April 2015 – Page 3 – William M. Briggs

Space’s 10 Mistakes People Make When Arguing Science

Reader Ken pointed us to Space.com's click-me-click-me! article "The 10 Mistakes People Make When Arguing Science". Since everybody loves numbered lists, I'll duplicate their efforts here, using their mistakes. Isn't…

Culture Philosophy

On Remaining Quiet In Time Of War

Those who are unwilling to hold this is true will be subject to those who will. Those who cannot defend their beliefs must accept the rule of those who do.…

Philosophy SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: God’s Understanding Is His Essence

See the first post in this series for an explanation and guide of our tour of Summa Contra Gentiles. All posts are under the category SAMT. Previous post. We're entering…

Philosophy

The Miracles-Don’t-Exist-So-Miracles-Don’t-Exist Argument

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=69&v=0d4FHHf00pY Say something nice: the Miracles-Don't-Exist-So-Miracles-Don't-Exist argument is conditionally true. If miracles are impossible, miracles, it follows logically, don't happen. No escaping the iron cladedness of that (you heard me:…

Fun Statistics

Masters Statistics & (Some) Predictions

Here's a view of the winning scores from par since the inception of the tournament. The early years saw little variability, but since the 60s there were a lot more…

Statistics

P-Value Hacking Is Finally Being Noticed

Since I'm on the road, all typos today are free of charge. Some reasonably good news to report. A peer-reviewed paper: "The fickle P value generates irreproducible results" by Lewis…

Fun

Discuss

I'm on the road---and in a chair.

Statistics

What Evidence Would Persuade You That Man-Made Climate Change Is Real?

Somebody named Ronald Bailey (he isn't anybody I know) at the inaptly named Reason asked the good question which heads this post. Second thought: the question is awful. No scientist…

Brian (bulaoren) on Climate ModelsDecember 22, 2025
As of today; Dec 22, days will be getting longer. Does that count (as climate change)?
Max Lybbert on Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?December 22, 2025
It actually came closer to a fair game than I expected. But as long as there’s a vig, it’s only…
Briggs on Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?December 20, 2025
Dixon, Say. I have a marvelous idea. Can you guess what is it?
Dixon E Duval on Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?December 20, 2025
Briggs was such a power house 20 -25 years ago and it is disappointing to see his present day email…
hudbwu on On The Form Of Species: ‘Dance To The Tune Of Life’ by Denis Noble ReviewedDecember 17, 2025
Funny, many decades ago I wondered why do males exist. As in, why waste 50% of a species' total biomass…