This news item makes me think of the whole "no sex ed is the best sex ed" theory -- people thinking that if we give kids information about sex they'll go out and have more of it... That's like saying that despite all the signs out there that point to a particular minefield nearby, the best way to keep people out of it is not to mention it. That way no one is tempted to go and play in it! Oh, and screw anyone that accidentally goes there or doesn't recognize the dangers of a minefield! LOL

Of course the article doesn't mention any of this. It's your standard, "things are getting better but there's more work to be done" political statement...

Labels: reading, thoughts

This news item talks about a study done to see if providing individuals with a primer on health risks and interventions would help them understand those risks and interventions. (See Steven Woloshin et al. "The Effectiveness of a Primer to Help People Understand Risk: Two Randomized Trials in Distinct Populations" Ann Intern Med, Feb 2007; 146: 256 - 265.) Not bad but it's on a pretty high level... it would have been better to test particular methods of teaching within the primer than testing the effectiveness of the primer as a whole. What they basically proved was giving people info about something helped most of them learn a little more about something. And although they say there's never been any study like this, I highly doubt that. There's certainly work on effectiveness of teaching materials and methods in the education literature. Maybe there's never been anything done specifically in the area of learning about health risks assessment but surely this can be generalized.

Labels: reading, thoughts

As a father, I've always been concerned about my effect on my children... There're constant assumptions that fathers both are not as important in their children's lives as the mother is, and that we simply do not (and perhaps cannot) do enough for our children socially and emotionally. I have tried to really think about my effect on my children and to be a good father, friend, supporter, teacher, etc. to them. I've made mistakes like the best of us but I think I've done a good job.

This news item makes the pretty obvious (at least to me) claim that, among other things, the relationship someone has with their father, tends to have an effect on other relationships later in life. It doesn't really go into details, so if you're looking for tips, you'll be dissappointed. It basically says be there and have a good relationship with your kids. Duh. Hopefully there'll be more research. For now, we'll just have to try our best, attempt to integrate all the other advice, and be a good person overall. Damn. And I thought this child-rearing thing was going to be easy! LOL

So, the health minister received an award for supporting the creation of the "Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation" or CPACC. Good job. Sounds like a great effort. But did the award have to be called "Courage in Public Policy"? How courageous is helping people fight cancer? Cancer has been known to be one of the most deadly diseases for decades -- the word has almost become synonymous with anything dangerous or harmful. No one's going out on a limb politically when they try to "make a difference in fighting cancer and help those living with it". It would be more courageous to support something not quite so publically supported already: same-sex marriage, increasing taxes, pushing environmental protection through, striking down the security certificates... These things seem to require a little more courage.

And on a completely different note... a friend of mine brought up how this theoretical physicist is apprently close to inventing a time machine... Ronald L. Mallett. He's perfectly legit but I'm a little skeptical. I'm going to read his book, Time Traveler, but his main article and found an article that claims to disprove his theory (see Olum & Everett's "Can a circulating light beam produce a time machine" from FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS LETTERS 18 (4): 379-385 AUG 2005 - abstract) so I'm not optimistic...

I'm getting over having been sick for most of last week... I've been feeling dizzy though. According to medlineplus, it seems like I've got Labrynthitis so it's apparently nothing to worry about but I may see a doctor about it anyway.

And this is why I don't "rock all night and party every day". Oh... and this too.