Happy Face

They'll have to spend the $700bn on salary hikes rather than bonuses I guess.

It's years since i watched any simpsons but I always remember that scene... Crowd: We need a cure! We need a cure! Dr. Hibbert: Why, the only cure is bed rest. Anything I give you would only be a placebo. Blonde Woman: Where do we get these placebos? Man: Maybe there's some in this truck! [the panicky crowd push over a truck, boxes labeled "danger killer bees" break open, the bees go everywhere and everyone panics, one man puts a bee in his mouth] Man: I'm cured! I mean, ouch! Not word for word like, that's IMDB

"listening" on page 2? Standards have slipped. James Brown - Love Don't Love Nobody

I've been a life long sufferer of chronic eczema all my life, so have some experience about this. I've been admitted to hospital several times and I am currently on strong topical immunosuppressants, which work (and have trial evidence to prove this, of course). First of all I'm really glad your boy recovered early in his life and didn't suffer the pain I have had to live with. But what I have found out about eczema its a really strange, chronic relapsing illness. It can literally disappear over night for no apparent reason, only to rebound back years later, again for no apparent reason. I have just come from a period of it being clear for 6 years, only to be struck down yet again, when I thought I might have finally grown out of it. I'd suggest that the use of homeopathy in your son's case was a coincidence, as you've already alluded too. If nothing can convince you otherwise then that's your perogative. But ask yourself this. If it works, why has there been no high-quality trials to prove this? In fact, iirc, the first person that can show any difference at all between a homeopathic solution and distilled water will win a million pounds from James Randi. Secondly, why is homeopathy only ever of any use for self-limiting illnesses? At the end of the day I have no problem with people using whatever CAM they want, most will benefit to some extent from the placebo effect or simple regression to mean, and that can actually unburden the NHS. However, it should be treated like every other medical intervention; if you can't prove it works, then the NHS shouldn't pay for it. Serious question - Have you ever considered a homeopath? Just to pick one point out - the reason homeopathy hasnt had high quality trials to prove its usefulness is because the sort of trials you are talking about dont test how homeopathy works. You cant have a control group in homeopathy the whole point of it is treating the individual. I have no idea about homeopathic solutions- iirc the boy was given sulphur tablets. I dont know what a self limiting illness is so I cant answer that. I discount the placebo effect because he was too young to understand he was even being given anything. I cant disprove coincidence, but to my eyes it seemed a process took place over a number of visits that culminated in a excma free child. I completely agree that it shouldnt be anything to do with the NHS though Im not trying to convince anybody of anything tbh, I am just saying I went from a position of total cynicism to beleiving it worked for my son Couldn't I treat a control group, while an actual homeopath treated the other group? no Another dream dashed. The reason being by defintion a homeopath cant treat a group. I dont really know though - I dont want to be the boards resident new age crank. I do go to the accupuncturist once a month though (not on the nhs renty) I'm sure a homeopaths "career" isn't over after they've treated their first patient. My mother's forever forcing liquorice on me to improve my 'motions', I'll end up like this poor bint.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3733757.stm

