By now most readers will have learned about the horrific collapse of a factory in Bangladesh killing hundreds of low-paid workers and injury many others. The owner has been arrested and that seems logical. But equally logical it seems to me, is to hold the authorities responsible for workplace safety responsible. I see this as […]
Category: Offbeat
Canadian perspectives on the Boston Marathon bombings
By now all readers of this blog know what happened at the Boston Marathon. What perhaps none of us know in any depth is why the perpetrators took these actions. Most US commentators seem content to simply describe it as ‘terrorism’, which it certainly is. But at least one high ranking Canadian went one step […]
Help for pedestrians in Calcutta from the Beattles
Rafael Consunji sent me this delightful item: It describes the Calcutta Traffic Police’s idea of using the Beatles to teach “unruly Kolkata pedestrians to use zebra crossings” inspired by the iconic cover of their album, Abbey Road. Posters of the Beattles crossingAbbey Road in single-file appear at busy intersections with the caption “If they can, why can’t […]
Veterinarian’s injuries arising from treating cattle
Over the weekend I came across an interesting article in the Australian Veterinary Journal whilst I was having a look at some recent injury prevention publications in Australia. Last month’s issue of the journal contained an article summarising cattle-specific injuries reported in the Health Risks of Australian Veterinarians Survey (HRAV). Of the 2188 serious injuries reported […]
Taking helmets seriously
Some of us take helmet wearing seriously. This is one of our granddaughters, Emma, age 5. We have had one day of spring so the pink and white bike was brought out. Please note Emma’s helmet, and, just as importantly, that which she made on her poupee (doll). Let this be a lesson to all. […]
Publish Negative Results
A provocative paper in The Scientist urges that more journals publish negative results. (Editor: I have always argued that these are as scientifically important as positive results, even if they are less appealing to the press.) As the paper states, “Hypothesis-driven research is at the heart of scientific endeavour, and it is often the positive, […]
Josh Freed: Stop sweating the big stuff
Editors note: The author of this piece, Josh Freed, writes a regular humorous column for the Montreal Gazette. He is one of my perennial favourites because important messages are often embedded in the humour. The following is a splendid example of a message about risk taking that i urge you to share with colleagues. We desperately need to […]
Auction your paper?
I am not suggesting you accept this suggestion, but it is amusing, intriguing, and somewhat sensible. Given that it comes from Richard Smith, former editor of the BMJ, it deserves consideration. In his words, “instead of submitting your paper to one journal you should auction it to the highest bidder. Today I did it.” Smith […]
A good sign (and some light relief!)
Plaque on towpath in Regents Park London advising bicylists and pedestrians how to live in harmony. […]
Pedestrian airbags can save lives
I was fascinated to see this article regarding a pedestrian airbag in the new Volvo V40. We are all aware of the appalling road safety statistics for pedestrians – around 15% of Australia’s road toll each year is contributed by pedestrians, and two thirds of these fatalities are caused by impact with a vehicle. A […]