Ranty McRant Thread 2

[Morkonan]

I know, but this is important to me and I still rant about it to myself...

Anyway, I spoke with my neighbor, got the names of the people "treating her," saw some of their "youtube" about the "treatment" they have "discovered" and it's all friggin horsecrap psuedoscientific garbage. It all stems from a quack who was even reprimanded by his own State Physicians board and discredited by the CDC, yet some quacko-wacko "physicians" who specialize in "alternative medicines" think he's a genius...

The friggin jerks are doing things like pumping patients up with B12 doses and other crap and then the patient leaves the office "feeling awesome."

Let that sink in...

<lethatsinkin.jpg>

And, of course, this "doctor" is all about "mold and mildew "toxins" that cause "disease" and "toxins" that build up in the body that the "body can't get rid of on its own." It's because, of course, some people have some "genetic" abnormality (that is, of course, not even bothered by having a specifically identified genetic abnormality.. just "genetics") which causes their livers to not be able to process these "toxins" either and the body just goes about "reabsorbing them" because of "bile" full of waste being reabsorbed. (Holy crap, sounds terrible, how did these people live for so friggin long ZOMGZ!)

And, to help chronic (FWY@%^'n "CHRONIC?") Lyme Disease sufferers, who can... and get this friggin crap... suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatique Disorder... Lemmetellyousomething - These are two of the most abused symptomatic illnesses ever. If you have muscle pain, a quack will jump on the chance to tell you that you have "Fibromyalgia." If you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, they'll jump on that, too. Why? Because the causes for these things are not know, so to quacks that means they can list anything they want as the cause. And, like a dutiful quack, this doctor is doing just that, too. Because, of course, her treatment "works amazingly well at controlling..." ("Controlling", not "curing." Why? Because if you're friggin cured you won't keep paying them money!)

/sigh

And, to boot, she recommends everyone get top-to-bottom mold and fungus treatment for their homes.

Lemmetellyousomething - A few people do have extreme reactions to mold/mildew/fungus etc. FEW. Very few are predisposed to severe illnesses from such things and usually it's because of some other underlying issue. But, they can be irritating, right? That's right. Why? Because that's how these little buggers fight wars with each other to see which patch of gunk wins the best spot under the sink, that's why. Anywhere that there is water or humidity there is going to be mold and/or mildew or some creepy fungus. And, they're on you too. Just sitting there, in your pits, between your toes, somewhere on your skin just hanging out, watching TV with you. They're in your house unless you live in a desert and don't consume water and don't, yourself, emit water vapor when you exhale. (Which means you'd have to be a dessicated husk.) There is evidence that some people can be sensitive, but the overwhelming majority of human beings don't have chronic illnesses caused by normal mold and mildew despite what the mold and mildew removal industry wants to tell you.

But, since EVERYONE'S HOUSE has friggin' mold and mildew and you can "smell it" at times and can "see it" at times and it can sometimes be irritating, that's grounds for it causing "Toxins to build up in your body." Toxins. They don't bother saying what "toxins," just "toxins." In fact, all the literature points at for the underlying causes for what they say they are treating are... "toxins." Caused by? An as yet undiscovered genetic anomaly that prevents a human being from getting rid of these specific, undectable to modern science, "toxins."

They are primarily, IMO, taking advantage of older patients who feel tired, have aches and pains, and have issues with memory loss, "not feeling well," etc... Friggin' "A", sounds like "getting old disease" to me. Better get a vitamin shot...

No State or Private Health or Health Insurance Agency will give them a dime for treating anything. Why? Because they will not pay Witchdoctors and Voodoo Practicioners a dime for their often worthless, sometimes dangerous, practices.

So, I'm collecting information and getting things together to send to the State Board of Health and whoever else I can find that will listen. My neighbor knows my opinion and my concerns.

Off to the Board of Health they go. And, if there is no response, then off to the newspapers they go. And, if there is no response, then off to friggin Congress they go and to the CDC and the AMA and any darn collection of abbreviations suitable to review the practices of these people and to ensure the safety of the people they are supposedly "treating."

And, using some of my background in commercial chemical manufacturing (Specifically, getting the EPA registration numbers for the products the company is using and backchecking them along with the CFR/EPA guidelines they cite), I'm reviewing the estimate the contractor the "physician" recommended to her to the tune of around $5000 to "treat" her home for "mold and mildew" because, according to her doctor, it was imperative that she get this done.

