Comments on: Cherry Picking and the Professional Association of Teachers http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/ Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column from the Guardian and more... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:24:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: diudiu http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-2/#comment-30204 diudiu Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:53:42 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-30204 ed hardy <a title="ed hardy" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy</strong></a> ed hardy clothing <a title="ed hardy clothing" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy clothing</strong></a> ed hardy jeans <a title="ed hardy jeans" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy jeans</strong></a> christian audigier <a title="christian audigier" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com/christian-audigier.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>christian audigier</strong></a> ed hardy t shirts <a title="ed hardy t shirts" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy t shirts</strong></a> ed hardy uk <a title="ed hardy uk" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy uk</strong></a> ed hardy bags <a title="ed hardy bags" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy bags</strong></a> ed hardy hoodies <a title="ed hardy hoodies" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy hoodies</strong></a> ed hardy mens <a title="ed hardy mens" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com/mens.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy mens</strong></a> ed hardy womens <a title="ed hardy womens" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com/womens.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy womens</strong></a> ed hardy kids <a title="ed hardy kids" href="http://www.edhardyclub.com/kids.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy kids</strong></a> ed hardy kids ed hardy ed hardy
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]]> By: tom1 http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-2/#comment-15797 tom1 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:20:37 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-15797 art16, Oh I agree. The problem is convincing people. art16,

Oh I agree. The problem is convincing people.

]]> By: tom1 http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-2/#comment-14735 tom1 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:06:40 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14735 Much of this was based on statements that the concerned parents thought Ben's mate Dr Andrew Goldsworthy would have said, had he been there, which he wasn't. Everybody was very vague about whether he had been due to show or not. Is there a view on this forum on Dr Goldsworthy? I've read his response to Ben's "Why don't journalists mention the data?" article at the BMJ, but I don't recall seeing him discussed here. Finally, if anybody has any reccommended reading list to bone up on EMF I'd appreciate it. Tom Much of this was based on statements that the concerned parents thought Ben’s mate Dr Andrew Goldsworthy would have said, had he been there, which he wasn’t. Everybody was very vague about whether he had been due to show or not.

Is there a view on this forum on Dr Goldsworthy? I’ve read his response to Ben’s “Why don’t journalists mention the data?” article at the BMJ, but I don’t recall seeing him discussed here.

Finally, if anybody has any reccommended reading list to bone up on EMF I’d appreciate it.

Tom

]]> By: tom1 http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-2/#comment-14712 tom1 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:51:56 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14712 I haven't been this disenchanted by the way the system makes decisions since I did jury service. Stuff it, I'm writing to my councillor. Tom I haven’t been this disenchanted by the way the system makes decisions since I did jury service. Stuff it, I’m writing to my councillor.

Tom

]]> By: tom1 http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-2/#comment-14691 tom1 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:09:54 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14691 I've finally gotten around to watching this. My old primary school Teatherdown is at fault. The council's own report said the council didn't have the resources to assess the dangers of wifi and should rely on the HPA report. Some parents then came on and explained that computers were associated with low attainment levels, the HPA were part of a conspiracy and had hushed up their own chair, clinical trials had been rigged, they quote the Professional Association of Teachers etc..... One interesting thing is that they talk about organizing a public seminar over the summer.... :-) I am SO there! Ben? Tom I’ve finally gotten around to watching this. My old primary school Teatherdown is at fault.

The council’s own report said the council didn’t have the resources to assess the dangers of wifi and should rely on the HPA report. Some parents then came on and explained that computers were associated with low attainment levels, the HPA were part of a conspiracy and had hushed up their own chair, clinical trials had been rigged, they quote the Professional Association of Teachers etc…..

One interesting thing is that they talk about organizing a public seminar over the summer…. :-) I am SO there! Ben?

Tom

]]> By: tom1 http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-2/#comment-14658 tom1 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:36:31 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14658 Darn it! I can't watch from work, but they have a webcast of the wifi council meeting: http://www.haringey.ukcouncil.net/site/#pp9238 Darn it! I can’t watch from work, but they have a webcast of the wifi council meeting:

www.haringey.ukcouncil.net/site/#pp9238

]]> By: tom1 http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14650 tom1 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:09:49 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14650 Groan..... http://education.independent.co.uk/news/article2771019.ece My local council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee have recommended chucking out WiFi. They've sloped final responsibility onto head teachers. The Professional Association of Teachers must be thrilled. Won't this get in the way of government ICT policy? Why is it OK in libraries? Do the books absorb the radiation, or are they phasing on the libraries and the WiFi in the libraries as one holistic enterprise? What I presume to be the report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that was overruled can be found below: http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/Published/C00000128/M00002236/AI00008120/$Overview and Scrutiny Committee.docA.ps.pdf I haven't yet found the minutes of the committee that rejected it. I'm so angry I could spit. Tom Groan…..

education.independent.co.uk/news/article2771019.ece

My local council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee have recommended chucking out WiFi. They’ve sloped final responsibility onto head teachers. The Professional Association of Teachers must be thrilled.

