Fun – Page 38 – William M. Briggs

Dinner With Atheists: A Mini-Play In One Act

SCENE: The monthly meeting of the Madison Atheists Evangelization Society at the I-12 Marriot Courtyard's Badger Room, a rambunctious group sitting at a table, long side to the audience, like…

Culture Fun

Knife-Wielding Teens Invade High School

What you are about to read is a true story. The question is why none of this has been picked up in the media. In late March a "flash mob"…

Culture Fun Philosophy

Best Books Project

I need your help. Together, we will reach out to those whom we consider to be possessed of the Biggest Brightest Brains and ask them to provide a list of…

Fun Philosophy

Richard Dawkins Is A Dangerous Man: Update

I'll tell you how. He makes people feel smarter than they are. And in our world of self-esteem substituting for accomplishment and ability, his villainous power is especially poisonous. For…

Fun Statistics

How Long Do Popes Serve? Update

Update 14 March 2013. The Guardian has released the data on the popes. Its list and mine differ trivially, except that they were able to include the popes' ages (starting…

Culture Fun

What Day Most Changed History?

Such was the title of The Atlantic's "The Big Question" column of March, 2013. This is the sort of piece one finds uppermost in the toilet's magazine rack. So now…

Fun Statistics

On Dowsing—Guest Post by Ray Kidd

I dug a one-meter square test pit outside an 18th century ruined cottage. A "dowser" invited to test his powers stood beside the pit dangling a bob on a string.…

Fun Statistics

Best Movie Oscar Prediction Via Statistical Modeling: Update, The Model Wins

Update I humbly accept your congratulations. Argo will win Oscar for Best Picture, according to our non-patented, statistically significant almost-mathematical computer model. The key reasons for its victory will be:…

Steve on A New Kind Of University: Your Comments WantedAugust 26, 2026
The calendar on my fridge this month says, "Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never…
Daniel Lemire on A New Kind Of University: Your Comments WantedAugust 25, 2026
It makes sense.
Emmanuel Salva on A New Kind Of University: Your Comments WantedAugust 25, 2026
Because of ??e fac? ??a? I do no? know ??e pe?osnal ?is?o?y and de?ails of eac? pe?son ??a? mig?? ?ead…
spetzer86 on A New Kind Of University: Your Comments WantedAugust 25, 2026
Sadly, you'd never get through the traditional academic review boards and the required certifications forcing compliance with mainstream thought. You…
Bill Hankel on A New Kind Of University: Your Comments WantedAugust 25, 2026
As someone who is currently almost 65 years old, and has never attended college, I'm in! It has been obvious…