20 years ago: DISTRUST ME, I’M A DOCTOR

Twenty years ago (5 years into my post at Exeter), I published this little article (BJGP, Sept 1998). It was meant as a sort of warning – sadly, as far as I can see, it has not been heeded. Oddly, the article is unavailable on Medline, I therefore take the liberty of re-publishing it here […]

Read the rest here: 20 years ago: DISTRUST ME, I’M A DOCTOR

American Loon #2094: Ileana Paugh

Ileana Johnson Paugh is an author, blogger and columnist, who has for instance written for the WND, which is sufficient to establish with some confidence that she is a serious loon. Paugh delivers. In 2013, for instance, Paugh criticized Pope Francis’s commitment to social justice teachings (really...

Read the full lunacy: #2094: Ileana Paugh Encyclopedia of American Loons

China’s State Council to sacrifice tigers and rhinos in the name of TCM-quackery

Even though illegal and unethical, many remedies used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) still contain animal parts. This fact has long concerned critics. Not only is there no evidence that these ingredients have any positive health effects, they also endanger the survival of endangered species. In the past, China has paid lip service to conservation […]

Read the rest here: China’s State Council to sacrifice tigers and rhinos in the name of TCM-quackery

Brazilian homeopaths in line for a Nobel Prize?

The researcher who proves that highly diluted homeopathics work beyond placebo might be in for a Nobel Prize. The scientist who finds a cure for addictions probably also deserves one. The investigator who does both might get two Nobels. The question is, do these Brazilian homeopaths fulfil these criteria? Their study investigated the effectiveness and […]

Read the rest here: Brazilian homeopaths in line for a Nobel Prize?

American Loon #2093: Don Patton

Don Patton is a young-earth creationist, close associate of Carl Baugh of Paluxy River footprints-fame, and leader of Metroplex Institute of Origins Science (MIOS) near Dallas. Patton is often referred to as “Dr. Patton”, and he has claimed to have a Ph.D. (or a “Ph.D. candidacy”) in...

Read the full lunacy: #2093: Don Patton Encyclopedia of American Loons

2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #43

Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... Toon of the Week... SkS in the News... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Reviews... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... 

Story of the Week...

Scientists Push for a Crash Program to Scrub Carbon From the Air

A coal plant in Colstrip, Mont. Scientists say countries have put off reducing carbon emissions for so long that even a breakneck shift toward clean energy would most likely not be enough. Credit: Janie Osborne for The New York Times

With time running out to avoid dangerous global warming, the nation’s leading scientific body on Wednesday urged the federal government to begin a research program focused on developing technologies that can remove vast quantities of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere in order to help slow climate change.

The 369-page report, written by a panel of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, underscores an important shift. For decades, experts said that nations could prevent large temperature increases mainly by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and moving to cleaner sources like solar, wind and nuclear power.

But at this point, nations have delayed so long in cutting their carbon dioxide emissions that even a breakneck shift toward clean energy would most likely not be enough. According to a landmark scientific report issued by the United Nations this month, taking out a big chunk of the carbon dioxide already loaded into the atmosphere may be necessary to avoid significant further warming, even though researchers haven’t yet figured out how to do so economically, or at sufficient scale.

And we’ll have to do it fast. To meet the climate goals laid out under the Paris Agreement, humanity may have to start removing around 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year by midcentury, in addition to reducing industrial emissions, said Stephen W. Pacala, a Princeton climate scientist who led the panel. That’s nearly as much carbon as all the world’s forests and soils currently absorb each year.

Scientists Push for a Crash Program to Scrub Carbon From the Air by Brad Plumer, Climate, New York Times, Oct 24, 2018 

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Editorial of the Week...

How Scientists Cracked the Climate Change Case

The biggest crime scene on the planet is the planet. We know the earth is warming, but who or what is causing it?

Credit: Emilia Miękisz

The latest report from the world’s climate scientists has made clear the size of the challenge if the world is to stay below the global warming limit hoped for in the Paris climate agreement. Unfortunately, with current trends we are likely to cross this threshold within the next two decades because we are already two-thirds of the way there.

