Tuesday, December 21, 2010

I Have Ms And Am On Rebif Can I Give Blood?



Religulous (translated in Mexico as "Reli ... what, do not criticize me, I will not name) is a documentary that attempts to analyze the religions. The protagonist is Bill Maher, a very acid, critic, comedian and atheist (or at least anti-religious) who does not hesitate to criticize his program Real Time things that seem ridiculous about religions and belief in gods - among other things.

Overall, the documentary is very good. Coldly exposes many rituals, customs, and analyzes up to ridicule their logic to the proponents of religion. He makes fun of circumcision, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Christians, silly practices, scientólogos, quacks, has no regard for anyone.

The film, obviously, is not without controversy. As explained, the mock or dominant major religions, has its consequences to the believers. However, it also had a strong critique by their "allies" because Bill Maher won by Richard Dawkins Atheist Alliance International (AAI). The problem is that Bill is a strong activist PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) a denier of the germ theory, and consequently, an anti-vaccine. It is assumed that Richard Dawkins Award given to outstanding atheists promote atheism and scientific culture. The award is given exactly:

Richard Dawkins The prize will be awarded each year to honor an outstanding atheist whose contributions to increase public awareness of the visa is not theistic, that through writing, media, arts, movies and / or increase scientific knowledge, blah, blah, blah.

This conflicts with the anti-vaccine agenda. Well, some notable skeptics, he left his mother. Here are a .

The reason is that entry, I saw the movie again (I think I've seen some 4 times since he left in 2008) and this time I noticed two things I do not look very "scientific" they say.

gay gene
Maher, interview with a guy who is an ex-gay (if possible). This man says that "there is no gay gene", and immediately enters a scene between Bill Maher and a certain Dr. Dean Hamer Author of The God Gene and asked Maher if he discovered the "gay gene" to which, Dr. Hamer mentioned yes. Cut the scene and continue with the ex-gay.

The scene with Dr. Hamer is obviously on purpose to discredit the ex-gay, however, the words he uses are not appropriate. Not all people know about genetics (I'm not saying I know everything), do not have to know if they are not interested. But, I have repeatedly found that some people believe there is a gene for eye color, height, hair type, ie specific phenotypic characteristics. But this is not true, and it is not so easy, in fact, is a bit complicated.

To cut a long story, a phenotype does not depend on "the gene" as Maher makes it look, but many. Maybe, yes, there is a gene that helps much more to give this feature, but does not depend on one, as does watching the documentary.

In fact, the Wikipedia article of Dr. Hamer mentioned that there are several genes that predispose humans to be gay. Maybe I hear pedantic, but such details are necessary if we want to win an award that "increasing scientific knowledge." In other words, helped to create or follow up on a meme , being somewhat ironic that Richard Dawkins coined the term meme XD

religion as a neurological disorder
Here I'm going to throw a theme that I have little knowledge and that if the shit, I do know.

A little later in the documentary, interview with Dr. Andrew Newberg , a neuroscientist who has studied the relationship of the brain with religious beliefs, neurotheology. A very interesting topic. Maher made the comment that for him, religion is a neurological disorder.

I think it's wrong.

As I said, I am far from knowing the subject thoroughly, and I threw a quick search and did not find anything to confirm his belief. Here is a list of neurological disorders

What is a neurological disorder? It's just a mess
body's nervous system. And a "disorder", medically speaking, is an abnormal condition that affects the body. Some neurological disorders are dementia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuroinfection, some are related to poor nutrition.

Does religion enter into these rankings?

I read many classifications of Neurological Disorders and most are classified as stated earlier, problems with the agency. Trauma, autoimmune diseases, genetics, tumors, head injuries, factory defects. I have not found anything that supports what he says Maher.

is well known that we are predisposed to be religious and believe in gods. In our history, we have created thousands them.

Of course, not born believing in a particular god, but our brain wiring itself is a bit biased in our search irremediable (and ridiculous at times) of patterns in our environment to survive. Is this a neurological disorder? Maher may refer to the indoctrination and zombification some people for their personal god, but calling neurological disorder, it makes me cross the line.

