Books

Books that I have written.

pyndamics3

Dynamical systems simulation in Python. Includes both continuous and stochastic simulation.

Stats for Everyone

An introductory stats book from a Bayesian perspective, including Python software.

Blog

default

Statistics vs Probability

It's been a while since my last post, and I hope to get back into regularly posting, now that the semester is starting.  I'm also testing out new posting tools …

#wordpress_migration

default

Presuppositionalist arguments

Introduction

If you want some entertainment in the form of logical gymnastics, go to this page on the proof of god. If you're impatient, here is one of the arguments …

#wordpress_migration

default

Lessons From Bayes' Rule

I was thinking of some of the not-so-mathematical lessons we learn from Bayes' Rule.  I'd like to include actual examples for each, and how it maps onto the various pieces …

#wordpress_migration

default

Suppression of Ideas in Science

Video About Cold Fusion

This is very typical of "science" that doesn't work. You get a group of devout people supporting it who claim that the scientific establishment is unfair …

#wordpress_migration

default

Free Will and Entropy

In Sam Harris’ talk on free will, we have the following comment:

“if we caught a serial killer, we’d assume his responsibility because of his ability to have chosen …

#wordpress_migration

default

On Being Wrong

I tell my students that I supremely hope that they have the experience of one of their cherished ideas shown to be wrong. I was recently confronted with a perception …

#wordpress_migration

default

What is good in religion

I was asked recently if I thought there was anything good about religion. I felt it was an important enough question to give it a fair amount of thought. Coincidentally …

#wordpress_migration

default

Santa and other delusions

Given how I seem to support no delusions, how can I justify perpetuating the myth of Santa Claus with my kids (oldest nearing 10)? First, I have to say I …

#wordpress_migration

default

Einstein and the Motives of Scientists

I just got a [shout out from The Legal Watchdog, Michael Cicchini][] for a post I did on [dark matter and the speed of light][]. His response to my criticism …

#wordpress_migration

default

The Bible Foreshadows Scientific Discoveries?

Here is an interesting site ["The Bible Foreshadows Scientific Discoveries"][] where there are quotes from the Bible that supposedly pre-dated the actual scientific discoveries. It is interesting for the number …

#wordpress_migration

default

Closed to the supernatural?

I have often heard the charge that critics of the concept of God are simply closed to the possibility of a transcendent being, or of miracles, or of the supernatural …

#wordpress_migration

default

Presuppositionalism vs evidentialism

These two terms that I had never heard before came up when listening to some Christian apologetic podcasts (specifically Please Convince Me and Stand to Reason). There seems to be …

#wordpress_migration

default

More fine tuning...NOT

One of the so-called fine-tuned parameters in our solar system (fine-tuned specifically for the development of complex life) is that we have a planet with a large moon (compared to …

#wordpress_migration

default

Things science can't explain

During a debate on evolution and design, Professor Edgar Andrews from Queen Mary College London stated that there were four things that science could never explain. He pointed out that …

#wordpress_migration

default

Conversation with Steve Winsor

From: Steven Winsor Subject: FW: Remember This Guy? - Genius! Date: November 30, 2011 10:20:43 AM EST To: Brian Blais

See last Reagan comment..is he right? J

Not …

#wordpress_migration

default

What's wrong with this?

So I was asked recently "what was wrong with someone who, because of their religious convictions, chooses not to participate in scientific research (the example used was nuclear bomb research …

#wordpress_migration