... thank you interwebnettubes ... here.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Swine flu Survey
Stanford University are carrying out a survey in relation to the effectiveness of the information disseminated regarding the swine flu. Here.
If you would like a copy of the survey then email Marcel Selathe on this email address here.
Personally, I think the threat level was overblown, the information sensationalist, and the press should be ashamed of the poor accuracy of their information.
If you would like a copy of the survey then email Marcel Selathe on this email address here.
Personally, I think the threat level was overblown, the information sensationalist, and the press should be ashamed of the poor accuracy of their information.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Only one drawback to this...
Joking aside, Salon has an article where they interview Danae Elon the producer of the movie/documentary "Partly Private" which looks at the topic of circumcision. Many people falsely believe that it is a strictly Jewish custom whereas it is prevalent in the Muslim world too.
My favourite piece form the article is:
"She introduces us to a broad cast of characters, from the mohel (a Jewish specialist who performs the procedure) who keeps all of his clients' foreskins in a jar, to the anti-circumcision activist who expresses his own penile trauma in a children's book, to the employees of a skincare company who use discarded foreskins in their anti-aging cream. "Every bottle is not a foreskin," one of them assures the camera."
Two things immediately come to mind.
1. The image of a jar of foreskins.
2. The image of woman willingly placing multiple foreskins on their face and paying $1,000 per vial (enough for about four square centimetres of skin) for the privilege. All to do with 'fibroblasts' apparently.
In Turkey, Kemal Özkan, is the 'Sultan of Circumcision'. He has a 'Circumcision Palace' where it is clearly party-time for these unsuspecting young boys.
The world is truly an odd place...
UPDATE: It would seem that the activity highlighted in number 2 above has been going on for some time... here. And there was also the very, very special Agnes Blannbekin. She was a beguine and had some pretty whacky thoughts for her day. For the full background to this and much more, there is a book available about her here. Compelling reading...
Apparently, during the (equally bizarre) Feast of the Circumcision (who knew) she had a vision. She was very big in the vision department and had several odd ones. On this particular day she imagined the foreskin of Jesus on her tongue. Like all good people she did the natural thing... she swallowed it. Not content with that, she then decided to write about it. It was around that time that people noticed and decided it was time to censor her activities. Not sure if she was locked up or whatever...
Someone even pointed me to a 'special' interest group (how many members.... hahaha) related to circumcision... here. (NSFW Picture)
My favourite piece form the article is:
"She introduces us to a broad cast of characters, from the mohel (a Jewish specialist who performs the procedure) who keeps all of his clients' foreskins in a jar, to the anti-circumcision activist who expresses his own penile trauma in a children's book, to the employees of a skincare company who use discarded foreskins in their anti-aging cream. "Every bottle is not a foreskin," one of them assures the camera."
Two things immediately come to mind.
1. The image of a jar of foreskins.
2. The image of woman willingly placing multiple foreskins on their face and paying $1,000 per vial (enough for about four square centimetres of skin) for the privilege. All to do with 'fibroblasts' apparently.
In Turkey, Kemal Özkan, is the 'Sultan of Circumcision'. He has a 'Circumcision Palace' where it is clearly party-time for these unsuspecting young boys.
The world is truly an odd place...
UPDATE: It would seem that the activity highlighted in number 2 above has been going on for some time... here. And there was also the very, very special Agnes Blannbekin. She was a beguine and had some pretty whacky thoughts for her day. For the full background to this and much more, there is a book available about her here. Compelling reading...
Apparently, during the (equally bizarre) Feast of the Circumcision (who knew) she had a vision. She was very big in the vision department and had several odd ones. On this particular day she imagined the foreskin of Jesus on her tongue. Like all good people she did the natural thing... she swallowed it. Not content with that, she then decided to write about it. It was around that time that people noticed and decided it was time to censor her activities. Not sure if she was locked up or whatever...
Someone even pointed me to a 'special' interest group (how many members.... hahaha) related to circumcision... here. (NSFW Picture)
Attack on Dutch Queen
A friend of mine has rather rightly pointed out that the man who attempted to drive his car at the Dutch Royal family is said to have 'acted deliberately' but 'is not a terrorist'. In the process he kills five people and injures fourteen. Is this perhaps because he does not have a beard?
Good point TF...
Good point TF...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swine flu virus accident
For those not able to read German, this article reports on an accident aboard a train in Switzerland. Most newsworthy is that a flask, containing the swine flu virus (H1N1 variant) in dry ice, exploded. It should be noted that Switzerland does have a large number of pharma companies and that the variant was described as 'harmless'. One has to assume that Additionally, train is the easiest way to get around in Switzerland.
It would be interesting to establish which company was shipping this by public transport and also what criteria was used to determine it was harmless.
Most curious of all is that this has not been reported on any other news channels.
Update: A Swiss colleague of mine has indicated that there were eight vials of 'virus' (five containing the virus and three containing nucleic acid) being transported from the National Influenza Center in Geneva in order to establish a method of identifying if someone actually has the virus.
