Comments on: ABC News embraces the nonsense

By: Stephen Villano

Stephen Villano — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:05:15 +0000

First, SOMETIMES there ISN’T *TWO* sides to an argument, there are three. Indeed, FREQUENTLY there are three. On rare occasions, there are two. Two sides is easy…
Consider a group of sober, somber scientists report there was no evidence to support the silly notion that a certain disease was caused by bacteria. The mystery is WHY disease was that, and to further the short mystery, within 20 years of today.
The answer. H. Pylori, which causes ulcers. Before that (and indeed, during the sober scientists announcement period, until the facts got crammed down their throats by RESEARCH), ulcers were caused by stress and diet.
Research cured that.
Don’t get me wrong. I firmly believe that vaccines are proven by research, experience (which is always suspect) and effect (diseases either becoming extinct (smallpox) or nearly extinct in areas where vaccines are used (such as polio)). I feel strongly enough that I frankly, want to stab Jenny McCarthy to death with my nearly worn out sandals, which would be the chore of the millenia!
OK, we know she won’t be stabbed by anything harmful, obviously.
THAT said, would some simple number crunching hurt? CAN gluten cause, influence or even be an effect of autism spectrum disorder?
I’d not be surprised if the latter is true in some cases.
My primary reason for doubt that causes my wish for research? BESIDES the scientific method?
Epidemiology. I was QUITE taken with the subject. I even got a copy of epidemic tracking software. As it was part of my military job, which I took QUITE seriously, I began some SERIOUS research into it.
Once I got my hands on the software (training was scheduled), I started examining it. The configuration options were QUITE wide and quite baffling.
Once I started the course, I understood why!
To PROPERLY track and resolve an epidemic (to include prevention of a “next one”), one must track essentially an infinite number of variables. Since we CAN’T track an infinite number of variables (nobody is YET issuing the “I AM GOD” tee shirt and I’m staying OUT of line when they do), one must define them.
For a simple food poisoning instance. An infantry battalion of 250 men has approximately 170 of them ill. Suspected was the partially cooked eggs that were served in the field for breakfast.
OK, no brainer, right? Wrong, not the scientific method.
Facts:
ALL ate the eggs. Not all got sick. All complained that the eggs were runny.
SOME cooked the eggs themselves to complete solid scrambled eggs, as they should be.
WOW! TWO facts.
The eggs were SUPPOSED to be scrambled.
They weren’t.
We have an instance of action where people cooked them.
The cooking group didn’t get ill, save one who didn’t. Not good enough.
NOBODY ate anything different, simplifying the investigation by many orders of magnitude.
70% of those who ate the eggs (some didn’t) who did not cook them yet again got ill with salmonella (thanks to the final culture results that came a few days after the investigation was done in the field, but not completed nor a result ready).
Of the 30% who did not get ill, ALL were from a “poor” socioeconomic group, who are known to have a higher risk of food poisoning in the past (prior research results from CDC and NIH), hence some level of either immunity or tolerance. Possible mitigating factor for leading theory…
Cook took a LARGE pot, 20 quart to be precise, full of raw eggs that took approximately an hour to crack by the “kitchen police” (personnel detailed to help the cooks for the day, then released to their regular duties on a rotating basis, EVERY person in the unit rotates in that duty).
Said cook decided to scramble the ENTIRE POT. Something NOT in his training, nor in the established procedures.
As no food samples of the partially cooked eggs were available, only patient bodily fluid samples were available.
Salmonella was detected in ALL ill personnel, save one who had no signs of salmonellosis and resolved long before his ill comrades.
Salmonella is a common infection from ill cooked eggs. The organism is harbored by domestic animals, to include domestic chickens and even some humans.
No salmonella positive samples were obtained from ANY personnel after recovery.
Obviously a case of illness secondary to the anthrax immunizations from two years ago, at least per Ms McCarthy…
Nope, we even tracked immunizations and allergies (one case was recalled that could cause similar symptoms, so was included with reservations).
All considered after the fact, the reserved addition a good data point, regardless of it not being necessary for conclusion.
15% did not have an anthrax immunization that tested positive for symptoms AND presence of salmonella.
Conclusions, the cook deviated from established procedure and the result was an epidemic in the field of troops by salmonella. The cook was relieved for cause immediately, he became a rather good infantryman.
I also recovered AFTER I assisted in said investigation. I also provided the reserved data point, for completeness. And was NOT a joy to be around, as I was exfiltrating a rather large amount of malodorous gas…
True story from Fort Drum, NY.
And yes, we actually DID include immunizations by request of USAMRIID for completeness (more likely, a similar response of mine regarding the autism complaint by Ms McCarthy, the difference *I* am not ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater, unlike her).

