Posted inBook review Philosophy Statistics
On Truly Random Numbers
Party trick for you. I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 4. Can you guess it? Two? Nope. Three? Nope. And not one or four either. I know what…
Posted inStatistics
The Letter The Lancet Wouldn’t Publish
Here's the title of a big new peer-reviewed paper in The Lancet: Effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on natural-cause mortality: an analysis of 22 European cohorts within the…
Posted inStatistics
Live From Heartland Climate Conference, Wrap Up
Profound thanks I cannot say enough about the generosity of my benefactor, who not only footed the bill for my trip, but wined and dined and rummed our Secret Society…
Posted inStatistics
Live From Heartland Climate Conference, Day Two
What happened to Day One? If I find out, you'll be the first to know. Through the extreme generosity of one of us, I'm here in Las Vegas at Heartland's…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Evolution Under Fixed Constraints; Or, Why Random Changes Don’t Cut It
See if this analogy makes sense. A ramp onto which you loose a ball, which can roll down and fall into one of three slots. The configuration is such that…
Posted inCulture Philosophy Statistics
Do You Believe In Global Warming Because Of The Seriousness Of The Charges?
An activist tells you, "Based on my theory of rampant, out-of-control global warming, otters, driven mad by the heat, will take to the streets and destroy mankind, just like apes…
Posted inStatistics
Class Report: How Not To Teach Statistics
It's over. Two solid weeks of 9 to 5 to 9 and beyond statistics. Plus a few cocktails and cookouts and camaraderie. I'm exhausted. The students are mostly later early…
Posted inCulture Statistics
Casual Sex Is Good for You, Says New Biased Study
In a ridiculously biased "study", a researcher has shown that some college students who self-select to participate in a study of "causal" sex and who say they like having "casual"…