The vials were hermetically sealed and packed in dry ice. It is not exactly clear but it seems as though the main flask was not sealed properly and the dry ice melted causing a pressure imbalance.
It would be interesting to establish which company was shipping this by public transport and also what criteria was used to determine it was harmless.
Most curious of all is that this has not been reported on any other news channels.
Update: A Swiss colleague of mine has indicated that there were eight vials of 'virus' (five containing the virus and three containing nucleic acid) being transported from the National Influenza Center in Geneva in order to establish a method of identifying if someone actually has the virus.
The vials were hermetically sealed and packed in dry ice. It is not exactly clear but it seems as though the main flask was not sealed properly and the dry ice melted causing a pressure imbalance.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Garrison Keillor
I have been a long time fan of GK. Unfortunately, his recent posting on Salon.com has made me rethink this. What on earth is he thinking of? If it is an attempt at satire (I think not) then it is poorly done. It reflects badly on Salon and on the rule of law. Regardless of the guilt of those held in Gitmo and elsewhere, America is a signatory of the Convention Against Torture, The Declaration of Human Rights, and other equally relevant treaties. The law should be upheld. If not, this is carte blanche for future illegal acts and places American troops at equal risk of torture.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Swine flu 'panic'
Is it me or are the press and governments truly over-reacting to this whole thing? The reaction is totally out of perspective to reality and they are in danger of crying 'Wolf' too many times.
Yes there have been deaths in Mexico. In the US there have been numerous cases (most unconfirmed) attributed to it.
Some more perspective. So far this year, more people have died and been injured in car accidents than all of the global incidents of swine flu.
Yes it IS infectious, yes it has killed some people.
There is also a pandemic that is a serious threat to mankind currently but nobody seems too concerned about it. The pandemic? Aids...
Yes there have been deaths in Mexico. In the US there have been numerous cases (most unconfirmed) attributed to it.
Some more perspective. So far this year, more people have died and been injured in car accidents than all of the global incidents of swine flu.
Yes it IS infectious, yes it has killed some people.
There is also a pandemic that is a serious threat to mankind currently but nobody seems too concerned about it. The pandemic? Aids...
Michael Jackson Auction
The auction of Michael Jackson's 'stuff' at Neverland shows what you can buy when you have lots of money. Here.
It reminded me of a joke someone told me recently:
How do you know when it is time for bed in Neverland?
When the big hand is on the little hand.
I take no blame for that one...
It reminded me of a joke someone told me recently:
How do you know when it is time for bed in Neverland?
When the big hand is on the little hand.
I take no blame for that one...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Leisure Suit Larry is BACK!!!
Along with Police Quest, Roger Wilco Space Janitor (Space Quest), and more coming soon... here.
Comes with the baddest baddy of them all... Vohaul
Payable within your browser in stunning EGA 16 colour glory of glories.
Comes with the baddest baddy of them all... Vohaul
Payable within your browser in stunning EGA 16 colour glory of glories.
Swine Flu - In perspective
In a typical year in the United States 36,000 people die of flu related illness. Here.
The over-reaction by the press and the scare-mongering / poorly qualified information is unbelievable. There are even conspiracy theorists in the States wondering why the National Guard has recently purchased a lot of body bags. Others wondering if this 'event' is a means of disposing of the excess manufacture of the Tamiflu vaccine produced in response to the bird flu outbreak that has a fixed shelf life... apparently. Others are more extreme; distraction from the poor state of the economy, give people something to worry about, a means of forcing control on the populace, a result of excessive use of anti-biotics, a form of population control withotu the need of a war... the list goes on and on.
The doom merchants are clearly having a field day.
All this aside, the outbreak is of a particularly virulent form. Mexico City is a tad crowded. Similarly, the trend for people to move and live in urban areas will heighten the likelihood of any infection spreading.
The over-reaction by the press and the scare-mongering / poorly qualified information is unbelievable. There are even conspiracy theorists in the States wondering why the National Guard has recently purchased a lot of body bags. Others wondering if this 'event' is a means of disposing of the excess manufacture of the Tamiflu vaccine produced in response to the bird flu outbreak that has a fixed shelf life... apparently. Others are more extreme; distraction from the poor state of the economy, give people something to worry about, a means of forcing control on the populace, a result of excessive use of anti-biotics, a form of population control withotu the need of a war... the list goes on and on.
The doom merchants are clearly having a field day.
All this aside, the outbreak is of a particularly virulent form. Mexico City is a tad crowded. Similarly, the trend for people to move and live in urban areas will heighten the likelihood of any infection spreading.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Probably to get away from this guy. This link will take you to everything you need to know about killing, plucking, and eviscerating a chicken. Additionally, you will learn how to cut one up. Not for the faint-hearted,
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Recipezaar
Recipezaar.com the recipe site with a recipe for everything. Including this delicacy...
A whole camel
A whole camel
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