But how do we know what is driving these climate trends? It comes down to the same kind of detective work that typifies a crime scene investigation, only here we are dealing with a case that encompasses the whole world. Let me give you my view, which does not necessarily represent the position of NASA or the federal government.

For the past 100 years we have documented good, independently confirmed observations of change at the surface of the planet, and for the past 40 years satellites and comprehensive measuring efforts have provided a much fuller view of changes throughout the earth system. These observations show clearly that among other things, the surface of the planet has warmed, the upper atmosphere has cooled, the oceans are gaining an enormous amount of heat, sea level is rising, Arctic ice has greatly receded and glaciers around the world are in retreat.

Scientists Push for a Crash Program to Scrub Carbon From the Air by Brad Plumer, Climate, New York Times, Oct 24, 2018 

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Toon of the Week...

 

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SkS in the News...

The SkS Graphic Human vs. Natural Contributions to Global Warming is prominently featured by David Roberts in his article Why conservatives keep gaslighting the nation about climate change published in the Energy & Environment section of Vox on Oct 23, 2018.

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Coming Soon on SkS...

• Canada passed a carbon tax that will give most Canadians more money (Dana)
• Eulogy for Climate Consensus - the 97% (Dana)
• China's GHG emissions (Riduna)
• Climate Impacts (ATTP)
• New research this week (Ari)
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #44 (John Hartz)
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #44 (John Hartz)

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Poster of the Week...

 

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SkS Week in Review... 

• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #43 by John Hartz
• New research, October 15-21, 2018 by Ari Jokimäki
• Blood coal: Ireland’s dirty secret by Noel Healy (Climate Consensus - the 97%, Environment, Guardian)
• Some of the countries leading on climate change might surprise you by John Abraham, (Climate Consensus - the 97%, Environment, Guardian)
• Climate change and compassion fatigue by Kaitlin Naughten (Climate Sight)
• Trump thinks scientists are split on climate change. So do most Americans by Dana Nuccitelli, (Climate Consensus - the 97%, Environment, Guardian)
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #42 by John Hartz 

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Homeopathy for depression? No, certainly not!

Homeopathy for depression? A previous review concluded that the evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy in depression is limited due to lack of clinical trials of high quality. But that was 13 years ago. Perhaps the evidence has changed? A new review aimed to assess the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of homeopathy in depression. Eighteen studies […]

Read the rest here: Homeopathy for depression? No, certainly not!

American Loon #2092: Roger Patterson

Roger Patterson is one of the creation “scientists” affiliated with Answers in Genesis. Patterson has no background in science, of course – otherwise he would not have had that job – but he knows how to swamp his writings with Bible quotes, and that is what matters. Indeed, it is, for...

Read the full lunacy: #2092: Roger Patterson Encyclopedia of American Loons

A new study of reflexology

In this RCT tested the effectiveness of foot reflexology and slow stroke back massage on the severity of fatigue in 52 patients treated with hemodialysis. Foot massage and slow stroke back massage were performed during three weeks, two sessions each week, 5 sessions in total. At the end of intervention, data of two groups were […]

Read the rest here: A new study of reflexology

Mini-scalpel acupuncture = maxi-nonsense

Mini-scalpel acupuncture or acupotomy is a relatively new type of non-invasive acupuncture/ micro surgery using a small needle-scalpel invented by Professor Zhu Hanzhang around 30 years ago in China. It is a slightly thicker and more blunt instrument that gets under the skin and is able to break apart adhesions and muscle knots more effectively […]

Read the rest here: Mini-scalpel acupuncture = maxi-nonsense

American Loon #2091: Dan Patrick

Daniel Goeb Patrick (born Dannie Scott Goeb) is the 42nd and current lieutenant governor of Texas, serving since January 2015, having previously worked for a long time as a radio talk show host (he is largely responsible for launching Rush Limbaugh’s career, for instance) and radio and...

Read the full lunacy: #2091: Dan Patrick Encyclopedia of American Loons

American Loon #2090: Carmen Pate

Another day, another fundie wingnut talkshow host. This time it’s Carmen Pate, currently producer and host of Saving Grace, a podcast ministry of Grace School of Theology. She is apparently also a “Principal with Alliance Ministries, Inc.,” and affiliated with the Human Coalition. Her podcast/show...

