October is almost upon us, which means that we’ve been subjected to a bunch of long segments on Mike & Mike about baseball. These serve to remind me just how little use I have for baseball, and baseball statistics. I’ve long thought that baseball fans are stat-obsessed dorks, but my opinion changed somewhat when I… Continue reading Baseball Statistics Are Crap
Author: Chad Orzel
Getting Through the Debates
At the time of this writing, it’s still not clear whether the scheduled presidential debate will take place this evening. If you’d like to be prepared, just in case, here are a couple of links that might help you get through it: FreePress.net is offering a “Rate the Debates” service, where you can sign up… Continue reading Getting Through the Debates
links for 2008-09-26
Good Math, Bad Math : How Mortgages Turned into a Trillion Dollar Disaster "The question is, if mortgages are at the root of the current economic disaster, how can it possibly result in close to a trillion dollars worth of losses?" (tags: US politics humanities math diversity stupid) Easily Distracted » Blog Archive » Trade… Continue reading links for 2008-09-26
Alumni News Update
At my 15th class reunion this past June, I agreed to become the class secretary for the next few years, writing up little news updates for the Cult of the Purple Cow Quarterly, so my classmates can read about the achievements of their fellows. In that spirit, I feel I should note an accolade that… Continue reading Alumni News Update
Science Bailout Needed
In email this morning from the American Physical Society, a call for a financial bailout: Congress has not passed any FY 2009 appropriations bills and is now finalizing a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will keep the government operating when the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2008. The House is expected to consider the… Continue reading Science Bailout Needed
Thursday Baby Blogging 092508
Behold, the incredible expanding baby: The “Smart Cookie” onesie she’s wearing was also featured in the Week 4 picture, and now, it basically doesn’t fit her any more (it’s not fully buttoned under the blanket). We’ve already had to retire a couple of boxes of little-baby clothes, and she never did get to wear some… Continue reading Thursday Baby Blogging 092508
links for 2008-09-25
Dynamics of Cats : how to buy a house A first-order approximation. (tags: economics society US politics) Good Math, Bad Math : Bad Probability and Economic Disaster; or How Ignoring Bayes Theorem Caused the Mess "One of the big questions that comes up again and again is: how did they get away with this? How… Continue reading links for 2008-09-25
Everything is Relative in the Magic Closet
The dog marches up to my computer as I’m checking my morning email. “What the heck is the deal with relativity?!?” “Well, good morning to you, too. How are you this fine morning?” “I’m fine, but I’m confused about relativity.” Sarcasm is totally lost on her. “What are you confused about?” “Well, you’ve got Special… Continue reading Everything is Relative in the Magic Closet
Earth Saved Until Next Year
So, the LHC has been shut down until next year, after a major helium leak in on section. This means it will be March or April of next year before collisions in the ATLAS detector create dragons that will eat us all. Now you know why I didn’t make a big deal of the “start-up”… Continue reading Earth Saved Until Next Year
links for 2008-09-24
Playing the odds at the LHC: the luminosity frontier « Shores of the Dirac Sea "The chances (odds) of one proton hitting another in such tight conditions… are almost as bad as having to win a lottery three times in a row." (tags: physics particles science blogs education math) The Best of YouTube – bestofyoutube.com… Continue reading links for 2008-09-24