10 reasons not to use statistics as evidence

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." - Mark Twain or Benjamin Disraeli (Contestability)

Warning, do not read if you are a statistician. 

#1. 100% of all people who drink water die. Therefore, water is poisonous. (Definition of a poisonous substance is "causing or capable of causing death or illness if taken into the body")

#2. 100% of all male platypus are semi-aquatic, this means they partially live in water. Male platypuses are born with a venomous spur. Water is indeed poisonous and is capable of making you venomous. 

Creative Common by Leo (0ystercatcher)

#3. 100% of all mass murders consumed water within three days before killing someone and 100% of people who start fights consume within three days of starting a fight. Therefore, water makes you violent. 

#4. 100% of all tsunami are made of water. Water is indeed violent.

#5. 100% of cane toads drink water, adult cane toads are dangerous because they are toxic. Therefore, water is also capable of making you toxic and dangerous.

Creative Common by Ken-ichi Ueda

One of my favourite jokes

En español

I thought I'll share one of favourite jokes with all off you. Some of you may know it, but it never gets old. Here it is:

Creative Common by msr

During the Dark Ages, the Pope decreed that all Jews living in Rome had to leave. The Jews did not want to leave so the Pope challenged them to a disputation. No one offered to debate with the Pope until the synagogue janitor, Moishe volunteered. As he was the only one who offered, he was given the responsibility. But, because he only spoke Hebrew, a silent debate was agreed. 

They went to St Peter's Square to sort out the decision, on the day of the disputation. Firstly, the Pope waived his hand around his head and Moishe pointed firmly at the ground. The Pope was surprised and pointed up three fingers. Moishe pointed his middle finger at him. The crowd started to complain but the Pope waived at them to be quiet. The Pope held up a glass of wine and a wafer, then Moishe reached into his pocket and held up an Apple. The Pope said in Latin, "This man is too good, the Jews can stay in Rome". 

Lyre birds

After visiting Mason's falls in Kinglake and seeing an actual lyrebird in the wild (I have only seen them in captivity), I have been researching about lyrebirds and have learnt quite a bit about them. I already knew that they mimic other bird calls and sounds around them but I didn't know how well they could mimic. 

I can see why they're significant enough to be on the 10c coin. Lyre birds can mimic chainsaw sounds, camera clicks and even human voice!

If you listen close enough you can hear; 
0:58 "C'mere chook, chook"
1:05 "What are you doing?"
1:46 "Hey don't touch that"

Australia has some very unique animals and we should be grateful that these animals aren't extinct. 

Also, I hope to write a post about my trip but we took over 3000 photos on the trip so I will have a series of posts in the future. 

What on earth is humuhumnukunukuapua'a?

I was reading about facts about Hawaii when I found out it's state fish is a very long h-word, humuhumunukunukuapua'a. It means 'fish who grunts like a pig' and it's English name is 'Reef Triggerfish'.

It is a common belief that humhumunukunukuapua'a (pronounced who-moo-who-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-a-poo-a-a) is be the longest Hawaiian name for a fish.

Image by Dan Carter

Image by Steve Mohundro
"The name is longer than the fish"

Image by 'Nemo's great uncle'
"A humunuku-what?"

Also, the lauwiliwilinukunuku'oi'oi (Longnose Butterflyfish) meaning 'long snorted fish shaped like a wiliwili leaf' is the longest name for a fish in Hawaiian. It's pronounced 'lao-willy-willy-noo-koo-noo-koo-oy-oy'. 

Image by Derek Keats

Image by Ross Thomson