Nine To Noon for Thursday 23 October 2014
09:05 8% of flu sufferers got strain not covered by vaccine
Health officials from around the world have been meeting to decide what next year's influenza will contain, following a winter where 8% of people who got the flu are believed to have contracted a rogue strain of the virus that wasn't covered by the flu shot. World Health Organization recommendations at around this time each year give national public health authorities a guide for the development and production of flu vaccines for the following year. It takes at least six months to produce the vaccines – by which time a new strain might have emerged. Dr. Sue Huang is the director of the National Influenza Centre.
09:30 The European Central Bank's attempts to stave of deflation
The European Central Bank has changed tack by buying covered bonds, including Greek and Cypriot bank loans with junk ratings. The move was announced by the ECB president Mario Draghi last month saying it would stimulate the flow of credit to businesses. But it has been heavily criticised by some economists who say it will turn the ECB into a bad bank and could destroy the euro currency. Charles Wyplosz is a Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute.
09:30 Scientists warn of comet blind spot over Southern Hemisphere
There's a warning from some scientists that Earth has been left with a huge blind spot for potentially devastating comet strikes after the only dedicated comet-spotting program in the Southern Hemisphere lost its funding.
09:45 UK Correspondent Jon Dennis
10:05 Mortician Caitlin Doughty on how to have a good death
Caitlin Doughty is a twenty-something licensed mortician and funeral director with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre, who took a job at a crematory after her first degree – turning morbid curiosity into her life's work. In her new book, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Caitlin argues that our fear of dying warps our culture and society, and she calls for better ways of dealing with death (and our dead). After graduating from university with her first degree in Medieval History, Caitlin moved to California and began to apply to crematories in an attempt to put into practice her theoretical interest in death. Her first job in the funeral industry was as a crematory operator, and since then, she has worked as a funeral arranger, a body-van transport driver, and completed a second degree in mortuary science. She also fronts the popular YouTube webseries, Ask a Mortician.
10:35 Book review: 'World Order' by Henry Kissinger
Reviewed by Geoff Robinson. Published by Allen Lane, RRP$60.00
10:45 The Reading: 'Zhu Mao' by Mark Sweet
Scott returns to Hubei Province with his wife’s ashes. There he confronts the memories of the terrible events that brought them together. (9 of 10, RNZ)
11:05 Canadian Parliament shootings
Steven D'Souza, CBC correspondent based in Toronto.
11:10 New Technology with Sarah Putt
Sarah Putt discusses gender inequality in IT; NZ tops in drone technology; and asks why are iPad sales down?
11:30 Parenting - dealing with exam stress
Four weeks of NCEA exams start during the second week of November. Former teacher and editor of parenting information website Kiwi Families, Rochelle Gribble on helping your child get through exam time.
11:45 Film reviewer Dan Slevin
Dan Slevin critiques Whiplash; Get on Up and A Most Wanted Man.
Music played in this show
Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: Corrina, Corrina
Composer: Dylan
Album: The Free Wheelin' Bob Dylan
Label: Columbia
Time: 9:36
Artist: Mel Parsons
Song: Far Fetched Ideas
Composer: Parsons
Album: Over My Shoulder
Label: Cape Road
Time: 11:30