Oh, God. Oh, God. My hair. My hair! The government gave me bad hair!

Cordelia ,'The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco'


Natter 42, the Universe, and Everything  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, flaming otters, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Theodosia - Jan 30, 2006 1:58:27 am PST #3626 of 10002
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

Not too gronky this morning -- I went to bed around 10, I wonder if that makes a difference?

My sincere condolences, quester -- I remember my grandfather going that way, about four months after my grandmother died. They'd been married more than 60 years....


Lee - Jan 30, 2006 3:01:25 am PST #3627 of 10002
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.

Happy Birthday, Anne!


Sue - Jan 30, 2006 3:16:21 am PST #3628 of 10002
hip deep in pie

Happy Birthday Anne!


Calli - Jan 30, 2006 3:17:54 am PST #3629 of 10002
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

Happy Birthday, Anne!

My condolences, Jon.

Much peace to you and your family, Quester.

Congratulations, ita!

Man, you stay off the board for one weekend . . .

I have a request for the all-knowing hivemind. I think my parents are being taken in by a scam. There's a site called glycoscience.org: [link] Basically, the site says there are 8 forms of sugar that the body needs, but it doesn't get six of them from day to day eating. This site is paired with mannatech.com, [link] They'll gladly sell you supplements to make up for this "lack".

The problems the site claims their product might help with include cancer, microbial infections, diabetes, lung infections, ulcers, calcium deficiency, GI problems, Alzheimers, nerve function disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalagia, ADHA, dyslexia, and Tay-Sachs.

Yeah, that sounds plausable. However, my parents heard about this from my cousin who is a doctor. (I'm currently wondering just how good a doctor he is, given that he's suggesting my diabetic mother take sugar pills.) Me saying, "Folks, it's got 'scam' written on it in letters of flame" fails to trump the almighty MD. They're planning on both taking a product that could well be harmful to Mom, and they're planning on shelling out $500 a month for the priviledge. Snopes has nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to look for debunking info?


Sue - Jan 30, 2006 4:00:27 am PST #3630 of 10002
hip deep in pie

Calli, there's an article here:

[link]

And here:

[link]

Sounds like it's a big Pyramid scheme. Also, the shareholders are suing the company: [link]


Calli - Jan 30, 2006 4:04:59 am PST #3631 of 10002
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

Thank you, Sue. That's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for. Now I'm thinking that my cousin might be selling the stuff.

To borrow a useful phrase, stab, stab, stabbity, stabbity, stab.

Also, grrr.

[Edit] Fuckity! My cousin is is registered sales associate.


amych - Jan 30, 2006 4:16:23 am PST #3632 of 10002
Now let us crush something soft and watch it fountain blood. That is a girlish thing to want to do, yes?

Fuckity! My cousin is is registered sales associate.

Jeebus. Talk about an opportunity to abuse your patients' trust.


flea - Jan 30, 2006 4:18:38 am PST #3633 of 10002
information libertarian

Not to mention your blood relatives'. Yeesh. Don't they have an ethics board in medicine?


Calli - Jan 30, 2006 4:32:18 am PST #3634 of 10002
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

I've called my dad. When I told him it was a scam and why I thought so, he said he had thought it might be. But my cousin is my mom's nephew, the only doctor in the family, and she dotes on him. In between Dad, me, and Mom's doctor (who, I expect, will not be on board with her diabetic patient taking sugar pills) I'm thinking we can talk Mom down from this.

Don't they have an ethics board in medicine?

Oh, if I find out he's continuing to push this I will do my best to get him censured in some way. I don't care if that side of the family disowns me.


Fred Pete - Jan 30, 2006 4:39:40 am PST #3635 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.

Happy Birthday, Anne!