Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I wrote about a bad experience with a website back in 2005, and I made an off-handed reference to a bit of bad grammar I found in an error message;

Microsoft 4.0+ or Netscape 4.7+ (excluding Netscape 6) is required to use Purolators ‘Online Shipping’</p>

My first complaint is that they don’t even know what the possessive version of their own name is; it’s “Purolator’s”. That’s just dumb.

This was a just an aside as I was complaining about a larger issue with regard to badly implemented websites with artificially narrow requirements.

It’s a post that seems to pull in CSRs from Purolator every so often, according to the logs and the comments that have come in.

Today I had a lovely response from Jon, who attempts to correct my spelling in my complaint about spelling on Purolator’s website. I wonder if Jon is a bored CSR between calls at Purolator or one of their warehouse employees who has taken a break from kicking boxes off the back of trucks. For the record, I think the idea about the FedEx coupons is genius.

◦On 11.06.09 Jon wrote these pithy words:e
I think purolator should just give out coupons for Fedex.

BTW, the apostrophe stands for a missing letter or letters, and is not required for the possesive.

‘Purolator is’ shortens to purolator’s, as in “purolator’s a diseased, pus-filled blister on the udder of a dead goat”.

Purolators or purolators’ are both accepted possesive spellings, as in “purolators attempts at customer service are best described as masturbatory” or ‘purolators’ name should probably be shortened to just plain later.

Even if you don’t know how to spell perfectly either, I agree with you that purolator really is a very poor company.

I started to reply inline with that comment, but thought it deserved a post all to itself.

Jon;

How glad I am to hear from you, to correct items in my post from years ago. I’m especially glad that you come here to correct grammar, however you offer advice that is completely incorrect, and poorly written at the same time.

If you want to be pedantic, you should at least be partly correct, and should make at least some passing effort to write sensible sentences. What does “name should probably be shortened to just plain later” even mean?

Anyway, to the central point of your comment; the apostrophe’s use in indicating possession. The apostrophe does more than simply indicate missing letters. I think that you’re confusing the rules around its and it’s and attempting to extend that to other uses of this punctuation mark.

Let’s see what the AP style guide has for the use of the apostrophe in this case (para-phrased)

• For a singular proper name not ending in s, add ’s


• For a singular proper name ending in s, use only an apostrophe: Descartes’ theories, Kansas’ schools.


• For a singular proper name ending in an s sound such as x, ce, and z, use ’s: Marx’s theories, the prince’s life.

I get the impression that English isn’t your first language, but just in case you’re English, let’s check Oxford too;

• To form a possessive from a singular noun, add an apostrophe followed by s: ‘the girl’s book’.


• Add an apostrophe to plurals ending in s, e. g. “the girls’ books”. If a plural noun does not end in s, add an apostrophe followed by s: “the children’s toys”.

Let’s take a look at some examples of how to indicate possession with an apostrophe based on the style guides (AP and Oxford agree on these uses);

It’s shirt was green — wrong

Its shirt was green — right



Steves shirt was green — wrong

Steve’s shirt was green — right



Chris’s shirt was green — wrong

Chris’ shirt was green — right

It gets a bit weird with singular and plural nouns that end in s, especially when you consider that both of the correct versions below are pronounced identically. The only way you can tell how if it’s singular or plural when spoken is based on the verb tense.

With one hostess;



The hostess’ shirt was green — wrong

The hostess’s shirt was green — right



With a bevy of hostesses, all wearing the same thing;



The hostesses’s shirts were green — wrong

The hostesses’ shirts were green — right

There is no circumstance I can imagine where Purolators’ would be used to indicate the possessive form of the singular noun Purolator.

Neither Purolators’ nor Purolators are considered acceptable possessive forms of the name Purolator; show me one style guide that accepts that.

You may wish to consider Skitt’s Law when you are tempted to correct people online in future.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I’m a bit tired of hearing complaints about the flu shot campaigns on twitter, facebook, and other social sites where lies and misinformation spread quicker than real information. The problem with the truth about things in science is that they often require more than 140 characters to do justice.

If it’s not complaints citing Alex Jones blog posts about how the government is trying to kill us with an “untested” vaccine or trying to implant us with microchips or other crazy, it’s about how the government isn’t following through or how some corporation wants to see people suffer. Crazy is one thing that you can’t really fight against, but misinformation may have a chance at being corrected.

“Glaxo is screwing up the vaccine shipments!”

“The government didn’t order enough!”

“There’s a shortage of vaccine! OMG! We’re going to die!”

I’ve seen variations of all of those sentiments from people on social networks. Sadly, much of the panic could have been avoided had the various governments in Canada and the news media been more upfront with plans, with numbers, with facts. Instead, we have people envisioning ebola or flesh eating disease.

Relax just a bit; most people who do contract H1N1 are going to be just fine, after they feel like they’re going to die for a week with the flu. The flu is horrible and debilitating, and that’s my primary reason for getting the shot; I don’t like fevers.

Here in Toronto, people are being asked to allow the more at risk to go first so that the clinics can get them first. Now, more at risk includes a lot of people by Ontario’s guidelines; going so far as to allow for the herd. If you are in Toronto and you have daily contact with someone at risk or someone who can’t get the vaccine, then you should head to the Toronto clinics and get the shot.

I have been hearing horrible stories from other provinces, of clinics not following the guidelines for patient selection, etc. Alberta and Nova Scotia are sounding badly planned, with very narrow selection criteria for priority treatment.

I went to the downtown Toronto clinic yesterday afternoon at 4:30pm. From filling out the form to injection, I was in line for five minutes and spent five with the person doing the actual injection. They request that you stay for 15 additional minutes of monitoring by health workers, on the minor chance that you have an allergic reaction. I left after a total time commitment of half an hour; in exchange I have a really good chance of avoiding feeling like crap for a couple weeks.

Andre Picard from the Globe and Mail has an interesting summary of the timeline in Canada’s vaccination campaign, with some really surprising numbers.

In the real world, it takes about six months to produce industrial quantities of vaccine. You harvest some seed stock and then you grow the virus in eggs. It takes time.

Canada decided early to err on the side of caution and invoke its pandemic preparedness plan. That includes ordering enough vaccine to immunize 75 per cent of the population with two doses each.

Fast forward to the fall. Production of the actual vaccine actually begins. There have been no delays. The vaccine started rolling off the production line at GlaxoSmithKline in Ste-Foy, Que., in October. It had to be tested and then held for a certain time to ensure there is no contamination.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I wrote this for Skeptical Dog, and I’m re-posting it here on my regular site.

Eye Weekly’s Semi-Weekly Load of Crazy

Eye Weekly is one of Toronto’s free weekly newspapers, and their editorial policy seems to be on par with the Huffington Post when it comes to issues of health.

Damian has told readers “Don’t Fear The Flu” and recommended that they ask their homeopaths and naturopaths how to fight H1N1 and seasonal flus. She recommends such “time-tested” methods as keeping your kidneys warm…

She has another piece where she tells returning university students how to save money by seeing student naturopaths. That’s right, don’t see pretend doctors, see pretend doctors in training to save money. At no time does she mention that you could see a real doctor for free. Naturopath or nothing, it would seem.

There was the one article where I thought that she might write some sense, as my first thought seeing the headline “Booster Shots” was that it might address vaccination updates such as those for mumps, tetanus, flu, etc. Nope; just advice on how to “boost” your immune system with herbs and vitamins. I’ve never heard anyone who can define how an immune system can really be boosted, but I suppose the fact that she can write it in a paper must make it so.

The latest article Damian gives us is not the worst one I’ve seen, but it’s as full of bad advice and unproven treatments as all the others. This one needs so much of a response that I can’t just leave it on the comment system over at the web page for Elimination Dance. This one needs paragraph by paragraph response; quoted text is Damian Rogers’ text, and mine follows.

“I realize it’s sort of trendy, but there is a reason those clear-skinned, bright-eyed, naturopath-following, yoga-loving people — the ones who make you feel badly about bingeing on pizza in front of the television — swear by seasonal detox programs. And that reason is that taking a break from your less health-minded habits can make you feel lighter, sharper and ready to rumble. And hey, the Canadian winter isn’t for the weak.”

