JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Brian Austin Whitney Blog Saturday, May 27th, 2006

Hi Folks,

So I got a new book yesterday at Sam's Club that I think many of you would enjoy. In only the first 10 pages I have learned the following things (the first of which I wrote about on my very first blog.. how's that for coincidence and kismet?):

1. Myth: The media will check it out and give you the objective truth

Truth: Many in the media are scientifically clueless and will scare you to death

2. Myth: Radioactivity is deadly; keep it away from food!

Truth: Food irradiation saves lives.

3. Myth: Chemical pollution is the cause of the cancer epidemic!

Truth: There is no cancer epidemic

4. Myth: DDT causes all kinds of cancers, and nearly wiped out every bird in the world!

Truth: DDT saves lives.

5. Myth: "My teacher molested me" Kid wouldn't make up stuff like that!

Truth: Yes,they would.

And the book goes on and on to dispel myths that people simply take as fact.. because everyone else seems to believe it as well. I have to admit that #5 I believed myself for the most part. But wait until you read this book. It will be jaw dropping.

The book is called "Myths, Lies, And Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel-Why Everything You Know Is Wrong" written by 20/20 Consumer reporter John Stossel.

It's very reminiscent to the equally outstanding TV show "Bullshit" which airs on Showtime and is done by Penn and Teller (two of my favorite entertainers). I wish both their show and this book were REQUIRED reading at every university in the USA. Not just because it corrects a lot of hardened fairy tales, but that the discovery of the truth behind all these things we assume almost as a genetic mandate to be true, are false is so eye opening that it might cause people to start questioning a lot of other bogus crap we take for granted. (Not the least of which are all the myths surrounding the "Music Industry" and the "Rockstar" life). Sam's has the book for $13.58 but I am guessing that most book stores still sell it for under 20 bucks. It's worth it. You might find things you were positive were true are wrong. You'll feel enlightened. And if you doubt his refutation of common myths, that's fine. Follow up on his research and see for yourself. Wouldn't you all like to know the real truth? I know I would.

So if you're looking for some great reading this weekend or beyond, check it out! And if you have any summer reading ideas for us, please share them here!

Brian

Hi Brian,

Sometimes it's hard to know what's true, even when you do the reseach and read the reports. A few I've read are drinking alcohol can help prevent heart attacks, smoking can reduce the chances of getting Alzheimers and Parkinson's Disease. Caffeine also works for reducing liver disease. I guess I'm all set.

Michael

Here's some search links.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-wave&p=alcohol+heart+disease
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=nicotine+alzheimer%27s&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=slv1-wave&x=wrt
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-wave&p=caffeine+disease

Books a Million, here I come. That sounds like my kind of book - also sounds like a great Father's Day present! Thank you for the suggestion; I may well buy 3 copies.

Here's a good summer reading suggestion: _Beethoven's Hair_ by Russell Martin. It is a true story, well researched and very well told. It is 3 stories in one.

One story is of a lock of Beethoven's hair, which was snipped by a young musician admirer of Beethoven's shortly after the great man's death. The lock of hair was a family heirloom, and eventually it wound up "out in the world." The story tracks the travels of this fascinating item.

The second story is a "light" biography of LVB. I say "light" because it is not at all exhaustive, but gives a good overview of his life and work.

The third story is of the two American Beethoven enthusiasts who purchased the lock of hair. They had it put through some very in-depth testing in order to get a "health picture" of Beethoven which would include answers to the questions of (1) why he was ill so much and so often, (2) why he became deaf, and (3) what finally killed him.

I have been a fan of Beethoven since childhood, and his compositions have soothed me and stirred me for as long as I can remember. I came away from this book with an even greater appreciation of his genius and his dedication to music, a real enjoyment of the "treasure hunt" involved, and a fascination of the testing used.

I read it probably about 3 - 4 years ago. I think I'll re-read it soon, it's a definate keeper.

Brenda

I've admired John Stossel for a long time. One of the things you mentioned is DDT. Removing DDT from the market has resulted in millions of deaths, particularly in Africa, from malaria. DDT had pretty much wiped out the disease by killing mosquitos. I don't know if he gets into genetically altered food, which we eat here everyday, but which the EU keeps from being allowed to be sold in Africa to protect it's own farmers. This also kills huge numbers of starving people. But some elements of the media, who won't bring John Stossel on to discuss his book, would rather just act like the only problem in Africa is AIDS. It's a shame the way interest groups pervert science. It would be great if there was a non-partisan group of scientists who had the credibilty to tell the truth. Unfortunately, like the rest of us humans, these men of science are largely driven by political agendas. That's how they get their funding.

Bill

Amen to that, Bill. Too many people get their message buried in ad hominem, politically motivated attacks.



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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

Hi Brian,

The book sounds good.

It's true that DDT, like any other tool, is not good or bad in and of itself. It's all in how it's used. The problems with DDT arose out of it's misuse years ago. Some people overused or improperly administered the chemical and it had disatrous environmental effects So, like the extremists we humans always are.... we demonized it and banned it completely.

There are parts of Africa that are in desperate need of DDT since it's the only chemical that, when properly used, has an effect on their mosquito (malaria) problem. Moderate, responsible use of DDT can be environmentally safe.

I read an article in the NY Times not long ago that there are some African nations (can't remember which though) that have begun use of DDT again despite international pressure not to do so.