Minot Skeptical Society

KMOT Responds to My Letter

2012-01-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

Please note the following letter that I have reproduced from Monica Hennen at KMOT. See if you can spot the cognitive error. Also, note that she uses the argument that she is only following orders from corporate.

Dear xxxxx:
Thanks for your letter dated December 29, 2011. I wanted to respond to you personally both as
the news director for NBC North Dakota News, and also as the anchor of the show
you saw, because you name me personally.
First, let me say I understand your concerns. I’m sure it must be frustrating to see
stories on procedures you consider to be bogus.
And if somebody at KMOT was rude to you, I apologize on their behalf. That is certainly not our policy at NBC,
North Dakota News, and I will discuss that with the staff.
That said, however, I must correct what I believe is a
misimpression on your part that I am in some way responsible for the content of
the news piece you saw. You say, “I was
saddened to see an example of irresponsible journalism on your station (sic)
part. Monica Hannen (sic) has done
something like this before.” I can
assure you I have not done a story such as this. As a former medical reporter, I can also
assure you that had I done this story, I would have made every attempt to talk
with those who believe and those who don’t.
But even then, because I am not a doctor, and because I didn’t do the
research, I would not make a claim as to the procedure’s efficacy. That is not my job. Recall that at one time, the “experts” among
us thought the world was flat. Those
skeptics who thought it was round were ridiculed, yet in the end, they were
correct.
My job as the anchor of the show is to introduce stories
that are written by others. My job as
news director is to make every effort to ensure the content generated at my
stations is correct. In this case, it
was sent to us by NBC News. I do not,
nor can I vet every story the network does.
As I’m sure you do with information you receive from UND, I have to
accept at face value that the stories the network sends are well reported
because I can’t do the footwork on every story.
When I know there is an obvious error in a story I can choose to correct
it, but I couldn’t refute the information in this particular story, which was sent
to us as a part of a regular health feature provided by NBC and chosen by a
producer, not me. I would also point out
that nowhere in the story do I or the reporter claim this works. As you point out, it is anecdotal. What I can do is pass your concerns on to the
network.
I would invite you to continue your work of warning “the
public of dangerous claims to public health, finances and safety.” Please do continue to monitor our shows. We will continue to make every effort to
provide you and the public with the best information we have available.
Best Wishes
Monica Hannan
News Director
NBC North Dakota News

KMOT Promotes Quack Medicine

2011-12-29T16:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Sirs:
Referring
to your news broadcast of 12-29-2011 at 5 pm, I was saddened to see an example
of irresponsible journalism on your stations part. Monica Hannen has done something like this before. At that time I called your station and was
rudely dismissed; therefore I am placing the complaint differently.
I have
watched KMOT primarily since I moved to Minot some years ago, finding its
quality and objectivity good. I am a Professor
of Family Medicine at UND and President of the Minot Skeptical Society. On the night of the bad journalism Monica
talked about using a laser by a chiropractor to stop or cure allergies and
using “energy medicine”. She had stories
or anecdotes for the broadcast. I have
tried finding any information about this procedure/treatment. All the information I found was on bad
internet sites and there are no reliable studies in any scientific journal. This makes the treatment Monica recommended be
classified as Quack medicine. I refer
you to a well documented site that regularly published articles by real medical
doctors and skeptics called Science Based Medicine and an article about this
very topic dated November 18 by Harriet Hall.
Dr. Hall is a retired Air Force flight surgeon and Family Medicine
doctor who writes for them and her own site Skepdoc. Science Based Medicine site is written by
real doctors, professors and skeptics and research and critique Quack medicine,
false claims etc.
As we
say in the skeptical movement “the plural of anecdotes is not evidence.” Putting information like this in the public
sphere by an otherwise responsible and good news organization is irresponsible
journalism and potentially dangerous. You need to research your news feeds and find
if they are reliable, truthful and good information that the public should have
or not. I would be willing to sit down
and discuss this with you at anytime.
But for now I am going to publish this on our blog site and face book
site. Our purpose at Minot Skeptical
Society is to warn the public of dangerous claims to public health, finances
and safety. I will continue to monitor
your shows and any items of such bad journalism will be exposed.

Christopher Hitchens Passes

2011-12-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

The Hitch, Christopher Hitchens died at MD Anderson, from his esophageal cancer, diagnosed one and half years ago. His wit, candor and humor will be sorely missed. I met him once at a meeting in Washington DC in 2007. He was a truly the every persons genius. He would go have a drink with you and shoot the bull. I loved watching his debates and his commentaries on TV and Youtube. He would tolerate no bull and quickly cut to meat of the matter and state his position in an elegant and precise English, that I only wish that I could I have. He was feared among the religious, because he gave no quarter and expected none. He along with Dawkins, Harris and Dennett became the Four Horsemen, and as such propheted the demise of our childish notions of religion. A movement that has been gaining momentum world wide. He was a true humanitarian and fought for equal rights and fair play in a world dominated by religion and therefore rarely if ever grants them. His vices of smoking and alcohol contributed to his disease and early demise and therefore should be a warning to us all, but only a few will heed. He will truly be missed. Rest easy Hitch.

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Aloe Vera Advertisement in Minot Daily Again.

2011-11-26T16:29:00.000-08:00

There was an article in the Minot Daily on November 21, extolling the the virtues of AloeCure by a person that supposedly found a miracle cure in the product and forgoing other medical treatments. This one was for Heart Burn. The whole article looks suspiciously like an article I blogged about earlier that also said aloe would cure or prevent cancer with a host of other illness. The similarity is that it was an vet who discovered this himself. The medical/pharma complex was putting him down because of the money they wanted to make over him. Also saying that the PPIs used to treat heartburn is unsafe because of increase risk of fractures. The individual even has a picture of himself by AloeCure. Says it was clinically tested. Usually that means they gave it to their friends to try. Any medicine can have side effects, even plain water and oxygen. When the absolute numbers of side effects of PPIs are looked at they are so small as to be almost microscopic. Now what are the side effects of ingesting aloe? I will list them; bloody diarrhea, cramps, decrease absorption of other meds, loss of vision, muscle weakness, vomiting, swelling, sodium and potassium imbalance, liver failure, kidney failure, premature birth or miscarriage and if you have allergies to plants from the Liliacae family (garlic, onions, tulips) you may have an allergic reaction to aloe. Also, 1 year of repeated ingestion of aloe increased the risk of colorectal cancer. When I was in private practice I had a patient that died of colon cancer because he believed that the Aloe he was drinking would cure him.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

The Better Angels of Our Nature

2011-11-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading a wonderful book by Steven Pinker called "The Better Angels of Our Nature; Why Violence Has Declined". Just to warn you it is not a short read, but the data presented and the logic including studies in psychology, sociology and anthropology just adds to the strength of the argument. Steven Pinker is a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and a two time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and has been named as being among Times 100 most influential people in the world today and Foreign Policy's 100 Global Thinkers. His premise, which he able to mobilize large data sets, is that violence has been declining since the 1500s. In the beginning chapters he gathers the data and presents it. He goes through the studies and experiments done in sociology, anthropology and psychology and integrates those studies into the premise and I think proves it. What is really wow as so many things in science and history is that the data/evidence completely goes against intuition. I would think that the 20th Century was the bloodiest with the world wars etc. but no it was not. The good old days were not that good really. It is a book I am going to keep in my library for its logic, integrating of data, experiment and history to come up with good theory of the decline of violence in the scientific sense.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Delta Airlines Is Putting Their Passengers Health at Risk

