Briggs

Finitism, Physics, Cellular Automata: The Universe as Logic

In no way is this article meant to be complete. It is more in the way of musings---a crude introduction---so that we can see where to go. Is the universe…

Philosophy Statistics

Postmodernism and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science

Since I am, by nature, a compassionate individual, I had been thinking of how we might Sokal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). It is for their…

Statistics

Feigned Surprises of the Week: Journolist and Our New Tax

Said the main-stream journalist on Journolist, "If they of the right wing don't behave and treat our Golden Boy properly, we'll call them racists. It matters not whom we pick…

Fun Statistics

A Bust—I mean must—Read; Or, An Evolution in Bra Sizes

"Excuse me, miss. Would you care to participate in science?" Sometimes being a statistician is enviable. In a flash of scientific brilliance, Australian statisticians have just completed a massive study…

Fun Statistics

M. Night Shyamalan, Mel Gibson, and John Wayne

Part II of the Two-Envelope problem was not too friendly, so here's something that is. Via HotAir, I came across the site Marginal Revolution, in which was featured a graph…

Philosophy Statistics

The Two-Envelope Problem Solution: Part II

Read Part I first. We are in the peek first game here. The distribution of N When X is odd, and all X are discrete, we know we should always…

Philosophy Statistics

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…

Ray on Science Is Becoming FeelingsNovember 12, 2026
Remember the old song by Morris Albert? Feelings Nothing more than feelings Trying to forget my Feelings of love ETC.
John M on Pre-Order Everything You Believe Is Wrong (2nd edition)November 11, 2026
Yes, Happy Veterans Day from Petty Officer First Class John. I look forward to the book! I enjoyed the first.
Bill Hankel on Pre-Order Everything You Believe Is Wrong (2nd edition)November 11, 2026
An impressive list that I shall look forward to reading when my wife (or son) buys it for me for…
Brian (bulaoren) on Pre-Order Everything You Believe Is Wrong (2nd edition)November 11, 2026
Yes, time to stock up on necessities.
Cary Cotterman on Science Is Becoming FeelingsNovember 9, 2026
I'm still laughing about "Debolina".