Mainstream Media Debates False Choices

Actual headline. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Panacea or pure science fiction? This is not a question sincerely in search of an answer. Yet it's the typical approach of the mainstream media whenever they stoop to cover HBOT. Today's LA Times strikes the same indelicate imbalance in a story titled Portable hyperbaric chambers: An expensive folly? Here poor Michael Jackson once again provides the irresistible lead (and famous creepy photo) for an exposé on the portable chamber business. Of course we know, as the paper's editors should know, that that's no portable mHBOT chamber MJ's sleeping in. A spotty review of manufacturers' claims versus facts only hints at how helpful and informative the article might have been. Skepticism is healthy, yes, but a capable reporter digs deep for plain answers to reasonable questions. O2.0 and HyperbaricLink challenge the mainstream media to do a more thorough job covering HBOT. And we're here to help with the digging.

Living Longer: Time Machine Or Crazy Talk Redux?

Undeterred by her unflattering Newsweek cover story and macabre photos of Michael Jackson napping hyperbarically, Oprah today reran her segment on "High-Tech Ways to Extend Your Life." See our March 5 post. This time around we duly noted Dr Oz's final phrase on HBOT's anti-aging power: "Or that's our hope, anyway."

Michael Jackson Postscript: Captain EO

Mind if O2.0 starts a harmless urban legend? We're pretty sure the whole sleeping in a hyperbaric thing was a publicity stunt for Captain EO. Michael and producer George Lucas wanted to cultivate a science fiction persona and missed the mark by a light year or two. Very sorry we can't post the clip in the original 3D. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, no less. Now THAT is funny.

King Of Stop It Already

One of our Twitter followers just asked if it's too soon for jokes about hyperbaric chambers. Too late. Millions already posted, and Michael Jackson has been the talk of the UHMS conference all day, too. Is it just plain Bad or merely Human Nature that people can't help mocking celebrity or thumbing their noses at death?

O2.0 would rather suffer a metric ton of chatroom zingers than abide some of the drivel circulating today in the underground baromedical community. This is the first and last time, for example, we'll ever link to the so-called HBOT Truth blog.

Let's face it. Michael Jackson is all most people know about HBOT. We're totally okay with that. We wish them all long and happy lives. And we're right here when anyone wants the real HBOT truth, without any hidden identities or agendas. Till then we'll retweet any jokes that strike the right balance of irreverence and schadenfreude. Haven't found any yet.