'False' Science Hurts People

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/23/2550810.htm

Wow.

I've always considered myself a fairly open minded and liberal person. I don't mind what people do generally, as long as they aren't hurting others... like in this story. This is a pretty damn clear case of someone selling false hope to incredibly vulnerable people, something that is pretty close to unforgiveable in my books.

There are lots of opportunities and ways that people sell hope - most natural remedies rely heavily on the placebo effect and it can be an incredibly powerful tool for motivation and healing - but sometimes this hope can come at a very steep cost. In our society, that cost is often financial (homeopaths, who believe that water retains memories of what was in it despite a number of scientific papers to the contrary, and can therefore sell 'medicalised water' to those with too much money are an excellent example) but in this case, and whenever vulnerable people are looking for help or answers, that cost could be health, family or lifestyle.

Take the case of HIV medication - Ben Goldman has done some great research on the impact that vitamen salesman Matthais Rath has had on addressing the massive health problem that HIV poses in South Africa - check out http://www.badscience.net/2009/04/matthias-rath-steal-this-chapter/

I could say more. I think I need to think about it all a bit more and provide a more cohesive arguement agains bloody naturopaths and homeopaths - except to say that if it worked as well as they say it does, we'd all be using it because it wouldn't be called 'alternative medicine.' It would be called 'medicine'.

Phone re-mumbers

When I went to Kindergarten, I took a suitcase with me. Inside was my lunch, pens, books and my phone number and bus number, written on the inside of the lid in permanent texta.

Since I was only five, I can probably be forgiven for not being able to remember my phone number (or my two digit bus number either apparently) but I don't really have that excuse anymore. So now I blame my mobile phone - I don't know my own phone number.

Pretty sad. I think I no longer feel compelled to make the effort to remember numbers because my mobile 'remembers' them for me, which is great until it dies in the middle of civic and I can't ring anyone. That's why pay phones are dying out - not because people don't need them but because when they do, they are incapable of dialing except in random number mashing, constantly trying several random digits in the hope that eventually someone they actually know will pick up. If infinate people in infinate phoneboxes randomly rung phone numbers for an infinate time... well, no-one would pick up because we'd all be on the phone answering infinate phonecalls....

Happy Easter

So what exactly happened to the Easter Bilby? Was he outcompeted by breeding Easter bunnies? Or did has the ACF just given up on trying to change us?

Hope everyone had a happy and healthy four days of freedom and you all had a chance to celebrate Easter in whatever style suits you. Back to work on Tuesday... can't wait... really........

Is that a boardgame in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Spent a 'rainy' Friday morning inside playing boardgames. I always loved playing them as a child but never realised the number of innuendos or sexual connotations that might have been flying above my innocent, catholic-school girl head (and yes, I am aware of the double entendre there). But that seems to be part of the game when you're older. Of course, when you're playing a game that involves having to ask for wood, once they start they are hard to avoid (doubly so when playing with the creators of Pundamonium)

Then again, it's not really that hard to make something seem a bit naughty. It's just getting close to a line when it involves wood, sheep and a hard decision...

Broadband bonanza

For those who haven't heard, Australia is about to enter the 21st century (apparently at the moment we are living in technological squalour).

In an attempt to bring broadband to the masses, K-Rudd has decided that the government will own 51% of a national broadband cable company (the rest to be owned by the private companies that help). It should deliver cable internet at ridiculously fast speeds to 90% of Australian households (and I'm guessing the 10% that don't get it will be the ones living in remote areas who could actually gain a lot from it).

While I'm all for embracing technology and making it accessible to everyone (especially in rural and remote areas) I'm a bit dubious about how successful this venture will be – if we use the suggested 'science communication' model of communicating at with a smart, older person who didn't go to university (thereby using MamaDunkley as a my example), the probable response from most people will go something like 'Whats wrong with what I have now? I only just changed my internet! And I can't afford an extra $25 a month. And my IT-gifted son isn't here to install it for me. And if it isn't wireless, then why would I bother?' (ok, that last muttering was mine).

Worst headline I've seen so far in relation to this story?

"Tas gets first 'byte' at new broadband." Arrgh.

Invention convention

A shout out to some of my favourite inventions today:

1. Post-it flags. Colourful, sticky, and you can write on them. Plus the dispensor design is awesome, alternating left and right and pulling the next flag through, so there's always a post-it at your fingertips.

2. Stove-top coffee makers. It's like watching a little chocolate fountain except with coffee. And I love the use of physics to force water up through the coffee and into the pot (which was explained to me by the ShadowChaser, but I can't for the life of me remember.)

3. Facebook (and to a larger extent, the Internet). After accumluating friends all over the globe, it's nice to have one spot to rule them all, one spot to find them, one spot to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.