2011-11-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

There is a so called public safety video that Delta Airlines is showing to its passengers. It is about avoiding the flu. It has accepted techniques like coughing into your elbow etc. But it is really a slick propaganda peice for the antivaxer with the final comment that the flu vaccine doesn't help. It is put out by the National Vaccine Information Center with their website. It is really an antivax site. Why did Delta put this on? This is truly irresponsible. Another airline American is airing a public safety video expounding on the value of vaccines and recommending them. I think this truly affects us in Minot, because Delta is the prime carrier here and has been for a while. Sign the following petition to get Delta to pull the video at; www.change.org/petitions/tell-delta-to-stop-putting-their-passengers-health-at-risk.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Note from North Dakota Senator

2011-11-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

I received a thank you from Senator Hoeven about the book "Denying Science" and the letter I sent him. The note says; "Thank you for the book andfor sharing your comments. I appreciate hearing your input! Best Wishes John. Now that I have received two notes of reception of the book and thanks that is nice. However, whether they will read it and take my comments to heart is whole different subject. The only way to get politicians to hear you is to make your thoughts know to them and provide evidence to support it. If they do not heed good councel then the next move is to vote them out of office.

peace Skeptical DoDo

A Thank you from the Congressman

2011-11-10T12:31:00.001-08:00

This is interesting I got a thank you from Congressman Rick Berg. I sent the book Denying Science by John Grant about 2-4 weeks back. Here is what the note that is very short says; Thanks for thinking of me and shairing the book "Denying Science". Look forward to reading it! Thank you. signed Rick Berg. I have not gotten any aknowledgement from Senator Hoeven. I wonder if he really will read it? One can only hope.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Happy Carl Sagan Day!

2011-11-09T05:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Carl Sagan Day! He was born on this day in 1934. His career included astrophysics, cosmology, pioneering exobiology, promoting SETI and science communicator. He published over 600 papers and authored or co-authored over 20 books. He advocated scientific skeptical inquiry. He wrote and starred in the wonderful series COSMOS. He wrote the book Contact that was made into a movie n 1997 starring Jody Foster. He taught at Cornell University and one course he taught was critical thinking. He died on December 20 1996 from pneumonia as a complication of myelodysplasia. The great Carl Sagan was described as arrogant or conceited by some. But it was he who along with James Randy are the God Fathers of the modern Scientific Skeptical Movement. He described the small blue dot, that was the earth as seen from voyager as it left the solar system with such eloquence that it still makes me cry with appreciation. We miss you Carl for there will never be another one like you.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Theocrats and Government

2011-11-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

Over the past week the Republican controlled house adopted a resolution for "God in We Trust" be the national motto. The Republican controlled Michigan legislature passed a measure outlawing bullying, except Christian bullying. Over the last several years almost every state has made it harder if not impossible for a woman to get an abortion. It seems that the Republicans want to save the unborn children, but after they are born they don't care about their welfare, education or health. The Supreme Court as said that corporations are people, which has led to corporations dumping huge amounts of cash into election campaigns of their chosen. The 1% as mentioned in a large financial corporation's memo has stated that the United States is no longer a democracy but a Plutocracy. That is the country is controlled by the top 1% of wealthiest in this country. The common people they control are allowed to because they think that they will become part of the top 1%, which the actual top 1% will not allow. Religion is used by them to control the masses, because they know that invoking Jesus or God makes the masses stop asking questions. They, the top 1%, have so corrupted the messages in the holy books, never mind whether they are true or not, but corrupted them to conform to their ideology; "Getting wealthy is God's will and the richer the better and to hell with anyone else." I support the Occupy Wall Street movement because of this, but I am afraid that it is going to take a another spring here in the west to change it.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

CAM Claims Another Life in Minot

2011-10-31T16:01:00.000-07:00

We admitted a poor man with throat cancer. He had a trach or artificial tube in his throat for him to breath. Multiple metastasis with emancipation secondary to the tumor was very evident on exam. He was truly suffering. When he was diagnosed he did not want to take "traditional treatments" for his tumor and that was before it had spread. He preferred herbs and homeopathy. He died several hours after admission to the hospital. Sound familiar? CAM promises much and delivers nothing. The power of belief can be itself a cancer.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Letter to North Dakota Senator and Congressman

2011-10-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

The following is from a letter I sent to Senator Hoeven and Congressman Berg. I sent a book as indicated in the letter as a gift and an article about Perry purposely changing numbers in a report on climate by Texas scientists. The scientist withdrew their names from the report that was 200 pages long. Also I sent a copy of the report that was funded by the Koch brothers that global warming is real. It will be interesting to see if I get a response.
Dear Senator
Please
accept the enclosed book as a gift. I
think you will find it very informative and interesting. One of the things that worry me the most is
the rejection of science and science education in our society in favor of
pseudoscience. This will have very grave
consequences in the future. Over 60% of
the current jobs available worldwide are based on science and technology and
that percentage is predicted to grow.
Such things as energy, ecology, medicine (which includes the modern synthesis
of evolution and genetics) and technology are only some of the areas that
directly affect all of us now.
Nature
is not democratic and she cares not what you or I think, believe or what our
ideology is. She will do as she does
despite us. We ignore her at only at our
own peril. You as a leader in the state
and nation have an obligation to not only yourself, but to your family and most
of all to your constituency to make laws that take into the account nature’s
unforgiving proclivities. You and I, if
we ignore them may not be harmed by them now or say 10 years in the future, but
what about our children, grandchildren and all the rest of the following
generations.
An
example of science denialism is what I am sure you remember as the “Climategate”
2009 scandal. It involved backers and
funding from sources that backed organizations lobbying against action on
climate change, such as the Koch brothers who are billionaire industrialists
that own and operate large coal fired power plants among other interests. They mislead the media and public as to the
reality of the UK climatologist’s research etc. They then funded the Berkeley group founded by
physics professor Richard Muller. He
gathered a team of ten real scientists including Nobel Physics Prize winner
Saul Perlmutter to test the findings of the climate scientists. The Berkeley Earth Study group concluded that
global warming is real! For more
information go to www.BerkeleyEarth.org.
A
courageous person is one who is willing to chance having his or her mind
changed when looking at the other side’s evidence or data. A courageous person also follows the
evidence/data, even if it leads to areas that one doesn’t like.
Best Regards

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Steve Jobs

2011-10-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Walther Isaacson said on the news tonight that Steve Jobs only regret was that he did not have the surgery for his tumor when advised. When he was diagnosed with the insulinoma the tumor was localized and essentially curable. He tried diet, herbs, spiritualism etc, before realizing that none of that was working had surgery. When he had the surgery the tumor had spread. Here is reality! Nature, reality, doesn't care what you believe, think, wish or your ideology is, she will have her way no matter what. So we had better learn about reality and work with her not against her. A lot of his friends told him to have the surgery, but his views about going against the stream, did not work in this case. IN fact he a lot of quacks telling him to do these therapies. No we do not have separate realities, we may experience the reality differently, but the reality we all experience is the same. The only way of understanding it is through the methods of science. It will be fun to see what the CAM quacks spin on this.

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Michael Shermer at Fargo Freethought

2011-10-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

You see yours truly with Michael Shermer at the Free thought Convention in Fargo. Michael gave a good talk about his new book "the Believing Brain". In the background you can see the theologian Robert Price, an author, member of the faculty of a seminary.

