Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Not As Good
I've rarely been so disappointed as when I encountered the misleadingly titled "The Health of Young Victorians Study," cited in JAMA (Jan 5 2005) which naturally I imagined would read something like this:
This being a good and rightful account the youth, upon whose ruddy Constitution our great Nation has come to rely, &c.
198 killed battling in Crimea.
17 overcome with blushing and faintness upon making eye contact with a Collie dog.
38 overcome with blushing and faintness upon being praised for charity work.
64 overcome with blushing and faintness (unexplained).
15 suffered heartattack upon being informed that George Eliot is a woman.
12 became slightly sweaty from overexertion practicing the violincello.
8 became a cranky but loveable crime-solving invalid.
14 engaged in a self-administered, and poorly executed phlebotomy.
17 presented an unfortunate case of lice and nits.
6 had whatever that kid from The Secret Garden had.
15 consumed not nearly enough morphine.
3 collapsed in a giggle fit after picturing the vicar in a bustle.
13 tried valiantly to, but ultimately could not, be expelled of brain demons.
232 perished while labouring in our great Manufactories, of these
---78 Smoke inhalation
---26 Excessive growth of the tubers
---128 Frailty, generally
Instead, the study looks at how many teenagers living in Victoria, Australia are overweight or something.
In conclusion, for more information on the history of robots in the Victorian era, go here.
This being a good and rightful account the youth, upon whose ruddy Constitution our great Nation has come to rely, &c.
198 killed battling in Crimea.
17 overcome with blushing and faintness upon making eye contact with a Collie dog.
38 overcome with blushing and faintness upon being praised for charity work.
64 overcome with blushing and faintness (unexplained).
15 suffered heartattack upon being informed that George Eliot is a woman.
12 became slightly sweaty from overexertion practicing the violincello.
8 became a cranky but loveable crime-solving invalid.
14 engaged in a self-administered, and poorly executed phlebotomy.
17 presented an unfortunate case of lice and nits.
6 had whatever that kid from The Secret Garden had.
15 consumed not nearly enough morphine.
3 collapsed in a giggle fit after picturing the vicar in a bustle.
13 tried valiantly to, but ultimately could not, be expelled of brain demons.
232 perished while labouring in our great Manufactories, of these
---78 Smoke inhalation
---26 Excessive growth of the tubers
---128 Frailty, generally
Instead, the study looks at how many teenagers living in Victoria, Australia are overweight or something.
In conclusion, for more information on the history of robots in the Victorian era, go here.
