Scalpel’s Edge

Null hypotheses

// October 31st, 2008 // 5 Comments » // Family

A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.

via Null-hypothesis.co.uk

The purpose of the null hypothesis is a plausible explanation for a set of data. Science is perverse and therefore starts off agreeing that what it wants to be true is not actually true. Then it tries to prove that assertion wrong.

It works like this: I think daisies might be useful to treat fungalorating of toenails. I hypothesize that daisies have no effect on the fungalorating of toenails. And now I will attempt to prove myself wrong.

Null hypotheses I am failing to disprove:

1. Sleep patterns of preschoolers are not affected by daylight savings
2. Medical students can be taught that medical research is cool
3. Medical research effort is unrelated to statistical significance of results

4. Medical research effort is unrelated to clinical significance of experiment

5. If you ignore it, it goes away
6. Workers who thrive under external pressure find it easy to pressure themselves
7. Work effort is unrelated to proximity to holidays

Anyone got any more?

No clean Feed, Senator Conroy

// October 29th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Rants

The Minister for Communications, Senator Conroy, supported by Mr Kevin Rudd, has decided that Australia needs an internet filter. The purpose of this is to “keep our children safe”. Theoretically, all ISPs will be required to filter all content to “keep our feed clean.”

Seriously? As a mother of young children, I choose to take responsibility for what they find on the internet myself. I would like to teach them to evaluate and avoid unsavoury content, rather than have the government decide for them. I have every confidence that my children and their friends will be able to hack better than I am - so where will that leave us?

Not to mention the issue of generalized censorship. How can national censorship make sense in an age of global information? We are already let down by our internet capabilities, and struggle under mainstream media monopoly, and now we can’t access the internet? Don’t fool yourself, Mr Rudd, the internet will be slowed by this dragging anchor. I did not vote for this. I will never vote for the stupid-fication of Australia.

NO CLEAN FEED.

For more information on this, visit NoCleanFeed.com, and use their suggestions to complain by phone or snail mail (most effective forms of communicating with luddites) to Sen Conroy and your local member.

Dear non-doctor person

// October 29th, 2008 // 8 Comments » // Rants

When you ask for a corridor consultation for the third time about a medical condition, it is time to go and see your GP. Really, when you have three different complications from the same condition, it is ok to get a medical assessment and treatment plan.

While I’m at it, prescription drugs aren’t evil. Sure, it is easier to deal with over the counter meds when you have a short term problem, but trying to treat long term medical conditions with OTCs is using a bandaid to stop the bleeding. Get some advice, and get some meds that will treat the disease process.

Furthermore, if you ask me for advice because I am a medical practitioner, please consider valuing that advice and imagining that I really mean it. I am sure that you would have no hesitation feeling grumpy if I made a mistake, so maybe you should value my advice above that of your neighbour’s son in law.

And you know what? I don’t enjoy signing statutory declarations, or certifying photos.. I know I can do it, and I always will if you ask. Maybe you can bring me chocolates next time.

And another thing, I don’t find your medical conditions interesting. Never again do I want to hear you say “Oh, you’d find this interesting, Cris” if it is followed by a description of any medical condition of yourself or anyone you know, that doesn’t include a Darwin award. Darwin awards are always interesting.

And I have to say, despite what I have already written, I will be insulted if you see me every day and you don’t ask me to help you when someone you love is desperately ill. I have limited skills to help people I care about, and explaining medical disasters is one of them. Don’t take that away from me.

And finally, I would like to apologize. Sometimes the things that irritate me don’t make sense. Sometimes they relate to the last person that asked that, not to you. I like to think I hide my irritation well, but I know that is a fiction. So just let me keep this tirade, and my sanity.

SurgeXperiences 209 at the Chloroform RAG

// October 28th, 2008 // No Comments » // Links

A newcomer to SurgeXperiences, Chloroform RAG, has posted this fortnights edition. It is a great round up of some interesting posts, so worth checking out.