Sunday, March 1, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
USA's spending on NCAM
Complimentary and Alternative Medicines is a highly funded branch of the National Institutes of Health. According to its own website, they receive more funding than all but one of NIH's branches.
https://nccih.nih.gov/about/budget/institute-center.htm
So what have they accomplished?
1. ((crickets))
Over $1.5 billion in funding, and counting--all while legitimate, promising research for cures is going unfunded. When will we have had enough?
https://nccih.nih.gov/about/budget/institute-center.htm
So what have they accomplished?
- Found that pancreatic cancer patients who chose chemo over CAM had a greater quality of life.
- Found that lemon and lavender aromatherapy does not improve wound healing.
- Proved that coffee enemas do not help pancreatic cancer.
- Found that an herb does not help dementia.
1. ((crickets))
Over $1.5 billion in funding, and counting--all while legitimate, promising research for cures is going unfunded. When will we have had enough?
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Friday, December 26, 2014
A sick response to the 2004 Asian tsunami
Asia remembers devastating 2004 tsunami with tears and prayers | Reuters
Ten years ago, I was discussing the horrific tsunami with someone--the deaths, suffering and destruction.
And she replied, "Look, I know it's sad and everything, but people need to take personal responsibility. I mean, don't they watch the Weather Channel?"
This woman is quite possibly one of the most ignorant people I've ever met. She is intelligent, holding a graduate degree in a somewhat difficult field of study. Yet her common sense is nearly nonexistent. A 40-year-old virgin the last time I knew, she lived with her parents and was still totally coddled as though she was a preschooler. They even paid her bills for her--not paying them with their funds, just writing checks from her account, addressing the envelopes, etc. Does not know how to cook and has no inclination to learn. Leased cars because the very idea of owning a vehicle and having to figure out who would repair it was daunting to her--she'd rather get a maintenance agreement with the dealership so she didn't have to put any thought, effort or research into where else to take it.
The idea of dating was scary to her, although she was lonely for a male companion, she did not want to develop the maturity to adapt to physical contact and all that a normal relationship demands. She had a childhood crush (unrequited) since early adolescence and the way she spoke of it reminded me of how girls feel and act when they are approximately 12 years old. Just no maturity, moving on, putting it into perspective, etc. She admitted she fantasized about a relationship with him in order to not seek companionship elsewhere. She also had an obsession with an actor and attended events he was at to see if he would, like Prince Charming, notice her in the crowd, suddenly fall in love and invite her on a date. She tracked his activities and talked to other fans daily. This actor was in a relationship at the time. It was painful to listen to, and creepy.
She was morbidly obese, and not interested in losing weight because then she would "have to think about dating, and I'm not ready". For this reason, she wore little makeup, did not pluck her eyebrows, and wore the most threadbare, insufficient brassiere her 52GG breasts could find. The nipples pointing southeast and northwest on top of those bags of jelly was not a pleasant sight. (For the record, I have far-from-perfect breasts/face/body too but I try to look presentable.) She admitted to me she knew her appearance was a turnoff and that's why she was doing it--to prevent anyone from being attracted to her.
She has only traveled to one place outside of the small town where she lives--and she does that once a year with her immediate family. She has had almost no exposure to people of different races, religions, cultures, and languages. As a consequence, she would say a lot of racist nonsense.
When a serious issue arose with a close relative of hers, she deliberately caused herself to get sick so she would become the one being comforted instead of having the burden of comforting others.
Obviously, this woman is really sick. So there you have it, parents. This is what happens when you spoil your children. You create a very demented, unhealthy, racist monster. It is not a true act of love, but one of selfishness and control.
Ten years ago, I was discussing the horrific tsunami with someone--the deaths, suffering and destruction.
And she replied, "Look, I know it's sad and everything, but people need to take personal responsibility. I mean, don't they watch the Weather Channel?"
