Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
The I-Have-Big-Muscles Fallacy
Harvard graduate walks down the street where a 50-lb sack of cement blocks his way. He reaches down to shift it but discovers that despite all his might the bulk…
Posted inCulture
Orlando Shooting — Open Thread
Today is the first day of class; I originally had another post scheduled, but since I thought readers would like to discuss recent events, and I haven't had time to…
Posted inCulture
Melody May Be A Learned Response?
Received this email from reader Don Siegel: Greetings. Vis a vis how music is getting worse---I'm a prof at Syr. Univ (Earth Sciences) but also lately, a solo jazz guitarist…
Posted inFun
Consider The Hand — Guest Post by the Blonde Blombshell
Editor's note As I prepare for class this weekend, I have some guest posts and reader's questions prepared for us. The poor hands of the modern person are becoming nothing…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
A Brief Explanation Of Occam’s Razor
We're interested in whether some proposition Y is true. One explanation, perhaps causal or deterministic, or even only probabilistic, is X. Thus, Pr(Y | X) is high or equals 1.…
Posted inCulture
Stream: California Tried To Make Global Warming Skepticism Illegal
Today's post is at The Stream: California To Make Global Warming Skepticism Illegal. "All right, Briggsy. We know you're in there! Throw out your notes on improved cloud parameterizations in…
Posted inCulture
Rampant Harassment by Atheists Expected At Reason Rally 2016
The Angry Atheists are meeting today, this time in DC, and evidently they're expecting an uppity crowd, because their Code of Conduct for Reason Rally warns of a host of…
Posted inCulture Philosophy
Animals Aren’t Men, Even If Government Says So
I once saw, with mine own eyes, a squirrel steal an acorn from a second squirrel. This shouldn't be surprising; squirrels are career criminals and everybody knows it. Think of…