tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74116795253311554672024-03-12T21:51:01.753-07:00Collage Aux FollesMy own personal Free Speech Zone.
“To change your mind and to follow him who sets you right is to be nonetheless the free agent that you were before.” — Marcus Aurelius
“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?” — John Maynard Keynes
“Why should you mind being wrong if someone can show you that you are?” — A.J. Ayer (attributed)
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.comBlogger368125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-20754972165361175072013-05-24T08:45:00.000-07:002013-05-24T08:45:55.356-07:00GM-OH!A point-by-point discussion of some of the problems with the claims made by anti-GMO activists. I note that the criticisms I found of the below were filled with bad argumentation, including ad hominem attacks. I suppose the two authors could very well be paid Monsanto shills, but their arguments seem quite compelling. <br />
<a href="http://academicsreview.org/reviewed-content/genetic-roulette/">Genetic Roulette | Academics Review</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-84336904287397775462013-05-16T19:52:00.000-07:002013-05-16T19:57:54.830-07:00What Was Going To Be A More Thoughtful And Nuanced ResponseI posted the following article on Facebook, condemning it as "crap." I got several responses that challenged my assertion, and I thought those thoughtful responses deserved a more in-depth and thoughtful argument from me. But then I began to look at this again, and I went off the rails a little, because this article is crap.<br />
<br />
Before I continue, I wish to express gratitude for my friends who challenge me and force me to think more carefully. Now, this author is a Ph.D. writing in<i> Psychology Today</i>, so I expect a higher standard of analysis and precision. But it is perfectly OK for me to make frog jokes.<br />
<br />
<div class="page-title">
<h1>
Why French Kids Don't Have ADHD</h1>
1. Actually, they do. The article says so. </div>
<div class="article-abstract">
</div>
<div class="article-abstract">
French children don't need medications to control their behavior.</div>
<div class="article-meta">
<span class="submitted">Published on March 8, 2012 by <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/marilyn-wedge-phd" title="View Bio">Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D. </a> in <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/suffer-the-children">Suffer the Children</a></span></div>
<div class="article-meta">
<span class="submitted"> </span>
</div>
<div class="article-content-top">
<a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mating" title="Psychology Today looks at Mating "> </a>In the United States, at least 9% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/adhd" title="Psychology Today looks at ADHD">ADHD</a>,
and are taking pharmaceutical medications. In France, the percentage of
kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5%.<br />
2.She admits below that the definitions are different in the two countries, making this an invalid comparison from the get go. <br />
<br />
3. [omitted]<br />
<br />
How come the
epidemic of ADHD—which has become firmly established in the United
States—has almost completely passed over children in France?<br />
4. What is the standard for "epidemic?" This seems designed to inflame, not educate. Historical trends would help us to see if there was an epidemic, as well as the realization that definitions and diagnostics change over time. <br />
<br />
Is
ADHD a biological-neurological disorder? Surprisingly, the answer to
this question depends on whether you live in France or in the United
States.<br />
5. Yes, because they define them differnetly, as she admits. So, not surprising in the least!<br />
<br />
In the United States, child psychiatrists consider ADHD to be a
biological disorder with biological causes. The preferred treatment is
also biological--psycho stimulant medications such as Ritalin and
Adderall.<br />
6. Really? Because I found this, which I don't see as conforming to her characterization:<br />
http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/adhd11<br />
<br />
French child psychiatrists, on the other hand, view ADHD
as a medical condition that has psycho-social and situational causes.<br />
7. Per the link above, so do Americans.<br />
<br />
Instead of treating children's focusing and behavioral problems with <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychopharmacology" title="Psychology Today looks at Psychopharmacology">drugs</a>, French doctors prefer to look for the underlying issue that is causing the child distress—not in the child's <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/neuroscience" title="Psychology Today looks at Neuroscience">brain</a> but in the child's social context. They then choose to treat the underlying social context problem with <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychotherapy" title="Psychology Today looks at Psychotherapy">psychotherapy</a>
