Quickies
Skepchick Quickies 5.6
On May 6, 1844, the world’s first mechanically-frozen ice rink (the Glaciarium) opened. I like the thought of ladies and gentlemen in full dress on the ice for some reason.
- “The Book of Woe”: Psychiatry’s last stand – “An account of the making of the new DSM questions whether psychiatry is–or should be–a science.” From Will.
- The Great Gatsby and 7 other hideous movie tie-in book covers – Isn’t it annoying when a book that you like changes over to a movie-themed cover?
- Mitt Romney’s Advice for Recent Female Grads: “Have a Quiver Full of Kids” – Ew. Also, don’t wait too long to have those kids before you’re some wrinkled old prune, amirite ladies? From Heina.
- The Rise of the Tick – Carl Zimmer on the science behind these pests.
- They mocked her “science fantasy.” Then she wrote Empire Strikes Back. – This movie was my favorite of the original trilogy. From Margie.
- How the Children of Birmingham Changed the Civil-Rights Movement – I didn’t even know about this. You must read this article on the Children’s Crusade.
- Richard Dawkins, ‘Islamophobia’ and the atheist movement – From Amy.
- Fred’s Fish – A touching story about Mr. Rogers (aw come on, I’m a softie for this stuff).
BONUS: This is old, but Kristen Wiig’s “Surprise Party” sketch still gave me a good laugh.
Is the lack of comments here a glitch or a genuine lack of interest? Well, I just wanted to say that compared to other branches of medicine, psychiatry appears lacking in empirical rigor. Which is alarming, seeing as how it can often be used as a basis for either altering how criminal prosecutions are handled, or depriving people of their civil liberties.
With regards to your first sentence, I was wondering the same thing! But I am more of a lurker than a commenter myself, so I chalk it up to that.
pciszek, I would have to agree with you. Plus, the abuse that goes on in some psychiatric institutions would rival or exceed that of the Catholic Church. An unscrupulous operator or a group can get away with it because the victims and witnesses are deemed unreliable, tainted with the stigma of mental illness.
However, a properly staffed, inspected and accredited psychiatric institution can in fact treat patients with a good success rate.
In recent years there has been a move away from institutionalisation and towards treatment in the community – but that was supposed to be accompanied by adequate funding, which has not eventuated. So there is a whole bunch of poorly treated patients in the community and when they brush with the law, for instance, the results are ugly.
Finally got a chance to watch Mitt Romney’s speech. I’ll admit my commencement speaker wasn’t amazing, or really all that memorable, but if after 5 years I had to listen to someone tell me to go get married and have babies I may have lost it right there. I left the small WI town I grew up in because I didn’t want to rush into marriage and babies, I wanted the time to learn who I was and make the right choices.
Agreed. Also, it’s even more insulting when you think about how Mitt was able to be successful because his wife stayed at home to raise their kids. Presumably, if a woman has a college degree, she wants a career (and maybe a family, as the two should not be mutually exclusive).