Health minded people should be seeing health professionals. You’re implying here that detox makes yoga-loving people acne-free and bright-eyed, and that’s not exactly true. Sure, there are plenty of fit looking, clean skinned followers of yoga and naturopathy, but their number has not been shown to be any different than a random collection of healthy non-yoga people. I can only assume that you’re suffering from some sort of confirmation bias when you’re in your yoga class, seeing only the pretty people.

I know a yoga instructor who is neurotically unhealthy, acne-ridden, and homeopathy-downing; this does not support any conclusion about yoga instructors at large. Using similar logic to what you use in your article, and based on my personal experience alone, I could conclude that yoga instructors are filled with self-loathing at not being good enough. I’m sure that’s not the case at all, and that yoga instructors and yoga practitioners represent a similar demographic as you might encounter in any after-work gym session; basically people that are trying to improve themselves in some way, and people with at least a bit more disposable income than the average.

“Of course, individual results vary, so it’s important to find what works best for you. Here are some things that have worked for me.”

The plural of anecdote is anecdotes, not data. I’m going to spoil the end of the article now, and let you know that at no time does Damian recommend anything like seeing a professional that’s covered by your provincial healthcare; just naturopaths and unregulated, unproved services.

The following quote is from Tim Minchin[1]; a comedian with a wry description of what, exactly, alternative medicine is;

“By definition”, I begin
“Alternative Medicine”, I continue
“Has either not been proved to work,
Or been proved not to work.
You know what they call “alternative medicine”
That’s been proved to work?
Medicine.”

At this rate, I’m going to have triple the word count in my reply that Damian had in the article this is supposed to be a response to. So, back to the article with the first anecdote.

SKIN BRUSHING – I do this all year, but it feels especially good once the air gets cooler and the first hint of winter itch sets in. The idea is to literally brush your skin with a dry, natural-bristle brush (you can pick one up at most health food stores) from the bottoms of your feet up to your neck, always moving the brush in the direction of your heart. This is a cheap and easy daily detox routine that not only sweeps away dead skin cells but also stimulates the circulation and lymphatic systems.

On first glance, I thought this to be harmless feel-good advice for exfoliating, removing dry skin, or maybe just one of those things that you do because it just feels good. That opening shower scene from the movie “Gattaca” comes to mind, but that’s it.

Always moving the brush in the direction of your heart? To what end? I did a bit of searching online to find out what dry brushing your skin has to do with the lymphatic system. One of the highest ranked results[2] outlines what natural health practitioners say about the skin and about dry brushing, claiming that the skin is a third kidney and sheds waste acids. Waste doesn’t come out through the skin; that’s water, salt, and oil. Waste actually comes out from two pretty specifically defined regions of the body, and that’s it. Dead skin isn’t a toxin, and its removal doesn’t remove these undefined toxins from the body either.

Google searches find unsubstantiated claims of dry skin brushing removing cellulite, cleansing the lymphatic system, strengthening the immune system, stimulating hormone and oil-producing glands (wait, brushing skin makes you greasier? Ew.), tightening the skin, toning muscles (how does brushing the skin tone muscles; other than in the arm you’re using to brush?), improving nervous system function, and that it helps your digestion in some way. I think I see a whole article just in dry skin brushing, so I may have to re-visit this one later.

LYMPH-DRAINAGE OK, so what the hell is the lymphatic system anyway? The lymphatic system filters waste (excess fluid, dead blood cells, toxins, etc.) and destroys pathogens, so it’s a major player in maintaining the immune system. For the lymph system to do its job, it must be able to drain properly. There are a few things you can do to help this happen, like jumping for a few minutes every day on a mini-trampoline (or a normal-sized one if you really want to have fun) and getting a targeted massage.

This is kind of a glossy high-level view of what the lymphatic system is for, but a bit muddled. To Wikipedia!

The lymphatic system has three interrelated functions: it is responsible for the removal of interstitial fluid from tissues; it absorbs and transports fatty acids and fats as chyle to the circulatory system; and it transports immune cells to and from the lymph nodes. The lymph transports antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, to the lymph nodes where an immune response is stimulated. The lymph also carries lymphocytes from the efferent lymphatics exiting the lymph nodes. — Lymphatic System on Wikipedia

Now back to the author’s anecdotes about her friends in the alt-med communities

At the beginning of my recent detox, I got the Lymphomaniac Facial ($105) with Jean Eng at Pure and Simple (725 King W., 416-366-8558) and it really helped get me into the swing of things. First of all, it’s great to treat yourself to something pleasurable when you’re cutting out stuff like sweets so that you feel less deprived. The treatment was incredibly relaxing and I love their products — they smell great — so it’s a good sensual experience. And I found that I could really feel the benefits of the lymphatic-draining massage (of the breasts, stomach and face).

A good sensual experience; wait a minute; breast massage? Is that a variation on Thai Massage, but for the ladies and without the stigma of entering the clinic through an alleyway?

For the lymphatic system to drain properly, you basically need to pump the bellows to force the lymph through the series of one-way ducts. There’s no central pump such as the blood benefits from, but there are all these handy muscles placed in good locations to provide all the push your lymph needs. From everything I can find on real medical sites, so long as you don’t have cancer or another disease that affects the lymphatic system, you’re likely doing more to speed the drainage of your lymphatic system through regular muscle movement as part of even light exercise than through an overpriced lymphatic facial.

There’s no way I can look at this paragraph and not see something that the 12 year old me would giggle over; it just reads dirty.

Eng explained how the spa uses Ayurvedic principles in selecting the appropriate oils for each client’s needs. She says the facial and massage are useful at any stage of a detox program. “The lymph stimulation is physically helpful if the client supports it with increased water consumption and bowel cleansing,” she says, saying that most poor skin conditions are due to ill health. “We address the necessary skincare and advise on diet and lifestyle care.”

You’re paying $105 for a facial and a grope of your breasts.

When do you think that Jean Eng would say is a BAD time for you to part with $105 under any circumstances? You’re also likely to leave the office with a vial or two of those oils, and maybe some other retail impulse buys; and people say that regular doctors are all about the money.

Now, what Ayurvedic principles is Jean using, and would ten practitioners give you the same thing, or is it basically one big guessing game? We don’t know, because so much of alternative medicine practice is completely unregulated, unlicensed, and untrained. All you need to be a lymphatic masseuse appears to be that you think to put it on your business cards.

DETOX DIET There are so many different approaches to the “detox diet,” it can get a little dizzying. Some folks have great results with juice fasts or the Master Cleanse (that’s the popular 10-day trial of consuming nothing but a lemonade made from lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper), but I’m pretty attached to chewing. Most holistic health practitioners support periods where you give your digestive system a break by avoiding common allergens like wheat and dairy and stimulants like caffeine and sugar. Once I got into the habit of cooking whole grains every day, I got pretty into it. Bonus: I was never hungry. Talk to a holistic practitioner to find the best program for you.

That dizzy feeling is your body starving. The euphoria that kicks in, and that eventual loss of the hungry feeling? That’s your body acclimatizing to starvation. Cleanses don’t kick start your metabolism; they kill it. Sure, limit or eliminate your caffeine and sugar intake, maybe cut back on calories and processed foods; you’ll feel better too, and not be crippling yourself in the process.

You feel great when you come off your cleanse because wait for it… you’re eating again. A combination of the starvation euphoria, and the return to something approaching a balanced diet lead you to conclude, incorrectly, that you just did something that was good for you.

COLONICS I’ve noticed people are mentioning colonics more often (they were referenced in two HBO shows — Entourage and Hung — this season), so maybe that’s a sign that they’re becoming more mainstream. (I feel like there’s a bad pun here that I will not tease out.) Still, I am sensitive to the fact that the idea of having a hose stuck up your bum is not necessarily an attractive prospect. I’m not going to lie — it can be a challenging situation at times — but I have felt powerfully better after getting them.

