William M. Briggs

Peter Principle Particulars: Pluchino Paper Perused

Introduction One summary of the Peter Principle, named after psychologist Laurence J. Peters, is that "in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to their level of incompetence." Three Italian…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Decadence And The Failure Of The State: A Checklist

Decadence: a falling away; a decay; a deterioration; a failing of heart; a focus of self, on the here and now; the emergence of "What's in it for me?" as…

Fun

About Donating

I have received occasional requests---four, to be exact; plus a few unasked for, generous donations---to describe how readers can formally subscribe to the blog. There is, of course, no subscription,…

Culture Fun

Men’s Fashion Advice: Pocket Squares

If you're wearing a jacket (and you should) that has a breast pocket, that pocket should be filled to overflowing with a pocket "square". The material of this object must…

Book review

Intellectuals and Society by Thomas Sowell

This originally ran at Pajamas Media. Because of the recent article "Mao's Little Helpers" at Standpoint and a current review at American Spectator, I thought there would be interest in…

Culture

Hollywood: Stop Making Movies And Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Just last week British movie director Richard Curtis thought it would be jolly to simulate the brutal killing of children who did not fret sufficiently over global warming. In his…

Culture

Thorium Instead Of Uranium: Solution To Our Energy Woes? Guest Post by James Mahaffey

About a month ago, an article appeared in the Telegraph entitled, "Obama could kill fossil fuels overnight with a nuclear dash for thorium." It's central claim was that, If Barack…

Culture Fun

Food Wimpishness

My rate of dying is still above normal, but its delta-V, I am hoping sincerely, and thanks entirely to the medicinal properties of gins and tonics, is now negative. Late…

Briggs on Let Go Your Wee P! — Reader Help RequestedApril 25, 2025
Maypo Horses used to be "bated", i.e. fed. So I guess it means "breath which stinks of eating."
Maypo on Let Go Your Wee P! — Reader Help RequestedApril 24, 2025
I've never understood the concept of "bated breath", but count me as waiting eagerly.
bruce taylor on Class 47: Billions Of Models!April 24, 2025
There are both brain wave studies (Stanford 2024) and brain chemical studies that point to distinct differences between sexes. These…
Briggs on Let Go Your Wee P! — Reader Help RequestedApril 24, 2025
Maypo. Excellent question, and one we cover starting next week, if you don't mind waiting. Quick answer: it ain't easy.
Maypo on Let Go Your Wee P! — Reader Help RequestedApril 24, 2025
Hey Dr. Briggs, I think I generally follow your arguments and agree with them. What I am struggling with is,…

William M. Briggs

Class 47: Billions Of Models!

A New Physics Arises: Irreducible by Federico Faggin Reviewed

Let Go Your Wee P! — Reader Help Requested

Class 46: Explanation & Abductive Weakness

The Educational Empire Strikes Back

Can Jinn & The Evil Eye Cause Disease?

Science: The Bigger The Hole In The Head, The More Politically Active

Class 45: The False Hope Of Falsification

New Paper Says Flu Vax Increases Chance Of Flu: Let’s Look

A Simple Argument Proving You Must Not Trust Standard Scientific Evidence

Power Restored, Posts To Resume

No posts, class. No power, no internet

MIT Scientists Trying To Invent Zombies

Class 44: What Causes Cancer Of The Albondigas?

How To Claim Your Specialty Suffers From “Climate Change”

Why Does Science Say Everything Will Kill You?

The Enormous Rotten Egg Of Government-Funded Science Has Turned Men Weak

Class 43: The Causal Path

The Limitations Of AI: General Or Real Intelligence Is Not Possible

Science Says Chocolate Will Kill You & Cure You: So Will Everything Else

Why Is The NYT Admitting the Covid Lab-Leak Theory Now?