Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Confidence Intervals, Logic, Induction
Induction "Because all the many flames observed before have been hot is a good reason to believe this flame will be hot" is an example of an inductive argument, and…
Posted inFun
I’m Sick of All These Climate Skeptic Deniers
There are a lot of people out there---unqualified, un-degreed, un-peer-reviewed people---who actively reject the consensus among climate skeptics. These people are rank deniers. These bold casuistry mongers should cause us…
Posted inCulture
Life Isn’t Fair: Galarraga’s Imperfectly Perfect Game
The decks are awash: the tears have already reached the scuppers, and there's no sign of abatement. The output from the perpetually lachrymose has been prodigious. Even people who aren't…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Lesson 2: Evidence and the Mysticism of Randomness
We made rather merry at the Chapter House last night, an annual tradition. Class begins in two hours. I can still hear the vuvus. Sheesh. Statements about the unknown made…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Tricky Probability Problem: Chance of Two Sons, One Born on Tuesday?
Thanks to reader Matt Lewis who sent me this link. Martin Gardner, may he rest in peace, gave us a delicious probability problem: Suppose that Mrs Smith has two children,…
Posted inFun
Ulysses And Phenomenal Woman
We might call this the readable poetry project, or poetry typeset for maximum readability for those who, like me, suffer from the inability to profitably read words plastered on a…
Posted inCulture Statistics
The Government Loves You And Wants You To Stop Smoking
As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking…
Posted inCulture
Shocking Research: Kids Who Play Games, Watch TV, Text Don’t Read And Do Poorly At School
The New York Times has come to the conclusion that watching television and playing video games is not conducive to reading. Further, preliminary evidence suggests that chatting on cell phones,…
