Briggs

The Two-Envelope Problem Solution: Part I

Another probability "paradox", the two-envelope problem1, goes like this: Before you are two envelopes, A and B. One of them contains $X and the other $2X (which is equivalent to…

Culture Fun

Four Chords Is All You Need: The Limited Nature of Pop Music

Coming tomorrow: the infamous two-envelope problem, solved! More mathematical constructivism. But today, as it's Sunday, something light and airy...and non taxing. A "comedy rock" group which bills itself as the…

Statistics

St Petersburg Paradox; Games and Statistical Decisions; RIP David Blackwell

David Blackwell, who died two weeks ago, was one of the first mainstream statisticians to "go Bayesian." And for that and his unique skill in clearly explaining difficult ideas, we…

Statistics

How to Fool Yourself—And Others—With Statistics

See the news box to the left. I wrote this long ago and never used it. I do not love it. But since I am so busy, I haven't the…

Statistics

US Military Fatality Statistics: Have Suicides Increased?

All statistics were gathered from this DOD site. 2010 numbers were current as of 5 June this year; they were not part of the plots below. In 1983, the year…

Culture Philosophy

‘The Most Dangerous Philosopher in the West’

Extremely busy day, today. I have time for only the merest sketch of a post. The title is not mine, but a label given to Slavoj Zizek, the rock-star communist…

Culture

Paper or Plastic? Environmentalism as Public Religion

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of…

Fun Statistics

World Cup Predictions Verified

All that was missing was the water for the players to plunge into. Still, referee Howard Webb must be a fan of the aquatic and artistic sport of diving, and…

Alain Petit on Antichrist, by Saint Robert Bellarmine, ReviewedApril 16, 2026
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CNbmoVdirxw&pp=0gcJCdMKAYcqIYzv
Klara Castagna on Trump’s Last Stand: Mea Culpa, Redux — Guest Post by Ianto WattApril 16, 2026
Ianto, I luv ya man, I bought and read your book ‘The Barbarian Bible’ - everyone should buy it and…
MikeW on How A Miracle Turns MundaneApril 16, 2026
There are many ways to reconcile alleged contradictions in the Bible, including the staff issue (which is not a particularly…
C-Marie on How A Miracle Turns MundaneApril 15, 2026
"Memories flag, you see,....." , BUT the Holy Spirit does not flag at all , and He It was Who…
Brian (bulaoren) on How A Miracle Turns MundaneApril 15, 2026
Should these (percieved) inconsistencies negate the whole body of teaching? I once knew a couple who were profoundly opposed to…