So, characters in HBO TV shows mention colonics… this isn’t even an appeal to authority or an appeal to celebrity; this is an appeal to a fictional character? I was watching BBC’s production of Merlin the other day, and they were talking about magical creatures like gryphons and dragons; that doesn’t make them real or good for me.

I’m not going to resist the pun; colonics are crap. That’s it, start to finish crap. There’s nothing in your intestines that regular waste functions aren’t up to getting rid of. If you can swallow it, your gastrointestinal system is going to be able to pass it. This includes bubble gum, steak, and nickels; they all go pretty much right through. There’s no store of undigested meat in your colon, and bubble gum isn’t hanging out for seven years.

You feel better when the hose is removed, just like you feel better once your older brother stops punching you; adrenaline response and little more.

When I went for my sessions with Stacey Smith (who is a registered holistic nutritionist as well as being a colon hydrotherapist) at the newly opened Vitalife (2251A Queen E., 416-849-0004), I hadn’t been for one in years and I’m so glad I went. Smith has a calming manner and is a natural at helping clients feel comfortable.

Smith sounds like a good sales person. How does one become a registered holistic nutritionist? One apparently only has to take classes from a school like the the CSNN, but there doesn’t appear to be a central licensing board, etc.[3]

As to how one becomes a colon hydrotherapist, that seems even less clear. I’ve found some people offering them with designations of CSNN (see [3[), CNP (Certified Nurse Practitioner), RNCP (Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner), and other designations.

Stacey in Damian's example lists herself as "Stacey Smith BA, RHN, Holistic Nutritionist and Colon Hydrotherapist" on the Vitalife website[4]. The RHN is a purchased set of initials from a college like CSNN, and the BA could be in anything at all, but it doesn’t typically involve a huge science requirement. As far as calling yourself a Holistic Nutritionist or a Colon Hydrotherapist? As far as I can tell, anyone can do that. So, from now on, you may refer to me as Xinit, Holistic Nutritionist Third Degree, and a purple belt Colon Hydrotherapist. The titles mean nothing, and as far as I can tell, the only licensing they need to pursue is business and tax licensing; cleanliness, etc? Nothing I can find on this.

I asked her about the role of the colonic during detox and she was passionate about their benefits. “When you do a cleanse, you’re basically loosening up toxins in the body — these toxins need to be eliminated from the body and colonics are a very effective method of doing so,” she explained, saying this will also help detox symptoms like headaches, fatigue and nausea. (It should be noted that they can also cause fatigue and nausea.)

Toxins, for the most part, aren’t sunk in concrete to be loosened up by cayenne pepper lemonade. If only we could define what these mystery toxins are, where they come from, and then identify them scientifically as they leave the body. I guess that would be too much like real medicine with its science and its facts, thought.

Let’s see if I have this straight detox programs on their own can cause fatigue, headaches and nausea. Miss Smith recommends that washing out your colon can miraculously cure these symptoms… but it can also cause them… May as well pray the headaches away at that point, and save yourself the visit to the tube girl.

“Many people aren’t aware that the number one immunological organ in their body is their colon. Cleansing the colon of toxic wastes prevents the absorption of toxins into the bloodstream, and their spreading throughout the body. The average person can have 10 to 25 pounds of fecal matter in their colon!”

Many Registered Holistic Nutritionists aren’t aware of basic biology and science. If the food you’re eating is loaded with these horrible toxins that alternative practitioners keep going on about, you’re already in trouble well before things hit your colon. The colon functions to remove liquid and salt from waste before being expelled from the body. Sure, you might have 10 pounds of food in the process of being digested at any time, but it’s an ongoing process. When Smith words it the way this unlicensed practitioner does makes it sound like it’s a negative thing, when it’s a function of the way the gastrointestinal system works. It’s kind of the same effect as when I call Smith an unlicensed practitioner – while it’s true, it is a biased statement that implies the worst.

Yes, I know, it’s gross. But it’s also damned compelling. While colonic irrigation is gaining acceptance as a health practice, it’s still controversial and it’s important that you feel safe. My naturopath alerted me to the fact that not all methods are as gentle as others (Vitalife uses a system that relies on gravity rather than forced water pressure), so it’s a good idea to talk to a naturopathic doctor if you want more information.

That’s right, folks, it’s gaining acceptance by writers for a comedy show on TV who script their high school teacher character selling sex to pay repair bills. Oh, and that fictional character also gets a tube shoved up his ass to do what nature would do for him on its own time.

It’s not just important that you feel safe, it’s important that you BE safe. The way to BE safe is to speak with a real doctor, even if it is in addition to your naturopathic doctor, shaman, or tarot reader. If you absolutely feel that you need to use services of someone who will inject or remove things from your body, you need to ensure that they are clean, medically competent, and knowledgeable. Without an unbiased authority to judge this, you’re relying solely on the word of the practitioner, and luck, in avoiding infection or damage.

Tattoo parlors have much more strict regulation than does someone who can insert a pressurized hose up your ass. The odds of rupturing something while getting a tattoo are pretty low, and thanks to regulation, and years of good practice, even the roughest tattoo parlor runs like out patient surgery.

“Herbal medicine’s been around for thousands of years! Indeed it has. And then we tested it all, and the stuff that worked became medicine. And the rest of it’s just a nice bowl of soup and some pot pourri.” – Dara O’Briain[5]

–

[1] I took the quote from Tim Minchin from podblack’s transcription.

[2] I’m not linking it because I don’t want them to get more traffic, even from robots who might visit this page. http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/Dry_Brushing_Technique.htm

[3] http://csnn.ca/programs/rhn-program/rhn-registration/

[4] http://www.vitalifeclinic.com/aboutus.html

[5] Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain

Originally published at http://tr.im/CmHd

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

“Government authorities should allow medically supervised sites where crack-cocaine users can legally smoke their potent drug, researchers and B.C.’s top public-health doctor urged on Monday after a new study suggested crack addicts are particularly prone to contracting HIV.” — National Post, Oct 19, 2009

I’m familiar with insite, BC’s safe injection site in downtown Vancouver. We lived around the corner from this place, and I witnessed more than one person leaving the building after they’ve made use of the facilities for their intended use.

A safe smoking site for crack addicts as a means to reduce HIV infection rates, though? When I read this article in the National Post I was left wondering if health professionals understand how crack addicts become infected with HIV.

My initial thought is that it’s not as much from the pipes they stick in their mouths, as other things. Is the addict spreading disease as part of a less than safe means of financing their habit, and not so much in the act of getting high? My first thought is that the incidence of HIV in crack smokers is merely a correlation; surely there must be a study on this?

If there’s research to show that the pipe itself, like the needle for the heroin user, is the mechanism for transmission of the virus, then I understand the push for “safe crack kits” and a location to allow supervised usage. One of the biggest additions to the general health of heroin addicts is in the harm reduction of having someone actually on location to check on the health of the client. The biggest obvious effect is overdose prevention, and the offshoots from this have been stated as general reduction in HIV transmission infection, and general health of the community.

The comments on the article are frequently horrible, including a charming person named StarSpirit who offers up the helpful, healthy, new age sentiment between yoga classes;

StarSpirit, Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009

Ughhh…. how about exterminating these drug users. Nothing but a blight on society.

Stay classy, Vancouver.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Three photographic projects that even fit together nicely in theme, and one large music project that needs a bit more attention in the next month and a half.

Photography first

A PORTRAIT OF AMERICA LEFT BEHIND: A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF AMERICAN TOWNS AND SPACES $1429/3000, 42 days to go

I have fallen for small town America and the things left behind. I use a term in Latin called “res nullius”, meaning: An object or place that is left behind and ownerless. So, in a sense, I am claiming ownership with a photographic plate, attempting to portray a place and time that I see. Displaying a “truth” thru a frame – a photograph, a decisive moment.

insideout brazil 2010 $745/2400, 73 days to go

This is where I need YOUR help. Kickstart my first stop to Brasil, where for over 20 years the Movimento Sem Terra (Brazil’s social Landless Workers Movement) has successfully occupied unused land where they have established cooperative farms, constructed houses, schools etc. and of course there are the famous favelas of Rio.