I do not want to give a bad impression of the documentary. If you want to find out about other religions and practices (at least the most dominant) is a very good guide, there are jokes, have tragedies, sarcasm, black humor, culture, even going to find one of charlatans and clowns who say it's the second coming of Jesus Christ ... the dude is from Puerto Rico.

The documentary I've seen it at Blockbuster. Worth renting.

PD. On the wiring of our brains, Michael Shermer has written a very good , which is in English only. Perhaps at some time to translate it for the blog, is worth it.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Makeshift Blackberry Trackball

Another quantum pseudo-medicine

is fashionable to use the words medicine and quantum mechanics in the same sentence. Both are highly esoteric areas of research: it requires training and practical experience to internalize their usefulness and range of applicability. Quantum necklaces, stones 'energized' healing auras and magnets are some of the nonsense that comes to market, courtesy of people who abuse of scientific language to confuse the occasional unwary.

I do not like going to the doctor. I've been a victim of malpractice (a very painful abscess for a bad shot) and I also have gained fortunes by making me wait and address 3 words. George Carlin said that medicine is guesswork in a white coat. Still ... I prefer to go to the doctor scientist who spend 45 minutes of personal consultation with a homeopath. In this brief

entry, let me mention some points regarding alternative medicine says derived from quantum theory.

Physics, like other sciences, is organized by areas of study. All adhere to the same mechanism: the hypothetical-deductive scientific method. It is a recipe with specific steps, not a dogma old. It is a mindset that has developed since we got out of the trees. In the case of physics, the object of study is the entire universe. Specializations occur when studying phenomena in particular. Examples: mechanics, electromagnetism, general relativity. All phenomena

occur at different scales, and usually when experimentalists expand the range of observation and discovery of new phenomena, the theory goes on the attack with graphite and paper (to generate new knowledge or by restating something already existing).

Quantum mechanics is one of the consequences of enlarging the range of observable phenomena. Back in the 1900's they made a series of experiments that led to the jobs they walked the atomic theory. Quantum is a word that refers to the way that energy (the ability to perform certain work) is quantified in tiny packets, called quanta. Is a description very (very) mathematical nature, in particular: how they interact with sub-atomic particles at a scale that we have no access to our senses.

Classical mechanics (of Lupita master classes in high school) is also a mathematical description of nature. Much simpler and sufficient for the range of observation than was available when it was created. These descriptions are very clear range of applicability and studied. There is nothing new under the sun, in this regard.

Where is the Newtonian medicine? Why classical mechanics is not appealing to quackery? The vocabulary and possibly the fact that people know a few things about it.

Science has its own language and scientific knowledge is expressed in this way. It should be transmitted to others without translation or interpretation. It should be clear and precise.

When a charlatan (although there are also knowledgeable, as this guy ) uses this language to confuse people, since one tends to translate into everyday language. Nothing different from the atrocities that leak their oral cavities by some politicians. Words like energy, vibration, motion, speed, quickness and field have their formal definitions in science. Language charlatan, can be anything. Some examples funny (to me):

Vedic Proposal for a shield of protection against war and terrorism. Injuries
energy field.
The pseudo-science with the nicest name .* Mixing
chiles with vanilla ice cream

from the latter site and as a random example:

"The teams generate a field of low frequency electromagnetic waves that penetrate the organic mass, thus interacting with cellular processes in the body. "

Yes? From the outset there is no such thing as a field electromagnetic waves. The right thing is to talk about oscillations in an electric field (which we abstract as waves). In particular, the low-frequency electromagnetic waves (such as radio, microwave and many more) are too large (wavelengths) to interact with our cells and establish some kind of remote control. At best, we could get a little bit burned if the wavelengths are proportional to the size of a water molecule, and most of all, if the field strength is large enough (put your head in a microwave is not a good idea).

* I should add that one of the few places with honest messages: "Warning: do not claim in any case not replace the advice of health professional. If the reader has any disease should consult their doctor. "Good for them.

