Also, purchasing Canadian diamonds only reinforces the demand for diamonds in general.
Really? How?
I'd say it only reinforces demand for Canadian diamonds...it actually alleviates short supply of other diamonds by leaving extra blood diamonds in the market.
You should read up more on Canadian diamonds. My wife's Canadian diamonds have a serial number inscribed on them and a certificate of authenticity. Of course, that could all be faked...but I've heard no evidence of widespread forgery of Canadian diamonds. Yes, they do cost more, but I was more than willing to pay the extra amount, if just to counter the self-righteous putdowns I've been reading in this thread. Yes, my wife did prefer diamonds (I tried to talk her into a sapphire or maybe a kayak) and she's anything but stupid. She just likes shiny things and I think there is nothing wrong with that.
As for the Kimberley process...I'm not saying its a conclusive answer...but at least its a start. What type of program would you be happy with? Anything? I seriously doubt any program with any amount of enforcement and transparency would quench y'all's anti-diamond stances.
Sorry shawnj, when you group all diamonds under one roof, you do come across as uninformed. In addition to alternative Canadian sources of diamonds, have you ever heard of the Kimberley Process, a certification process to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the marketplace? I ask you, at what point does hating on diamonds (and those that wear them) become a red herring for your justified anger about conflict and slavery in the Congo?
If you want untainted diamonds you can always go Canadian. I know I did, and my wife loves looking at the little polar bear inscription under the microscope.
For all those so deeply concerned about the Congo (and I apologize if I sound cynical here, but I've seen these facile protests far too often) it might interest you to know that not only do diamonds fuel Congo conflict, but so do your cellphones and laptops...
I believe its safe to assume that the people warning others off blood diamonds won't be giving up their tech anytime soon hmmmm???
Am I the only person here (other than dxlifer) that thinks these are awesome?? Next you'll tell me I'm the only one here that wants to get screw on spikes put into his scalp...
As an aside to the people talking about how easy it would be to rip these off...not if he puts razor sharp metal on the edges with little spikes stickin out it ain't...
ThreeDayMonk
I'd say they're not bluffing.
Parthenogenesis cannot normally occur due to imprinting.
Of course, with appropriate genetic engineering, you can get around this block (in mice).
I wonder how useful these cells would be...imprinting is pretty important stuff.
After years of dealing with the likes of Coulter and Carlson I have come to conclusion that they are the cable equivalent of message board trolls...out for a reaction, preferably a pissed off one. Ever notice how a certain subportion of rightwingers (and arguably leftwingers) seem to take a visceral joy in pissing other people off?
goetter:
nice link!
Ah but you see minda, part of being a Canadian (to me at least) is not being proud, in the quintessentially patriotic sense at least. As a Canadian living in the USA, I like/miss my country a whole lot, but I get profoundly uncomfortable when people start talking it up...its not some Northern paradise, although I do think its a damn great place. Its the whole self-effacing thing I guess...
As for the maple leaf patches, I've recently come to dislike the whole "covering yourself in the flag" cliche that Canadian travellers seem to do. If I'm in another country, I want to talk about their country, not draw attention to mine...
Moneyjane, Canada is so not cool! And that's what makes it so very cool. ;)
For your ID refutation needs
Its interesting to note that many IDers appear to get Behe's (author of Darwin's Black Box, the ID "Bible") base argument wrong...arguing not only against evolution of the cell as Behe does, but arguing against evolution of entire organisms, which Behe concedes.
Behe's fatal flaw? He doesn't seem to know much about genetics...
Anything by Autechre but in particular the album "confield". If you can sit through that puppy, you got some serious immunity to weirdness goin on...
Oh, and a big third to the Butthole Surfers, specially their early stuff.
dxlifer,
I believe you're my new hero for today! Thanks for the smile. :)
Unfortunately, in my experience, the research community isn't nearly as good an environment for being open about these things . Scientists can be remarkably ignorant about these issues, and typecast people actions as being solely determined by their illness.
Personally, my former supervisor was quite vocally abusive and dismissive towards people on Prozac and would attribute their every mistake to them being "stoned" (never to their face of course). He and others in my lab were of the opinion that mental illness made you "weak" and not fit to do science. In a field that relies on reputation as much as mine does, having people cutting you down behind your back (and in your reference letters) can be a career killer.
Given that I was already a bit of a freak (my wife's friends nicknamed me rainbow brite due to my rapid and shocking hair color changes), I didn't want to give people another excuse to dismiss me, so I was never open about my experiences. Frankly, my former lab was a messed-up abusive place and not very helpful for my mental health (but I'll save those stories for another time). Anyways, now that I'm in a new lab with what seem to be tolerant and wonderful people, I'm still pretty hesitant to be open about my past. I wish I had your courage! :)
moneyjane,
I have to agree that the stigma plays a big role in how bad side effects are peceived to be.