or family counseling.<br />
8. Hm. One of my friends suggested this article was not anti-science, but anti-Big Pharma. But of course, the author <b>Marilyn Wedge</b>, Ph.D., is a family therapist. No possible motive to push therapy, right? I really dislike reflexive anti-drug thinking, just because "Big Pahrma" does certain things poorly.<br />
<br />
This is a very different way of seeing things
from the American tendency to attribute all symptoms to a biological
dysfunction such as a chemical imbalance in the child's brain.<br />
9. Once again, the very first thing I got on Google disputes this simplistic characterization. </div>
<div id="inline-content-bottom-left">
<br /></div>
French child psychiatrists don't use the same system of classification of <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/child-development" title="Psychology Today looks at Child Development">childhood</a> emotional problems as American psychiatrists. They do not use the <i>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM.</i>According to Sociologist Manuel Vallee<i>,</i> the French Federation of <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/psychiatry" title="Psychology Today looks at Psychiatry">Psychiatry</a> developed an alternative classification system as a resistance to the influence of the <i>DSM-3</i>. This alternative was the <i>CFTMEA</i> (<i>Classification Française des Troubles Mentaux de L'Enfant et de L'Adolescent</i>), first released in 1983, and updated in 1988 and 2000.<br />
10. So the basis for comparison is fundamentally different, and make the whole article suspect for that reason alone, as I suggested above. <br />
<br />
The focus of <i>CFTMEA</i>
is on identifying and addressing the underlying psychosocial causes of
children's symptoms, not on finding the best pharmacological bandaids
with which to mask symptoms.<br />
11. Once again, inflammatory, not helpful, commentary. And a false dichotomy: One can use medication in conjunction with therapy. This begins to read more an more like an attack on the use of drugs per se.<br />
<br />
To the extent that French clinicians
are successful at finding and repairing what has gone awry in the
child's social context, fewer children qualify for the ADHD diagnosis.<br />
12. And to what extent is that, exactly? And yet more evidence that the comparison of rates is bogus. <br />
<br />
Moreover, the definition of ADHD is not as broad as in the American
system, which, in my view, tends to "pathologize" much of what is normal
childhood behavior.<br />
13. Once again: The article is premised on the assertion of different rates of ADHD, yet again, we see the comparison is bogus. This is really lazy stuff here. I'll also note here that the rates of ADHD around the USA vary considerably, from about 5 to 15 percent. No attempt is made to discuss why that might be, and it also undercuts the sweeping generalizations she has and will make. <br />
<br />
<br />
The <i>DSM</i> specifically does not consider
underlying causes.<br />
14. From the APA website: "<span id="ctl12_GenericContentBlock_ctl00"> Since the causes of most
mental disorders are subject to ongoing scientific inquiry, DSM avoids
incorporating competing theories in its diagnostic definitions. This
feature has been an important element in the widespread clinical
acceptance of DSM, and has allowed a wide scope of research
investigation."</span><br />
<br />
It thus leads clinicians to give the ADHD diagnosis
to a much larger number of symptomatic children, while also encouraging
them to treat those children with pharmaceuticals.<br />
15. Again, the APA website: "<span id="ctl12_GenericContentBlock_ctl00"> No information about treatment is included." Jesus, this really IS crap. But there is more!</span> <br />
<br />
The French
holistic, psycho-social approach also allows for considering nutritional
causes for ADHD-type symptoms—specifically the fact that the behavior
of some children is worsened after eating foods with artificial colors,
certain preservatives, and/or allergens.<br />
16. No assertion that the "American approach," which again remains undefined, doesn't do this. But a good insight, I agree. <br />
<br />
Clinicians who work with
troubled children in this country—not to mention <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/parenting" title="Psychology Today looks at Parenting">parents</a>
of many ADHD kids—are well aware that dietary interventions can
sometimes help a child's problem. In the United States, the strict focus
