John Oliver: Scientific studies (or why media are so useless at it)

6 comments on “John Oliver: Scientific studies (or why media are so useless at it) ”

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1. NZJester 1

   21 May 2016 at 8:37 am

   When real science does not say what the National government wants they just gag them.
   This government also loves to cherry pick facts to make sure things match what they want to present as the actual facts. They have also found creative ways to do that with financial data as well. No actual surplus in the budget, no problem. Move funds from one column to another so the budget shows a surplus and then move them back again after the budget so that the department you borrowed it from does not have an extreme budget shortfall. You also get a bonus by claiming the funding you are reinstating as increased funding for the department you borrowed it from in the first place.
   • Gavin 1.1

     21 May 2016 at 10:48 am

     That sounds about right. A few million or tens of millions, lots of that in the news over the last week or so. They’ve also delayed lots of spending, probably also reallocated normal spending as capital spending to spread it out. National are nowhere near producing the billions of annual budget surplus that Labour were able to, in their last great 9-year term in office. National are still borrowing money on the taxpayer, much of it to repay interest on previous borrowing.
2. RedLogix 2

   21 May 2016 at 10:53 am

   Somewhat OT but credit when the job is done well. We’ve just finished watching two documentary series on SBS.

   The first was a six part series from neurologist David Eagleman. Really, really interesting material and opens up a fascinating perspective on how the human mind works. I don’t know if it’s available in NZ and sadly it’s expired from SBS, but if you ever stumble across it … highly recommended.

   The second one is four part that is an intensely interesting overview of the Dunedin Longitudinal Study, now into it’s 40th year. I challenge anyone to watch all four parts and not be moved.

   Maybe at the risk of overstating it a tad, this Study may eventually be rated as the single most important contribution NZ ever made to humanity.

   Friday 20th May 2016

   We are delighted to announce that the first episode of the Dunedin Study documentary series goes to air in New Zealand on Tuesday, May 31, at 9.30pm on TV ONE programmed as “Why Am I?”

   Also, as a bit of a first, TVNZ will be putting all 4 episodes up on TVNZ on Demand at 12.01 am on Monday 23rd .

   http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/news-and-events/article/50

   Here is one amazing factoid; this Study has produced on average one new published paper on average once every 13 days for the past 40 years!. The documentary picks up on about 20 or so of the more dramatically important ones and fleshes them out in a very engaging fashion.
   • joe90 2.1

     21 May 2016 at 11:24 am

     but if you ever stumble across it … highly recommended.

     Cold sou’easter on the way, lotsa firewood and the weekend’s good to go.

     https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Brain+with+David+Eagleman%3A+
3. Bill 3

   21 May 2016 at 3:38 pm

   Wonder why none of the resident anti-science peeps jumped all over that…
   • lprent 3.1

     22 May 2016 at 8:27 pm

     Good question.

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