LBC attack dogs set on Ben Goldacre

Dr Ben Goldacre wrote a critique of Jeni Barnett's LBC radio broadcast about MMR.

He's been sent a cease and desist notice by LBC's lawyers, forcing him to remove from his site an audio clip of a part of the programme.

Dr Goldacre is not incredibly well paid. He can't afford to take on a rich media company. He's removed the clip.

Other people have placed the clip on e.g. wikileaks and their own sites. See Dr Goldacre's site for more links.

I've added it here for anyone who wants to listen to Jeni Barnett's unscientific and hysterical rant against MMR (c 40MB).

I've been considering making a complaint to OfCom about the way the Jeni Barnett programme was delivered; luckily, I realised that this would lower me to the standards of her employers, LBC - using the law when anyone with principles would be using words.

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Update : Sod it, I complained to OfCom anyway, because I think that trying to stifle debate using the law shows a lack of belief in the strength of one's arguments and I think LBC, Ms Barnett and their lawyers should have to argue openly in support of their position on the issue. A complaint to OfCom may have the effect of making these people / organisations defend their views.

Perhaps it'll also make some other media organisations realise that the best way to deal with issues like this is not to attempt censorship, but to have open dealings with their critics.

Have you seen i want great care dot org?

No, I'm not going to create a link to it.

You wanna go there? Type it yourself.

This wonderful site which allows you to rate your doctor and her/his services does not seem to allow comments or feedback on itself.

Now why would a failed junior doctor want to set up a site where people can, if they wish, with no other checking, rip the shit out of any honest, hard-working, caring GP, but which does not allow any feedback on its own services?

I can't imagine, but try rearranging these words into a well-known phrase or saying :

kettle the black calling pot the

or maybe this one :

twat hypocritical a

Why is Mohammed Asha still in prison?

Dr Mohammed Asha was found not guilty of terrorist offences.

The Home Office has found a spurious reason to keep him in prison - his work permit has expired because he could not renew it when he was imprisoned on trumped-up charges related to the Glasgow car fire-bomb attack and attempted fire-bomb attacks in London.

So, he's not guilty, he was prevented from renewing his work permit because he was on remand for offences of which he is not guilty and some shit-head in the Home Office is disgruntled because their prosecution failed.

There really are some arse-holes in government. To be unable to accept that their prosecution was wrong and to mis-treat Dr Asha because of it is wrong, wrong, wrong and makes me ashamed that I live in a country in which such petty-minded, power-mad bastards have any power.

Dr Asha has been described by colleagues as the finest neurosurgeon in the UK.

Shouldn't the government be striving to keep him here, rather than trying to kick him out just because the Home Office won't admit its mistakes?

Rape victim, 13, stoned to death in Somalia

Do I really need to add anything to this story?

Apart from "evil, vile, wicked, cruel, inhuman, FUCKING SICKENING"?

Mayor drops festival's anti-racism message

What can one expect from a man like Boris Johnson, other than the ending of anti-racism messages? Other than using overtly racist language? Other than the complete dismantling of anything good than Ken has done in London?



I'm no fan of Ken, since he's had his nose in the trough no less than any other politician, but at least he does seem to be genuinely anti-racist, despite his legendary outburst, which seems to have either been misreported or alcohol-fuelled - and we all make arses of ourselves after a few too many beers or, in the case of a politician of his hue, bottles of expensive red wine.

I'm gonna create a site like this

I can see no simpler way of making money from suckers.



Easy to set up and a real money-maker.