Won’t this get in the way of government ICT policy? Why is it OK in libraries? Do the books absorb the radiation, or are they phasing on the libraries and the WiFi in the libraries as one holistic enterprise?

What I presume to be the report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that was overruled can be found below:

www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/Published/C00000128/M00002236/AI00008120/$Overview and Scrutiny Committee.docA.ps.pdf

I haven’t yet found the minutes of the committee that rejected it. I’m so angry I could spit.

Tom

]]> By: Ben Goldacre http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14200 Ben Goldacre Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:08:42 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14200 not a squeak in reply. and i sent it to every recipient on the contacts page, their press office, the head, etc. <strong>JULY 16 I JUST FOUND THEY REPLIED IN A BLOG COMMENT (SLIGHTLY BIZARRELY) ON JUNE 21ST, ABOVE, IT WAS TRAPPED IN THE SPAM QUEUE, NO IDEA WHY, AND THEY NEVER EMAILED ME. SORRY ABOUT THAT. ODD THO. oh, and the reply was pretty silly.</strong> not a squeak in reply.

and i sent it to every recipient on the contacts page, their press office, the head, etc.

JULY 16 I JUST FOUND THEY REPLIED IN A BLOG COMMENT (SLIGHTLY BIZARRELY) ON JUNE 21ST, ABOVE, IT WAS TRAPPED IN THE SPAM QUEUE, NO IDEA WHY, AND THEY NEVER EMAILED ME. SORRY ABOUT THAT. ODD THO. oh, and the reply was pretty silly.

]]> By: Dubby http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14197 Dubby Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:34:42 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14197 Has anyone from the association replied to the article? Has there been any response at all? Has anyone from the association replied to the article?

Has there been any response at all?

]]> By: billgibson http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14151 billgibson Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:19:38 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14151 If I could be arsed, I'd send the HubShield people a copy of the Cancer Act, 1939; 4 prohibition of certain advertisements (1) No person shall take any part in the publication of any advertisement— (a) containing an offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefor, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof; or (b)... (2) If any person contravenes any of the provisions of the foregoing subsection, he shall be liable on summary conviction, [to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such a fine and such imprisonment. If I could be arsed, I’d send the HubShield people a copy of the Cancer Act, 1939;

4 prohibition of certain advertisements

(1) No person shall take any part in the publication of any advertisement—

(a) containing an offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefor, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof; or

(b)…

(2) If any person contravenes any of the provisions of the foregoing subsection, he shall be liable on summary conviction, [to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.

]]> By: Robert Carnegie http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14134 Robert Carnegie Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:54:11 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14134 ...because that sort of "PCBs are also classified as probable human carcinogens". Which makes a claim that the product protects against cancer, sound ... no, it -must- be a confusion of terms. Speaking of which, when I read "bound to come in handy this term" (not to do with PubShield) I forgot that schoolteachers were involved and thought that the meaningless impressiveness of the actual phrase "Brain Gym" was being commended. "3B is not running around out of control, they are having a Brain Gym krazotherapy session. And then I'm going to have one." (Note: I don't know Greek either.) …because that sort of “PCBs are also classified as probable human carcinogens”. Which makes a claim that the product protects against cancer, sound … no, it -must- be a confusion of terms.

Speaking of which, when I read “bound to come in handy this term” (not to do with PubShield) I forgot that schoolteachers were involved and thought that the meaningless impressiveness of the actual phrase “Brain Gym” was being commended. “3B is not running around out of control, they are having a Brain Gym krazotherapy session. And then I’m going to have one.”

(Note: I don’t know Greek either.)

]]> By: Robert Carnegie http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14133 Robert Carnegie Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:14:12 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14133 I'm intrigued by the claim that if you paint over your wifi transceiver with Hubshield (evidently HubCap.com was already taken) then you can tell anxious parents that this has reduced radiation emissions by 99%. That could possibly be worth the money. Especially if the school sells on the paint for the parents to use at home. I also observe from the picture that this seems to be a black gloss polythene paint. Now how would that cut down radiation... The paint is stated to include PCB. Wikipedia says "PCB production was banned in the 1970s due to the high toxicity of most PCB congeners and mixtures. PCB's are classified as persistent organic pollutants." But presumably they had some left over. Or it's a different "PCB". I’m intrigued by the claim that if you paint over your wifi transceiver with Hubshield (evidently HubCap.com was already taken) then you can tell anxious parents that this has reduced radiation emissions by 99%. That could possibly be worth the money. Especially if the school sells on the paint for the parents to use at home.

