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[Bal]

The anti-vaccination movement has existed in one form or another since the first vaccinations. The objections have varied wildly, from early groups saying that it was somehow subverting god's will, to claims that they're medically dangerous in recent times. The most prominent thing right now is the MMR vacine and autism being linked (they're not).

[Ziiro]

Don't forget conspiracy theories of mind control!

[Thad]

It's still a pretty fringe viewpoint.  We chatted about it a bit last September during Bachmann's "HPV vaccine gives you mental retardation" insanity; Sei quoted a statistic saying 25% of parents believe in the autism link, while 10% have "refused at least one recommended vaccine".

I responded by saying that the latter is the more important statistic and that, out of context, we don't really know what it means, and the actual number who refuse on religious or other dogmatic grounds is likely well under 10%.

Actually, the anti-vaccination movement has existed, in one form or another, since the first vaccines.

Shit.  We really DO just have the same conversations over and over here.

[Brentai]

Kelly was a girl who lived in a faraway land. She was bored a lot, so she decided to go on an adventure, when she saw...

[Thad]

And then the world exploded.

[Brentai]

Kelly blinked.  "What a weird little story," she said to herself, and then got on with her life.

[Classic]

One of my psych professors was leery of some vaccinations, believing that one allegedly killed its sample with mercury. And then injected some non-negligible amount of mercury into the recipient.

[Mongrel]

Mercury used to be used as a preservative, but the amount was basically non-existent. They don't use mercury as a preservative any more.

[Bal]

Also the mercury they used wasn't the toxic kind. Also even normal mercury isn't toxic at that dose. Also they took it out before the study that told people about it.

[TA]

And the study in question was heavily falsified anyway.

[Thad]

The Republic's got a week-long feature running called The Air We Breathe; today's entry is titled In the long term, bad air hurts all.

Nice seeing this get some attention.  I've mentioned before that I've recently developed asthma and it's made a pretty major impact on my quality of life.  Two of my grandparents have developed it too, and my girlfriend's dealing with allergies so severe we've had to rip out all our carpet.

I heard on the radio this morning that a recent poll said that most people in Arizona don't buy the argument that reducing EPA regulations will create jobs.  I think this is a good sign, though it's also a sign of how bad the problem is -- even as Republican/Libertarian a state as ours can't ignore the brown cloud making everybody sick.

[Doom]

"The" brown cloud? *hits up Google*

Holy fuck.

I like how every time I think about making a joke that Arizona is a hell hole, I don't even have to make the joke.

I know "just pick up and move" is bad advice reserved for making fun of people who live in Tornado Alley, but... damn.

[Brentai]

I've been trying to get Thad to pick up and move for years now.

[Bal]

It's mostly just Phoenix that's the hell hole. It's a sprawling urban wasteland that wishes it was LA. Metro Phoenix is fucking awful.

[Pacobird]

the old pueblo is quite charming

[Thad]

Oh also the proposed redistricting map combines my district with the one Ben Quayle is currently serving in.  I've never rooted for Schweikert before, but given the choice...

Yes and no, actually.

The northern part of my current district will indeed be part of the new District 6 that Schweikert and Quayle are competing for.  However, Tempe is NOT part of District 6, so regardless of who wins, Schweikert will not be my Congressman anymore.

I will, instead, be living in...

[Büge]

a broken .jpg?

[Thad]

:(

...how'bout now?

[McDohl]

Good to go!

[Thad]

So here's a bit of sanity: the Commerce Committee has approved a bill to charge tax on online purchases for retailers who have a presence in the state.  Meaning, of course, Amazon.

The headline is a rather dickish "Are you ready to pay 9% on that Amazon purchase?"  Well, yes.  Yes I am.