I've been a life long sufferer of chronic eczema all my life, so have some experience about this. I've been admitted to hospital several times and I am currently on strong topical immunosuppressants, which work (and have trial evidence to prove this, of course). First of all I'm really glad your boy recovered early in his life and didn't suffer the pain I have had to live with. But what I have found out about eczema its a really strange, chronic relapsing illness. It can literally disappear over night for no apparent reason, only to rebound back years later, again for no apparent reason. I have just come from a period of it being clear for 6 years, only to be struck down yet again, when I thought I might have finally grown out of it. I'd suggest that the use of homeopathy in your son's case was a coincidence, as you've already alluded too. If nothing can convince you otherwise then that's your perogative. But ask yourself this. If it works, why has there been no high-quality trials to prove this? In fact, iirc, the first person that can show any difference at all between a homeopathic solution and distilled water will win a million pounds from James Randi. Secondly, why is homeopathy only ever of any use for self-limiting illnesses? At the end of the day I have no problem with people using whatever CAM they want, most will benefit to some extent from the placebo effect or simple regression to mean, and that can actually unburden the NHS. However, it should be treated like every other medical intervention; if you can't prove it works, then the NHS shouldn't pay for it. Serious question - Have you ever considered a homeopath? Just to pick one point out - the reason homeopathy hasnt had high quality trials to prove its usefulness is because the sort of trials you are talking about dont test how homeopathy works. You cant have a control group in homeopathy the whole point of it is treating the individual. I have no idea about homeopathic solutions- iirc the boy was given sulphur tablets. I dont know what a self limiting illness is so I cant answer that. I discount the placebo effect because he was too young to understand he was even being given anything. I cant disprove coincidence, but to my eyes it seemed a process took place over a number of visits that culminated in a excma free child. I completely agree that it shouldnt be anything to do with the NHS though Im not trying to convince anybody of anything tbh, I am just saying I went from a position of total cynicism to beleiving it worked for my son Couldn't I treat a control group, while an actual homeopath treated the other group? no Another dream dashed.

I've been a life long sufferer of chronic eczema all my life, so have some experience about this. I've been admitted to hospital several times and I am currently on strong topical immunosuppressants, which work (and have trial evidence to prove this, of course). First of all I'm really glad your boy recovered early in his life and didn't suffer the pain I have had to live with. But what I have found out about eczema its a really strange, chronic relapsing illness. It can literally disappear over night for no apparent reason, only to rebound back years later, again for no apparent reason. I have just come from a period of it being clear for 6 years, only to be struck down yet again, when I thought I might have finally grown out of it. I'd suggest that the use of homeopathy in your son's case was a coincidence, as you've already alluded too. If nothing can convince you otherwise then that's your perogative. But ask yourself this. If it works, why has there been no high-quality trials to prove this? In fact, iirc, the first person that can show any difference at all between a homeopathic solution and distilled water will win a million pounds from James Randi. Secondly, why is homeopathy only ever of any use for self-limiting illnesses? At the end of the day I have no problem with people using whatever CAM they want, most will benefit to some extent from the placebo effect or simple regression to mean, and that can actually unburden the NHS. However, it should be treated like every other medical intervention; if you can't prove it works, then the NHS shouldn't pay for it. Serious question - Have you ever considered a homeopath? Just to pick one point out - the reason homeopathy hasnt had high quality trials to prove its usefulness is because the sort of trials you are talking about dont test how homeopathy works. You cant have a control group in homeopathy the whole point of it is treating the individual. I have no idea about homeopathic solutions- iirc the boy was given sulphur tablets. I dont know what a self limiting illness is so I cant answer that. I discount the placebo effect because he was too young to understand he was even being given anything. I cant disprove coincidence, but to my eyes it seemed a process took place over a number of visits that culminated in a excma free child. I completely agree that it shouldnt be anything to do with the NHS though Im not trying to convince anybody of anything tbh, I am just saying I went from a position of total cynicism to beleiving it worked for my son Couldn't I treat a control group, while an actual homeopath treated the other group?

This is the second time on here someone has mentioned their miracle cure for Eczema. The last one was Lourdes. As I said in that thread, many children just grow out of it. Still, I don't want to come over all Guardian on the subject, so who knows, maybe there is something in it. EDIT: I really should hae read the rest of the thread before posting. Anyway, what Renton said.

What a belter. £11.99 battery from ipoddoctor arrived today. Just whacked it in following the very simple instructions provided and my ipod is back to it's old glory. £150 saved on shelling out for a replacement. I'm going to order a replacement battery for my third generation Ipod that's sat in the bottom draw for a few years now. Go proper retro. How were they deemed to be so good looking?

Not so much Shearer letting it be known that he wants to be manager, more Robert Lee letting it be known that he wants to be Terry Mcdermott.

No, worst case scenario is you hook it upto iTunes and restore the normal firmware. So the website is just covering it's arse when it says "Warning Jailbreaking your iPod Touch is not fool proof and things can go wrong. We can’t be held responsible."

