Friday, 6 Oct 95 Washington,DC
1. BUDGET SCORE: PRESIDENT CLINTON APPROVES ONE--AND VETOES ONE.
The President signed a military construction bill, even though he
complained it was laced with pork, and vetoed a bill to fund the
operation of Congress to which he had no objection, on the
grounds that Congress should get on with "the people's business"
before funding itself. Last week, the "train wreck" was averted
by parking on a siding (WN 29 Sep 95), but it's a dangerous time.
One spending bill Clinton vows to veto in its present form is
VA/HUD/IA, which includes NSF and NASA. Although the veto threat
focuses on National Service, which Congress zeroed, most programs
in this bill have been cut. Least affected is NSF, which fares
relatively well -- and that's where Congress can be expected to
look if it decides to restore National Service to avoid a veto.
2. WALKER INTRODUCES OMNIBUS CIVILIAN SCIENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
The chair of the House Science Committee bundled seven agency
authorization bills into a single huge package. He argues that
this will: 1) make it clear that science is a national issue, 2)
facilitate priority setting, and 3) link science to the nation's
economy. It will also obscure the fact that real science does
poorly compared to junk science like the space station. Agencies
included under the bill are: NASA, NSF, NIST, NOAA, EPA and USFA.
3. SHARKS DON'T GET CANCER--THEY GET TURNED INTO CANCER "CURES."
Yesterday on CNN, if you listened past the OJ reruns, there was a
report that shark cartilage is effective in the treatment of
Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer often associated with AIDS. This was
a surprise since previous studies detected no efficacy, and
experts say the protein cannot even be absorbed. But in the new
study, shark cartilage was used "in conjunction with radiation
treatments and chemotherapy." Hmmm. I suppose a Lakota medicine
wheel is effective in treating infection when used in conjunction
with penicillin. In his forthcoming book, "Sharks Still Don't Get
Cancer," I. William Lane, who has made buckets of money from
BENEFIN, a shark cartilage preparation that has never been
subjected to clinical trial, reviews the case of Sister Michelle,
described as "a beautiful Catholic nun." She was diagnosed with
a large malignant breast tumor, Lane writes, but refused surgery,
chemotherapy or radiation; "Instead she went on a regimen of
BENEFIN and is now tumor-free, with both breasts untouched."
4. EMF: PRESS AGAIN BITES ON "LEAK" OF BOGUS NCRP CANCER REPORT.
Science magazine bit first on material leaked from a committee of
the National Council on Radiation Protection (WN 25 Aug 95). New
Scientist, a British magazine, bit next. That's where USA Today
read about. God knows where it will show up next. By now, it's
described as a full-blown NCRP report. EMF true believer Ross
Adey, the Committee chair, has tried unsuccessfully since 1986 to
get NCRP to agree to such a report. So, it was simply leaked.
THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY (Note: Opinions are the author's
and are not necessarily shared by the APS, but they should be.)
|
