Posts by Sacha
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I love the faith Peter has that if something is 'scientific and clinical' then it must therefore be okay.
Being a highly trained clinical professional does not give you a monopoly on health knowledge. There is more than one way of understanding the world and what makes humans tick, and evidence is not a synonym for science.
What is quite astonishing is that they have survived so long. They have done so because it is not about health or medicine or science, it is a faith position.
That's nothing more than cultural arrogance when it comes to long-established and managed practises like acupuncture that were going for thousands of years before our Euro ancestors moved on from on leeches, trepanning and spells.
Like Hilary, I'll call on western medicine where it seems best and I share reservations about bogus therapies that are dangerous or peddled to the vulnerable. But I will pay attention to evidence about what works that's broader than clinical Randomised Controlled Trials.
I've seen and experienced improvements from non-medical therapies, and I've noted others that did not work and did not make sense. I have experienced good and bad care from medical practitioners over the years and, like Ben, some permissable adverse consequences of approved medicines.
Sure, better information would help people make choices. But "it's only the placebo effect" is up there with "false consciousness" from marxists and it earns the same respect.
It's the insistent defense of science and clinical medicine as the only right way that seems religious in character. Which makes me one of the heretics, I know. But it would be interesting to reflect on why some feel so compelled to be a priest?
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Chris Barton defends Maori Television's RWC broadcasting bid:
Sky's pay-TV monopoly means half the country is routinely denied watching live sporting events featuring our national teams, sportsmen and women. Where's the outrage about that?
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As to the problem of incomplete coverage by Maori TV, it's easily solved. Simply introduce an "impoverished broadcast zone" subsidy - an interest-free or low-interest loan so the small number of homes that can't get pick up free-to-air terrestrial broadcasts, can do so by installing a Freeview satellite set top box.
As well as providing 100 per cent coverage, such a move would also advance digital TV and enable the Government to cash in earlier on the $300 million "digital dividend" that comes when we switch off analogue TV.
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[Broadcasting Minister] Coleman needs to think about this country's citizens and our culture, rather than lining the pockets of Sky.
As for World Cup commentary "peppered" with Maori phrases, I reckon it will be brilliant. So much better than Murray Mexted's blathering about psychic energy. Like the haka, it would be something unique to us, something to be proud of.
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i think they are showing everything from the very beginning starting next Tuesday.
Actually they start repeating Outrageous Fortune tonight at 9.30pm on tv3.
I presume it's right from the first episode, though they showed that series last year. Its hit-the-ground-running greatness fair blew me away at the time.
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Didn't see that coming
Misdirected by the "should I have a crack at that scorcher" from old Eric.
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As the purpose of TPK's investment is unlikely to be preaching to the converted, it's probably not all that relevant - but the 2006 Census culture and identity summary notes:
After English (spoken by 95.9 percent of people), the most common language in which
people could have a conversation about everyday things was Māori, spoken by 4.1
percent (157,110 people). -
Peter, I think you're being a bit harsh on both acupuncturists and osteopaths.
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I didn't watch the doco, but did it examine why families felt compelled to try "curing" cerebral palsy?
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You do need to encourage people to question, or how are they going to know who is a quack?
Oh yes, because the health sector always gets it right.
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I can't imagine who might have pushed you to discover such a place..
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Not sure if any raucous grannies feature, but Drew Barrymore's first effort as a director is all about te derby:
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