Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Latest in Hard Hitting News From Fox
Yes, folks, this is the kind of journalistic prowess that earns Fox News the title of "fair and balanced."
It should surprise none of us, really, that all 193% of Republicans support Palin, Huckabee, and Romney.
Nor should it surprise us that dividing a pie equally results in the same sized pieces for 70%, 63%, and 60%.
All 193% of Republicans should be proud of this... as should Rupert Murdoch.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Vaccines are NOT Dangerous
There is a growing anti-vaccine reaction among the uninformed that threatens our overall health. Some folks "believe" that a measles (mumps and rubella) vaccine can lead to autism. Some think that the H1N1 vaccine is unsafe. Bill Maher called people who get flu shots "idiots." And then there is the hatred directed at Paul Offit, a Philadelphia pediatrician and the coinventor of a rotavirus vaccine that could save tens of thousands of lives every year.
This anti-scientific thinking -- or better yet, lack of thinking -- is causing otherwise "sane" people to become fearful and thereby avoid getting vaccinated. This is unfortunate, as it reduces the overall immunity of the herd (us) and puts everyone at greater risk.
But is there anything to all of those beliefs? No! As Wired reports: To be clear, there is no credible evidence to indicate that any of this is true. None. Twelve epidemiological studies have found no data that links the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine to autism; six studies have found no trace of an association between thimerosal (a preservative containing ethylmercury that has largely been removed from vaccines since 20011) and autism, and three other studies have found no indication that thimerosal causes even subtle neurological problems. The so-called epidemic, researchers assert, is the result of improved diagnosis, which has identified as autistic many kids who once might have been labeled mentally retarded or just plain slow. In fact, the growing body of science indicates that the autistic spectrum — which may well turn out to encompass several discrete conditions — may largely be genetic in origin. In April, the journal Nature published two studies that analyzed the genes of almost 10,000 people and identified a common genetic variant present in approximately 65 percent of autistic children.
So get your damn flu shot!
This anti-scientific thinking -- or better yet, lack of thinking -- is causing otherwise "sane" people to become fearful and thereby avoid getting vaccinated. This is unfortunate, as it reduces the overall immunity of the herd (us) and puts everyone at greater risk.
But is there anything to all of those beliefs? No! As Wired reports: To be clear, there is no credible evidence to indicate that any of this is true. None. Twelve epidemiological studies have found no data that links the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine to autism; six studies have found no trace of an association between thimerosal (a preservative containing ethylmercury that has largely been removed from vaccines since 20011) and autism, and three other studies have found no indication that thimerosal causes even subtle neurological problems. The so-called epidemic, researchers assert, is the result of improved diagnosis, which has identified as autistic many kids who once might have been labeled mentally retarded or just plain slow. In fact, the growing body of science indicates that the autistic spectrum — which may well turn out to encompass several discrete conditions — may largely be genetic in origin. In April, the journal Nature published two studies that analyzed the genes of almost 10,000 people and identified a common genetic variant present in approximately 65 percent of autistic children.
So get your damn flu shot!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
In Which I Finally Agree With Sarah Palin (Yikes!)
OK, Sarah Palin has finally made a reasonable point. The photo at the left is the cover of this week's Newsweek. It uses a photo from a shoot that Palin did for Runner's World that was originally published in August 2009. (Click here to see the slide show of photos from that shoot.) Palin's response: "The choice of photo for the cover of this week's Newsweek is unfortunate. When it comes to Sarah Palin, this "news" magazine has relished focusing on the irrelevant rather than the relevant. The Runner's World magazine one-page profile for which this photo was taken was all about health and fitness -- a subject to which I am devoted and which is critically important to this nation. The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now. If anyone can learn anything from it: it shows why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, gender, or color of skin. The media will do anything to draw attention -- even if out of context."
Yes, Palin is a nut case, train wreck and has no place in national politics. But she has a point here. A more appropriate photo for the tone of the coverage should have been used. Of course, if Hillary Clinton posed in short shorts like that I bet it would appear in the National Review (and that wouldn't be proper, either - - for many, many reasons).
Monday, November 16, 2009
Death To You All
The Hebrew Commandments and the punishments for those who transgress them, were as follows:
- I Am The Lord Thy God. This Commandment recognized the sovereignty of the Almighty. Rejection of it was seen as a refusal to acknowledge God's authority... Punishment was death by stoning.
- Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods But Me... Punishment was death by stoning.
- Thou Shalt Not Take The Name Of The Lord Thy God In Vain... Punishment was death by stoning.
- Remember The Sabbath Day To Keep It Holy... Punishment was death by stoning.
- Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother... Punishment was death by strangulation.
- Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder... Punishment was death by decapitation.
- Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery... Punishment was death by strangulation.
- Thou Shalt Not Steal... Punishment was death by strangulation.
- Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor Punishment was death by stoning.
- Thou Shalt Not Covet... Punishment was death by strangulation.
Senior Health Care Solution
This is from one of those annoying e-mails that keep getting "sent around" the web, but I thought it made an interesting point.
So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do?
Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. Your are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives. Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need! New teeth, no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered.
And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care. Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.
So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do?
Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. Your are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives. Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need! New teeth, no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered.
And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care. Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Don't Panic!
I re-designed the blog a bit today. The previous design was a bit cramped and this spreads things out a bit... and it is lighter and hopefully easier to read.
I also added voting buttons at the bottom of each post, so if you don' want to comment you can at least say whether you like or hate a post... or just want to say WTF (What the Fuck!) or that you found it amusing.
I also added voting buttons at the bottom of each post, so if you don' want to comment you can at least say whether you like or hate a post... or just want to say WTF (What the Fuck!) or that you found it amusing.
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