Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Randomness is a Matter of Information
How many pads of paper do I have on my desk right now? How many books are on my shelves this minute? You don't know the answer to any of…
Posted inCulture
The Share of Income Taxes by Rich and Poor
We last reported on this in October, but since then the IRS has released the 2007 data, the latest available. It's tax day. Celebrate! It's still more than likely that…
Posted inFun
What’s New at WMBriggs.com
Guest posts There are a couple of guest posts in the queue, and more would be welcome. Since our readership is, by definition, highly intelligent, perceptive, and learned anything they…
Posted inCulture
Newsweek: Priests Abuse at Same Rate as Non-Priests?
Newsweek (hat tip to Hot Air) writes, "The priesthood is being cast as the refuge of pederasts. In fact, priests seem to abuse children at the same rate as everyone…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
Peer Review and Proof
Suppose that I today, below, in this post, prove to you a certain mathematics theorem, say, "The Symmetry of Individual Constants." Is that theorem true? Before you answer, consider that…
Posted inStatistics
Obama’s New Nuke Policy: Preemptive Appeasement
A horrific scenario I hope never occurs: Washington D.C. was attacked today by Country X. Agents from X unleashed a massive chemical and biological barrage. Tens of thousands lie dead…
Posted inStatistics
Short New York Real Estate Because of Global Warming?
Stevey Cohen, head of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, wants you to short New York City real estate. He doesn't actually say that---Stevey isn't a broker and his statements…
Posted inFun Statistics
There Are No Left-Handed Catchers, Pitchers Are Tall: Baseball Biometrics
No Major League team employs, on its active 25-man roster, a left-handed throwing catcher. About 9 percent of people are lefties, and 63 men in baseball are listed as catchers,…