William M. Briggs

The Predictive Skills of Octopii: Paul’s World Cup Prognostications

In Detroit, for that glorious game of soccer-on-ice-with-sticks, we---I still say "we"; you can never separate yourself from your birthplace---know what to do with octopuses, octopii as were: We toss…

Culture

Students Studying Less: Shocking Report

A new campus joke: "Dude, she was all like, 'What's that building? It's, like, so big.' And I go, 'That's the library. There's like so many books." Ha ha ha…

Philosophy Statistics

Symmetry, Priors, Logical Probability, Infinities, and Needless Paradoxes

One reason why some reject the notions of logical probability and Bayesian statistics is because it is said that assignments of probability under symmetry generate paradoxes. However, as I will…

Statistics

Lady Wins Fourth Lottery: What Are the Odds?

I'm in the wild blue yonder today; so here is a distraction. Thanks to reader Jade for suggesting the topic. Nobody can scratch better than Las Vegas resident Joan Ginther,…

Statistics

Consensus Members Agree To Agree: Breaking Story

The agreement amongst climatologists who agree that mankind will cause devastating climate change is popularly known as "The Consensus." Those who agree with the consensus are part of the consensus;…

Fun Statistics

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: Kobayahsi Arrested! Records and Statistics

Sonna no uso da! Fuzakeruna yo! Were those the words of ex-champ Takeru Kobayahsi as he brazenly stormed the stage at the ninety-fifth annual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest yesterday?…

Fun Statistics

World Cup Statistics and Predictions for the Final

A prediction (made on Monday, 28 June) verified: Although---and this has nothing to do with the issue at hand---Argentina's goaltender Sergio Romero stinks, and that's putting it nicely. Every shot…

Statistics

FBI Homicide Statistics: What Are You Most Likely To Be Killed With?

It's the start of a long weekend and the time for a diversion. It's the fourth of July weekend and our lesson is: if you older than 50, beware strangers…

John Pate on The Dysgenics Of IVFNovember 15, 2025
The technocrats are unconcerned: they claim they can fix it all via gene editing, or maybe embryo selection, but anyway…
John Pate on Why Study Probability?November 15, 2025
Try a different Aunt Sally, Eschenbach: an actual physical dice is an object that can be examined and measured to…
Uncle Mike on Why Study Probability?November 14, 2025
The answer is a question: what did you expect the counts to be? On what premises did you base your…
JH on Why Study Probability?November 14, 2025
Then some decision rule that says “This much departure from uniformity means loading.” Which rule may be different for you…
Williis Eschenbach on Why Study Probability?November 13, 2025
Thanks, Matt, but you haven't answered my question, either then or now. The last time I asked, I got this…

William M. Briggs

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!

Changes Are Coming: Our Return to 1970s

Class 70: Most Claims Of “Controlled For” Are Wrong: The Right Way

The Triumph Of The Feminine

At What Point Does Transsexualism Become A Conservative Value?

The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had

Class 69: Why Parameters Don’t Exist

Putin, Xi Who Must Obeyed, Occult Rituals & Living Forever

Nobody Believes Anything Based On “No Evidence”

Good Vs Bad Science (Models) & How You Can Tell The Difference: Think Twice Science

Class 68: The Philosophy Of Models (Regression): The WRONG Way

Why Study Probability?

The Dysgenics Of IVF

The Predictive Skills of Octopii: Paul’s World Cup Prognostications

Students Studying Less: Shocking Report

Symmetry, Priors, Logical Probability, Infinities, and Needless Paradoxes

Lady Wins Fourth Lottery: What Are the Odds?

Consensus Members Agree To Agree: Breaking Story

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: Kobayahsi Arrested! Records and Statistics

World Cup Statistics and Predictions for the Final

FBI Homicide Statistics: What Are You Most Likely To Be Killed With?

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