Read the full lunacy: #2090: Carmen Pate Encyclopedia of American Loons

Chiropractic = a therapy in search for an indication

Chiropractic is a therapy that has been in search for an indication ever since it was invented some 120 years ago. So far, this search seems to have been unsuccessful. Perhaps it could be promoted as a means of enhancing athletic performance? That would be excellent news for chiropractic cash-flow! The authors of this study […]

Read the rest here: Chiropractic = a therapy in search for an indication

Acupuncture for alcohol withdrawal syndrome – another ugly fact kills a beautiful hypothesis

One theory as to how acupuncture works is that it increases endorphin levels in the brain. These ‘feel-good’ chemicals could theoretically be helpful for weaning alcohol-dependent people off alcohol. So, for once, we might have a (semi-) plausible mechanism as to how acupuncture could be clinically effective. But a ‘beautiful hypothesis’ does not necessarily mean […]

Read the rest here: Acupuncture for alcohol withdrawal syndrome – another ugly fact kills a beautiful hypothesis

American Loon #2089: Janet Parshall

Janet Parshall is the host of the popular wingnut fundie talk show In the Market with Janet Parshall (replacing Talking it Over), broadcast on the Moody Radio network on over 700 stations. She was also the host for the 2004 documentary George W. Bush: Faith in the White House,...

Read the full lunacy: #2089: Janet Parshall Encyclopedia of American Loons

Fraudulent acupuncture research?

Acupuncture research does not have a good name; if it originates from China, even less so. And this note in ‘ACUPUNCTURE IN MEDICINE’ is not likely to change this image: Fang J, Keller CL, Chen L, et al. Effect of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine on subacute stroke outcomes: a single-centre randomised controlled trial. Acupuncture […]

Read the rest here: Fraudulent acupuncture research?

American Loon #2088: Craig Parshall

Though his wife, Janet Parshall, may be more famous (and is coming up next), Craig Parshall is a loon in his own right. Parshall is senior vice president and general counsel of National Religious Broadcasters, but is probably more famous as an author of several legal suspense novels, including...

Read the full lunacy: #2088: Craig Parshall Encyclopedia of American Loons

Anti-Vaccine People Are Nuts, and Here’s Proof

ZDogg, MD, (real name “Zubin Damania“) an online celebrity and physician who talks about healthcare issues, recently interviewed Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and vaccine developer. You can hear in the video below how nuts anti-vaccine zealots are. They pounded and pounded and screamed from behind a window to try and interrupt the interview. They […]

Read more at: Anti-Vaccine People Are Nuts, and Here’s Proof by Reuben

Healing touch and massage both increase cancer pain?

The authors of this paper wanted to establish and compare the effectiveness of Healing Touch (HT) and Oncology Massage (OM) therapies on cancer patients’ pain. They conducted pre-test/post-test, observational, retrospective study. A total of 572 outpatient oncology were recruited and asked to report pain before and after receiving a single session of either HT or OM […]

Read the rest here: Healing touch and massage both increase cancer pain?

American Loon #2087: Bob Parks

Bob Parks operates the website Black & Right (currently Blackandblonde) and specializes in voter fraud conspiracy theories. And Parks will pretty much run with everything. “[U]pwards of 19 states have counties with more than 100-percent voter registration.You have situations … I believe it was...

Read the full lunacy: #2087: Bob Parks Encyclopedia of American Loons

Reflexology

In this study, the effects of foot reflexology and slow stroke back massage on the severity of fatigue in patients treated with hemodialysis were measured. Methods This is a quasi-experimental study that performed on 52 patients chosen from Imam Khomeini dialysis center in Zabol and divided into control and intervention groups by randomize allocation method. […]

Read the rest here: Reflexology

Harmful effects of chiropractic on functioning and well-being of neck- and back-pain patients?

This study was aimed at evaluating group-level and individual-level change in health-related quality of life among persons with chronic low back pain or neck pain receiving chiropractic care in the United States. A 3-month longitudinal study was conducted of 2,024 patients with chronic low back pain or neck pain receiving care from 125 chiropractic clinics at […]

Read the rest here: Harmful effects of chiropractic on functioning and well-being of neck- and back-pain patients?

