seeing record criminal recoveries. While fraud exists, most improper payments stem from administrative issues, not intentional deceit.Medicaid remains a high-priority target for fraud prevention, with ongoing efforts to enhance detection and protect vulnerable beneficiaries.

Heck, it isn't even new: The reason Jesus overthrew the tables in the Temple was because of fraud, overcharging and kickbacks to the Temple staff.  

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HMMM....this scandal was known in 2015 but sort of disappeared off the radar. So who ordered the investigation shut down?

Party season

 Yesterday Joy's family at their farm in nearby Bulacan had a party (I stayed home: I am too old for parties). Afterward, some of them came up here with the kids to visit our town Plaza.

so after they arrived and were sitting in the waiting room waiting for the sun to go down, I decided I needed a cup of coffee, so went into my house and made myself coffee and was playing Christmas carols while waiting for the coffee to brew. and as usual, all the dogs were in the room with me (to keep them away from the visitors), and voila, suddently a big white duck walked in the door and came up to me. WTF was she doing there? I should add last week the dogs got into the big garden on the business side of our compound, and killed a duck (which we had to pay the staff for, since they were raising them to breed).

Luckily the dogs had just been fed and weren't in the mood to chase ducks, so I got the duck into the front garden and went to the staff and told them to rescue her

Periodically we have tried to raise chickens, ducks and turkeys but usually we lose them to the watch dogs, even though there are now gates to separate the gardens.

One year we had a turkey, and didn't cut his feathers so he could get to the high ground if the dogs got lose. Well, that worked: Until he decided to fly over the fence, and was liberated by a passerby...

Today Kuya had the big CHristmas party for the farmers who we subcontract to grow our organic rice, and also for our staff. Lots of kids and people here and a big meal, includin lechon, roasted suckling pig. I took a photo but will refrain from posting it because although it is delicious, it is a bit gross for Yanks to view.

So lechon, Pancit, rice, sphaghetti, lumpia etc.

They are still over there doing games, but I said goodbye and am hiding in my room,,

One advantage of being old is I can skip parties (Which I hate)..

WTF guess who did something to stop genocide.

Michelle Obama sent sympathy and tweets, but in recent years it has gotten worse. So in November Trumpieboy sent them a nasty letter warning them. And then this happened:

pic.twitter.com/zrOe14gKf4

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) December 25, 2025

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Red State explains the background: 

It is not just the murder of Christians by Isis inspired groups or tribal feuds which have escalated with the influence of radical Islam to kill those whose land they want: Many of those killed are moderate Muslims. (In West Africa, as is SEAsia, Islam was spread by traders and is a purer religion than the rabid version that pops up every few centuries.).

And at least one rapper took it on herself to spread the word that someone should intervene:

generational differences

Our family watches films, tv series, and/or K dramas in the evening.

 Last night I refused to watch the latest Knives out mystery because: One, I dislike Daniel Craig, and Two, from what I saw in the trailer, and various reviews, they got Catholicism wrong (i.e. they did not understand the culture of US Catholicism, and I read that those who made it disliked religion). 

So we watched a K drama instead.

As I get older, I am getting narrower: In the past I always kept up with the trends etc. even those I disagreed with, but now I figure my time is too limited to waste time with nonsense.

But my granddaughter said that in her generation, they don't see the anti Catholic stuff in the film probably because they are pumped full of woke propaganda about the rigid old church  which they reject. 

So they see this anti Catholic theme, which we older Catholics would recognize as being from the anti Catholic tropes we got hit with for the last 50 years, as if it were the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

. But what impresses the young kids is when they see the young priest going out of the way to help people. Sort of like the Pope Francis style of love love love.

and it is making them think twice about what is Christianity really about.

So the irony is that this film which seemed to be a way to bash Christianity might reach those who have had no contact with real Christians and show them what real Christians do..

here is a Catholic take on the film:

 So I stand corrected, so might have to watch it (yes we have Netflix in the Philippines).  

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the good news is that the last four episodes of Stranger things is being released today so we might watch that instead.

Merry Christmas

 today is Noche Buena, where everyone goes to late evening mass with lots of hymns etc and then go home to eat a huge supper. 

in the Philippines, a family feast is a way to celebrate, and since God and Jesus and Mary are part of the family and since Jesus first miracle was at a wedding feast, this is not seen as secular but as embracing everyone.

but the plaza and decorations there have been open for a month,

 with concerts etc on weekends. 

Since my granddaughter is here from her job in Thailand, it is a big celebrtino for us.