Thistle Thoughts

EoR, having accidentally sat on some thistles, ponders the State of Things.

If, as we all know, homeopathic remedies only work when their magic vital force is shocked into reality by beating them against a leatherbound Bible, would the same process work with a leatherbound Qu'ran? And, if not, would that disprove the existence of one or the other deity?

TCM Stagnates, Dreams of Better Times

Perth has recently been witness to the amazing healing power of alternative medicine to deal with cancer. Just so you understand that this is actually based on science, consider TCM: A Woman's Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer by Nan Lu, O.M.D., L.Ac., with Ellen Schaplowsky (2009). As Ms Schaplowsky enthuses in the introduction:

In his gentle, wry way, Dr. Lu likes to remind his patients and Qigong students that TCM is not “New Age” medicine; nor, he says, is it a patchwork of different healing modalities. He likes to emphasize that TCM is a complete time-tested medical system — the only one that has identified a theory-based root cause for breast cancer. Why is this so important? Once the root cause is known, then specific treatments can be applied. Such is the case with TCM whose work on breast cancer began at least five centuries ago. (p.xi)

Take that evil Western treat-only-the-symptoms medicine! How can you ever compete with a five century head start? So, what are some of those 'root causes'?

Now, many of my patients ask me if stress directly causes cancer. I tell them that it is absolutely critical for women to understand that stress can cause a liver function disorder. When a woman has a liver function disorder, her blood and Qi can stagnate and cause a breach in her immune system. When this happens, she becomes vulnerable to breast cancer. (p.23)

And you thought beliefs about Qi and how it can stagnate in your liver were just the interpretations of the ancients as they attempted to understand disease? No. If it's five centuries old it must be correct. Of course, it's not that simple. No, to understand cancer, you need to know the whole aetiology of cancer:

THE TCM DEFINITION OF CANCER:
QI DEFICIENCY, COLD, AND STAGNATION
Ancient practitioners recognized that when there is cancer, three major conditions are present: Qi deficiency, cold, and stagnation. Cancer carries a cold or yin energy. Its very essence is cold or frozen. That’s why heat treatments with lasers and infrared lights are currently being explored to eliminate cancerous growths. Qi deficiency (which means your organs do not have enough Qi to perform their natural functions) can lead to cold. If a Qi deficiency continues over time, it will inevitably cause Qi or blood stagnation (which means that these intertwined forces become blocked in their natural, healthy flow through the body). When this condition occurs, a lump or mass will inevitably develop. The condition of stagnation then means the body’s internal environment will become cold. If the body is further insulted by external cold, this condition will worsen. If you have cancer, no matter what kind, these three conditions will always be present: Qi deficiency, blood stagnation, and cold in the meridians or specific organs. I urge you to take good care of yourself if you suffer from one or more of these conditions. Your body
now offers the right environment for cancer to develop. To prevent or treat breast cancer, TCM has many treatments to address these particular conditions. The first thing practitioners do is try to increase overall Qi, then break up any stagnation, and then relieve cold. (pp.44-45)

So cancer is caused by a deficiency of a magical life force that is invisible, has no mass or size; by stagnant blood (which EoR would have thought was more indicative of circulatory problems); and a further undetectable magic 'cold' in the invisible nonexistent life force. Easy, eh? Not only that, it's quite clear where exactly the 'stagnation' is occurring, since it will show up by where your breast cancer is.

According to TCM meridian theory, if the stomach meridian’s Qi stagnates in the breast area, then your breast cancer will show up in the outer, upper quadrant or on the center line that runs through the breast. If your kidney meridian’s Qi stagnates in your breast area, then your cancer will appear in the inside upper quadrant. If your liver meridian’s Qi stagnates in the breast area, then your cancer will develop in the outer, lower quadrant. Eighty-five percent of breast cancers occur in these three areas. Keeping your Qi running smoothly in these three major meridians can dramatically increase your chances of controlling the development of breast cancer, or its recurrence. Keeping your Qi running smoothly in these three critical meridians can also help keep your Inborn Qi, which resides in the kidney, strong and your whole body functioning in harmony. When this happens, you can help yourself avoid cancer’s energy pattern — even with a genetic or inherited predisposition for this disease. (pp.92-93)

Dr Lu is also fond, throughout the book, of using the automobile analogy which, at various times, has warning lights come on, runs out of oil, gets stuck in traffic jams and so on. EoR would, however, like to see a TCM Mechanic rush to the scene and attempt to warm and rebalance the stagnant automotive Qi in the brake meridian, or diagnose which part is failing from where exactly the bumps are on the bodywork.

In the Magical World of TCM, every body part seems to mirror every other body part. Iridology is well known (but which part of the iris represents the iris, and does this area also have a smaller part that represents the iris representation, and that part must also have an iris representation-representation, ad infinitum?), as is reflexology (but which part of the foot represents the foot, etc etc). Add to these the powerful diagnostic tool of nosology:

To show you how this works specifically, let’s look at the nose as a miniature of your body. The long bone from the bridge to the tip of your nose reflects your body’s spine; the curves at the nostrils reflect the health of your hip joints. The middle of the tip of your nose reflects the condition of your stomach. If you have skin problems on your nose, I am able to recognize which organs are causing them. A red nose means that the stomach is suffering from a condition of excess heat. This principle applies to almost all the body parts. Each one represents the entire body in miniature. Reflexology is based on this principle. For example, the
bottom of your foot is regarded as a map of your entire body. Your hand is also a body map. So are your face, your tongue, your nose and the bone of your index finger, and so on. (p.144)

As if that's not sufficient diagnostic possibilities, you can also tell what's wrong by what time you wake up:

TCM theory states that Universal energy changes every two hours and your body’s meridian and organ energies respond to and match these changes. For example, energy changes start with the lung, which is “on duty” or in charge of the body from 3:00 to 5:00 A.M. If your lung’s Qi has a problem, then you might find yourself waking up in this time period. Or, you might wake up with a physical problem like a cough during these hours. Here are the other times of Universal energy changes and their related organs:

3:00 A.M.–5:00 A.M. Lung
5:00 A.M.–7:00 A.M. Large intestine
7:00 A.M.–9:00 A.M. Spleen
9:00 A.M.–11:00 A.M. Stomach
11:00 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Heart
1:00 P.M.–3:00P.M. Small intestine
3:00 P.M.–5:00 P.M. Bladder
5:00 P.M.–7:00 P.M. Kidney
7:00 P.M.–9:00 P.M. Pericardium
9:00 P.M.–11:00 P.M. Triple warmer
11:00 P.M.–1:00 A.M. Gallbladder
1:00 A.M.–3:00 A.M. Liver (pp.221-222)

Failing all those, you might need to use dream interpretation, or possibly tarot cards, or tea leaf reading.