A new chair in alternative medicine has just been announced; will they be able to fend off pseudoscience?

The ‘Schwaebische Tageblatt’ is not on my regular reading list. But this article of yesterday (16/10/2018) did catch my attention. For those who read German, I will copy it below, and for those who don’t I will provide a brief summary and comment thereafter: Die grün-schwarze Landesregierung lässt 2019 den ersten Lehrstuhl für Naturheilkunde und […]

Read the rest here: A new chair in alternative medicine has just been announced; will they be able to fend off pseudoscience?

American Loon #2086: Star Parker

Star Parker is the founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), columnist (e.g. Townhall and the WND), sometimes politician (running unsuccessfully for Congress for California’s 37thDistrict in 2010), author, activist and extreme wingnut. According to herself, she used to be a...

Read the full lunacy: #2086: Star Parker Encyclopedia of American Loons

Homotoxicology: ‘the best kept detox secret’? No, it’s even worst than homeopathy!

Homotoxicology is sometimes praised as the ‘best kept detox secret‘, often equated with homeopathy, and even more often not understood at all. But what is it really? Homotoxicology is the science of toxins and their removal from the human body. It offers a theory of disease which describes the severity and duration of an illness or disorder […]

Read the rest here: Homotoxicology: ‘the best kept detox secret’? No, it’s even worst than homeopathy!

Emotional Freedom Technique, a combination of two types of BS

Often referred to as “Psychological acupressure”, the emotional freedom technique (EFT) works by releasing blockages within the energy system which are the source of emotional intensity and discomfort. These blockages in our energy system, in addition to challenging us emotionally, often lead to limiting beliefs and behaviours and an inability to live life harmoniously. Resulting […]

Read the rest here: Emotional Freedom Technique, a combination of two types of BS

2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #41

Story of the Week... Opinion of the Week... Legal Matters... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Reviews... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week...

Story of the Week...

Hurricanes like Michael show why we can’t ignore climate change

The deadly storm came just days after a report on global warming

People walk through rubble after Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, Fla., on Saturday (Oct 13, 2018). (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

This past week was a grim one in climate history, by any measure.

First, an international group of scientists released a long-anticipated report (IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C) detailing in excruciating detail the extra damages we can expect unless we slam our foot on the fossil fuel brakes right now. Then, just a few days later, record-breaking Hurricane Michael came barreling out of the Gulf of Mexico with a late-breaking intensification that transformed the Florida Panhandle into a landscape straight out of a horror movie.

The fact that both events occurred within a few days of each other is pure coincidence, of course. But it does leave the feeling that Nature just put one or more planetary-scale exclamation marks on the main takeaway from the IPCC report: Act now to reduce emissions, or suffer the consequences!

Hurricanes like Michael show why we can’t ignore climate change, Perspective by Kim Cobb, Post Everything, Washington Post, Oct 14, 2018

____________________

Note: For more details about the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C see:

• IPCC Special Report on 1.5ºC by Gavin Schmidt, Real Climate, Oct 7, 2018
• IPCC 1.5°C Report: Planet Nearing Tipping Point by Staff, Climate Nexus,Oct 8, 2018
• Experts React to Historic IPCC Report on Limiting Warming to 1.5°C by Staff, Climate Nexus, Oct 8, 2018
• In-depth Q&A: The IPCC’s special report on climate change at 1.5C by Staff, Carbon Brief, Oct 8, 2018
• In-depth: Scientists discuss key findings of the IPCC’s special report on 1.5C by Staff, Carbon Brief, Oct 10, 2018

Links to additional article and opinion pieces about the IPCC's Special Report are included in the 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #41 posted on this site yesterday.  

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Opinion of the Week...

Climate is not just changing – it is breaking down

Danger and destruction of global warming must trigger real modification of behaviour

 

Climate change or climate breakdown? Growth or wellbeing? Growth as development? Degrowth? Prosperity without growth? Climate capitalism or ecosocialism?

It matters hugely how this week’s news from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is framed in public debate. The most authoritative scientists tell us that unless global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial times, the world faces extreme weather events, food shortages, wildfires, dying coral reefs, droughts, floods and poverty for hundreds of millions.