Faith Panel

2011-09-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

15 people attended Tuesday nights meeting. Good discussions on various faiths that attended. Lot seemed to center around atheism. All was civil. I think everyone learned something of the other persons belief system. Hopefully this will allow for everyone getting along.

Project 42, Red River Valley Free Thought Convention

2011-09-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

I attended the Red River Valley Free Thought Convention in Fargo this last weekend. I enjoyed myself and got to meet and talk to the speakers. The Red River Valley Free Thought Society has been in existence for few years and this is the second convention that they had. Jon Lindgren was the mayor of Fargo from 1978 to 1994. He is a retired professor of economics at NDSU. He is the president of their organization. Their primary goal is separation of church and state with promoting an atheistic world view. Richard Carrier is the author of Sense Goodness without God and Not Impossible Faith. He received his PhD in ancient history from Columbia University. His current interests is the intellectual history of Greece and Rome as well as the history of Christianity. Robert M. Price or the Bible Geek is a religious skeptic and professor of Theology and scriptural studies at Coleman Theological Seminary and professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry. He has authored several books including The Reason Driven Life and Inerrant the Wind; The Evangelical Crisis in Biblical Authority. Richard Haynes or better known as Brother Richard received a degree in Religious Studies and was minister for 19 years in a large Atlanta Mega church. He was "born again" into the real world. He works now to build non-theist communities and is executive director of AtheistNexus.org. P.Z. Myers the associate professor of biology at University of Minnesota at Morris and vigorous critic of creationism and intelligent design. He received the Humanist of the Year Award in 2009. He has the largest science blog on the net Pharyngula, which won the Readers Choice Award for 2011. We in conjunction with MSU had him here in Minot couple years ago to speak. And finally Michael Shermer the founder of Skeptics Magazine and is executive director of the Skeptics Society. He is adjunct professor of Economics at Claremont Graduate University. He has written many books and publishes Skeptic Magazine. He talked about his new book about the believing brain. The speakers gave talks on Saturday followed by a debate between an atheist and a preacher. A panel was held Sunday morning with Q & A. I thought it was a good conference, fun and meeting new people.
Peace
Skeptical DoDo

Pain in the Ass

2011-09-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

I would heartily recommend the book "How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass" by Christopher DiCarlo. It is a "Critical Thinkers Guide to Asking the Right Questions". The author is lecture on bioethics and philosophy of science, fellow and advisor of the Society of Ontario Freethinkers and Center for Inquiry. It is entertaining and always informative covering the development of skepticism during the time of Socrates to now. He goes through the main cognitive fallacies in a delightful insightful way. His analysis of how arguments are put together will help in becoming a really good "Pain in the Ass". He then goes into the big 5 questions of life, existence etc. and compares and contrasts natural mind to the supernatural mind. This is a real education and I highly recommend it. It will definitely go into the must read list. It published by Prometheus Books.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

GOP Debate

2011-09-07T19:03:00.001-07:00

Well Rick Perry has shown his true colors. He is anti-science, anti-reason and anti-logic. In short if he wins the presidential election the USA will become a third world power and enter a new dark ages where witches are burned at the stake, scientists are considered demons and are treated accordingly. With the greater than 70% of the public hating congress and government in particular, it could happen. Skeptics would be put into concentration camps, atheists will be executed because that is what God demands according to the prophet of Rick Perry. It could just happen. His rhetoric is treasonous, anti government, anti science, anti compassion, pro big business, pro rich and pro power. Lets hope the American public can see through the BS he is dishing out.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Politcal Disaster

2011-08-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

Ever sense a political disaster ripining for the picking? On a recent news show I saw that over 80% of voters are just fed up with the incompetence in Washington, both parties. The rise of the dominianist with the likes of Rick Perry and Michelle Bachman are lending emphasis to the complete descent into wachaloonville of the Republican party with its marriage to fundamentalist Christians. Not to mention the fact that fundamentalist Christians are not even that, they have spun the Christian religion akin to fascist ideaology. Obama's ratings are low because he is seen as cowering to the right and overcompromising in the direction of the right, when the right refuses any compromise. The financial forcast for the country is far from rosey, in fact it is down right ugly. The average american no longer questions his news station, ie Fox, or his leaders but blindly follows like a leming heading for the cliff. Even so called intelligent people, like some doctors I know, state that they watch Fox and agree with it. And when pushed about questioning it they don't. Two wars, jobs being shipped overseas, the religious right looking for power in politics, media, education, industry, and three more of the so called seven hills that they want to take over so the second coming can happen, is just scary. Not for the second coming, but because religious, nonscientific radical fascist views are becoming the norm. What is an intelligent person to do?
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Curiosity

2011-08-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching the Science Channel show Curiosity. This was about did God create the universe. It had Stephen Hawking on and talking about his book that created quite a stir. I have the book and read it. It is very interesting and goes through the history of science with all the discoveries made until now. Stephen says there is no God, because before the big bang there was no time for a being to exist in. Couple interesting points, there are some competing hypothesis that we live in a multi verse or just one of an infinite number of universes. With that number then the statistical odds of universes existing with the right fundamental constants for like and intelligent life to exist does. There is also a current idea and it is being tested now that if there are multi verses, maybe they occasionally bump into one another. This could live clues by leaving patterns in the background cosmic radiation. So some scientists using the one of the new high resolution space telescopes are looking for those patterns. They are using sophisticated computer programs to make sure we are not seeing patterns that are really not there. So far no results, but a fascinating idea to test a hypothesis and if found true would revolutionize the way we think of the world around us and ourselves.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Integrative Medicine at Trinity Hospital

2011-07-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

It was interesting to note an article in the Minot Daily put out by Trinity Hospital on "An Inside View on Integrative Medicine". I have published numerous posts in the past on integrative medicine. Dr. Madziwa and internist, originally from Zimbabwe, did a fellowship at the University of Arizona. This is Andrew Weils home base. I have visited the site and talked to faculty at that site. It is interesting to see her comments in the article. Like all integrative medicine people say that it is about love, balance, holistic, and that traditional evidence based medicine did not make them people well, the whole person. A lot of fuzzy, poorly defined terminology here. She also stated that "a human being will remain unsettled if the other to pillars, mental and spiritual, are not adequately addressed". Then goes on with other modalities in the so called tool box of integrative medicine, like tai-chi, acupuncture, energy medicine, herbal medicine etc. Then the gotcha that they always bring up that is based more on philosophy than science or evidence; "The strength to do what is right can totally be a mental thing when we use our will power. Will power is a mental drain, and the minute we let go of our guard, everything else seems to break loose. But when we are grounded in a higher power, which for me is God, we are grounded in the power of love." What in the world does all those words mean. Yeah thinking can be hard and draining, so lets stop thinking? God will cure everything? The integrative medicine people by their very nature are more into woo, spirits and the like. It may be due to how they were brought up as some recent psychology research indicates. One problem we have in modern medicine is that in the short 150 year history of it we have gotten so good that people expect results immediately, and when they don't get it they think it is not working and turn to so called alternative medicine. What I have seen and is based on solid research, which cannot be said of alternative medicine, of evolutionary medicine is that around 80% of everyday health problems will get better, no matter what we do. One thing they, the integrative medicine bunch, got right is that the body does have a remarkable ability to heal itself, it is innate in our evolutionary history, not spiritual. What we must do is be on the look out for disease that will not heal themselves and diagnose and treat them, that is our primary function. The problem with integrative and alternative medicine is that people go to this options when the result will be disability or death when they could have gotten real help. Underline REAL, and that is not the world that integrative and alternative medicine people operate in. If you want examples go to Tim Farley's "Whatstheharm.com" where real cases with reference are brought up and you can see for yourself, don't take my word for it. I have seen enough people now who have gone to alternative practitioners and come back, upset that they are not healed by them either. These people main problem is more psychological than real anyway. Our primary purpose on these people is to keep them out of the hospital for imagined illness and not do so many diagnostic tests on them in a wild goose chase that they have to have transfusions for all the blood work done and they have to be wrapped in lead due to all the x-ray studies that they have had and now they are radioactive. That is why alternative medicine people, including chiropractors, have them return all the time, they always hold out a false hope of just a little more treatment. Then we have Trinity and a bunch of hospitals and universities all over the country buying into this tripe. It is about the money and always has been. The customer is always right and if they want woo we should sell it to them.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Sparring Continues in Congress

