Open Parachute

Ethics and the doping scandal – a response

Ken Perrott • Aug 07, 2016

• doping,
• ethics,
• Olympics,
• Science,
• sports

International Olympic Committee (IOC) decisions about participation of athletes from the Russian Federation in the Rio Olympics have brought both criticism and support – from the political as well as the sporting communities. The issues of sports doping, the responsibilities and actions of sporting bodies and the political context and factors all need discussing. So I am pleased to see … Read More

Being better informed – unexpected advice from The Guardian

Ken Perrott • Aug 03, 2016

• AC Grayling,
• bias,
• media,
• politics,
• Russia,
• trump

This opinion piece by Piers Robinson in The Guardian surprised me – and then it pleased me – Russian news may be biased – but so is much western media. Surprised me because, of late, The Guardian has been shockingly one-sided. Particularly in its treatment of Russian politics, nationally and internationally. Unfortunately doesn’t include any self criticisms – that would have … Read More

July ’16 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking

Ken Perrott • Aug 01, 2016

• blog statistics,
• sitemeter

There are about 300 blogs on the list, although I am weeding out those which are no longer active or have removed public access to sitemeters. (Let me know if I weed out yours by mistake or get your stats wrong). Every month I get queries from people wanting their own blog included. I encourage and am happy to respond to queries … Read More

Dental health – it’s not all about fluoride

Ken Perrott • Jul 26, 2016

• dental,
• fluoridation,
• Health and Medicine,
• oral hygiene,
• Science,
• Science and Society,
• teeth,
• tooth decay

Fluoride is not the only factor in oral health. But it is generally the only element in drinking water considered for its effect on our teeth. Drinking water fluoride benefits existing teeth by chemically reacting with the tooth surface. Involvement of fluoride in the apatite structure at the tooth surface helps prevent demineralisation, due to acid attack, and also encourages remineralisation – … Read More

MH17 tragedy – 2 years on

Ken Perrott • Jul 19, 2016

• aeroplanes,
• flight,
• MH17

Two years on and there has yet to be a a decision on who was responsible for shooting down Malaysian Airlines MH17 over Eastern Ukraine.   This video shows the local memorial meeting held near the crash site. We often forget that the locals in such tragedies also suffer as they have to deal with the destruction and death … Read More

Misrepresenting fluoride science – an open letter to Paul Connett

Ken Perrott • Jul 14, 2016

• Health and Medicine,
• Science,
• Science and Society

A new year and a new speaking tour of New Zealand by US anti-fluoride campaigner Paul Connett. Looking over the presentation he is giving at his New Zealand meetings I find he has absolutely nothing new to say. It’s all been said before – and all his claims have been debunked before. A poster for Connett’s Blenheim meeting – scaremongering … Read More

June ’16 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking

Ken Perrott • Jul 01, 2016

• blogs,
• ranks,
• sitemeter

There are about 300 blogs on the list, although I am weeding out those which are no longer active or have removed public access to sitemeters. Let me know if I weed out yours by mistake or get your stats wrong. Every month I get queries from people wanting their own blog included. I encourage and am happy to respond to … Read More

Video: a cynical take on effective speakers

Ken Perrott • Jun 22, 2016

• parody,
• Presentation,
• ted talk

This video is a parody of a TED talk – you know, those talks which often come across very impressively but may not have much in the way of real content. Or is this just me getting cynical in my dotage? I certainly feel I have an excuse for that.   Source: This Parody Of Every TED Talk Ever … Read More

MH17 tragedy – new investigation launched

Ken Perrott • Jun 09, 2016

• Dutch,
• geopolitical politics,
• investigators,
• Malaysia,
• MH17,
• Russia,
• Ukraine

Two years after the shooting down of the Malaysian commercial airliner (flight MH17) over eastern Ukraine (Donbass), investigators seem no closer to identifying the culprits. This may seem surprising given the quick recovery of the black boxes and most of the airplane. But, on second thoughts, perhaps not surprising given the regional … Read More

Fluoridation debate: Responding to Tom O’Connor

Ken Perrott • Jun 02, 2016

• chlorination,
• doubt,
• drinking water standards,
• fluoridation,
• folic acid,
• iodised salt,
• Values

Ken Perrott responds to Tom O’Connor’s post Debating fluoridation and tyranny – Tom O’Connor responds. This is the second article in the debate. I think Tom’s concept of “freedom of choice” is confused. He appears to be arguing for his own right to determine a social decision. But that is undemocratic, it imposes an individual’s wish on society. Read More