Category Archives: Science

RUBE GOLDBERG LIVES.

RUBE GOLDBERG LIVES. Robert Crease had a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about the pleasure he and his son have had over the years at the FAT (Friday After Thanksgiving) Chain Reaction at MIT. The contest participants are … Continue reading

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BREAST SELF EXAMINATION AND BAYESIAN STATISTICS.

BREAST SELF EXAMINATION AND BAYESIAN STATISTICS. I posted here on the major split between two schools of statisticians and wrote: “In conducting a statistical test, one grouping (‘Bayesians’) wants to include independent knowledge and beliefs; the other wants to start … Continue reading

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FEYNMAN ON ELIMINATING ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS.

FEYNMAN ON ELIMINATING ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS. It seems apparent to me that there are a variety of factors which might affect the jam experiment (for example, is choosing among jams different from choosing hamburgers or cars?). Circumstances surrounding choices are very … Continue reading

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UTOPIA AND THANKSGIVING.

UTOPIA AND THANKSGIVING. We are an idealistic people, given to dreams of Utopia and devoted to progress and conscious of how far we fall short of our aspirations. It’s good that we have one day a year devoted to pausing … Continue reading

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THE STANDUP SCIENTIST.

THE STANDUP SCIENTIST. I posted here about an economist who is a standup comic. A friend kindly sent me this link to a YouTube of a scientist doing standup comedy. It’s also educational. I found the first joke (“A virus … Continue reading

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WHY DOCTORS AND BANKERS DRESS CONSERVATIVELY.

WHY DOCTORS AND BANKERS DRESS CONSERVATIVELY. Years ago, in my introductory economics class, Meyer Burstein observed that doctors and bankers tend to dress conservatively to distract attention from the fact that their professions dealt with large risks on a regular … Continue reading

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DOCTORS’ NECKTIES AND BAYESIAN STATISTICS.

DOCTORS’ NECKTIES AND BAYESIAN STATISTICS. Rebecca Smith has an article in the Wall Street Journal (November 19, 2009) about the controversy over whether doctors should be allowed to wear neckties. Rebecca Smith reports that American Medical Association Resolution 720 advocates … Continue reading

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ANOTHER RELATIVE IN OLD CHICAGO.

ANOTHER RELATIVE IN OLD CHICAGO. I have posted here and here about how my relative Matthew Schaefer was directing the fire crews during the Chicago Fire and how we had a drinking glass which was the only family belonging which … Continue reading

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A FUTURES MARKET FOR SWINE FLU.

A FUTURES MARKET FOR SWINE FLU. In THE WISDOM OF CROWDS, James Surowiecki tells the story about how a group of experts was formed to advise on the location on the ocean floor of a sunken submarine. The average of … Continue reading

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“HYPEROPIA.”

“HYPEROPIA.” I have posted (for example, here) about the problems that people have in deferring gratification. But I also posted here about my brother Elmer’s insight of forty years ago that one can store up happy memories and that students … Continue reading

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