Because... "toxins." :/

[Observe]

Here in the Northwest (Washington), we have a lot of mold. Black mold is the worst. An old house we renovated, had been abandoned for several years and moisture had made its way into walls, ceiling etc. Such mold, can lead to health problems, but only if the mold is wet and still alive and releasing spores into the house interior. Best solution? Paint the interior of the house so the mold doesn't seep through the walls into the living space. If the mold is dry, it won't be releasing spores and it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Sometimes, the only solution is to demolish the house, but by that time, the structure is usually too dilapidated to do much else with it.

[Chips]

Anyway, I spoke with my neighbor, got the names of the people "treating her," saw some of their "youtube" about the "treatment" they have "discovered" and it's all friggin horsecrap psuedoscientific garbage. It all stems from a quack who was even reprimanded by his own State Physicians board and discredited by the CDC, yet some quacko-wacko "physicians" who specialize in "alternative medicines" think he's a genius...

Okay, not Toxins... but have you ever heard of the wonders of the "Vega test"?

I upset a colleague when I found out he'd been diagnosed as having allergies. Intolerant to wheat - I wasn't that surprised, a friend genuinely has this already. Then Milk, okay. Then tomatoes... and... as the list poured forth I went from "oh my" to, "Hang on, which doctor did this? that's a lot of testing and a huge amount of allergies" (it had totalled about 15 by the time i interrupted).

"It was an allergy clinic"

"Oh, and how did they test?"

"You hold an electrode in one hand, and then the other hand they touch you with x and air ciculates from the allergen (food) and checks for a reaction based on y" (i've forgotten what x and y were, infact, i didn't really hear, i was already laughing).

And then rinse and repeat with "tell me that again" - more laugh, call over colleague - "Have you heard this test they do, tell him.." - followed by more laughing. How much did you pay? Even more laughing (we turned into good friends ).

Check it out - Vega test It's amazing. Even pictures of it are hilarious - like one a comical meme.

[Morkonan]

Here in the Northwest (Washington), we have a lot of mold. Black mold is the worst. ...Sometimes, the only solution is to demolish the house, but by that time, the structure is usually too dilapidated to do much else with it.

Sometimes. While mold can certainly be an irritant, it's really rare that someone encounters a situation where it is as dangerous and deadly as mold remediation companies advertise. The real problem does generally come from a small segment of people who are susceptible for some reason or another or people who already have existing conditions that this could aggravate.

And, absolutely, nobody wants to live in a house that is practically constructed of a noxious mold.

Okay, not Toxins... but have you ever heard of the wonders of the "Vega test"?

I upset a colleague when I found out he'd been diagnosed as having allergies. Intolerant to wheat - I wasn't that surprised, a friend genuinely has this already. Then Milk, okay. Then tomatoes... and... as the list poured forth I went from "oh my" to, "Hang on, which doctor did this? that's a lot of testing and a huge amount of allergies" (it had totalled about 15 by the time i interrupted).
...
Check it out - Vega test It's amazing. Even pictures of it are hilarious - like one a comical meme.

Oh... wow. I just looked that one up.

https://maureenfinck.com/vega-testing/

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

I wonder if that will detect when my thetans are acting up?

****

OK, had another talk today. Checked the "supplements" that were "prescribed." (Should have been "proscribed"...)

And, this will likely be my last direct comment on the matter, even though there are no direct references. Why? I'm contacting official agencies to ask them WTF they aren't doing about this and why. Also the newspaper, 'cause this is just too much.

Pay up front because no type of insurance at all, not even the dumbest crappy AFLAC (ie: ripoff "supplemental insurance") will give this practioner money for anything related to what they're doing. ZERO.

The person sells "natural remedies and tinctures" out of their own store in their office. "Patients" are "prescribed" these bits of Voodoo Magic. The collection of tiny little bottles with laser-printed labels was reviewed by myself, who isn't a medical practitioner of any sort but who is also not friggin gullible. The LOWEST cost of one of these bottles was $85.00 in Freedom Monies. The person had several that they had to buy, some of them once a week...

The person was first given a ginormous bottle of "Pro-Biotics" to supposedly help their immune system. Mr. Morkonan reviewed the list of bacterial spores included and it read like one of those "Red Zone" horror movies. OK, fair enough, that's "ProBiotics" for you, right? Right. So, after taking these natural-remedy-supplements, the person was directed to go take a "blood test" to see if they tested positive for being allergic and currently having an "allergic" response to "mold, mildew and fungus." And, of course, the blood test didn't test for a true "allergic response" but tested for a natural response by the body to what could easily be... you guessed it - An abundance of bacterial spores. "Six Billion" spores in the bottle, according to the "label." To be taken before the "blood test." Yeah...

