links for 2010-08-31

• SCIENCE: Acupuncture Works … for headaches … barely … but barely any better than "fake acupuncture" where the the needles are put in all the wrong places
  Multiple studies show – acupuncture helps headaches about the same as placebo acupuncture. You can perform acupuncture and stick the needles in all the wrong places, and you still get the same benefits as doing it right. Which is to say, barely better than pills. It helps, but the power primarily seems to be a placebo effect in your mind, and not a dependence on ancient, accurate acupuncture. Save yourself some money and just stick needles in yourself yourself?
  (tags: science research studies headaches migraines acupuncture needles placebos LiveScience news articles KlausLinde CenterForComplementaryMedicineReearch TechnicalUniversityOfMunich Munich Germany CochraneDatabaseOfSystematicReviews)
• ABUSE OF AUTHORITY: Gunman threatens guests at daughter's 21st birthday party, so parents call police, who come and beat the dad up — and at least 5 other family members too. IT WAS A COP WHO WAS BEAT UP!
  That's what happens when black people call white police. This is happening over and over again — call the police for help, have them hurt you more than the actual criminal who was there. This is not the first time, and it won't be the last. But it does seem to happen almost exclusively to people of color.

  HOWEVER, this is the first time I know of where the victim has been a cop. This is going to make things interesting — now both parties' testimony may actually be considered equally.

  And of course, the name of the cop beat by cops is released, but the name of the cops who beat the cop is not. The cop who was beaten had his gun and badge taken away, but it seems that no action has been taken against the cops who beat the cop.

  Wow. The police state here is getting so fucked up that even being a cop doesn't save you.

  (tags: politics AbuseOfAuthority policeBrutality brutality police homeowners excessiveForce injuries idiocy beatings chokings pepperSprayed NewYorkPoliceDepartment NewYorkCity NewYork LarryJackson racism CharleneJackson parties birthdayParties birthdays NYDaliyNews news articles fromSudsPshaw bullshit disorderlyConduct arrests)
• COMEDY: MUSIC: Glenn Danzig & Henry Rollins: gay lovers: The Final Blow
  In case you missed it, there is a comic called Henry & Glenn, that is about Henry Rollins and Glenn Danzig being gay lovers. Here is another related comic, Hilarious.
  (tags: comedy music musicians gay GlennDanzig HenryRollins lovers TheFinalBlow IWillDestroyYouNews posts fromBunnyDay)
• DRUGS: ALCOHOL: Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers, Study Finds
  Very very odd! Also, somewhat vindicating. KEEP ON DRINKIN'.

  Of course, this is really only true for people who already made it to age 55 and have gone to the hospital at least once. In other words, people who have health insurance and didn't die of alcoholism at a younger age :)

  The real conclusion seems to be: "Heavy Drinkers who have lived to the age of 55 outlive Nondrinkers, that have lived to the age of 55, although moderate drinking still shows the best survival rate, after the age of 55."

  (tags: science drugs alcohol lifeExpectancy mortality research studies UniversityOfTexas CharlesHolahan moderation drinking time news articles)
• POLITICS: Noam Chomsky Has ‘Never Seen Anything Like This’
  Hmm. Cool guy.
  (tags: politics NoamChomsky USA OrwellsDreams editorial articles)

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