Timely Snow

The (Ongoing) Vitality of Mythical Numbers – Does ID theft really cost $48 billion a year? By Jack Shafer

As it happens, my wife and I were just discussing the original “Mythical Numbers” paper over the weekend (in the context of predictions about effects of Avian Flu.

The article quotes one of the more egregious examples from [...]

The number of SARS cases reported in Beijing is dropping precipitously, down to 7 in the latest report (although the WHO continues to have questions about the diagnostic criteria being used here). Life is beginning to get back to normal, although SARS scars are visible everywhere. On campus, they quickly cut a new entrance into [...]

Friday my wife and I rented a small electric boat and motored around Qianhai and Houhai, two very scenic lakes downtown in Beijing. It’s turning into a very pleasant area, with small bars and coffee shops along the lake side. A Starbucks is in the process of going up, so that’s a sure sign of [...]

During this strange SARS period in Beijing, I’ve been working to arrange access to academic journals for students in Beijing whose classes have been suspended and who are limited to their campuses.
I’m very pleased that the

Society for Research in Child Development (http://www.srcd.org/) and the
Psychonomic Society (http://www.psychonomic.org/)
have given final agreement, and several other groups [...]

 
From an online poll at: http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/news/index.html

Welcome to chinadaily.com.cn online ballot

Do you think the endemic now cripoling Beijing will go away in?

Scientists all over the world are racing with time to find solutions to the SARS problem.Do you think the endemic now crippling Beijing will go away in?

Number of people casting ballots:4145….....

choice

%

graphic

subtotal

1 month
62.22%

2579

3-6 months
28.88%

1197

more [...]

#7 in a series of panels from the Beijing SARS poster
Diligently disinfect
 

 
General disinfection:
 
Ordinary disinfection: The main points for daily disinfection in the home of air, floors and the surfaces of furniture, hands, utensils, clothes, bedding, towels, etc.: For disinfection of the air: open windows to allow ventilation of stale air, letting germs leave the [...]

#6 in a series of panels from the Beijing SARs poster
6  – Diligently ventilate

 
Maintain office and residential air circulation. Fequently open windows to let air circulate inside for 30 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day. Diligently clean and maintain a sanitary environment, diligently sun-dry clothes, bedding, etc. Ensure that air conditioning equipment is [...]

I’m starting to learn more about how the campus here is trying to limit the chances that SARS will spread among the student population of more than 10,000 students (although I have no idea how many have left and gone home). Unlike me, students can’t leave campus. They have a color-coded ID with their picture [...]

5 – Diligently wash your hands
This is #5 of the 8 steps to combat SARS on a poster plastered all over Beijing.
You should frequently maintain clean hands by washing the palms, backs, tips, fingernails, etc. Whether you use soap or cleanser, the important thing is to rub the hands to and fro for 10-15 seconds, [...]

Early treatment (4th step from the ubiquitous Beijing SARS poster)

When a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and other disease symptoms appear, you should quickly see a doctor. If clinical examination cannot rule out the possibility of SARS, isolation measures should be adopted, and medical observation continue. This will be beneficial to the patient’s condition by ensuring [...]