?

A couple of nut sprinkles on a dessert will have me vomiting for hours. A bowl of Rocky road ice cream? Up vomiting all night.

However, I have always eaten creamy peanut butter without problems of any kind, and I can eat regular Snickers bars, too. I can't have "natural" or "crunchy" peanut butter. I can't have ice cream snickers or extra nut snickers.

My ability to have peanut butter and normal snickers must be linked to their manufacturing process, but I'd like to know if anyone else experiences this, or has a medical explanation. My allergist had no clue.

My 2004 Tribute is driving me insane. My left low-beam headlight wasn't working, but before I could replace it, it began working again. My cruise control stopped working (and still doesn't). The digital display on my radio is normal one second and then totally scrambled/partial digits the next. My oil light keeps blinking/flashing, but there's no leak and the oil levels are perfect. Is it possible these problems are linked to a single electrical problem/line?

I found a stray cat (about 1 year old) sitting in the road in front of my house. He was covered in oil, but especially his bottom side. No blood or obvious injuries. He shows signs of traumatic brain injury (holding his head to the side, walking in circles, 3rd eyelid out when it shouldn't be, pupils dilating unevenly).

I caught him and considered calling animal control, thinking he might be best "put out of his misery"... but my moral dilemma was he didn't appear to be exhibiting misery, or any pain at all. Not knowing if such symptoms ever resolve themselves, I took him to a vet that helps with strays locally. I caught them at closing time, but they stayed after and gave him some fluids, an emergency flea pill, and a Frontline treatment. Apparently such injuries are fairly rare (if an accident occurs that causes that amount of damage, it generally kills the cat), so I'm having trouble finding any success stories.

I'm two vets, three vet trips, 11 days, and lots of TLC into this little cat adventure. The only two times the cat has appeared to be heading "downhill", he was dehydrated, and fluids and a steroid shot helped.

Today, his eyes are much clearer. Originally, they frequently crossed, and the pupils dilated unevenly. I've been doing physical therapy (stretching limbs, testing his reflexes, holding his head under his chin so he can walk, etc.) since day one, but now he's refusing to participate in the "walking therapy." As he seems more aware and generally healthier, I wonder if this isn't just stubbornness. However, on the rare occasion I do get him to move the back legs, they tend to cross each other as he puts them down. Poor little guy. His vertigo seems terrible.

I'm not opposed to putting a hopeless cat to sleep, but I more or less made the decision not to put this cat to sleep so long as he continues to show signs of improvement, and so long as he doesn't appear to be in pain or distress. However, I would feel much better if anyone had an example of a similarly-acting cat that recovered (or even one that didn't) to compare this little guy's story to.

If you've ever dealt with a similar injury, what type of physical therapy helped best?

Thanks

The dentoenamel junction of one of my upper left incisors has become exposed. Exposure is the result of a nervous childhood (and now adulthood) habit of picking at my gums, especially at this particular tooth. I can feel the junction with my fingernail, and see it in the mirror (very minor exposure, however). It's extremely sensitive to touch, temperature changes, etc. I have been told gums do not regenerate enough to re-cover the DEJ at this tooth, but I was wondering if there is some type of dentin sealant that could be used, and if so what are the success rates at reducing sensitivity and tooth decay?

I work outside. About 6 hours ago, while leaving the woods, I thought I felt something solid hit the back of my throat when I yawned. I coughed once, but didn't feel anything, so I assumed it was a speck of leaf or my imagination.

Fast forward to 15 minutes ago. I bent to pick up a paper from the floor and felt the urge to cough. And cough... and cough... Got progressively worse (lots of mucus), and my windpipe seemed to be closing. I was about to call my partner and ask for a ride to the hospital (it came on so quickly I started assuming allergic reaction to something), when I felt something solid-ish in my throat. So I coughed as hard as I could into the sink, and it was a mosquito!?

I've had a couple bugs go down my throat before, but the irritation/urge to cough was always instant and severe. I'm amazed that it took 6 hours for my throat to react to this foreign object, especially considering the reaction was so quick and severe when it finally did.

Have you had this happen before??

If they truly believe in an afterlife, why do many of them (probably not all) fear dying, or fear/mourn the death of a friend/acquaintance?

"And if there is a pervasive, preexisting cosmic deity, who is part of what he creates, then there is no space left for a god who intervenes in human affairs, let alone for a god who takes sides in vicious hamlet-wars between different tribes of Jews and Arabs. No text can have been written or inspired by him, for one thing, or can be the special property of one sect or tribe." -To be attributed after you've had time to mull it over first...

