William M. Briggs

The Death of Christmas — Guest Post by Uncle Mike

Last December 19th President Trump ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 American troops from Syria. The New York Times called the action "abrupt and chaotic" and reported: The decision brought a…

Statistics

A Case Of Bad Statistics In An IQ-Intelligence Study

We're going to soon talk more about "IQ" and "intelligence". I'm working on a more in-depth article on the subject to carefully explicate the vast over-certainties I see on "both…

Fun

How’d We Do On Our 2018 Predictions?

How'd we do? Let me put it this way: the Magic 8 Ball is in no danger of losing its position as top soothsayer. We were game, but overall there…

Fun

Register Your Predictions For 2019!

As has been our tradition these many years, it's time to register our predictions for the coming year. We look at how well we did last year tomorrow. Rules: Number…

Statistics

The Probability Of Your Existence

A version of this column originally ran 7 July 2014. To the nearest order of magnitude, there have existed, including us, about 100 billion human beings. This proves what was…

Statistics

The Monty Hall Problem — Solved!

In honor of Monty Hall, who passed away this past weekend (in October 2017), this classic article (which ran long ago, the date lost due to the hacking, solving his…

Statistics

How Many Geniuses Are There?

This post originally appeared 15 September 2008. Here is a question I often give on exams: What is the probability that the next child to be born will be a…

Fun Statistics

The Probability of Monkeys Typing Shakespeare

This article, which originally appeared 20 May 2010, was inspired by reading Fredwin On Evolution, as wisely suggested by reader Bob Ludwick. At the bottom of Fred's piece, there appears…

John Pate on The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Is Wrong: “Guns” are not the leading cause of death in kidsDecember 2, 2025
It's termed "negligent discharge." It is highly unlikely a gun fires without the operator making some kind of error. Even…
Cary D Cotterman on The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Is Wrong: “Guns” are not the leading cause of death in kidsDecember 2, 2025
My wife and I went to a Nordstrom department store last weekend. On the door was a prominent sign declaring…
Pete the Greek on The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Is Wrong: “Guns” are not the leading cause of death in kidsDecember 2, 2025
It's hilarious how fast you get blocked by people on social media when you post factual stats and analytics like…
Johnno on The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Is Wrong: “Guns” are not the leading cause of death in kidsDecember 2, 2025
This is all because of a severe marked decrease in kids being allowed to play with traditional bows and suction…
Johnno on The Perfect Conspiracy TheoryDecember 2, 2025
All celebrities owe their careers to the devil. But it's a subscription plan priced in human sacrifice. And like all…

William M. Briggs

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

The Apples In A Sack Paradox: Solve It Or You Get No Pie Tomorrow

Antichrist, by Saint Robert Bellarmine

Donald vs Ishmael vs Esau — Guest Post by Ianto Watt

Class 72: Most Claims Of “Controlled For” Are Wrong: The Wrong Way

Black Women Can’t Do Physics As Well As White Men, Says Researcher

On That “Bombshell German Study” That “Exposes the PCR Test Fraud That Locked Down the World”

Masking Morality With Science: Men Pretending To Be Women In Sports

Why Study Probability?

The Dysgenics Of IVF

In Which An Atheist Becomes Sputteringly Angry Over Theist’s Argument

Academics Debate Which Term Best Describes Those Who Love (in that way) Their Pillows

Class 71: Never Trust ‘Research Shows’ Headlines: We Bring Cause To Data

Diversity Patrol Scanning Citations For Victims

Little Nate’s Plan To Save The World

Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education Causes Mass Squealing

Stay The Course: Have Some Class

Last Call For Alcohol-Cancer Papers

UFO Hits United Flight. All Survive. This Time!

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

The Perfect Conspiracy Theory

The Death of Christmas — Guest Post by Uncle Mike

A Case Of Bad Statistics In An IQ-Intelligence Study

How’d We Do On Our 2018 Predictions?

Register Your Predictions For 2019!

The Probability Of Your Existence

The Monty Hall Problem — Solved!

How Many Geniuses Are There?

The Probability of Monkeys Typing Shakespeare

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