2008 – Page 29 – William M. Briggs

An unfortunate loss of a good joke: leftist thinking finally overtakes math parody

There was an old, and sadly funny joke about the Evolution of Math Quizzes that went like this: 1960s A logger cuts and sells a truckload of lumber for $100.…

Statistics

Don Imus sidekick makes a point with a failed joke

Just heard Don Imus, who was attempting to explain why he wasn't being sarcastic when he said "At least [George Bush] did something right" because we have not been attacked…

Statistics

A safe, but misleading, prediction about global warming

Reuters's, on 3 January, had this headline, "2008 to be in top 10 warmest years say forecasters." A quote: 2008 will be slightly cooler than recent years globally but will…

Statistics

Asinine comparison of holocaust deniers and honest scientists

Some guy named Joel Connelly at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has written another one of those "We must do something now" global warming articles. What makes his piece distinct is that…

Philosophy

Mr. Word’s definition of the day: to change

"To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance." --…

Statistics

How much does winning Iowa and New Hampshire help?

On the earlier poll thread, a reader asked "What's your opinion about the statistical summary of past results of Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries?" pointing out data from Neatorama.com.…

Fun

Mr. Word’s definition of the day: to gush

"To make a sentimental or untimely exhibition of affection; to display enthusiasm in a silly, demonstrative manner." -- Webster, 1913. For example, this snippet from today's New York Times editorial.…

Statistics

73.2% of Likely Voters Believe Poll Results

Pollster: Who will you vote for? Civilian: Oh, I don't know; that guy, the tall one. Pollster: I'll put you down for Obama. The elections in Iowa are over and…

Rich on Math Is Epistemic Violence, Says Lady AcademicJune 18, 2026
Perhaps she and her friends would accept being paid according to the indigenous mathematics of crows who can, apparently, count…
Cary D Cotterman on Math Is Epistemic Violence, Says Lady AcademicJune 17, 2026
Lunatics like this Kather are well-paid and get great benefits for putting out hooey like that. People pay a lot…
Brian (bulaoren) on Math Is Epistemic Violence, Says Lady AcademicJune 17, 2026
Back in the early 1990s, a talking Barbie doll offended a lot of feminists by saying "math class is hard".…
Uncle Mike on Math Is Epistemic Violence, Says Lady AcademicJune 17, 2026
Hahahaha! Well done. Especially the YT video wherein you can't stop laughing. Me either. It's tragicomic. Old karens, childless, worn…
NLR on Math Is Epistemic Violence, Says Lady AcademicJune 17, 2026
The real issue with this is that it is an attempted justification for the studies departments to take over other…