Dream diagnosis or interpretation is one tool TCM uses to understand a patient’s physical condition. Qi problems in the internal organs show up in different kinds of dreams. For instance, if your heart Qi is deficient, you might feel yourself falling out of the sky or off a tall building. If you have a kidney Qi deficiency, you might have dreams that are connected to drowning or being under water, or being in a boat that is capsizing. Or, you might find yourself being fearful and hiding from something in your dreams. If you refer to the Five Element Theory chart on chapter 2, you can see where this insight comes from. Water is the element
of the kidney and fear is its ruling emotion. You can gain more insight into your dreams by studying the Five Element Theory chart. If you always see yourself arguing or fighting or things are destroyed in your dreams, then you might have a parasite, or these could be signals that your internal problem might be worsening. (p.222)

They might also be signs that you're falling for a disproven medical system, and that's it time to update your 'tools' and 'theory'.

Online, Nan Lu also recommends the efficacy of a miracle to cure breast cancer.

To help create conditions that favor a miracle, return to moments in your life when you were truly happy. Recall these memories often; they are alive within your cells today. They have the ability to stimulate your powerful life force. Trust that you are the miracle. Trust that your life has purpose. Love your self. Make yourself, not others, happy first. Experience the joy of your own vitality and truly live your miraculous life!

Science Policies 2

Yesterday EoR considered the science policies of the major parties for the upcoming Vote For Your Least Boring Candidate competition. Or, more precisely, the lack of such policies except for the Greens. In the interest of political neutrality, today EoR wants to consider some of the minor parties that may also have an impact on the new Parliament.

The Nationals, like the Liberal Party, have no science policy. The best that can be said for them is that, at least, they don't have a picture of a politician on that page. Only a red dirt road, leading off into the empty wilderness...

The nearest Family First gets to a science policy is to be anti-abortion, anti-euthanasia, and anti-human cloning.

And, just to round out another group of three, there are the independents and the extremely minor parties. Such as the Climate Sceptics. The Climate Sceptics, since they are a party whose fundamental reason is a science based one, remarkably have no science policy either. Of course, given that they consider scientists are part of some alarmist communist tax-grabbing cabal, that's not surprising. EoR imagines they'd like to burn science textbooks in the street if they could.

EoR is, however, pleased to learn that they have a Senate candidate in WA. A chiropracter, no less.

Most Australians (myself included previously) don’t have the time to investigate the issues and as such we have allowed the extreme green left to control the discourse. The encouragement of critical thinking is something sadly lacking from our democracy, but it is my hope that my involvement with The Climate Sceptics will stimulate debate and critical evaluation of this issue by the people of Western Australia.

Critical thinking is something that is sadly lacking in those who deny the reality of climate change. And in those who can 'see' imaginary spinal subluxations. And in those who think the 'extreme green left' are somehow controlling the climate change issue. Eor nonetheless welcomes the chance to exercise his democratic rights, and place Mr Woods very last on his ballot paper.

And, if you think this appalling lack of vision is just about science, there's no clear policy for the Arts either.

Australian politics: finally resolving the conflict of the two cultures. By dumping them both.

Science Policies

In an idle moment, EoR has been wandering around the propaganda sites for the world's most boring election ever. EoR was interested in each major party's science policy.

The Australian Labor Party has a picture of Our Julia defiantly gazing in a totally different direction from the Suited Men of her party, as well as lots of pictures of smiling happy people, but no science policy that EoR could find.

The Liberal Party has a picture of Mr Rabbit defiantly gazing in a solitary way and fewer pictures, but no science policy that EoR could find.

The Greens have a tiny picture of Chistine Milne in a sidebar, and an image of 'scientists' (you can tell they're scientists because they're in white coats and holding test tubes), and a whole page of 35 science and technology principles.

Both Labor and the Liberals are failing Australia in their visionless poll-driven drive to mediocrity.

Dangers Of Charlatanism Electrifying

The Complaints Register of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration makes interesting, if depressing, reading.

EoR is pleased to see that the (delightfully non-therapeutically titled) galvanic cock ring appears to have disappeared from the interweb.

when this device is fitted and the electrodes come into contact with the underneath of the scrotum and the base of the penis, the gentle current (Galvanic Current) helps relax the muscles in that area, allowing blood to flow more freely thereby assisting in the creation and maintenance of an erection (...) can be used as a tourniquet to keep blood in erect penis and assist in maintaining erection

EoR doubts the therapeutic efficacy of a penis torniquet. Nonetheless, the device was apparently claimed to be a "genius contraption". That would only be in the sense that any scam is designed to fleece the gullible, and the best scams are the traditional ones:



Another old scam is Hulda Clark's zapper, sold to cancer sufferers in order to lighten their finances, preying on the vulnerable solely for the unethical gain of profit.

In another recent complaint, the TGA has censured Natural Health Direct for selling this useless device, stating

The advertisement included claims that the advertised product “designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites”, and made reference to a book called “Cure For All Diseases” by Dr Hulda Clarke, which was said to “describe in detail the correct use of the zapper”. The advertised device was said to be “made in Germany according to Dr Clark’s specifications” and “manufactured under licence to Hulda Clark.” The advertisement also advised consumers to “refer to Dr Clarke’s book” for a “full description of the correct use of the zapper”, and stated that “we make no claims for the zapper other than those made by Dr Hulda Clarke.”

