This weather

So the weather is just annoying me. So much rain, and it just won't stop. I don't know how much more of this I can take. Of course it doesn't bother me so much as it bothers my driving ability. I say that in the fact that my car can't stop worth a crap in the rain, although that may or may not be due to the fact that I need new tires and more desperately need new brakes. Maybe, weather permitting, I can give my car some new brakes this weekend. That shouldn't take too long and hell it might even be fun to get out and do something. Now I just need to figure out where to buy some decent inexpensive brakes and remember how to change them. Thankfully I have a book on my car and the Internet is usually there to fill in the blanks. If all else fails I can always try my father in law as he is generally knowledgeable about these things.

You're Always At Most 107 Miles From A McDonald's [Infographics]

I'm loving it!

 

 

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You're Always At Most 107 Miles From A McDonald's [Infographics]

via Consumerist by Meg Marco on 9/23/09

Stephen Von Worley has figured out that while located in these United States of America, one is always within 107 miles of a McDonald's.

He also created this nifty map to illustrate the concept. According to Mr. Von Worley, "Between the tiny Dakotan hamlets of Meadow and Glad Valley lies the McFarthest Spot: 107 miles distant from the nearest McDonald's, as the crow flies, and 145 miles by car!"

That's quite a drive.

Where The Buffalo Roamed [Weather Sealed via Buzzfeed]

 

 

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Is Everything the Drug Companies Say About Cholesterol Wrong?

 

 

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Is Everything the Drug Companies Say About Cholesterol Wrong?

via Dvorak Uncensored by Uncle Dave on 9/23/09

We have all been led to believe that cholesterol is bad and that lowering it is good. Because of extensive pharmaceutical marketing to both doctors and patients we think that using statin drugs is proven to work to lower the risk of heart attacks and death.

But on what scientific evidence is this based, what does that evidence really show?

Roger Williams once said something that is very applicable to how we commonly view the benefits of statins. "There are liars, damn liars, and statisticians."

Read the article for a list of what statins can and can't do.

So why did the 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines expand the previous guidelines to recommend that more people take statins (from 13 million to 40 million) and that people who don't have heart disease should take them to prevent heart disease. Could it have been that 8 of the 9 experts on the panel who developed these guidelines had financial ties to the drug industry? Thirty-four other non-industry affiliated experts sent a petition to protest the recommendations to the National Institutes of Health saying the evidence was weak. It was like having a fox guard the chicken coop.

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Video – Baby Panda Gets a Checkup

Something you don't see everyday

 

 

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Video – Baby Panda Gets a Checkup

via Dvorak Uncensored by Gasparrini on 9/23/09

So cute.

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And now, back to real (meta-)news…

 

 

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And now, back to real (meta-)news…

via Dvorak Uncensored by Guilherme Cherman on 9/20/09

This is what the American media is all about. And for anyone who hasn't figured it out yet, they all lie.

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FCC Proposes New, Awesome, Net Neutrality Rules [Net Neutrality]

 

 

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FCC Proposes New, Awesome, Net Neutrality Rules [Net Neutrality]

via Consumerist by Ben Popken on 9/21/09

The FCC today proposed new rules to protect and preserve "net neutrality," the idea that ISPs must treat all users the same and not prejudice against different types of customers. In a speech, Chairman Julius Genachowski supported adopting the "Four Freedoms" first articulated by the FCC in 2004 (PDF) not just as principles but as formal rules, and adding two more: "non-discrimination" and "transparency." The big networks are, naturally, incensed.

More specifically, the new principles are:

5) Non-discrimination — broadband providers cannot discriminate against particular Internet content or applications.
6) Transparency — providers of broadband Internet access must be transparent about their network management practices.

And to recap, The "Four Freedoms" are:

1) Freedom to Access Content: Consumers should have access to their choice of legal content
2) Freedom to Use Applications: Consumers should be able to run applications of their choice
3) Freedom to Attach Personal Devices: Consumers should be permitted to attach any devices they choose to the connection in their homes
4) Freedom to Obtain Service Plan Information: Consumers should receive meaningful information regarding their service plans."

With the fifth principle, it's like they're staring directly at Comcast.

"Preserving a Free and Open Internet: A Platform for Innovation, Opportunity, and Prosperity" Prepared Remarks of
Chairman Julius Genachowski The Brookings Institution, Washington DC September 21, 2009 [FCC]

 

 

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So

Well I've gotten lazy and let google reader do my blogging, but what can I say I am busy, anyway the good thing is the blog hasn't been without updates - but don't worry I will start writing soon