friends

friends

sindark

[	website	\|	a sibilant intake of breath	]
[	userinfo	\|	livejournal userinfo	]
[	archive	\|	journal archive	]

I usually try to avoid doing this. But I've been weak lately.

[Dec. 11th, 2009|09:29 pm]

a_llusive

Anime cat

Just to contrast - gender is less fixed than we generally think
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/from-minnie-to-mickey-and-all-they-did-was-turn-off-a-gene-1838170.html

I finally donated.

link

post comment

Homeopathy - rather belated collation of Parliamentary Committee discussion

[Dec. 11th, 2009|07:44 pm]

a_llusive

[

Tags

health, science

]

Homeopathy
UK Parliament Science and Technology Committee discussion of evidence for the alternative therapy homeopathy. Oxford MP shines.

Video / text extracts
(If first doesn't work, try BBC one) and the Guardian's summary

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=5221
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_8371000/8371398.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/nov/24/homeopathy-science-technology-committee

Incisive comment/celebration

http://www.layscience.net/node/828 Homeopathy the evidence check: Part 1
http://www.layscience.net/node/825 - press statement a week after the debate
http://www.badscience.net/2009/11/parliamentary-science-and-technology-select-committee-on-homeopathy-today/ Bad Science on the discussion
http://www.badscience.net/2009/11/all-bow-before-the-mighty-power-of-the-nocebo-effect/ Bad Science on Nocebo effects

http://crispian-jago.blogspot.com/2009/12/python-in-boots.html The comedy of it - with affectionate respect to a certain parrot sketch

Some media responses
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6658864/Boots-we-sell-homeopathic-remedies-because-they-sell-not-because-they-work.html

'This Morning on the BBC one of the Magic Water merchants was given a ludicrously easy ride.' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8382265.stm

WARNING - following are videos giving the 'science' of homeopathy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0c5yClip4o Aargh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpC8BvHyorg&feature=player_embedded Aargh AArgh from http://www.homeopathyworldcommunity.com/video/the-mechanism-how-homeopathy

link

2 comments|post comment

UK Libel law change campaign

[Dec. 11th, 2009|07:14 pm]

a_llusive

[

Tags

freedom-law-democracy, law, science

]

Ben Goldacre on the launch of the campaign to reform libel law to avoid hampering public scientific dialogue.

I was sued by a pill salesman called Matthias Rath last year in a case which took 19 months to resolve, and cost the Guardian £535,000 to defend. We got £365,000 reimbursed: that means the cost of winning was £170,000, slightly less than the cost of the average house.
[My emphasis].

http://libelreform.org/our-report case for reform.

Background I blogged earlier

link

post comment

Oxford Gothing

[Dec. 8th, 2009|03:26 pm]

a_llusive

As well as tonight, there is gothing at the Zodiac on 19th December, as this blogger notes.

link

post comment

Plumber starting next Monday apparently

[Dec. 1st, 2009|04:21 pm]

a_llusive

Fingers crossed.