There is some sanity.

In the comments to yesterday's post on MMR vaccine, Liz Ditz sent a link to her overview of web responses to the Wakefield issue. It's an impressive list and well worth a visit. It's good to know there are so many people who will speak up for evidence and reason.

One thing I'd like to know though, and not to put too fine a point on it, why do anti-vaxers invariably come across as nutjobs? Grow into these trousers... >>

The Importance of Charles Darwin

In 2009 the science of evolutionary biology sees two major celebrations. On November 24^th it will be 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, and this Thursday (12^th February) would have been Darwin's 200^th birthday. Were he only still here to marvel at the advancements made in the biological sciences following his insight into the interconnectedness of living things.

Here's Richard Dawkins in a short [2:07] video on 'The Importance of Charles Darwin'. Watch it on YouTube or go to National Geographic for hi res.


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More of these short videos to come. Thanks to Sandwalk for pointing them out. Grow into these trousers... >>

Anyone for 10 pin?

Click 'New game' or play full screen.

Addicting Games, Mini Games, Flash Games to cure your boredom! Grow into these trousers... >>

MMR / autism - Original data fraudulent?

After last Friday's report of the worrying rise in cases of measles in the UK, the Times Online today publishes an investigation into the doctor responsible for causing the initial fears about the MMR vaccine and its (non-existent) link to autism.

In February 1998 Andrew Wakefield published a paper in The Lancet following 12 children after their MMR jabs. The Times Online continues:

It claimed that the families of eight out of 12 children attending a routine clinic at the hospital had blamed MMR for their autism, and said that problems came on within days of the jab. The team also claimed to have discovered a new inflammatory bowel disease underlying the children’s conditions.

However, our investigation, confirmed by evidence presented to the General Medical Council (GMC), reveals that: In most of the 12 cases, the children’s ailments as described in The Lancet were different from their hospital and GP records. Although the research paper claimed that problems came on within days of the jab, in only one case did medical records suggest this was true, and in many of the cases medical concerns had been raised before the children were vaccinated. Hospital pathologists, looking for inflammatory bowel disease, reported in the majority of cases that the gut was normal. This was then reviewed and the Lancet paper showed them as abnormal.

This is damning stuff if true. Following Wakefield's paper children's vaccination rates fell from over 90% to less than 80%. About 95% is needed to ensure group immunity, hence the increase in cases of measles.

However the end of BBC link above reveals:

Dr Wakefield is still adamant that the scientific results of his 1998 study are still valid. In a statement, he said: "The clinical and pathological findings in these children stand as reported." He has welcomed moves by the General Medical Council to examine how he carried out his research. "I not only welcome this, I insist on it," he said.

Good, nothing to worry about then. Except the findings reported by the Times.
For more, see the full Times article, and read Orac's response at Respectful Insolence.
Grow into these trousers... >>

A thought for a Sunday

"Science is not a monument of received Truth but something that people do to look for truth.

That endeavor, which has transformed the world in the last few centuries, does indeed teach values. Those values, among others, are honesty, doubt, respect for evidence, openness, accountability and tolerance and indeed hunger for opposing points of view. These are the unabashedly pragmatic working principles that guide the buzzing, testing, poking, probing, argumentative, gossiping, gadgety, joking, dreaming and tendentious cloud of activity — the writer and biologist Lewis Thomas once likened it to an anthill — that is slowly and thoroughly penetrating every nook and cranny of the world.

Nobody appeared in a cloud of smoke and taught scientists these virtues. This behavior simply evolved because it worked".

Dennis Overbye
Elevating Science, Elevating Democracy - The New York Times, 26 Jan 09
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Thanks to Cosmic Variance, among others. Grow into these trousers... >>

Red Dwarf: Series 2 -Episode 1

Unfortunately all of Series 1 of Red Dwarf has succumbed to the deadly 'terms of use' virus which infects YouTube. So my older links don't work :(

Never mind The Boys From The Dwarf are back in series 2. This is the first time we meet Kryten who promptly vanishes till series 3.

Series 2 Episode 1
Red Dwarf ~ Kryten ~ Pt 1 of 3


Series 2 Episode 1
Red Dwarf ~ Kryten ~ Pt 2 of 3


Series 2 Episode 1
Red Dwarf ~ Kryten ~ Pt 3 of 3
Grow into these trousers... >>

I am average

Well that's nice to know.
Take the Triangle IQ challenge to see how you rate.

I just had another go and I definitely improve with age.
Grow into these trousers... >>

My marriage in a nutshell - by John Martyn OBE

IVe been out for the firtst time in ages and ahd an nice watering on Tim Taylors Landlord.

This shoulld br a 'Weeing down my trouser leg' post but '''k it

John Martyn - Bless the Weather

Best wishes lass, where'ere thou art. Grow into these trousers... >>

A disturbing trend

Measles is potentially a very serious illness and it is worrying to see the rise in cases over recent years.

Much of this is because some parents decline to have their children vaccinated due to misplaced fears about side effects. These fears, originally caused by poor scientific studies and heightened by inappropriate media reporting, eventually found so called 'celebrity endorsement'.
Thus the myths are still being propagated.

Today, the Lay Scientist links to a radio broadcast of some idiot woman ranting against the MMR vaccine. She compares her decision not to vaccinate her children to "standing alone under a tree in a field". The trouble is lady, there's a thunderstorm coming.

Children die from the measles. Grow into these trousers... >>

This has been done before, but...

I just took a look at the blog stats for the past month and was surprised to see how much search engine traffic I'm getting. Most of the searches are quite normal and I hope people find something close to what they are looking for, especially everyone searching for John Martyn recently. I will be posting more by John soon.

Wolfram's rule is still going strong, and there are a few Incredible String Band fans. Hi!

Some searches are rather more original, here's a look:

sodomy is not just for animals - True, but I guess you were looking for this song.

55 sex position - It's in this book.

amazing light up trousers - Can be arranged, see 'mariuhana trousers' below.

authentic unicorn photos - Nope, but I have a bridge I could sell you. (Note: here's an authenic not-a-unicorn photo)

bedtime games - Almost.

best first time sex positions - At the other's place, parents away for the weekend.

bleeze buck africa - Breeze blocks for Africa, a new campaign.

dance trousers ozone - Lager, oops, dry cleaning.

girl trousers being pulldown - I've never heard of 'Girl Trousers Being' nor would I pull her down.

god will provide proverb rooftop dinghy - God provided old joke long ago.

grow a shoe at george bush - Misspelling of the month? Throw a shoe at George Bush yeah.

haven't done with you - I haven't started yet.

how do you pronounce aequorea - Just as it sounds.

i bought a praying mantis. it was atheist - I bought a Venus' fly trap and got my trousers caught. But there's a stick insect atheist here at no.9.

intellectual development in religion - Almost an oxymoron.

it covers trousers with sanity - Thank you.

mariuhana trousers - Hemp fibre is very durable but I really love the thought of smokeable clothing.

michelangelo trousers - Michelangelo came out of his shell? What did Leonardo say?

pictures of warlocks in the mirk - Nothing but mental imagery.

trousers of egypt - I could be Rameses the second in these trousers.

weher can i buy a dance trouses - Dance trouses weher you find em!

I'll post more search fun again :) Grow into these trousers... >>