August 2020 – William M. Briggs

Coronavirus Update XXIX: How Many Really Died? When Will Panic End?

Going a day early with the update because of the news about death counts. Also, I want everybody to pay attention: memorize the next paragraph. You hear things like this:…

SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: Capital Punishment Is Licit & Legal

Previous post. This chapter goes against the spirit of the age, which shrinks from punishment, because it does not acknowledge sin---except for the sin of acknowledging sin. THAT IT IS…

Culture

BLACK! Babies Die At White Doctors’ Hands! Wee Ps Say So

Week or two back the world was shocked to learn that white doctors were killing BLACK! babies. Not the ones that haven't escaped their mothers' wombs: that's old, and even…

Statistics

Take Your Masks Off: That’s What THE Science Says

If you're a surgeon and risk getting blood shot up your nose, or snot shot down into the open body, wear a mask. If you're a painter, working with insulation…

Philosophy

What Does It Mean To Assess Risk Wrong? Coronadoom Example

There is, as de Finetti said, no such thing as probability. So there is no such thing as risk, either, since risk relies upon probability. If there is no such…

Statistics

Coronavirus Update XXVIII: fear, Fear, FEAR!

Eeeeeeek! What are you afraid of? From Italy: "The president of the Italian Society of Anti-infection Therapy (SITA) said Thursday that over 90 percent of new cases of coronavirus in…

Philosophy

Academics Demand Mandatory Chemical Moral Bioenhancement To Make You More Compliant To Coronadoom Restrictions

The New Mandatory Druggings: Background We've heard a lot over the past decade from ethicists (so-called) and scientists (don't laugh) who aren't satisfied with human nature, they are not satisfied…

SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: Sin Causes Pain

Previous post. The punishments for sin aren't always immediate or obvious, but they're always there. THAT SINS ARE PUNISHED ALSO BY THE EXPERIENCE OF SOMETHING PAINFUL 1 Those who sin…

spaceranger on Impossible LSAT Statistics QuestionFebruary 4, 2026
I usually go with "b." or "Asia" on those multiple choice ones.
Cary D Cotterman on Polar Bears Are Doing Fine: Activists, Not So WellFebruary 4, 2026
Polar bears have existed for at least half a million years, and possibly as long as a million. They have…
Brian (bulaoren) on Polar Bears Are Doing Fine: Activists, Not So WellFebruary 4, 2026
Dr. Briggs I was afraid I'd hijacked your subject today with my, rather dark, "Walter Lantz" cartoon. Returning to your…
Brian (bulaoren) on Polar Bears Are Doing Fine: Activists, Not So WellFebruary 4, 2026
While we're on the subject of "Ursus Maritimus"; In 1987, a group of amusement denied boys decided to make an…
hudbwu on Impossible LSAT Statistics QuestionFebruary 3, 2026
> But that’s because the setup is itself weird. It contains the implicit premise that more beliefs equals better survival,…