Writers forwarding bullshit, who would have guessed?

I was intrigued this morning by an article entitled On the Evils of Wheat, by Dr. William Davis. There is strong evidence that grains, especially modern refined grains, have a much more powerful insulimic response than other sources of carbohydrates, and are much more easily digested, leading to a strong fat-creation reaction within the body. Just how strong this reaction is, and just how problematic it is, if it's a problem at all, is up for some debate.

So I was hellaciously annoyed when I read the author state flatly:

New strains [of grains] have been generated using what the wheat industry proudly insists are "traditional breeding techniques," though they involve processes like gamma irradiation and toxins such as sodium azide. The poison control people will tell you that if someone accidentally ingests sodium azide, you shouldn’t try to resuscitate the person because you could die, too, giving CPR. This is a highly toxic chemical.

Now that's some high-grade bullshit right there, right up with the whole "there are detergents in your vaccines" screech coming out of the anti-vax people right now.

Of course, a "detergent" is just a chemical that allows two immiscible liquids to be dispersed together, and detergents are used in all manner of edible foods such as salad dressing and sauces. Sulfate-based detergents are used in all sorts of injected medicines to keep particulate injectibles evenly dispersed throughout a liquid medium. You get more sodium lauryl sulfate into your system every time you wash your hair than you do whenever you get a flu shot.

But Dr. Davis' gambit is classic: because two strains of wheat were mutated together under the influence of sodium azide, and sodium azide is an incredibly powerful toxin that will kill you in minute amounts, therefore wheat can become an incredibly toxic substance that will kill you in small amounts. At least, that's the association he wants to create in your mind.

Way to blow your credibility in the second paragraph, dude.

Homeopathy and J-Lube: Have We Doomed The Earth To One Final Orgy?

For those of you unfamiliar with it, J-Lube is a substance available mostly to veterinarians who use it to assist in the birth of calves.

One of the forms in which it comes is basically bouillion cubes: a very dense substance that you dilute with water, whereupon it turns into an insanely slick lubricant useful for getting one's gloved hands into large animals. It's better than any lubricant on the shelves. This makes it popular with kinky people.

It occurred to me that, since you dilute it to make it more slippery, then if you continue to dilute it, according to homeopathy, eventually the entirety of the oceans will be nothing but lubricant.

If homeopathy is true, we are all doomed to one final, crevice-invading sex orgy, and then the world will be washed away in a tide of lube.

Rick Santorum and gay members of the military

Last night during the Republican debate, where many of the questions were submitted via You-Tube, one of the most signifcant moments came when a serviceman in Afghanistan asked the candidates whether or not they would reinstate Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Rather than applaud a serviceman's sacrifice in war, members of the audience booed him.

Rick Santorum ignored the booing and proceeded to talk about how Don't Ask, Don't Tell allowed for sexual license within the military. Apparently, the Republican candidates have had their heads in the sand so long they're completely unaware that military regulations regarding sexual harassment, conduct becoming a serviceman, and so forth and so on, have not been repealed.

Today, Santorum issued a statement saying that he did not hear the "boos" from the audience, saying " That soldier is serving our country, I thank him for his service to our country. I’m sure he’s doing an excellent job. I hope he is safe, and I hope he returns safely, and does his mission well."

A lot of people have suggested I should take Santorum at his word.

I can't.

Rick Santorum has never failed to say to a serviceman, "I thank you for your service," or, when responding to a recorded message, Santorum, to follow tradition, would have said, "I thank the soldier for his service." Just as Republicans always salute the flag, they always say "Thank you for your service."

Rick Santorum didn't. He dismissed the serviceman's service in order to address his sexuality. Leaving aside whether or not he heard the audience, because of that serviceman's stated sexual orientation, Rick Santorum denied him the respect Rick Santorum says our men and women in uniform deserve.

And that's why I can't believe Rick Santorum.