I have nothing against people who choose an "area of \u200b\u200bresearch" in alternative medicine. It's just that they are playing with the health and patience of people with real problems and serious. Nor do I mean that scientific medicine is the panacea: it is simply the best option we have. So far we have reaped great successes: vaccine (malaria, polio, dengue, influenza), tripled the life expectancy, prostheses and physical adaptations impressive theory of germs, organ transplants and countless advances in previously inaccessible areas such as neurology. Not bad for a couple hundred years. Second image taken

shamelessly and without permission from http://pacojonnes.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/mecanica-cuantica/

EDIT 12/15: I had spent a link.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Measuring Of A Halti Collar

oil Pareidolia

looking to break my silence in this place, I found a picture of my old job.


At the time of the photo, we were in the midst of a control operation. The tower you see on the right side measures about 4 meters (for reference).

Humans come equipped with a sack of sensors that provide tremendous amounts of information in one place: the brain. This, my second favorite organ, interprets information, dismisses what he considers unnecessary and presented to our "mind's eye" a series of images that we went through an additional classification, until we decide that something is what we are seeing. We were wrong quite often.

Finding patterns in our environment was a successful biological adaptation for our ancestors. This, to my surprise, is a very specific function within the conglomerate that is the brain. And it can not function properly. That is, there are neurological disorders that prevent a patient to recognize objects, people or parts of the same body. Another example of the complexity of the brain and the type of problems that can affect: Agnosia.

Returning to the information coming to the brain. Some people are not wired according to the factory manual and can not filter information, see everything. Remember the movie Rainman? Dustin Hoffman was one of these neurological disorders.

This process of collecting data, interpret and conclude, occurs in different ways in each person and, importantly, not all stages are aware. That is, a brain healthy human makes much of the work without our "mind's eye" knowing. Sometimes (more than you should) find patterns where none exist. These readings are incorrect or false positives can lead us to interesting conclusions depending on the scenario.

Michael Shermer A scenario that often quoted (do not know if it's your responsibility): "A hunter is on the savannah at night. Audible noise in the grass. If you conclude that it is a dangerous predator and flee probably live another day. Otherwise, you might conclude that it was the wind and end up dead by the bite of a lion. "Real life is not 1:1 as in this example, however, is an interesting example the role it plays in our survival, our ability to recognize patterns and make executive decisions.

Another scenario. Who among our ancestors may have noticed, for the first time that certain animals go through the same places after a certain number of full moons? Would you be guaranteed more neighbors hedonistic food?

One more. Our definition of time is based on measurement of a repetitive pattern. Examples: the solar year, lunar month, atomic clocks, this habit of sleeping when we have our share of rock are hidden from the sun and many, many more.

This recognition system is a wonderful addition to our kit of tools and biological sensors. We take it for granted, but is an extremely complicated process. In fact, it is an active field of research in artificial intelligence development and a core subject in these academic circles.

must not always believe him. Have you never seen figures on nubreed? Not all patterns and our conclusions are correct.

What do you see?


Monday, December 6, 2010

Windows Movie Maker Won T Open Mswmm

Charlatans, victims of quackery

is difficult to write about people who are pseudo-scientific treatments. In the end, despair and lack of solutions of science, make seek any form of treatment that promises them the most likely not going to happen.

One of the strategies to get customers quacks is, to talk nice. In fact, one of the techniques, such as homeopathy, is that the "doctor" listen and listen, while a solution idea. Science is hard, not contemplation, and doctors are not going to promise something that will not comply, especially if it is cancer, AIDS or another disease that will result in the imminent death.

But sometimes victims of charlatans treatments are the same charlatans. Hulda Clark


She said that the cure for all ills was to eliminate viruses and bacteria, or pollutants that damage the immune system.

Hulda was very active in terms of quackery. She believed in Homegrafía and described as "the electronic analog of homeopathy." He also had a device which was called the zapper, which is not a device to provide zapes, but is a low frequency device that sends pulses through the body at specific frequencies. And his famous device, the Syncrometer, a bio-resonance device that is supposed to detect contaminants in substances.

She operated from Mexico, because in your country (USA) had legal problems, recommending treatments. Even the Mexican authorities, with limited regulations, ordered him to close his clinic and forbidden to work in Mexico - although there is evidence that never was and still operating from the clinic, no doubt there has been some corruption.

