Here's Why

Parasites infect human brains and change their behaviour for the worst.

Listen to the MP3:

I'm told that while I was out at 2SER on Thursday night, every TV news station carried a video bite of Professor
Llloyd's hypothesis that Chronic Fatigue Sydnrome (and Fibromyalgia) is possibly caused by brain injury after glandular fever or similar virus. Apparently the footage showed patients being brain scanned, and the suggestion that they'd found the cause. The story is all over the ABC and other sites, but there's nothing new that I could see.

Now, its been known since the 1990's that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (and Fibromyalgia) happens to some people after an Epstein Barr Virus or "mononucleosis" infection (or Ross River fever or Q Fever), but that not everybody who is infected gets CFS and not every CFS sufferer has been infected with Epstein Barr virus. The brain scans are planned for the future, they haven't been performed yet, after all this time. The TV footage seemed to be misleading. So what's new?

I've sent a list of questions that the press release and the new research paper didn't answer to the media liason at UNSW. The media liason told me he'd pass my questions on to the Professor, but I was never sent any answers.

It would be amazing to see research that goes one step beyond confirming every year that CFS is not a delusion.

At last here is my radio podcast of RocketCar day 666!

The sixth Rocket Car Day was held in the back streets of Marrickville in Sydney. My tape recorder lasted long enough to record a complete race, but died when I interviewed people. I hope my report gives the flavour of the day.

For a new video montage of the day go to http://www.rocketcarday.com

For my Flickr photo set of the day set go here

Its amazing what a good education in translating deliberately deceptive official language the "Yes Minister" and "yes Prime Minister" TV series gives you. Government employees wish to deceive the public so that they can get what they want without democracy getting in the way. On the other hand, they avoid lying outright, because if the truth IS discovered by the public, they can spin that they had always told the truth, its just that you were too stupid to understand what they were really saying.

ASIO Chief Paul O'Sullivan is quoted in Monday's Sydney Morning Herald talking about the threat of terrorist attack on Australian soil:

"ASIO's assessment of a possible terrorist attack in Australia has remained at medium since the September 2001 attacks in the US, Mr O'Sullivan said."

Translation: The threat has not increased.

" He said there was a higher threat level for acts against the interests of the US, Britain and Israel in Australia."
Translation: Even if an attack did happen, terrorists don't hate Australians enough to aim at us. Its vague whether he means Embassies or MacDonalds, or MacDonalds at Embassies.

"However, recent trends had indicated terrorist groups were now smaller and more diffuse, making it harder for security agencies to detect them."
Translation: There is little evidence for terrorist groups or threats in Australia.

"This justified the enhanced powers the Federal Government had given ASIO and the federal police. These included warrants that allow people to be detained without charge in certain circumstances."

Translation: The fact that there is no evidence of danger justifies imprisoning people without charge and making them answer questions without a lawyer under duress, in secret.

The Government employed scientists do the same thing.
Prolonged Illness after Infectious Mononucleosis Is Associated with Altered Immunity but Not with Increased Viral Load

"The detailed determinants of delayed recovery remain to be elucidated."
Translation: After 15 years of research, we have proved that we have no clue what causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Give us your grant money anyway.

Nicko was selling Heat packs at half price for cash and pickup.

These are re-usable heat packs that use a sodium acetate crystallization and re-solution system. By bending the metal disc in the bag, the sodium acetate crystalizes and gives off heat. Placing the bag in boiling water redissolves the sodium acetate, and the bag can be re-used. You can make your own sodium acetate by mixing vinegar with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which can release enough carbon dioxide to blow up a balloon.

I had one of these for my lower back I bought at a trade show. Unfortunately, when I heated it in boiling water, I didn't protect the plastic bag from the hot metal of the pan. The plastic melted, and the resulting chemical reaction filled the apartment with white smoke and steam, and ruined the pot with the heat pack.

There were no smoke alarms in the building, or I would have set them all off. I had to leave the balcony door open and all the windows, and abandon the flat for an hour or so.

These packs are really good for pain, cramps and inflammation, just wrap them in a tea-towel or inside a sock or pillow-case before you put the bag in boiling water to re-dissolve the sodium acetate crystals.

If you do decide to visit Niko and buy some re-usuable heat packs, please tell him that Ian sent you! (Maybe he'll shout me a meal)