The company were ordered to display a retraction (which may or may not have happened — it is certainly not there now) and to no longer make therapeutic claims for the zapper.

This is their advertisement that led to the complaint (click to enlarge):



This is their current advertisement (click to enlarge):



Can you spot the difference (other than changing the layout)? The phrase "designed to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites" has been removed, as the TGA ordered. The phrase "Please note: In her book Cure For All Diseases, Dr Hulda Clarke describes in detail her theory in relation to the correct use of a 'Zapper'. For more information on the correct use of the zapper, please refer to Dr Clarke's book." has not been removed, but simply moved to the bottom of the advertisement. So Natural Health Direct is still selling a useless device (for AU$236.80!), a device that doesn't work, a device invented by a woman who died of cancer herself. a charlatan who claimed:

The method is 100% effective in stopping cancer regardless of the type of cancer or how terminal it may be. It follows that this method must work for you, too, if you are able to carry out the instructions.

The 'method' here is extracting the largest amount of money possible from the most vulnerable people. It clearly works (but only to extract money). It continues to work (but only to extract money). Natural Health Direct should be ashamed. The TGA should have the legal power of the Australian Tax Office. Or the ACCC who previously ruled that Herbert Nathan, director of Raylight Pty Ltd, be required to give refunds to people who purchased his Parasite Zapper.

Christopher Monckton Is A Fraud

The Grand Loony of Climate Science, Christopher Monckton — who likes to call environmentalists Hitler Youth — is, as is his scientific wont, pursuing that most powerful of scientific methods and abusing all and sundry and threatening the fake climate science world with a plethora of law suits.

Christopher Monckton is a fraud.
Christopher Monckton lies and misrepresents science.
Christopher Monckton is full of it.
Christopher Monckton misrepresents the science.
Christopher Monckton is a fraud.
Christopher Monckton seeks to censor his critics.

August 6, 1945

“If you cut off a piece of fingernail and burn it…that’s what burning human flesh smells like."

Status of World Nuclear Forces

In Which EoR Suffers From PMT

EoR can hardly contain his excitement upon learning that Debbie Malone, the woman who has spent the last 18 years psychically solving missing persons and murder cases for Police throughout Australia, is coming to town to run seminars on how to take bad photographs and psychometry. Sadly, though, he will be unable to afford the AU$395 fee for an hour's individual reading. How will EoR cope without knowing that someone with an "A" name who has "passed over" is wafting around his aura? AU$395 an hour is, EoR quickly calculates, the equivalent of an annual salary of around AU$700,000. Australia's Prime Minister is paid only half that amount. There's something deeply wrong with that.

What caught EoR's attention however was not the standard platitude-offering 'psychic', but PMT. EoR is always pleased to find a new woo, if only in order to prove that the gullibility of people has not yet reached its limits. PMT, or Pyramidal Memories Transmutation is described in the following glowing terms:

Pyramidal Memories Transmutation (PMT) is a 5th dimensional technology developed by Joel Ducatillion, a French Naturopath, in November 2004.(...)

This technology works through the combination of 6 DNA 850 encoders. Joel describes the DNA 850 encoder as a small closed glass tube enclosing DNA encoded light spirals. Joel records DNA codes based on mathematical calculations, transposes them into sounds and when these sounds are played into the encoder, a programming takes place in these spirals of light. As at 2006 there were over 11,000 codes contained within each encoder.

5 of these encoders are used to create a double pyramid and the common part of the two pyramids forms the transmutation room in which the person sits during the process which takes about 45 minutes.

The 6th encoder is used to activate the pyramid. During this activation, a crystal of ether extends between the 7th chakra and the back of the head. It is this crystal that will raise the body's frequency - ether, astral, mental and causal - towards the 5th dimension, which means an octave above using a quantum leap.

This technology works on the memories that the person’s Soul decides that it wants transmuted. Hence it is not dependent on the person’s decision as to which memories are to be transmuted. Nor is it dependent on the operator’s intuitive view as to which memories should be transmuted. The transmutation room is therefore a place where our expectations and our will have no influence.

(...)

When the memories are brought forward into the transmutation room, the encoders are used to clean them, to remove the blockages around them. They are left as a clean memory. These cleaned memories are then brought into the person’s consciousness and are transmuted. This then completes the transmutation process. From experience, most, if not all, of these memories will be consciously transmuted as quickly and as smoothly as taking a gentle, peaceful breath. They then pass on as part of the normal process of the Universe.

EoR's head is spinning: mathematics, pyramids, memories, chakras, crystals, and especially 'DNA encoded light spirals'. This is the sort of wacky science that seems to have been developed under the influence of some extremely heavy hallucinogenics.

Apart from having memories 'cleaned' (which sounds disturbingly like 1984), this particular way of wasting money, of course, doesn't really do anything:

PMT is a 5th dimension technology and certainly not a therapy. During this process, neither the person nor the operator has any influence at all, whatever their level of understanding or their intention might be.

EoR really wants to see one of these super-advanced scientific machines operating at full throttle but, sadly, this is the only picture he could find:



Disappointing really. Joel Ducatillon, the inventor of this postmodernist marvel, is also the 'father' of Diamond Water which is like water on steroids (only without the steroids).

Diamond Water is here to help us upgrade and wake up, to go faster into our new and upgraded selves, to help clear unhelpful and heavy frequencies from our cells, our psyches, our energy and our souls of old. There is no more time now, this water is like a secret agent working behind the scenes. It is water that has been *imprinted with intent by one of the glass encoders (5th dimensional technology explained under Pyramidal Memories Transmutation).

Joel also further explains the wonderful PMT glass thingy:

It was only a year and a half later (1997) that I received a channelling instructing me to create a little glass tube as simple as this (Joel holds up the tube, see picture above) small and simply made by a glass-blower. This thing is a sort of artificial DNA of light. Clear-sighted or visionary people can see in it spirals of light and there are geometries that are imprinted into it, as in DNA. Of course, for it to be printed, I had to process the air that is contained in it, as well as energetically encode through geometry and mathematics.

