Let's talk shit (and homeopathy)

Homeopathy
Homeopathy has been, finally, talked about in the house of commons and the science and technology committee has advised us the government to stop funding homeopathic treatments. This is a step in the right direction, I just hope the government take note and stop bloody inflating Prince Charles ego.

Homeopathy, for those that do not already know is a complimentary medicine (or alternative medicine if you prefer) that takes a substance (Tiger tooth, Dragonfly wings, eye of a newt, scratchings from stonehenge - Guess which one is the 'non-made-up-one') and dissolves it in a huge vat of water. They then take that large vat of water and take a tiny vial of water from it. Following this, that small vial of water is emptied into another, fresh, vat of water and mixed up. This is then repeated a few times until there is absolutely no remnants of the original substance left. You are left with a vial of water with a fancy label. I am actually serious - The homeopath fanciers claim that water has a 'memory' of what was in it and that memory helps cure or alleviate a range of diseases including coughs, colds and even broken bones, bad breath and erectile dysfunction. There is evidence that homeopathy works - but only as a placebo effect.

Well? If it works let people use it. It doesn't matter how it works if it does.
I have a few problems with this- It is ripping people off.

the UK-based Society of Homeopaths said that the NHS spends £4 million annually. This does not include the running costs of the homeopathic hospitals and the £20 million spent on refurbishing the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital between 2002 and 2005.

This, part of the report shown to the house of lords is proof that sugar pills are costing the government dearly. Not to mention the companies that are pushing this 'water with a fancy label' over the internet for a helluva lot of money. Coca Cola must be fuming they didn't market their Dasani water as homeopathic. (It got taken of the shelves after being exposed as tap-water)
 The other problem is that people may be put off going to their doctor - even worse - put off taking their youngsters to a doctor as they believe homeopathy can cure them. This is child abuse and a violation of human rights.

My personal favourite claim by the Medicines and Health care Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is that...

that there is an "important homeopathic tradition" to uphold.

First of all, this is the agency that regulates our medicine and healthcare and they are worried about upholding traditions. This is pure medieval (Speaking of which, Black magic, witchcraft and hanging were all traditions at one point too - should we bring them back?) It seriously worries me when the MHRA, a government agency with this line as their first line of the 'about us' section of the website reads 'is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe.'
is worried about upholding traditions, since when has medicine been about tradition
I mean, it is pretty much saying, by licensing homeopaths (They do. Frequently), that homeopathy is as good as conventional medicines at curing disease.
Homeopathic remedies are touted as water with memories of past dilutions- They are so staggeringly diluted that there are no traces of any of the original substance, usually in the scientific world they do double blind tests against placebos to test weather they work (Double blind means that the patients plus the scientists don't know who has been given the placebo until after the results are in) With homeopathic remedies the placebo will be atomically the same as the 'real' treatment so it is impossible for it to work.

I will leave you with one last comment.
If water has such a good memory, even when diluted hundreds of times. What about all the shit that has been in it at some point?

P.S. The real substance was scratchings from Stonehenge. Seriously

Disney Documentary

I have just finished watching a documentary by Disney called Earth. It is brilliant, I laughed pretty much all the way through it. It had new born chicks jumping out of trees and attempting their maiden flights (and failing miserably) and a bird called the 'bird of paradise' showing of its mating dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gAxbxxmYZ8 Watch it, its brilliant. 'it is hard not to feel deflated when even your best is not good enough' Class.

Seriously, I cannot recommend this beautifully shot, nature documentary highly enough. Think March of the penguins but a million times better.

I have only one problem with it and it is small but worth a mention as it really annoyed me. As it happens early in the film I nearly switched it off (I am glad I didnt). Basically it shows a wolf chasing a heard of Bambi looking creatures and it isolates a young one and chases it. The chase is shot from a helicopter and it is staggeringly good, but eventually the wolf catches the cub by its tail and the cub then sits down and waits to be eaten. Then, after all the build up, it cuts and we do not see it. I am all for wrapping kids up in cotton wool but this is ridiculous. It is a nature documentary for goodness sake, this is how the world of nature works. Show it.

It is Disney's first production from it's new production arm 'disneynature' and I really hope there is some more of the same on the way. Perfect filmmaking that will make you appreciate how spectacular our planet is. I really hope people who see this movie will be more inclined to protect our home. You will laugh, you may even cry but I can 100% gaurentee you will think. And that is what a film should do.

Kudos disney

God is not great

Once again I apologise for the rant. But I am getting increasingly annoyed at God getting a shit load of credit for doing nothing. I was in conversation with a christian yesterday and he kept thanking god for things. Like, God has given me this great life, loads of opportunities and a loving family. No he hasn't. I think it cannot be good for someone to think their lot is god-given. People work incredibly hard to get where they are and instead of acknowledging thier great work and correct choices they heap the praise on God.
I feel sorry for doctors. They perform miracles everyday by saving lives and most of the time their hard work and seven years of study do not get credit. It goes unfairly to God. I would be mightily pissed off if I were them.
First part over.

The next thing that annoys me about the God myth is that people keep saying it is impossible for us to be so perfect by chance and therefore we must have been designed. Well, if we were designed, god certainly didnt do much of a good job.  Why do we have an appendix, why would god put it there if we had no use for it? Why are our eyesight's so bad? If we were designed he could have given us panoramic vision or the ability to see in the dark, would be useful.

People talk about how good it feels to know that you are going to a better place when your time on earth is up. I have no time for this. What keeps me happy and sane is that I do not miss not being born, I don't miss not existing for the crusades or seeing the rat pack sing live. I think that death will be exactly the same as not being born. Easy. Something else that keeps me happy is science. I am thankful for the advances that mean we now live twice as long as we used too. We can cure diseases that used to kill us and we know how to live a healthy live. Thank you Mr. Science.

Basically, all I want to communicate in this post is 2 points.

1. Take credit for your own decisions, it is your life and there is no set path. Take responsibility and control and you will be happier

2. Stop worrying about death and the afterlife and enjoy this one. We can expect to live untill we are 80 if we are lucky. That is only 80 summers, 80 winters, 80 Marches and 80 Christmases and when you say it like that it isn't long so bloody enjoy them, take risks and have fun. You wont miss being dead but a deathbed will be a horrific place if you haven't achieved what you want to in life. And if you have. DON'T THANK GOD!