As a person who personally has a phobia of needles (I am a lot better now than I used to be), I found this article to be of particular interest. Not really about anything Scambusting-wise but slightly related to the anti-vax movement which I really don't care for.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=9093#more-9093
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Didja Know?
Didja know? Zehrs Markets offer homeopathy? I just wrote them a letter asking them to rethink that. You can too... pr@loblaw.ca
The Conspiracy Theory Detector
Something to help us sift through all the conspiracie theories from run-away governments to Big Pharma
http://www.michaelshermer.com/2010/12/the-conspiracy-theory-detector/
http://www.michaelshermer.com/2010/12/the-conspiracy-theory-detector/
You can cause change
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tell_facebook_dont_allow_age_of_autism_to_continue_their_harmful_smear_campaign
Update! It appears the petition has worked.
Update! It appears the petition has worked.
Let Oprah Know
Informative blog, but please read this particular article. I've been asked by Jason Delaat to post this (since he's not on FB anymore). Unfortunately this women has died (this past week I believe). Still what he is asking is important in my opinion.
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/12/let_oprah_know_that_kim_tinkham_is_dying.php
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/12/let_oprah_know_that_kim_tinkham_is_dying.php
Junkfood Science
Ever wonder if your fears or concerns about junkfood is valid? Check out this whole blog including this post concerning an often heard expression.
http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2007/06/processed-foods-arent-real-food.html
http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2007/06/processed-foods-arent-real-food.html
The little bracelet that could?
Interesting expose`by CBC about the Q-Ray bracelet.
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2007/11/14/buying_belief/
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2007/11/14/buying_belief/
Questioning SendOutCards
Sendoutcards.com
I was asked to look into this. It is definitely an MLM.
Watching the video:
Only $150 million in sales in 5 years and you are supposed to attain financial freedom as a distributor by taking only a fraction of that? I would argue that 1 million is the lower limit of what wo...uld be considered financial freedom. This means (without taking away business costs and such) that there could only be 150 distributors making that much. Of course there wouldn't be that many distributors making that amount. That would mean each of those distributors would have had to sell 33,000 cards each,which is not impossible as that only 6600 per year at $3 each, But "ah ha!" you say....they also sent over 1million gifts....soooo one wonders how much that would ring up. But wait! They claim to send "tens of thousands" of cards (and gifts) every day. That would equal 3.6 million a year (at an even 10,000 per day). Over five years that would be 18 million. and now my eyes have gone cross-eyed doing all the math beyond this which simply does not add up.
Gotta luv Kathy Ireland in there. She does this and she's rich...oh wait, she was already rich and well off before this...hmmm?
oh so you have to purchase the wholesale PREMIUM package? at $400.
Love the fine print "bonuses are paid only when packages are purchased"...so that means, not on the cards????
http://www.almightydad.com/seo-sem/send-out-cards-youve-been-had
Gotta luv how their own numbers are telling. 0.13% of people in the business are making gross (before expenses) only $50,000 (mind you those are 2008 stats, but still ve...ry telling and consistent with all MLM stats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTmGDcEyC7Y
http://scambusting101.blogspot.com/2010/09/pyamid-schemes-and-multi-level.html
http://www.juicescam.com/
http://www.sequenceinc.com/fraudfiles/category/pyramid-schemes-mlm/ )
My opinion would be to be cautious. While not all MLMs are overly "pryamid schemey", this does appear to raise some red flags.
I was asked to look into this. It is definitely an MLM.
Watching the video:
Only $150 million in sales in 5 years and you are supposed to attain financial freedom as a distributor by taking only a fraction of that? I would argue that 1 million is the lower limit of what wo...uld be considered financial freedom. This means (without taking away business costs and such) that there could only be 150 distributors making that much. Of course there wouldn't be that many distributors making that amount. That would mean each of those distributors would have had to sell 33,000 cards each,which is not impossible as that only 6600 per year at $3 each, But "ah ha!" you say....they also sent over 1million gifts....soooo one wonders how much that would ring up. But wait! They claim to send "tens of thousands" of cards (and gifts) every day. That would equal 3.6 million a year (at an even 10,000 per day). Over five years that would be 18 million. and now my eyes have gone cross-eyed doing all the math beyond this which simply does not add up.
Gotta luv Kathy Ireland in there. She does this and she's rich...oh wait, she was already rich and well off before this...hmmm?
oh so you have to purchase the wholesale PREMIUM package? at $400.
