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Initech

(99,914 posts)
Mon May 9, 2016, 11:12 AM May 2016

John Oliver Exposes The Real Research Behind "Recent Studies" & Gives His Own Todd Talk



Is coffee a miracle cure, or is it a huge risk to your health? If you sifted through the recently reported scientific studies on the topic, you may not come away with a very clear conclusion.

According to various media outlets, studies have suggested that coffee may help reverse liver damage, help prevent colon cancer, decrease the risk of endometrial cancer, and increase the risk of miscarriage.

"Coffee today is like God in the Old Testament: It will either save you or kill you depending on how much you believe in its magic powers," Last Week Tonight host John Oliver said on Sunday. "After a certain point, all that ridiculous information can make you wonder, is science bullshit?"

Science is supposed to make us more informed. But as Oliver explained, the way new studies are presented in media often misinforms the general public — and may lead some people to distrust the research.

http://www.vox.com/2016/5/9/11638808/john-oliver-science-studies-last-week-tonight [/div

John Oliver nails it once again!
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John Oliver Exposes The Real Research Behind "Recent Studies" & Gives His Own Todd Talk (Original Post) Initech May 2016 OP
"Champagne is acceptable on New Years, Valentine's, birthdays, and if and when Henry Kissinger dies" geardaddy May 2016 #1
That's why I love John Oliver! Initech May 2016 #2
or Cheney malaise May 2016 #6
Yes! geardaddy May 2016 #8
Too long a sciency. ffr May 2016 #3
Read "How to Lie With Statistics". It's a classic. Manifestor_of_Light May 2016 #4
Is there an Amazon link for that? Initech May 2016 #5
Darrell Huff is the author. Here's the link: tclambert May 2016 #10
Still have my copy malaise May 2016 #7
What about the study that smelling farts causes cancer? Duckfan May 2016 #13
I love to fart next to smokers dickthegrouch May 2016 #20
This needs to be mandatory viewing for everyone here. NuclearDem May 2016 #9
Oliver is the only comic able to get away with . . . MrModerate May 2016 #11
John Oliver is definitely too intelligent to be on network television. Initech May 2016 #12
Archer! progressoid May 2016 #14
If it's gonna be that kind of party! Initech May 2016 #16
... NuclearDem May 2016 #18
Ha ha ha. I hadn't seen that before. progressoid May 2016 #19
but it's true IcyPeas May 2016 #15
kicking for later surrealAmerican May 2016 #17
 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
4. Read "How to Lie With Statistics". It's a classic.
Mon May 9, 2016, 01:05 PM
May 2016

Still in print, written in 1955. And understandable by non-math majors, like me.

tclambert

(11,080 posts)
10. Darrell Huff is the author. Here's the link:
Mon May 9, 2016, 02:18 PM
May 2016
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=how+to+lie+with+statistic&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=1694113786&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_7zdbjhavzo_e


It isn't meant as a how-to book, but a book to teach you self-defense against deceptive statistical practices. A lot of examples come from advertising and politics.

dickthegrouch

(3,151 posts)
20. I love to fart next to smokers
Tue May 10, 2016, 11:02 AM
May 2016

And when they complain my response is "At least my stink doesn't cause cancer".

 

MrModerate

(9,753 posts)
11. Oliver is the only comic able to get away with . . .
Mon May 9, 2016, 02:19 PM
May 2016

'Mitochondria' in a punch line.

It's really amazing to watch. Almost like, I don't know, 'adult' comedy.

progressoid

(49,825 posts)
19. Ha ha ha. I hadn't seen that before.
Mon May 9, 2016, 11:22 PM
May 2016

Like that even better than when Archer was on Bob's Burgers.
Or, was it the other way around?

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