Ag Chris Grinter, an 9 Márta, 2010
Nach bhfuil an féileacán tipiciúil – ach is é seo an struchtúr fillte próitéine ó fiabhras hemorrhagic Mheiriceá Theas – an víreas Machupo. Fuarthas go raibh an t-alt ar Eolaíocht sa lá. A resemblance buailte le féileacán, b'fhéidir fiú Hesperiidae (grianghraf ó Féileacáin Mheiriceá).
Ag Chris Grinter, 8 Márta, 2010 Rug mé mhaistíní gairid ar an seó teilifíse “Na Dochtúirí“, Bhí teideal an lae inniu eipeasóid “Éigeandálaí Leighis Ní féidir leat neamhaird”. Don chuid is mó regurgitate siad affirmations dearfach sláinte leighis. Babble siad freisin ar thart ar “sláintiúil” bianna agus rudaí a bhfuil go maith duit féin agus an “contúirtí” of all kinds of common household bacteria/chemicals and everything else. By and large nothing apocryphal.
But then Dr. Lisa Masterson opened her mouth with this advice for people looking to quit smoking (paraphrased from memory) “You can try these, it is called EZ-Quit spray. They are HOMEOPATHIC … You should still consult your doctor because, you know, some of these ingredients can be strong”. The ingredient list is “Antimonium crudum 5C, Caladium seguinum 5C, Ignatia 5C, Lobelia inflata 5C, Nux vomica 5C, Tabacum 5-7-9C. Inactive ingredients: Purified water, alcohol 20%.”
An Chéad, let’s understand the “C” scale of potency measurement. A 1C potency is one part ingredient diluted in 100 parts water, a 1:100 ratio. A 5C solution is equivalent to 10^-10 power dilution or .0000000001mg of “active” ingredient. So drink up, you would need to drink one of these to get enough active ingredient:
But thats the whole point! In homeopathy, the single molecule of ingredient that comes in contact with water MAGICALLY imparts its power to the water molecules. When asked to explain this most homeopaths invoke quantum mechanics. Good to know they are totally ignorant of science. The basic principle of homeopathy states that the MORE diluted something becomes the MORE powerful it is. The standard dilution is 30C or 10^-60 , but it does go up to 10^-1500. You would literally need to consume a sphere of water the size of our solar system two billion times for one single molecule of ingredient. And thank god there is .0000000001mg of Nux vomica in the solution because that is commonly known as strychnine, an incredibly powerful alkaloid toxin with an LD50 of 10mg. In doses of less that 5mg it acts as a powerful stimulant and was used historically for stomach aliments and even for doping by athletes. Strychnine hasn’t been used since the invention of safer medicines.
Homeopathy is absolutely bullshit. There is zero supporting evidence, in fact in the UK they finally agreed to stop funding this insanity; which is no surprise since any intelligent person who understands the true principals of homeopathy should know better. I ndáiríre, anyone who creates a homeopathic medicine that is scientifically proven, can apply for the JREF million dollar challenge. Is it any surprise that it remains unclaimed?
Dr. Lisa is a complete moron and a quack. It is scary to think she spreads this misinformation on public TV, but not all that surprising. She should issue an apology for recommending homeopathy and the california medical board should consider disciplinary action or pull her license. Of course this won’t happen… But think of the potential dangers, consider the case of the parents that killed their daughter with homeopathy.
Now, enjoy James Randi explaining Homeopathy:
[youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U]
Ag Chris Grinter, ar an 7 Márta, 2010 Bhuel, I bet if I was selling something it would show up pretty damn low on this chart. Thíos is féidir leat a fheiceáil réitigh malartacha éagsúla rangaithe de réir a n-éifeachtúlacht eolaíochta. Lean an nasc le haghaidh míniú níos cuimsithí de na rátálacha, ach na leigheasanna a rangú bunaithe ar gach éileamh – 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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Ag Chris Grinter, on March 6th, 2010 Because I would have been subjected to seo. Talk about animal cruelty! OK, 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 [siad] 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 “iontach, 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 (OK, 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?