By: philippine contact center

philippine contact center — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:52:35 +0000

It could have been worse. They could have started by showing Jenny McCarthy’s perspective on a scientific subject, then saying, “but the issue is far from settled, there are diverging opinions”, only to counter with a “second opinion” from Pamela Anderson or Tom Cruise.

By: Good News about Vaccinations

Good News about Vaccinations — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:09:28 +0000

[...] in 1998 that claimed to show a link between Autism and vaccines. His findings have been proven false over and over again. It was also found that he most likely faked his [...]

By: Researcher Who Sparked the Vaccine/Autism Scare “Acted Unethically” « Daniel Joseph Smith

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:30:17 +0000

[...] the US) didn’t investigate whether his claims were correct or not — and let’s be very clear, his claims have been shown beyond any doubt to be totally wrong — only whether he acted ethically in his research. What they found is that his research [...]

By: Chris Swanson

Chris Swanson — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:20:33 +0000

Someone may have already made this point (I can’t read through 150 comments), but you said there aren’t always two sides to every argument. This is generally not true. Surely there’s a great many sides to every argument. But I would say that it is true that there are not always two legitimate sides to every argument.

As an example, creationism vs evolution is an argument where there are certainly two sides, it’s just one of them is a lot more legitimate.

By: Jay Lake: [links] Link salad walks through a door that never opens twice

Jay Lake: [links] Link salad walks through a door that never opens twice — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:07:24 +0000

[...] Missed vaccines weaken ‘herd immunity’ in children — The antivax movement is child abuse, public endangerment, and profound selfishness, all rolled into one. More here, in related news. [...]

By: ABC News embraces the nonsense « Diychica’s Blog

ABC News embraces the nonsense « Diychica’s Blog — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:20:32 +0000

[...] Source:http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/06/abc-news-embraces-the-nonsense/ Tags: abc news, nonsense, two sides [...]

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:19:25 +0000

My son has GI issues, addressed by a doctor, and he is doing better. He had been constipated for a year and I was told by a gastroenterologist that this was “normal” for kids with autism and he would cross his legs and scream in pain until he turned purple forever. He is obviously allergic to milk, and I am sure he is not the only kid with autism to have these allergy issues. There has since been a new study published that confirms GI issues in kids with autism and also goes a step further to state that these issues cause self injurious behaviors, stimming and lack of language. Wouldn’t you know it, since my son’s Chlostridia and yeast have been treated he stopped biting, slapping, pinching, and punching himself and started mimicking speech. Wow, Jenny is better at playing scientist than these “real” scientists are at doing a study correctly.

By: ABC News Asks Jenny McCarthy for a Medical Opinion | Disinformation

ABC News Asks Jenny McCarthy for a Medical Opinion | Disinformation — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:44:59 +0000

[...] Read More on Bad Astronomy [...]

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:08:10 +0000

….Um… news companies have no relation to the free press upon which America was founded. It’s a BUSINESS, people. And what business is going to risk narrowing their market (audience) by telling only one “side” to any story? The answer? None. ..Although I’m sure I could find someone to agree with the inverse, in order to avoid losing any readers right now…

Good thing I’m non-profit.