Bad Science, by Ben Goldacre

Howdy reader,

I have just finished reading this book. And it is a cracking, stimulating, depressing and also funny book. Ben Goldacre tackles big pharma, vitamin pill manufacturers (I had no idea how huge this industry is), MMR and MRSA controversies, anti-oxidant truths and a whole plethora of misinformation we are fed by journalists in search of the big headline. All written in a very friendly, readable style.

He explains how research should work and gives the reader the lowdown on thinking in terms of evidence based medicine. He explains how to recognise when a 'sciencey' newspaper article really is just bullshit. And it really does make you view these articles in a totally new (and unfortunately cynical) light. I say cynical because the quality of science journalism since reading this book really does seem to be of a desperately low standard.

Many of the examples he uses are funny, but I actually found it depressing to see how successful big pharma/the multibillion dollar vitamin pill industry/journalists are in manipulating research data to sell their drugs/pills/newspapers.

So this really is a marvellously interesting read. Fair play to him for his efforts in debunking these news stories and explaining to us how we can debunk them ourselves in the future.

So I highly recommend this to you. Go for it.

Cheers,
Jim.

p.s. The Bad Science web site is always worth a read.

Artist For Today: The Jimmy Cake

Howdy,

I have liked Irish band The Jimmy Cake since I came across Brains. A slow burning, gentle, experimental instrumental album, which could probably slide into the post rock genre if one felt like labelling it. The (usually 9 piece) band play instruments varying from accordion, clarinet, glockenspiel, tenor sax, banjo, and found percussion as well as straight-up guitars, drums and bass. Verging on ambient at times, this is a cracking album, very hard to find but well worth the search.

Their next album Dublin Gone Everybody Dead was louder, heavier, darker and (for want of a better word) angrier. Many folks seem to prefer it over its predecessor. I say each to his own, it's a good album in its own right, but I prefer the more laid back tone of Brains.

But now to the reason i thought I would write this: their new album Spectre & Crown. I am listening to this as I write. And it really is a step up from what came before. A beautiful, melancholic, epic album, with beautiful, powerful melodies. Influences vary from classical to hints of pop brass to jazz - actually at times the band that springs to mind while listening to this album is Jaga Jazzist (an excellent band I will have to write a review on soon).

Anyways, I'm not much of a writer really, suffice it so say Spectre & Crown would be a lovely addition to any music collection. Very Good indeed. And as another reviewer pointed out - it would also make an excellent name for a pub :)

Cheers, Jim.

Carna, Connemara and Saint Mac Dara

Hi,

I wanted to write this as there just isn't a whole lot of information on the subject of Féile Mhic Dara.

My wife is from the town of Carna in Connemara in the west of Ireland. Connemara is a beautiful, remote area, not good for farming, so it never boasted much of a population, and due to it's remoteness, the English never quite managed to take it over. A good portion of the people here speak Irish as a native tongue. It boasts a beautiful coastline and rugged, stony, boggy countryside with climbable mountains which reveal spectacular views.

Mac Dara's Island - a small island off the coast of Carna - was home in the sixth century to St. Mac Dara, Connemara's most respected saint. He built a one-room chapel here, with a dirt floor, walls of huge stones and a steep stone roof. In 1975 the church was restored and today it is considered one of the finest early Christian oratories in Ireland. It is unique in the archaeological record because of the architectural features of its roof.

Féile Mhic Dara is held annually on the 16th of July in Carna. A long tradition of pilgrimage to the church on the island exists on this day for Mass and celebration (people also take picnics and go for strolls around the island if the weather is good). The local fishermen give of their time and their boats by ferrying people out to the island in the morning and back in the afternoon. Others make their way out by canoe, currach and hooker. Afterwards there is a regatta for Galway Hooker's and also Currach racing.

A lovely tradition dates back to the seventeenth century whereby sailors off the Connemara coast show their reverence for their patron saint, Mac Dara, by dipping their sails three times when passing the island.

Irish music plays a big part on the pier as one leaves and returns, and later on that evening in the pubs of Carna. All in all, a truly, truly memorable event :) !!

In 2005 I took these photos of the day, hopefully they might give some inkling of the flavour of things :)

Slán go fóil, Jim.