Death and strange nature: This week in Doubtful News for December 17, 2013
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- Written by Sharon Hill
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Here is a rundown of the sad, anomalous and brain-scrambling stories of the week courtesy of Doubtful News.
There is death to report this week, sadly.
There were two notable passings in the cryptozoology/paranormal/alternative history world announced this week. Proponent of the Starchild skull, claimed to be part alien, Lloyd Pye, passed away from cancer. Notably, he had been seeking alternative treatment. He advocated that the earth was colonized due to alien intervention.
Dr. Roy Mackal, famous for his forays into the Congolese swamps looking for living dinosaurs, presumably died in September but no further remarks were made upon this notable passing. Mackal was a well-known author and had a career as an academic in biology.
Targeting of polio workers in Pakistan continues as shootings continued by anti-vaccination militants.
What we can HOPE is the further steps to the passing away of the Burzynski cancer clinic, the FDA has issued serious letters to Stanislaw Burzynski noting violations.
Read more: Death and strange nature: This week in Doubtful News for December 17, 2013
Last Week In Science Based Medicine
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- Written by Dr. Harriet Hall
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Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo-woo in medicine.
An update on the case of Sarah Hershberger: Parental rights trump the right of a child with cancer to live (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/an-update-on-the-case-of-sarah-hershberger-parental-rights-trump-a-the-right-of-a-child-with-cancer-to-live/ The family of the Amish girl who stopped chemotherapy fled with her to Central America where she was treated with laetrile, chelation, detoxification, and natural supplements and is reportedly doing well. The court-appointed guardian has bowed out, arguing that she is not likely to see the child again and that it may already be too late for chemotherapy to help her. Her parents have traded an 85% chance of cure for a high likelihood of a painful death.
Chiropractic Reform: Myth or Reality? (Harriet Hall) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractic-reform-myth-or-reality/ The facts behind the accusation that a chiropractor broke a baby’s neck in Australia remain unclear, but there is no evidence to support chiropractic treatment of children. A recent survey of chiropractic practices in that country shed some light on the claim that chiropractic is “reforming” and becoming science-based. A substantial number of chiropractors are clearly still using quack methods.
Randi's fight is our fight
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- Written by D.J. Grothe
- Category: Latest JREF News
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Friends,
Happy Friday the 13th! (Or as we call it around the JREF, Friggatriskaidekaphobia Appreciation Day!). While we may sometimes make light of belief in superstitions like those surrounding Friday the 13th, our real work is to educate the public and the media with reliable information about pseudoscience and the paranormal, and to expose the paranormal hucksters who hurt so many people.
I’m writing you because we really need your help right now.
There's a lack of reason this season: This week in Doubtful News for December 10, 2013
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- Written by Sharon Hill
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There's a lack of reason this season: This week in Doubtful News for December 10, 2013
Here is a rundown of the anti-science, pro-superstition stories of the week courtesy of Doubtful News.
A number of themes emerged in the news this week in the U.S. and around the world. First, vaccines. As the CDC released a statement about the return of measles in the U.S., http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/cdc-releases-statement-about-measles-in-the-u-s/ a new study estimated that the country experienced 103 million fewer cases of preventable illnesses thanks to vaccines. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/vaccines-the-reason-we-have-103-million-cases-less-of-disease/ Meanwhile, chalk this up to ignorance or need to revive ratings with sensationalism, Katie Couric gets backlash for anti-vaccine program. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/what-happened-to-katie-couric-the-need-for-ratings/
Treatment of serious illness is hampered in areas of Africa due to superstition. Pentecostal ministers are advising patients to reject their HIV medicines for prayer. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/pentecostal-pastors-in-africa-trick-victims-of-hiv-into-thinking-prayer-is-a-cure/ Doctors in Tanzania are seeing religious beliefs interfere with medical treatments as well. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/doctors-in-tanzania-seeing-religious-beliefs-interfering-with-medical-treatment/
Two examples of how NOT to do inquiry. Two amateur archaeologists attempt to prove their silly theory by vandalizing an Egyptian pyramid. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/rogue-amateur-archaeologists-stole-samples-to-
Ghost hunters in Gettysburg are detained by police when they are caught poking around a business at night. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/gettysburg-ghost-hunters-mistakenly-detained-in-after-dark-tour/