2011-07-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

The battle of words, threats, and just playing like children continues in DC. I started thinking that after August 2, if no deal is reached, and the US credit rating goes into the trash, which will start another economic downturn that maybe enough is enough. Maybe there should be a call and done at the grass roots level a general recall election for all the politicians in the federal government and maybe some state governments. Then I propose that all politicians are given equal amounts of money, depending on the office they are seeking, from the government to spend on campaigns. No donations from corporations or individuals to individual politicians will be allowed. They can donate to the general fund that bankrolls all politician. This would level the playing field in elections, making the average person on the street eligible and able to fund a campaign. It would eliminate the corruption that goes with satisfying big donors of election campaigns. What is needed is people who are willing to serve to serve only the country and the people of the country and not themselves. Some European countries already do this, so there is a precedent. The biggest problem with this proposal is that the rich and corporations will not like it and will spend huge sums to make it look socialistic and any other word that they can think up as synonyms for evil and unamerican. The people being people are by nature greedy and will take the money from the corporations and the rich, thinking that they will become rich. It is a nice thought anyway.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Follow Up on Norway Killings

2011-07-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

With more information coming out about the killer in Norway, one thing is certain, he addressed it in a long manifesto of stopping multiculturalism and specifically Islam from taking over Europe. I think this underlines a truism in our world. When one culture or religion appears to be over shadowing another a reaction, sometimes violent, is triggered in the receiving culture or religion. The problem is trying to decide what is, or which is the, the aggressor culture or religion. The killer in Norway only a manifestation of that truism. Maybe the reaction of Islam in middle east is also a manifestation of that phenomenon. Does this mean that all cultures and religions should be separated? Or does this mean that the problem is with the culture or religions themselves. We have many examples in history and one does not have to look very far. And one neither has to try and decide which or who is the victim, as both cultures/religions like to claim that distinction and therefore the justification for their actions.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Norway Attacks

2011-07-23T07:00:00.001-07:00

I have been to Oslo as well as other Scandinavian countries. They are most happy and peaceful people I have ever had the privilege to meet. So I am proud to call myself a descendant of Scandinavia. The shooting and bomb blast in Oslo and the little island out side of Oslo comes as a shock. The worst is that the island is used as a retreat by a political party in Norway, the dominant one since world war 2. The shooter was going after children. The back ground is that this sick person was a right wing Christian fundamentalist. The bombing is also connected to this group, not islamists. This only underscores that religion and fundamentalist ideology in any guise is dangerous. Do we need any more examples? I know the religious people among us with spin it as nut, which he was (but influenced by an ideology), isolated instance, it is not what about McVey and bombing in Oklahoma city a few years ago among others, and then blame is on the ruling socialist party. I suspect this is what Fox News will do also. Our hearts go out to Norway and we are in solidarity with them even though we recover from our own disaster here with the flood. Which is the greater? Floods are natural occurrences and cannot be stopped, the killing in Norway and other places are the work of warped human beings and should be.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Tooth Fairy Tale

2011-07-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

A little enterprising little boy like getting quarters for each and every tooth he put under his pillow. He wanted more so he could buy stuff that was offered in the back of comic books, like x-ray glasses, magic tricks etc. Living on a farm he thought of a source of more teeth to put under his pillow. He knew where an old cow skull lay with gleaming white teeth. He ran out and went to the place of the cow skull and proceeded to bash the teeth out. He gathered them all up and went home with a smug smile upon his face. He was going to get rich and be able to buy all the things he wanted from the back of his comic books in the product sections. He believed in the tooth fairy and she would give him what he needed most to obtain more stuff and power. He placed the cow teeth under his pillow, before he went to bed that night. Excited the next morning he awake found no money. The old cow teeth were in the garbage. He went crying to his mother that the tooth fairy let him down. His mother gathered him up on her lap and with only the soothing voice that a mother has said; "Dear little one, the tooth fairy is make believe and your father and I put the quarters under you pillow for the teeth you loose as a reward for your good behavior in allowing us to pull those loose teeth. We cannot afford all the cost you were asking for by offering old cow teeth. We did not intend the reward for you go so far as cause you to sacrifice others or your innocent belief in the tooth fairy. I am sorry that your belief has caused you pain, guilt and embarrassment. But you are growing up and should know the truth when the belief causes problems."

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Interesting Developments

2011-07-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

In some ways it is amusing to watch the current happenings in government. It can also be very depressing. First, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas not too long ago had a state day of prayer to end the drought. The drought only got bigger. We are having records droughts, snows, floods etc. All of these have been forcasted by the climatologists. With climate change we have more extremes in weather. But the deniers still say no and will until they die from climate change. There reason is political and economic, theirs. Then to watch the Republicans drawing a line in the sand for no new taxes and refusing to compromise. When and if the government defaults on its loans because of the prinicipal of no new taxes for the rich and big cuts for everyone else what will happen. We will see the biggest economic problem since the great depression. I predict it will come back to bite the Republicans on the posterior. All of this is idealogy only. And selfish idealogy that is wrapped up in the red, white and blue of patriotism. It isn't patriotism is is pure selfish ideology. What is patriotic is compromise. We have become so tribal in our natures, the us versus them ideation that it threatens our very republic. No decisions made on evidence and logic, but based on ideology and selfish idea of I want to keep everything of mine and not help the other guy out. What else is funny is to see Rupert Murdoch catching the proverbal flames from hades for the scandel in the U. K. And it is looking as the samething will go here in the U.S. So much for the faithful, virtuous republican big business interests. Can anyone say irony. It is fun to watch, but the consequences of these idiots is going to be all of us suffering due to their ideological virtues. I hope I am wrong.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

FEMA Scams

2011-07-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

FEMA is busy taking applications and starting to hand out money. The money is primarily to pay for rent. One point if you have a FEMA rep contact you and you have already registered. That FEMA rep will be legit if he/she knows your registration number without you telling him or her. Also, another point if you are staying with friends or family and you get rent money from FEMA to pay them, which is nice, one thing to consider is that the people you are staying with will now have to pay tax on that money you paid them as income. Also, if you don't use that money to pay rent and you say you do, you may be committing a crime of fraud. So you have to use the money the way you are saying you have. Some people taking in boarders of the victims of the flood don't want the money as they feel that it is their obligation to help others in need. So that poses a interesting problem for the victims who are receiving the money from FEMA for rent and the people who the money should go to paying for services of lodgings don't accept it, then what do you do if you are that victim? Give it back?