Floating Doctors $510/500, 13 days to go

Proceeds donated go to the final preparations to their sail boat, medical supplies, equipment. In exchange, the team’s photographer will provide photos and documentation

Floating Doctors is the world’s first globally mobile medical team to utilize a green energy platform—the expedition sailboat Southern Wind—to deliver medical relief to thousands of people in the most remote coastal areas of the world. Through preventative medicine and education, Floating Doctors will leave no carbon footprint, but only long lasting health benefits in her wake.

Music Next

I know, I’ve mentioned it before, but this is the one project that I’m following that’s going to have the hardest time completing funding, as the price is high at $20,000 – even a couple bucks could help Kim Boekbinder record her album. Sticking in the low $2000 for a bit now, and 42 days to go.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Their new PDF still shows the heading as dated the 14th October, as if the previous version with the claim that Dr. Singh maliciously attacked chiropractors in his Guardian piece. It seems that the BCA lawyers have made some things clear to the original press relations person who drafted the libelous piece, and they’ve updated it in the hopes that nobody will notice.

Well, this is the Internet, and we noticed. Missing words in the new release are in square brackets, and added words in bold.

BCA Response to Decision on Right of Appeal 14th October 2009

British Chiropractic Association (BCA) v Singh

Dr. Simon Singh has been granted permission to appeal against the decision of Mr. Justice Eady. As the Claimant is not permitted to be represented in a hearing of this nature, the Judge of the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Laws, did not have the benefit of being able to consider all the issues, nor indeed, has he heard any argument from the BCA.

Dr. Singh has used this case as a platform to argue that science writers should be immune from the law of libel and be free to write what they please. Ever since the Eady decision of 7th May 2009 he has engaged in a high profile media campaign to assert that the BCA’s action is a restriction of the freedom of speech. It is nothing of the sort.

The BCA supports and would never seek to stifle legitimate open scientific debate. However, this action is a simple libel claim based on the fact that the BCA was maliciously attacked libelled by Dr. Singh in the Guardian newspaper. When given the opportunity to retract his words and apologise, Dr. Singh refused. This claim has been brought to restore the good reputation of the BCA and that of its members.

Dr. Singh may now put his case before a full Court of Appeal. Here the BCA will, for the first time, have the opportunity to present its case. The BCA remains confident that once in possession of all the facts the presiding judges will refuse the Appeal.

Jack of Kent alerted me to the changes in the BCA release.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Pulled the text out (thanks to PDFtextonline.com) of the BCA Statement from Oct 14 (PDF). Their statement is also archived on Doctor Atlantis’s site.

Watch as the British Chiropractic speaks, apparently ironically, of supporting scientific debate! Amaze that they accuse Dr. Simon Singh of a malicious attack! Wonder how they can bend their spine in such a way as to allow easy cranial-anal interface! Ponder their motives in demanding that others speak nicely of them, while they speak ill of all!

This is really why I don’t like libel laws anywhere UK or US – it’s just too easy to bring bogus, malicious libel claims like the BCA has launched against Simon Singh. Judges in the UK and elsewhere seem all too willing to engage the insane. People with resources can easily force their hand against those without resources, effectively bullying opponents into compliance. That is the problem. Personally, I would have liked to see the initial judge toss the complaint out, laughing.

BCA Response to Decision on Right of Appeal 14th October 2009

British Chiropractic Association (BCA) v Singh

Dr. Simon Singh has been granted permission to appeal against the decision of Mr. Justice Eady. As the Claimant is not permitted to be represented in a hearing of this nature, the Judge of the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Laws, did not have the benefit of being able to consider all the issues, nor indeed, has he heard any argument from the BCA.

Dr. Singh has used this case as a platform to argue that science writers should be immune from the law of libel and be free to write what they please. Ever since the Eady decision of 7th May 2009 he has engaged in a high profile media campaign to assert that the BCA’s action is a restriction of the freedom of speech. It is nothing of the sort.

The BCA supports and would never seek to stifle legitimate open scientific debate. However, this action is actually a simple libel claim based on the fact that the BCA was maliciously attacked by Dr. Singh in the Guardian newspaper. When given the opportunity to retract his words and apologise, Dr. Singh refused. This claim has been brought to restore the good reputation of the BCA and that of its members.

Dr. Singh may now put his case before a full Court of Appeal. Here the BCA will, for the first time, have the opportunity to present its case. The BCA remains confident that once in possession of all the facts the presiding judges will refuse the Appeal.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I was reading Amanda Palmer’s blog entry about what she calls virtual crowd surfing or what others have called crowd-sourcing. I followed Kim’s link to her project, and then looked around for other interesting projects.

Impossible Girl: Solo Record Project by Kim Boekbinder (of Vermillion Lies)

This is the project that I went to today to add my support to. This is a biggie. Kim Boekbinder from Vermillion Lies wants to record a solo album, and figures she needs about $20,000 to do so. She has a deadline of December 1, 2009, and she’s only 6% of the way to her goal.

I’ve thrown $25 for the downloadable and the signed CD shipped internationally ($20 for the same thing to the US). $50 gets a mystery package from Kim, $200 gets a song written for you, but $10,000 gets you an adventure in Berlin with Kim and other Berlin characters. Not sure if the Berlin adventure covers food, lodging, or travel, but it would be a super deal if it were.

Release Sxip Shirey’s SONIC NEW YORK

The sub-title “15 Punk Rockers Pounding a Piano Into Junk” is what really attracted me to this one, and made it the first project I joined on kickstarter. Listening to samples on his site, and on youtube convinced me that there’s a good chance of something interesting to come out of this one. 73% funded, it still needs $1328 in the next month and a half to go ahead.

For $16 you get the CD produced in this project, for $65 you can get all 3 of Sxip’s CDs, a bonus live mp3 download, a 7″ and a book of poetry. $400 gets you a very very special hat, and $3000 gets you a pie (among other things).

Some other projects I’ve seen that were interesting, or that have closed;

Make a New CD with The Quiet!

“The Quiet is a dynamic, original five-piece piano-pop band that draws comparisons to Ben Folds, Barenaked Ladies, and Elton John. With a solid, growing fan base responding to their diverse sound and high-energy live show, The Quiet regularly plays the Troubadour and has a monthly slot at Hollywood’s trend-setting Hotel Café.”

All kinds of options including $10 for a downloadable version of the album and $300 to have them record a cover of your choice, and you get a package of stalker-quality bits from the band. You can even buy publishing rights for a song at the right price.

a New Album from Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra

“Dubbed the “Best Lounge Act of 2009” by New York Magazine, Ethan Lipton and his Orchestra play a brand of jazz folk country lounge that’s drawn comparisons to the music of Randy Newman, Leon Redbone and Tom Waits.”

Pledge $15 to get the CD and credit as a “micro-producer” or bump up to $50 to get an autographed CD, a credit on the album, and a brownie made by the band (with or without nuts – your call)

Find homes for Absolutely Kosher CDs

“Absolutely Kosher is an independent label established in 1998 in the San Francisco Bay Area of California by Cory Brown. We release hella great music”

I’ve seen a couple of these warehouse-clearing projects on Kickstarter, and they offer some great deals. I can’t buy into this project, but $350 for Absolutely Kosher’s entire catalog is a bargain, even if I were to add the $120 for international shipping.

Gordon Withers – Pre-Order The New Solo Cello Album

“Gordon Withers is a rock cellist living and performing in the DC area. He studied classical cello at Brandeis University under Rhonda Rider. From 1997-2000 he played with the Boston band Betwixt. In 2007 he recorded Jawbox on Cello: A Benefit For Cal Robbins, an album of 12 Jawbox songs arranged for cello ensemble.”

Didn’t click until after I’d signed up to fund this project that I actually knew this person via livejournal as trisloth. I really need to read livejournal once in a while; I nearly missed this one. This project ended shortly after I got in on it; had less than an hour to go.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I’ve included some interesting jobs below, or you can check the main job listing site. I believe that these links will all function outside of RBC’s network, but haven’t been able to verify them yet. If not, http://www.rbc.com/careers should definitely work, if not as directly.

