Much thanks to JMapleseed for catching this article!

In a recent, more than sobering Missoulian article (from the AP), a recent survey states:

More than half of randomly surveyed adults (57 percent) said God’s intervention could save a family member even if physicians declared treatment would be futile. And nearly three-quarters said patients have a right to demand such treatment.

When asked to imagine their own relatives being gravely ill or injured, nearly 20 percent of doctors and other medical workers said God could reverse a hopeless outcome.

Amazing, how many more Madeline Neumanns will it take? More surprising is that 20% of medical workers believe the same. So hopefully they don’t turn to faith when a procedure turns difficult.

Am I the only one enraged? Kudos for the Missoulian for posting an article critical of these beliefs. And they even published a sensible piece on childhood immunizations, refreshing in this age of ignorant, charlatans.

Stop by and say hello

If their is one cryptozoological creature I really want to believe in it’s Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, or just Sas. I mean how awesome would that be, an undiscovered hominid skulking through the woods of western North America. Many people claim to have evidence of Sas (all unverified), even many Montanans, most recently a motorist near Alberton.

From the Missoulian:

The motorist said he saw the Bigfoot approaching a middle-age couple who were fly-fishing, said Matt Moneymaker, who heads the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization in California.

The motorist, who called 9-1-1, described the sasquatch as more than 7 1/2 feet tall with long arms, a skinny frame and brown hair.

Now, the Missoulian called in an expert, who portrayed an air of skepticism, Matt Moneymaker (lol!) from a most august  society, The Bigfoot Field Researchers association.

“I know when you’re driving in a wooded area that things can create an illusion of something big,” he said. “We get tons of reports, but this one just doesn’t add up. We need some corroboration.”

Moneymaker said the motorist made a secondhand verbal report to his organization but has yet to make a written report, which is required before the group will conduct a formal investigation.

“The only way we’ll take it seriously is if it’s written down, so we can follow up,” he said.

Moneymaker said one of his group’s members reports the Montana-Idaho border to be a hotbed of Bigfoot sightings.

He said the two states have good sasquatch habitat - remote forests and plenty of elk, deer and other food sources for omnivores - but may have a limited number of sightings because of the small human population.

But c’mon Missoulian, you don’t even question his assertations of evidence, none of which have been confirmed. There is, as of yet, no concrete evidence of Sas. :..(

Yet the paper let’s this expert list a lie as the final word?

“You can walk in the woods in Montana your whole life and never come across the remains of a mountain lion and they outnumber the Bigfoot 1,000 to one.”

Quick update to the three readers, The Missoula Area Secular Society (MASS) will have its inaugural meeting this July 10th at the Missoula Public Library at 7:00PM. This seems to be a more well organized group than ourselves, so be there or be square. Also, if anyone has a Guy Fawkes mask NOT on backorder, you should bring it as they will be discussing a Scientology Petition that well all need to sign.

In related news, I just discovered a local website called Grupthink or something, it has a poll on alternative medicine some of you skeptics may be interested in, but whoever authored it really needs to learn noun/ verb agreement.

The interment of Japanese and Italian Americans during WWII is a tragic blight on this nation’s history, and a gross violation of human rights in a nation that aspires to treat all individuals with dignity.

However, to honor the memory and sacrifice of those interned does not require magic and hocus-pocus. On Tuesday, during a dedication of a plaque at a Fort Missoula building that once held Japanese-Americans during WWII, a Zen master was employed to cleanse the bad air of the past.

Some highlights from the article:

Takabayashi explains it [the building] as having a “very funny mood” and “dark air.”

On Tuesday, at a sign dedication ceremony recognizing the building’s historic significance, Takabayashi blessed and cleansed the building of its painful past and worked to “clear the room of negative influences.” Only days earlier, walking the long lonely stretches of hallway, Takabayashi sensed as many as 27 unsettled spirits there.

“This is where their fates were decided,” said Diane Sands, development director for the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, standing in what was once the courtroom where hundreds of Japanese-American detainees had to prove they weren’t spies. “Of course there are some remnants of that energy here.”

It’s difficult for Takabayashi to elaborate on the spiritual beings, but he’s confident now that the air is “very different.”

Different from the air outside? in this musty old building? I for one am shocked. This was front page news! A magic ritual to clear “dark air” of “27 unsettled spirits” (no more, no less).

Why not an informative lecture on the building’s past and a bit on the personal history of those interned, letters and words from family members affected? This was a dark time in our past, how about use this as an opportunity to spread some knowledge and context so that we not repeat such egregious neglect of the rights of Americans. Nah, a ritual will suffice, sprinkle some rice, ring a bell, and call it a day. To be fair, the historical plaque is an nice addition to the Fort Missoula Museum!