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Dangerous to Go Back Into the Flood Zone

2011-07-03T04:13:00.001-07:00

Recently a friend went into the flood zone to help a person staying with them see her house. Couple zones the city is allowing people back in. There slimy muck on the ground, the smell is terrible and smoke alarms are going off all over. Sort of sounds like 911 with the person location beacons going off that firefighters wore after the collapse of the towers. There is garbage, pieces of boards with nails sticking up and she stepped on one. It went through her shoe into her foot, necessitating a tetanus shot and evaluation and treatment by a doc. It looks like a war zone, a wet soggy war zone, but a war zone nonetheless in those areas. So when you go back in watch where you step. We drove up Broadway after getting off covering the north hill ER and the 25 foot dikes are impressive. The good news is that the railroad tracks are again visible. The waters are receding and now recovery begins. It will be a long and difficult task. Not all the homes and business will be able to be rebuilt, but most will. Problem is not enough construction companies and workers in town and no place to house them along with the homeless from the flood. But as they say only the best come north and the hardy people of Minot will survive and flourish.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Flood Medical Myths In Minot

2011-06-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

The Souris river is receding slowly. So far the number of gastrointestinal complaints is down. Everyone is worried about hepatitis A. Hepatitis is caused by a virus. A is just one type, there are others such as B and C. Hepatitis A is transmissible primarily by contact with contaminated water. However, there is no recent historical record of increased outbreaks of hepatitis A from floods. Tetanus should be good up to 10 years after vaccination and if you have a dirty wound at 5 years or more you may get a booster. The public health services are offering hepatitis A and tetanus vaccines. But the risk is low. Minot is on water rationing due to broken mains and the difficulty in isolating those breaks that are probably in the flood zone. It is going to take a while to find and fix those after the water is gone. We have plenty of bottled water. If you save tape water before the flood during the warnings, that water should be alright. There are water filtering pumps that can give you two liters of water and then put water purification tablets in or 6-10 drops of Clorox in will sanitize it for drinking. The portable water filtering pumps can be obtained at sporting good stores, like Sheels. I got one as it was required when couple years ago I flew up the Alcan to Alaska. Showering with tape water and rinsing out clothes should be alright. Just don't drink it, unless you sanitized with the tablets, filters, Clorox or boiled it. Keep waste water and use it for flushing the toilets. We can get through this.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

The Waters Are Receding

2011-06-27T04:26:00.001-07:00

The crest came Sunday. The waters are now receding and that may take a few weeks. Broadway still closed to civilian traffic. We will have to put off our regular meetings for a while. I will inform you of next meeting and location. Interesting that prayer groups, prayer events, and scams are popping up now in relation to the flood. Be careful if someone you don't know or can correctly identify themselves as being with a legit charity or recovery organization approaches you for donations. If God was so helpful with some flood victims, such as someone all of sudden showing up with a trailer from Alberta, why didn't he just prevented the flood altogether. Then I heard he was just testing us. Then why does he have to continuously test some at some times and not others. Wouldn't it make more sense if chance and mother natures random workings explain more than an omniscient God? Oh, well, we are on our way to recovery now. It will be a long haul. If you can help out with money donated to legit organizations or with friends and family then do so. We also now have a Facebook page so go look it up.

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Saturday of the Flood

2011-06-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

The north hill clinic at Lewis and Clark provides basic care, very little lab, radiology and pharmacy services are available. This is frontier medicine or meatball medicine, harking back to MASH of doing meatball surgery. Just basic services, try and diagnose if possible and treat. Absolute emergencies are sent by squad via Broadway to Trinity. Boil order has come down, the tap water is probably contaminated. Therefore do not drink tap water unless it is boiled. Do not wash with it. You could use boiled water to wash. The walking bridge is taken down as it is daming up refuse in the river which could cause possible problems with dikes. Crest is expected to be 1.5 feet lower and occur tonight, early Sunday morning. That is all for now.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Coming to Facebook

2011-06-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

One of our members is setting up a Facebook page for the society. Main topic will be the scammers that are trying to take advantage of the diseaster here in Minot. Crest will be tomorrow or Sunday and predicted to be a little lower than first thought. Four thousand homes in Minot are damaged by the flood. Work still being done to save Broadway. I have seen people starting prayer groups for the flood in Minot. Nice thought, will not do any good except for maybe the person doing the praying thinking that he or she is doing something.

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Surge Coming

2011-06-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

Broadway closed from University to Burdick. Surge of 1566 coming from Darling Dam. They are desperately trying to add 3 feet to already high dikes trying to protect the main north south route of Broadway. The east way is bad and the west bypass is bumper to bumper cars coming north and going south for 5 miles. They are having trucks come with concrete barriers to reinforce the build up of dikes to try and protect the west 83 bypass. Coming that way took me 1 hour. I could see water coming up the roads in neighborhoods just to the north of the dog park. Only emergency travel is recommended on the west bypass. Nature doesn't care what we believe or think, she just does her thing. The uncertainty on levels and amount of water is based on the fact that historically, nothing like this has occurred before. So levels and volume of water is calibrated to what is historically known. When it gets beyond what is known the amount of uncertainty in predictions gets larger. And that is what is happening. Its going to be interesting.

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Minot Flooding

2011-06-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Press conference is over. The civil defense siren will sound within the hour. Dikes are over topping. Peak flows will be on the 28 or 29 next week. This is an historic time for Minot. Nothing like this in over one hundred years. Last minute reinforcements of vital areas of the city are occurring like water treatment and wells. This is a sad day for Minot. Thanks to the over 500 national guardsmen, construction workers, Corps of Engineers, etc for the valiant fight. As the mayor mentioned this part of the fight is over. When the waters recede the fight for rebuilding begins. The main question will be maintaining vital north south avenues.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

My Response to Rick Berg Letter

2011-06-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Congressman;

Thank you very much for your letter of June 9 2011. We are a little busy right now with the Souris River threatening to flood with new historic highs. Mandatory evacuations are ongoing again after just 2-3 weeks after the last one.

I am opposed to abortion too, but in certain circumstances I think it is justified and ethical. However, I do not know if you know what the consequences of totally banning the practice. It was outlawed in this country from the late 1800's to 1973. In one study done in 1932 it was estimated that illegal abortions or complications from them caused 15,000 deaths per year. When something is made illegal, it generally goes underground and we feel the consequences. We have precedent with era of alcohol prohibition. The World Health Organization has data from a study in 2004 to that this is what happens. Other countries that have made abortion illegal, such Chile, El Salvador and Malta, showed that the number of illegal abortions skyrocketed along with the death rate. Remember, the total population of the United States was between 130 and 140 million. Making it illegal doesn't mean it will not happen. What will happen is the number of deaths and the toll on the health care system will become a problem, because we in the health care field will have to clean up the mess of untrained abortionists. The cost will be more, which means the total cost to an already too expensive health care system will be exorbitant. And probably and likely insurance will not pay, so the tax payer will have to bear the burden. So just remember if one wants to do something, one must look at the consequences, both short term and long term.

I am going to publish your very kind letter to me on my blog to inform others as I think it needs to be known.

Sincerely

I did not mention in the letter that Planned parenthood spends 99% of its resources on preventative care and less than 1% on abortions. I doubt that this will make any dent in him as he is an ideologue and beliefs are hard to change, even if they are shown and demonstrated to be wrong. I am afraid that we are heading into the abyss of a theocracy.

Peace

Skeptical DoDo

Congressman Rick Berg Response to a Letter

2011-06-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

CFI did a action letter about cutting funds to Planned Paranthood which I signed and had sent to our Congressman Rick Berg. I received a reply in the following:

Dear ______:

Thank you for the informing me of your opposition to pro-life legislation currently under consideration by Congress. I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter.