EoR has that sinking feeling that, as a closed minded skeptic, he'd simply see a small glass tube without any of the wonderful swirling multidimensional spirals of DNA encoded madness. But what if it was all true? What if particle physics proved all this?

The CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research) laboratory in Geneva uses a particle accelerator, which is by chance circumference 27 kilometres. The number 27 is 3 X 3 X 3; the number of the quantum leap jump into another dimension. This is different from what we have understood or known before. Having made this oscillating circle (circumference 27 cm) I then chanted a mantra in front of the circle in suspension, with the glass tube at the centre of that circle. When I finished the mantra I noticed a light thread going out of the external circle, then going in towards the centre of the tube, then out again, perhaps a few hundred times per second. This created a sort of break at the level air inside the tube. Some 40 % of the air in the tube then transformed into krypton. Krypton is a heavy gas that you can also find inside light bulbs as neon, argon or Freon, and it is a gas that holds sounds in memory.

EoR's mind is oscillating in wonder by now.

Physicists may perform experiments on this by magnetic resonance but my duty is not to prove what I am doing but to transmit. I have no scientific base at all, no proof of what I am telling you, and I don't need to be right, so nobody need bother to say that I am wrong!

"I can sell this without proving it! Ha! You're not allowed to prove me wrong!"

A further claim that Joel Ducatillon makes sounds frankly bizarre (yes, even in comparison to all that has gone before):

Since 1992, I have the ability to transmute people's memories through my own body; I wouldn't advise you to reach this initiatory stage, because it is very destructive for the organs and especially the heart. When I am in front of somebody whose soul asks to transmute memories, I take these memories inside my body, and the result is that half an hour later I have to change since all my clothes smell like celery. (p.4)

EoR thinks this smells like something else. Despite all his claims that his (non)therapy will accelerate your personal evolution, he also doesn't appear to believe in that concept in any other form, as he reveals when discussing the historical Adam and Eve:

The consciousness of the Tree of Life is there as we unite good and evil as one energy alone; it is the top of the triangle. You understand the base of the cult of trinity that you can find everywhere and then the Snake came and said-basically speaking, what I am saying right now is a little bit childish, but still there is something behind it- the snake came, in other words some aliens came on Earth, coming from reptilian constellations, even if it sounds a little bit ”……..” even if you don't believe in it, it doesn't matter, I used to not believe in it 30 years ago but now I do, because I have proofs of it. (p.13)

You have to know that at that time people use to be vegan and the climate on earth was “universal” there used to be neither Eskimos, nor too hot equator. So people used to need almost no clothes and to eat only fruits that were huge and very rich. It must be quite pleasant to eat like that! And all of a sudden, there was the fall into the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, so everything started to deteriorate. (p.15)

He also believes in the fantasy that thoughts will 'manifest' themselves, promoted oh so successfully by the purveyors of The Secret. Now, this paragraph is difficult to comprehend, and it doesn't seem to make much sense (even in the illogical world of Joel Ducatillon), but it appears to be saying that women are raped because they want to be — if EoR has this wrong, please point it out):

We are going to take the example of a woman, because it happens more often with women than men. If a woman contains memories of a rapist man inside her, since she was a man who raped along time; some day, as this memory is starting to arise, at the time when it has to pass the door, in other words when the soul wants to get rid of this memory, which is going to radiate within the energetic bodies of this lady, well this lady is going to find herself in a situation where a rapist will be “fed”, even if this guy never raped anyone, on that day, if he has this tendency it will be fed by this memory and that will push him to such action. (p.18)

It takes until page 23 of this meandering, mean-spirited diatribe to come to the central point of PMT: money. What if, someone asks, a person wanted to give this amazing treatment for free?

At a certain point it will get stuck, nobody will come anymore and on top of it you might attract people whose soul will give nothing; because it will be people who say: ”Ah, she does it for free, let's go for it and the soul is unwilling so you are going to waste such and such time for nothing, and the person is going to say: “ you know your thing is rubbish” and it is going to turn against you, and you won't have any body coming anymore. This is what you get when you work for free. Anyway, the people who shouldn't have PMT sessions can't find the money. If they don't have the money it is that they shouldn't receive it. However it is not an injustice because if they don't have any money it is because they have created this lack of money; so they get what they have to experience.

Isn't it obvious? You're poor because you want to be. You're raped because you want to be. You, and millions of other Jews, are exterminated because you want to be. So stop whining, and pay up.

If money exists it is because God has created it since we are God! You understand? We are little sparks of the divine! Money is as “divine” as the rest, it is the way we used it, which is not great! (p.24)

On page 12, M. Ducatillon rambles on about racism (which results from 'judgement' and 'separation' and represents 'wasted energies'), which rather grates with his final paragraph:

Some memories are like mastic, it doesn't even get in really well into the encoder! 2 or 3 sessions are needed for one memory, to manage getting it because it is sturdy stuff! Sometimes there are people who have “more constipated” genetics, for instance the German race; you almost need a motor cultivator to remove the memories! In Belgium it is prickling, there is no mass, you would think you are in a field of hedgehogs, or a field of nettles; the masses only start to come out after 3 or 4 sessions. It is also true that these are countries where there is a lot of aristocracy. If you deal with Italians, or Spanish, it is something else. For instance, in Italy , when I go to Milan , Turin , or Rome , I can see a huge amount of hate between men and women; this is the country where they hate each other the most in their memories! The Catholic Church fed this for 2000 years, well, almost!

Failed Predictions Never Stop Champions Of Truth

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
-George Santayana

Science proceeds by making predictions based on hypotheses, and determining whether those predictions accord with observed reality. Agreement in prediction and observation doesn't necessarily indicate you're correct (perhaps you missed something else, perhaps it was coincidence), but failure in agreement indicates that your hypothesis is flawed. In other words, it is a fantasy.