Woo woo, the traveling cavalcade of new age hogwash pulls into Missoula this weekend April 12-13! For a mere $3 you can witness the cutting edge of quantum quackery to good old fashion dowsing at Ruby’s (moar like Woo-by’s, amirite!) 9-6pm. Topics include: Reiki, singing crystal bowls (?!?), energetic space clearing, and the science of getting rich!

Why the hell is our local paper “The Independent” ruining its reputation even more by attaching its name to this carnival of pseudoscience? Well there is money to be made when folks are uninformed. Maybe Neucelebration (moar like..aww forget it) had deep pockets, I wonder where they got the money?

Anyhow, members of the MSS will be there to be sure, look for the bored or laughing people rolling their eyes.

Autism is a horrible and misunderstood disease. The causes remain unclear, and this has lead to some hypotheses that relate the onset of autism with vaccinations.

A recent court case was settled involving a 9-year old girl whose state worsened into autism-like after vaccination. The plaintiffs were awarded compensation. This case is very complex and dealt with more completely elsewhere. However, many Montana’s do not vaccinate and still believe vaccinations cause autism. A recent article in the Helena news addresses this issue.

Please, if you have questions about the autism/vaccine debate, go here. Part of me is afraid that the current whooping cough outbreak in the Flathead could be a result of lack of regular vaccinations.

***Just Plain Crazy People Update 3/19/08*** 

Ok, I am not an a priori skeptic. I really like the idea of mind reading and bigfoot, that would be frickin sweet. However, when decades of study yields a consensus that something doesn’t exists, we must sigh and move on (or read more sci-fi to get a fantasy fix).

This is sadly not the case with the global warming deniers. I mean jeeze, how many studies will it take to convince them it is real and caused by human activity. Well, apparently some of our elected officials are having a hard time with reason, despite the fact that 74% of the state believe global warming is real (reference within article). See Pogie’s excellent post for another angle, or Jay Stevens take for a scarier perspective of Dan McGee (its scary because its true).

You know, there comes a point when the skeptic moves from trying to logically explain something, to outright frustration that people simply deny reality. So, if you don’t believe in global warming, no links I list will likely change your mind, but for good measure. Otherwise, if you have to talk to these people in person.

If you want to help climate change scientists this spring through citizen science, check out project budburst !

Don’t get me wrong, I do not like going to the doctor or taking a prescription, but I am not about to abandon reason because I don’t like a few aspects of medicine. Naturopathy is big business in Montana, and marketed well. Recent articles in the Montana Standard and Great Fall Tribune extol the “benefits” of these alternative medicines. It is not surprising that naturopathy is one of the last holdouts of the skeptic, perhaps because it seems so intuitive. Sure many drugs come from herbs, and even certain herbal preparations have beneficial physiological effects. But the skeptic must remain ever vigilant, not all herbs and things have had adequate or successful clinical trials, and naturopathy includes more than just herbs.

Books could be written on the myth of homeopathy. But what about naturopathy? It is different right?

Well, many aspects of naturopathy are still rooted in the supernatural, and the claims of the naturopath must be carefully scrutinized.

For instance, in a recent Montana Standard interview, Dr. Shahab Samieian, a naturopath at the Butte Healing Arts Center states:

Another home remedy involves apple cider vinegar. Used for generations in New England, Samieian said the common grocery store item is believed to have antibacterial properties. He recommends taking a tablespoon twice a day when experiencing cold and flu symptoms.

Now, why would you use an antibacterial agent for a viral infection?

He goes on to market some expensive sugar water:

He noted that the homeopathic remedy Oscillococc-inum has anti-viral properties and works especially well in children.
When symptoms become severe and do not respond to initial treatments, Samieian said that naturopaths do offer homeopathic antiviral injections.“It’s a natural alternative to (drugs like) Tamiflu,” he said.

Gee, I wonder how much that costs? Remember folks, if a product claims to remedy different classes of ailments (e.g. bacterial, viral infections, and cancer) its bogus! And remember, never hide from your doctor the herbal supplements you may be taking, serious interactions exist.

I want to believe! But I really need some evidence.

Feel like meeting the elite of the Bitterroot UFO believers? Well next Wednesday 3/12/08 is your chance.

From the Missoula Independent:

Aliens beware: The UFO group hosts a free public meeting with the theme Relevancy of UFOs in 2008 in the community room of the Stevensville Public Library at 7 PM. RSVP 642-3928.

I am sure their evidence will be of sound science.

It is a tough call, because a Reiki seminar is going down at the same time in Missoula. Both are surprisingly free (of cost, and critical thinking).

I think I’ll just spend the $3 and check out some real science at the Montana Natural History Center which offers:

UM graduate student Katie Mally presents a touchy treatise on her work with poky Bitterroot pals during the lecture The Careful Art of Tracking Porcupines at 7 PM at the Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St. $3 suggested donation. Call 327-0405.

Also, this makes me real happy