Henry Hagnäs

 

Link: Science-Based Medicine » An Influenza Recap: The End of the Second Wave

We are nearing the end of the second wave of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and are now a few months out from the release of the vaccine directed against it.  Two topics have dominated the conversation: the safety of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, and the actual severity of the 2009 H1N1 infection.  Considering the amount of attention SBM has paid the pandemic and its surrounding issues, and in light of a couple of studies just released, it seems time for an update.
via sciencebasedmedicine.org

Excellent, if not a bit too technical and dry, recap of what is known and what has happened with H1N1 and the vaccine (US-centric). Bottom line is that the vaccine has worked very will with little side-effects and especially if you are in the high-risk group you should get vaccinated before a possible third wave (usual in flu-epidemics).

Filed under  //   link   science  
Posted December 16, 2009
// 0 Comments
 

A peregrination on the nature of money « Locklin on science

I’ve never studied economics. What I have read of economics appears to be ideology combined with bad math. Since so much of what passes for modern thought is annoying ideology combined with bad math, I try to avoid such unpleasantry. History, on the other hand, I always have time for. I would like to think using history to think about mysterious concepts like money is useful, but maybe not. It amuses me to do so in any case.
via scottlocklin.wordpress.com

Excellent article on the history of money, fast and easy read.

Filed under  //   article   link  
Posted December 9, 2009
// 0 Comments
 

The Answer Factory: Fast, Disposable, and Profitable as Hell | Wired Magazine

The company’s ambitions are so enormous as to be almost surreal: to predict any question anyone might ask and generate an answer that will show up at the top of Google’s search results
via wired.com

Oh wow, this is crazy... Lets hope the Internet doesn't get drowned in a torrent of algorithm-inspired, semi-coherent stories and content. Still, gotta give credit for a great idea!

Filed under  //   link  
Posted October 22, 2009
// 0 Comments
 

The age of the train: myth or reality? | Travel | guardian.co.uk

In my experience, Europe is decades away from the kind of integrated rail network that would make people think twice about flying.
via guardian.co.uk

Sorry to hear this but not surprised.

Filed under  //   link   travel  
Posted October 22, 2009
// 0 Comments
 

In defence of the average novel

Here’s my thing: I don’t think reading novels should be hard work, not if the work isn’t dwarfed by the enjoyment you get from it. I don’t think books should be notches on an intellectual bedpost. I don’t think they should be used as the currency of culture – or cool – either.
via rowanmangan.com

Amen! Stop trying to be awesome by disliking "non-intellectual" books.

Filed under  //   link   reading  
Posted October 20, 2009
// 0 Comments
 

Superfreakonomics on climate, part 1 - Paul Krugman Blog - NYTimes.com

The chapter opens with the “global cooling” story — the claim that 30 years ago there was a scientific consensus that the planet was cooling, comparable to the current consensus that it’s warming.
via krugman.blogs.nytimes.com

Was looking forward to Superfreakonomics but it seems they have, atleast in the climate section, done some dodgy research. That sucks, casts a shadow over the whole book. No reason for serious authors in this day and age to write about things long since debunked.

Filed under  //   link  
Posted October 19, 2009
// 0 Comments