For example, in 2009, David Archibald devised his own method of assessing climate and, based on his new model, predicted

2009 is the eleventh anniversary of the recent peak on global temperature in 1998. The world has been cooling at 0.06 degrees per annum since then. My prediction is that this rate of cooling will accelerate to 0.2 degrees per annum following the month of solar minimum sometime in 2009.

Not only was he wrong, he was grossly wrong, and his 'prediction' was so incorrect that it didn't even correlate with the continuing positive trend in climate.

In the world of science this would be considered a failure. In the world of ideology, it is a mark of distinction. David Archibald made a repeat appearance at the WA Skeptics recently, continuing to tout his failed hypothesis via a 91(!) slide Powerpoint presentation (which also indicates his failure to understand how to effectively use Powerpoint, EoR notes in passing). Most of the presentation consisted of cherry picked facts, data sets with no references to their source, graphs often missing indications of what the axes represented, and political diatribe, though one (and only one) contained what might be considered a prediction based on Archibald's contrarian views.



Global Warming Alarmists (you get the idea from his emotive use of language that Archibald is here making a political presentation, not a scientific argument) are not just Wrong, but 'Exactly Wrong'. EoR isn't sure of the distinction, but he's sure it's a subtle and important one.

Prediction 1:

The Earth is getting colder and this will accelerate.

This is clearly a lot vaguer than Archibald's previous prediction. He doesn't appear prepared anymore to state a range for his studies as to how much colder Earth is getting. It's a nice phrase. It's one the deniers like to parrot in the belief that repetition will make it magically true. It was wrong in 2009. It is still (and increasingly so) wrong now.

The other statements that Archibald makes in that slide appear bizarre taken out of context until you learn that the last forty of so slides of his presentation are a political argument that burning more coal and using nuclear power are the only sensible ways to save the planet.

For another example of science in action, in 2008, "one of Australia's leading air pollution experts", Dr Peter Dingle, hypothesized

The "noxious cocktail" of athletes pushing themselves to the limit and the Games' city's dirty atmosphere could trigger a serious - and potentially lethal - asthma attack, Murdoch University Associate Professor Peter Dingle said.

"Without a doubt you are going to see an increase in asthma incidents,'' Prof Dingle told Beijing Now.

"And while it is unikely, because of the number of officials and medical specialists on hand, you could have a death during these Olympics.''

EoR believes Dr Peter Dingle's specialty is indoor air quality, not 'air pollution', though the incorrect description may be an error on the reporter's part (it still doesn't excuse using Dr Dingle outside his area of expertise). The article notes that, according to the Australian Olympic Team's head doctor, Peter Baquie (who, unlike Dr Peter Dingle, EoR assumes actually has a qualification in medical health)

The performance drop is no longer considered to be a concern as the treatment of asthma ensures no symptoms are brought on by the pollution.

"We haven't had any concerns about the pollution affecting respiratory problems," said Baquie.

"It is not a danger, we are not seeing that sort of risk."

Nonetheless, the reporter feels compelled to return to yet another dire prediction from Dr Peter Dingle:

But Prof Dingle said the risks were undeniable.

"When you are an athlete you are pushing the barriers of your body,'' he said.

"So those people are already under stress and more likely to have an asthma attack.

"Add that to the stress of air pollution- and Beijing is unique in that regard - and you have a pretty noxious cocktail.

We all, of course, remember the terrible tragedy that was the epidemic of asthma at the Beijing Olympics, and the pollution caused deaths that so marred the Games.

Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.
-George Santayana

The Angels Want Your Money

What could be more trippy and sciencey than quantum physics and angels?

You are contacting us at a very important time, at the shift to a new paradigm. It is very likely, that you have already been affected by this paradigm shift through many personal life changes. This shift on earth is indicated by the integration of science e.g. quantum physics and spirituality.

Oh. EoR missed that one. When exactly was it integrated? And who got the Nobel Prize for it?

QA-Healing applies fundamental concepts of quantum physics to perform healing. It works hands-on, or at a distance. It uses diagnostic intuition, clairvoyance, telepathy, energy healing, and prayer. It goes beyond physical death, and integrates non-physical helpers in the process.

Yes, because quantum physics wouldn't work without those fundamental principles of telepathy. And prayer. And clairvoyance.

You might also believe that there is a higher power and many Angels and Archangels, who will help you any time. However, you might not exactly know how to put all the pieces of the cosmic puzzle together. You are probably still missing some connecting puzzle pieces.

EoR believes he's not the only one missing a few connecting pieces here. Of course:

Real Love is the strongest power in the universe.

Stronger even, presumably than the Strong Nuclear Force? Hey, they're the ones who brought up quantum physics!

Quantum-Angel-Healing goes beyond drugs (horrible, primitive medicine), even beyond mind-body woo (so passe) and ushers in the incredible 'Third Era of Medicine' whereby healing will be achieved by non-local entangled quantum angel observers who will spout rubbish from The Secret before unveiling a plethora of Schrödinger Boxes full of dead cats. You can do this easily by simply switching on your Angel Receiver (it's like a TV):

You can invite the angels to contact you and ask for a repeated sign that you comprehend, for example to leave you a feather, a coin, or show you a license plate on a car with 444, which is the angel’s number. The angels are very cooperative and they are committed to help and support you at any given time. Simply ASK them to help you with anything, also for so-called little things in life. Don’t be afraid to waste their time, God created millions of angels and many are “unemployed”.

EoR hates to think what the dole payments amount to for millions of unemployed angels. With all the sick and suffering around, he's sure there's work available for them if they really wanted it. That's the problem with Heaven today: too many bludging angels.

Anyway, EoR has 'invited' the angels to make woo disappear. He's currently waiting for a sign.

Like any really good woo site, there's also a page of orb photos except, unlike the majority of people who don't know how to clean a lens before taking a picture, these aren't the dear departed coming back to tell you you're going to have a minor operation sometime in the future.

Orbs are likely to be angels, archangels, guides, fairies and other spirits which are around us. The Angel-Orbs on our pictures are balls of energy, which are especially attracted by the vibration of love and joy.

