bettiwettiwoo's Journal: The Worst Junk Stats of 2007

TimesOnline presents 9 of the worst 2007 stories involving 'lies, damned lies, and statistics'. ('Those figures you read in the newspaper were pretty convincing, right? Think again. Here are some classic idiocies.')

My personal favourite would probably be:

First, the UN, for making a mockery of a serious business. It said in November that HIV-Aids was spreading, while revising its figures for the number of sufferers down. That's right, they've gone up -- to a lower number (from about 40 million to 33 million). Researchers admitted that their sampling (in urban maternity clinics) had been biased. Pregnant women turn out to be a poor sample of the rest of the population because -- guess what? -- they've all had unprotected sex. [Emphasis added.]

hei på deg

[tuxette]

Long time no see. How's life? ;-)

Re:

[Red Warrior]

Same Q.

Thanks for Asking

[bettiwettiwoo]

Same A. [slashdot.org]

Re:

[bettiwettiwoo]

Yes, I have been slack with posting, haven't I?!

Things have been ... less than perfect, but are hopefully looking up.

You?

Re:

[tuxette]

Just got back from a trip to the US. So quite tired. I bought a shiny new lens for my camera and am admiring some of my bird photos [flickr.com] right now ;-) Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow though...

Re:

[bettiwettiwoo]

That is one freaky beak!