…but is it Art?!

Posted on July 3rd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew
What will people think of next?!

From Platform 13:

“Elevator Exchange Mechanism” by Benjamin Newland

Elevator Exchange Mechanism is a concept for a site specific financial trading game based at the famous glass lifts of the Lloyd’s Building. 4 people, representing the 4 most traded currencies, would be positioned in 4 adjacent lifts in the Lloyd’s building.The currencies in the lifts would be within sight of public space at the Leadenhall Market, which would become the ‘trading floor’.
The ‘traders’ on the ‘trading floor’ would buy and sell currencies via SMS text message,whilst the value of a currency would correspond to the level of the lift.
The people in the lift would receive the text messages from the traders and select a floor higher if they had been bought, and lower if they had been sold.
This would complete a feedback loop to model that of a financial market.
Non-players who inadvertently travelled on the lift would replicate random unpredictable market events.

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turbott.net - version 2

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

Any Turbotts in the audience?!

Check out the new, revised turbott.net for all your Turbott needs…

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NZ seasonal flu mortality/morbidity

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

And finally, yet another quote from the same report:

The highest number of ILI related deaths (94) in New Zealand was recorded in 1996 during an A(H3N2) epidemic. The highest number of hospitalisations (591) was recorded in 2003 during an A(H3N2) predominant season.

I think that's enough about swine flu for the moment!…

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Seasonal flu vs Swine flu - NZ

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew
For comparison to my previous post, here is a quote from Influenza in New Zealand 2008

During the 2008 winter season, 3 945 consultations for influenza-like illness (ILI) were reported from a national sentinel network of 85 general practices. It is estimated that ILI resulting in a visit to a general practitioner affected over 47 697 New Zealanders (1.2% of total population) during the season, compared with an estimated 32 771 in 2007.

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Swine flu - NZ cases

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

As of 2100 yesterday (1 July, 2009) New Zealand had 711 confirmed cases of swine flu (H1N1 Influenza A).  This was 124 more cases than the previous reporting to the WHO only two days earlier.

This represent a rise in confirmed cases of 10% per day, or nearly double the number in a week (~96% increase).

If the number infected were to continue rising at this rate then in approximately 3 months every single person in New Zealand (4.18 million people) would have caught it (exponential growth is spooky like that)!

Thankfully, disease spread statistics are not like that - the European CDC estimates are that ~25% of a population will contract a novel strain of influenza (such as swine flu).  The rate of increase worldwide is only ~4% per day (40% per week).  However, it does give pause for sober reflection.

At present the mortality of swine flu is ~4 deaths per 1000 who get it.  Again, using the NZ population as a model, if we all get it then ~16000 people will die from it.  If only a quarter, then 4000 people.  And that doesn't take into account the disruption from morbidity - people off sick from work and the like.

That ends the doom and gloom sermon for the day…

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Do *you* have a ‘flu-like illness?!

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

New Zealand Ministry of Health definition of Influenza-like Illness (ILI):

Influenza-like illness: (i) history of fever, chills, and sweating or clinically documented fever ?38 °C, plus (ii) cough or sore throat.

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More Swine Flu

Posted on June 30th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

Food additives and ADHD…

Posted on June 30th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew
Last night Jen and I watched on television a strident, emotive and in my opinion biased documentary about food additives (specifically food colourings) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  It claimed that these additives, which hold no nutritional benefit whatsoever, are directly linked to ADHD, with the implication being that they cause it.  The presenter angrily demanded to know why authorities in NZ were "sitting on [their] hands", while the children suffered…

We were very interested in this, although I was skeptical and thought the science of the investigators was dubious at best, as we are expecting a child of our own soon.  I am currently working in a paediatric unit, so thought this was an opportunity to ask the opinion of my more informed colleagues.

Apparently the total current scientifically based evidence is thus:

  • food additives do not cause ADHD (which is characterised by chronic and persistent symptoms in a variety of areas and situations), but may make ADHD symptoms already present acutely worse;
  • also, they may induce temporary ADHD-like symptoms in children who do not have ADHD (with the corollary that these children will return to their normal state once the additives are fully metabolised);
  • as with many such questions of this nature, further (scientific) study needs to be done.

Now, armed with what facts are available, Jen and I will be able to make a rational decision about what to feed our child when he or she arrives.

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Freaky ‘Alice in Wonderland’ pictures

Posted on June 30th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew
Johnny Depp reprises his Willy Wonka as the Mad Hatter.

Matt Lucas is fantastic as Tweedledum & Dee.

If you thought this looked like a Tim Burton film then you’d be absolutely right!  His wife (Helena Bonham-Carter) is playing the Red Queen…

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Will I be a Geek Dad? 20 reasons Jen thinks I might be…

Posted on June 22nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

1.       I think that maintaining the computers, game systems and home network is just as important, if not MORE important than doing dishes or cleaning the bathrooms.

2.       She never knows when she’ll walk into the dining room to find the table covered with a computer broken down into all its component parts.

3.       I’m a packrat, keeping every spare cable, screw and or slightly damaged electronic part for a future project.

4.       I am thinking of removing the TV, cancelling Sky, and replacing everything with a large screen computer because all the good shows can be streamed on the Internet.

5.       I spend a lot of time maintaining my personal blog(s).

6.       I have considered installing stilts under the legs of our bed so my comic book boxes can fit underneath.

7.       Our kid’s college fund consists of boxes of first issues of my favourite comic books.

8.       I would like to sit down with the kid and read through the first issues (when he or she is old enough to treat them with respect), college fund be damned. (Well, maybe not Preacher #1.)

9.       Every computer in the house has its chassis half open…and is still running.

10.    I may pause any movie at any time to make sure that the colour temperature and brightness are set just right.

11.    I think nothing of having the laptop on the dining room table to share funny stories and pictures I’ve found with the family.

12.    Our house is colourful, and not because of paint, but because of toys, models, and my collection of videos and comics.

13.    I have dissected a new appliance just to see how it works…

14.    At times I have debated  the relativity of fictional characters and or logical outcomes to movies and television shows.

15.    A Periodic Table placemat for our child would be neat (and instructional!).

16.    I am more than happy to attempt explanations of obscure scientific answers to “why?” questions.

17.    It pains me to limit the kid’s computer time.

18.    She’s not sure if the new Lego sets are really for the kids or for me.

19.    I want to build my own robot.

20.    I spend lots of time “helping” the kid play videogames.

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John Hodgeman roasts Obama

Posted on June 22nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

Jocks vs. Nerds

Love the Dune references!

(props to VB)

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Another amusing video - Pet Shop Boys parody

Posted on June 21st, 2009 in Uncategorized by Andrew

Jizzed in my Pants

Also courtesy of Jen's brother

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