William M. Briggs

Now only 32.8% of people believe the polls: Did New Hampshire let us down?

Last week we looked at how the polls did in Iowa. How badly did the polls in the New Hampshire race do in yesterday's Democrat primary? Here are the results:…

Fun

An unfortunate loss of a good joke: leftist thinking finally overtakes math parody

There was an old, and sadly funny joke about the Evolution of Math Quizzes that went like this: 1960s A logger cuts and sells a truckload of lumber for $100.…

Statistics

Don Imus sidekick makes a point with a failed joke

Just heard Don Imus, who was attempting to explain why he wasn't being sarcastic when he said "At least [George Bush] did something right" because we have not been attacked…

Statistics

A safe, but misleading, prediction about global warming

Reuters's, on 3 January, had this headline, "2008 to be in top 10 warmest years say forecasters." A quote: 2008 will be slightly cooler than recent years globally but will…

Statistics

Asinine comparison of holocaust deniers and honest scientists

Some guy named Joel Connelly at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has written another one of those "We must do something now" global warming articles. What makes his piece distinct is that…

Philosophy

Mr. Word’s definition of the day: to change

"To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance." --…

Statistics

How much does winning Iowa and New Hampshire help?

On the earlier poll thread, a reader asked "What's your opinion about the statistical summary of past results of Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries?" pointing out data from Neatorama.com.…

Fun

Mr. Word’s definition of the day: to gush

"To make a sentimental or untimely exhibition of affection; to display enthusiasm in a silly, demonstrative manner." -- Webster, 1913. For example, this snippet from today's New York Times editorial.…

Happy Lambs on The Impossibilities Of Quantum ComputingNovember 22, 2024
This was great thanks for the book rec
PhilH on The Impossibilities Of Quantum ComputingNovember 21, 2024
I’m not convinced that quantum computing will ever be a reality. Quantum mechanics is a complex and confusing theory that…
NLR on The Impossibilities Of Quantum ComputingNovember 21, 2024
Considering the aims and ideologies of the governments and megacorporations that are keen on quantum computing and considering all the…
cdquarles on The Impossibilities Of Quantum ComputingNovember 21, 2024
Exactly, McChuck. Bravo!
cdquarles on What Science Can Say About Vaccines: And What It Can’t SayNovember 21, 2024
Amen, Uncle Mike.

William M. Briggs

The Impossibilities Of Quantum Computing

What Science Can Say About Vaccines: And What It Can’t Say

Bad Predictions Mean Bad Models, Even If You’re A Distinguished Expert

Class 29: Nothing Has A Distribution

Women Let Him Win — Guest Post by Ianto Watt

Trends In Wokeness & Girlbossery In Science

Prominent Academic Asks: When And How Did Statistics Lose Its Way?

Fixing College: Hit Them In The Money, Replace Their Prestige

Class 28: Randomization Redux (Randomization Does Nothing)

If We Are What We Sexually Desire, How About These Curious People?

What The Covid Panic Did To Science

We Win

See You On The Other Side

Class 27: Probability Is In Your Mind, Not Things

How Tim Walz Did Not Know Models Only Say What They’re Told To Say

Hell On Earth: 1978’s Zombie Apocalypse ‘Dawn Of The Dead’ Reviewed

The Decline Of Western Christianity: Gradually Then Suddenly

The Science Of Transitioning Children

Class 26: Randomization Does Nothing

Addicted To Drug — Statistics

Of Course Neo-Darwinian Evolution By “Random” Mutation Is Wrong

The Impossibilities Of Quantum Computing

What Science Can Say About Vaccines: And What It Can’t Say

Now only 32.8% of people believe the polls: Did New Hampshire let us down?

An unfortunate loss of a good joke: leftist thinking finally overtakes math parody

Don Imus sidekick makes a point with a failed joke

A safe, but misleading, prediction about global warming

Asinine comparison of holocaust deniers and honest scientists

Mr. Word’s definition of the day: to change

How much does winning Iowa and New Hampshire help?

Mr. Word’s definition of the day: to gush

There Is No Culture Without Inequality: Stove 1

Impose Your Beliefs Before They Impose Theirs

Telekinesis: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification

The Physics Of Blessings: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification