Stephanie Briggs - Handmade Knitting My Way Through Chronic Pain

Knitting by hand, owned by three cats and a manbeast

Quality of Death Index – something to celebrate?

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I’ve written before about end-of-life issues. They’re never easy to make, either for the patient, or the patient’s loved ones. In the BBC today, I spotted this article entitled Quality of Death Index – something to celebrate?. It reminded me of an Introduction to Philosophy course I took during my first year at uni. My […]

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On the Myths and Realities of Capitalism and Communism

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In a discussion on Facebook about this op-ed article that describes Obama’s presidency and his legacy, I had a few thoughts. The only thing about the article that bothers me is this sentence: “Obama managed to open diplomatic relations with Cuba, which will put the communist nation on a path toward capitalism and democracy, by getting […]

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The Duggars vs the Dionne Quintuplets

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In 1997, the three surviving Dionne Quintuplets (b. 1934), Yvonne, Annette and Cecile, wrote an open letter to the parents of the McCaughey septuplets (born November 1997), warning against allowing too much publicity for the children. The letter read:   “Dear Bobbi and Kenny,   If we emerge momentarily from the privacy we have sought all […]

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Thoughts on craniosacral “therapy” and osteopathy

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Skeptical OB posted about how infants can and do die when craniosacral “therapy” is performed on them. Usually, it’s performed because the parent believes it will reduce colic, or some other normal baby behaviour, and the parent has drunk the kool-aid. I don’t think a chiropractor has any place treating babies or children, because of […]

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The Derek Bentley Case and “Let Him Have It”

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Let Him Have It is an excellent movie starring Christopher Eccleston about the case of Derek Bentley (aged 19), who was hanged in 1953 for murder, despite the fact that he was mentally retarded and suffered from unmedicated epileptic seizures, and had never killed anyone. He had the mental age of a 10-year-old, with a […]

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Doctor Zhivago – The Musical

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Today in my browsing adventures… I have decided I like Anthony Warlow as the Phantom.   Screeches to a stop whilst browsing.   Uh…he’s in a musical version of Doctor Zhivago? The costumes must be absolutely stifling!   eyes bulging…   There’s a musical version of Doctor Zhivago???? Wait just a second. Hold it. STOP THE […]

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How do breastfeeding stunts normalize breastfeeding? They don’t.

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I regularly read The Skeptical OB, and today’s post concerned breastfeeding stunts. Surprise: it’s not an Olympic sport. I had to look it up to confirm what my maybe squeamish eyes couldn’t believe: a woman, breastfeeding her own child, and attached to her other breast? Her friend’s son. Now, my sister has twins, and breastfed […]

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Ann Rule’s Death at 83, and Her Relationship with Serial Killer Ted Bundy

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I wouldn’t characterize the friendship of Ted Bundy and Ann Rule as “twisted” in the slightest. That sort of characterization is being made because the writer of the title of this article in the Washington Post is looking back at Bundy through the lens of hindsight and knowing exactly what he did, because now, we […]

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Richard Dawkins: Islam is Already a Feminist Religion

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Prominent atheist Richard Dawkins has offered to help sow the seeds of feminism in Islam! Really, we appreciate your help. Even though we don’t need it. There already is a “feminist revolution” in Islam, Mr Dawkins. All you have to do is open your eyes and look for it, because it’s right there in front of […]

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