That's a patent lie. Everyone knows what real fairies look like:



This mumbo jumbo is obviously helpful for clearing blockages of unwanted cash, since there are other people promoting it as well.

Quantum-Angel-Healing® is a method of energy healing, which is different from all other healing modalities. The essence is a hands-on energy treatment with Angels.

So, completely different from hands-on energy healing with reiki. Or therapeutic touch. And, despite the claims, Quantum-Angel-Healing doesn't do any healing:

Rev. Gisela Arenas & GentleHeartHealing.com do not claim to diagnose or heal any illnesses

The Rev. EoR also suspects that there's no Angels, or Quantum in it either. Leaving a big empty hole of fatuous nothingness.

Quelle Horreur

EoR's world is shattered. Plastic Bertrand did not sing on Ça plane pour moi, the seminal Punk anthem. Next thing you know, someone will claim the Sex Pistols were only in it for the money. Or that Crass were funded by BAE systems. Or that The Dead Kennedys had all their songs written by Paul McCartney.

Dingle Update

Inquest into Dingle death

The State Coroner has delivered his findings in the Penelope Dingle case. The homeopath involved, Francine Scrayen is described as

"was not a competent health professional" and had given "dangerous advice" to Mrs Dingle when treating her.

Dr Peter Dingle is described as

"a victim of his own misinformation" and had "no qualifications in health and wellness".

It is also recommended that the two doctors involved, William Barnes and Igor Tabrizian, be referred to the Medical Board of WA.

Mr Hope said Dr Barnes' suggestion Mrs Dingle use vitamin C and Carnivora to potentially stop the tumour growing and Dr Tabrizian's failure to examine her properly was enough reason to refer them to the board.

Despite this, the Coroner seems ambivalent about homeopathy.

Giving his recommendations, the coroner said homeopathic treatments should not be outlawed but nor should they be legitimised.

But he recommended federal and state health authorities review their legislation regarding complementary and alternative treatments.

This sounds like the recent UK decision that homeopathy should continue be supported precisely because it doesn't work. And despite the fact that

He said that if she had not spent a year seeking the advice of Mrs Scrayen rather than seeing a doctor, she may have survived.

In The Forests Of The Night

Having recently looked at the persistent myth that the Australian bush is infested with wandering panthers, lions and sundry other Big Cats, EoR is pleased to report that a tiger that escaped while being transported to a vet in South Africa has been recaptured.

Tigers, native to Asia, are usually only found in zoos in South Africa, which is home to numerous species of big cats.

Fernandes said the tiger would be returning to his home at a private game reserve.

The head of a private security network coordinating the search had told Reuters it was likely the biggest tiger hunt Africa has ever seen.

Presumably, that would be because it's the only tiger hunt Africa has ever seen?

Ken vs Reality

Both Jo Nova and Andrew Bolt chortle over the latest Global Warming Conspiracy evidence, produced by the indefatigable Ken ("retired school principal"). Ken compares Bureau of Meteorology raw data against the High Quality Adjusted Data, and finds a difference (as you'd expect):

That’s 0.6 degrees C / 100 years for the raw data. The adjusted trend is 0.85.

Which becomes Jo Nova's headline of "Australian warming trend adjusted UP by 40%". Here's the graph Ken has produced to show his results:



Now EoR is not a climate scientist, and he finds these number things hard to get his head around, but surely one set of data shows an increasing trend, while the other set of data shows a slightly less increasing trend? Which would indicate, no matter how you twist the data, that climate is warming? Strangely, none of these fiercely independent investigators seems to mention that fact. Indeed, they seem to be conceptually blind to that particular elephant as they pursue their rigidly ideological paths.

This the same day that the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration in the US has released its 2009 State of the Climate report. They've even produced a cute graphic which shows how many predictors of global warming are confirmed by the data:

"When we follow decade-to-decade trends using multiple data sets and independent analyses from around the world, we see clear and unmistakable signs of a warming world."

Download the full report (6.6 MB).

The IPCC conclusion (Alley et al. 2007) that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal” does not rest solely upon LSAT [Land Surface Air Temperature] records. These constitute only one line of evidence among many, for example: uptake of heat by the oceans, melting of land ice such as glaciers, the associated rise in sea level, and increased atmospheric surface humidity (fig. 2.5). If the land surface records were systematically flawed and the globe had not really warmed, then it would be almost impossible to explain the concurrent changes in this wide range of indicators produced by many independent groups. The observed changes in a broad range of indicators provide a self-consistent story of a warming world.
State of the Climate in 2009, p. S26

Homeopathy - Doesn't Work, Deserves Government Funding

Some excerpts from the UK Government response to the Science and Technology Committee report 'Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy' :

8. We agree with many of the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations. However, our continued position on the use of homeopathy within the NHS is that the local NHS and clinicians, rather than Whitehall, are best placed to make decisions on what treatment is appropriate for their patients - including complementary or alternative treatments such as homeopathy - and provide accordingly for those treatments.

37. Homeopathy has a long tradition in Europe and is a recognised and widely used system of medicine across the EU. The Government takes the view that consumers who choose to use homeopathic medicines should be fully informed about their purpose and assured that standards of quality and safety are maintained. If homeopathic medicines were not subject to any kind of regulatory control consumers would not have access to such information or assurances. Conversely, if regulation was applied to homeopathic medicines as understood in the context of conventional pharmaceutical medicines, these products would have to be withdrawn from the market as medicines. This would constrain consumer choice and, more importantly, risk the introduction of unregulated, poor quality and potentially unsafe products on the market to satisfy consumer demand.

40. The main public health risk that can arise from homeopathic medicinal products is their inappropriate use in serious conditions. The National Rules Scheme (NRS) is based on the premise that public health protection is better served where it is clear that the use of these products should be restricted to minor self-limiting conditions. In response to recommendation 30, that claimed indications should not be permitted in products without demonstrated efficacy, we do not think public health will be enhanced by increasing the proportion of over the counter medicinal products sold without information as to their intended purpose.

