"More or Less" a podcast that I like more than is normal

"Welcome to more or less the series that frees numbers from abusive situations and releases them into the community to do good work and lead happy lives" - Tim Harford

My favorite podcast at the moment is "More or Less" a podcast from the BBC dealing with the everyday use of numbers and statistics and how we should be looking at them.

Although it might sound nerdy and boring, it is in fact only nerdy. Tim Harford, author of "The Undercover Economist" has a wonderful way of making seemingly boring facts and figures very interesting and memorable.

Give it a look -Click here

The state of the US Media - Charlie Brooker

Below is a must watch video off YouTube featuring BBC4's Charlie Brooker giving a quick summary of the sometimes strange, mostly bizarre, US news industry. Great video showing all the big hitters on the US news stations, Also featuring Glenn Beck and his very odd demeanour which is VERY VERY VERRRRY like the movie "Network", so much so that I'm pretty sure he will tell us to go to our window and shout I'm as MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE.
(Caution if you are eating or drinking anything during this video you will probably ruin your computer... I warned you)

Media, Statistics and the importance of putting context to the numbers

(Those of you with RSS readers need to click through on the link below)

Media, Statistics & the importance of putting context to the numbers

View more presentations from edfk.

This is a little presentation I put together after reading an article on the BBC website about statistics in the media, an area that I have unlimited complaints about. I have to admit that this is not a particularly original creation content wise, but I think I have been able to greatly improve the look and feel of the original work.

Have a look and let me know what you think

Damn Lies

Having dealt with a large amount of data in my line of work in the last while I have become more than a little bit sensitive and touchy about a few things related to the area of statistics. The above quote sums up what I am trying to get at here, being the constant hijacking of various bits of information, and presenting them in a way which, by exluding other relevant factors is completely misleading and unhelpful.

I talked about this briefly a few posts ago where I mentioned the importance of putting things in CONTEXT before judging them to be relevent/important/interesting in any way at all.

Well the nice folks at the Irish times gave me something to grind me teeth to yesterday: "Ireland ranks fourth dearest in price survey"

Now I realise what they are saying is for the most part correct, Ireland is undeniably an expensive place to live, but it is the inclusion of sentances like "a trip to the movies checks in at €8.22, down from €9.50 last year. By contrast, a cinema ticket in Lithuania costs just €3.63." which get me a little worked up.

Yes the absolute euro cost is almost three times higher, but to willingly OMIT the fact that the GDP per capita is 6 times higher in ireland ($51600 in Ireland vs $8590 in Lithania (2006 UN stats link)) renders their argument on this instance completely meaningless, seeing as going to the cinema in Lithuania, on a Lituanians wage, would take up more of the average persons income.

This example is by no means an isolated example, these "news stories" crop up all the time and all they do is serve to misinform and confuse people... Lies I tell you! Damn LIES!!!

Absolute vs Percentage - put it in context

I have been thinking about writing a piece on this for quite some time but two events I read about in the news have spurred me on to write it without delay.
People need to realise there is a difference between a absolute number and a percentage. Without being able to put either the absolute, or percentage figure into context they are effectively meaningless.

Take example one. Absolute figure without percentage for context
The Irish agency "FAS" who are involved in training, reskilling and job creation in Ireland, were lambasted in the media for spending circa €600k on "travel and entertainment". Firstly, like it or not, that is the way business is done, building relationships with organisations is an expensive activity, business class flights, fancy restaurants the whole nine yards, as unattractive as that may be its the reality of the situation. SECONDLY, Fas's budget is €1billion. In percentage terms €600k is equal to... wait for it... 0.06% of the overall budget (odd they don't quote that figure in the media)... get over it.

Example 2. Percentage without the absolute for context
Another story that really grinded my gears was the "groundbreaking news" that the UK VAT rate will be reduced by a whopping 2%. The UK media, and seemingly government seem to think that by reducing VAT by 2% this will get people spending in the same reckless way which they used to pre-financial crisis. This is just stupid, and people are obviously not thinking of this in context.
"Plasma screen T.V. - previously £999, now starting from as low as £979"
"Bottle of Champagne - previously £60, now £58.80"
... useless.

Media and definitions

Now don't get me wrong I am happy that the US election panned out as it did, I was very much an Obama man. However one thing I cant get behind is the general media's attitude that the election of an African American president shows that the US has turned a major corner.

Pundits will often cite the "crushing", "landslide" victory that Obama enjoyed once the votes had been counted, and I suppose the electoral college system in the US goes a long way to make the vote often appear more one-sided that in it should. Obama received 53(ish)% percent of the overall vote, now I dont know how the average person would define a landslide, but for me that just doesn't cut the mustard.

Almost half of the US voting population do not want to see Mr. Obama in the Whitehouse, and these nice folk will be gunning for him (hopefully not in the literal sense, but I wouldn't doubt it) for the entire duration of his time as the "Commander in chief".

Say it all you like but 53% does not a landslide make... thats all I have to say about that