At a time when Congress must make difficult decisions to reduce the size of the federal government and reduce Washington's spending, I do not believe that our taxpayers' hard-earned money should be used to fund any organization that performs abortion services, of which many North Dakotans are morally and ethically opposed.

One of the federal government's key roles is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. As such, I cannot support legislation that would jeopardize the lives of unborn children who are unable to advocate for themselves. For my part, I will continue to represent the people of North Dakota and vote to protect life.

Again, thank you for contacting me on this very important issue. It is an honor to represent North Dakota in Congress, and I never forget that I work for you and the people of our great state. If you have any additional thoughts or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me at my Fargo, Bismarck or Washington DC office.

Sincerely
Rick Berg.

To this letter I did write a reply and will publish it tomorrow.

Peace
Skeptical DoDo

Forged By Bart Ehrman

2011-06-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

I have read a book by Bart Ehrman, professor of New Testament at University of North Carolina in Charlotte. He was a evangelical christian, but has become agnostic. He knows Greek and Aramaic. He argues that all the books in the New Testament are forgeries except for 6 we know were actually written by Paul. He goes into the argument very well, bringing up ancient sources and the scholarship of other people over the last 200 years. He points out that knowing the above does not negate your faith, but should give one pause to know that the bible is a work of human beings in the context of the culture and time. I was very much impressed and have read another book of his and ordered another. He also points out there is difference in reading the bible in a devotional way versus a historical critical way. Most fundamentalist Christians only read the bible in a devotional way and believe the bible is the word of God. But if you take the bible and read it "horizontally" according to Ehrman you find many mistakes, changes etc. Horizontal reading means take the same story in two different gospels and read them side by side. You will find they do not match up. In forged he argues that people used apostles names to write a book to gain traction with their intended audience. The problem the book was probably written long after the apostle had died and therefore could not have been written by him. That is to say it was forged. I recommend his books highly. Oh by the way he did not become an agnostic by his study of the bible but by viewing suffering in the world and realizing that a truly compassionate God would not have allowed it. Chance and the working of nature more fully explains such occurrence than a God "working in his own way."
Peace
Skeptical DoDo

High Fructose Corn Syrup

2011-06-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

computer Problems

2011-06-11T01:31:00.001-07:00

For those that were or would like to be on the email list, please let me know what your email is here or on my email (if you know the address). My computer had problems and I lost a lot of email addresses. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Skeptical DoDo

Tides - Sixty Symbols

2011-06-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Atheist Debunks Faith Healing

2011-06-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Flood Watch Over?

2011-06-03T05:06:00.001-07:00

The good news is that on Thursday the river has hit its highest crest and is now on the way to normal levels. The Corps of Engineers, National Guard, Red Cross, Sheriff Dept, Police and volunteers did a job well done. Some ask or made comments on how all of this was a problem with getting people out of their homes and blocking off large chunks of the city with dyke's when nothing occurred. To those we must be thankful, yes thankful but not to a deity, that the flooding was not worse. How can anyone predict what the river will do. The city and state did the right thing in assuming the worse and taking action accordingly. What would of happened if the city and state did nothing and the river flooded large numbers of homes, businesses and people were killed? No I say better safe than sorry and that is what they did. It will take time for the river to go back down and more rains may change the situation again, but I think we have seen the worse of it. Very little problems occurred with flooding except for the train derailment up on trestle hill and two sociopath trying to take advantage of empty home to loot by canoe. They were not caught, yet, but were sighted and chased away. I think the whole situation points up human behavior nicely. There will always be those to try and take advantage of other peoples problems. There are those that will not be happy even if hung with a new rope.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Human Evolution and Why It Matters: A Conversation with Leakey and Johanson

2011-05-30T05:19:00.000-07:00

Pray to Stop the Rain and Prevent Floods

2011-05-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Well, the church's of Minot, particularly the evangelical and primarily the Baptist, are holding prayer vigils to stop the rain and prevent floods. Is this how far the belief in the supernatural has gotten here in Minot? How about just rolling up your sleeves and go build a dyke? Probably a whole lot more effective. Of course when the people who did build up the dyke's in Minot are successful, it will be the religious minded who will take the credit and say it was their prayers. It is like Camping after his failed rapture prophesy who said the rapture did occur, but it was the spirit of Christ that came down. It takes a whole lot of mental gymnastics, with the risk of getting tied up in a mental knot, to talk yourself into believing your pathetic prayers worked. And I am ashamed of KMOT actually advertising this on the news tonight. It is not news it is wishing and trying to get a headline for the news station of KMOT. Come on KMOT I thought you were better than that.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

You Have No Idea How Wrong You Are

2011-05-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Let's blame the Jews

2011-05-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

My Exodus From Faith, Pt. 6 (The Road Ahead)

2011-05-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Apocalypse Delayed

2011-05-24T05:09:00.000-07:00

We made it through the rapture. No reports of bodies coming out of graves or empty cars, trains or planes crashing due to no doing the driving or flying. Now Harold Camping says he is off only by 5 months and the world will end or the rapture will occur in five months. Then there is the tornado that struck Joplin Mo., the flooding here along the Souris river and all sorts of natural disasters. Is this the start of the tribulation and signs said in the bible or is this just natural occurrences? The bible has so many contradictions and many of the books in the bible are forgeries. Also, in the bible Jesus said his second coming will be before the current generation dies, that is within a generation of his death or 20 years. Later authors modified the prediction, until the prediction is unverifiable, as so many things in religion and other magical thinking. I think the major storms and change in weather is due to climate change secondary to global warming as predicted by the climate scientists. Thus verifiable, and is occurring. Then we have the 2012 Mayan prediction so if Camping is correct what does the 2012 prediction mean. Or is Camping just trying to beat it to the punch for publicity sake and money. The later is what I suspect. One other thing to consider if the bible is wrong, particularly the old testament then Islam is also wrong, because 65% of that religion is based on it. Something to think about.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Camping Out for the Rapture

2011-05-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Rapture May 21, Tomorrow, Oh No!

2011-05-20T16:30:00.001-07:00

According to Harold Camping tomorrow at 6 PM/every time zone the rapture will occur. Believers have given their savings, homes etc. away. Signs by Camping have sprung up all over the world. Never mind that he was wrong once before in the 1990's. This time he says he has it right! So if you are one of the chosen please follow this simple check list. 1. Don't drive tomorrow as you disappearing while driving will present traffic obstacles to the damned. 2. Unplug your electrical appliances. Might as well help cut down on the fires the damned will have to put up with during tribulation. 3. Call in sick if you are in a safety important job like doctor, nurse, pilot, train engineer etc. After all you sudden departure will have untold consequences on those left behind. 4. Cancel your paper as you don't want the damned to have to deliver a paper to empty houses. and 5. don't kill anyone, even though that is tempting as it may negate your rapture rights. For all the others that will not be raptured and are going to hell, lets just live it up.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Origins of Health