To avoid this outcome, the world economy needs a transformation of unprecedented speed and scale, involving far-reaching changes in society. We have only 12 years, they say, to achieve it by making huge strides towards eliminating greenhouse gases arising from fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The report underlines the qualitative difference between the 1.5- and 2-degree reductions previously seen as less stark. The case for radical action is reinforced by its finding that on present trends we are heading for more than a 3-degree increase by 2100 – catastrophic territory.

Climate is not just changing – it is breaking down, Opinion by Paul Gillespie, Irish Times, Oct 13, 2018 

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Legal Matters...

Trump Administration Launches Third Legal ‘Hail Mary’ to Halt Youth Climate Case

 

The youth climate case Juliana v. United States has survived numerous Trump administration appeals to stop it from advancing to trial. Photo credit: Robin Loznak

The Trump administration has filed another extraordinary appeal in its attempt to avoid a trial in the landmark youth-led climate lawsuit, Juliana v. United States.

The government filed its third writ of mandamus petition to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay district court proceedings pending the resolution of a separate petition it plans to file with the Supreme Court next week. The Ninth Circuit denied the first two requests for a writ of mandamus—a rarely used and even more rarely approved judicial appeal that asks a higher court to overrule a lower one before the conclusion of a case—and the Supreme Court has already once denied a request by the federal government to halt discovery.

A writ of mandamus is usually granted only under extraordinary circumstances and is considered a legal last resort. The Ninth Circuit said after the first two requests  that the government has not shown it would be meaningfully burdened by discovery or a trial.

The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 29 at U.S. District Court in Eugene, Ore.

Julia Olson, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said there is nothing new in the government’s latest petition.

“To suggest that our government suffers harm greater than its citizens by having to participate in a trial when its youngest citizens bring legitimate claims of constitutional harm before our Article III courts flies in the face of democratic principles,” said Olson.;

Trump Administration Launches Third Legal ‘Hail Mary’ to Halt Youth Climate Case by Karen Savage, Climate Liability News, Oct 12, 2018 

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Toon of the Week

 

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Coming Soon on SkS...

• There's one key takeaway point from the latest IPCC report (Dana)
• SkS Analogy 15 - Ice Tea and Temperature Rise (Evan)
• Climate change and compassion fatigue (Kate)
• 1.5 Degree Climate Limit: Small Number; Huge Consequences (Climate Adam)
• New research this week (Ari)
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #42 (John Hartz)
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Weekly Digest #42 (John Hartz)

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Climate Feedback Reviews...

[To be added.] 

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SkS Week in Review... 

• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #41 by John Hartz
• New research, October 1-7, 2018 by Ari Jokimäki
• Victims of Hurricane Michael voted for climate deniers by John Abraham (Climate Consensus - the 97%, Environment, Guardian)
• SkS Analogy 14 - Inertia and Inevitability by Evan & jg
• Next self-paced run of Denial101x starts on October 16 by BaebelW
• The Trump administration has entered Stage 5 climate denial by Dana Nuccitelli (Climate Consensus - the 97%, Environment, Guardian)
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #40 by John Hartz

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Poster of the Week...

 

from Skeptical Science
via IFTTT

American Loon #2085: Thomas John Paprocki

Thomas John Joseph Paprocki is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, and a strikingly unsavory fellow. Paprocki is primarily famous as a tireless opponent of contraception and giving people access to contraceptives, but also drew...

Read the full lunacy: #2085: Thomas John Paprocki Encyclopedia of American Loons

Acupuncture for dogs?

Really? For dogs? Yes, one (of many) website explains that dogs benefit from acupuncture in 5 different ways: 1. Pain management is one of the most common uses for acupuncture, often in conjunction with a more traditional treatment plan. Strong medical treatments like chemo, which can cause discomfort, are often paired with acupuncture to help […]

Read the rest here: Acupuncture for dogs?

American Loon #2084: Gwyneth Paltrow

Yes, a celebrity loon, but this one’s different. Gwyneth Kate Paltrow is, in addition to being an Oscar-winning actress, the, uh, brains behind the website Goop.com, which is notable for making even hardened tinfoil hatters hesitate over its promotion of sheer nonsense and delusional pseudoscience....

