- Rain makes autism! – Am now waiting to see Jenny McCarthy’s anti-rain campaign. And here’s the BBC’s coverage via Dave. Gotta love this quote: “The notion that autism is caused by higher rainfall is manifestly absurd.” Manifestly absurd!
- Atheists in foxholes press conference – Exciting!
- Clones produced from mouse frozen for 16 years – I am far too amused by how every article on this includes a nice big photo of a frozen mouse carcass.
- Change is scary – Hm, these signs might come in use now. Or modified ones for EMF? Thanks Entirely Different Steve.
See, this is just the sort of useless pork-barrel science spending that governor Palin was talking about. I mean, who needs a bunch of frozen clones?
@;-D (you betcha!)
I’ll bet that London GP sounded really really smart saying “manifestly absurd”. A good British accent has that effect.
BTW, I know this is off-topic but I like the fact they still use the term GP in Britain. Here in Canada, GPs insist on being called “family physicians,” which sounds like it means fertility doctor or that they’re only for married people and their kids.
I digress. Sorry. :-)
The ‘rain = autism’ article was interesting, but the comments below it really bring out the issues with the study. One great thing about the Web and science articles: you can read the comments from other readers educated in the subject without waiting for the next issue to arrive in the snail mail.
If rain causes autism, what does Chocolate Rain cause?
I’m just worried that someone will clone Reagan and have him run again 2012.
@davew: If they did, I bet he would grow up to be gay.
@JRice: Gay? Maybe. Horrific brain-eating zombie? Definitely.
A few years ago, I had to prepare an estate plan for a man who had contracted to by cryogenically frozen, and suffice to say, it was a drafting nightmare … I just can’t wait to get that first client who wants to carry on as his own clone.
On a more serious note, I am interested in learning more about the implications of cloning on stem cell production.
@Expatria: Chocolate Rain causes ADD, duh.
:P
@Expatria and @Kaylia_Marie: C’mon, follow the “science,” people! … Chocolate makes you a less depressed autist.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Eating-Chocolate-To-Help-Prevent-Depression?&id=635211
… or does it? …
http://mental-health.families.com/blog/chocolate-may-make-your-depression-worse
… Skeptical minds want to know.
http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/study_autism_linked_to_rainfall
@Expatria:
And what does Purple Rain cause?
‘Oh, Purple Rain, Purple Rain …’
And don’t say dwarfism. Prince is 5’3″. He’s not a dwarf.
@DMS:
Well, DUH! Purple Rain causes The Grimace
well all I have to add is that I am sure that jenny is even as I type this, is out buying up all the umbrella’s she is able to get her hands on…isn’t consumerism and lack of medical knowledge fantastic
I believe the rain/autism study is a follow up on a study comparing cable television growth in two states with an increase in autism diagnoses. http://www.slate.com/id/2151538/
As a new mother, I find this interesting and pertinent. Since my husband and I are both engineers, our daughter has a higher than normal risk of autism.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1509172/Parents%27-marriage-choice-may-lead-to-autism.html
@DMS: Purple rain could end up producing an ‘indigo child’ right? Maybe that’s what Jenny is banging on about.