2011-05-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Dr. William Meller presented at the NW Campus meeting in conjunction with our the group, Minot Skeptical Society. We had more than 90 attending. A great meal and then the talk followed. Dr. Meller did an excellent job on explaining what evolutionary medicine is about to this crowd, which included the Dean of the UND Medical School, Chair of the Dept of Family Medicine UND and Chair of the Dept. of OB/GYN. Then the Q&A began with sharp questions from the physicians. One person did ask about with obesity/diet/diabetes a question about how people that eat fresh fruits and veges have lower blood sugars and loose weight. I did not speak up, as I did not want to take away from our guest Dr. Meller. However, I did just finish reading a great book that does answer this question called "Catching Fire, How Cooking Made Us Human" by Richard Wrangham. The book makes the point that cooking actually starts the breakdown or digestion of food. An experiment was run that shows raw food, animal or vegetable will end up in the terminal ileum only digested and absorbed by an average of 50%. Cooked food gets digested and absorbed to a much greater extent and only about 10% reaches the terminal ileum. So raw fruits do cause sugar and weight to drop, because a greater percentage of carbohydrate does not get digested and absorbed. The book also goes into that cooking affected our evolution and consequently we have smaller teeth, jaws and guts versus other primates of similar size who eat nothing but raw food. He goes so far as to speculate that cooking also affected our social interactions, language and development of culture and community. It is a very good book and if interested I would recommend that you get the book. So Happy Cooking!
Peace Skeptical DoDo

The "Temp Leads Carbon" Crock: Updated

2011-05-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

inFact: Ghost Hunting

2011-05-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

inFact: Organic Food Myths

2011-05-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

3.3.3 Atheism: A History of God (Part 2)

2011-05-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

3.3.3 Atheism: A History of God (Part 1)

2011-05-15T04:59:00.000-07:00

Circumcision Follow-up

2011-05-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Chris Hedges on Death of the Liberal Class

2011-05-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Integrative Medicine Courses Infiltrating Traditional

2011-05-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

I got in the mail a pamphlet called "Hospital Based Integrative Health Care Conference: Transforming Health Care Practice". It is being held August 3-6 at eh Westin in Edina Minnesota. It is promoted by the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing and offers courses in acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, energy healing, exercise therapy, guided imagery, healing touch, herbal, message, mind-body therapy, nutrition, reflexology, relaxation techniques, spiritual guidance and yoga. This is all obtained from their advertisement. It is open to real doctors, chiropractors, nurses, physical therapists and is 21.5 hours of approved credits from the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The 4 day conference is only $400. It is interesting to go over their course offerings. Basically they also talk about a successful hospital program. The buzz words of energy, and body natural healing. Several things are main stream and have good evidence to back them up such as biofeedback, exercise, nutrition and relaxation techniques. Acupuncture, healing touch or Rikki, aromatherapy, reflexology, energy therapy etc. are nothing more than magical thinking and have been proven in multiple studies to be no more better than placebo. Oriental medicine by the Chinese themselves is only used in people who have psychosomatic problems and not real organic diseases because there is too many Chinese and they cannot spend real time, money on them. That is to say it used for the ignorant masses. Rikki or healing touch itself was disproved by a small girl in the 1990's and published in JAMA. But the promoters say she was too young, the aura wasn't right etc. all excuses for their favorite brand of woo. What is distressing to me is that this kind of BS has infiltrated so far into today's' scientific medicine. They use small studies that are flawed in many ways and come up with all kinds of excuses for their working or not working. If a study says it shows merit they embrace it, if the study says it doesn't work they throw out the evidence and make excuses. I think most of this is a con to separate money from the ignorant masses and they dress it up in psuedoscientific jargon to impress the gullible. But there is a lot of this BS going around today. People just want to fool themselves or the others and feel hurt if they are called on their BS. Some threaten lawsuits or pull the poor victim card. Nature and science doesn't care and will do her own thing despite what we want or believe. She is a far harsher jury than man can ever be. Modern medicine is only 150 years old and has accomplished much more in that time than all of medicine of the prescientific age of over 2000 years. These charlatans want to bring back the prescientific magical age and turn back the clock those 2000 years. Shame on them.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Carl Sagan: Consider Again That Pale Blue Dot [Carl Sagan Tribute Series...

2011-05-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

What's the Harm: Eliza Jane Scovill

2011-05-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Voltaire Lecture 2010 - Prof Brian Cox on "The Value of Big Science"

2011-05-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Justice for Osama

2011-05-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

Osama is Dead!

2011-05-02T11:01:00.000-07:00

Let us rejoice in the fact that an evil person who used his religion to kill thousands has come to justice. I am never happy at the death of a person, but some people cannot be stopped without violence and their deaths. The terrible events of September 11, 2001 has come back to haunt us all, but maybe in this one event last night some closure will come, especially to the victims families of that terrible day. It is also that day that has changed my life to one of being in opposition to religion, because only in the cause of religion can such an evil man do such crimes to humanity. We have lost many a brave soldier, sailor and airmen in the battle against religious intolerance and I am afraid that we are not done. But in the words of that immortal personage of Sir Winston Churchill at the end of the Battle of El Alamain: "This is not the beginning of the end, but perhaps it is the end of the beginning." We will have more losses and victories in the war. The end cannot be seen as of yet, but maybe we can feel the cooling comfortable breeze from the mouth of this terrible cavern and know that there is an end, whatever it may be. We must still be ever vigil against the forces of the religious right in trying to impose their own version of theocracy on us all and use this event in their cause. We must continue to strive toward more skepticism in the fight against irrationality, because it is that which Osama Bin Laden represented. So all praise goes to rationality, perseverance and the pursuit of truth.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

There Are No Theists In Hospital Waiting Rooms: Update

2011-05-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Origin of HIV, or Where Does HIV Come From?

2011-04-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

LA Times Book Fair on Book TV

2011-04-30T12:04:00.001-07:00

I just finished watching a very good show put on by book tv on the disconnect between science, the media and the public. It had some of my favorite authors in it. Several points Science is uncertain but has proof and true v certainty with no proof and is false. The media has a problem with trying to present a balanced account, when there is not any on scientific subjects like vaccines/autism and global warming. We need to let the journalists that do good jobs on scientific articles know that we appreciate their efforts and the ones that do a bad job know that we will take them to task. Also, most of the so called debates have to do with ideology, emotion and rhetoric, not evidence. Sort of like Fox News; ideology, emotion and rhetoric.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

Is the Qur'an a Miracle?

2011-04-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

Fox News Fracking Fumble on Halliburton Loophole?

2011-04-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

A Lecture by James "The Amazing" Randi

2011-04-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

MSG: The Taste That Kills?

2011-04-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

James Randi Speaks: The Compass Trick

2011-04-21T05:28:00.000-07:00

Science vs Lore (2/2)

2011-04-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

Wakefield Strikes Again

2011-04-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

There was an out break of measles in Hennepin County Minnesota. 15 confirmed cases with 12 linked to a case from Kenya, 1 acquired in Florida and one in India. Age range is from 4 months to 51 years with 5 cases being too young to have received the vaccine, 6 were of age but did not receive the vaccine, one was vaccinated and 3 others of unknown status. Eight hospitalizations, but no deaths. There have been 2 exposures in North Dakota, but no reported cases. There have been no cases of measles in North Dakota since 1987. The clinical definition of meases is generalized red flat rash lasting 3 days or more. Temperature of 101 or greater with cough, coryza and or conjunctivitis. A major problem is that most young docs have never seen this disease and therefore may not recognize it. It is no learned that Operation Generation Rescue, a anti-vax movement, brought Andrew Wakefield to Minneapolis to talk to immigrant Somoli in a closed door to the press meeting. It is now know he discouraged vaccination of those people. The Minnesota health department has squarily put the blame on this outbreak of measles on Andrew Wakefields shoulders as where it should be. He has no remorse and lives in a delusional world and still sows disease with every breath. He and the anti vaxers have not or will not learn anything, because they cannot, it puts there beliefs at risk if they accept they are wrong.