48. The regulation of homeopathic products enables the MHRA to protect the public from unsafe products and unwarranted claims to treat serious illness. The requirement for regulation of homeopathic products is laid down in a European Directive and is a treaty obligation of the UK.

To summarise the twisted logic: homeopathy doesn't work, so it should only be used for conditions that would resolve themselves anyway (because, if you refused this placebo, the conditions would resolve themselves anyway). Homeopathy should, nonetheless, still remain government supported and funded because, even though they don't qualify as 'medicines', consumer choice requires that they be called 'medicines'.

A Plague of Cats on Your House!

The NT News is a wonderful newspaper. Fond of reporting the UFO scourge that plagues the Northern Territory. Fond of rehashing as headlines decades old stories of the Territory Tiger in order to promote a book.

The earliest account was from 1883 by SA explorer Charles Winnecke. The journal of his exploration on the WA-NT border says Winnecke came across a "wild cat of an extraordinary size".

"The brute was nearly as large as a leopard," he wrote.

Ms Lang said these cats had a lifespan of 20 years - but the sightings have continued for 150 years.

"We know the earliest circus menageries started up around 1850, so it's conceivable that the odd circus cat could have ended up in the bush," she said.

"Transport arrangements were notoriously dodgy back then and escapes happened all the time."

EoR would love to see the evidence of these escapes. But there's even photographic proof of this mythical beast:



Now EoR may just be a closed-minded skeptic disbeliever, but that looks like someone's kitty cat going for a stroll in a Territory backyard. Possibly it's an albino tiger after all, though. Or, as the Centre for Fortean Zoology implies, a lion.

Like evidence of UFOs, when video is taken it's usually shaky, blurry, and short (presumably because the person filming is so terrified their whole body is shaking from fear).

Vision captured yesterday by a resident of the Otway Ranges appears to show a black cat-like animal walking through a paddock.

Occam's Razor would suggest that the most likely explanation for a 'black cat-like animal' would be a black cat. Big Cat chaser Mike Williams describes his challenge:

"But the problem is they're showing several different colour variations of coats. So I have been forced to say there is more than one species of cat, which makes it even harder for me to try and prove."

EoR would have thought multiple species would make it easier. So many more Big Cats, so much easier to find one. Just one. Please. If it's not a Big Cat, then it must be Yowies.

These mythical and elusive beasts are spotted all across Australia, including Western Australia where they range from at least Karridale to Yanchep (though that might be a 'bear' or 'some kind of mutant' so it might not count).

Not only are all these beasts almost invisible, they leave no scats, or bones when they die, just like ghosts.

Where do all these Big Cats come from? People 'theorise' that they might be remnant thylacoleos, that they escape from circuses (now that circuses don't have exotic animals, they'll find it harder to push that one), or that every visiting US Navy ship during the Second World War dumped its panther mascot in the bush (note, not at the port, but they must have deliberately and maliciously transported them to the bush to release them into the wild) or, going even further back, miners who came over from the US to the Australian Gold Rush brought their panthers with them. If you find some of those 'theories' more than slightly silly, you're not alone.

When evidence isn't forthcoming, and doesn't even match the plethora or purported sightings, you could surmise the sightings were wrong. Or, in the classic tradition of deniers everywhere, claim a government cover-up.

But the report didn’t go they way they wanted so they buried it, but an FOI flushed it out. Dr Johannes Bauer, experienced in big cat surveys in China and Nepal and a lecturer in environmental management at the University of Sydney, was asked by the NSW government in 1999 to report on big cat sightings in the area. Bauer examined evidence including photos of mauled livestock, analysis of droppings, casts of paw prints and scratches on trees. His findings were kept secret until they surfaced late last year in the Department of Agriculture report. “Difficult as it seems to accept the most likely explanation of the evidence is the presence of a large feline predator in this area, most likely a leopard, less likely a jaguar “. So, we continue collecting reports and are about to get some dna done on hair samples.

Since a Big Cat would be a top predator in the Australian bush it should have no trouble surviving and, since these reports have appeared for nearly two centuries, they must also be breeding (EoR considers that the likelihood of every passing circus losing a Big Cat or two and covering it up is unlikely). EoR once did a calculation based only on one breeding pair, not living particularly long, not producing large litters each time, and still came up with a figure in the thousands for the number of Big Cats that should now be roaming the bush. Yet they remain as elusive as the Loch Ness Monster. Or the Yowie.

If you're going to venture out into the depths of the Australian Big Cat infested bush, EoR advises you to heed the advice of the NSW Department of Primary Industries: 'Black Cat' identification.

"How many times have I told you that homosexuality is only to be used for revolutionary purposes?"

The film LA Zombie ('an erotic gay satire') has not been banned in Australia, but 'refused exemption'. One means the film cannot be shown in Australia. The other, um, means the film cannot be shown in Australia (it's a subtle difference). Not even at a film festival where only adults would see it. Now a film depicting 'wound shagging' and ejaculating blood may not be to your taste, but if you go to a film festival to see a Bruce LaBruce film, EoR concurs with Julie Rigg that you'd have a pretty good idea what sort of film you're about to see. If anything, it sounds just as much postmodernist as pornographic. Furthermore, if the film hadn't been refused exemption EoR, and countless others, would never have heard of it.

Meanwhile, a submission to an Australian Senate Committee reviewing the proposed internet filter has had a link to a YouTube video censored even though the video can be legally purchased in Australia, and even though the internet filter is only supposed to deny access to material that is not legal in Australia. They also censored a link to the Amazon.com page for Ken Park (as if no one would ever be able to find the film at Amazon otherwise).

As to just which material you can legally own in Australia, some Australians are more equal than others (particularly if you're Aboriginal):

"It is lawful for Australian citizens to possess, own, read or view, give away and purchase RC (Refused Classification) content in all forms, except in Western Australia (which has a state law which criminalises possession of RC content) and parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory associated with the Aboriginal Intervention (where possession of content rated higher than MA 15+ is an offence)."