History has shown us that when the usefulness of one religion begins to fade, another rises up to take its place. New religions (Scientology, for instance) bloom when religious freedom is granted, and where there is a societal "need" and "gullibility" towards the new system.

Despite rising waves of fundamentalists, religious adherence in the United States and many other countries is fading. What steps would we as humanists, atheists, freethinkers, etc. need to take to foster free thought in societies that are shedding their religions, and to prevent the rise of uglier religions to take their places?

While the above is a theoretical "what WOULD we do" question, I'd also like to know what you think we should do now to help people escape the clutches of religion... not necessarily to turn believers away from their deities, but simply away from organized religion?

Past week: feeling tired

3 days ago: lymph node in left armpit started swelling

2 days ago: lymph node got bigger, left arm aching, neck sore

today: felt a little nauseous this morning, felt like I had the flu by mid afternoon. Arm really aching. Rest of body aching, too (especially neck). Headache, chest tight (<-- might be asthma related from work today).

Other: I work outside, in Kentucky. I've been bitten by many mosquitoes and ticks in the last 2 months (about 20-25 ticks, lost count of mosquitoes).

It was also very hot and humid last week, and we worked long hours, but I'm pretty sure I stayed sufficiently hydrated.

Dr. today sent a blood test off to check for lyme disease. Also checked my blood cell counts, which were normal.

Main question: Have you had these symptoms before?

Secondary: Are white blood cell counts always affected by flu?

I was raised in a religious family, yet I still could not bring myself to believe in a deity, even BEFORE I had been presented with evidence, or knew there was ANYONE else who believed the way I did? (I did think I was the only one for years...). I didn't really tap into evidence until I was 11-13 or so, but my disbelief stemmed from about 6ish. Did anyone else have similar experiences to this? If so, what were they like?

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is currently on death row in Iran. Last week, after much publicity, Iran announced she had been given a "reprieve" from death by stoning (though it was still a serious possibility she would be hanged instead). However today they amended their earlier statement, saying they are just "reconsidering" her stoning sentence. What are your thoughts?

For more information, here's a recent article on her plight:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/07/12/stoning-s...

I'm 23; he's 13. When he was 3 my father rather heatedly threatened me not to tell him about my beliefs (My father and other family members are Catholic). However, he has always been inquisitive and decently logical (he asked me at age 5 why dinosaurs weren't part of the Old Testament Bible stories he'd been learning, and I told him some bs justification to avoid angering my parents). Now my father is on medication and no longer (seemingly) angry about my beliefs. When my brother was 9, he whined "Why doesn't SHE have to go to church?" one morning, and Dad actually said "because her beliefs are different than ours. And who knows? Maybe one day we'll think more like she does." This comment kinda threw me... He's still quite devout, as I observed during three deaths in the family since he made that statement, so I'm not sure where he was going with it (or if he was just in an exceptionally good mood that morning).

Regardless, I've been away from my brother for almost a year due to school. He's a teenager now... he loves me like crazy, and it's reciprocated, and I have a feeling our discussions are going to be more complex when I return home soon. So if religion comes up (I won't bring it up, but he likely will), should I be honest, or lie, or avoid the topic?

I would especially like to hear from any atheists who have been in a similar situation with their siblings, though any comments are welcome.

And to the theists, I'm not going to try and convert him to atheism... though I admit that my hesitation is based on the realization that, if I do describe my beliefs, then he is logical enough to follow that train of thought to his own conclusions, which are likely to be correct (that there is no God, or at the very least, that organized religion is bunk).

Thanks in advance!

I'm 23; he's 13. When he was 3 my father rather heatedly threatened me not to tell him about my beliefs (My father and other family members are Catholic). However, he has always been inquisitive and decently logical (he asked me at age 5 why dinosaurs weren't part of the Old Testament Bible stories he'd been learning, and I told him some bs justification to avoid angering my parents). Now my father is on medication and no longer (seemingly) angry about my beliefs. When my brother was 9, he whined "Why doesn't SHE have to go to church?" one morning, and Dad actually said "because her beliefs are different than ours. And who knows? Maybe one day we'll think more like she does." This comment kinda threw me... He's still quite devout, as I observed during three deaths in the family since he made that statement, so I'm not sure where he was going with it (or if he was just in an exceptionally good mood that morning).

Regardless, I've been away from my brother for almost a year due to school. He's a teenager now... he loves me like crazy, and it's reciprocated, and I have a feeling our discussions are going to be more complex when I return home soon. So if religion comes up (I won't bring it up, but he likely will), should I be honest, or lie, or avoid the topic?

