Bad Science

Is, in case I haven't said it before, a brilliant column.

On the disturbing tendency of some researchers to define (or re-define) criteria after gathering data:

Now this poses massive problems. Imagine that I am stood facing a barn, holding a machine gun, blindfolded, firing off shots whilst swinging my whole body from side to side and laughing maniacally. I then walk up to the barn, find three bullet holes which happen to be very close together, and draw a target around them, claiming I am an excellent shot.

And we wonder why people are so confused about climate change. *sigh* It doesn't help when the media completely misrepresents scientific findings, and then refuses to clarify or retract incorrect statements, even when contacted by the author of the paper they were reporting in the first place.

http://www.badscience.net/2009/01/the-telegraph-misrepresent-a-scientists-work-on-climate-and-then-refuse-to-correct-it-when-he-writes-to-them/

Also, if anyone out there would like to buy me a gift for no apparent reason, you can do so and support the good Dr. Goldacres; I'd enjoy one of these shirts:

http://222610.spreadshirt.net/en/GB/Shop/Article/Index/article/i-think-youll-find-its-a-bit-more-complicated-than-that-8097922

So it's been a while

since I read Bad Science. I'm catching up on back issues. Which means lots of links for you lovely folks.

Once more into the breach on Autism vs vaccination... a specious correlation so wide-spread into 'common knowledge' that clients have declined vaccinations for puppies despite my best efforts to educate that them that 1: vaccines don't cause autism, 2: dogs don't get autism anyway, even if vaccines did cause it in humans (which they don't-see 1), 3: dogs get Parvo regularly, 4: even if autism DID happen in dogs, and even if it WERE caused by vaccination, it's not fatal, and 5: Parvo kills dogs in a disgusting and decidedly uncomfortable manner (and we'll just not even get started on distemper...)

http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/its-not-my-fault-i-fall-into-repetitive-self-parody-you-started-it/

Texas Nigiri

Is apparently what we had for dinner tonight. Whatever the hell he calls it, it was yummy, so yay Bruce!

Cook rice. FLAVORFUL rice. Make the rice flavorful by addition of: beef broth rather than water for cooking, butter, oregano, onion powder, and ground pepper. Put cheese in the rice. Enough cheese to make the rice cohesive. Marinade very thin strips of steak in olive oil, malt vinegar, and steak seasoning. Use more vinegar than you might think is appropriate, particularly if you've used more oregano than is purely natural in the rice. Roll steak out flat. Make nigiris, and roll them up in the steak.

Place rolls in a deep pan, cover and bake at 300F for an hour. or 45 minutes. or, you know, until they're done.

Allow to rest (covered) for 15 minutes.

Voila!




Ideas for next time: stew in tomato sauce instead of braising in own juices.

Pineapple express

bad. don't bother.