William M. Briggs

Researchers Discover Parents Label Animals By Binary Sex At Zoos

Today a paper which is the almost certain winner of the Third Annual WMBriggs.com Bad Science Award (First winner; Second winner). Discovered by reader Nate Winchester, we have the peer-reviewed…

Culture

Russia’s Rise: Part I — Guest Post by Ianto Watt

This is Part I of II parts. The second part will run next Tuesday. I have been asked why I think Russia has returned to the center stage in world…

Culture Statistics

Pope Says Using Paper & Plastic A Sin

If you're a Christian, what do you suppose is the most pressing problem in the world today? The rapid fading of Christianity in the West? The dramatic increase in, and…

Philosophy SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: Differences In Being and What Is In Intellectual Substances

See the first post in this series for an explanation and guide of our tour of Summa Contra Gentiles. All posts are under the category SAMT. Previous post. Back to…

Culture Philosophy

On Ethical Socialism — Guest Post by Oswald Spengler

This excerpt is drawn from the 1965 Oxford University Press abridged edition of The Decline of the West, pages 185-187. Let us, once more, review Socialism (independently if the economic…

Statistics

Stream: xkcd’s Global Warming Time Series Mistakes

Today's post is at the Stream: xkcd's Global Warming Time Series Mistakes. The popular web cartoon xkcd has provided a wonderful opportunity to plug my must-read (and too expensive) book…

Culture

Comments on The Flight 93 Election. Let’s Roll

From reader Dean Ericson and from many other sources, the required must-read "The Flight 93 Election" by Publius Decius Mus at the sober Claremont Review of Books. If you support…

Fun

Uncertainty and the World: An interview with W. M. Briggs at Ordeal of Consciousness

Our friend Dover Beach, perhaps after having taken a fall or because he stood too close to Hillary and caught her disease, considered it would be well to interview Yours…

John Pate on AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded OutputJune 21, 2025
The inevitable AI Winter is not long coming I feel sure. The question is what will the next big piece…
rando calrissian on AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded OutputJune 20, 2025
Its free because they want to know what you will ask the ai. And that's why most of the free…
JH on The Mathematics Of Conspiracy Theories. Part 1: Black Eye Club ExampleJune 19, 2025
Do you want me to deny the fact that a mathematical or probability model carries specific interpretations based on its…
Chaeremon on AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded OutputJune 19, 2025
the current state of affair does not real world competition: all vendors only compete against dead examples; I suggest the…
Uncle Mike on AI & Chess Both Produce Pre-Coded OutputJune 19, 2025
Yeah well, this morning I caught Siri talking to Alexa about ChatGPT. They want to eat your electricity. They said,…

William M. Briggs

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

IQ Is Not Intelligence

What Are The Chances…George Wendt Dies On Same Day Cheers Ended 32 Years Before?

Class 51: Bayes Is Only A Formula

Blacks Have Black Fatigue: Who Is At Fault?

A Reason The Birthrate Is So Low: Food

What Are The Chances…A Women Survives Cancer 4 Times To Be Killed By “Random” Bullet?

Class 50: Independence Versus Irrelevance

The Nuances and Challenges of Federal Funding for Research — Guest Post by An Academic