on pharmaceutical treatment of ADHD, however, encourages clinicians to
ignore the influence of dietary factors on children's behavior.<br />
17. Does it? Bare assertion, unsupported by any citation or evidence.<br />
<br />
And
then, of course, there are the vastly different philosophies of
child-rearing in the United States and France.<br />
18. There is most certainly no such thing as an American philosophy of child-rearing, and I'm not sure there is a single "French" philosophy either. No evidence or citation or proper definition s provided. <br />
<br />
These divergent
philosophies could account for why French children are generally
better-behaved than their American counterparts.<br />
19. If it could account for it, it could also not account for it. So lazy, I'm geting mad now. And the second part, about the relative behavior, is one of those "everyone knows it is true" things, that may or not actually BE true. Again, no definition no evidence, just bare assertion. What does "generally" mean? What is "better-behaved?" Which Americans? Which French kids? This sentence alone tempts me to disregard everything else the good doctor asserts. <br />
<br />
And, Pamela Druckerman
highlights the divergent parenting styles in her recent book, <i>Bringing up Bébé.</i>
I believe her insights are relevant to a discussion of why French
children are not diagnosed with ADHD in anything like the numbers we are
seeing in the United States.<br />
20. OK, I'd have to read the book. Except she aleady talked above why the numbers are differnt, and the arguments make no sense!I hope Pamela Druckman is smarter than our good doctor!<br />
<br />
From the time their children are born, French parents provide them with a firm <i>cadre</i>—the
word means "frame" or "structure." Children are not allowed, for
example, to snack whenever they want. Mealtimes are at four specific
times of the day. French children learn to wait patiently for meals,
rather than eating snack foods whenever they feel like it. French
babies, too, are expected to conform to limits set by parents and not by
their crying selves.<br />
21. I have no qualms with the idea that structure is good for kids. I'm not sure what this has to do with ADHD, but sure, structure is nice. And there are plenty of AMERICAN sources espousing this philosophy as well. I know, because I have it, and I am not (thank the baby Jesus) French*. <br />
<br />
French parents let their babies "cry it out" if
they are not <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/sleep" title="Psychology Today looks at Sleep">sleeping</a> through the night at the age of four months.<br />
22.The jury is out on whether this is good practice. I find it highly irresponsible of this author to frame this as positive without qualification.<br />
<br />
French
parents, Druckerman observes, love their children just as much as
American parents.<br />
23. Idiotic. Just, idioctic. OF COURSE THEY DO, TWIT.<br />
<br />
They give them piano lessons, take them to <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/sport-and-competition" title="Psychology Today looks at Sport and Competition">sports</a> practice, and encourage them to make the most of their talents.<br />
24. See 23 above.<br />
<br />
But French parents have a different <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/philosophy" title="Psychology Today looks at Philosophy">philosophy</a>
of disciplinine. Consistently enforced limits, in the French view, make
children feel safe and secure. Clear limits, they believe, actually
make a child feel happier and safer—something that is congruent with my
own experience as both a therapist and a parent.<br />
25. Great! What this has to do with ADHD I have no idea.<br />
<br />
Finally, French parents
believe that hearing the word "no" rescues children from the "tyranny
of their own desires."<br />
26. Don't say "finally" and then make addition points. And, perhaps it makes them subject to the tyranny of authoritarianism. Obviously you have to say "no" to your kids. Again, stupid.<br />
<br />
<br />
And spanking, when used judiciously, is not
considered <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/child-abuse" title="Psychology Today looks at Child Abuse">child abuse</a> in France.<br />
27. And bathing is not considered normal*. Who the fuck cares what they define child abuse as. I guess the good doctor doesn't want us to spare the rod?<br />
<br />
As
a therapist who works with children, it makes perfect sense to me that
French children don't need medications to control their behavior because
they learn <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/self-control" title="Psychology Today looks at Self-Control">self-control</a>
early in their lives.<br />
28. Conclusion not supported by the evidence. This is C+ work in college, and this lady has a Ph.D.?<br />