Read the full lunacy: #2084: Gwyneth Paltrow Encyclopedia of American Loons

Oh dear, another baffling ‘study’ of aromatherapy

After a previous post about aromatherapy, someone recently commented: I love essential oils and use them daily. Essential oils became a part of my life! I do feel better with it! Why I need clinical trials so? The answer is probably: you don’t need clinical trials for a little pampering that makes you feel good. […]

Read the rest here: Oh dear, another baffling ‘study’ of aromatherapy

Is the latest ‘proof’ of homeopathy fraudulent?

On Twitter and elsewhere, homeopaths have been celebrating: FINALLY A PROOF OF HOMEOPATHY HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN A TOP SCIENCE JOURNAL!!! Here is just one example: #homeopathy under threat because of lack of peer reviewed studies in respectable journals? Think again. Study published in the most prestigious journal Nature shows efficacy of rhus tox in […]

Read the rest here: Is the latest ‘proof’ of homeopathy fraudulent?

Bee venom acupuncture? No thanks!

Bee venom acupuncture is a form of acupuncture in which bee venom is applied to the tips of acupuncture needles, stingers are extracted from bees, or bees are held with an instrument exposing the stinger, and applied to acupoints on the skin. Bee venom consisting of multiple anti-inflammatory compounds such as melittin, adolapin, apamin. Other […]

Read the rest here: Bee venom acupuncture? No thanks!

American Loon #2083: Helen Palmer

An enneagram is a drawing with nine lines that in New Age religions functions as a mystical means to categorize personalities through numerology – think “self-help-directed tarot version of scientology pushed by the human potential movement”, and you’ll get the rough idea. The...

Read the full lunacy: #2083: Helen Palmer Encyclopedia of American Loons

American Loon #2082: Steve Palazzo

Since 2011 Steven McCarty Palazzo has been the U.S. Representative for Mississippi’s 4th congressional district. To no one’s surprise, Palazzo doesn’t like gay people, and he has maintained a profile as an ardent ally of the American Family Association. In 2013, for instance, Palazzo wondered,...

Read the full lunacy: #2082: Steve Palazzo Encyclopedia of American Loons

Beware of Dr Alok Pareek, the ‘World President of the International Homeopathic Medical League’

Dr Alok Pareek has been elected as the World President of the International Homeopathic Medical league (LMHI – Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis), the largest, oldest and only association of Medical Homeopaths in the World. He is the first Asian in 4 decades to bring this honour to India. Dr Alok Pareek was elected at the […]

Read the rest here: Beware of Dr Alok Pareek, the ‘World President of the International Homeopathic Medical League’

Barb Loe Fischer Is Using Truisms to Get You to Not Vaccinate

Yeah, yeah. I don’t name people by name, but this one deserves to. Barbara Loe Fischer is one of the architects behind the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act back in the 1980’s. When the whole thing backfired on her anti-vaccine views, because so many cases which required only 50% plus a feather of evidence and […]

Read more at: Barb Loe Fischer Is Using Truisms to Get You to Not Vaccinate by Reuben

Aromatherapy for psychological symptoms?

Aromatherapy usually involves the application of diluted essential (volatile) oils via a gentle massage of the body surface. The chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse (1881-1950) coined the term ‘aromatherapy’ after experiencing that lavender oil helped to cure a severe burn of his hand. In 1937, he published a book on the subject: Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones […]

Read the rest here: Aromatherapy for psychological symptoms?

American Loon #2081: Christine Page

A.k.a. “The mystical physician” Christine Page is the president of the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine. Since “subtle energies” are, according to the New Age mysticists promoting the idea, empirically undetectable, studies of such energies are, of...

Read the full lunacy: #2081: Christine Page Encyclopedia of American Loons

Not a Nobel, but it’s a start: a homeopathic product receives a highly prestigious award

Doubtlessly, you will have noted that homeopathy missed out yet again at this year’s Nobels. Personally, I am convinced that this is all due to the evil propaganda put about by malicious sceptics (paid lavishly by BIG PHARMA, of course). But all is not lost! Down under, ‘CHOICE’ do know what is truly prize-worthy! The […]

Read the rest here: Not a Nobel, but it’s a start: a homeopathic product receives a highly prestigious award

American Loon #2080: Ion Pacepa

Ion Mihai Pacepa, author of the book Red Horizon, is something of a legend, and probably at least partially deservedly so. Formerly a three-star general in Communist Romania, advisor to president Ceauşescu, acting chief of Romania’s foreign intelligence service and state secretary, Pacepa...

