hlanthorn

demography: two things i remember from class and one thing i managed to remember from a book

sometimes memory devices and catch phrases work for me, like remembering how to set a table, how to spell encyclopedia, and how many ounces are in a pint (and a pound, incidentally). sometimes, they do not, as evidenced by the fact that i only remember the demonic halves of the demonic mnemonics for the cranialContinueContinue reading “demography: two things i remember from class and one thing i managed to remember from a book”

we’re experimenting! also, clarifying types of replications

a nice article from chris said, discussing how we might alter publication rules (and the granting requirements of donor organizations) in a way to move us closer to good, useful research – specifically, looking more toward the importance of the question and the rigor of the method to answer it. i am, of course, fullyContinueContinue reading “we’re experimenting! also, clarifying types of replications”

experimenting with intention

this post revisits some issues i have touched on before. first of all, good find by roving bandit. the gist is that an experimental program undertaken in ‘ideal’ (NGO-run) conditions did not show any effect when the same program was run by the government. oops. i think this raises several possible questions related to carryingContinueContinue reading “experimenting with intention”

talking about ‘the rest’ (no dear, we don’t call it that because we are not talking about africa right now)

this is so spot-on and people have added several more strong ones in the comments. i particularly like the vision of norway invading the US and sorting us out. they can play ‘immigrant song’ on the trip over. am thinking we need to start a list for health… also, for past and present high-seas piracy.

if it doesn’t kill them, it makes them stronger (III) / why would you do things that way? (II)

well, this is bad and annoying. bad: malaria resistance to ACTs is being increasingly reported in Thailand. annoying: the article’s narrator & interviewee go on to say that immediate steps need to be taken. then, instead of listing some possible steps, they highlight that maybe a malaria vaccine is on the horizon. 1. what should weContinueContinue reading “if it doesn’t kill them, it makes them stronger (III) / why would you do things that way? (II)”

off-the-grid, profitable toilets? / why would you do things that way? (I)

i am pretty sure this is the beginning of a cool idea for improving water & sanitation, which is ever-so-critical for public health (still the #2 cause of under-5 mortality globally – though it’s not clear if these new toilets have potty-training options and what that actually means for the spread of disease…). skipping theContinueContinue reading “off-the-grid, profitable toilets? / why would you do things that way? (I)”

pirates in the news! (also, kids, if you’re a famous pirate, you still maybe shouldn’t do drugs)

here but yet to be corroborated. it’s unclear if the Iranians really have Garad. so far, only Africa Review is reporting it… “He was like Carlos the Jackal in the crime world,” Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Association told Africa Review [about Garad]. according to David F. Marley…the “secretive” Garad — it’s notContinueContinue reading “pirates in the news! (also, kids, if you’re a famous pirate, you still maybe shouldn’t do drugs)”

fun with questions (I)

from a letter home from ghana, in which i tried to explain the basics of how the research on which i was working actually…worked. plus, the response from one of my very favorite people on the planet. roughly, in the research project, we tried to convince people obtaining a malaria medication to subscribe into aContinueContinue reading “fun with questions (I)”

wait, we’re experimenting, right?

many of the descriptions of the ideal next World Bank president – at least the ones with which I agree – have called for a little more humility about how much we actually know about economic & human development and poverty reduction. so it’s frustrating to see articles like this, which imply a low level ofContinueContinue reading “wait, we’re experimenting, right?”

rethinking the use of the word ‘simple’ in global health & development (III)

suvojit made some great points that turned into (what i think is) an interesting conversation. check it & think about what ‘best buys’ in development really mean. plus, generally check out suvo! we’re all better off since he decided to stop and blog every now and then.