And, of course, when this came back? The "practioner" said the person needed to have their home remediated and, of course, "here is the service I recommend." $5000.00 Chaching!

While I was there today, the person called a true, knowledgeable, remediation specialist that I know and used before. (My flood problem.) The very first question he asked when the person told him what the company she had been referred to recommended and the "mold, mildew and fungi" remediation they were going to do?

"Oh. So, what mold, mildew, or fungi did they identify in your home and how widespread did they say the problem was?"

They didn't identify any species of mold, mildew, or fungi at all. In fact, they pointed to dust on her walls and said it was mold, mildew, or fungi. They pointed at surfaces, the spaces between the slats in old lourvered doors and then identified that as "mold, mildew, or fungi" and said, "Yes, this treatment is going to cost you $5000.00 Freedom Monies." I read their paperwork, online, that had a nice FAT "Approve this estimate" button that hovered over it the entire friggin' time.

The remediation specialist I recommended will be there tomorrow to giver her a free estimate and to truly identify if there is a true over-abundance of such things and EXACTLY what species are likely causing the problem. This company does professional work as a Gubbermint Contractor and this guy knows his stuff.

So, I'm going dark on this issue, now. "Official" correspondence will be taking place as I try to figure out how this "practioner" is avoiding prison. Oh, another thing - This prationer kept a "patient" on IV ANTIBIOTICS for SIX WEEKS because they told the patient they had Lyme Disease from when they were a child... That patient developed an infection because of improper IV use and their knee fell off. Literally, they developed a bone infection around a knee-implant the practioner didn't even check with them about. An implant. For a person receiving a treatment using frequent use of a "port" that has a high risk of infection to start with, pumping a lot of crap in there besides antiobitics as well. That is not something done in "real medicine." You don't do that.. You don't friggin put someone on IV Antibiotics for Six Weeks for crap like that and you don't casually disregard the fact they already have a high risk factor and you're giving them an open port... and none of this, not ONE BIT, has to do with some "life threatening" condition. NOT ONE BIT OF IT.

No joke. I'm not kidding. I'm not just internet-ranting or blowing smoke or claiming to do something that I actually won't do. This crap is evil, wrong, and has to stop. So, I'm going to be a bug in someone's ear or up their poop-hole until someone, somewhere, does something. I've already advised the persons involved with this practioner to seek legal counsel. They could make a bajillion monies in a civil case. I'm more interested in criminal and regulatory responses including licensing, censure, reprimands and further actions.

But, because I have not actually been a patient, there are limits. And, because no Insurance of any sort has ever paid this practioner, those resources can not respond either. Funny how that works, ain't it? There are three main regulatory agencies I can petition, several State and Federal officials and, when they do nothing, a bunch of friggin newspapers and Quackwatch groups.

Today, the person in question cancelled future appointments and cancelled their "weekly dose" of whatever "Magic Serum #5" the practioner's office told them was ready for pick up.... Instead, they are seeing a REAL PHYSICIAN at a REAL HOSPITAL and the appointment has been confirmed for next week. My prediction is that they have "getting old" disease and, maybe, some issues with thyroid or anemia. But, I'm not a physician. That's because we have "real physicians" who practice evidence-based medicine and they don't need my assistance.

Going dark. If it gets legal, I'll have to wait to see what is advised. Later, once everything is finalized, I'll update or give you a link to the "60 Minutes" segment that showcases the story...

PS: Facepalm moment:

"Well, thanks Mork, I really appreciate it. I just want you to know that our neighbor, who is a real live physician, told me all the very same things that you did and was just as insistent about what I should do. So, I guess both my neighbors telling me this convinces me I need to really get seen by a real medical type doctor. Dr. <neighbor> freaked out about as much as you did." (And, yes, I'll be speaking to him about recommendations, off the record, too as long as I can be assured of protecting him from any fallout.)

[fiksal]

So, Google.


Sometimes I wonder where do you get your Engineers from, specifically UI ones. (as in, they are bad, in my professional opinion)

This month they killed Inbox. I know some people still prefer Gmail, but to me Inbox was a new and a tidy way to manage email. It auto created and collapsed into sensible categories and it let me only see the important emails, marking unimportant as "done". Instead of improving on those concepts they just shut them down.

Now we are back to archaic Gmail. Congrats to Google deciding that early 2000s is a golden age for Email.

(honorable mention goes to Yahoo, for still thinking email backgrounds is where the innovation lies)

[Chips]

Is it going to be something to do with "most people interact via phone/tablet and therefore ... blah blah". I think someone already mentioned the Google changes. It was a tiny bit annoying at first, but got used to it. Can't say i've noticed any changes this past month - so was this the changes from a while back that you could opt out of that's now been entirely removed?

