Confounded

Really Bad Christmas Songs

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:56:03 -0800

‘Round about December 1, one of our local radio stations starts its month-long marathon of Christmas music. I have to listen, I cannot help myself. (The first step is admitting you have a…

Autism Prevalence

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:13:06 -0800

Autism Prevalence:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published the results of their latest study on the prevalence of autism. There is no question that in the last 20 years the number of autism spectrum…

New Autism Numbers: Old news in a shiny package

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:13:04 -0800

New Autism Numbers: Old news in a shiny package:

There is nothing new and shocking about the fact that 1% of children have an autism spectrum disorder. Why is it being reported that way?

Science, Reason and Critical Thinking: The Ladybird Book of

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:20:52 -0800

Science, Reason and Critical Thinking: The Ladybird Book of :

I love this so much I am going to us this in my general studies lesson! This completely explains the situation that even disenfranchised teenagers can understand.

A Culture of Science-Based Practice

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:20:51 -0800

A Culture of Science-Based Practice:

The complementary and alternative (CAM) or integrative medicine phenomenon that has arisen over the last couple of decades primarily involves the creation of a separate subculture within medicine….

Cesarean, mortality, and the law of diminishing returns

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:01:44 -0800

Cesarean, mortality, and the law of diminishing returns:

The law of diminishing returns tells us that, beyond a certain point, we will have to do more C-sections to save one neonatal life. In other words, beyond a certain point, we will have to do more…

Measles

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:01:43 -0800

Measles:

Will measles be the next pandemic? Dr. Mark Crislip outlines some reasons for concern.

Biocentrism Pseudoscience

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:47:10 -0800

Biocentrism Pseudoscience:

A critique of the notion of “biocentrism” promoted by Deepak Chopra & Robert Lanza– “that an accurate understanding of the world requires putting observers firmly into the equation, and that life may…

Gertrude (Trudy) Steuernagel in her own words.

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:47:10 -0800

Gertrude (Trudy) Steuernagel in her own words.:

Steuernagel was the mother of Sky Walker, a severely autistic young man who allegedly beat her to death.In a series of articles written before her death, Steurnagel outlined the deep love between…

Australian government to introduce Internet filter

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:47:09 -0800

Australian government to introduce Internet filter:

Australia plans to introduce an Internet filtering system to block obscene and crime-linked Web sites despite concerns it will curtail freedoms and won’t completely work.

Alt Med Purveyors Seriously Misunderstand the Immune System

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:47:08 -0800

Alt Med Purveyors Seriously Misunderstand the Immune System:

Proponents of alternative medicine claim that illness can be prevented by “strengthening” the immune system. These claims depend on a profoundly flawed, almost cartoon like, view of the immune system…

Homeopathy: nano-doses or mega-stupidity?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:24:51 -0800

Homeopathy: nano-doses or mega-stupidity?:

The hallmark of homeopathy is the belief that tiny doses of medicinal substances have big effects. It’s like insisting that the less salt you put in water, the more salty the water will taste. In…

No one goes to Italy, and it has nothing to do with autism

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:24:50 -0800

No one goes to Italy, and it has nothing to do with autism:

When you have kids, check your expectations at the door. Whether they’re typically-developing, autistic or otherwise “different,” the trip will be different than you expected.

How much sugar is too much sugar ! Homeopathic Overdose

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:24:50 -0800

How much sugar is too much sugar ! Homeopathic Overdose:

Skeptic Barista wonders what to do about an overdose of 30C Arnica homeopathic remedy. Gets no advice from pharmacist or the company. Good thing there are no active ingredients!

(HT-Pharyngula) Richard Cohen is one of those profit-making...

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:52:30 -0800

(HT-Pharyngula) Richard Cohen is one of those profit-making advocates of gay
deconversion, whose work has been used in Uganda to justify laws that
promote killing gay people. Watch Rachel Maddow politely rip him a new one.

From Science-Based Medicine: The Mammogram Post-Mortem

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:39:58 -0800

From Science-Based Medicine: The Mammogram Post-Mortem:

It’s unsurprising that the recent USPSTF mammogram guidelines resulted in a national media meltdown of epic proportions. Dr. Val Jones reviews some of the key reasons why the drama was both predictable and preventable.

Dr. Repertoire’s 10 Rules for Stage Directors « parterre box

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:35:28 -0800

Dr. Repertoire’s 10 Rules for Stage Directors « parterre box:

10 ways opera directors can screw up a production.

Poor Age of Autism: Even the Philanthropists Are Out to Get Them

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:09:20 -0800

Poor Age of Autism: Even the Philanthropists Are Out to Get Them:

Recent tweet from Age of Autism (AoA):

The link leads to a news story about a couple who donated $1 million to a foundation that trains physicians in developing countries to treat…

Age of Autism: Blog or Newspaper?

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:24:40 -0800

Age of Autism: Blog or Newspaper?:

Img. from Citizen Kane, Dir: Orson Welles, RKO Pictures, 1941

A number of comrades have called for a letter-writing campaign to get Age of Autism (AoA) removed from Google…

From NeuroLogica Blog: Answering Some Autism Questions

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:18:35 -0800

From NeuroLogica Blog: Answering Some Autism Questions:

Dr. Novella addresses some questions about the direction of autism research.