William M. Briggs

Scott Adams’s Climate Science Challenge

Scott Adams's Climate Science Challenge is of interest---thanks to reader Francsois for bringing it to our attention---because of his name-brand recognition. Here is the gist: So today's challenge is to…

Culture Statistics

Some Statistics On What The Sexual Rebellion Wraught

I'm always complaining of statistics gone awry, but a constant diet of bad news can lead to bad things, like a desire to listen to NPR or to use PowerPoint.…

Culture

Russia As Salvation Of The West: Part II — Guest Post by Ianto Watt

Read Part I. Let's get down to work. Let's back up a long way and see where the initial error was made in calculating the supposed real purpose of the…

Book review Statistics

Mathematical Association of America Reviews Uncertainty: The Soul of Modeling, Probability & Statistics

William J. Satzer at the Mathematical Association of America reviewed Uncertainty: The Soul of Modeling, Probability & Statistics. Here it is (ellipsis below original). This is a book about probability…

Fun

Merry Federally Recognized Holiday of 2016!

Culture

“Media Powerhouses Don’t Quite Get Religion.”

Some fellow named Dean Baquet, New York Times Executive Editor, was holding forth about the election on your tax-dollar-supported NPR (Slogan: You have to pay, but you have no say),…

Statistics

Stream: Who’s Better At Playing Doctor, Boys Or Girls?

Stream: Who's Better At Playing Doctor, Boys Or Girls? The NBC News story "Female Doctors Outperform Male Doctors, According to Study" makes these bold claims. Patients treated by women are…

Statistics

Pascal’s Mugging Is Silly: Events Don’t “Have” Probabilities

Before we begin, see this similar article about a different mugging scenario, which demonstrated that all probability is conditional and that decision isn't probability. Here's the serious version of Pascal's…

Briggs on Test Your IQ With These Puzzles! (Not So Easy!)July 4, 2025
John W, Garrett, You are welcome.
Richard S. on The Sad End Of RadioJuly 4, 2025
I'm sorry but must correct the record. I have been a radio fan since the early 1960s -- AM, FM,…
John W. Garrett on Test Your IQ With These Puzzles! (Not So Easy!)July 4, 2025
S.Sgt Briggs, Thanks for this near-perfect example of sophistry and thimble-rigging.
Briggs on The Sad End Of RadioJuly 4, 2025
JDinPA, CCReed, I see Cole's accusations, but he offers no proof. If he has it, he ought to give it.…
JDinPA on The Sad End Of RadioJuly 4, 2025
CCReed: That’s a disturbing take on the late Z-Man in at least two senses: 1) If true, Z-Man was perpetrating…

William M. Briggs

The Sad End Of Radio

Let’s Play A Game Of Let’s Suppose!

Test Your IQ With These Puzzles! (Not So Easy!)

How Can You Tell If You Have ESP?

Class 56: The Best Model!

Sabine Hossenfelder’s Free Will Folly & The Deadly Sin Of Reification

England’s Mandatory Suicide & Women

On The Probability Of God

Class 55: Models Vs Reality

AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded Output

The Hubris Of Experts: NIH Edition

The Mathematics Of Conspiracy Theories. Part 1: Black Eye Club Example

Class 54: Exchangeability & Parameters

Over-Certainty Of Polygenic Scores

AI & The Dilemma Of Technology

What Are The Chances Thomas Jefferson & John Adams Died On The Fourth of July, 1826?

Class 53: Laplace Was Right!

Even The Woke Say Science Is Petering Out

Expert Nathan Confas: Experts Know Best

Science Claims 7% Of Adults Saw A Mass Shooting

Class 52: The Origin Of Parameters