If people were able to say to their employer and co-workers that they'd be a bit wonky for a few days while trying a new medication (or coming off one) there'd be a heck of alot less stress all around...
I know that in my work place, I am frankly paranoid about anyone finding out about my illness.
I do notice that a lot of people who talk about having problems coming off something chose, for their own reasons, to make the decision and do it without professional input. Taking medications is serious business and it should be treated as such.
(Wow, this comment really pissed me off for some reason...)
Frankly, I took getting on and getting off my medications very seriously. I proceeded under complete professional guidance and still had problems. Problems which were treated flippantly and dismissed (much as some have dismissed the experiences of people on this thread) by various doctors.
mk1gti
My experiences with the USian health care system (I'm a Canadian transplant) are what prompted me to try life without the meds. Too much shuttling around from doctor to doctor, half the time spent talking about my insurance and I still got stuck with a huge bill for incorrectly managing my referral.
I really agree with the socialized medicare idea, I experienced far less stress dealing with the system back home...but perhaps that's just me, as I'm not the most organized fella.
Of course, I've always found its better to do something than complain, but I don't know what to do to help. I've been considering joining some sort of patient advocacy group for some time but don't know of any good ones (i.e. professional, effective and active).
Wurwilf,
As a non-student at my research institute, I didn't have those sort of cheaper alternatives, although I agree that they can be great, my best therapist was a grad-student as well.
mk1gti
What an idiot! Was she even listening?
Even though I am in favor of therapy, I have to agree, some of these "therapists" are horrible. Out of the five people I've seen over the years, only the professional student counsellor was any good. He spent the time to earn my trust and let me go at my own pace. Of the others, the general practitioners didn't have time, the social worker pinned my problems on my lack of religion and my final psychiatrist was a dismissive hectoring jerk. The last guy actually said to me "so what other stupid things did you do?" on my very first (and last) appointment, and was surprised when I immediately dropped him (and called me at home to pressure me into going back).
So yah, I guess you've got to be careful about picking your therapist too...
Of course, when you're depressed and anxious, these are the exactly the type of decisions that you're not fit to make...
For me, I'll stick with my less drinking, more running prescription for health. However, I don't think I could have got here without the pills and therapy...maybe we just have to accept that its a messy process, and try to muddle through as best as possible...
From my experiences weaning myself off Effexor, I can say that there truly are withdrawl symptoms associated with these short-halflife SSRIs, unrelated to the underlying depression/anxiety.
In my case, I had received therapy and my life was going quite well when I decided to stop taking the drugs (partly on account of stories like these). I still experienced very unpleasant "withdrawl" symptoms, including senseless rage and anxiety as well as the infamous "electrical shocks" in my brain when I moved to quickly. The symptoms weren't actually that unfamiliar to me, as I had experienced them in a minor way whenever I forgot to take my pill. Thankfully, they eventually lessened (after about two weeks to a month) for me and are now completely gone. I can only imagine what some of the people in this article have gone through.
Still, I remain a reluctant proponent of SSRIs, as in many instances these pills can save lives (mine for example). However I also strongly feel that doctors are far too cavalier about prescribing these medications, should prescribe only as a last resort and use lower doses for less extended periods of time (I was on mine for almost three years). I also strongly believe that, as beeza suggests, they should be prescribed in combination with, and preferably after, some form of verbal or behavioral therapy. IMHO the pills are useless if you don't use the period of reprieve they offer to learn how to handle or accept the problems in your life.
on preview: there is no way in hell I'm going back on anything either mk1gti! :)
Frankly, I kinda pity the poor Custom's agent that has to sit through my spiel about my work on the chromosomal coordination of asynchronous replication of random monoallelicly expressed genes in EBV-transformed primary lymphoblasts.
trampnews
Thanks for the link on Manichaeism. Very interesting.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole concept of dualism. I had always thought that gthe concept of dualism implied that good and evil were opposite and separate from each other, whereas a non-dualism implied that there is good and evil in both sides of a dispute (the whole yin-yang thing).
However, I fully realize I have no idea what I'm talking about, and would love to learn more as I'm just a Baptist raised Buddhist leaning atheist with a scientific approach to the world. :)
Can you recommend any more extensive reading?
I found the interesting part to be the idea that opposite sides of an argument cannot exist without each other and in some ways mirror each other. In this case, the view of America as "the good" could not exist without the OBL "the bad". In turn, in this dualistic view, OBL can use the actions of America to portray himself as "the good" and America as "the bad". They fuel each other.
