Category Archives: Health / Medicine

Vaccine-Autism link ruled out by special U.S. Court

By thecodepounder | Published February 12, 2009

CBS News / Associated Press:
A special U.S. vaccine court ruled against parents with autistic children Thursday, saying that vaccines are not to blame for their children’s neurological disorder.
The judges in the cases said the evidence was overwhelmingly contrary to the parents’ claims – and backed years of science that found no risk.
“It was abundantly clear [...]

Also posted in Government / Law, Science | | Leave a comment

Vaccinate your children

By thecodepounder | Published January 26, 2009

Phil Plait, An unvaccinated child has died from a preventable disease:
Folks. Please. Vaccinate your children. The science is in, the tests have been done, the results are solid: vaccinations do not cause autism. What vaccines do is save the lives of thousands of children who would otherwise be suffering the effects of preventable diseases… and [...]

Also posted in Family, Science | | Leave a comment

Homeopathy can “cure” the common cold… in only a week!

By thecodepounder | Published January 14, 2009

Or two… hehe.
I have a problem with homeopathy: I just can’t figure out whether it would be more accurate to describe homeopathy as the “astrology of medicine” or maybe the “palm (or tea leaf) reading of medicine”? Hmmm. Nope, can’t decide.
In any event, I just read an excellent article by Harriet Hall, MD, writing in [...]

Also posted in Education, Science, Skepticism / Rational-Critical Thought | | 7 Comments

Obama to end 8 years of misinformation in Global AIDS policy?

By thecodepounder | Published November 10, 2008

Drudge Report headline: “Condoms Over Abstinence in Obama AIDS Policy…” I can’t imagine the Drudge Report or it’s usual readers view this as a positive development, but those of us committed to rationality certainly do.
The linked story resides at Bloomberg, Condoms Trump Abstinence in Obama Global AIDS Policy:
Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) — President-elect Barack Obama will reverse [...]

Also posted in Education, Freedoms / Rights, Government / Law, Politics, Privacy, Quotes, Religion, Science, Truth / Half-truths / Damned Lies | | Leave a comment

The GOP’s war on science

By thecodepounder | Published October 30, 2008

Christopher Hitchens, writing at Slate, Sarah Palin’s War on Science: The GOP ticket’s appalling contempt for knowledge and learning.
In an election that has been fought on an astoundingly low cultural and intellectual level, with both candidates pretending that tax cuts can go like peaches and cream with the staggering new levels of federal deficit, and [...]

Also posted in Government / Law, History, Politics, Religion, Science | | Leave a comment

Survey shows half of U.S. doctors use placebo treatments

By thecodepounder | Published October 24, 2008

Sounds like no big deal, but it’s actually a more serious issue than sugar pills and the “placebo effect”.
Placebos as defined in the survey went beyond the typical sugar pill commonly used in medical studies. A placebo was any treatment that wouldn’t necessarily help the patient.

Also posted in Psychology / Human Nature | | 1 Comment

San Francisco weighs decriminalizing prostitution

By thecodepounder | Published October 21, 2008

Good. The mere fact that it’s being considered, means that freedom has not yet been completely driven from this land that once valued it so highly our forebears were willing to risk their very lives to taste it.
You and I don’t have to like it, but unless you or I live there, it really isn’t [...]

Also posted in Crime and Punishment, Freedoms / Rights, Government / Law, Workplace / Business | | Leave a comment

Obama takes high road, McCain’s road unclear

By thecodepounder | Published September 2, 2008

Well, everyone knows by now that the daughter of presumptive Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, is pregnant. The Palins, Sarah and her husband Todd, made the announcement Monday morning.
Democtatic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama had this to say:
I’ve heard some of the news on this, and so let me be as clear [...]

Also posted in Family, Government / Law, Politics, Privacy, Wacky Shit | | 1 Comment

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