Per Chris Grinter, on March 9th, 2010
Not the typical butterfly – but this is the protein folding structure from a South American hemorrhagic fever – the Machupo virus. The article was found on Science Daily. A striking resemblance to a butterfly, maybe even a Hesperiidae (photo from Papallones d'Amèrica).
Per Chris Grinter, el 8 de març, 2010 Vaig agafar una breu emissió de la sèrie de TV “Els Doctors“, l'episodi d'avui es titula “Emergències Mèdiques no pot ignorar”. En la seva major part regurgiten afirmacions de salut mèdica positius. També balbucegen a sobre “saludable” els aliments i les coses que són bones per a vostè i el “perills” de tot tipus de bacteris comuns de la llar / productes químics i tota la resta. En general res apòcrifa.
Però a continuació, el Dr. Lisa Masterson va obrir la boca amb aquest consell per a les persones que busquen deixar de fumar (parafrasejat de memòria) “Pot provar aquests, es diu aerosol Quit-EZ. Ells són HOMEOPÀTIC … Vostè encara ha de consultar al seu metge, ja que, ja saps, alguns d'aquests ingredients pot ser fort”. La llista d'ingredients és “CLEM 5C, 5C Caladium seguinum, Ignatios 5C, Lobelia inflata 5C, Nux vomica 5C, Tabacum 5-7-9C. Ingredients inactius: L'aigua purificada, alcohol 20%.”
Primera, anem a entendre la “C” escala de mesura de potència. Una potència 1C és una part ingredient dilueix en 100 parts d'aigua, 01:00 1:100 relació. Una solució 5C és equivalent a 10 ^ -10 dilució d'alimentació o .0000000001mg de “actiu” ingredient. Així que beure fins, vostè hauria de prendre un d'aquests per obtenir suficient ingredient actiu:
Però això és tot el punt! En l'homeopatia, la molècula d'ingredient únic que entra en contacte amb aigua imparteix màgicament la seva potència a les molècules d'aigua. Quan se li va preguntar a explicar això la majoria dels homeòpates invoquen la mecànica quàntica. És bo saber que són totalment ignorants de la ciència. El principi bàsic dels estats d'homeopatia que el alguna cosa més diluïda es converteix en el més poderós és. La dilució estàndard és de 30C o 10 ^ -60 , però aquest s'incrementa a 10 ^ -1500. Vostè, literalment, necessita consumir una esfera d'aigua de la mida del nostre sistema solar two mil milions de vegades per una sola molècula d'ingredient. I gràcies a Déu no és .0000000001mg de Nux vomica en la solució, ja que es coneix comunament com l'estricnina, 01:00 increïblement poderosa toxina alcaloide amb una LD50 de 10 mg. En dosis de menys que 5 mg actua com un poderós estimulant i va ser utilitzat històricament per aliments estómac i fins i tot per al dopatge pels atletes. L'estricnina no s'ha utilitzat des de la invenció de medicaments més segurs.
L'homeopatia és absolutament una merda. Hi ha evidència que dóna suport zero, de fet, al Regne Unit finalment van acordar deixar de finançar aquesta bogeria; que no és cap sorpresa, ja que qualsevol persona intel · ligent que entén els veritables principis de l'homeopatia ha de saber millor. En realitat, qualsevol persona que crea una medicina homeopàtica que s'ha demostrat científicament, poden sol · licitar el JREF desafiament del milió de dòlars. No és d'estranyar que no es reclama?
dr. Lisa és un complet idiota i un xerraire. Fa por pensar que aquesta manca d'informació s'estén a la televisió pública, però no del tot sorprenent. Ella ha d'emetre una disculpa per recomanar l'homeopatia i la junta mèdica de Califòrnia de considerar accions disciplinàries o tirar de la seva llicència. Per descomptat, això no passarà… Però pensar en els perills potencials, considerar el cas dels pares que matat la seva filla amb l'homeopatia.
Ara, gaudir de James Randi explicant Homeopatia:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U]
Per Chris Grinter, el 7 de març, 2010 Bé, I bet if I was selling something it would show up pretty damn low on this chart. A continuació pots veure diferents remeis alternatius classificats d'acord a la seva eficàcia científica. Segueixi l'enllaç per obtenir una explicació més completa de les votacions, però els remeis es classifiquen en base a cada reclamació – green tea for instance rates very poorly for cancer but very well for cholesterol. Take notice of just how much is below the “worth it” line.