<br />
The children grow up in families in which the
rules are well-understood, and a clear family hierarchy is firmly in
place.<br />
29. Great. What this has to do with ADHD...<br />
<br />
In French families, as Druckerman describes them, parents are
firmly in charge of their kids—instead of the American family style, in
which the situation is all too often <i>vice versa</i>.<br />
30. AAs you can tell, I love broad assertions unbsupported by evidence that get a pass because "we all know it is true." Horse feathers. And, for what it is worth, the Wall Steet Journal and Huffington Post publish this lady. Two pillars of journalism there.<br />
<br />
Copyright © Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D.<i></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*All potshots at the frogs are based on a recent experience with one particularly vile amphibian, and are not meant to be taken at face value. </i>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-2505055203723558672013-05-16T19:10:00.001-07:002013-05-16T19:10:36.364-07:00Sometimes, There Is No "Right" Answer<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/04/pigford-ii-and-eternal-problem-how-prove-discrimination">Pigford II and the Eternal Problem of How to Prove Discrimination | Mother Jones</a><br />
<br />
There is no perfect answer to questions of policy. This article explores that fact. It gives us a handy way of framing the realistic choices we face in setting the bar for discrimination cases: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You can either set a high bar for evidence of discrimination, knowing
that it will unfairly deny compensation to lots of people who were
treated wrongly. Or you can set a low bar, knowing that this will
unfairly give money to lots of people who don't deserve it. </blockquote>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-78281665030154188712013-05-16T19:07:00.001-07:002013-05-16T19:07:15.958-07:00Very Loud, Very Hot Freedom | You Are Dumb<a href="http://www.youaredumb.net/node/2215">Very Loud, Very Hot Freedom | You Are Dumb</a><br />
<br />
Deregulation, in contrast to smart regulation (which may include less or different regulation) is sociopathic, insane, and deadly. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-1128651093259495332013-05-16T19:05:00.000-07:002013-05-16T19:05:13.764-07:00No Benefit Seen in Sharp Limits on Salt in Diet - NYTimes.com<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/health/panel-finds-no-benefit-in-sharply-restricting-sodium.html?pagewanted=all&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1&">No Benefit Seen in Sharp Limits on Salt in Diet - NYTimes.com</a><br />
<br />
File under: Stuff we all know (that isn't actually true). Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-37089161774101800552013-04-26T09:01:00.000-07:002013-04-26T09:01:04.076-07:00The Reason Stick: The Venn Diagram of Irrational Nonsense<a href="http://crispian-jago.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-venn-diagram-of-irrational-nonsense.html">The Reason Stick: The Venn Diagram of Irrational Nonsense</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-18647187654220278142013-04-26T08:16:00.000-07:002013-04-26T08:16:20.490-07:00If Only He Had Tried Harder!<a href="http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2013/04/the-bully-pulpit-tautology">The BULLY PULPIT Tautology - Lawyers, Guns & Money : Lawyers, Guns & Money</a><br />
<br />
The post linked above explains, yet again, that the idea that you can fairly blame Obama for the gun legislation failure is not based on any defensible or realistic theory of Presidential power. It disposes of, rather effectively, the "LBJ coulda done it!" myth that pervades many critiques of the President from the Left. If one does not understand the institutional reality of Congress, one might wish to refrain from magical thinking about the Bully Pulpit.<br />
<br />
I find this lesson instructive not only as a matter of understanding how Washington actually works, but also as a tangible explanation of why going out to vote for the Dem candidate for President every 4 years is going to get the Left exactly nowhere. If we want a more liberal government, we're going to have to start with City Counsel, County Board of Supervisors, and other local level institutions. That's how the Right took over, and that's the only way I can see that they can be defeated. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-67284705690135896662013-04-25T11:58:00.000-07:002013-04-25T11:58:38.650-07:00I Choo-Choo-Choose Not To Die At WorkThe link below goes to a great post about how deeply the rational actor theory has infected economic thought. I always found it laughable to use the RAT (see what I did there?) to describe the real world, but this is no longer funny. