William M. Briggs

Selective Abortion To Create Master Race: Progressive Academic Pushes For Moral Enhancement

Today's discovery is yet another academic with the map to Utopia glistening in his mind's eye. David DeGrazia of George Washington University, author of the peer-reviewed paper "Moral enhancement, freedom,…

Culture Philosophy

Sex Selection And In Vitro Fertilization

I'm always on the lookout for remunerative ways to spend my time. There yesterday on the American Statistical Association jobs site was a situation for a Medical Statistician, which is…

Culture Fun

E-books Will Lead To A Decrease In Reading

I have a Kindle. (It was generously donated by a reader a few years ago.) I have, say, 200 books on it, nearly all free from Project Gutenberg and similar…

Culture Statistics

Firearm Homicide Rates Around The World: Comparing With USA

Here's an around the world tour of homicide rates by firearm, brought to you by our friends at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Rates are per 100,000…

Philosophy Statistics

Bayesian Probability Is Not Subjective (It Only Seems Like It Is)

Logic Start with standard logic; think syllogisms. This is not a trick question: Is it true or false that C = "George wears a hat"? There is no way to…

Philosophy Statistics

Bayesian Probability & Swinburne’s P-Inductive & C-Inductive Arguments (For God’s Existence)

Because I am jet-lagged (and fundamentally lazy) here is a classic post, modified to include a homework assignment. Don't be like me: do the work. This post contains some fundamental…

Statistics

Mr Clarence Beeks, a.k.a. King Pleasure

I'm in the Mood for Love a.k.a. Moody's Mood for Love. Another travel day. I think it was this recording (and not another; "Pleasure" made several) that Danny Stiles used…

Statistics

Lightning May Cause Headaches, Moon May Cause Domestic Intranquility

I have discovered a statistically significant correlation between phases of the moon and domestic harmony. Every day for several months I filled out the Domestic Harmony Inventory (DHI), a scientifically…

_Jim on Why British & EU Rulers Are Juicing War With RussiaJanuary 4, 2026
@John Pate re: "it is gaslighting to pretend the current state of the anglophone countries is anything other than deliberate…
Hagfish Bagpipe on Happy New Year!January 2, 2026
Perusing your list of popular linked articles, I am once again impressed at the quantity and quality of your output.…
Hagfish Bagpipe on Happy New Year!January 2, 2026
Briggs: "... then I pray to your confusion and conversion, and hope that your hangover teaches you a lesson." Ha-ha!…
hudbwu on Happy New Year!January 2, 2026
Happy New Year!
NLR on Happy New Year!January 2, 2026
Happy New Year

William M. Briggs

Happy New Year!

How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?

Why The Drake Equation Fails

Canada Invents New Euphemism For Doctor Killings

Merry Christmas!

Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By Science

Why British & EU Rulers Are Juicing War With Russia

Climate Models

Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?

No Class: But Here’s Some Homework

On The Form Of Species: ‘Dance To The Tune Of Life’ by Denis Noble Reviewed

How To Tell How Much Of “IQ” Is Inherited & How Much Is Environment

Class 74: Contra Effect Sizes

Academic Argues For Permissibility of Cannibalism, You Racist

I Finally Read James Lindsay’s Manifesto (Yes, He Has A Manifesto)

The Biggest Mistake In Science Applied To Universe As Simulation

Class 73: How To Tell If You Have Bad Dice

Academic Proposes Mushrooms To Avoid Compulsory Moral Bioenhancement

The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Is Wrong: “Guns” are not the leading cause of death in kids

The Perfect Conspiracy Theory

Old Lodge Skins’ Prayer Of Thanksgiving