If you see anything you like, and you apply, there is something of a referral program here, so if you put my name and email address in when you apply online, I might just have to buy you a beer or two to help you celebrate the new job.

To apply, complete the online application, and at the prompt “How did you first hear about this position”, select “Employee Referrals” and enter my full name Richard Murray and my work email address richard.murray @ rbccm.com

Salary ranges really vary around here, but I might be able to give you some idea of ranges and averages based on the pay level (PL) that the listing references. The lower the number, the higher the average salary; for example PL10 averages around 40-45K, PL08 around 60-70. These are averages, that can go either way maybe 20-25% depending on skill, fit, etc.

If you have any questions about environment, etc, get ahold of me and maybe I can give you more information.

Technical Service Analyst PL 09

Position Purpose:
This job supports the RBC Financial Group operations across the entire enterprise.
This includes security permission in the distributed environment as well as providing input to security administration processes, acting as a Subject Matter Expert in various platforms that we support.

The incumbent will also take responsibility for cross training with peers, manage a diverse workload and be able to manage multiple priorities.
Communication and teamwork are critical to succeed in this role.
Though a high volume area, if you are ready for a challenge and you have experience to bring to the table, then this diverse and high profile group is the ideal place for you to be.

Key Accountabilities:
Providing customer service to RBC Financial Group employees in their security requirements while maintaining adherence to process and policy

Job Requirements: (Knowledge/ Experience):

• Experience with the Peregrine application an asset
• Experience with NET IQ tools and DRA an asset
• Experience with Exchange account management an asset
• Proven ability to work in a high profile, at times stressful environment.

Required Skills/ Competencies/ Attributes:
Concern for Order and Quality, Analytical Thinking, Teamwork and Co-operation, Adaptability, Change Leadership, Sense of Urgency, Customer Service/ Service Partner Orientation, Impact and Influence, Listening, Understanding and Responding, Business Acumen, Organizational Awareness, Achievement Motivation

Education:
High School Diploma / GED

Technical Service Analyst PL 10

Position Purpose:
This job supports the RBC Financial Group operations across the entire enterprise.
This includes security permission in the distributed environment as well as providing input to security administration processes, acting as a Subject Matter Expert in various platforms that we support.

The incumbent will also take responsibility for cross training with peers, manage a diverse workload and be able to manage multiple priorities.
Communication and teamwork are critical to succeed in this role.

Though a high volume area, if you are ready for a challenge and you have experience to bring to the table, then this diverse and high profile group is the ideal place for you to be.

Key Accountabilities:
Providing customer service to RBC Financial Group employees in their security requirements while maintaining adherence to process and policy

Job Requirements: (Knowledge/ Experience):

• Experience with NET IQ tools and DRA an asset
• Experience with Exchange account management an asset
• Proven ability to work in a high profile, at times stressful environment.
• Proven ability to learn new process fast and be able to ramp up quickly to take on role. Time allotted and expectations to be discussed.
• Working knowledge of AD Console and the Active Directory environment.

Required Skills/ Competencies/ Attributes:
Achievement Motivation, Concern for Order and Quality, Analytical Thinking, Organizational Awareness, Teamwork and Co-operation, Adaptability, Excellent Written & Communication Skills, Listening, Understanding and Responding, Customer Service/ Service Partner Orientation, Building Partnerships With Stakeholders, Procedural Expertise, MS Windows XP, Impact and Influence, Initiative/ Proactivity, Change Management, Self-Confidence, Relationship Building, Business Knowledge, Change Leadership, Lotus Notes

Education:
High School Diploma / GED

Unix Systems Management Engineer PL 08

Position Purpose:
RBCs system management team develops and supports the monitoring and change management infrastructure across RBCs global UNIX and Windows computing environments, and provides solutions to all of RBCs IT operations groups.
This position provides the on-going design, development, maintenance and expansion of systems management products to support RBCs common UNIX platforms. Specifically, the individual is responsible for the on-going direction, support and integration of alarm and event monitoring (Groundworks / Nagios) and change management (Opsware) tools.

Key Accountabilities:
Life Cycle management of Opsware and Groundworks

Duties include:

• Design, build, deployment, and maintenance of infrastructure.
• Enhancements requests
• Testing and quality assurance
• Creation and maintenance of all supporting documentation.

Job Requirements: (Knowledge/ Experience):
Knowledge / Experience with some of the following:

• Opsware (HP Server Automation)
• Groundworks Opensource / Nagios
• PERL, Shell, Python, Jython, C
• Very strong Unix experience with one or more of the following OSs:
• Linux
• AIX

Education:
High School Diploma / GED

Intermediate Java Developer / Support Analyst (Capital Markets) PL 08

Position Purpose:
Support / Enhancements of systems being managed and owned by RBCCM Architecture Services. Incumbent will be exposed to various technology aspects of Capital Markets technology. This is great opportunity for someone looking to gain experience in Capital Markets IT .

Key Accountabilities:
Reporting to an IT Technology Manager , the intermediate java developer / Support Analyst will be responsible for:

• Support and occasional enhancements of a Debt Capital Markets data system – which uses java /spring / Hibernate based middleware, Sybase ASE and IQ, Bloomberg Server API, Rfaj for Reuters, .net Based front end and Siebel reports.
• Be involved in refactoring of some of the codebase.
• Work with Stakeholders (mostly other applications within RBCCM who pull data off this system) to make sure all requests are met with accepted levels of SLA.
• Generate ad-hoc reports for business as and when required.
• Analyze data and logs for problem resolution, and suggest better solutions wherever relevant.
• Plan and execute unit, system, integration and acceptance tests for enhancements.
• Provide pager Support .

Job Requirements: (Knowledge/ Experience):

• Minimum of 4 years experience developing Java applications
• Strong Knowledge of java
• Good Experience with Databases
• 3-5 years of Total IT experience
• Proven Experience is a support/development role
• Prior Experience in Capital Markets is good to have – not mandatory
• The incumbent should be a Team player who can take task ownership with positive attitude.
• Able to take work pressure in fast paced environment.
• Able to work independently as well as with team.
• Good communication skills

Education:
BA/BS

Senior Technical Systems Analyst- Capital Markets (Web Solutions) PL 07

Position Purpose:
Works as a Senior Technical Systems Analyst (RIMMS eOPS Platform) on a global front end solution that provided access to multiple payment processing systems which support the processing of Foreign Exchange, Money Markets and Derivatives for RBC Capital Markets Operation Group. Accountable for the technical Analysis/Design (including data analysis and modeling) of solutions using detailed business requirements. To be fully involved in the development and testing of solutions that meet sponsor/stakeholder needs while demonstrating high levels of quality and productivity.

Key Accountabilities:

• Key design and development contributor to RIMMS eOPS application
• Quick learner and someone who understands the ‘big picture’ and able to quickly contribute quality designs and code on multiple aspects of the platform.
• Work closely with QA team to ensure high quality of the product
• Work with Business Analysts to come up with non-trivial optimal IT solutions for business problems
• Produce technical designs for business solutions that leverage existing components or allow the integration of new components to be as seamless as possible
• Raises and tracks issues and conflicts, removes barriers, resolves project issues and escalates to senior management where required.
• Ability to break large problems into well-defined and manageable tasks
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully act as the technical lead on projects with development teams of up to 8 staff

Business

• Good communication skills both verbal and written
• Experience with training users on new releases of functionality
• Solid understanding of the SDLC process / methodologies, relation database concepts, object-oriented techniques, user interface principles
• Experience with using Business Requirements to produce detailed technical designs both Logical and Physical
• Financial Industry experience including Foreign Exchange, Money Market and Derivatives is an asset

Core Behaviors

• Maintains client expectation without sacrificing deadlines and quality
• Coordinates and manages multiple tasks and priorities (sometimes competing), while still producing high quality results.
• Copes with change and ambiguity while ensuring all effort to make sure that there is cooperation and teamwork.
• Consistently maintains a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and inspires others to excel.
• Abides by the RBCCM Code of Conduct.

