William M. Briggs

“Bring Who Did It To Justice” and Other News Words I Hate

Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-American, who, preliminary reports indicate, is not a member of the Tea Party, has been arrested in connection with the Times Square bombing. Officials think that either…

Culture

Goodbye Ownership & Privacy: Apple, Amazon, the Government Have Your Numbers

Brian Hogan, 21, of Redwood City, California found a prototype Apple iPhone 4G accidentally left in a German Beer garden by a (soused?) Apple employee. Hogan recognized the phone for…

Philosophy Statistics

The Truth of Things: When Probability & Statistics Cannot Be Used

I am always struggling with (my limited ability of) finding ways to describe the philosophy behind logical probability, especially to people who have a difficult time unlearning classical frequentist theory.…

Fun Statistics

Poem Code Challenge Solution

Back in September we surrendered to our geek roots and described poem codes. These are a handy method of enciphering short messages in the absence of electronic equipment. A poem…

Philosophy Statistics

Is Experimental Economics Irrational?

Everybody knows there's no such thing as money. So how come everybody acts like it's real? In particular, why do economists and other similar creatures find the lack of "rationality"…

Statistics

My Answers to Willis Eschenbach’s 14 + 2 Questions

Repost Mr Eschenbach had not had the chance to respond to this article before the two weeks wherein comments are automatically closed have elapsed. This re-post will allow him, and…

Culture

Pajamas Media: The VAT Man Cometh: It Will Happen. How Bad Is It?

Today's post is at Pajamas Media: "The VAT Man Cometh: It Will Happen. How Bad Is It?" I have a ghost of an old song---big band days---hiding in the back…

Statistics

What Can Volcanic Dust Models Tell Us About Cap & Trade?

Say Eyjafjallajokull three times fast. I wish I could say it once. I've heard it in so many different forms since it blew its stack that I can't be sure…

tired citizen on The Various Solutions To Black Crime AnalyzedSeptember 16, 2025
Other than complete separation - which Mr. Briggs astutely points out will never happen, there is no solution. They are…
NLR on On The Myths Of ScientismSeptember 15, 2025
That was a good article by Grothendieck. I'm glad he mentioned so-called progress as one of the problems of scientism.…
Uncle Mike on On The Myths Of ScientismSeptember 15, 2025
I think I may be channeling Grothendeick but without the genius part. Or turning into him like Kafka's caterpillar. What…
John Pate on On The Myths Of ScientismSeptember 15, 2025
I'm considering that adopting flat Earth as my model is the way forward, as an antidote to all this nonsense…
McChuck on The Various Solutions To Black Crime AnalyzedSeptember 13, 2025
@John - If you don't know already, you haven't been paying attention for, oh, your entire life. But you probably…

William M. Briggs

On The Myths Of Scientism

Use The Tools The Left Created Against Them

The Various Solutions To Black Crime Analyzed

The False Expectation Of Permanence

Astonishing Climate Change Predictions!

Class 64: No Confidence (Interval) In Parameters

What Are The Chances 6 AfD Candidates Die Before An Election?

Funniest Thing To Happen In Science In Years

Pray For The Downfall, Ruin, Confusion & Conversion Of The Doctors & Experts Causing Transanity

Class 63: My Correlation Is Causation Because My P Is Wee

The Right & Wrong Way To Do (Electromagnetic) Science: Interview With Hans G. Schantz

World Ends In 25 years! Towns Become Slaughterhouses! Peter Thiel Disguises Self As Sheep!

Deniers Refusing To Die From Climate Change Heat Waves

Class 62: Die P-value, Die! Die! Die!

Research: Solar Activity Causes High Blood Pressure

The Key Role Of Probability & Chance In Science

On The Cult Of The Victim & Why We Must Reject It

Class 61: Does This Guy Have ESP? II

Funding Increases To Foster Even More Cheating In Science

Compulsory Moral Bioenhancement Should Be Covert Says Academic Who Says Ticks Should Be Genetically Modified To Stop You Eating Meat

Lying Increases Trust In Science, Says Academic