Homeopathy

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann suckered a whole bunch of Germans in 1790 when he launched the medical fad known as Homeopathy. Somehow this quackery survived to present day, where it has enjoyed a dramatic resurgence in popularity. The theory has two central principles worth noting:

1. The Law of Similars. Hahnemann somehow decided that nature will never permit two illnesses with the same effects to coexist in the human body. Based on that (bogus) assumption, the good doctor reasoned that he could exploit this (nonexistent) phenomenon to cure disease. He figured that he could dispel any given symptom by attempting to induce it a second time; somehow, they would cancel out. Therefore, the treatment for a patient who is nauseated would be to administer a substance known to produce nausea. Hahemann described it thusly:Similia similibus curentur -- "Allow likes to cure likes."

2. The Law of Infinitesimals. This one is even dumber. Hahnemann claimed that the effectiveness of a drug was inversely proportional to its dosage. The smaller the amount, the greater its impact on the body. So if your medicine isn't having much of an effect, you should decrease the dosage. Based on this utter nonsense, homeopathic remedies containminiscule quantities of active ingredients. In fact, the "strongest" formulations usually contain not a single molecule of the substances in question. Zero parts per billion -- pure water. This might seem to be a fatal flaw in the theory, but the Homeopaths have an explanation. Even after the solute is finally eliminated by the process of repetitive dilution,the water somehow remembers the drug and maintains its curative properties. Even though it's completely gone. Still remembers. Somehow. (Riiiight.)

Thankfully, this lunacy is mostly harmless. As long as the patient's illness is minor, Homeopathy itself is unlikely to do any harm. The water treatment will have no impact. And the body's intrinsic healing processes are certainly capable of conquering routine diseases, especially when assisted by the placebo effect.

The problem arises when a truly serious affliction comes up, and the fool is determined to rely on the distilled water alone. At which point, the chump stands a pretty good chance of getting an apology from Dr. Hahnemann in person.

www.rotten.com

Why you shouldn't pray for me on my deathbed.

This was posted by The Perplexed Observer, it reflects my own feelings.

For those of you who are religious and seem to have a difficult time understanding why it is disrespectful for one to pray over or for an atheist, please consider this.

We do not believe in an afterlife or the possibility of redemption after our death. We believe in the necessity of compassion in this life. We live by the conviction that love, joy, pain and all other emotions can only be experienced in the here and now. We believe that we only have this once chance to achieve our goals, share our ideas and do right by our fellow human beings as well as all other sentient life forms.

So you see, prayers offer no comfort to a dying atheist or their families. In fact, when religious people say that death isn’t real, it diminishes our death and the death of our love ones and it cheapens the life they have lived.

Manitoba

July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act of 1867, which united Canada as a single country of four provinces it was more like a kingdom in it's own right, it was not until 1982 when the last ghosts of the British Parliament lost control do to the signing of the Canadian Constitution.

GRAND BEACH

Manitoba did not enter into the kingdom until July 15th 1870. Some say when the waves hit an island in the Lake Manitoba Narrows the noise it makes from the thrashing is the Great Spirit or Manitou, in Ojibway, Manio-bau and hence the name, Manitoba. Manitoba celebrates it's 139th birthday and I would like to say ther Aurora Boriales make this province a great place to visit.


Winnipeg Free Press had run a quiz, the WFP site seems to have problems but if your unalbe to reach the link I listed the questions and answers.