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/we-can-choose-that-workers-not-die-in.html?utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer%3A%2BBlogWood%2Bon%2Btwitter&buffer_share=a18e9">Hullabaloo</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-427203549693177812013-04-17T16:06:00.000-07:002013-04-17T16:06:11.305-07:00Our Crappy Political System Killed Gun Checks -- Daily Intelligencer<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/our-crappy-political-system-killed-gun-checks.html">Our Crappy Political System Killed Gun Checks -- Daily Intelligencer</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-39490918664568914392013-04-16T16:04:00.002-07:002013-04-16T16:04:53.546-07:00Debt And GrowthI read R&R's book. It's an interesting historical survey. And totally inapplicable to our current monetary system, and thus fairly useless as an analysis of or commentary on our current macroeconomic climate. <a href="http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2013/04/but-austerity-is-science">And this article points out</a> that they appear to be cooking the numbers to support their thesis. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-40014404504633863722013-04-16T08:55:00.000-07:002013-04-16T08:55:38.240-07:00The Hell of American Day Carevia LG&M<br />
<br />
Because I'm not depressed enough today. <br />
<br />
<h2>
<a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/112892/hell-american-day-care#">The Hell of American Day Care An investigation into the barely regulated, unsafe business of looking after our children </a></h2>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-46920789957023992082013-04-15T14:33:00.004-07:002013-04-15T14:33:20.807-07:00Why the Rhee Scandal Matters<a href="http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2013/04/why-the-rhee-scandal-matters">Re-post from LG&M</a>, cuz I ain't got time fer nuthin' else.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-1958412628604528992013-02-19T07:42:00.001-08:002013-02-19T07:42:15.502-08:00It's All About The Benjamins<a href="http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/38426.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SadlyNo+%28Sadly%2C+No!%29">The "MOAR" in this piece is spot on</a>. Some good comments to the post as well. <br />
<br />
A snippet:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The culture has moved and unlike social cons, the Rulers will adapt to
that — are adapting. Wars will continue as long as they are profitable,
the police state will grow, the poor and middle class robbed and
bullied, the crown jewel of social security ripe for the picking. The
Rulers got to be Rulers by using and discarding things and people as
needed. Red State White Trash Blue Balled morons butthurt about sluts’
abortions and homo-marriage were once useful but are now increasingly a
liability and will be treated like it, they just don’t know it yet.</blockquote>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-27250731377187731152013-02-01T09:09:00.001-08:002013-02-01T09:09:10.439-08:00If You Want A Progresive Government<a href="http://prospect.org/article/where-wingers-won">Stop thinking it will happen from the top down</a>, and that a victory every 4 years in the Presidential election is enough.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-72423481094239543802013-01-28T09:56:00.002-08:002013-01-28T09:56:43.128-08:00Really F*cking Awful Judicial Opinion From a *GASP* Right-Wing Court<a href="http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2013/01/on-the-d-c-circuit-reading-the-recess-appointment-power-out-of-the-constitution">This enrages me to the point of incoherence</a>. Luckily, smarter, calmer folk can at least articulate why this is SO FUCKED UP. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-75584795638643483992013-01-26T10:25:00.001-08:002013-01-26T10:25:32.272-08:00Why Do They Hate Democracy? [via LG&M]<br />
<a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-23/business/os-voter-lines-statewide-20130118_1_long-lines-sentinel-analysis-state-ken-detzner">An estimated 200,000 votes were not cast in Florida due to absurdly long wait times. </a><br />
<br />
Even if the estimate is off by a factor of ten, that's 20,000 people who were effectively disenfranchised for no discernible or defensible reason, due at least in part to the Republican state government. But remember, the Republicans love freedom and America, and the Democrats are the Fascist America-haters.<br />
<br />