Peace Skeptical DoDo

Chiropractors and Minot Daily News

2011-04-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

In the Sunday paper a whole section on chiropractors "offering variety of techniques for wider range of health issues." Article is written by Jill Schramm and is full of blatant misinformation and false hoods. One of the catch words is holistic medicine and is a red flag saying they are selling hype for money. The other is that many studies show how effective chiropractic is. The studies are anecdotal and appear only in the chiropractic literature. Studies in real scientific papers and journals show that chiropractic is no more effective than placebo. It is not cost effective because it doesn't do anything. Then it mentions Amy Borgen using acupuncture. Yes it works well with chiropractic because it like chiropractic is no more effective than chiropractic, it is all placebo. One must always remember that the pleural of anecdote is not evidence. The Graston technique at this point I do not know much about and will research. If you have real questions about health and useful source on the Internet is Science Based Medicine, not the Minot Daily News. Saying a lot of people use some treatment or believe in some energy medicine or religion, doesn't mean it is true. It just means they have faith and faith is believing in something without evidence. Peace Skeptical DoDo

Paul

2011-04-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

We went and saw Paul last night at the movies. It is a comedy about two English guys in the U.S. going to Comicecon and then planning a tour of the states visiting UFO sites. It is rated R and for good reason. But in the face of UFO believers I expected, it was wonderful farce of UFOology with cameo shots of some stars of other alien movies, such as Sigorny Weaver in the last scene. But the greatest part was the scientific view it took and promoted evolution over religion, particularly Christian gun toting fundamentalism. A father of that ilk has a daughter who has an condition that is cured by Paul and she asks how. He responds "thats evolution baby." She becomes a believer in evolution and thank him in the end for setting her free, while her father thinks it is all miracles. It is a very entertaining show with all kinds of metaphors, and snipes of other shows and ideas in the past. Go see if you want to have a good time, but be careful of the language as it does get a little course. Also see it before the owners of the theater and other types in town get wind of it being "anti christian". Peace Skeptical DoDo

Ayaan Hirsi Ali on Islam

2011-04-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

KMOT and Woo

2011-04-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Tonight KMOT talked about acupuncture and menopause like it was a miracle cure. It would be a miracle if it worked. Have you noticed that KMOT is getting more irresponsible with respect to giving reliable medical news. All the studies performed have shown acupuncture is no more effective than placebo. Science Based Medicine blog has many good articles about acupuncture and I would recommend you go to that resource to learn more. Without science reporters the average reporter is assigned a scientific story and has no idea what they are doing. KMOT is not even reporting the factual side of the story, just the sensational side to get viewers and money. It encourages people to believe in woo and yes sometimes it does no harm, but more times than not it eventually causes harm. Get the facts KMOT! Peace Skeptical DoDo

Critical Thinking

2011-04-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

Open-mindedness

2011-04-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Imagine If All Atheists Left America

2011-04-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

It's so Cold, there can't be Global Warming

2011-04-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

15th Foundational Falsehood of Creationism Pt 1

2011-04-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

Muslims Attack UN

2011-04-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

I read this news story and thought wow, what a bunch of muck heads. The story was about the crazy guy in Florida who burned a Koran. Yeah the same pastor who threatened it a few months ago and went to see the cleric in New York and try to compromise about his burning a Koran and their building a mosque at ground zero. Well, he had a mock trial and the Koran lost and he burned the Koran. Then in northern Afghanistan some clerics went around advertising that there was going to be a "peaceful" protest against the other nut burning a Koran. They did and met at the local UN post and then got the weapons away from the Nepalese guards, killed them and up to 20 others. This is a little sensitive isn't it. No Americans there, just the UN. They need to get a grip on themselves and learn that burning a book, even their favorite one, isn't reason enough to kill others, innocent others. This I think just underscores the medieval, primitive, over sensitive personalities of these Muslims. They need realize what I learned as a child: "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Or burning books! So much for the religion of peace. Peace Skeptical DoDo

The problem with anecdotes

2011-03-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

A house divided against itself

2011-03-31T16:25:00.000-07:00

Charting The Milky Way Galaxy

2011-03-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Thoughts For A Day

2011-03-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

The thing that is interesting and worrisome is that the Republicans seem to have a organized plan to get this country into the pockets of the corporations and the very rich. Case in Point is the crank call that got the Wisconsin Governor thinking he was talking to Koch and revealed his plan to eliminate the unions. It almost seems that history is repeating itself. For example during the Civil War it was the Rich planters of the south who wanted to protect slavery and got the poor whites, who never owned slaves, to go fight for them believing it was for state rights. Or the case of Germany in the 1930s where the Nazis by intimidation and promises to the middle class and poor that they will be part of the ruling class and got them to murder and go to war for the Nazis and the rich who backed them. All this stuff with use of freedom in bills to create controversy about evolution is really a plan to stifle actual freedom of thought. I read today in Popular Science that there was a $100 million dollar satellite that was going to be launched that would have actually monitored and definitively answered the question of global warming was never launched and stored when George Bush got into office. This was ideological in orgins and plan to stifle evidence that went against his ideology. The current plans by republican attorney general in Virginia to stifle the climate scientist research at Virginia University. I wonder how much all the politicians on the right are in the pockets of the corporations and the very rich in this country. To balance the budget by hurting the poor and the middle class so the rich can still make the money. Using religion on the uncritical as Chris Hedges said in one of his books the mixing of Christianity with rich corporations is the start of fascism in this country. Peace Skeptical DoDo

Albert Einstein's "The World As I See It"

2011-03-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Marijuana: Negative Health Effects

2011-03-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

DMD2: THIS TIME ITS ARMAGEDDON!

2011-03-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

North Dakota Catholic Bishops Issue List of Charities Not to Support

2011-03-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo and Bishop Paul Zipfel of Bismarck have issued a joint document called "Guidelines on Charitable Giving". They warn Catholics against giving or working with the March of Dimes, UNICEF, Susan G. Komen for the Cure or Crop Walk, besides Planned Parenthood because of association with birth control, stem cell research and abortion. They said the list is not intended as dogma or as a boycott against any non-Catholic organization. It sounds like a "Fatwa" to me. Thou shall not give to the heathen, sinners and unclean; is more really what they are saying. Not to give to organizations that want to feed people, find cures for terrible diseases like breast cancer etc. is an ideological fatwa of a religious branch, just because they don't follow the Pope' dictates. They, the Catholic church wants to kill indirectly the unblessed, unclean and nonbelievers. They show their true colors.
Peace Skeptical DoDo

The Skeptic in the Room

2011-03-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

Rep. Markey in E&C Hearing asks GOP if they plan to legislate against Gr...

2011-03-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

You Must First Invent The Universe

2011-03-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Miracle Mineral Supplement

2011-03-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

Einstein's Relativity: Basics And Impact In Our Everyday Life

2011-03-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Facts Of Evolution: Retroviruses And Pseudogenes

2011-03-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

Occam's Razor

2011-03-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

AutoCAM Final Episode

2011-03-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

My car died. I had to call a tow truck. The mechanic said if I had brought the car in earlier he could have saved it. It is too late. Spent too much time using bogus treatments looking for a cure for my car. The motor seized up and is so much junk now. All the magic offered by the CAM autopractitioner was just a scam to get my money. Now it will cost me more just to get a new car because my old dead car is completely unsalvagable. Beware of CAM practitioners as they promise much, but don't deliver.
Peace Skeptical DoDo