In highlighting the urgency of the situation in the US, I made the assumption that all my donors are anti-fascists. If by some chance anyone receiving this message is, in fact, a Trump fan, please let me know immediately so I can return any funds you may have donated right away.

I would feel sick to think any part of my position is underwritten by someone who thinks the country needs a Kristalnacht against immigrants and wants a Hitlerian president.

For everyone else, here again is the link for the current crowdfunding: 

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/43450

Reminder: DO NOT click on the "Read Update" button below--it will bring you back to a past campaign.

As I end my Irish tour today and head off tomorrow, Berkeley's crowdfunding campaign has reached 80% of the goal, with 420 donations. I am always touched that these campaigns generate enough support that I have been able to pursue this project for a number of years. As I said at the start of this current effort, I hope to continue this project for one more year after this. 

If you'd like to help out this time around, here's the link: 

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/43450

Please DO NOT click on the "Read Update" button below--that will take you back to a past campaign. 

(And an unrelated reminder to all US citizens: If you haven't voted against the fascist yet, do so immediately, or make sure to make your voice heard on Election Day. The horrors confronting us were on vivid display yesterday at the gathering yesterday at Madison Square Garden--a throw-back to the 1939 Nazi rally in the same venue. We know what happened in Germany back then to disabled people--among others, obviously. These people would have little hesitation to do the same things here--if not to you than to your neighbors, friends, co-workers or loved ones.)

Earlier this week, Professor Ponting published a commentary in The Conversation, a site for articles from academics seeking to reach a larger audience beyond those who read the peer-reviewed literature. The headline--“Ignored, blamed, and sometimes left to die – a leading expert in ME explains the origins of a modern medical scandal”—pretty much sums it up. Professor Ponting’s article is an impassioned, heartfelt plea for greater understanding and awareness of the terrible plight of patients and the neglect that they have been subjected to by the health care and medical systems. 

You can view our discussion here.

Meanwhile, October's UC Berkeley crowdfunder for my Trial By Error project has reached 60 % of the goal, with eight days left. If you'd like to support my work this time around, here's the link:

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/43450

Please DO NOT click on the "Read Update" button below--that takes you back to a past crowdfunding campaign. 

Starting on Sunday, I'm traveling around Ireland to give a talk called "Bad Science, Bad Medicine: How flawed biopsychosocial studies on ME, Long Covid and related conditions harm patients." The schedule is here.

Meanwhile this month's crowdfunding campaign has reached 40% of the goal, with almost 200 donations. If you'd like to support my work again this time aorund, here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/43450

Please DO NOT click on the "READ UPDATE" button below--that takes you back to a past campaign.

Dr Peter Rowe is a pediatrician and an expert in treating POTS and other forms of orthostatic intolerance, which is a frequent issue for ME/CFS and Long Covid patients. Last Monday, I posted this interview with Dr Rowe, who recently authored a guide called Living Well with Orthostatic Intolerance, published by Johns Hopkins University Press.

If you'd like to support Berkeley's October crowdfunder for Trial By Error, here's the link: 

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/43450

DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW--THAT TAKES YOU TO A PAST CAMPAIGN.

So far, the campaign has 131 gifts from the UK, 79 from the US, 31 from Australia, 25 from Norway, and 19 from the Netherlands. After that, there are 8 from Canada, 7 each from Germany and Denmark, 4 from New Zealand, 2 from Ireland and Switzerland, and one each from France, Belgium, Finland and Mexico.

So where will the remaining gifts come from??? If you've been waiting to donate, now's the time! 

Here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/42302

PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW. THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS AND COMPLETED CAMPAIGN.

Every time I have done one of these crowdfunders, I have fretted that it won't reach the goal. But it has always worked out in the end. I've learned by now not to fret as much during the middle-of-the-month doldrums. There always seems to be a bit of a rush at the end.

To donate this time, here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/42302

PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW. THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS AND COMPLETED CAMPAIGN.

Over the years, I have appreciated the steady support of so many patients, carers and advocates in these crowdfunding campaigns, which I know can be really tiresome. Each time, I send off a batch of individual thank you messages, although I never get to nearly as many people as I hope. In any event, I have always been touched and humbled by the hundreds of donations. 

Last November's campaign received 462 donations. So far this month, the campaign has received 228--just under half the number at the midway point. Thanks to all past and current donors!!

To donate to this month's campaign, here's the link:

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/42302

PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW. THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS AND COMPLETED CAMPAIGN.

This week, Pete Judo, a behavioral scientist and popular podcaster, demolished the PACE trial, with  my help. The video has had almost 20,000 views since Pete posted it yesterday.

i also spoke with one of the organizers of next week's online UniteToFight conference about Long Covid and ME/CFS.

Here is the link to donate to this month's campaign: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/42302

(Please don't click the READ UPDATE button below--that goes to a previous campaign.)

Thanks again for your past support! This is the link for this month's crowdfunding: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/42302

As many know, this is the least favorite part of what I do...but it has allowed me to pursue this project for the last several years. I have been blown away by the generosity of the community in providing this essential support. This campaign has already reached 7& of the goal after the first two full days of the month--a good start!--David 

Besides blogging, writing letters to journals, and related activities, i've been posting a lot of video interviews this year as well. The most widely viewed video has been this discussion with Dr David Putrino, a neuroscientist and physical therapist at Mt Sinai, about why long Covid is not functional neurological disorder.  

November's crowdfunder has a few days remaining. If you'd like to support my work this time around, please use this link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/40018

DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW! THAT'S A DEFAULT LINK THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.

Thanks much!--David

Earlier this year, the journal Work published an analysis I co-wrote with Dr Mark Vink about how graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavior therapy do not improve employment outcomes in ME/CFS. Although the GET/CBT promoters have spent years telling disability insurers and government agencies that these interventions get patients back to work, a review of the data showed otherwise.

If you'd like to donate to November's crowdfunding campaign and help me continue to cover events in this field, please use this link:  

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/40018

DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW! THAT'S A DEFAULT LINK THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.

Thanks much!--David

Here's my latast post--about a seriously flawed meta-analysis of terrible studies of CBT for ME/CFS, conducted by Dutch leaders of the CBT/GET ideological brigades. It's a mess, as usual--and it is disturbing that journals continue to publish this sort of crap.

To donate to the current campaign and help me push back against this nonsense, please use this link:  

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/40018

DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW! THAT'S A DEFAULT LINK THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.

Thanks much!--David

Dear Past Supporter of Trial By Error:

Usually I've done the fall crowdfunding in October; this year November worked better with my schedule. In addition to launching this campaign today, I also learned that a letter rebutting inflated claims about the prevalence of functional neurological disorder has been accepted for publication. You can read a pre-print of the letter here.

TO DONATE TO THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN, PLEASE USE THIS LINK:

https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/40018

DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW! THAT'S A DEFAULT LINK THAT GOES TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.

Thanks much for the support!--David

Thanks to all of you, this month's goal was reached sometime overnight (California time)--when I got up this morning, it had passed the 100% mark. This project has been among the most rewarding I have ever worked on, and I am very touched that the patient/advocacy communities have made that possible by supporting my project. 

Thanks again. As I have said, I've always tried to provide a decent return-on-investment, and I appreciate being provided with the opportunity to continue my work.--David