Read the full lunacy: #2080: Ion Pacepa Encyclopedia of American Loons

Our Military Families Deserve Better Than Dr. Bob Sears

You remember Dr. Bob Sears? He is one of our Douchebags of the Year, and, hence, one of our Douchebags Emerit-Ass. He’s been put on probation by the California Medical Board for, according to the LA Times: “Sears found himself in hot water because, according to the medical board, he wrote a vaccine exemption for […]

Read more at: Our Military Families Deserve Better Than Dr. Bob Sears by Reuben

Is evening primrose oil effective after all? I still have my doubts!

Evening primrose oil (EPO) is amongst the best-selling herbal remedies of all times. It is marketed in most countries as a dietary supplement. It is being promoted for eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, breast pain, menopause symptoms, and many other conditions. EPO seems to be a prime example for the fact that, in alternative medicine, […]

Read the rest here: Is evening primrose oil effective after all? I still have my doubts!

“Chiropractic treatments are too dangerous…” A TALE OF POOR JOURNALISM (by the Daily Mail)

On 29 August, I published a post discussing a case report case of a patient who had suffered multiple unilateral pre-retinal haemorrhages immediately following chiropractic neck manipulation suggesting that chiropractic spinal adjustments can not only affect the carotid artery, but also could lead to pre-retinal haemorrhages. Two days ago (over one month later), the story was reported in […]

Read the rest here: “Chiropractic treatments are too dangerous…” A TALE OF POOR JOURNALISM (by the Daily Mail)

American Loon #2079: Selena Owens

Selena Owens is a one-time vice chair of the Conservative Campaign Committee PAC, columnist for WND and precisely what you would expect from someone in that position (here is her 2014 defense of Sarah Palin). For instance, Owens has argued that the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge...

Read the full lunacy: #2079: Selena Owens Encyclopedia of American Loons

Osteopathy for chronic low back pain – progress at last?

The aim of this RCT was to investigate the effects of an osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) which includes a diaphragm intervention compared to the same OMT with a sham diaphragm intervention in chronic non-specific low back pain (NS-CLBP). Participants (N=66) with a diagnosis of NS-CLBP lasting at least 3 months were randomized to receive either […]

Read the rest here: Osteopathy for chronic low back pain – progress at last?

No, Vaccination Is Not Rape, Assault, or Murder

I’ve got to give it to the anti-vaccine zealots. They know how to tie anything happening anywhere in the world to their cause. A few years ago, when First Lady Michelle Obama posted a picture of herself holding a sign that stated “#BringBackOurGirls” in protest for the abduction of female students in Nigeria, the anti-vaccine […]

Read more at: No, Vaccination Is Not Rape, Assault, or Murder by Reuben

Should we be worried about the health of this homeopathy-promoting PR-man?

In Germany, homeopathic firms are – as I recently mentioned – starting to panic. Sales figures have, for the first time since decades, declined. This is undoubtedly the work of all those evil sceptics (including, or perhaps foremost?, my evil self!) who are well-organised and even better-funded. At least, this is what their new PR-man […]

Read the rest here: Should we be worried about the health of this homeopathy-promoting PR-man?

American Loon #2078: David Outten

David Outten is production editor for the religious right media group Movieguide (that would be Ted Baehr’s group), a website offering “in-depth analyses of current movies from a biblical perspective.” Outten is very concerned about the sorts of values people, in particular kids, get exposed...

Read the full lunacy: #2078: David Outten Encyclopedia of American Loons

The new ICD will include intolerable TCM-nonsense

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the umbrella term for modalities historically used in ancient China. TCM includes many therapeutic and some diagnostic modalities. Even though, these modalities differ in many respects, they are claimed to have in common that they are based on assumptions most of which originate from Taoist philosophy: The human body is […]

Read the rest here: The new ICD will include intolerable TCM-nonsense