10th best home record in the league. Sorry for the glut of stats today everyone. I've just found statto.com and it's rocked my world. And our away record? 18th. But the point was we're ok at home. Look at everton. Won one game against Fulham at home, but they're still seventh. We just can't cope with going dahn sarf. Only points we've got on the road were against northerners (Man U and Everton). 3 visits to the capital and lost all 3. Same old story.

10th best home record in the league. Sorry for the glut of stats today everyone. I've just found statto.com and it's rocked my world.

Bobby's reminiscence's have reminded me of a memorable sight on Saturday gone. The Magpie Ranger giving it the Pied Piper up and down the stairs trying to get the tourettes song going in the corner before going spare on the quiet types sitting on their hands to "Make some fucking noise man!" Makes watching the football bearable that stuff.

More the stained PC tower type that hoard a terabyte of snide porn?

I'm still reeling from realising. Forty fuckin years. The family spongebob are in for a right boring time over the dinnertable tonight. I shall be regailing with tales of valour and misery all night long Peanuts hoyed out to you The supporters club opposite the Strawberry The 5 minute flag Floodlight pylons Saint James Wrestling Hall Football league supplement in programme Walls for bogs The Magpie club Lord Westwood Spike rawlings guesting at testimonials Trees by the Popular Jinky breaking that kids leg Supa Mac's goal versus Leicester Gordon Marshall swinging around the post and the ball going in Writing your name on the bog rolls Playing with the grit Come on you old bastard a few more obscure memeories,not just the famous ones Being electrocuted by the bare wires hanging from the scoreboard?

No way Fulham. Firing on all cylinders with baldy up front now. I think it's a false hope for them. Fully expect them to crash and burn..... Internet £10? You want to keep an eye on who they've played. Only 4 games against top-half teams (earned 4 points). 8 against bottom half (13 points). And they've got a worse away record than us, worst in the league in fact.

Some shit teams are doing well, and some average teams are doing shit. Third bottom only had 10 points this time last year. It took 17 games for the 18th place team to hit the 13 point mark they currently sit on. Last year was a low survival total. It looks like it'll be closer to the 39 or 40 points it usually is this time. Can we win 9 games? I'd say so, pick any 9 from.... Home to Spurs, Stoke, West Ham, Mackems, Fulham, Boro, Everton, Portsmouth Away to WBA, Tottenham, Blackburn, Wigan, Stoke, Bolton and Hill.

I don't disagree. At Fulham he tried to force a change within 5 minutes of going behind, hardly hesitant. On Saturday we were behind, until 10 minutes after his change when we drew level, and within 20 minutes of his changes we were ahead. Bobby Robson would have been heaped with praise for that kind of impact. Hardly, it was crying out for a change well before the subs were made and Kinnear had one player at least (two imo) on the bench who should have been starting anyway. I was exasperrated with how long he took to make the changes too, but I think it's unfair to have a go at changes that did have an impact on getting us ahead in the end. He could have started with Owen and Zoggy, but then the impact his changes could have would be limited to bringing Ameobi and Enrique off the bench. They're never game changers. And that's not to say Ameobi should start ahead of a fit Owen either, just that I reckon his subs weren't bad on Saturday, delayed though they might have been.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_4491818,00.html much?

I don't disagree. At Fulham he tried to force a change within 5 minutes of going behind, hardly hesitant. On Saturday we were behind, until 10 minutes after his change when we drew level, and within 20 minutes of his changes we were ahead. Bobby Robson would have been heaped with praise for that kind of impact.

Jesus wept Jesus Wept!

"Michael Owen is the best player at the football club. I have to make these decisions. Which ever decisions I make are never right. I'd like to talk to him but I am on the outside, not the inside." "I took off Spiderman and you will have a field day with that. It is a difficult job making decisions isn't it. Whatever decision I make you'll go against it."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7733482.stm

Also it is noticeable that a lot of the 'weaker' sides are putting together little runs of points. Yeah.

It's often a case of lies, damn lies and stats with some of the stuff you post (I think that's deliberate and tongue-in-cheek on you part anyway a lot of the time) but that is quite telling imo.