tofor, I suggest you look at some flat earth videos. They refuse to believe scientific data, use incorrect calculations (the infamous 8" per mi^2), disbelieve their own tests that show curvature and don’t acknowledge question of their model like “How do eclipses work?” or “Why doesn’t sunlight follow the inverse square law?” BUT as an example, one flearther showed a video of a driver on a saltpan who said how flat it was and took his statement as confirming the Earth is flat.
There are seldom to never any large-scale double-blind clinical trials of the more ludicrous types of woo*, because it’s a huge waste of time and money for evidence-based physicians and scientists to test treatments that 1) have no logical mechanism behind them, and 2) pose a significant risk to the patient from the treatment itself (for instance, ear candling can cause burns and hearing loss) or from avoidance of effective, proven care. Woo promoters could dedicate a percentage of their profits to funding such studies, but there’s no incentive to do so when you’re making money, and know that your woo will likely be found useless.
So lots of studies are of the case-report-and-review-of-the-literature type, or for woo promoters, a small unblinded case series of poor quality that can be endlessly referenced to show that “See, Science** shows I’m right!”
Re ear candling, a bogus and potentially harmful practice:
*except for homeopathy, which well-conducted large studies have repeatedly shown is no better than placebo.
**Odd then that wooists simultaneously tell us that science can’t be trusted.
Non-paywall - Marcus Lamb, anti-vaccine Christian broadcaster dies after Covid battle
Another one bites the dust. And another one, and another one, …
Sorry to continue the hijack, but…
ETA Spoiler: They’re a hoax.
There is a large for the area church a couple of miles away. The paster has everyone convinced that God will save them, no jabs required.
God doesn’t seem to be listening to them because the Matriarch died 10/30 which canceled the big no mask required inside Harvest Festival (which included costumes and trick or treating at the different spooky tables, but I digress) and the Patriarch died the day before Thanksgiving. Now the rest of the family is sick and the congregation led toy drive for local kids has stalled.
I used to donate and volunteer for those sort of things until I was dis-invited because I asked about masking and social distancing. Sorry kids, looks like you have to suffer for the sins of your fathers and such.
Marcus Lamb, founder of the large Christian network Daystar, died Tuesday after contracting the coronavirus. Lamb’s network during the pandemic has made the virus a huge focus, calling it a satanic attack that should not be treated with vaccines. He was 64 years old.
Daystar is the second-largest Christian network in the world, according to CBN News, a competitor, reaching 2 billion people worldwide. Its brand is a fluid, modern, charismatic faith, more about general good-vs-evil, miraculous healings and religious freedom than any specific denominational theology.
But during the pandemic, Lamb and his network went in big with anti-vaccine conspiracies, hosting daily interviews with skeptics who talked about dangerous, hidden forces pushing vaccines and stealing Christians’ freedoms. “What if the most dangerous thing your child could face in life is the very thing you’re told by your doctor is safe?” is the headline of “A Hidden Crisis," about coronavirus vaccines.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a spiritual attack from the enemy," Lamb’s son, Jonathan, said on the network earlier this month about his father’s covid-19 bout, Relevant magazine reported Tuesday. Talking about the alternative, unfounded treatments his parents promoted, Jonathan Lamb said, "there’s no doubt that the enemy is not happy about that. And he’s doing everything he can to take down my Dad.”
Daystar spokesman Arnold Torres declined to comment Tuesday on Lamb’s career or about his views of his illness before he died, or whether he was vaccinated.
I guess when he showed up at the Pearly Gates, God said to him, “You doofus! I sent you a rowboat! I sent you a helicopter! …”
This is what I keep thinking about these stories, too. And maybe a little, “Just curious. When I sent, like 3 easily obtained vaccines against this very virus, why did you decide that what I sent was dewormer?”
Any bets his flock is thinking Ghod loved him so much He dragged him home early?
Just cause Satan gives you COVID doesn’t mean God didn’t give you medicine.
This is more just a complaint about covidiot fatigue. And to be clear, I’m not wanting anyone’s speech to be limited, or for a “safe space” or anything.
But. I was on Etsy looking for Christmas presents recently and I made the mistake of doing a fairly generalized search for a t-shirt. Ugh. I just got so disheartened by the hostility of the anti-vaxx, or pro-my-freedom-to-infect-others messages. I mean, I might wear a pro-science shirt. But I can’t even conceive of a “I hope the unvaxxed scum die” shirt, which would be about the equivalent of some of what I saw. I’m just so tired of it, and so sad about the state of our country and world right now. How is it not a way of exiling yourself from society to be willing to publicly say this stuff.
I mean, saying these sorts of things should draw a similar reaction to saying the n-word. It’s not illegal, and some people might even agree with you, but it should be so socially unacceptable that, you don’t advertise it. (On Etsy, or by wearing it on a t-shirt.)
No worries, everyone! I’m sure this is all part of God’s plan.
In less mainstream Covidiot news, apparently the employee Christmas lunch is back on where I work. Yay? Given the levels of science denial I’ve experienced from many of my coworkers since last year, I won’t be attending.
One benefit of wearing a t-shirt proclaiming that you’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19 is that Covidiots may avoid you in the belief that you’re shedding spike protein cooties.
Even more shocking - the vaccinated are contaminating water supplies and killing tadpoles!
There’s this one that’s very popular, but even then it’s more expressing being exasperated by the fact that many of these people are choosing to die than wishing they’d die, I think.
I went into the office today for the first time in a few months. On the bus home there were five different people with their noses sticking out above their masks.
You did notice the same post and cite 3 posts above yours on 30 Nov.? I admit to doing the same thing. No biggie, JUST CLAIMING MY RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF POSTERS!! /s
So sorry… no, I didn’t. My bad. 
I even posted the same link. How come both our WaPo stories are dated Dec 1, but you posted yours Nov 30 and I posted mine Dec 1?
Do you suppose God temporarily blinded me so I would give his beloved servant extra fame, glory, and notoriety? <shakes fist heavenward> “You tricked me, Almighty One!”
When in doubt, blame God. Or one of my cats. Can I pin this on Tikki?
Blame Tikki all you want. A cat will look you in the eye to say, “No, I didn’t push that off the shelf”, while it pushes the next item off the shelf.
I just took my car in for service. Most of the customers were masked and most of the employees weren’t. Worst of all, the guy who drove the shuttle wasn’t masked so I was sharing the same small airspace with him.
This was in PA so I’m not sure of the legality but it’s not a good thing, legal or not. Other businesses I’ve been in have strict policies including signs requiring masks.
I’d tell them about your displeasure and take my vehicle elsewhere.
I live on the WA/ID border. WA has a mask mandate. ID hasn’t had a single one the entire pandemic. Walk into a Home Depot on the ID side and be prepared to see a couple masks and hundreds of unmasked. This was true when the hospitals were overflowing and they were rationing care (aka - death panels). We still only shop early in the morning (like when they open) to avoid the hordes of morons.