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Per Chris Grinter, on March 6th, 2010 Because I would have been subjected to aquest. Talk about animal cruelty! Okay, just kidding, but this story is a bit ridiculous. The article states that the scientists had used the voice of Limbaugh because it was “readily available”, not because they hated him. Well that turns out not to be true, they chose Rush because it was the “most annoying sound [they] could think of”. Not too surprising that the liberal entomology agenda hates Rush (joke), but I know I sure do. If you blared that blabbering buffoon at me for an hour I’d Plath myself.
It turns out these guys were on the right path however. While Limbaugh perhaps predictably had no effect on the insects, sounds recorded of the bark beetles did. When recordings of the sounds made of the beetles in their tunnels were fired back into the trees they observed the insects flying into a fury and killing each other. Sounds like it may be a useful tool if they can find a way to deliver this to trees without wiring each one with speakers. I don’t think that blasting these recordings Apocalypse Now style into forests will be plausible or effective so hopefully they can think of something else clever.
The story might be amusing but I think does a disservice to their cause in general. Using Rush was nothing but an attempt to grab press, which is clearly working. Would anyone have read a story about bark beetles otherwise? I probably wouldn’t have even given it a look. In the end the takeaway story for me is that I think to myself “interesting, they found a potentially useful tool against bark beetles”. But to the less science literate or politically motivated they likely think “genial, more liberal scientists wasting our tax dollars playing music to beetles”. We already know what republicans think about science. Please, let’s not throw more fodder into the backwards minds of the anti-science republican agenda (Okay, admittedly, fundamental republican fiscal policy is something I can understand… but they are a pack of morons the rest of the time). I don’t believe that Limbaugh has commented on this specific story, but is it difficult to imagine what he has to say?
Per Chris Grinter, on March 4th, 2010 Rivers Cuomo em va escriure una cançó. No està malament, però ara crec que vull aquest vestit de mantis per Halloween. I, per descomptat, estic obligat a assenyalar que els cucs de terra no són insectes…
[vimeo=14822451]
Per Chris Grinter, el 3 de març, 2010 Came across aquest article today care of Doug Yanega at UC Riverside, which spurred the search for further information. Qui em pot dir què són “flors” actually are? 10 assenyala el primer a endevinar correctament… o potser algun premi fantàstic?
Per Chris Grinter, el 3 de març, 2010 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v = LHdKEhFM7mY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0]
Per Chris Grinter, on March 2nd, 2010 This is something I’ve never seen before. Growing up I have always had someone give me some kitsch object with insects on them, even playing cards. Well even last year I got another insect themed tie. (No tinc la raresa de PZ Myers i el seu llaç impressionant.) Però, tots van ser imatges del suposat impresos. La novetat d'aquest any a partir de la coberta superior, targetes d'entomologia! Si es desplaça cap avall a la pàgina nota alguna cosa sorprenent – que no són fotos, però els insectes reals. Aquí està una imatge des de l'enllaç de dalt:
Guau- i segueixi aquest enllaç a Facebook per veure més del que està per venir. Crec que aquests són una versió moderna de la “targeta de tabac”, que era una targeta de col·lectors addicional inserit en paquets de targetes regulars. L'any passat la companyia va repartir targetes de redempció que li permetrien ser retornat per la cosa real vist anteriorment. D'acord amb ESPN, aquestes targetes van per més de $100 a persones que no tenen idea del que els insectes poden aconseguir. una ràpida buscar a e-bay Trobem que actualment intent per $87.00. Go figure. En tot, Upper Deck planeja llançar 30 diferents tipus d'insectes. Al revers de cada targeta hi ha un període antic “mapa de distribució” i breu ressenya sobre l'insecte. són també “certificat” com genuí, sigui el que sigui. Tenen una consultoria taxonomista? Aposto meves tarifes per hora serien menys que el que tenen ara…
Les papallones em esquerda cap amunt, són exemplars acaben de tancar establertes en el seu costat. Jo crec que una mostra de difondre seria més atractiu, però potser no hi havia ningú a la coberta superior s'adona d'això és la forma en què han d'estar preparats. El que els està donant els seus mantis encara estan prenent molt de temps per fer-los mirada de luxe. Em pregunto quants d'aquests s'estan fent, Òbviament, això no es va poder sostenir en qualsevol nombre gran. Suposo que al final això fa un molt interessant tema de conversa entre persones que mai podria mirar dues vegades en un insecte, i, especialment, com una cosa de col·lecció. Em pregunto què pensa PETA… Okay, nosaltres saber que molt es.
