September 17, 2003
Physicians for Made-up Medicine
ajc.com | Living | Cancer society urged to cancel Cattle Barons' Ball fund-raiser
This is rich. The so-called "Physicians for Responsible Medicine" (quack!) is saying that the American Cancer Society should cancel its "Cattle Barons Ball" fundraisers becuase PRM claims that red meat causes cancer. It's a loopy claim. Too much red meat can cause cancer, maybe. The evidence isn't that strong. It certainly isn't as strong a correlation as tobacco smoke, as PRM insinuates.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 08:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2003
Also, Peking duck
CNN.com - Obese go to China for acupuncture treatment - Aug. 24, 2003
That would help -- if they were balloons. I suppose being poked with needles could cause you to lose your appetite.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 06:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 28, 2003
Speculation
Soldier Guilty for Refusing Anthrax Shot
Reserve Pvt. Kamila Iwanowska, Polish-born and naturalized last year, was twice ordered to take a shot of anthrax vaccine and twice refused. She says that she didn't take the shot because (a) she considers the vaccine dangerous to her future children, and (b) as a Roman Catholic she has religious objections. To tackle (b) first, that's a new one on me. Heck, I went to a Catholic high school and they made me take shots before I was admitted.
So (a) is the real problem here. I am guessing that she is one of those people who has fallen into the mistaken belief that vaccinating children causes autism and that now she's extending that to a belief that vaccinating their mother could cause that. But I'm just guessing.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:57 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
May 23, 2003
Viruses from SPAAAAACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CNN.com - Did SARS come from the stars? - May. 23, 2003
Some rather batty scientists seem to think that SARS is an alien virus. Which, as a less batty scientist says, is "completely nuts", because the virus couldn't survive in vacuum. Other reasons why this is nuts:
1. The family of virus SARS belongs to is well known.
2. The odds of the same type of complex chemicals being the basis of life both on Earth and deep space seem pretty high.
3. The odds against a virus from deep space actually being able to infect terrestrial organisms -- let alone people -- are, if you pardon the pun, astronomical.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 29, 2003
Sheer genius!
Chinese Turn to Herbs Against SARS
With most treatments, you're never sure if they'll work. But some people in China have added some guarantees to the process by choosing a treatment that definitely will not work. Bravo!
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:22 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 21, 2003
Thanks a lot, Canada
CNN.com - FTC shuts down company touting cancer cure - Feb. 21, 2003
A British Columbian company was selling "cancer cures" out of a clinic in Mexico. For $15K a pop. Of course, they mostly preyed on Americans. The three countries have gotten together to shut the scam down. I hate these people.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:20 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 27, 2003
Skeptic Skeptic
Skeptical Environmentalist: Case Study in the Manufacture of News (Science and the Media)
Michael Nisbet of the notorious left-wing organization known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal breaks down the so-called Skeptical so-called Environmentalist. His findings:
Rave reviews from the mainstream press overshadowed serious criticism from trained scientists;
The "drama" of Lomborg's personal journey made him good fodder for the press, which always prefers a good personal story to the actual truth;
Reviews of the book often came from journalists and others who are good writers, but few of whom had the training to see the book's flaws;
And "Beware of Books". Books in controversial areas are often written by people without technical training, and popular books are always published according to how they'll sell, not how factual they are.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2002
Maybe it's me
CNN.com - Raelian leader says cloning first step to immortality - Dec. 27, 2002
In the TV coverage I've seen, the news folks have downplayed the fact that the group making this claim is a nutjob flying saucer/reincarnation cult.
Meanwhile the Christian Coalition seems to think that this alleged clone is going to be experimented on, which is an overreaction. Still, for once they're right. I hate being on the same side as the CC, but cloning humans when we don't know the long-term outlook for cloned organisms is just crazy.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:43 PM | Comments (7)
October 21, 2002
Perpetual annoyance
Scientific American: Selling the Free Lunch
Graham Collins on the latest in Perpetual Motion. One tidbit: The Patent Office is considering tightening its standards and training its examiners better.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)