I also observe from the picture that this seems to be a black gloss polythene paint. Now how would that cut down radiation…

The paint is stated to include PCB. Wikipedia says “PCB production was banned in the 1970s due to the high toxicity of most PCB congeners and mixtures. PCB’s are classified as persistent organic pollutants.” But presumably they had some left over. Or it’s a different “PCB”.

]]> By: pv http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14131 pv Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:16:56 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14131 The Daily Mail is popular too. Science A levels aren't popular though, but I know which one I'd rather have. I'm curious. If you shield a wireless router how can anything communicate through it? What's the point of shielding it? Or have I missed something very obvious here? The Daily Mail is popular too. Science A levels aren’t popular though, but I know which one I’d rather have.

I’m curious. If you shield a wireless router how can anything communicate through it? What’s the point of shielding it?
Or have I missed something very obvious here?

]]> By: Dr Monkey http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14130 Dr Monkey Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:11:03 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14130 re 56 "The phonebuster is 100% legal to use in all international countries" What about all those poor non-international countries? re 56

“The phonebuster is 100% legal to use in all international countries”

What about all those poor non-international countries?

]]> By: Pax Vobiscum http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14128 Pax Vobiscum Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:51:56 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14128 Having excoriated Computer Weekly a couple of weeks ago for publishing an editorial suggesting that there 'might be something in' em-sensitivity, I'm pleased to say they printed my letter setting out the reasons why this is unlikely. It (somewhat) restores my faith in technical journalism. Having excoriated Computer Weekly a couple of weeks ago for publishing an editorial suggesting that there ‘might be something in’ em-sensitivity, I’m pleased to say they printed my letter setting out the reasons why this is unlikely. It (somewhat) restores my faith in technical journalism.

]]> By: malcolm http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14127 malcolm Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:27:08 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14127 re 53: having only done 'O' level physics in 1971, I can't comment on the supposed technical spec of the phonebuster - "The phonebuster actually detects where the signal is comming (sic) from and allows the administrator to zone in to find the illicit handset." sounds pretty unlikely to me. Are you sure these guys aren't just pranksters trying to wind up teachers and school administrators? - there is nowhere on the site you can actually buy these things. I'll complete an enquiry form and let everyone know what happens - seems like the only way to find out for sure. re 53: having only done ‘O’ level physics in 1971, I can’t comment on the supposed technical spec of the phonebuster – “The phonebuster actually detects where the signal is comming (sic) from and allows the administrator to zone in to find the illicit handset.” sounds pretty unlikely to me.

Are you sure these guys aren’t just pranksters trying to wind up teachers and school administrators? – there is nowhere on the site you can actually buy these things.

I’ll complete an enquiry form and let everyone know what happens – seems like the only way to find out for sure.

]]> By: jimothy http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14125 jimothy Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:53:22 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14125 If the hubshield is a spoof then does that mean this is too? It's thh same people. http://www.phonebuster.co.uk If the hubshield is a spoof then does that mean this is too? It’s thh same people.

www.phonebuster.co.uk

]]> By: malcolm http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14124 malcolm Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:27:02 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14124 re: 45/46 -I've just looked at hubshield and it must be a spoof musn't it? Are they trying to see how gullible the press are by seeing if they will report it and then telling them what a load of bollocks it is - the killer sentence for me is "Also the special treated cloth solves electric waves and magnetic waves together." It will be fun to see if they manage to get anyone to take the product seriously - I'm tempted to see what happens if I make an email sales enquiry - do I just get told not to be such an idiot? What fun! re: 45/46 -I’ve just looked at hubshield and it must be a spoof musn’t it? Are they trying to see how gullible the press are by seeing if they will report it and then telling them what a load of bollocks it is – the killer sentence for me is “Also the special treated cloth solves electric waves and magnetic waves together.”

It will be fun to see if they manage to get anyone to take the product seriously – I’m tempted to see what happens if I make an email sales enquiry – do I just get told not to be such an idiot?

What fun!

]]> By: pv http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14122 pv Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:05:47 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14122 "...the bee brain is very similar to the human brain" Is it really? “…the bee brain is very similar to the human brain”

Is it really?

]]> By: pv http://www.badscience.net/2007/06/cherry-picking-and-the-professional-association-of-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-14121 pv Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:03:14 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=438#comment-14121 I don't think it's a spoof. They do promote other useless gadgets if you follow the links on the web site. If you google Jonathan Weinstock you can find an article from 2003 about a certain 23-year old "activist" gentleman, from Hertforshire, who was involved in a fracas at a bookshop in Camden. Could be someone else of course. :-) I don’t think it’s a spoof. They do promote other useless gadgets if you follow the links on the web site.
If you google Jonathan Weinstock you can find an article from 2003 about a certain 23-year old “activist” gentleman, from Hertforshire, who was involved in a fracas at a bookshop in Camden. Could be someone else of course. :-)

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