Statistics – Page 198 – William M. Briggs

Best Picture Oscar Winner: Model Prediction

For several years I have been predicting (with perfect accuracy) the best picture Oscar. (See this and this for past years.) The "model" pick for this year is Captain Phillips.…

Philosophy Statistics

Why You Should Care About The Philosophy Of Probability & Statistics

"Why, Dr Briggs," asks the earnest Student, "Why must we study all this gobbledegook about philosophy when it's more important to learn all the neat methods of handling data? Why…

Statistics

Update On The On-line Probability & Statistics Course. Comments Wanted

It's been a while, but I think I've finally figured out how to make an on-line class work. Details about this will be forthcoming, but for now I wanted to…

Culture Statistics

Prosecute Global Warming Heretics. Update 2: Kill, Nuremberg Them, Too!

Prosecute the heretics! is the new cry from the high priests of global warming. Climate "deniers", they say, are no better than mobsters, good fellas who are extorting the climate,…

Philosophy Statistics

The Mysticism Of Randomness: Philosophy of Probability & Statistics Video Series

Nothing can be caused by "chance". Chance, like randomness, isn't a thing, it isn't real, it isn't physical, therefore it cannot cause anything. Randomness means "unknown." Therefore "random variables" are…

Statistics

Researchers Claim Gays Who Face Prejudice Live Shorter Lives

The Daily Mail reported it like this: "Gay people who face regular homophobic abuse have a shorter life expectancy than those who live in more tolerant communities." Homophobic abuse, they…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Scientists: Moral Traits Considered Most Essential Part Of Identity

Answer me this. You're on the job and the fancy iH20 cooler (with remote iPhone app) blows and shoots a bolt through your skull. The doctors say removing the bolt…

Philosophy Statistics

What Statistics Really Is: Part Last

Read Part I, Part Paradox, Part II Recapitulation: we have Pr(p|qm) where p is a proposition of interest, q the evidence we have compiled in the form of observations and…

Jim Fedako on In Which An Atheist Becomes Sputteringly Angry Over Theist’s ArgumentNovember 11, 2025
Some may say he hypostatizes science. I say the opposite. Though I speak at length with science, it has never…
Cary D Cotterman on In Which An Atheist Becomes Sputteringly Angry Over Theist’s ArgumentNovember 11, 2025
I promise to believe in God when I see God. I don't think I deserve eternal burning agony for that.…
Uncle Mike on In Which An Atheist Becomes Sputteringly Angry Over Theist’s ArgumentNovember 11, 2025
I've long favored the "What you see is what you get" argument. Because the more we look what we see…
Leonard on In Which An Atheist Becomes Sputteringly Angry Over Theist’s ArgumentNovember 11, 2025
But who in their right mind turns to The Atlantic for scientific discussion??
Cary D Cotterman on Academics Debate Which Term Best Describes Those Who Love (in that way) Their PillowsNovember 10, 2025
Nuking seems like such an architectural waste. Would it be possible to just quickly and cleanly eliminate university-infesting life forms,…