Is it just me? Or…
…are you, too, getting tired of being jerked around by folks from a really bad neighborhood? Continue reading Is it just me? Or…
Category: News and politics
Not-Quite-in-Time Logistics
Writing in the Atlantic, Helen Lewis explains shortages and panic buying as a failure of efficiency; the weakness of just-in-time logistics. Sorry Helen, but you’re a logistics n00b; even this old retired Lieutenant Colonel knows about arcane loggie stuff like stock levels and re-order points (zero is NOT a good re-order point). When the military does it right, it’s called readiness (the First Gulf War was “fought off the shop floor” — we were over-prepared) When a civilian does it right, he’s called a prepper (Thanks, Covid-19, for making America a nation of preppers. It’s about time). Lewis blathers on … Continue reading Not-Quite-in-Time Logistics
Make Every Vote Count
Every semester, I begin my introductory biostatistics class with a simple “show of hands” experiment based on the Bouba-Kiki effect. Prior to the experiment I “volunteer” two students at random to count hands, and when hands are raised, each of my volunteers counts silently and independently. Invariably, the counts DO NOT MATCH. We briefly discuss the phenomenon of measurement error, and select from a set of alternatives (recounts, averaging, etc) to resolve the problem. It’s a perfect “teaching moment” that occurs spontaneously as a surprise to my students on the first day of class. I console them with the fact … Continue reading Make Every Vote Count
Confucius say “Uh oh”
The Confucius Institutes in the US are in the government’s crosshairs: President Trump is about to sign the new National Defense Authorization Act, which will prohibit funding to Chinese-run Confucius Institutes on American campuses. Texas Senator Ted Cruz added the key amendment to “The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019,” which also restricts funding to universities that host Confucius Institutes and requires them to provide a public record of any agreements or contracts they have with the program, which has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This is going to be a bit of a problem at … Continue reading Confucius say “Uh oh”
Diversity has committed the First Sin of Fashion
It’s become outmoded, pointless and boring. Continue reading Diversity has committed the First Sin of Fashion
How to stump a local politician
Just ask what his/her plan is to address unfunded pension liabilities. Turns out San Antonio pols, who pat themselves on the back for the city’s AAA bond rating, have been playing hide the ball for years (check out page 78). Continue reading How to stump a local politician
Whether to ask the question invites an answer
The Justice Department and the Census Bureau are engaged in a kerfuffle over the 2020 Census. It’s all about a question of citizenship: “What country are you a citizen of?” With the inevitable congressional reapportionment that occurs based on the Census, this is a question that many states really don’t want to know the answer to. My take: the Census Bureau has been crying poor for years now. The Trump Administration should jawbone Congress into increasing the Bureau’s funding, but only if they ASK THE QUESTION (and report the answers). Update: Now folks should really be worried. Combine citizenship data … Continue reading Whether to ask the question invites an answer
ICAN gets Nobel Peace Prize. BFD.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, another international gang of virtue signallers, has just received the Nobel Peace Prize. So far, they have motivated fewer than 50 pipsqueak countries to sign a UN treaty banning nuclear weapons (122 have “adopted” it, but signing off? Don’t hold your breath) . BUT, they do have Yoko Ono onboard. So far, North Korea is not impressed. Somehow, I don’t think these folks rise to the standard set by Norm Borlaug. Update (October 26): Jay Nordlinger reminds us of someone else who wanted to abolish nuclear weapons. Continue reading ICAN gets Nobel Peace Prize. BFD.
Revealed, a True Romantic for the New Century
This man said this: “I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down.” If that’s not romantic, I don’t know what is. Update: Shane Bouvet is an under-employed FedEx courier and Trump campaigner who scored a ticket to the inauguration, but had to scrounge a suit and shoes. This Man read that story, and showed what a sweetheart he is. (Tip from the Instapundit, who doesn’t do fake news.) Continue reading Revealed, a True Romantic for the New Century
The 2016 Election, Summarized
The domestic issues of the recent election, summed up in one photo: Tip from American Digest. Continue reading The 2016 Election, Summarized
The Home for Wayward Statisticians 