My Daily Read

Good morning, School of Public Health. My name is Bobby McMahon, and as some of you know, I'm the graduate assistant who serves as the main writer on the Healthy Turtle. Part of my job involves staying up to date on the latest news and ideas in the field, and rather than keep this knowledge to myself, I'm taking the advice of my 1st grade teacher and learning to share.

Here are some of the blogs and sites I read on a semi-daily basis: they all provide interesting insights and coverage of the public health world, and some of them occasionally cross into being entertaining. Enjoy:

• Well: Tara Parker-Pope on Health. Parker-Pope is a columnist for the New York Times, and write the blog as an ongoing conversation about living a healthier lifestyle. Parker-Pope takes a scientific study and explores the topic in depth, and in recent posts and articles, those topics have included the link between cancer and cell phones, how green spaces affect children with attention problems, and a new and rather odd looking athletic wrap.
• The Checkup. Described as a "a blog that takes a first-person look at the latest health news," this Washington Post product usually starts with a question and finds smart people who can answer it. In recent posts, these questions (and answers) have been "Should I get a flu shot?" (overwhelmingly yes), "Is Googling Good for Your Brain?" (maybe), and "Can I Learn to Show Kindness?" (probably).
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC's Web site has a surprisingly vibrant and well-written web presence, with many helpful features that are updated regularly. I check it out when I have questions about certain topics or larger trends, and I've started looking at the updated Flu Map every week.
  
• The Pump Handle: With a name inspired by a well-known a public health victory, the group blog collects stories and articles from professionals across a wide range of disciplines and examines public health issues in a more academic way than the other sites. While you won't find light fare on feeling better about yourself, you will find thought-provoking commentary on Miner's Health, benzene emissions in Houston, and the recent tainted milk scandals in China.
  

If you have a good blog or site that you read, or would just like to say hello, email me at rmcmahon@umd.edu.