Time Management

• Design/Development: 70%
• Technical lead 15%
• Work with business sponsors, project managers and other team members to understand business strategies and priorities: 10%
• Research new and developing technologies: 5%

Job Requirements: (Knowledge/ Experience):

• Significant experience in the development and support of Web-based dynamic, data driven applications using Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework
• Demonstrate ability to perform Analysis and design of complex solutions and be able to develop and implement multi-tier enterprise-scale business applications
• Database programming for Microsoft SQL Server or Sybase platforms
• Familiarity Web Services and Transaction Management environments
• Has developed reports for web applications in Microsoft .NET 2.0 (and above) environment
• Experience with Visual Studio 2005/2003, C#, ASP.NET 2.0, ADO.NET, JavaScript, HTML, XML, AJAX, IIS, T-SQL, Microsoft SQL Server or Sybase, Visual SourceSafe, Crystal Report, Web Services
• Microsoft Certification in C#/ASP.NET is an asset

Education:
BA/BS

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

It’s Blasphemy Day Eve, and I can hardly wait…

Christianity; I deny the existence of the Holy Spirit and deny Jesus Christ existed, let alone was the earthly son of a further non-existent god.

Islam can have one mocking depiction of The Prophet from the Danish cartoons;

Judaism, if it even had a concept of blasphemy… I’m going to break at least a couple laws tomorrow; I will build and worship a small idol out of common office supplies, wear cotton and linen, and have a bacon cheese burger for lunch.

Not sure what else I wil do to cross-train my blasphemy; maybe get in a fight for Buddhism, donate blood for the Christian Scientists, and maybe take some anti-psychotic drugs for the Church of Scientology.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

We’ve only recently returned from the Richard Dawkins on the University of Toronto Campus. Had my phone still had battery charge remaining, I would have likely typed all this up while in the restaurant waiting for our meal afterward. Thanks to CFI Ontario for the last minute tickets to the talk; I now have a signed copy of “The Greatest Show On Earth” and that was worth the price of the family membership. Hopefully I’ll get to see Michael Shermer this friday when he speaks on “Why Do People Believe Weird Things” (thankfully, and not on his economic books, but that’s another story).

Become a member of CFI; it can be worth the price of admission.

Professor Dawkins spoke for a while, read some excerpts from his book, and then took questions from the audience. I can’t imagine how anyone could really think him as horrible or evil or imposing after seeing him on stage, and later in the book signing line in the lobby. He’s cordial, has a good sense of humour, and was all smiles. Sure, it’s only the start of the trip, but still.

The questions from the audience were not all as boring or predictable as I might have imagined. It seems that there was no contingent of creationists on hand, no signs, no yelling of “LIES!” from the audience. Not a bad first stop on the North American book tour (the only one in Canada; sorry Vancouver). Apparently he appeared on CBC’s The Hour, but that’s apparently not online yet. There was only one question from an un-moderated audience microphone that touched on the idea that perhaps god was using evolution as his method… I’m sure that’s a common enough question he has to deal with.

One questioner pointed out that tomorrow is International Blasphemy Day, and asked if Professor Dawkins had any tips. Dawkins was surprised; he hadn’t heard of it, and he was somewhat speechless at first, but he laughed and said that at least Blasphemy is a victimless crime.

Dawkins confessed a slight mishearing of another questioner’s point, believing at one point that the questioner was asking if there would be an armed conflict between the religious and the non-believers, rather than the intended point about the growing number of unbelievers in recent days. Dawkins commented (paraphrased) “I suppose it’s of limited consolation that were it ever to come to that, our side would have everyone capable of designing weapons.”

Asked about the plan of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron to hand out thousands of copies of “Origin of The Species” on college campuses, Dawkins made sure that everyone in attendance who may have missed the hilarious Banana Video by re-enacting a chunk of it; “You’ll notice how easily it fits in my hand…” and compared the video to Monty Python. This before stating that he couldn’t imagine that most people on university campuses would have trouble seeing through this thinly veiled attempt at spreading their lies. He suggested that many people would be happy to receive a free copy of “Origin” and all they’d need to do would be to rip out those first fifty pages and … put them to better use…

One older man stood up and asserted that the case for Evolution was so strong, and so beyond doubt, that were we one day to find an intact human skeleton fossilized in a layer of rock where it just shouldn’t be (perhaps squished in a foot print of a dinosaur?), that it would not be data to go against evolution. He said that with the case for evolution so well established, that that would be in fact proof of time travel. Not entirely serious, perhaps, but a good point, which may yet fuel a followup book from Dawkins, if I could judge by his favourable response to the man.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I mentioned this last night at the Skeptics In The Pub session, but couldn’t recall the specifics of the exchange. If you’re new, I’m @xinit0 on twitter. I’ve edited the twitter postings below slightly to make them read in English where appropriate, and linked to the original posts on Twitter.

Me: Oh dear. Leslie Winkle recommends anti-vaxxer doc RT @thesaragilbert … @JayGordonMDFAAP because he is not afraid to think outside the box

Doc Jay: @xinit0 I’m back in the box HuffPo. Vaccine/Autism. http://tinyurl.com/n46kaj

Where Jay uses a bad car metaphor to explain how he’s not anti-vaccine any more than he’s anti-car at the rather anti-vaccine and anti-science HuffingtonPost;

“Asking that cars be manufactured with more attention to safety and that driving is best when done safely does not make one “anti-car” or anti-driving. Asking for safer vaccinations and more judicious use of those we have does not make me or anyone else “anti-vaccine.”

Me: @JayGordonMDFAAP continuing your car analogy, should a mechanic trust only a car owner’s “feeling” that the gas she’s using caused her broken axle? No.

Doc Jay: @xinit0 Good one. Silly, but still good.

For context, Doctor Jay Gordon’s celebrity puppet Jenny McCarthy and her celebrity puppet Jim Carrey go on and on about how important a mother’s intuition and feelings are in diagnosing a child. I call bullshit.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Last month, there were no “Skeptics In The Pub” style events being held in Toronto. I’m still new to town, and was surprised by this apparent oversight in a city with a reputation for having a strong skeptical community, let alone a city with a couple formal skeptics groups.

Last week, I was rather happy to find the Skeptics Canada people arranged a Skeptics in the Pub event (that happened last night). Finally, a chance to meet other people in Toronto who know who James Randi is.

Then, while I was looking for the information on meetup.com, I found there was another Skeptics in the Pub event set for the following Tuesday at one in the afternoon. Weird… from 0 to 2 in rather short order… It’s a bit weird that it’s set to occur at 1 in the afternoon on a weekday, but who am I to judge?

Then today, I thought I’d post something about how I enjoyed last night’s event, and I did a bit of followup research on the local skeptic culture. Turns out the 1 in the afternoon organizer is also a member of Skeptics Canada, and he’s also involved at CFI Toronto. Interesting… so I find myself browsing CFI’s Toronto events page, and find that there’s ANOTHER Skeptics In The Pub event listed there for September 26th; next saturday.

CFI Toronto and Skeptics Canada need to talk to each other, I think… How many pub centered meetups does Toronto need?

I met some interesting people, and was able to spread my dislike of Toronto quack-peddler Damian Rogers, and hopefully convince others to visit her article online and submit their thoughts on this week’s article entitled “Don’t fear the flu.” The article starts off quoting someone who offers what sounds like rational advice, and then moves on to pitching the latest essential oil and “anti-flu” techniques…

A representative of the Living Libations line of organic essential oils, raw chocolate and skincare, Millman combines her background as an aromatherapist, reflexologist and nutritional counsellor with her studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine to perform highly individualized health treatments for her clients. (I’ve seen her myself and think she’s great.) She agrees with Lytle that the amped-up anxiety levels around H1N1 are overblown and is particularly suspicious of the flu shot that has been rushed through.

Millman, who recently managed to heal her own wrist injury in 12 days rather than the six weeks her doctor predicted it would take, is a great believer in the therapeutic power of pure, organic essential oils, which are not synthetic perfumes but concentrated plant oils extracted through an artisanal steam-distillation process (many cheaper brands often use chemical solvents for extraction). She says the oils have almost limitless applications because of their antibacterial, antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antioxidant, anti-infectious qualities. “They are all anti-, anti-, anti-, anti!” she laughs.