This woman is quite possibly one of the most ignorant people I've ever met. She is intelligent, holding a graduate degree in a somewhat difficult field of study. Yet her common sense is nearly nonexistent. A 40-year-old virgin the last time I knew, she lived with her parents and was still totally coddled as though she was a preschooler. They even paid her bills for her--not paying them with their funds, just writing checks from her account, addressing the envelopes, etc. Does not know how to cook and has no inclination to learn. Leased cars because the very idea of owning a vehicle and having to figure out who would repair it was daunting to her--she'd rather get a maintenance agreement with the dealership so she didn't have to put any thought, effort or research into where else to take it.
The idea of dating was scary to her, although she was lonely for a male companion, she did not want to develop the maturity to adapt to physical contact and all that a normal relationship demands. She had a childhood crush (unrequited) since early adolescence and the way she spoke of it reminded me of how girls feel and act when they are approximately 12 years old. Just no maturity, moving on, putting it into perspective, etc. She admitted she fantasized about a relationship with him in order to not seek companionship elsewhere. She also had an obsession with an actor and attended events he was at to see if he would, like Prince Charming, notice her in the crowd, suddenly fall in love and invite her on a date. She tracked his activities and talked to other fans daily. This actor was in a relationship at the time. It was painful to listen to, and creepy.
She was morbidly obese, and not interested in losing weight because then she would "have to think about dating, and I'm not ready". For this reason, she wore little makeup, did not pluck her eyebrows, and wore the most threadbare, insufficient brassiere her 52GG breasts could find. The nipples pointing southeast and northwest on top of those bags of jelly was not a pleasant sight. (For the record, I have far-from-perfect breasts/face/body too but I try to look presentable.) She admitted to me she knew her appearance was a turnoff and that's why she was doing it--to prevent anyone from being attracted to her.
She has only traveled to one place outside of the small town where she lives--and she does that once a year with her immediate family. She has had almost no exposure to people of different races, religions, cultures, and languages. As a consequence, she would say a lot of racist nonsense.
When a serious issue arose with a close relative of hers, she deliberately caused herself to get sick so she would become the one being comforted instead of having the burden of comforting others.
Obviously, this woman is really sick. So there you have it, parents. This is what happens when you spoil your children. You create a very demented, unhealthy, racist monster. It is not a true act of love, but one of selfishness and control.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Five Lessons of Good Friday
The Five Lessons of Good Friday | Rev. James Martin, S.J.
To this I reply, what does God need with a starship?
To this I reply, what does God need with a starship?
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Full of Awesome: CVS/pharmacy to Stop Selling Tobacco Products
CVS/pharmacy to Stop Selling Tobacco Products
FINALLY! A major pharmacy chain joins the pharmacies in the rest of the Western world by not selling a poison that causes immediate cardiovascular harm at every dose, big or small, and that is the #1 cause of preventable death and disability in the US and the world.
Thank you for listening to the pharmacists, who have been opposed to selling tobacco for a long time, seeing themselves as health care providers who ought to do no harm.
CVS: Saving lives, saving money!
FINALLY! A major pharmacy chain joins the pharmacies in the rest of the Western world by not selling a poison that causes immediate cardiovascular harm at every dose, big or small, and that is the #1 cause of preventable death and disability in the US and the world.
Thank you for listening to the pharmacists, who have been opposed to selling tobacco for a long time, seeing themselves as health care providers who ought to do no harm.
CVS: Saving lives, saving money!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation: A Response
I read this article and it's just one of the most illogical articles I've seen in a long time.
First up is non-Latinos who think sugar skulls are cool and don't really know anything else about Dia De Los Muertos except having fun and painting their faces. This troubles the blogger because, to him/her, it's sacred to honor the dead.
I presume Mexicans doing exactly the same thing are somehow not offensive to her, because they're conveniently of the right ethnicity? Oops, looks like they are having fun and drinking alcohol. Not very sacred.
When white people use a sacred tradition (that historically, was suppressed by whites) simply as an excuse to throw a party, it’s disrespectful.
White people are throwing parties to celebrate this day? I guess I missed the memo, and here I am in a border state.
Also, I gotta comment on the "white people" thing here. Umm...I never suppressed anyone else's holidays. Neither did my ancestors. Sooo...what does this have to do with me? Oops. All we have left is race. Now who's being insensitive?