His books, The cure for AIDS , The cure for all diseases , The cure for advanced cancers sold much, I guess desperate people.

died of an illness that she said sorry. Multiple myeloma (bone cancer and blood). Apparently, your "technology" and the concoction was not enough to detect their own cancer. Ironic. Maggiore Christinne


Notable AIDS denialist, a miserable group that works to promote that HIV does not cause AIDS, going against tons of evidence against him.

His idealism was controversial, since, as HIV positive, publicly nursed her daughter, Eliza Jane, against the recommendations. Predictably, and sadly, his daughter contracted the disease, dying in September 2005. A horrible and unnecessary way to die.

On December 27, 2008, Maggiore U.S. dies from pneumonia, disseminated herpes infection and oral candidiasis, all these diseases can be related to HIV infection. Antiretrovirals could have lengthened his life, however, his group of naysayers argued that his pneumonia was not caused by the disease, but cold. Gary Null


This charlatan goes everywhere. Books, radio program, to dietary supplements in which it states that are healing, not just the body, but also the spirit.

has a product called Ultimate Power Meal which is a supplement with vitamin D. An overdose of vitamins can have very bad consequences in the body. A balanced diet is enough to get the required dose for the body. Null, a believer in the supplement, it was eating, until he fell ill of kidney. Sued its supplier, and putting my pride out the window, he consulted a doctor from the truth, both those he criticizes.

Pereque has very good details in this post .

There are more cases like this. Yoon-Hee Choi , the "preacher of happiness" commits suicide with her husband. Apparently not stand the illness that afflicted. O Kim Tinkham, a woman with breast cancer who chose to go for alternative medicine, and led the way for another charlatan Robert O. Young and that his cancer is so advanced that probably does not know in 2011. I recommend entries Orac in Respectful Insolence are long, but they are quite informative. Cases

ironic. But the irony is that, one would assume that these cases would destroy their movement, but sadly does not make them or tickle.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Add Minutes To Roshan Phone For Sol

About NASA announcement

was finally unveiled NASA announcement. An expected announcement by others, who had all the fans of science with good wet panties. What

announced? A bacterium that apart from having what we all living organisms (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus), is none other than arsenic.

Arsenic is not very friendly to humans, well, actually not very friendly to life. You've probably heard rumors of murder by arsenic poisoning, or may have heard about how to detect it ... in the nails and hair of the poisoned. Interesting.

But what makes this bacterium is exceptional. Instead of the bacteria have a phosphate in the DNA base, can be said to have a spine almost on the basis of arsenic. The experiments are clear about this, but has not been completely eliminate the phosphorus, we can say that the bacteria is using phosphorus and at the moment, what is needed. This does not minimize the discovery, since the bacteria have learned to "live with" arsenic, up to the level of use.

At the end of the experiments, the bacteria are everywhere arsenic in its molecular basis, fat, protein, well, as I said Ribozyme , even in the ATP is arsenic.

What is the problem of history?
The early announcement of NASA leaves much to be desired, flirting with the press with an astro-biological discovery.

From NASA:

NASA will hold a conference [...] to discuss a finding
astrobiology that will impact the search of evidence for extraterrestrial life
. Stretching

some content, yes, it affects the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life because our understanding of life and biochemical changes.

This is what it says El Universal.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) United States
will announce today a discovery astrobiology,
could test the theory that alien life does exist.
Slightly changed the context, is not it? And apart put a picture of Mars.

okay to create an expectation, I can even think that NASA did it on purpose, but to my taste, it seems a bit sensationalist.

Clearly, it would be big news to find extraterrestrial life, but for that we must expect to have all the hairs on the donkey in hand and not jump to conclusions, as did El Universal that the bait.

This, as I said, does not diminish the discovery that remains, at least for me, outstanding on all sides.

What makes us the discovery?
For in the first instance, the discovery is great.

But the most important thing is that this changes our view of life and biochemistry as we know, and leave us a clear message (although not like the creationists) that, for the development, the barriers are minimal when it comes to survival (worth a shit if arsenic, hydrogen, pressure, salt, heat, etc.).

Interesting hypotheses will be leaving the discovery, for example how long bacteria could exist there? Are there more somewhere else with sediment arsenic?

Anyway, enough of geeked. Here is the NASA conference where the announcement is made.