Love the fine print "bonuses are paid only when packages are purchased"...so that means, not on the cards????
http://www.almightydad.com/seo-sem/send-out-cards-youve-been-had
Gotta luv how their own numbers are telling. 0.13% of people in the business are making gross (before expenses) only $50,000 (mind you those are 2008 stats, but still ve...ry telling and consistent with all MLM stats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTmGDcEyC7Y
http://scambusting101.blogspot.com/2010/09/pyamid-schemes-and-multi-level.html
http://www.juicescam.com/
http://www.sequenceinc.com/fraudfiles/category/pyramid-schemes-mlm/ )
My opinion would be to be cautious. While not all MLMs are overly "pryamid schemey", this does appear to raise some red flags.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
More about Joseph Mercola
Vaccine Awareness week....it may not be what you think.
http://skepticblog.org/2010/11/01/joseph-mercola-misinformation-and-fear-mongering-about-vaccines/
http://skepticblog.org/2010/11/01/joseph-mercola-misinformation-and-fear-mongering-about-vaccines/
The Burger
While I love the film "Super Size Me" it did bring about a huge backlash on fast food that maybe was not warranted. Some claims against it were even completely false.
http://skepticblog.org/2010/10/18/the-burger-experiments/
http://skepticblog.org/2010/10/18/the-burger-experiments/
Teen praised for "cure" alert
Nice to see critical thinking in the young!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11540146
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11540146
Power Bands
The Honest Con Man strikes again with showing a current questionable product
http://www.conman.com.au/news/power-band-scams/
http://www.conman.com.au/news/power-band-scams/
Detoxification Myth
Thinking about a foot detox? Read this:
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4083
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/detox_overview.html
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4083
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/detox_overview.html
Natural vs "Natural"
How can we make sense of what is and isn't
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=343
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=343
Urban Chickens
While I support the Urban Chicken idea, some of the claims being made don't seem to support it's cause. The claims that it's better because free range is better in regards to the quality of the food and eggs. No hormones are added and such.
It is interesting to note that according to the U.S. government laws, hormones cannot be used in pork or poultry. "NO HORMONES (pork or poultry):
Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim "no hormones added" cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones." "
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Meat_&_Poultry_Labeling_Terms/index.asp
You may also note the free range is simply listed as "FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside" It doesn't designate how much access or the even exactly what "access to outside" means. Following this train of thought, a chicken could be labelled as free range if they are in a 2 foot by 2 foot pen with a roof. That is not a building and thusly outside.
They often cite that there would be less salmonella in free range. This study shows this not to be so. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2005/00000068/00000011/art00029;jsessionid=238qh0mvak92n.alexandra
So I guess, maybe I'm just saying that the propents of Urban Chickens should not shoot themselves in the foot by making unverified claims. Stick with ideas like pigeons (up to 80) are allowed so chickens should be as well (to a certain number of course). Focus on a right for choice.
It is interesting to note that according to the U.S. government laws, hormones cannot be used in pork or poultry. "NO HORMONES (pork or poultry):
Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim "no hormones added" cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones." "
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Meat_&_Poultry_Labeling_Terms/index.asp
You may also note the free range is simply listed as "FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside" It doesn't designate how much access or the even exactly what "access to outside" means. Following this train of thought, a chicken could be labelled as free range if they are in a 2 foot by 2 foot pen with a roof. That is not a building and thusly outside.
They often cite that there would be less salmonella in free range. This study shows this not to be so. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2005/00000068/00000011/art00029;jsessionid=238qh0mvak92n.alexandra
So I guess, maybe I'm just saying that the propents of Urban Chickens should not shoot themselves in the foot by making unverified claims. Stick with ideas like pigeons (up to 80) are allowed so chickens should be as well (to a certain number of course). Focus on a right for choice.
Aspartame: Truth vs Fiction
You've heard the scary stuff. Is it true?
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=6822
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=6822
Psychic Arrested
Do we blame the victim or the psychic? Or both?
http://io9.com/5542011/colorado-psychic-arrested-for-telling-clients-their-money-was-possessed-by-evil-spirits
http://io9.com/5542011/colorado-psychic-arrested-for-telling-clients-their-money-was-possessed-by-evil-spirits
Quote 2
"If anybody had that cure out there, like so many people swear they do, you’d be two things. You’d be very rich, and you’d be very famous. Otherwise, shut up." --Patrick Swayze
Quackery and Folk Remedies
This just breaks the heart (also view the other parts of the website as well that are due to other types of neglect).
http://childrenshealthcare.org/?page_id=157
http://childrenshealthcare.org/?page_id=157
Quote
"Be sceptical, ask questions, demand proof. Demand evidence. Don't take anything for granted. But here's the thing: when you get proof, you need to accept the proof. And we're not that good at doing that." ~ Michael Specter
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