That said, the worst county, per the article, is majority-Republican. Of course, I don't actually care, I just want people to be able to vote easily, regardless of party. Why we do not have a National holiday for voting is incomprehensible to me. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-44510106433241624182013-01-24T11:05:00.001-08:002013-01-24T11:05:30.794-08:00Harry Ried, Your Brave Leader In The Seante<a href="http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2013/01/the-worlds-worst-deliberative-body-retains-its-title">Filibuster reform, R.I.P.</a> So much for democracy. And BOTH California Senators are with Harry, or so it has been reported. Thanks, ladies. :-\Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-8593387292245058192013-01-19T14:59:00.001-08:002013-01-19T15:00:03.426-08:00The Lunatics Are In The Hall(s of Congress)<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/01/david-brooks-now-totally-pathological.html">An interesting post</a> on how the few remaining "moderate" Republican pundits, David Brooks among them, are trying to wrap their minds around the fact that their party is nucking futs.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is all Obama’s fault because it makes Republicans “look like
whackos willing to endanger the entire global economy.” Brooks displays
an almost surreal lack of interest in the underlying reality that
Republicans actually <i>are</i> whackos willing to endanger the entire global economy. It is his responsibility to conceal this reality from America. </blockquote>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-33861665565846570482013-01-19T14:53:00.004-08:002013-01-19T14:53:46.187-08:00Zingers By Martin Luther<a href="http://ergofabulous.org/luther/">I love this so much it should be illegal. </a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-42188562617106005162013-01-16T14:57:00.005-08:002013-01-16T14:57:57.069-08:00Why Religion?Far too busy to post, as you have doubtless noticed. I've been sharing to facebook, as it is much faster, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II">but this one I thought I'd keep off of FB.</a><br />
<br />
Interesting point:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If you claim that the founder of your church had been conceived by
normal sexual intercourse between his mother and father, anyone else
would believe that too, and you’ve done nothing to demonstrate your
commitment to your church. But if you insist, despite all evidence to
the contrary, that he was born of a virgin birth, and nobody has been
able to shake you of that irrational belief after many decades of your
life, then your fellow believers will feel much more confident
that you’ll persist in your belief and can be trusted not to abandon
your group.</blockquote>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-40918642597526477362013-01-04T19:52:00.000-08:002013-01-04T19:52:04.667-08:00Food For ThoughtBad post title pun, yes. <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/01/03/mark_lynas_environmentalist_who_opposed_gmos_admits_he_was_wrong.html">A leading anti-GMO activist does a 180.</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-889953125424052262012-12-20T11:12:00.003-08:002012-12-20T11:12:58.351-08:00Stopping The GunmanI thought this was interesting. The "if only someone with a gun could have stopped them" fantasy is really interesting. It shows a<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/armed-civilians-do-not-stop-mass-shootings"> monumental disregard for reality.</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-21627402356022283392012-12-17T08:41:00.003-08:002012-12-17T08:41:52.130-08:00Actual SuggestionsEd of Gin & Tacos has decided to put forward concrete proposals. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/2012/12/17/your-rights-are-very-important/">Have a look-see.</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-36757605725084314612012-12-15T12:02:00.003-08:002012-12-15T12:02:26.981-08:00"Botulism Before Bolshevism"It has been a while, but <a href="http://world-o-crap.blogspot.com/2012/12/e-pluribus-unum-e-coliwhats-diff.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WorldOCrap+%28World+O%27+Crap%29">here's a delicious little nugget</a> from World O' Crap.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411679525331155467.post-47783554080067439362012-12-11T08:55:00.002-08:002012-12-11T08:55:13.071-08:00Chomsky Quotes About The Media[via Bill Moyers Facebook page]<br />
<br />
While I am not blindly loyal to the good Professor, and I have learned some of his limitations (e.g., he doesn't understand international law as well as he thinks he does) he is still among the 5 most important intellectual influences in my life, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/media/10-brilliant-quotes-noam-chomsky-how-media-really-operates-america">and always worth reading. </a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015145870685939519noreply@blogger.com0