Books
Books that I have written.
Media Appearances
Podcasts and Videos in which I have appeared or which I have created.
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.
I am a Scientist, Skeptic, and Professor at Bryant University. My goal is to make technical subject matters widely accessible and to use my analytical and computational skills to assist anyone with their science-related problems.
Blog
Gravitational Attraction
What would happen if two people out in space a few meters apart, abandoned by their spacecraft, decided to wait until gravity pulled them together? My initial thought was that …
#science
Fitting parameters in dynamics systems using lmfit with pyndamics
A while ago I wrote this little package called pyndamics which was a thin wrapper around the scipy odeint function. Since then I migrated it using nbdev to experiment with …
#programming
Bayes vs Apologetics
In this episode, David (the Graceful Atheist and I explore how Bayes theorem can structure our thinking. We bounce ideas off each other, talk about injecting information into arguments, and …
#media
A Simple Physics Problem Gets Messy
A physics problem from a practice AP test came to my attention, when my daughter was in AP physics this past spring. I went over her solutions when she did …
#science
Skepticism and Dubious Medical Procedures
In my discussion with Jonathan McLatchie on the Still Unbelievable podcast, I said that there hasn’t been a verified miracle claim even since Hume’s essay on miracles. Here I look into the papers he references in response.
#religion
Something Satisfying About Building Pelican Themes
Pelican is a Python package for developing static websites. I started out my blog with Wordpress and then toyed with Wix and Weebly. But I found I didn't like the …
#programming
Talking Bayes
In this episode, Andrew and Matthew invite me back to talk about Bayes, what it is and how to apply it. We explore the structure of Bayes, when it can …
#media
Jonathan and Brian in conversation
Matthew hosts a conversation between myself and Jonathan McLatchie to further the conversation on why Jonathan is confident that the resurrection of Jesus can be accepted as an historical event …
#media
Advocating for Bayesian Inference
In this episode I discuss my approach to teaching statistical inference including taking the Bayesian approach first instead of delegating it to an advanced or elective topic. We talk about …
#media
Common Python Pattern - Building Up Lists To Plot
I find that a common pattern I implement again and again in Python is to build up a list (or multiple lists) in a loop and turn them into arrays …
#programming
What is Panpsychism?
In this episode, Andrew and Matthew invite myself and Prof. Philip Goff to discuss Panpsychism. What is it, why should we take it seriously and can we test it? I …
#media
Becoming Superman - a review
I find it hard to overestimate the positive effect J. Michael Straczynski (or jms) has had on me. My first introduction to him was in the TV series Babylon 5 …
#articles
Probability of the Resurrection Discussion through Calculation
In a recent discussion about the use of probability in a religious context I saw another poor job of a calculation of the Resurrection (I had read several others that …
#religion
Unbelievable? Is faith about belief or trust? And why does it matter? Travis Dickinson with Brian Blais
In this discussion/debate, I talk with Travis Dickinson about the concept of faith. Travis is the author of "Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel" and says …
#media
A Measure of Faith - Probability in Religious Thought
From the trivial to the monumental our decisions are governed by – or should be governed by – rational thought. This book explores the role of rational thought as described by the …
#books
Probability - It's Not Just about the Math
When I first learned probability, I thought it was all about math and counting. Then E. T. Jaynes showed me that probability forms the foundation of rationality itself. Remarkably very …
#math
Why Christian Apologetics is Faulty Science and Faulty History
In this episode I join Andrew and Matthew to discuss The Fine Tuning Argument, The Second Law of Thermodynamics, contingency, evidence for the Christian claim of a historical resurrection of …
#media
Useful Fictions
People who externalize the creative influence with a genie or muse easily explain why they can be amazingly creative at one moment and be stuck in the next — the muse simply is not there. Given that humans are inherently story-driven beings there is some value in the short-hand of describing this "other" as an external agent, an effect outside of our immediate control.
#articles
An Interesting Twist on the Gambler's Fallacy
I was reminded of the Gambler's Fallacy in a recent post by Stephen Novella and thought of a twist on the fallacy that makes it a bit more subtle. The …
#math
Book Review - "Unbelievable?" by Justin Brierley
Structure of the Review
As I finished this review it became apparent that there are two main audiences for what I wrote - those that have yet to read the book …
#religion
If at first you don't succeed (for 50 times) you might reconsider
Here's a straightforward problem from Quora - probably found in a textbook - but I try to find a new direction to make it more interesting.
If there is a 25% chance …
#math