[fiksal]

Is it going to be something to do with "most people interact via phone/tablet and therefore ... blah blah". I think someone already mentioned the Google changes. It was a tiny bit annoying at first, but got used to it. Can't say i've noticed any changes this past month - so was this the changes from a while back that you could opt out of that's now been entirely removed?

I dont recall reading why they did it exactly... Or what I recall was that they decided the Inbox was not worthy the development time. Long ago, the talk was about killing Gmail in favor of Inbox. Now it's the other way around.
There was no opt out feature, just a hard stop at the end of March this year. They did communicate it months in advance though, so it wasnt a surprise.

I am not sure mobile users come into play here... not to my understanding

As for changes;
Depends what you've used before and got used to using. Inbox had significantly different way of displaying email over Gmail. And the two arent compatible, apparently, such that no categorization had transferred from Inbox to Gmail. As I've loaded the Gmail again, my mailbox is a mess.

[Morkonan]

So, Google.


Sometimes I wonder where do you get your Engineers from, specifically UI ones. (as in, they are bad, in my professional opinion)

They all want to differentiate themselves and make the user-experience "more betterer."

But screw all those guys. In every single case where a web-based email provider has decided to add "new features designed to streamline your experience and make our services more useful to you" they have done exactly both of those things in reverse.

"Here's the "IMPORTANT STUFFS" tab! It's where your important emails will show up! And, this is the "Probably Not Important Emails" tab, where stuff that's probably not important will show up!"

The most friggin important emails I have gotten show up where? Friggin guess. Go ahead.

And, WHO IN THE F THINKS THEY CAN PRE-CATEGORIZE MY FACKING EMAIL?

And, screw Google, too. Google is more friggin difficult to figure out than an archaic newsreader program posting to alt.rec.UFOPolitics... I had a long conversation with someone through Google mail and it was... fracking torturous.

"WE ARE GOING TO NEST ERRYTHING IN COMVENEINT NESTED THREAD NESTS SO YOU CAN NEST WHILE YOU NEST!"

With a hammer... They need it. In the pooper. With a friggin clawhammer.

[fiksal]

And, screw Google, too. Google is more friggin difficult to figure out than an archaic newsreader program posting to alt.rec.UFOPolitics... I had a long conversation with someone through Google mail and it was... fracking torturous.

The sad part is that you cant punish them for that.

As in... everyone else seems to be worse! Yahoo is bare bones. And can have from 1 to 3 hr delays. No joke. Outlook doesnt count, nor it would count if I were to count it. Client and web interfaces are potentially worse than Yahoo's... So who's left?

For now I am tinkering with Gmail, trying to order my mail...again

[Morkonan]

...For now I am tinkering with Gmail, trying to order my mail...again

These days, web-based email is often more secure and the old retrieval schemes are left behind. I have no idea what's cutting-edge on standard formats these days, but it doesn't matter.

Tried to help a neighbor with their email a few months ago. Some computer shop set them up with Eudora.

I was like WTFISTHIS$$!#! I cleaned up some stuff, got rid of all the crapware, etc, and got it working again so they could exchange dog pics with their friends. Not too much later they upgraded to a Mac. Now I can't help them anymore... "Sorry, I don't do "Mac." It would be a great idea if you called that computer shop and took advantage of their free customer service options!" <-- Happy Mork.

And, yeah, they all suck. Where's my AOL disk at...

[Morkonan]

An update on my current real-world mission to get rid of "Quacks."

Spore sampling was done by an accredited agency and lab. Basement levels were very high, for obvious reasons. (Flooding) Living spaces were well within normal levels. Exterior was slightly elevated. Verdict - Much lower levels (Almost two orders of magnitude lower) in living spaces than the basement and the exterior (outside grounds) mean that the living spaces are not filled with spores and most of even those low levels can be contributed to temporary cross-contamination and natural ambient flora.

ie: "Science" says, "There ain't no frackin' problem with a house overrun by "spores" causing "toxins" to build up in this person's body even with minor incidental exposures in the basement or outside environment." I've already volunteered for remediation detail in the basement once the water situation is resolved. Tyvek sucks.

Waiting on the full printed assay. Neighbor is off to the real doc, soon, for a full workup, but still insists on taking the herbal "remedies" which probably just make her poop more and have about fifty-bajillion mg of B12 and E in them. /whatever

On legal - I can't do much other than file what's basically a statement of concern. I'm not a direct victim, don't have "first-hand" knowledge as I don't make it a habit to seek medical services from Witch-Doctors, and don't have the bona fides to challenge on a professional level. I'll still file, though, and make some more calls once more info comes in.

