Posts by Hilary Stace
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The 7s are a great Wellington cultural event when some people can forget their inner inhibitions for a big boozy and noisy summer party, and startle the occasional tourist. Some Brunos I saw earlier might later regret their choice of costume. Outside my window at the moment I can see a bunch of brides, some gladiators, several Fred Daggs and Billy T James (popular themes this year), fairies, insects, and lots of people in school uniforms (but I don't think those ones are in costume).
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Seems like many did. Good old NZhistory.net usually has the answer on questions about NZ history.
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I'm lucky to own a flagpole, and three flags. This morning Ihave taken down the Hundertwasser one which has been up for a few days, and put up the United Tribes (I like to think my missionary ancestors had some collaborative input). My other one is the Australian aboriginal flag which is probably the most spectacular.
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In case you missed the subtle reference upthread to Ben's wonderful new post on humans, here it is again. Thanks Ben.
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Andrew C: Thanks for that link.
Unfortunately, Wakefield's hoax MMR/autism link will probably be as pervasive and long lasting as Bettelheim's 1967 assertion (from unethical and flawed research) that 'refrigerator' mothers caused their child's autism.
The question is - what will be the next big autism hoax?
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I think the Dev story line was in response to calls from his fans to give him more action. The show is susceptible to ratings too.
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If anyone cares to read more I recommend Paul A Offit's Autism's false prophets: bad science, risky medicine, and the search for a cure Columbia University Press, 2008. He starts 'I get a lot of hate mail...'
And re Wakefield, he didn't even front up in the court for the decision, but sent his supporters along while he and his wife waited in a hotel nearby.
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Philip: Wasn't that a terrible funeral in Coro St the other night? Liam left in a shelf at the undertakers and not brought home for everyone to have a proper goodbye. Not a flower on the coffin, no interaction between dead person and congregation, and just a bunch of dreary hymns sung by people dressed in black. I haven't been to a funeral like that for decades. I think we must do death better here.
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Just one of the outrageous things Wakefield did was take blood samples from children attending his son's 5th birthday party. Even though he had no prior ethical approval (as if anyone would give it), it was apparently OK with his supporters as each child was paid 5 pounds
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The website left brain/right brain has been giving good coverage of the Wakefield case over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, there are going to be huge numbers of parents who just won't accept it and Wakefield's empire in Texas, and questionable 'treatments' for autistic children, will continue to grow.