Omar Khan

The search now turns towards understanding how inflation impacts the estimates of other studies and, ultimately, what specifically explains the "missing environments". /x

But it is impossible not to worry deeply about the consequences on health of this scepticism, and I'm not sure how best to convince people - citing evidence alone or mythbusting isn't going to cut it

Around 30 yrs ago I knew a few people living in rural New England escaping modern capitalism etc who were clearly antivax then

I'm less surprised that anti science thinking has pervaded left and right, particularly reflecting on criticism of healthcare and pharmaceutical industry in the US

When I went on a course before the birth of my child over a dozen years ago, the 10 couples were told not to worry about caesarean births as if you asked it was more likely to need 'intervention'

I pressed: what are the stats on how many births are caesarean

Answer: how long is a piece of string

England's PISA score would look much worse if migrants and the children of migrants here ( 1 in 4 or maybe even 1 in 3 of primary age children?) did as poorly in school as the children of migrants in Denmark (tho there also likely selection effects: parental educational quals, language, etc)

The Economist on the British government's proposal that the country with the comparatively best record on integration in one generation could emulate Denmark, which struggles in integration, and where the tough line on asylum presents further barriers

One potential aspect of this comparable dynamic: I attended meetings in the 2010s on the impact of migration policy on Danish born ethnic minorities, who felt very beleaguered by policies that ended up targeting them too, while feeling social democratic leaders didnt speak out enough against racism

Rather than 'brilliant but flawed', wd it be better/more accurate to acknowledge moral qualities and intellectual ability are un-related?And to prioritise morality? Eg "He was so morally vacuous that his brilliance merely served to advance his malevolent aims" or just "morally degenerate" full stop?

Look, a tax targeting wealthy people has to be more narrowly tailored than hitting the top 1.1%

People say blue sky skews liberal or left or whatever but my timeline mainly skews cricket

Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.

NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.

Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.

Half (49.7%) of people of colour are migrants (2021 Census data for England & Wales)

54% of Asian British
51% of Black British
18% of 'Mixed'
68% of 'Other'

Racism affects both the 5.5 million ethnic minorities who were born in Britain and the 5.4 million ethnic minorities who were born elsewhere

London being an example. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say the capital has the highest levels of racism because it has the most migrants

Migration in the 1980s: low (even negative in some years), and therefore a time of low (even negative in some years?) levels of racism?

I'm not how you'd design a research method to get at that exactly

But my take is that the only alternative to thinking racism is systemic is thinking racism is 'natural'. Some might be pessimists about human nature here, and while I understand 'othering' why must it take the form of race/racism

I would be interested to read the paper, and don't think I have additional suggestions

I have long wondered: for those who acknowledge that racism exists, but not systematically only interpersonally/attitudinally

How/why do they think racism reproduces? Why have the tropes always been the same?

Look, being English just means being steeped in English culture. If you dont know the rules or follow the Ashes, you're even less English than those supporting the West Indies or a South Asian cricket team, who at least know what the superior sport is

Oh, that's not what you meant by 'culture'?

It's also counterproductive to deny people agency and rationality

Racist attitudes and actions don't just flow inevitably; people choose to believe or not believe & act in racist ways

Even in the 15th century (some) ppl knew racism was wrong; it is a mistake to deny moral agency, esp in this area

If you think migration causes racism, you then agree racism was much less (zero, negative in some years?) in the 1980s & that racism today is greatest in London

I know evidence isn't driving the discourse but it should inform policy if policymakers seek to effectively address racism & its effects

Meaning & purpose can only be achieved in this life, through our relationships & impact on others, particularly those we love & know best

Thinking & framing human life as world historic (past or future) leads to actions that deprioritise the living ppl you (should) care about & your own wellbeing

No mention of the word love in describing parenthood tho lots of economic investment type framing accidentally revealing exactly why Musk might be suspected of being a poor father

Some yes, they are cynically seeking benefit without any commitments. But some/many think hierarchy is natural and good.

one thing. Refusing to address social realities that cause individual, social and economic harm because you falsely believe those injustices don't exist is another

Dropping the name 'DEI' will not satisfy such reality- and injustice-deniers, who instead think existing inequalities are just & right

The objection to 'DEI' is often 2nd order

Yes, they object to any actions to *address* racism, sexism, homophobia (& yes some 'DEI' policies are counterproductive or ineffective)

But the first order objection is often: racism, sexism, homophobia *don't exist*

Scrapping ineffective policies is...

Genuinely interested what someone just called for on radio4 - a *causal* study of COVID lockdown- would mean, methodologically

Assuming a RCT is out but what kind of QED (who is the comparator?) or other method might work?

GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that getting vaccinated against shingles- a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster virus- not only LOWERS the risk of infection, but can also PROTECT against Alzheimer’s disease!

Poverty and wealth overview Poverty and wealth overview

44% of Glasgow's population (281,000) live in SIMD quintile 1 areas

Of 5.5m people in Scotland, 1.1m live in Q1

281,000 out of 1.1m = 25.5% (ie 1 in 4)

This compares to around 1 in 9 people in Scotland living in Glasgow

Glasgow data: www.understandingglasgow.com/glasgow-indi...

(2/2)

If I've interpreted data correctly

1 in 4 of the students who are the focus of Scotland's higher education access efforts live in Glasgow

Scotland's HE access focus is on the lowest quintile (20%) of areas according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)

(1/2)

It is difficult to imagine the feeling of being on the streets and homeless on a day as cold as today

GCSE performance by free school meal eligibility, from 2005-2023. Showing increasing performance for all pupils until Covid, but a consistent unmoved gap of 26 - 29 points

First chart, from the excellent IFS report, with (at least) 3 stories

1. GCSE attainment increased amg all pupils from 2005 until the Covid pandemic
2. This trend reverses for GCSE exams impacted by Covid
3. The *gap* between FSM & non-FSM pupils doesnt budge, and remains v large