taper

HelloSailor I've provided a reference for your cut and paste, here: http://www.amberpumpkin.com/amber-teething-necklaces-do-they-work.html I would have been very surprised had an organisation flogging amber necklaces said they were a load of old phooey.

"what makes you qualified to say so" A strong sense of scepticism. I start by asking myself "what would make this work; what's the mechanism". I thought initially the idea was that a baby chews on the amber. But it seems the claims are based on the amber relasing something or other. Here's a good pro amber explanation http://www.mamapukeko.co.nz/howamberworks.html Well written though this is, it sets the alarm bells ringing ("If you are sceptical that it won't work then we don't have concrete proof to convince you otherwise"). So I use Google to check out the science. 5 minutes of doing this shows there is no evidence that amber works at all, other than I guess as a placebo or as something that gives parents a sense of empowerment. The most compelling theory is that body heat releases succinic acid, which is meant to be a natural anti-inflammatory. But this seems bogus to me and indeed it transpires Amber needs to be heated to 200 degrees to release SA. There's a good balanced and sceptical discussion here http://scepticon.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/amber-teething-beads-a-few-points-to-consider/ Key quote: "Based on the complete lack of plausibility on any level of efficacy any potential for harm, however small, must tip the balance of this equation away from the use of this product" I agree. It seems bogus to me.

They have no medicinal benefit. Pure woo.

Why bright blue? They look so damn ugly.

Tres Hombres ZZ Top. First two ok, but this one is the mutt's. Number of the Beast iron maiden Unhalfbricking Fairport Parklife

She tops it certainly, removing long standing leader Dave Clarke.

Otta He is. Gilmour though is on the list of greatest living Englishmen. And Mason makes the list of worst drummers in the best bands (just behind the U2 chap).

Strokes a good call for recent albums. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath though is the clear winner. Or maybe Are You Experienced.

Yeah, stick that up your flightpath. Forza Hamlet.

As long as it makes society more tolerant, I really don't give a stuff.

QED. You've convinced me. Lest anyone remains in doubt, perhaps you could really hammer the case down by providing examples of where it has worked In this way.

This is a great RWC. Good to see Australia done over.

You're a true rugby man Alan. I read that Johan de Bruyn presented Gordon Brown's widow with the glass eye her late husband had thumped out of his eye socket!

I take it back. I see he's taken to wearing contact lenses.

99

Is "bespectacled prig" any more tolerable?

And if there's any vestigial sympathy for the four eyed t0sser, here's another nail http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2011/09/unethical-journalism

Quite. We should be proud of the lads. And no midgets were tossed. Repeat: no midgets were tossed. If you read what the 74 Lions got up to in South Africa, it makes this sound very tame indeed.

I think we deserve never to see Hari again in public life. See here for another more personal take. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100105146/johann-hari-hounded-me-for-years-all-he-gets-is-four-months-unpaid-holiday-from-the-independent-but-the-truth-will-come-out/ The David Rose element of this is what's truly disturbing.

Can't stand Toby Young, but there's a good Fisking of the "apology" here. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100105124/fisking-johann-haris-apology-in-todays-independent/

Every holiday until i was 14 was spent in a caravan in Skeg. The visit to butlins was a highlight. That though is not saying much. Is the Linga Longa chippy still there I wonder.

Down that with salt and lemon juice you bivalve eating losers.

I think they look a lot more resilient this year. Last season they were prone to brainfarts in the last 10 minutes.

2-1 away I heard. Promotion year if they keep the team together.

Did he used to play for Notts?