While the idea of using scent to stay healthy may sound flaky, you may change your tune if you keep an open mind and experiment a bit. I’ve noticed an immediate difference in my sense of well-being after exposure to high-quality oils. Millman suggests using the oils “breakfast, lunch and dinner” to see the greatest benefits. In addition to steam inhalations, she says you can introduce them to many daily activities like skincare and housecleaning (adding oils like tea-tree and rosemary to vinegar makes a great toxin-free surface disinfectant). Millman loves oils because they are inexpensive and easy to use; she says simply simmering drops of tea-tree, eucalyptus and rosemary in water on the stove for a couple of hours (in a pot you don’t mind mucking up; keep adding water as needed) will help eliminate pathogens in the air.

To boost your immune system, Millman also recommends taking high doses of vitamins C and D, keeping your midsection covered to protect your kidneys from chill, wearing scarves, eating hot soup and drinking adaptogen herbal teas (like nettle, rhodiola and the Chinese herb jiaogulan). And, of course, don’t freak out.

Keeping your kidneys warm? You don’t get flu from a chill, to any part of your body, let alone your kidneys.

Tea-tree oil has no mechanism for eliminating toxins in the air. It might cover up the smell of the exhaust leaking in from the garage, but it’s not removing the carbon monoxide.

Boosting your immune system is a fallacy, and the efficacy of high-dose vitamins C and D is unproven, and may be harmful in anyone who already eats a balanced diet.

What does the wrist injury anecdote have to do with anything? If it’s important, what kind of injury? fracture? sprain? discomfort? Of course she “healed it herself” – you can’t subcontract healing – everyone does it themselves. Essential oils might smell pretty, but they don’t regenerate bone or heal tissues.

In an unrelated matter, I just learned that Richard Dawkins is in town on the 29th as part of his book tour; of course, there are no tickets available for the event any longer.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I’ve kicked in for a number of projects where I didn’t know what was going to come out at the end of the deal; knowing only the smallest bit about the artist, and trusting testimonials and sounds-like anecdotes, and the like. Sxip is the latest one that I’m kicking in a couple bucks for. While the idea of an artist baking me pie was appealing, $3000 was a bit steep for a couple slices of a likely quite bad pie. The $100 level was also tempting… I mean, who can’t use a very very special custom made hat? I just can’t be certain that I’ll be able to attend a show in NYC on any specific schedule.

Check out some of the audio and video on Sxip’s site and decide if you want to help an artist make a CD; for altruistic reasons, or because you can get a hat or pie or something else.

…or both

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Sent the following to the old rental agents at the old CAPREIT building in Halifax.

I moved out of suite 2101 in Park Victoria in mid-July, 2009. I provided the person doing the move-out inspection with our new address as part of the process, which he wrote on the inspection report.

It’s been well more than the 10 days to return the security deposit or to otherwise notify us of a claim, and we’ve received no contact. Our mail has even been forwarded, so any communication sent via Canada Post to the suite in my name would be forwarded.

Please advise on what is delaying this.

Thanks

This is just an informal inquiry letter – they claim to get back to people inside of two business days. We’ll see if I hear anything by this time Friday. I read the tenancy act in Nova Scotia, and it’s one of the few things in that province that has a decent amount of power in the hands of the tenant. No application to keep the deposit for good reason, and no attempt to contact me in 10 days after tenancy end should mean I see it all come back to me.

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

What follows is the newest credulous piece writtern by Damian Rogers for Eye Weekly in Toronto, telling new university students how they can avoid getting sick with pneumonia this year; with homeopathy and accupuncture.

Does Ms. Rogers not understand that pneumonia is a potentially dangerous infection if left untreated? Perhaps she thinks that smelling essential oils and drinking mystical chinese tea and ‘lifestyle coaching’ are all that is needed to ward off an infection?

Oh, right, Ms. Rogers has a bit of a history as the local new age kook at this free weekly paper in Toronto;

• You Want… To Get Through The Year Without Getting Pneumonia


• Wild medicine – Herbal remedies grow like weeds in Toronto yards and parks


• Get well without going broke – Three pay-less options for better health, whether you seek medical care, a relaxing rub or a good, deep stretch


• Booster shots – Toronto holistic health experts share their best tips on how to improve your immune system to fight the running-around rundown blues.


• 2009 Resolver- Looking ahead to a healthier, happier new year

Pneumonia can result from a variety of causes, including infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and chemical or physical injury to the lungs (Wikipedia).

Things that might help; stop smoking, get a vaccine against common pneumonia agents, and see a doctor if you’re having trouble breathing. Getting a massage may feel great, but it does nothing to boost your immune system or to fight off infections of any sort.

Wikipedia on the prognosis of those with pneumonia:

With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia can be cleared within two to four weeks. Viral pneumonia may last longer, and mycoplasmal pneumonia may take four to six weeks to resolve completely. The eventual outcome of an episode of pneumonia depends on how ill the person is when he or she is first diagnosed.

In the United States, about one of every twenty people with pneumococcal pneumonia die.[29] In cases where the pneumonia progresses to blood poisoning (bacteremia), just over 20% of sufferers die.

The death rate (or mortality) also depends on the underlying cause of the pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma, for instance, is associated with little mortality. However, about half of the people who develop methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia while on a ventilator will die. In regions of the world without advanced health care systems, pneumonia is even deadlier. Limited access to clinics and hospitals, limited access to x-rays, limited antibiotic choices, and inability to treat underlying conditions inevitably leads to higher rates of death from pneumonia. For these reasons, the majority of deaths in children under five due to pneumococcal disease occur in developing coutries.

Damina refers people to a Naturopathic Clinic for weight loss and cancer care. For hangovers and chronic pain, she suggests shiatsu and accupuncture, and for all the general malaise sort of things (chronic fatigue?) she recommends the local school of homeopathic “medicine”.

Nowhere is there even a small suggestion that someone should actually see a doctor if they’re coughing up blood or if they have a tumor… Nothing.

Unqualified quackery, aimed at new students who may not know better, and framing it as “Wellness.”

You Want… To Get Through The Year Without Getting Pneumonia
Favourite Add to your favorite Recommend: 0 BY Damian Rogers August 26, 2009 17:08

Fuck the flu. Even without the threat of a pandemic spreading across campus, students suffer through all kinds of pressures that diminish their health and well-being, from lack of sleep to stress headaches to binge drinking to regrettable sex. The complementary health sector offers some powerful alternatives to feeling like ass all the time, but racking up a whack of bills for massage therapy sessions might just make you edgier. The following healthcare education institutions feature respected student clinics that give you the chance to sample various approaches on a tight budget.

Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, 1255 Sheppard E., 416-498-9763, www.ccnm.edu

The program: Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary healthcare that seeks to address root causes of illness and promotes the body’s own healing ability through natural therapies that include acupuncture, Asian medicine, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, lifestyle counselling and physical treatments like massage and hydrotherapy. Graduates are called naturopathic doctors.

What to expect: Go on their website to fill out and submit the adult intake form, which asks about your medical history and physical habits (how much you exercise, what you eat on an average day, etc.). Clinic patients are assigned to a senior intern — a student in their final year of schooling — under the direct supervision of a regulated naturopathic doctor. The initial appointment takes about 90 minutes and follow-up appointments last an hour — much better than the 10 minutes you often get from a rushed family doctor. Book ahead — the clinic sees more than 100 patients a day.

Best for: Pretty much everything. The clinic has focused programs for treating weight loss, cancer care and sports injuries, but since naturopathic medicine has a preventative focus, many patients go to the clinic with the goal of raising their overall health.

Clinic hours: Mon 2:45pm-7pm; Tue-Fri 8:45am-7pm; Sat 9:45am-5pm.

Rates: $65 initial consultation; $40 follow-up appointments. (Compare with professional rates, which run around $150-$200 for the initial and up to $120 for follow-ups.)

