tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post5359086804558247717..comments2024-01-27T20:32:17.610-05:00Comments on Pinchgut: Whammo – Dumbo goes from Fatso to Slimmo!Badgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11283813317560446754noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-60019435197697955842010-03-02T03:30:13.220-05:002010-03-02T03:30:13.220-05:00It's refreshing to hear from fellow skeptics! ...It's refreshing to hear from fellow skeptics! I write articles for our staff magazine addressing some of these issues as my skin crawls with all of the mainstream philosophies. That's why I love the American Council on Science and Health and the Skeptics guide to the Universe. And while many denounce the pharma industry, let's think what the world would be like without vaccinations, antibiotics, anti-virals, pain medication, anesthetics, to name only a few.annabellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14590029985456487927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-77490855087054483462010-03-01T09:53:57.488-05:002010-03-01T09:53:57.488-05:00My comment was too long apparently.
Please click o...My comment was too long apparently.<br />Please click on the quoted text for the complete article in the Ventura County Reporter.Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-69223800139531780742010-03-01T09:50:55.289-05:002010-03-01T09:50:55.289-05:00Life is full of ambiguity, even science does not h...Life is full of ambiguity, even science does not have the answers to everything yet, in my humble opinion. Not that I <i>know</i> a thing, I love science, I believe in science, but I refuse to let present-day scientific knowledge set parameters or boundaries. If a homeopathic pill cures my sinus infection just as well (and if only because of the placebo effect) as antibiotics, I stick with those little innocuous white pills. After all, we know where the believe in antibiotics as the cure-all is taking us. <br /><br />Money down the drain for quack or rubbish is surely bested by the damage caused by prescription drugs administered by school medicine: <br /><br />The "<a href="http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/pharmaceutical_dependency/6422/" rel="nofollow"> Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that 106,000 deaths per year are from “non-error, adverse” effects of prescription meds, making this the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. This dwarfs yearly automobile accidents and, in fact, accounts for more deaths than all other accidents combined.<br /><br />Only heart disease, cancer and strokes kill more Americans than prescription drugs. This shocking figure does not include drugs administered erroneously, nor does it include purposeful overdoses in suicide attempts.<br /><br />If medication errors were included in this statistic, the death toll would probably be as high as 140,000 deaths per year. To make matters worse, Dr. David Kessler, Chief of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, believes that “only 1 percent of all serious drug reactions are reported."</a>"Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-52605132071585323182010-03-01T05:17:38.425-05:002010-03-01T05:17:38.425-05:00Several years ago, in France, an apparently respec...Several years ago, in France, an apparently respectable scientist created a sensational affair when he claimed that molecules of ordinary water are capable of retaining a "memory" of the past. Not surprisingly, it turned out to be very bad science indeed, but many people in France recall this amazing news story (I'm not sure why, because it was based upon highbrow but spurious physics). And it's often the first thing we think of whenever we hear of the notorious "dilutions" of homeopathic quackery. Of course, people throughout the world have the right to continue to believe in God, astrology, homeopathy, etc. Even in Freud and Marx, if they so desire. But, ever since my initial awareness of Badger's eclectic blog, I've been pleased to see that we would appear to be on the same wavelength in embracing the ideas of individuals such as <b>Richard Dawkins</b>, <b>P Z Myers</b>, <b>Christopher Hitchens</b>, <b>Michael Shermer</b>, etc. Badger points us to an excellent <i>eSkeptic</i> article on homeopathy by <b>Harriet Hall</b>, which is particularly damning. Now, I'm not saying that there's anything "wrong" with the idea that Badger might suggest that Schuessler's Salts can cure arthritis... but I merely point out that this belief is inconsistent with <i>eSkeptic</i> attitudes towards homeopathy. It's up to Badger (after all, it's <i>his</i> blog) to decide whether or not this apparent inconsistency merits any kind of explanation. As for my own blog, I mentioned homeopathy briefly in an ironical article of 18 January 2010 entitled <b><i>Snake oil</i></b> <a href="http://skyvington.blogspot.com/2010/01/snake-oil.html" rel="nofollow"><b>[display]</b></a>... but it's not a question that has ever concerned me personally (medically) in any way whatsoever. I must add, however, that this question of belief in homeopathy is not as innocent as it might appear, since many allegedly evolved nations persist in spending large chunks of taxpayers' money on this rubbish.William Skyvingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10052367756561555096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-16502749309764320502010-03-01T03:51:39.938-05:002010-03-01T03:51:39.938-05:00I believe in homeopathy.
It's more than taking...I believe in homeopathy.<br />It's more than taking pills.<br />Just like Chinese doctors don't stick needles anywhere they please.<br />Amen.Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-17785424220764554512010-03-01T03:37:33.312-05:002010-03-01T03:37:33.312-05:00A few weeks ago, Badger mentioned his arthritis pr...A few weeks ago, <b>Badger</b> mentioned his arthritis problem [<a href="http://phillipprideaux.blogspot.com/2010/02/persil-will-do-me-just-fine.html" rel="nofollow"><b>display original post</b></a>]:<br /><br /><b><i>I tried a few remedies which were mildly successful - but appear to have largely solved my arthritis problem with Schuessler Salts. [...] I am a firm believer that that natural vitamins and minerals can’t be bad for you. And so it has proved to be in this particular instance.</i></b><br /><br /><b>Badger</b> gave us a link to a description of this mystery product. We read:<br /><br /><b><i>What are Schuessler Tissue Cell Salts ? Tissue Cell Salts are homoeopathic prepared, and you may purchase them as potent homoeopathic medicines from pharmacies.</i></b><br /><br />After reading today's remarks concerning homeopathy, I'm confused.William Skyvingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10052367756561555096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-49123547324699391202010-02-28T16:02:24.761-05:002010-02-28T16:02:24.761-05:00So you want me to send the money where?So you want me to send the money where?freefallinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08863000229609701796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-8249988894727225732010-02-26T15:44:13.785-05:002010-02-26T15:44:13.785-05:00A shame you won't pick on the Amish. They woul...A shame you won't pick on the Amish. They would NEVER know...Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05528484098724947814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-55321758854786849152010-02-26T11:17:23.007-05:002010-02-26T11:17:23.007-05:00You know there are a lot of silly religions out th...You know there are a lot of silly religions out there but you have to admit that it's difficult to find anything ridiculous about Scientology. Take a couple of tin cans and a wire, add some poorly written and tedious science fiction and mix it with naval organizational structure. What's not to like?<br /><br />Punter. That's a good word.Wanderlusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099758957492165428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804114935312811175.post-47907864948272802582010-02-26T09:21:13.632-05:002010-02-26T09:21:13.632-05:00Astonishing Badger, only this week I have myself r...Astonishing Badger, only this week I have myself read Ben Goldacre's book! Part of the problem is there is no accreditation for nutritionalists in Britain. Anyone can set up just by saying they are one.<br />Maalie (Consultant in Nutrition).Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.com