Gettysburg is one of the most "haunted" places in the U.S. but it will soon be usurped by Ground Zero in NYC. TheFreedom Tower moans in the wind with a ghostly sound. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/freedom-tower-moans-in-the-wind-destined-to-be-forever-haunted/ And the twisted metal even has a frozen face. Creepy. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/face-is-seen-in-the-twisted-steel-remains-of-wtc/
Exorcism preys on the innocent as seen in these two stories: The death of a 2 yr old in Malaysia earns perpetrators jail time. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/exorcism-death-of-2yr-old-in-malaysia-results-in-jail-time/ A rapist in France is jailed for crimes described to be part of an exorcism. Horrendous stuff. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/voodoo-exorcism-rapist-in-france-is-jailed/
Paranormal writer and prolific author Colin Wilson died at the age of 82. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/paranormal-writer-colin-wilson-dies-at-age-82/
The media loves stories about aliens, even if they have to hype it as a completely off-base idea having to do with grey big headed spindly creatures. Because bacteria is boring, I guess. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/media-uses-bait-and-switch-when-discussing-alien-life/
The biggest weird hoax of the week was played on people in Bristol harbor in the U.K. as they filmed a luminescent underwater creature. Anymore, we always must consider that it may be for a TV show. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/bioluminescent-mystery-animal-filmed-by-eyewitnesses/
Finally, you can do your part in rebutting bad info on the internet with this browser plugin. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/rebutting-bad-info-on-the-internet/
What was the biggest Doubtful News story of the year? You can help pick. Vote on the stories you thought were the most important of 2013 on our online poll. http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/12/the-readers-get-to-have-their-say/
Hey, it's the holiday season. What better gift to give then books! We have a book recommendations page for a selection of the best skeptical picks to add to your library or give to others. http://doubtfulnews.com/recommended-resources/
Come visit Doubtfulnews.com for stories like this every day. Check out our twitter feed @doubtfulnews http://twitter.com/doubtfulnews and our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/doubtfulnews. Send your story tips toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Last Week In Science Based Medicine
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- Written by Harriet Hall
- Category: Swift
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Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo-woo in medicine.
Vaccines work. Period. (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/vaccines-work-period/ Anti-vaccinationists exaggerate the risks of vaccines and downplay the beneficial effects. A recent study collected an unprecedented amount of historical data (88 million cases) and estimated that vaccines have prevented 103 million cases of contagious disease since 1924 and 26 million in the last decade alone. It offers interactive graphs for each disease.
Philosophy Meets Medicine (Harriet Hall) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/philosophy-meets-medicine/ In a new book, Mario Bunge shows that medicine is firmly based on the philosophical principles of materialism, systemism, realism, scientism, and humanism; without these principles, it would be useless. He provides insights about the scientific method and the flaws of both evidence-based medicine and alternative medicine. He proposes a systemic approach to solving problems at the intersection between medicine and politics.
The Skeptics for the Protection of Cancer Patients need your help (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-skeptics-for-the-protection-of-cancer-patients-need-your-help/ A plea to join the campaign to alert Congress to the horrendous research practices of the Burzynski Clinic that were uncovered by the FDA and to call for an inquiry into how Burzynski got away with it for so many years.
The Seralini GMO Study – Retraction and Response to Critics (Steven Novella) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-seralini-gmo-study-retraction-and-response-to-critics/ The Seralini study claimed to show that GMO corn causes cancer in laboratory rats. It was flawed by small sample size, lack of statistical analysis, ambiguous results, a questionable selection of rat strain, and dubious ethical treatment of animals. After an avalanche of criticism, the journal has decided to retract the study.
Beyond the flu shot: A closer look at the alternatives (Scott Gavura) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/beyond-the-flu-shot-a-closer-look-at-the-alternatives/ As many as half the population may be using products touted as influenza preventatives or treatments. Most of these are useless or unlikely to be effective. Vaccines are the most effective means of protecting yourself and the community.
Separating Fact from Fiction in the Not-So-Normal Newborn Nursery: Vitamin K Shots… (Clay Jones) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/separating-fact-from-fiction-in-the-not-so-normal-newborn-nursery-vitamin-k-shots/ Recently several infants at Vanderbilt University suffered brain damage from hemorrhages because parents had rejected the vitamin K shot normally given to all newborns on the first day of life. A review of the role of vitamin K shows that newborns are deficient in vitamin K and explains why supplementing it is essential to protect them from life-threatening bleeding complications. A single vitamin K shot at birth is effective and safe.
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