3-21-2020
I am big fan of words. I try to spread lexophelia like a (uh oh, too soon for this simile). Nevertheless, words are vectors of ideas and memory with the power to motivate change. I am going highlight some thoughts on words today, hopefully linking it back (again) to the logical fallacies...
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Wayne shared the article mentioned in yesterday's chat question about blood groups and the likelihood of COVID infection: https://www.sciencealert.com/paper-suggests-certain-blood-types-might-be-slightly-more-susceptible-to-covid-19
This article is based on unpublished, not yet peer reviewed data. It states there is a SIGNIFICANT difference between the infection rates in Chinese patients with different blood groups. But, statistical significance, in this case, may not translate to anything meaningful. The article has a nice analysis as to why this is interesting but probably not useful information. I got hung up on the fact that the word "significant" carries a lot of connotative meaning that gets easily conflated with "important big information" when, in fact, it is being used in a scientific sense meaning a non-random difference between two data sets.
Get to know a virus - and the etymology of their names! (If you see something, say something??) More like if you can see a virus you have a super power and you should figure out how to exploit it for gain...
https://i.redd.it/0pfo1qewhtn41.jpg
Related: https://www.giantmicrobes.com/
(I own some of these! Great medical gifts!)
And while we are on infographics, I offer some lovely artistic renderings of COVID symptomatology - words represented in pictures
https://i.redd.it/y7qp0eff7qm41.jpg
MUST READ - Atul Gawande once again adding light in the dark https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/keeping-the-coronavirus-from-infecting-health-care-workers
An opinion piece from a former Dept. of Homeland Security official that shares thoughts on this time using metaphors of war and taking a longer-view of what is happening... https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/there-isnt-going-be-all-clear-signal/608512/
Bonus round - people related to historical plagues edition
Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian I (as in the plague of Justinian) - Humble origins, worked the politics, made the most of life. As with many historical figures unclear how accurate what we know is, but still thinking about how she made her way in her world is fascinating
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora_(6th_century)
A pretty good book on Justinian and Theodora
https://www.amazon.com/Justinians-Flea-First-Plague-Empire/dp/014311381X
This John Snow knows something! Check out our British doctor who used data and logic to understand cholera. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Snow
An outstanding book on the subject https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Case-Broad-Street-Pump/dp/0520250494
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