——————————————————————————–

The Shiatsu School of Canada Student Teaching Clinic, 547 College, 416-323-1818 x: 23,
www.shiatsucanada.com

The program: The shiatsu theory diploma program runs two years full-time or three years part-time. The acupuncture diploma program runs three years part-time.

What to expect: The clinic treats several people at once in an open area where students are supervised by instructors. Clients discuss concerns with both the student and his or her supervisor; it’s an open environment that encourages clients to ask questions as well. Don’t get too attached to the student working your meridian points, though; they are only allowed to see each client five times to ensure they receive a variety of experience.

Best for: Both shiatsu massage and acupuncture can help address a wide range of issues, from insomnia to chronic pain to hangovers.

Clinic hours: The Shiatsu Student Teaching Clinic operates Wed only, 10:15am, 12:15pm, 2:45pm and 4:30pm. The Acupuncture Student Clinic operates Mon and Thu 6:15pm, 7:30pm, 8:45pm; ?Sun 10:15am, 11:30am, 2pm, 3:15pm, 4:30pm.

Rates: $35 for about an hour and 20 minutes of shiatsu; $20-$65 for an acupuncture session.

——————————————————————————–

The Toronto School of Homeopathic Medicine, 1881 Yonge, ste 500, 416-966-2350, www.homeopathy-canada.com.

The program: The school offers a three-year specialized program that leads to a diploma. Unlike naturopaths, homeopaths are currently unable to use the term “doctor” according to Ontario law, something that is controversial within the community. The system, developed in the late 18th century by a German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann, is practised around the world.

What to expect: After filling out a questionnaire, your first visit will last about an hour and a half and you will be asked to speak at length about your illness or concerns and the related issues. Patients often find this to be a powerful experience and it can sometimes be quite emotional. After the consultation, your homeopath will prescribe the appropriate homeopathic treatment.

Best for: Because homeopathy addresses the whole person, it’s especially good for disease prevention and for treating interconnected issues, like a pattern of stress and anxiety that causes insomnia, headaches and an inability to focus.

Clinic hours: Thu-Fri 10am-7pm.

Rates: $40 initial consultation, $25 follow-up. This includes all taxes and the prescribed homeopathic remedy.

Email us at: LETTERS@EYEWEEKLY.COM or send your questions to EYEWEEKLY.COM
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Watch as Australian TV hosts throw apparent softballs to a beret wearing homeopath who… I think he said he can cure Swine Flu, but really, I’m not entirely sure WHAT he’s saying…

You can download the video at Skeptical Dog, or just read the transcript there.

You can also comment at the 9AM Show’s online forum. It requires you enter an address, phone number, and postal code. Apparently so that they can call you up and yell at you if you post their content online. Their system is being difficult, partly because I had to find an Australian address to use, and then once I did, my confirmation email wasn’t working…

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I’m looking at the TIFF web site, thinking that I might just do a two week long evening package at the VISA screening room – let them pick the movies that I see. I like the option that TIFF has to let you just pick a program and trust the festival programmers to get you some interesting films to see. The trouble is that I can’t figure out what these films ARE in most of the packages; would the pack at the start of the festival be more to my liking than the one in the middle or at the end?

I’m thinking of an evening pass for the VISA Screening room on the weekend of the 11th, based on my schedule, and price… but can’t for the life of me find a decent schedule of what’s playing there using their web site. Do I have to go there in person and buy the paper guide for $30 in order to know what I’m getting, or do I just risk it?

TIFF has a pretty horrible online presence; they could learn a lot by visiting VIFF’s site and maybe hiring some web programmers.

I think that next year I’ll bump up to the Obsessive Compulsive Festival Package for nearly $600 the Somewhat OCD Package for $400, or maybe I’ll be able to swing a media pass by then. The media pass in Vancouver was great for completely overwhelming your system. Might have to use the last of my year’s vacation in 2010 for TIFF; that or fly out for VIFF where you can sort films by program, by theatre, by time, etc.

Edit: Okay, they could have made it a little clearer that the schedule doesn’t go live until August 25th, I found this fact eventually somewhere on the site after enough random clicking. You’d think there’d be a mention on the SCHEDULE PAGE though…

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

Okay… only tangentially… received an email from cineworks who has a couple openings; one part time $18/hr gig and one volunteer. Don’t comment here, I am not affiliated with Cineworks, I just figured I might know someone who’d be interested in one of these two gigs.

Keep in mind that this post was made in August 2009 before you go apply – I still have people contacting me about 5 year old posts as if it was posted yesterday.

Cineworks is seeking a part-time DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR and a Volunteer Office Assistant

Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society seeks a DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Employment |
Cineworks is looking for a temporary part-time DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR with working knowledge of Avid, Final Cut Pro and Pro Tools and a passion for film. The ideal candidate excels at problem-solving technical issues, understands multiple video and film formats and enjoys helping filmmakers through the post-production process. A basic understanding of website development is a major asset.

Duties and responsibilities for this position include:
• Booking and coordinating the Cineworks Post-production suites
• Preparing keys and showing members how to navigate the alarm systems for their suites
• Providing basic technical assistance for the edit suites and machine room
• Giving a biweekly orientation of the Cineworks facilities
• Doing routine maintenance and upgrades to the editing systems
• Troubleshooting network and Operating System issues
• Doing basic updates to our web site in Expression Engine
• Keeping abreast of members projects and post production needs, as well as technological developments in the field, for planning and reporting purposes

Six month contract starting September 8, 2009 (possibility of renewal)
Salary $18/Hour, 20 Hours/Week (some flexibility required).

The Digital Media Coordinator reports to the Executive Director.
Interested applicants with the above qualifications can forward their resumes to cineworkspost@gmail.com with the header “DMC Position” no later than Monday, August 31, 2009.

(No phone calls or faxes thank you.) We thank all applicants for their interest but please note that you will only be contacted if we are able to offer an interview.

Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society seeks a VOLUNTEER OFFICE ASSISTANT

This important volunteer position has been created to ensure that basic services are available to our members during my short absence from Sept 3-21.

Time Commitment: Mon-Fri (12pm-6pm) = 12 days in total.
*Prefer someone who can also be available for training prior to and then available for a summary update upon my return. *Dates and times can be negotiable.

Details:
We are looking for a responsible film lover to:
Greet, direct and answer questions at the office
Check, answer and forward emails daily
Answer phone calls and/or forward + take messages
Take payments for rentals and new memberships
Create, edit and send email newsletter weekly

The volunteer will report to the Office Manager, Leanne Makcrow during training and then to the Executive Director, Meg Thornton for the duration.

Qualifications:
Reception and/or related office experience or equivalent
Working knowledge of both PC and Mac
Exceptional ability to communicate orally and in writing
Ability to use POS system and Visa/Debit machine

Recognition: Upon successful completion and at the volunteer’s request, the Executive Director will provide references. We will also gratefully recognize the volunteer’s successful contribution with credits towards membership and/or rentals.
Deadline: To be received by 6:00pm Aug 25, 2009.
Contact: Please send your resume and brief description of interest to: info@cineworks.ca or fax to: 685-9685

Web:www.cineworks.ca

Originally published at bankrupt artist v.3. You can comment here or there.

I had a comment on a post called Money money money that looks like crazy person spam. There’s no functioning link to a product, and the email address was bogus too.

It’s classic Crazy Person, so I couldn’t just delete it, so it gets its very own post for you to enjoy while I go enjoy Taylor Martinson’s china passport and money. Whoo!

Submitted on 2009/07/07 at 4:23am
my name is martin taylor is me doing program in china and i win world market shanghai china in fact am not happy about cctv you people calling my name every day and every time i need my money or my china passport and my America passport you people enjoy my money in beijing but am not enjoy am sufer in side room doing program i never see any payment money only i hear about billions of dollors and billions of yuan i never see any $1 why people walked me martin handle global net work is me handle world ecomoic so is me world health and world wide watch like me hurry every day why infact only God can george now check this no money to pay my house rent no money to buy food infact i need my market document undersand me i need my payment in guangzhou i need cerdit card information