1. What is the origin of the word Manitoba?
2. What is the highest point in Manitoba?
3. When did Manitoba’s boundaries change to its current keystone shape and size?
4. This cartoonist based Disney’s Snow White character on a Winnipeg waitress.
5. At the turn of the 19th century, which Manitoba city expected to be the province’s capital?
6. Who is considered to be the founding father of Manitoba?
7. What’s Manitoba’s nickname for the Red River Floodway?
8. James Bond was inspired by what Winnipegger who grew up in Point Douglas?
9. What is Manitoba’s official flower?
10. Where can you find the largest collection of reptiles in the world?
11. What is a nip?
12. What is shmoo torte?
13. What’s the second-largest community in Manitoba?
14. Where can you find the longest suspension footbridge in Canada?
15. Where can you find the oldest inhabited part of the province?
16. On which town did a famous Manitoba novelist base her fictional hamlet of Manawaka?
17. What are the two biggest outdoor festivals in Manitoba?
18. What’s the name of the Al Capp cartoon character for whom the town of Flin Flon is named?
19. What A.A. Milne character has his roots in Winnipeg?
20. What is the name of Canada’s newest national museum and where is it being built?
21. Who was the playoff MVP when the Winnipeg Jets won their third Avco Cup in 1979?
22. Who was the starting quarterback the last time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 1990?
23. What Manitoba-born golfer tied for second at the 1969 Masters and is currently tied with Mike Weir for most wins, with eight, by a Canadian on the PGA Tour?
24. What Manitoban won the 1977 world sprint speed-skating title?
25. What year was the general strike?
26. What is Manitoba’s provincial bird?
27. What is Manitoba’s official tree?
28. What is Manitoba’s official animal?
29. What is Manitoba’s motto?
30. How long is the Red River Floodway?
31. The International Peace Garden is adjacent to which provincial park: Duck Mountain, Turtle Mountain or Keystone Mountain?
32. The Winnipeg Falcons are a storied hockey team that won the first Olympic gold medal for hockey in what year? 1909, 1915 or 1920
33. Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg and lived in St. Vital, Elmwood or Transcona?
34. Where does Lake Winnipeg rank for size among fresh-water lakes of the world?
35. Manitoba is the country’s largest producer of sunflower seeds. Which city is known as the Sunflower Capital of Canada?
36. The highest recorded temperature, with the humidex, in Canada was 53º C. Which Manitoba city boasts that record?
37. Who was Manitoba’s first premier?
38. Name one of the military units which call CFB Shilo home.
39. What is Manitoba’s population?



ANSWERS

1. At the Lake Manitoba Narrows a strong wind sends waves crashing into the limestone rocks of an offshore island. The unique sound from the waves is said to be the Manitou or Great Spirit, in Ojibway, Manito-bau.
2. Baldy Mountain at 2727 ft./831 m
3. 1912
4. Charlie Thorson, also known as Cartoon Charlie
5. Selkirk
6. Louis Riel
7. Duff’s Ditch, named for former premier Duff Roblin
8. Sir William Stephenson
9. Prairie Crocus
10. Narcisse Snake Pits
11. A hamburger
12. Angel food cake with nuts and a caramel sauce
13. Brandon
14. The 182-metre swinging bridge over the Souris River, southwest of Brandon.
15. Turtle Mountain, a plateau that straddles the Canada-U.S. border about 100 km south of Brandon. The first people moved in some time between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago.
16. Neepawa, (Margaret Laurence is the novelist)
17. Winnipeg Folk Festival and Dauphin Countryfest
18. Flintabettey Flonatin [Editor's note: Josiah Flintabetty Flonatin’s image was created by cartoonist Al Capp, but Flin Flon’s namesake comes from J.E. Preston Muddock's science fiction novel The Sunless City.]
19. Winnie the Pooh
20. Canadian Museum of Human Rights at Winnipeg’s The Forks
21. Rich Preston
22. Tom Burgess
23. George Knudsen
24. Sylvia Burka
25. 1919
26. Great Gray Owl
27. White Spruce
28. Bison
29. Gloriosus et liber— Glorious and free
30. 47 kilometres
31. Turtle Mountain
32. 1920
33. Transcona
34. Tenth largest
35. Altona
36. Carman, July 2007.
37. Alfred Boyd, non-partisan, from September 1870 to December 1871.
38. CFB Shilo is home to 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, both battalions of the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and the Royal Canadian Artillery.
39. 1.2 million