Ag Chris Grinter, ar an 4ú Márta, 2010 Scríobh Rivers Cuomo amhrán dom. Ní dona, ach anois is dóigh liom gur mhaith liom an culaith mantis sin le haghaidh Oíche Shamhna. Agus ar ndóigh tá dualgas orm a chur in iúl nach feithidí iad péisteanna talún…
[vimeo=14822451]
Ag Chris Grinter, ar an 3ú Márta, 2010 Came across seo article today care of Doug Yanega at UC Riverside, which spurred the search for further information. Who can tell me what those “flowers” iarbhír are? 10 points to the first to guess correctly… or maybe some awesome prize?
Ag Chris Grinter, ar an 3ú Márta, 2010 [youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v = LHdKEhFM7mY&hl = ga_US&fs=1&rel=0]
Ag Chris Grinter, ar an 2 Márta, 2010 Is é an rud atá feicthe riamh agam roimhe. Ag fás suas bhí i gcónaí mé duine éigin a thabhairt dom roinnt réad kitsch le feithidí orthu, fiú ag imirt cártaí. Bhuel fiú an bhliain seo caite fuair mé comhionannas vótaí eile téamaí feithidí. (Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil an whimsey na PZ Myers agus a cheangal uamhnach.) Ach, bhí siad go léir híomhánna ar ndóigh clóite. Nua i mbliana ó Deic Uachtarach, Cártaí feithideolaíocht! Má tá tú ag scrollú síos ar an leathanach a bhfuil tú faoi deara rud éigin buailte – nach bhfuil siad pictiúir, ach feithidí iarbhír. Seo an íomhá ar an nasc thuas:
WOW- agus a leanúint ar an nasc seo Facebook níos mó a fheiceáil ar a bhfuil le teacht. Buille faoi thuairim mé go bhfuil na leagan nua-aimseartha de na “cárta tobac”, a bhí cárta bailitheoirí breise isteach i pacáistí cárta rialta. An bhliain seo caite a ritheadh an chuideachta amach cártaí fuascailte a thabharfadh deis dó a chur ar ais chun an rud fíor le feiceáil thuas. De réir ESPN, na cártaí ag dul le breis agus $100 do dhaoine nach bhfuil aon smaoineamh cad feithidí is féidir leo a fháil. A tapaidh breathnú ar r-bhá fuair ceann amháin tairiscint faoi láthair do $87.00. Téigh figiúr. I ngach, Pleananna Deic Uachtarach a scaoileadh 30 cineálacha éagsúla feithidí. Ar chúl gach cárta tá sean-timey “léarscáil raon” agus ngearrthóg gearr mar gheall ar an insect. Tá siad chomh maith “deimhnithe” a bheith fíor, is cuma cad a chiallaíonn. An bhfuil siad dul i gcomhairle le taxonomist? Geall liom go mbeadh mo rátaí in aghaidh na huaire a bheith níos lú ná an té a bhfuil siad anois…
Na cinn féileacán crack mé suas, go bhfuil siad samplaí ach dúnta leagtar ar a thaobh. Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh eiseamal scaipeadh a bheith níos tarraingtí, ach b'fhéidir gan aon duine ag Deic Uachtarach realizes sé seo conas ba chóir iad a ullmhú. Whoever Tá a thabhairt dóibh a n-mantids cé go bhfuil cur go leor ama chun iad a dhéanamh breathnú mhaisiúil. N'fheadar i ndáiríre cé mhéad de seo á dhéanamh, ar ndóigh ní fhéadfaí é seo a choinneáil in aon líon mór. Buille faoi thuairim mé sa deireadh a dhéanann an tosaithe comhrá an-spéisiúil i measc daoine riamh a d'fhéadfadh a breathnú faoi dhó ar feithidí, agus go háirithe mar rud inbhailithe. N'fheadar cad a cheapann PETA… OK, againn Tá a fhios go i bhfad cheana.
Ag Chris Grinter, ar an 28 Feabhra, 2010 Tháinig mé trasna seo article today and it put a smile on my face. Tháinig taighdeoir maláire ag taisteal trasna “repeller mosquito leictreonach” ar díol ina chatalóg san eitilt. Bheith fear cliste, thuig sé go raibh sé seo BS iomlán agus utter. 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. Bhuel, 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, ina ionad, 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% den am. 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, are they?
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! Dáiríre, this crap is everywhere and it’s 100% fraud.
Ag Chris Grinter, 25 Feabhra, 2010 Féach thuas, Chruthaigh mé leathanach nua do teicnící. Or Wonder conas a rud éigin a dhéanamh? Iarr ar dom conas agus beidh mé ag léiriú.
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