Also, purchasing Canadian diamonds only reinforces the demand for diamonds in general. Really? How? I'd say it only reinforces demand for Canadian diamonds...it actually alleviates short supply of other diamonds by leaving extra blood diamonds in the market. You should read up more on Canadian diamonds. My wife's Canadian diamonds have a serial number inscribed on them and a certificate of authenticity. Of course, that could all be faked...but I've heard no evidence of widespread forgery of Canadian diamonds. Yes, they do cost more, but I was more than willing to pay the extra amount, if just to counter the self-righteous putdowns I've been reading in this thread. Yes, my wife did prefer diamonds (I tried to talk her into a sapphire or maybe a kayak) and she's anything but stupid. She just likes shiny things and I think there is nothing wrong with that. As for the Kimberley process...I'm not saying its a conclusive answer...but at least its a start. What type of program would you be happy with? Anything? I seriously doubt any program with any amount of enforcement and transparency would quench y'all's anti-diamond stances.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
Sorry shawnj, when you group all diamonds under one roof, you do come across as uninformed. In addition to alternative Canadian sources of diamonds, have you ever heard of the Kimberley Process, a certification process to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the marketplace? I ask you, at what point does hating on diamonds (and those that wear them) become a red herring for your justified anger about conflict and slavery in the Congo?
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
If you want untainted diamonds you can always go Canadian. I know I did, and my wife loves looking at the little polar bear inscription under the microscope. For all those so deeply concerned about the Congo (and I apologize if I sound cynical here, but I've seen these facile protests far too often) it might interest you to know that not only do diamonds fuel Congo conflict, but so do your cellphones and laptops... I believe its safe to assume that the people warning others off blood diamonds won't be giving up their tech anytime soon hmmmm???
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Pierced Eyeglasses"
Am I the only person here (other than dxlifer) that thinks these are awesome?? Next you'll tell me I'm the only one here that wants to get screw on spikes put into his scalp... As an aside to the people talking about how easy it would be to rip these off...not if he puts razor sharp metal on the edges with little spikes stickin out it ain't...
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Scientists claim to have found a way to please everyone in the stem-cell research debate by making embryos that cannot develop into human beings."
ThreeDayMonk I'd say they're not bluffing. Parthenogenesis cannot normally occur due to imprinting. Of course, with appropriate genetic engineering, you can get around this block (in mice). I wonder how useful these cells would be...imprinting is pretty important stuff.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Just when you thought Coulter and Carlson could not get any stupider..."
damn you fuyugare!! I really must learn to type faster...
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
After years of dealing with the likes of Coulter and Carlson I have come to conclusion that they are the cable equivalent of message board trolls...out for a reaction, preferably a pissed off one. Ever notice how a certain subportion of rightwingers (and arguably leftwingers) seem to take a visceral joy in pissing other people off? goetter: nice link!
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Thanks a lot guys."
Ah but you see minda, part of being a Canadian (to me at least) is not being proud, in the quintessentially patriotic sense at least. As a Canadian living in the USA, I like/miss my country a whole lot, but I get profoundly uncomfortable when people start talking it up...its not some Northern paradise, although I do think its a damn great place. Its the whole self-effacing thing I guess... As for the maple leaf patches, I've recently come to dislike the whole "covering yourself in the flag" cliche that Canadian travellers seem to do. If I'm in another country, I want to talk about their country, not draw attention to mine... Moneyjane, Canada is so not cool! And that's what makes it so very cool. ;)
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "The first casualty of the '04 elections"
For your ID refutation needs Its interesting to note that many IDers appear to get Behe's (author of Darwin's Black Box, the ID "Bible") base argument wrong...arguing not only against evolution of the cell as Behe does, but arguing against evolution of entire organisms, which Behe concedes. Behe's fatal flaw? He doesn't seem to know much about genetics...
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Curious George: Weird Music"
Anything by Autechre but in particular the album "confield". If you can sit through that puppy, you got some serious immunity to weirdness goin on... Oh, and a big third to the Butthole Surfers, specially their early stuff.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "It's the Jerry Garcia Autopsy!"
