Posted inFun Statistics
Are My Classes Too Hard?
My exams are scheduled for this Thursday and Friday and suddenly---quite, quite suddenly---my office hours are filled with activity. In a hurry today. Perhaps you, my dear readers, can help…
Posted inStatistics
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…
Posted inCulture 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…
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…
Posted inFun Statistics
The Sports Illustrated curse and regression to the mean
Due to overwhelming demand, today's column is a classic reprint. This originally appeared on 18 January 2008. The headlines of today's New York Daily News is CURSES! It seems the…
Posted inCulture Statistics
University Rankings: Wall Street Journal, ACTA, QS
I, working with Cambria Consulting (see below), was involved heavily creating the WSJ's Top 25 College rankings which are in today's papers. All questions on the methods, I defer to…
Posted inPhilosophy
Equality Is Impossible: Part I
There is a certain way that philosophers talk that make them sound, to outsiders, like they're spouting nonsense. Take David Miller, for example. He writes on the subject of equality…
Posted inStatistics
Chinese War Poker: Bluffs Or Solid Threats?
The United States Navy is going to steam into the Yellow Sea and blow up some Korean warships. But friendly, like, and for fun. Points will be scored, and trophies…