More farming scams

There has to be some sort of catch … surely …

Homeopathic A&E

Hattip Max from the Brisbane Atheists Meetup.

From the Mitchell & Webb Look, BBC.

The elements of a good party

Part of an ad campaign for the European Commision For Research Marie Curie Actions highlighting and creating research networking across Europe.

Swine flu brain pop

Rather good UK children’s animated production explains the current swine flu novel Mexican A/H1N1 influenza outbreak.

Some innacuracies, but its hard to tell exactly how dated this might be. Still, definitely good enough at explaining key concepts effectively for schoolchildren

Hattip: Malaysia SMS

Bible-based marriage

Bible-based schooling sends mixed messages. Case in point: “Chrsitian marriage”.

This path leads to the madness of rebranding prostitution as “Temporary Marriage Contracts”. I shit you not.

hattip: Critical Mass

Giddyup!

I’ve been trying to figure out whether to see Wolverine, Terminator, Star Trek, Lesbian Vampire Killers or wait for the new Transformers.

But now I know what film I want to see next:

Aside: I have no shame and will admit to having watched the actual official My Little Pony Movie, multiple times …

Racist Nonsense

Hatttip: Planet Irf

Under the house is not a cancer clinic

The definition of quackery – offering cure for cancers bought of the internet being supplied by untrained staff in someone’s garage.

Choice quotes:

“We haven’t announced it yet, we haven’t told the world, it’s very secret.” (Naturopaths don’t care about curing cancer, they care about making money).

“It’s not a garage, Chris, it’s under the house*, okay” (In response to why she was not operating but in her “backyard, garage”).

You’ll all be quite thankful that successful investigation and prosecution has seen Ms Newlands fined $12,000 and banned from “making any claims she is able to treat, cure, or benefit any person suffering from cancer”.

I must say, it is good to see some action, but it is awfully lenient (especially seeing as she was charging $2,000 per client). And I don’t think I’m alone in being a little perturbed that making such claims (when not a registered medical practitioner) is not already an offense of some kind.

(Press release and more info at Sceptic’s book of Pooh-Pooh)

*For those of you not familiar with Queensland architecture. Most older “Queenslander” style homes are built up on stilts to promote airflow. “Under the house” is usually an semi-enclosed space not fully protected from the elements that can be used as a storage area, carport, laundry and/or tool shed.

CSIRO on the menu

CSIRO Plant Industries has a youtube channel.

Only one movie up so far, educating on what the real deal is with GMO crops in Australia.

This is a good piece that does do its part to address some concerns regarding the health and environmental impacts of genetic engineering. I think its good and educational and helps pull back from some scaremongering that come from green politics.

It does avoid some issues though, which does pock it as propoganda framing.

On allergies, I’ve never heard anyone ty to link GM with the rise of allergies (sounds Kool-Aid conspiracy). I have heard concerns of whether placing fish proteins in vegetables may be an issue for persons allergic to fish. The food might be safe for general human consumption, but to allergic persons. Will the food be marked “GMO, may contain fish proteins” or simply “GMO foodstuff”?

On company involvement. That is great that in Australia most research is done by non-afiliated organisations. But who sponsors their research? CSIRO was notorious under its previous management for offering commercial services to the detriment of “blue-sky” research – but personally, I didn’t find it affecting their ethical integrity too much (it just meant industry directed where research was performed). And probably more importantly who benefits (and who suffers)?

On environmental impact. It is great news that GMOs can decrease output of environmental waste. But can GMOs encourage any unsustainable farming methods, such as reducing genetic diversity in a crop?

I support GM technology and research (I’d much rather see it done in animals than crops though), and I like this video. What do others think of this video.

No can haz Pengwin

Soree Mistah Orkah

That is one clever/lucky penguin.

If I was on that research boat though, I would have been scared as shit that the whales would proceed to rip my boat apart for giving refuge to their tasty snack.

Do you think a cheetah would just sit back if the gazelle jumped into the back of your truck?

Where is your prime directive now?

Physical harassment panda

via Greg Laden

Unlike koalas, pandas are actually bears (Family Ursidae) – which mean they are equipped with sharp teeth and claws (but so are koalas, so I’m not sure where I’m going with this…)

Anyway, some poor guy breaks into a panda enclosure for a “cuddle”. The bear bit him several times and was sent to hospital.

Panda’s obviously aren’t going to be the mascot for the next “Free Hugs” campaign.

Not the same attack, but shows you that a panda doesn’t need to know kung fu to beat you up:

I <3 Coon

Honestly it is the only cheese I buy.

Muffin* additions:

Angry Aussie

kaydonthedinosaur

Observations of a Nerd

io9

Kitty Mow Mow

*ask Greg…

Do you feel special?

Via Biology in Science Fiction.

We are the Strange: Complete and on YouTUBE

Do you remember crazy internet-basement director m-dot-strange and his video-game/japanime inspired techno multi-animation (str8nime) indie film We Are The Strange?

No!!??

Well the whole thing is available on YouTube.

Subtitled in 17 different languages.

Now great for deaf and foreign people (and especially deaf foreign people*), but does sort of detract from the viewing experience. Think I might buy a DVD instead.

Anyway below is not the film, but why you should watch the film. If nothing more than because it is like nothing else you have ever seen or will ever see again. It’s only $20.

*but not deaf foreign illiterate people, you’re fucked, and cos you can’t read this it doesn’t really matter what I say, haha

Just in time for Halloween

Sydney celebrates Halloween, doesn’t it?

I think lack of power tools, and lack of general diy-skills on my behalf might mean I can not accomplish this anyway, but it is ZOMG so cool. WANTS!

It’s like an axe with speed settings.

(I don’t know what the axe obsession is tonight, but might as well stick to the theme)