I would especially like to hear from any atheists who have been in a similar situation with their siblings, though any comments are welcome.

And to the theists, I'm not going to try and convert him to atheism... though I admit that my hesitation is based on the realization that, if I do describe my beliefs, then he is logical enough to follow that train of thought to his own conclusions, which are likely to be correct (that there is no God, or at the very least, that organized religion is bunk).

Thanks in advance!

A friend was wondering this earlier, and now I'm curious, too. What's your opinion of H. neanderthalensis?

You can erase up to SEVEN, though you can stop at one if you wish. You may only erase ONE religion every SIX months. Which religions would you erase, and in what order?

It would be interesting if you could also add your religious beliefs (or non-beliefs) as a reference point... but that is not necessary.

The question was:

"I'm so tired of the world being so infested with religion?

My mom doesn't believe in evolution, and she laughed when I told her what the big bang theory is. Her family is so infested in religion. The gay extremely extremely in the closet step son of hers told me "Who would you rather believe, a scientist who lives and dies within 75 years, or an eternal God who can move mountains?" ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Every time I'm driving on the freeway I see Jesus Fish signs everywhere! Like what the hell does a fish have to do with Jesus anyway? It's better than a cross. A cross is the equivalent of wearing a coffin to honor your dead mom.

If I tell any of my friends I'm agnostic/atheist they get so shocked, like it's a duty to be irrational about life and science. Why have we drifted so far from reality? Humans are so freaking stupid. We have potential, but we choose to be brainwashed with threats."

Shortened, the questions within are (paraphrased):

*What does a fish have to do with Jesus?

*Why have humans drifted so far from reality?

*And, not directly referenced, how to deal with the above situation.

To reiterate, my question was why this was reported (as it obviously was, since it was deleted). Even if you are not one of the reporters... can you tell me why it would have been reported? I realize, of course, that the question is "passionately stated"... but the questions are still valid, and the majority of the filler details allow us to understand better what the asker is truly inquiring about.

And if Sam reads this, my answer was:

Well, there's nothing you can do about it. The best way to stand up for your own beliefs, is to live and be seen as a happy, productive person. Any generally happy person will have something that annoys them, of course, and in your case it appears to be the same as me.... Why in the world can't the majority of humans be rational and realize that the myth for the God(s) they believe in are just as silly and unfounded as the opposing myths they criticize? Of course, the answer is indoctrination and ignorance (not always both, of course (there are plenty of intelligent theists), but one or the other is usually involved). This phenomenon of unquestioning people has annoyed me more and more as I've gotten older, and had more evidence presented to me. But you can't let their will to explain everything to themselves like frightened children upset you (I should note, not all children... I wasn't a whiny explain-the-bad-away kid... maybe why I never believed what I was told about God). That's their choice... we all have free will, and you should feel special that you're one of the few who have chosen to exercise it in the faith sector of your life.

"Only a man and a woman can have children, so only a man and a woman should marry." Okay, does this mean that elderly people, infertile people, etc., who will not produce children, should not marry? For that matter, what about couples that don't even have sex (yes, they exist.. a LOT of them do)? Tons of cultures throughout history have raised their children communally, with several "mothers" and several "fathers." How in the world is two of one parent worse than only one parent at all (which isn't automatically a bad thing, either).

"Allowing same-sex marriages will undermine heterosexual marriages." Um, negative. Homosexual marriages, short-term marriages that end in divorce, marriages entrenched with domestic violence, marriages between swingers, etc. have absolutely no impact on the importance, relevance, or sanctity of my future marriage to my fiance.

Please be respectful and try to add something intelligent to this argument. Comments from either side are welcome so long as they are respectful. We all need to think out of the box on this one, as arguments like those in Minnesota meetings this week are just getting ridiculous, and embarrassing to the religious/conservative/Republican sides. No one needs to be embarrassed by these issues.

Anyone with thoughts on how to reach a resolution to the same-sex marriage debate is also welcome to share ideas!

Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not the study of the concept of 'feudalism' in medieval archaeology is a good thing or a bad thing? Or in between? On the one hand, it's a major part of what made up life in the middle ages, while on the other hand, it's possible that archaeologists focus TOO much on feudalism in the middle ages and thereby miss out on other areas of study that don't revolve around feudalism. What do you guys think?

Basically, if you were to archaeologically excavate a 300-year-old skeleton from well-oxidized and freely-draining sediment, what condition would you expect the bones to be in? And what are some examples of oxidized, free-draining sediments? Would sand qualify?