When it’s used as a Halloween costume, it reduces a sacred day to one cheap costume and makes the special holiday seems one-dimensional to outsiders. Calavera costumes and ~sexy Catrinas~ promote the belief that the sugar skull makeup is the ONLY aspect of Día de los Muertos
Ummm...which "white people" are you interacting with exactly? You must have put out a classified ad asking for only the most ignorant, lowest IQ white people to be your friends.
it’s just obnoxious when white people are lauded and admired for appropriating a tradition that’s still regarded as “savage” by some Anglo eyes
Lauded and admired? Really, when all we're doing, as you pointed out, is putting makeup on?
Oops--"Anglo eyes". Hmm. So some people with low melanin levels think DDLM is "savage", and that means it's offensive when others with similar suntanning abilities admire their peers for putting makeup on?
The wannabes – people who’ve researched the holiday to some/great extent and are now trying to celebrate it their own way. They may have some or a lot of knowledge about the holiday, but are receiving it from secondhand sources and often, white authors.
Seriously--white people can't be knowledgeable about a topic? Let us all bow to you as a genuine Aztec then, which brings me to your next point:
with secondhand information, a mixed, bastardized idea is probably what you’re celebrating
Oh dear. That describes almost every single holiday on the planet.
A further troubling concept is – why do you want to celebrate it? For what reason does a white person feel the need to adopt the tradition of other cultures that previously, white people tried to stamp out? What could you possibly gain from it?
The only thing me or my ancestors try to stamp on is grapes. You do understand we're an entire race of individuals, right? Not members of the Borg hive mind?
First up is non-Latinos who think sugar skulls are cool and don't really know anything else about Dia De Los Muertos except having fun and painting their faces. This troubles the blogger because, to him/her, it's sacred to honor the dead.
I presume Mexicans doing exactly the same thing are somehow not offensive to her, because they're conveniently of the right ethnicity? Oops, looks like they are having fun and drinking alcohol. Not very sacred.
When white people use a sacred tradition (that historically, was suppressed by whites) simply as an excuse to throw a party, it’s disrespectful.
White people are throwing parties to celebrate this day? I guess I missed the memo, and here I am in a border state.
Also, I gotta comment on the "white people" thing here. Umm...I never suppressed anyone else's holidays. Neither did my ancestors. Sooo...what does this have to do with me? Oops. All we have left is race. Now who's being insensitive?
When it’s used as a Halloween costume, it reduces a sacred day to one cheap costume and makes the special holiday seems one-dimensional to outsiders. Calavera costumes and ~sexy Catrinas~ promote the belief that the sugar skull makeup is the ONLY aspect of Día de los Muertos
Ummm...which "white people" are you interacting with exactly? You must have put out a classified ad asking for only the most ignorant, lowest IQ white people to be your friends.
it’s just obnoxious when white people are lauded and admired for appropriating a tradition that’s still regarded as “savage” by some Anglo eyes
Lauded and admired? Really, when all we're doing, as you pointed out, is putting makeup on?
Oops--"Anglo eyes". Hmm. So some people with low melanin levels think DDLM is "savage", and that means it's offensive when others with similar suntanning abilities admire their peers for putting makeup on?
The wannabes – people who’ve researched the holiday to some/great extent and are now trying to celebrate it their own way. They may have some or a lot of knowledge about the holiday, but are receiving it from secondhand sources and often, white authors.
Seriously--white people can't be knowledgeable about a topic? Let us all bow to you as a genuine Aztec then, which brings me to your next point:
with secondhand information, a mixed, bastardized idea is probably what you’re celebrating
Oh dear. That describes almost every single holiday on the planet.
A further troubling concept is – why do you want to celebrate it? For what reason does a white person feel the need to adopt the tradition of other cultures that previously, white people tried to stamp out? What could you possibly gain from it?
The only thing me or my ancestors try to stamp on is grapes. You do understand we're an entire race of individuals, right? Not members of the Borg hive mind?
Why do you want to eat pizza, wear French clothes, drive an Italian sports car? It's not from your culture.
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