[BugMeister]

I'm seeing a lot of reports that suggest we are all about to have our brains fried by 5G radio signals (- or radiation, if you prefer..)
just how dangerous is this, or is it just another hoax on the internet..??

[Morkonan]

I'm seeing a lot of reports that suggest we are all about to have our brains fried by 5G radio signals (- or radiation, if you prefer..)
just how dangerous is this, or is it just another hoax on the internet..??

The answer is maybe... There might be slightly elevated risks associated with 5g. "Slightly elevated." Elevated from what? "Yes."

No, it's not a big concern. Just don't duct-tape the phone to your head and don't sew a pocket into your underwear for it.

[Ketraar]

Does it being radio waves not imply that they are of low energy and thus not really an issue?

MFG

Ketraar

[Morkonan]

Does it being radio waves not imply that they are of low energy and thus not really an issue?

Normally, yes.

But, "radio waves" covers a pretty big spectrum. <--That was a joke.

IIRC, aside from all the controversy and he-said-she-said-scientificky-"but rats got sick"-studies, there has been some pretty strong correlation with... heat. (IR) Specifically, people who appear to have suffered from keeping a cellphone in one particular pocket or up against their skull far too long, too often. IOW - Not directly connected with RF.

Every time someone conducts a study to prove that it's "safe," something else comes out to counter that... Given that it's arguable that there is a less profitable, less popular, electronic device in existence today, it's not surprising there's a lot of claims and arguments floating around.

In short - If you act like it's not a good idea to tape it to your head, you'll be fine no matter what happens and you won't look stupid or appear irritatingly obnoxious and self-centered at parties. Good/Good

[Alan Phipps]

So, basically, it is far safer to keep a 5G phone in your pocket than an oily rag. (See testicular cancer and dermatitis stats for the trade of garage mechanic.)

[Observe]

Does it being radio waves not imply that they are of low energy and thus not really an issue?

Radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum of frequencies, running from sub-audio to gamma rays, with radio, microwave, light and x-rays in between. The higher the frequency, the greater amount of energy is present in the wave.

Because of the high bandwidth of 5G, the frequency required to carry it, must also be high - around 6 GHz as I recall. There is some debate about the health risks of being in proximity to high energy electromagnetic waves.

[pjknibbs]

Because of the high bandwidth of 5G, the frequency required to carry it, must also be high - around 6 GHz as I recall. There is some debate about the health risks of being in proximity to high energy electromagnetic waves.

AFAIK there are two frequency bands used for 5G, a chunk below 6GHz (which is usually in the 3.5GHz range) and then stuff up above 24GHz (so-called "millimetre band"). It isn't just "higher=bad", though, a typical microwave oven uses a frequency of only 2.45GHz--the actual transmission power has to be taken into consideration here.

[Chips]

"Lack of humans and/or intelligence by companies" is best to sum this up.

My Gran died last year, in dealing with her estate the usual sorts of bills and stuff arise. That's no biggy. However, her Electricity provider went bust and so the "debt" has been passed onto whatever company reclaims bust companies stuff. Forgot the name for it... anyhew, they don't do electricity or have people used to dealing with that stuff. As far as they know, they ask the meter reading and collect the money. That's it.

Anyhew, submit meter readings for electricity - there's 2 meters, one is working/connected the other is not connected and hasn't moved for 30 years or something. For some reason they chose to ignore that and just made up numbers for the non working meter reading... and sent the bill.

The bill is for £30,000 of electricity use in 3 months. Despite years of near constant usage, they suddenly (without batting an eye or raising an eyebrow) believe a dead person is using 3 months of electricity EVERY SINGLE DAY over a 3 month period.

It's been ongoing now to resolve for 4 months. It's just insane... (and no, there's absolutely no way it's legit, they're just *that* retarded). I mean... just look at the numbers and surely think "wait, what?" ... but nope.

[Alan Phipps]

@ Chips: That's a case of a collection agency trying it on while hoping that there is uncontested non-probate estate and that any executors don't have legal advice. I would either let the estate's solicitor deal with it (at a cost) or refer it to Citizen's Advice Bureau (or equivalent). Meanwhile, write to the director or whatever of the collection agency explaining the facts in simple terms and mention that if it is not resolved sensibly within 14 days, your next letters will be to the ombudsman and the local press. Keep hard copies of all correspondence.