Friday, June 18, 2004

The Flimsiest of Connections

I value scientific discovery, the gaining of knowledge, but, at times, I view with incredulity the pronouncements which spew forth from researchers.  Here’s an article which I think stretches a “discovery” to the breaking point.

“Global Warming Raises Stink in Britain." The pertinent data, from the article, including the stretch.

"The discovery of breeding colonies of stinkbugs in London is clear proof that global warming is a fact of life, a scientist said on Friday."

Is that so?  Isn’t it possible that the stinkbugs were simply an invasive species, noticed for the first time, as they were here in the United States as reported by this pdf format article from Rutgers?

Link to stinky article via Yahoo News.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/18 at 08:32 AM
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Tuesday, January 20, 2004

The Flimsiest of Connections

In the Telegraph this morning we are greeted with this headline, “Cannabis is blamed as cause of man’s death." Naturally, I was drawn to such a bold conclusion, wondering, if a one ton bale of primo African skunk, or more common variety Hawaiian, had inadvertantly been dropped on the individual.  Perusing the article, alas, I find this statement.

"Michael Howells, the Pembrokeshire coroner, said Mr Maisey was free from disease and had not drunk alcohol for at least 48 hours. Post-mortem tests showed a high level of cannabinoids in his blood.

He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure because Mr Maisey had died while taking part in an illegal activity. The death led to a warning about the changing strength of cannabis, which is to be reduced to a Class C drug on Jan 29."

According to the above, because the deceased ”...showed a high level of cannabinoids in his blood" the coroner was able to record ”...a verdict of death by misadventure..."

So, what killed Mr Maisey, cannabis or misadventure?  The link between Maisey’s death and cannabis is as tenuous as a rolling paper in the presence of a match.

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/20 at 03:55 AM
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