As if this is not silly enough, the Government is proposing that ISPs retain the web browsing history and emails of all users. A consultation paper on this matter that has been released under FOI has had around 90% of it censored. A legal officer from the Attorney-General's Department explains why:

"I consider that release of such documents may lead to premature unnecessary debate and could potentially prejudice and impede government decision making."

You wouldn't want any premature discussion of a major data retention initiative. Just look at how much furore discussion of the internet filter has released.

EoR thinks it is about time for the Revolution:

"The Revolution is my boyfriend!"

No Muslims In Parliament! Cast The Atheists Out!

EoR has tried to stay out of commenting on the political marketing Australia is currently being subject to (and will it ever rate better than Masterchef?) but he feels compelled to note the racist and outdated views of members of the Opposition.

David Parker, a Liberal Party candidate, has been sacked after a bizarre rant against Muslims (but he's not anti-Muslim, of course).

"I'm not anti-Muslim. I believe every one should have their own beliefs," he said.

"But I don't know if we want at this stage in Australian politics a Muslim in the Parliament and an atheist running the Government."

(...)

"I made a comment that I believe God is the only way to Heaven and we shouldn't have a Muslim candidate running in that area," he said.

"I don't believe that's exactly in line with what we believe as Australians."

Mr Barker says he is a Christian but is not against Muslims.

"I'm not attacking them on the basis of their faith, I'm attacking them on the basis of their ideology," he said.

"As far as I'm concerned every Muslim in Parliament is a step towards a Muslim Parliament, but I'm not against Muslims."

David Parker is not anti-Muslim, he's just doesn't think they should be in Parliament (because giving people an equal go is so Unaustralian). And it's not their faith he disagrees with (even though he seems to be under the strange delusion that there's only one — Christian — god) it's their 'ideology'. EoR doesn't know what he means be that subtle difference, but suspects it's some insinuation of taking over Australia and instituting a Caliphate. Remember: one (non-practicing) Muslim in Parliament and, before you know it, we'll have a Muslim Parliament! Stop the terror now! He has now been replaced as a candidate by the improbably named Venus Priest.

Meanwhile, over here in the West, sitting member Don Randall also believes religion is a crucial issue in this election.

The member for Canning says many people in his electorate and across the country do not like the fact Ms Gillard is an atheist.

(...)

"It's a criticism of the fact that the electorate has deep concerns about an un-godly leader leading Australia," he said.

Mr Randall says Australia was built on Christian values, which provide the basis for being a better leader.

"We expect out leaders to convey and portray good Christian values," he said.

EoR doesn't know which to fear more now: the Muslim Parliament, or the Ungodly Parliament. How on Earth could an ungodly leader be expected to lead Australia in the best interests of all without recourse to the mysterious advice of a (Christian) god?

Christian values which built this country. Like transportation.

Christian values which have served throughout two millenia to build a better society.

Christian values which have helped leaders to steer their country away from ungodly ways.

Christian values of tolerance and love.



Don Randall appears to be blissfully unaware of the place of religion in Australia:

Australia has no official state religion and people are free to practise any religion they choose, as long they obey the law. Australians are also free not to have a religion.

Australia is a predominantly Christian country, with around 64 per cent of all Australians identifying as Christians. However, most other major religious faiths are also practised, reflecting Australia’s culturally diverse society.

Religious freedom is safeguarded by section 116 of the Australian Constitution, which prohibits the federal government from making any law establishing any religion, imposing any religious observance, or prohibiting the free exercise of any religion. Individuals are free to express a diversity of views, as long as they do not incite religious hatred.

The Men Who Microwave Goats

The US Army's Active Denial System, a "non-lethal, directed-energy, counter-personnel weapon" has finally seen service in Afghanistan.

The ADS works by projecting a focused beam of 3.2mm wave electromagnetic radiation at a human target. This heats the water and fat molecules on the skin, causing their temperature to rise by up to 50C.

The Greeks, of course, thought of it first.

There were safety concerns about the ray weapon in 2007, and these still seem to be a burning issue. The weapon has also been almost immediately withdrawn from Afghanistan without being fired. It seems it has limited uses.

Other problems come from the limitations of the device itself. Rain, snow and fog hamper its effectiveness, and it can be blocked by highly reflective materials such as aluminium foil. In many situations – particularly in busy crowds – working out the right range will be complicated, and there is also the possibility of targets finding themselves unable to move out of the path of the beam.

EoR imagines the Taliban are arming themselves with tinfoil hats. The ADS costs $5 million. A tinfoil hat a few cents (though it might make them more noticeable to passing drones).

Strangely, rubber bullets also appear less effective than they did. The Guardian in 2007 states:

The beam has a range of up to 1km, 10 times that of other non-lethal weapons such as plastic bullets or beanbag-firing guns.

The Telegraph in 2010:

the ADS has a range of up to 500m, 10 times greater than current non-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets.

Is That A Thermoregulater, Or Are You Just Pleased To See Me?

While on the subject of what prehistoric beasts were actually like, here's some interesting recent research from the University of Western Australia looking at why those reptiles had such large crests and other features. Dr Joseph Tomkins, the lead author of the study, argues that such features were part of a sexual attraction strategy, rather than being used for thermoregulation. In terms of heat control, the features were either larger than necessary, or unnecessary.

Tomkins and his colleagues found that the relationship between body size and crest or sail size was very similar to what you'd expect from a sexual trait in a creature alive today, but even more so.

'We expected there to be a relationship, but we were really surprised at how exaggerated the structures of these fossil creatures were in comparison to existing animals.'

'In red deer, large males have large antlers. Also in stag beetles, bigger males have big mandibles. It's even the same in stalk-eyed flies: the stalks on the largest males are disproportionately large. But the head crest of pteranodon in particular outclassed these traits,' says Tomkins.

Presumably, this just goes to show that size does matter.

Tomkins, an expert in so-called sexual selection – how different traits have evolved to attract a mate – says, 'While I was doodling a sail-backed lizard, it suddenly struck me that the sail had to be sexually selected.'

EoR trusts that 'doodling' is not a euphemism in this context.

Prehistoric sexual preferences