rocket88, Shouts out to the Hammer! (spent 9 years in grad school there)
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Paxil Babies"
dxlifer, I believe you're my new hero for today! Thanks for the smile. :) Unfortunately, in my experience, the research community isn't nearly as good an environment for being open about these things . Scientists can be remarkably ignorant about these issues, and typecast people actions as being solely determined by their illness. Personally, my former supervisor was quite vocally abusive and dismissive towards people on Prozac and would attribute their every mistake to them being "stoned" (never to their face of course). He and others in my lab were of the opinion that mental illness made you "weak" and not fit to do science. In a field that relies on reputation as much as mine does, having people cutting you down behind your back (and in your reference letters) can be a career killer. Given that I was already a bit of a freak (my wife's friends nicknamed me rainbow brite due to my rapid and shocking hair color changes), I didn't want to give people another excuse to dismiss me, so I was never open about my experiences. Frankly, my former lab was a messed-up abusive place and not very helpful for my mental health (but I'll save those stories for another time). Anyways, now that I'm in a new lab with what seem to be tolerant and wonderful people, I'm still pretty hesitant to be open about my past. I wish I had your courage! :)
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
moneyjane, I have to agree that the stigma plays a big role in how bad side effects are peceived to be. If people were able to say to their employer and co-workers that they'd be a bit wonky for a few days while trying a new medication (or coming off one) there'd be a heck of alot less stress all around... I know that in my work place, I am frankly paranoid about anyone finding out about my illness.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
I do notice that a lot of people who talk about having problems coming off something chose, for their own reasons, to make the decision and do it without professional input. Taking medications is serious business and it should be treated as such. (Wow, this comment really pissed me off for some reason...) Frankly, I took getting on and getting off my medications very seriously. I proceeded under complete professional guidance and still had problems. Problems which were treated flippantly and dismissed (much as some have dismissed the experiences of people on this thread) by various doctors.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
mk1gti My experiences with the USian health care system (I'm a Canadian transplant) are what prompted me to try life without the meds. Too much shuttling around from doctor to doctor, half the time spent talking about my insurance and I still got stuck with a huge bill for incorrectly managing my referral. I really agree with the socialized medicare idea, I experienced far less stress dealing with the system back home...but perhaps that's just me, as I'm not the most organized fella. Of course, I've always found its better to do something than complain, but I don't know what to do to help. I've been considering joining some sort of patient advocacy group for some time but don't know of any good ones (i.e. professional, effective and active). Wurwilf, As a non-student at my research institute, I didn't have those sort of cheaper alternatives, although I agree that they can be great, my best therapist was a grad-student as well.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
mk1gti What an idiot! Was she even listening? Even though I am in favor of therapy, I have to agree, some of these "therapists" are horrible. Out of the five people I've seen over the years, only the professional student counsellor was any good. He spent the time to earn my trust and let me go at my own pace. Of the others, the general practitioners didn't have time, the social worker pinned my problems on my lack of religion and my final psychiatrist was a dismissive hectoring jerk. The last guy actually said to me "so what other stupid things did you do?" on my very first (and last) appointment, and was surprised when I immediately dropped him (and called me at home to pressure me into going back). So yah, I guess you've got to be careful about picking your therapist too... Of course, when you're depressed and anxious, these are the exactly the type of decisions that you're not fit to make... For me, I'll stick with my less drinking, more running prescription for health. However, I don't think I could have got here without the pills and therapy...maybe we just have to accept that its a messy process, and try to muddle through as best as possible...
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
From my experiences weaning myself off Effexor, I can say that there truly are withdrawl symptoms associated with these short-halflife SSRIs, unrelated to the underlying depression/anxiety. In my case, I had received therapy and my life was going quite well when I decided to stop taking the drugs (partly on account of stories like these). I still experienced very unpleasant "withdrawl" symptoms, including senseless rage and anxiety as well as the infamous "electrical shocks" in my brain when I moved to quickly. The symptoms weren't actually that unfamiliar to me, as I had experienced them in a minor way whenever I forgot to take my pill. Thankfully, they eventually lessened (after about two weeks to a month) for me and are now completely gone. I can only imagine what some of the people in this article have gone through. Still, I remain a reluctant proponent of SSRIs, as in many instances these pills can save lives (mine for example). However I also strongly feel that doctors are far too cavalier about prescribing these medications, should prescribe only as a last resort and use lower doses for less extended periods of time (I was on mine for almost three years). I also strongly believe that, as beeza suggests, they should be prescribed in combination with, and preferably after, some form of verbal or behavioral therapy. IMHO the pills are useless if you don't use the period of reprieve they offer to learn how to handle or accept the problems in your life. on preview: there is no way in hell I'm going back on anything either mk1gti! :)
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "US still hates foreigners."
Frankly, I kinda pity the poor Custom's agent that has to sit through my spiel about my work on the chromosomal coordination of asynchronous replication of random monoallelicly expressed genes in EBV-transformed primary lymphoblasts.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
In "Getting Beyond Good vs. Evil:"
trampnews Thanks for the link on Manichaeism. Very interesting. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole concept of dualism. I had always thought that gthe concept of dualism implied that good and evil were opposite and separate from each other, whereas a non-dualism implied that there is good and evil in both sides of a dispute (the whole yin-yang thing). However, I fully realize I have no idea what I'm talking about, and would love to learn more as I'm just a Baptist raised Buddhist leaning atheist with a scientific approach to the world. :) Can you recommend any more extensive reading?
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
I found the interesting part to be the idea that opposite sides of an argument cannot exist without each other and in some ways mirror each other. In this case, the view of America as "the good" could not exist without the OBL "the bad". In turn, in this dualistic view, OBL can use the actions of America to portray himself as "the good" and America as "the bad". They fuel each other.
posted by i count dots 19 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)