Per Chris Grinter, el 28 de febrer, 2010 Em vaig trobar amb aquest article today and it put a smile on my face. Un investigador de la malària que viatja es va trobar amb un “repel·lent de mosquits electrònic” a la venda al seu catàleg en vol. Sent un home intel·ligent, es va adonar d'això va ser total i absoluta BS. He also realized this product probably sells best while in-route to malaria ridden countries; and that there were naive tourists walking around with $23 worthless pieces of crap on their belts feeling protected. The airline, KLM, had likely been selling the item with no second though whatsoever, just part of the standard issue crap-on-a-plane shopping selection. So as soon as Bart Knol returned home he began to dig deeper. He contacted KLM and tried to figure out why they were selling this item. Politely, the airline offered a response from the manufacturer backing up the efficacy of the device – and stated that they sell over 1,000 a month. Clearly that couldn’t be acceptable – in fact there has been research conducted to test just this sort of machine – all of which showed zero effect. Again Knol informed KLM of this fact, with evidence in hand, and received a surprising reply. “The product will no longer be for sale on KLM aircraft from March onwards“.
Son-of-a-bitch. He confronted a company that was selling a scientifically falsified device. Instead of blowing this scientist off – they looked at the evidence – and acted logically. Within 2 months Knol had KLM pulling the product from its shelves. The airline should give Knol a lifetime supply of vouchers for his suggestion. Imagine if you will: a gullible tourist headed to Africa for your first safari. Wanting desperately to avoid the sometimes horrible side effects of anti-malaria medication they see this miracle product that will keep them safe instead. Bé, the product failed to work, and he contracts malaria while running from elephants in Kenya. Attempts to sue the company failed since they were based in Sri Lanka – but not to worry, KLM has vast and deep pockets. 10,000,000 euro later, KLM pulls the product form the shelf and the dead tourists kids replace everything they own with gold.
But no, en canvi, a vigilant skeptic stepped up and saved the day! Thanks for your skepticism Knol, you get a high-five. The action he took provided KLM with evidence they were conducting a wrongdoing. Had the airline been sued in the future and this prior knowledge had come to light, they would have lost. I wish KLM could appreciate it just as much as I do, but at least they took the proper action. Fly KLM.
It’s always nice to see a story like this because this is certainly not how things usually happen. Take for instance the “dowsing for bombs” scandal brought to our attention by the JREF. I guess it’s a bit difficult to call it a scandal because the press only briefly covered it here in the US. Quickly: A British based company was selling dowsing rods, that consisted of nothing more than metal rods and handles, as bomb, gun, knife, drug and even body detectors. The major buyer was the Iraqi government in around tens of millions of dollars. People bet their life on this machine; and it failed, 100% of the time. Even today the Iraqis swear by this device.
But let’s not forget the history of this detector, which is basically the same as the “Quadro Tracker” bought by OUR government in the late 90’s. At least in the QT issue we only purchased 1,000 units and quickly tested them to discover the fraud. The result – the FBI issued a warning against it. The company promptly picked up shop and moved to the UK to re-invent this device sold to Iraq (amongst other countries). Thankfully the scammer, Jim McCormick, was recently arrested in Britain for fraud and the item has been banned for export.
Why did it take so long for this to happen?! Why did the US government not pursue legal actions and let this guy walk? Lives of OUR troops in Iraq may have been lost because of this exact device. I can’t help but to see too many similarities between mosquito repellers and bomb dowsers. Both rely on magic and both are total crap. Perhaps I am stretching the connection, but people may die because they drop their guard and fail to take proper precautions when at risk. At least these aren’t being handed out in Africa, són ells?
Go find your own MozStops, Pest Repellers, SunBeams and SOLAR powered mosquito repellers (hey you can be green while being a sucker) and take that store to task! Seriously, this crap is everywhere and it’s 100% fraud.
Per Chris Grinter, el 25 de febrer, 2010 Look above, I’ve created a new page for techniques. Ever wonder how something is done? Ask me how and I will illustrate.
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Escepticisme
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