William M. Briggs

7-Year-Old Suspended For Carrying Unlicensed Pop Tart: Update

Did you feel it? The latest lurch towards insanity happened in Baltimore, where seven-year-old Josh Welch was suspended from school for eating a Pop Tart. Turns out he bit off…

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.…

Statistics

Science Can Tell If You’re A Racist Just By Looking At You

George Carlin used to advise those who wanted to avoid jury duty to tell the judge, "Don't worry about me, your honor. I can tell guilty people---<snap!>---just like that!" We…

Statistics

The Second & Third Most Depressing Graphs: The Encroachment Of Government

Update This stays top for today because we're still waiting for some regulars to chime in and because I'm busy. Here is federal government spending as a fraction of the…

Culture Statistics

The Most Depressing Graph: Per Capita Federal Spending Rises Alarmingly: Update

There is no more saddening picture of the progress of government than this one (the second & third most depressing graphs are here): This is the amount of money the…

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:…

Fun Statistics

Science Proves Farting On Airplanes, Exposing Buttocks To Sun Healthy

According to the latest in medical science, I sat next or near to an exceptionally healthy individual on my last flight. My keen olfactory senses alerted me that a fellow…

Johnno on The Consent FallacyJanuary 7, 2026
Briggs, you FOOL! Even though I consented to reading this article by clicking on it, I have had regret and…
Johnno on Register Your Predictions For 2026!January 7, 2026
Alright, time to spread out the money... 1. EASY WEATHER PREDICTION: - A.I. and Cloud Data Centers continue to sky-rocket…
John Pate on The Consent FallacyJanuary 7, 2026
When I become King of England (I am no doubt the descendant of one of the bastard sons of Edward…
Uncle Mike on The Consent FallacyJanuary 7, 2026
Right and wrong are not "guidelines". Goodness, Truth, Beauty, and Love are ideals. We all fall short, the Law falls…
Brian (bulaoren) on The Consent FallacyJanuary 7, 2026
A few days ago, I watched. a re-run of "Leave it to Beaver". In it, Beaver felt quite humiliated when…

William M. Briggs

Class 75: A Gentle Introduction To Time Series

The Consent Fallacy

On Laws Banning Hacking Women’s Genitals & Imposing Beliefs

Register Your Predictions For 2026!

Happy New Year!

How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?

Why The Drake Equation Fails

Canada Invents New Euphemism For Doctor Killings

Merry Christmas!

Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By Science

Why British & EU Rulers Are Juicing War With Russia

Climate Models

Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?

No Class: But Here’s Some Homework

On The Form Of Species: ‘Dance To The Tune Of Life’ by Denis Noble Reviewed

How To Tell How Much Of “IQ” Is Inherited & How Much Is Environment

Class 74: Contra Effect Sizes

Academic Argues For Permissibility of Cannibalism, You Racist

I Finally Read James Lindsay’s Manifesto (Yes, He Has A Manifesto)

The Biggest Mistake In Science Applied To Universe As Simulation

Class 73: How To Tell If You Have Bad Dice

Class 75: A Gentle Introduction To Time Series

The Consent Fallacy

7-Year-Old Suspended For Carrying Unlicensed Pop Tart: Update

What Day Most Changed History?

On Dowsing—Guest Post by Ray Kidd

Science Can Tell If You’re A Racist Just By Looking At You

The Second & Third Most Depressing Graphs: The Encroachment Of Government

The Most Depressing Graph: Per Capita Federal Spending Rises Alarmingly: Update

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

Science Proves Farting On Airplanes, Exposing Buttocks To Sun Healthy

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